English Folk Verse (c.1870) The Fifth of November

Remember, remember!
The fifth of November,
The Gunpowder treason and plot;
I know of no reason
Why the Gunpowder treason
Should ever be forgot!
Guy Fawkes and his companions
Did the scheme contrive,
To blow the King and Parliament
All up alive.
Threescore barrels, laid below,
To prove old England's overthrow.
But, by God's providence, him they catch,
With a dark lantern, lighting a match!
A stick and a stake
For King James's sake!
If you won't give me one,
I'll take two,
The better for me,
And the worse for you.
A rope, a rope, to hang the Pope,
A penn'orth of cheese to choke him,
A pint of beer to wash it down,
And a jolly good fire to burn him.
Holloa, boys! holloa, boys! make the bells ring!
Holloa, boys! holloa boys! God save the King!
Hip, hip, hooor-r-r-ray!

Most Americans only know of Guy Fawkes from the movie that was inspired by Alan Moore’s novel V for Vendetta, it was a 2006 film staring Natalie Portman and Hugo Weaving, and most notebly the film’s distinct Guy Fawkes mask that was created by David Lloyd. Guy Fawkes and his November 5th holiday, for centuries was only celebrated in England, has in the last few years become an increasingly universal emblem that is used by anti-establishment protest groups throughout the world.

What most people don't know is that Guy Fawkes Night originates from the "Gunpowder Plot of 1605" which was a failed conspiracy by a group of English Catholics to assassinate the then Protestant King James I of England in a plan to replace him with a Catholic head of state. The plot failed and on the 5 of November Guy Fawkes was arrested when found guarding a cache of explosives that had been placed beneath the House of Lords, if it would have succeed it would have killed not only parliament but many innocent citizens. James's Council then allowed the public to celebrate the fact that the king had survived with bonfires, so long as they were "without any danger or disorder", then the tradition began, it is now filled with fireworks in many places also.

We would love to hear some stories of the Guy Fawkes celebrations some of you have attended!

Thanks for Reading and Happy Stacking!