Guy Fawkes Night / Gunpowder Plot

In 1605, thirteen young men planned to blow up the Houses of Parliament. Among them was Guy Fawkes, the most
notorious traitor in the British history.
After Queen Elizabeth I died in 1603, English Catholics - persecuted under her rule – became more optimistic because
her successor, James I, had a Catholic mother. Unfortunately, James was as intolerant as Elizabeth I so a group of
young men decided to kill him.
They planned to blow up the Houses of Parliament and kill – at the same time - the King, the Prince of Wales and the
Members of Parliament who were making life difficult for the Catholics. In order to carry out their plan, the
conspirators stored 36 barrels of gunpowder in a cellar, under the House of Lords.
However, some of the plotters didn’t want to kill innocent people. One of them sent an anonymous letter to his
friend, Lord Monteagle, and asked him to stay away from the Parliament on November 5th. The warning letter
reached the King who decided to stop the conspirators. Guy Fawkes was in the cellar of the Parliament when the
authorities came in. He was caught and tortured. Finally, the conspirators were executed: hanged, drawn and
quartered. (Only Fawkes jumped off the gallows and snapped his neck, because he didn’t want to be hanged)
The reigning monarch enters the Parliament once a year ( "the State Opening of Parliament"). Prior to the Opening,
and according to custom, the Guard controls the cellars. The Queen and the members of the Parliament still observe
this tradition.
On the night that the Gunpowder Plot was foiled, on November 5th, 1605, bonfires were made in order to celebrate
the safety of the King. Since that day, November 5th has been known as Bonfire Night. Nowadays people make
bonfires all over the country, burn effigies of Guy Fawkes and organize firework shows.
Remember, remember, the 5th of November
The Gunpowder Treason and plot;
I know no reason why Gunpowder Treason
Should ever be forgot. (nursery rhyme)
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treason /'tri zn/ zdrada
gallows /'gæl z/ szubienica
persecute /'p sıkju t/ prześladować, zadręczać
traitor /'treıt (r)/ zdrajca
successor /s k'ses (r)/ następca
prior to /'praı (r)/ przed (czymś)
observe / b'z v/ przestrzegać
according to / 'k dıŋ/ zgodnie z
in order to – w celu; po to by
reigning /'reınıŋ/ panujący
notorious /n 't rı s/ notoryczny; mający złą sławę; głośny, znany
barrel /'bær l/ beczka, baryłka
effigy /'efıd ı/ podobizna, wizerunek; kukła
cellar /'sel (r)/ piwnica
quarter /'kw t (r)/ poćwiartować
custom /'k st m/ zwyczaj, tradycja
plot /pl t/ spisek, zmowa | plotter - spiskowiec
execute /'eksıkju t/ - stracić, wykonać egzekucję
carry out – wprowadzić w życie, wykonać