OLD PETERITE CLUB

THE WEBSITE FOR FORMER ST PETER'S PUPILS

Guy Fawkes

Born	Stonegate, York, about April 13th, 1570
Baptised	16th April 1570 in St Michael-le-Belfry

Parents	Edward (Clerk in Minster Offices) & Edith née Blake.
Family	Two sisters Anne and Elizabeth, who lived and married in Scotton. More >> Lived with well-to-do and respected grandmother, Ellen Harrington. The Fawkes family were well-known - ancestors were Lord Mayors and Sheriffs. Grandmother would seem to have disliked Edith Fawkes, judging from grudging references and bequests in her will (in which Guy received only a whistle and a gold coin). Guy's father died in 1578. Mother remarried in 1587 to a Catholic, Dionis Bainbridge, connected with the Pulleyns and the Percy family. They lived at Scotton between Knaresborough and Ripley.

Education	"Ye free schole in ye Horsefair". More >> This was at the corner of Gillygate and Lord Mayor's Walk (now occupied by part of York St John College). No details of Guy's schooldays exist, but here (along with other boys) he received Roman Catholic influences. A previous Head Master of St Peter's, John Fletcher, had been imprisoned for 20 years as a Catholic recusant. Guy's Head Master - John Pulleyn - although outwardly conforming, seems to have influenced the boys greatly in two ways - drama and Catholicism, though later he denounced a disguised priest. Schoolfellows who may have influenced Guy : More >> John & Christopher (Kit) Wright More >> Lived near Patrington, so presumably were boarders. Kit Wright same age as Guy. Mother imprisoned as a recusant, and their aunt was possibly Margaret Clitherow, the canonised York martyr (having hidden two priests, both Old Peterites, in her house and refused to plead). Both brothers very active in Plot. Oswald Tessimond - (Father Greenway) More >> Became a Jesuit. Said to be first priest to learn of the Plot. Escaped to continent, and wrote a personal account. Robert Middleton More >> Became a convert and priest. Very quickly captured. Martyred at Lancaster in 1601 along with another priest, probably also an Old Peterite. Not involved in Plot. Edward Oldcorne More >> Said by the government to have been involved. Tortured and executed 1606.

Later	Converted at some date unknown. Sold land in Gillygate and Clifton (where school now stands). More >> May have been finally converted by his cousin, Father Richard Collinge of York (was he too a Peterite?). Father Collinge later wrote a begging letter on behalf of Guy. Enlisted in army of Spain in 1593, and saw military service in Netherlands. Wounded twice, reputation for bravery, became an expert in mining. In 1601 was in Madrid where he met up with his old schoolfellow Kit Wright. Later joined by Thomas Winter who presumably enrolled him into Plot as a useful expert, and a Catholic unknown to authorities. Played his part well. Behaved with great dignity and courage after his arrest. Withstood several days of torture rather than give the names of his fellow conspirators. Executed Westminster, Friday 31st January 1606 (Hanged, drawn and quartered). Wright brothers both killed in a fight at Holbeche House.
Character	Brave, powerful, tall, auburn beard, brown hair, pale blue/grey eyes. More >> "A man of great piety, of exemplary temperance, mild and cheerful demeanour, enemy of disputes, a faithful friend". (Father Greenway)

What was the Gunpowder Plot?
The Arrest More >>	The arrest of Guy Fawkes is probably one of the best known incidents of the Gunpower Plot. It will perhaps surprise many people to discover that he was not the leader of the conspiracy. This was Robert Catesby, a young Roman Catholic gentleman who, tired of the many broken promises of James I to grant religious toleration, decided on desperate action. Eventually there were thirteen plotters, three of whom - Guy Fawkes and the brothers John and Christopher Wright - were schoolfellows at St Peter's School here in York. Guy Fawkes, described by those who knew him well as a courteous, gallant and pious man, was known to have been a brave and resolute soldier, with a special knowledge of the use of gunpowder. Having failed in their earlier attempt to dig a tunnel under the House of Lords the plotters were lucky to be able to rent a cellar directly below the chamber, and in this they stored thirty-six barrels of gunpowder (purchased from official government supplies!) which they covered with iron bars, coal and firewood. It was Guy Fawkes who was to remain in the cellar and light the fuse at the appropriate moment. Towards midnight of November 4/5th 1605 a search party, warned by an anonymous letter to Lord Mounteagle, a Catholic relative of one of the plotters, discovered and, after a violent struggle, arrested Guy Fawkes.
The Interrogation More >>	The arrest of Guy Fawkes is probably one of the best known incidents of the Gunpower Plot. It will perhaps surprise many people to discover that he was not the leader of the conspiracy. This was Robert Catesby, a young Roman Catholic gentleman who, tired of the many broken promises of James I to grant religious toleration, decided on desperate action. Eventually there were thirteen plotters, three of whom - Guy Fawkes and the brothers John and Christopher Wright - were schoolfellows at St Peter's School here in York.
The Torture More >>	The King ordered that if the prisoner refused to give any information the "gentler" tortures were to be used on him. Later the government claimed that Guy was so cowardly that he freely gave all the information on first seeing the instruments of torture, and that no torture was therefore necessary. The truth of this statement can be judged by the signature of Guy Fawkes before and after his interrogation. It is also worth noting that over two months after he was arrested this tall, powerfully built man had to be helped up the few rungs of the ladder to his execution. Despite what must have been excruciating pain Guy held out for three days, hoping perhaps to give his comrades time to escape abroad. Little did he realise that the government already had a complete list of the plotters, some of whom had already been killed or wounded in the fight at Holbeche House, and the rest were soon rounded up and brought to trial, except for Francis Tresham who died, somewhat conveniently for the government, whilst in the Tower. Was he perhaps the double agent? The result of the trial was in no doubt. All the prisoners, having "confessed", were hanged, drawn and quartered - some in front of St Paul's, the rest in front of Westminster Hall, Guy Fawkes, the best known plotter, being the last to suffer. Many questions remain unanswered, but it seems obvious that the government knew far more about the plot than they ever admitted and indeed may well have encouraged it - in order to make a dramatic "discovery" which would be most useful propaganda. If this possibility is correct, then it certainly was most successful - the anti-catholic feeling was to remain and increase in strength, and the position of those Roman Catholics who remained loyal to their faith was made more difficult.

Other links	The Houses of Parliament website has some excellent pages with details of the Plot. The National Archives also has many links to Guy Fawkes and the Plot.