Who ‘were the ‘conspirators’?

Robert Catesby,  Thomas Bates, Sir Everard  Digby, John Grant, Robert Keyes, Thomas Percy, Ambrose Rookwood, Thomas Tresham, Robert Wintour, Thomas Wintour, Christopher Wright, John Wright and GUY FAWKES . . .

And what ‘were’ their roles in the Gunpowder Plot?:

Robert Catesby

Catesby is considered to be the originator of the Gunpowder Plot. He was a cousin of fellow-co-conspirators the Wintour brothers.

Born in 1573, Robert Catesby, was also known as "Robin". He was tall and considered a handsome, dashing man of noble character and impressive dignity. He was also known to be a courageous horseman and supreme swordfighter. Generous and affable, Catesby was well-liked by those who knew him. He won many acquaintances over to Catholicism and had great success in converting Protestants to his faith. Catesby's house in Lambeth was the first headquarters of the Gunpowder Plot and was used for the initial storage of munitions.

Catesby died during the raid on Holbeche House in Staffordshire (the home of Stephen Littleton) on November 8, 1605, after escaping from London early on the morning of Tuesday, November 5th. Catesby and Thomas Percy were both apparently shot with a single bullet.

Thomas Bates

Born at Lapworth, he was a long-standing retainer to Robert Catesby and the Catesby family, and proved to be invaluable to the conspirators, being totally loyal and reliable. As a man of "ordinary condition," he was able to carry out many activities, such as driving wagons and acting as a messenger, without attracting suspicion.

After discovery of the plot, Bates fled London with Catesby, but lost all resolve after he witnessed Catesby's injuries in the gunpowder explosion at Holbeche House. Bates fled the scene only to be captured in Staffordshire on November 12th.

On the scaffold, Bates was completely penitent, asking for forgiveness and claiming that it was loyalty to Catesby which had prevented him from obeying God, his country and the King.

Sir Everard Digby

Born around 1576 in Leicestershire. A staunch and wealthy Catholic convert, Digby owned large estates in Rutland. His role was to have been to lead a Midlands Rebellion after the demise of Parliament.

At court he was a very popular character, being an excellent horseman, swordsman and musician, with a passion and ability for field sports. Digby entered the plot at the end of August in 1605, via an introduction by Robert Catesby.

Digby provided money and management skills to the conspirators, donating the considerable sum of £1500 to the cause, and was to have played a major role in the Midland Uprising. He reunited with Catesby after the failure of the plot and assisted in the writing of the letter to Father Garnet which explained the purpose of the scheme.

Digby fled Holbeche House after the gunpowder explosion but was arrested shortly afterwards near Dudley.His execution which took place on January 30, 1606 was said to be a highly dramatic affair with Digby in good spirits and unrepentant while maintaining a courtly civility.

John Grant

Lord of the Manor of Norbrook, a strategically-placed mansion located a few miles north of Stratford-Upon-Avon in Warwickshire and close to Lapworth, birthplace of Robert Catesby.

Grant was sworn-in as a member of the inner circle of the plotters in February of 1605 when he and his brother-in-law, Robert Wintour, were summoned to a meeting with Robert Catesby and Thomas Percy at the Catherine Wheel Inn in Oxford. Grant and Robert Wintour were responsible for amassing a stockpile of weapons and preparing stables of horses to be used during the anticipated rebellion. In addition, Grant was to be responsible for the abduction of the young Princess Elizabeth, in order to establish the Princess as the new monarch once her father, and presumably her brothers, had perished in the Parliament explosion.

Grant was seriously injured at Holbeche House when some gunpowder which had been laid out in front of the fire to dry, caught an ember and exploded. During his trial, Grant said very little but is reported to have displayed great courage and self-assurance. He expressed no sorrow for his part in the Gunpowder Plot, stating that he was convinced the project was far from sinful. He was executed on January 30, 1606 at St. Paul's Churchyard, along with Sir Everard Digby, Robert Wintour and Thomas Bates.

Robert Keyes

A Jesuit convert, Keyes has been described as a tall man with a red beard. He was the sixth conspirator to join the plot, around October of 1604. His main function in the plot was to tend to Robert Catesby's home in Lambeth, which was used as a storage facility for gunpowder and other necessary supplies. It was Keyes (on behalf of Thomas Percy) who presented Guy Fawkes with the watch for the timing of the fuse which would initiate the explosion.

After discovery of the plot, Keyes was among the last to leave London, preceded by all except Rookwood (who stayed to gather information) and Francis Tresham (who seemed to be in no hurry to flee the city, an action which further fuelled the suspicion that he had become a betrayer).

Keyes was captured in Warwickshire on November 9, 1605 and interrogated three days later. During his trial, he spoke little but said that his motive had been to promote the common good and turn the country back toward the Catholic faith. He was executed in the Old Palace Yard at Westminster on January 31, 1606, together with Ambrose Rookwood, Thomas Wintour and Guy Fawkes (who was the last to mount the scaffold).

Thomas Percy

Born around 1563. Much of Percy's early life remains a mystery. He entered Peterson College at Cambridge in July of 1579. Tall and well-built, Percy was said to have had a serious expression but an attractive manner, with "large and lively" eyes.

On May 13, 1604, Percy became one of the original five conspirators of the Gunpowder Plot, the others being Robert Catesby, Thomas Wintour, John Wright and Guy Fawkes. Percy had much to offer the conspiracy: zeal, dedication to the cause and valuable connections with Northumberland, not to mention free access to the Court.

After the discovery of the plot, Percy was killed at Holbeche House on November 8, 1605 dying instantly from the same bullet which caused fatal injury to Catesby.

Ambrose Rookwood

Born in 1578. His chief part in the plot was to provide horses for those who would carry news of the Parliament explosion to Robert Catesby and other conspirators who were waiting in Dunchurch. He is also believed to have supplied Catesby with gunpowder.

Rookwood was one of the last of the conspirators to flee from London, remaining behind to gather as much information as he could. Despite his delayed start, however, his posting of fast mounts enable him to make an epic ride, quickly catching up to the other members of the group and continue with them onto Holbeche House. First slightly injured by the explosion of the gunpowder at Holbeche House, Rookwood later sustained further injury in the fighting.

Rookwood was executed on in Old Palace Yard at Westminster on January 31, 1606, together with Thomas Wintour, Robert Keyes and Guy Fawkes. On the scaffold, he made a complete confession, offered up a prayer that the King convert to the Catholic faith and requested God to bless the monarch and the royal family in order that they might "live long to reign in peace and happiness."

Thomas Tresham

Francis Tresham is believed to have been born in 1567, and was cousin to Robert Catesby, the historical originator of the Gunpowder Plot.

At the time of the scheme, he had recently inherited extensive estates in Northamptonshire but his reckless spending of money and extravagant lifestyle put him in debt. He was also very concerned for the salvation of his two brothers-in-law, Lord Mounteagle and Lord Stourton, which made Tresham the prime suspect as author of the infamous warning letter which gave away the Plot. Many historians believe that he may indeed have played a more overt role in the betrayal of the plot, acting as a double agent, although he did manage to persuade Catesby and Thomas Wintour otherwise.

November 2nd found Tresham attempting to convince the other conspirators that their plot had been discovered and that they should all take safety in flight. In fact, Tresham himself had received a licence that very day permitting him to travel abroad for two years. Tresham was in no hurry to leave London after the arrest of Guy Fawkes and it has been suggested that he may have taken the opportunity to have offered his services to the government. Nevertheless, Tresham was arrested on November 12th and promptly wrote a full confession. Later that month, he also implicated Henry Garnet. The only chief conspirator never to be indicted, it is believed that Tresham may have fallen victim to poison at the age of 37 while imprisoned in the Tower, the object being to silence him.

Robert Wintour (or Winter)

Born in 1565 or 1567, Robert Wintour was the oldest of the convicted Wintour brothers. Although he initially refused to join the plotters, Wintour eventually agreed to be sworn in (along with John Grant) at the Catherine Wheel Inn in Oxford some time during February of 1604, but throughout the course of the campaign, he often displayed a lack of commitment to the cause.

Managing to escape the raid on Holbeche House, Wintour remained at large for two months afterwards, eventually being captured at Hagley Park on January 9, 1606, along with a minor conspirator by the name of Stephen Littleton. Wintour was executed on January 30, 1606 in St. Pauls' Churchyard, London, along with Sir Everard Digby, John Grant and Thomas Bates. On the scaffold, he was quiet and withdrawn, saying little. Although he appeared to be praying to himself, Wintour did not publicly ask mercy of either God or King for his offence.

Thomas Wintour(or Winter)

Born in 1571, Wintour is known to be one of the original instigators of the Gunpowder Plot along with Robert Catesby, his cousin, and John Wright. He was the younger brother of Robert Wintour, another of the co-conspirators.

Wintour proposed a mission to King Philip of Spain to request aid in order to relieve the plight of English Catholics, but the Spanish refused assistance. Therefore, Wintour undertook a search for Guy Fawkes, who was known to be skilful as a miner and had distinguished himself on the continent in the Spanish Army. It was Wintour who located Fawkes and brought him back to England.

Upon discovery of the plot, Wintour fled to the Midlands in the company of Robert Catesby, where they met up with the rest of their party in Warwickshire. After a failed attempt to rally support, the group travelled for three days before reaching Holbeche House. Initially wounded in the courtyard of Holbeche, both Wintour and Ambrose Rookwood were taken away to London and imprisoned in the Tower, where they were questioned and tortured. After a brief trial in January of 1606, Wintour was hung, drawn and quartered on the last day of that month in the Old Palace Yard, Westminster, along with Rookwood, Robert Keyes and Guy Fawkes.

Christopher Wright

Born in 1570 in Welwick, Yorkshire, Christopher Wright (also known as "Kit") was the younger brother of John Wright, another of the co-conspirators. It is thought that he may have been a schoolmate of Guy Fawkes at St. Peter's school in York

He was recruited as a participant in the plot some time after Christmas of 1605 (at the same time as Robert Wintour and John Grant) in order to help his brother with the initial tunnelling beneath Parliament.

After discovery of the plot, Wright was dispatched by Thomas Wintour to warn Thomas Percy. He was among the number killed outright at Holbeche House, where he had fled in the company of Percy. He was shot in the courtyard along with his brother John, Ambrose Rookwood and Thomas Wintour.

John Wright

Born on January 13, 1568 at Plowland Hall in Holderness, John Wright (also known as "Jack") was the older brother of Christopher ("Kit") Wright, another of the plotters, and related to the Wintour brothers, Robert Keyes and Ambrose Rookwood - all fellow-conspirators in the Gunpowder Plot.

Believed to be one of the finest swordsmen of his day, the part Wright played in the attempt to blow up the Houses of Parliament is somewhat unclear but he was, it appears, the third to be initiated into the Gunpowder Plot around May of 1604 and an active participant in all its events. It was Wright and Thomas Wintour who introduced Guy Fawkes to the Gunpowder plot.

Caught at Holbeche House, he was shot in the courtyard along with his brother Christopher, Thomas Wintour and Ambrose Rookwood. Wright is believed to have been mortally wounded in the assault, but "lingered for a day, if not longer."

Guy (Guido) Fawkes

In May 1604, Robert Catesby devised the Gunpowder Plot.

At first, the group tried to tunnel under Parliament. This plan changed when Thomas Percy was able to ‘hire a cellar’ under the House of Lords. The plotters then filled the cellar with barrels of gunpowder.

Guy  Fawkes, because of his munitions experience in the Netherlands, was given the task of creating the explosion.

The Plot was discovered when the cellars were searched the night before the opening. Guy Fawkes was caught red-handed and although his fellow conspirators fled, they were cornered and either died resisting arrest or were captured and executed.

He was executed in the Garden of St. Paul's Cathedral / Old Palace Yard, Westminster.