Remember, remember the 5th of November...

Across England tonight people will be celebrating Bonfire Night, or Guy Fawkes Night. They will build giant bonfires, and prepare ‘Guys’, effigies of Guy Fawkes, which will be burnt on top of the fire at the end of the night, fun eh?

Bonfire Night celebrates a failed political plot (The Gunpowder Plot) to blow up the King of England and parliament. The (Catholic) plotters were discovered, and eventually captured, or killed during capture, the unfortunate plotters who survived capture were found guilty of treason and sentenced to be hung, drawn and quartered, a death as unpleasant as it sounds.

A distant ancestor of mine, Thomas Percy (the attractive one in the middle of the group), was one of the fortunate plotters who avoided the ignominy of being hung drawn and quartered instead dying in a sword fight whilst trying to evade King James’ soldiers.

Here’s the rhyme that’ll be sung as the ‘Guy’ burns tonight...

Remember, remember the Fifth of November,
The Gunpowder Treason and Plot,
I can think of no reason
Why the Gunpowder Treason
Should ever be forgot.

Guy Fawkes, Guy Fawkes, t'was his intent
To blow up the King and Parli'ment.
Three-score barrels of powder below
To prove old England's overthrow;

By God's providence he was catch'd
With a dark lantern and burning match.
Holloa boys, holloa boys, let the bells ring.
Holloa boys, holloa boys, God save the King!