Tamworth MP’s Part in the Gunpowder Plot

Notes by Tina McBain – sourced from Swift Lookaround by Mabel Swift – 1988.

Tamworth has every reason to be more than a little interested in the annual fireworks celebrations of November 5^th. Because one of its own kinsmen was actually involved and executed for his part in the conspiracy to blow up the Houses of Parliament in 1605. Guido Fawkes, or Guy as we know him, was the son of a humble registrar, a soldier of fortune who had been recruited by the conspirators to supply the necessary explosives and detonate them at the due time. The Gunpowder Plot saw a group of desperate Roman Catholic gentry lead by Robert Casey, try to destroy the persecutors of their community by blowing up King James I, The House of Lords and The House of Commons at Parliaments formal opening.

Ambrose Rookwood, Everard Digby and Francis Tresham were designated to lead the rebellion. It was they that recruited Guy Fawkes. His reward for such an important task would be no doubt, that he himself would be able to purchase some property and become a landed gentleman. The conspirators dug a tunnel under the Houses of Parliament. Because of the need for security, only the gentlemen and their personal servants were involved and one of those gentlemen was the former Member of Parliament for Tamworth, Robert Wright.

The reason they were trying to blow up Parliament in 1605 was because of the refusal of King James I to relieve the oppressive laws against the Catholics. The conspiracy arose to overthrow him. Robert Catsby, Francis Tresham, Thomas Percy and others canvassed far and wide across England, seeking support for a rebellion, which was to be launched as soon as Parliament had been destroyed. They tried, unsuccessfully to enlist all the great Catholic families, but most of them distrusted these power seekers. However, out at Drayton, near Tamworth, the Devereux family were still smarting from the disgrace and disappointment that had befallen them when Robert, Earl of Essex, a favourite of Queen Elizabeth I, had been executed for treachery. Robert, Earl of Essex brother. Edward and a family friend, Robert Wright had been Tamworth’s representatives in Parliament from 1558 to 1592. Robert Wright eagerly joined the Gunpowder Plot. Preparations began in the spring of 1604 and by December they had rented a building near Parliament and started their work. Guy Fawkes had done much of his soldiering in Flanders, fighting with the Spanish army, and had become and expert in mine warfare. Now he had been brought into the plot, and dispatched abroad to drum up even more support. When he returned, he was able to tell the conspirators that Catholic Spain (having failed to conquer England by the Armada) would come in once the revolt had begun. By May the tunnelling was complete.

The opening of Parliament had been delayed until October, but by Michaelmas everything was ready for the murderous deed. Then the opening of Parliament was put back to November 5^th. It was in those few intervening days that one of the conspirators, Francis Tresham, betrayed his fellow conspirators by a foolish act. He sent a letter to his cousin, Lord Monteagle, warning him not to attend Parliament. Suspicions were aroused and when Guy Fawkes went down into the cellars that night, with slow matches and touch-wood, to prime the explosion, a Magistrate was waiting with a watchman for his arrival. When he was seized, he put up a desperate struggle, swearing to blow himself and all of them into the next kingdom. They took him to the King’s bedroom where he further defied them, saying he was only sorry he had failed to blow the Scot back to Scotland. Guy Fawkes was immediately taken to the torture chamber and the rack very quickly drew out the details of his fellow plotters. Then in a great chase across the country, they were all, including Tamworth’s Robert Wright were rounded up and captured. Again, after some barbaric torture, confessions were quickly obtained. There was a great assembly to try the conspirators, and they were all condemned to death and were hung, drawn and quartered at the Old Palace Yard, Westminster, on the last day of January 1606. Guy Fawkes, soldier of fortune, Robert Wright, former Tamworth MP met their end in the very place they had planned to demolish.

Note from author: It seems a shame that Tamworth Borough Council no longer hosts an official major bonfire and fireworks celebration in the Castle Grounds, as how many other towns in the country can boast this connection with the plot.

Illustrations:

Painting of Guy Fawkes
Gunpowder Plot – an old engraving showing the conspirators. Tamworth’s Robert Wright is not shown in the picture, but Christopher and John Wright, 3^rd and 4^th from the left are probably his kinsmen.