Encore: Guy Fawkes | Gunpowder | 1

In Elizabethan England, Catholics face brutal persecution. A young Guy Fawkes vows to fight back. When, years later, he returns home from abroad to find his homeland even more rotten, he knows the time has come. But can Fawkes spark a revolution without getting caught in the crossfire? Do you have a suggestion for a scandal you would like us to cover? Or perhaps you have a question you would like to ask our hosts? Email us at [email protected] See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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• 0:00Alice Levine?

  Audible subscribers can listen to all episodes of British Scandal ad-free right now. Join Audible today by downloading the Audible app. Just a warning before we start, this episode contains descriptions of torture which some listeners may find disturbing.

• 0:15Alice Levine?

  Okay, Matt, enough's enough. We've talked about it so much. The conditions on this show are just not tenable anymore. So we've got to take action. You, me, we walk out, arm in arm, into the sunlight. We never look back.

• 0:27Matt Forde?

  Yeah, yeah. I mean, I agree. I think if you're not happy, you have to.

• 0:31Alice Levine?

  No, but we're not happy and we're like united together, aren't we?

• 0:35Matt Forde?

  Oh, yeah, yeah. But, you know, I still think we can, you know, we can reach some sort of deal with the powers that be.

• 0:42Alice Levine?

  The time for deals, for chit chat, it's over. Now it's all about decisive action. So on the count of three, me and you, we're out of here.

• 0:52Matt Forde?

  Okay. Um, what, on three?

• 0:55Alice Levine?

  Yep. One, two.

• 0:57Matt Forde?

  Hang on, because this is a big old call and I agree with everything you said, but I just want to be clear. Can we not just count to 10? I mean, a little time might.

• 1:06Alice Levine?

  No.

• 1:06Matt Forde?

  Mm hmm.

• 1:08Alice Levine?

  One, two.

• 1:10Matt Forde?

  Actually, I have an even better idea. You're going to love this.

• 1:12Alice Levine?

  Right.

• 1:13Matt Forde?

  How about we just carry on working here and really don't mention it? And that's what they call the long game. That's where we win. Right?

• 1:25Alice Levine?

  Five AM, November the 5th, 1605, London.

• 1:32Alice Levine?

  Guy Fawkes cuts through the backstreets of Westminster. His weathered leather boots splash through puddles, sending rats skittering for the shadows. He lowers his lantern to avoid detection, pauses at a crossroads, ears straining.

• 1:48Alice Levine?

  His fingers tighten on the lantern handle as he hears footsteps in the distance, his knuckles white beneath his gloves.

• 1:57Alice Levine?

  Guy springs back as a dog jumps from behind a rotting carcass. He turns and quickens his pace, darts into an alley. Finally, he sees the cellar door.

• 2:09Alice Levine?

  The most beautiful phrase in the English language. That's what they say, isn't it? Cellar door.

• 2:14Matt Forde?

  Is that right?

• 2:14Alice Levine?

  Apparently so.

• 2:16Matt Forde?

  I think it's nice.

• 2:17Alice Levine?

  It's all right. It wouldn't even be my top 10, to be honest.

• 2:20Matt Forde?

  No, a sweet shop would be.

• 2:22Alice Levine?

  Are all yours going to be like ham hock?

• 2:24Matt Forde?

  Sweet shop.

• 2:25Alice Levine?

  Pork chop?

• 2:25Matt Forde?

  Yeah.

• 2:26Alice Levine?

  Sausage meat?

• 2:27Matt Forde?

  Rump steak, medium rare.

• 2:29Alice Levine?

  Rump steak is actually really nice.

• 2:31Matt Forde?

  Triple cooked, yes.

• 2:36Alice Levine?

  Guy fumbles with the iron key, inserts it into the rusty lock, twisting gently, starts to panic as it jams, until he hears the soft click. Relief washes over him. His footsteps echo on the stone stairs. He breathes deeply, enters the cold, damp catacomb. He lifts his lantern and in the darkness, he can see the 36 barrels hidden beneath stacks of firewood, each filled with enough gunpowder to reduce Parliament to rubble.

• 3:11Alice Levine?

  Glancing at his pocket watch, he knows he needs to hurry. He sets to work laying the fuses, fingers trembling as he threads the string dipped in dried gunpowder slurry between the barrels. Voices, boots on stone, getting closer. Guy forces himself to focus, his fingers flying faster as he tries to connect the final fuses, but the rough cord bites into his skin and it stings. It doesn't matter. Nothing matters but the task at hand. He listens, holds his breath as the voices fade away, then freezes as the cellar door shudders.

• 3:49Speaker 02

  Open up in the name of the King.

• 3:55Alice Levine?

  Guy's eyes dart around the vault. He glances at the door as the wood starts to splinter. He can hear the ragged breathing of the men on the other side. He stares down at the last fuse in his fingers, swallows hard, pulls the flint from his pocket, sparks a flame.

• 4:14Alice Levine?

  His hand hovers over the tip of the fuse. He knows it will mean certain death.

• 4:21Alice Levine?

  Suddenly, the door comes crashing down with an almighty thud and armed soldiers flood the cellar. He fixes his feet in place, inches the flame still closer to the fuse, stares into the eyes of the now hesitant men.

• 4:37Alice Levine?

  He knows he only has seconds to decide. If he lights the fuse, he may give up his life, but he'll kickstart a revolution that will transform England forever.

• 4:58Speaker 03

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• 5:42Speaker 04

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• 5:58Speaker 05

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• 6:30Matt Forde?

  I'm Matt Form.

• 6:31Alice Levine?

  And I'm Alice Levine.

• 6:32Matt Forde?

  And this is British Scandal, an Audible original.

• 6:38Alice Levine?

  The show where we bring you the murkier stories that ever happened on these odd little isles.

• 6:43Matt Forde?

  British scandals come in many shapes and sizes. Some are about money, some are about sex. They're all about power.

• 6:50Alice Levine?

  But when we look at scandals a bit closer, they turn out to be stranger, wilder, just plain weirder than we remember.

• 6:57Matt Forde?

  So we're journeying back to ask who's to blame for what happened.

• 7:00Alice Levine?

  And when the dust settled, did anything really change?

• 7:13Alice Levine?

  Matt, what goes through your head when I say bonfire night?

• 7:18Matt Forde?

  Well, I love bonfire night. I love the sounds and the smells and the food and the snacks, but more than that, of course, the thing that bonfire night means to all of us is abiding by the law in a safe way. So only buy fireworks from reputable dealers. Make sure you've read the instructions on the side of the box and particularly secure the fireworks in the ground or between bricks so that they don't tilt. Never go back to a lit firework. Be careful letting children anywhere near them. And of course, if in doubt, always check with your local authority about the regulations. And please, only let them off on November the 5th itself. This cannot spread into that gap between November the 5th and Christmas. It's a nightmare for your neighbors.

• 8:03Matt Forde?

  But other than that, have fun, enjoy.

• 8:06Alice Levine?

  As always, you've made very, very important points. All the square bases covered there, I think it's fair to say. I was actually probably really inadvertently referring to the biggest scandal in British history.

• 8:17Matt Forde?

  Oh, Ticketmaster.

• 8:18Alice Levine?

  Very nearly, very nearly. Let's put you on the spot. How much do you know about a little man called Guy Fawkes?

• 8:25Matt Forde?

  I know that he tried to blow up Parliament in the 17th century, that he was caught in the cellar with gunpowder. Obviously, he's the most famous terrorist in British history, but his terrorist act can't be uncoupled from the context of the time, which is he was a Catholic and they were the number one enemies of the state. That didn't just mean persecution as we understand it today, but they were being murdered.

• 8:49Alice Levine?

  Absolutely. It's hard to imagine how deeply ingrained that Catholic Protestant tension was at the time. But as you say, if he'd succeeded, he would not only have killed the King, but also loads of Britain's ruling class, politicians, aristocracy, bishops. You know, nothing like this had ever been done before. This would have been history altering. It's the most serious internal threat the government has ever faced.

• 9:13Matt Forde?

  Yeah, when you put it like that, it does make bonfire night feel less jaunty and innocent. I mean, even just making a guy, get a penny for the guy and then tossing this thing on a bonfire. It's mad that we effectively still commemorate the burning of Catholics over 400 years later.

• 9:28Alice Levine?

  Well, we're going to get into the details of a story which is known across Britain on a very surface level, I feel. And even though we're told to remember, remember, I think we do forget the roots of this. This is the story of how a group of men threatened the very fabric of our nation. This is episode one, Gunpowder.

• 9:53Alice Levine?

  March 1586, York Minster Yard, York. Sixteen-year-old Guy sprints through the narrow cobbled streets, an inflated pig's bladder tucked under his arm.

• 10:04Matt Forde?

  This means one of two things. Either he's about to play football, because that's what original footballs were, or he likes haggis. Could be both.

• 10:14Alice Levine?

  He leaps over a puddle and dodges a chamber pot being emptied from a window above. Ignoring the shouts of startled pedestrians, he takes a sharp right into the crowds around York Minster Yard. He stops, glances back, checks the boys aren't still in pursuit, smiles as he admires the stolen football in his hands. He starts elbowing his way through the throng when an uneasy silence falls over the square. Guy pulls himself up onto a plinth for a better view. In the distance, he makes out the silhouette of his neighbour, Margaret. She's dressed in her usual white linen shift, but her feet are bare.

• 10:55Alice Levine?

  She's calmly making her way through the parting crowd, pressing coins into the hands of small children. He's about to call out when he spots two armed officers at her heels. He recoils as one of them kicks the back of her legs. She stumbles but keeps her eyes fixed on the path before her. Guy follows it. His stomach drops as he sees a scaffold and the dark, unmistakable silhouette of an executioner. From nowhere, he hears a familiar voice. Guy! He pushes his way through to his mother. Seeing her chin trembling, tears in her eyes. Mum, she's pregnant. We can't let them. She grabs his arm, pulling him back.

• 11:40Alice Levine?

  Keep your voice down. He feels her lean in, whisper. Stupid woman. They found her sheltering a Catholic priest. But mum, we're Catholic. He feels a sharp sting as his mum's hand strikes his cheek. He flinches, notices she's thumbing her rosary beads in her other hand. Her eyes are fixed on Margaret as she mouths a prayer. He knows that Queen Elizabeth has forced all Catholics to renounce their faith and follow the Protestant church, but he had no idea that to refuse would result in being executed. Margaret is kind, gentle. Will you renounce your faith?

• 12:24Alice Levine?

  Guy stares transfixed as Margaret lifts her chin, eyes gleaming. I will not. He can hardly look as Margaret is forced to lie on a sharp, fist-sized stone whilst her front door, the very one Guy has knocked on countless times, is laid on top of her. Crushing weights are added, one by one.

• 12:48Matt Forde?

  I know we haven't got everything right in the modern era. Prisons clearly need reform. But the nature of punishment back then is so brutal and deliberately humiliating and foul.

• 13:02Alice Levine?

  Who's come up with that? Who's said, "Let's take your front door off the hinges and then use that to crush you to death"? That's come from someone's mind.

• 13:11Matt Forde?

  Also, front doors back then were so much bigger and heavier. In the modern era, you do that with a UPVC door, it probably wouldn't hurt that much. Probably why they phased it out.

• 13:22Alice Levine?

  A deathly silence falls over the crowd, broken only by Margaret's gasping breaths. Then, a sickening crack pierces the square. The crowd lurches forward. Murderers! God have mercy! Guy fixes his eyes on the two laughing guards carrying Margaret's lifeless body from the scaffold. Anger swells in his chest, and in that moment, he vows to fight back against the oppressors of his faith. He thumbs the rosary beads in his jacket and swears he'll make the Queen and all those other filthy Protestants pay for what they've done.

• 14:06Matt Forde?

  What a thing for a sixteen-year-old to witness. Their neighbour, someone that I presume they'd have known pretty well, being crushed to death in public.

• 14:15Alice Levine?

  Yeah, horrendous. And Margaret wasn't just Guy Fawkes's neighbour. Margaret Clitheroe is her name. She's a huge deal. She supported, defended, protected the persecuted. In this case, she harboured Catholic priests. She converted to Catholicism, and then she was imprisoned in York Castle for not attending Protestant church several times. In fact, her child was born in prison. And she continued to be a safe haven for these priests, so much so that after her death, she was canonised by the Pope, so you should be saying Saint Margaret. She was one of the forty martyrs of England and Wales, so she, in her own right, is this phenomenal force.

• 14:56Matt Forde?

  And a saint!

• 14:57Alice Levine?

  A saint. Two weeks later, Stonegate Street, York. Guy eases open his bedroom window, clambers inside as moonlight spills into the room. He picks at the wet red paint under his fingernails, falls over a chamber pot. Christ's blood!

• 15:17Matt Forde?

  Do you know what? I'm always looking for a new phrase, because I don't like to follow the crowd. So I think from now on, if I stub my toe or if the fridge needs defrosting, I'm going to say, "Christ's blood".

• 15:29Alice Levine?

  If you were saying that in the time that we are in, in this series, that would be very serious. That's up there with the big swears. I mean, things that now we wouldn't have on daytime TV or a reputable podcast like Ass or Shit or Bollocks. Totally fine. If you are taking the Lord's name in vain, my darling, you are going to feel the wrath. He glances at the door, but all he can hear is a lone dog barking in the square. Shuffling across the room, Guy pushes the pot of paint under his bed. He's just graffitied the word "heretics" on the doors of York Minster. He smiles. It's a small act of rebellion, but it's a start.

• 16:12Alice Levine?

  Hearing footsteps in the hallway, he scampers into bed, pretends to be asleep, heart pounding under the woolen blanket. Panic surges in him as a stranger's leather-gloved hand tightens around his arm, hauling him out of bed. We have to go now. Pack what you need, fast. Guy's mother steps into the room, her face wet with tears. Someone took Margaret's body to give her a proper burial. Now the guards are rounding up Catholics. Guy's horrified as he contemplates what this means. They're in danger. The stranger hurries him again. I need to get you and your family to safety.

• 16:56Alice Levine?

  At the city wall, Guy watches in wonder as the stranger picks the lock of a small gate. Why are you risking everything to help us? The stranger turns, his hood casting a shadow over his eyes. This is how change happens.

• 17:10Matt Forde?

  I feel like locks don't get picked as much as they used to.

• 17:14Alice Levine?

  No, you don't hear about it.

• 17:15Matt Forde?

  Now it's all tech, isn't it? It's firewalls.

• 17:18Alice Levine?

  Like forgery, that's died a death.

• 17:19Matt Forde?

  Oh, forgery! Bring back forgery!

• 17:22Alice Levine?

  Bring back bloody forgery of signatures! Gorgeous! So honest, in a way. Guy pauses, remembers the sound of Margaret and her unborn baby being pressed in the square. He shudders. I want to help too. I'm not a child anymore. How do I join? The stranger presses a small folded piece of paper into Guy's hand. When you're ready, this person will help. Guy peers at the name and location scribbled in ink. His days of petty vandalism are over. It's time to fight back, make a real difference.

• 17:59Alice Levine?

  It's time to join the Catholic Underground. January 1590, Hampton Court Palace. Queen Elizabeth breathes in the crisp morning air. She smiles as she takes in Hampton Court's immaculate lawns. She's determined to spend the morning riding. It's the one precious respite she still clings to from her youth, a chance to escape the pressures of the palace. She starts to make her way towards the stables when her chief spy, Sir Francis Walsingham, appears at her side.

• 18:36Speaker 02

  I'm afraid there's been another intercepted letter, Your Highness.

• 18:42Alice Levine?

  Elizabeth sighs. Can't this wait? Elizabeth doesn't want to start the day being forced to listen to more vile plots from these petulant papists. When will the fools learn that England will not go back to Catholicism? She thought they'd have got the message when she executed their figurehead, her cousin, Mary, so-called Queen of Scots. But no.

• 19:05Speaker 02

  It seems there are still Catholics hell-bent on your assassination, Your Highness.

• 19:10Alice Levine?

  She snaps back. Assassination? Elizabeth feels her chest tighten. She spots her stable boy approach from the far gate, his cheeks flushed with the morning chill. She can't remember a time when her life hasn't been threatened by Catholic conspirators. I just want one hour. She dismisses Sir Francis. She fixes her eyes on her magnificent steed. Perhaps today she'll ride to the Great Pond. She quickens at the thought, eager to feel the horse beneath her. But then she sees the stable boy's face contort in pain. She stares in confusion, then horror, as he tears at his throat and collapses to the ground.

• 19:55Alice Levine?

  The horse rears in panic. She clutches at the reins to steady him, but searing pain shoots through her hand. She screams and lets go, just as her beloved horse drops down dead. Elizabeth lifts her hand in confusion. Her palm has broken out in angry red blisters. An icy chill rushes up her arm. As her vision narrows, she hears Sir Francis shout.

• 20:19Speaker 02

  Get a physician! Get a bloody physician! The Queen has been poisoned!

• 20:26Alice Levine?

  Three hours later, Elizabeth opens her eyes to the concerned whispers of her courtiers. Her head is pounding. She blinks. Sir Francis is at her bedside, holding a vial of clear liquid.

• 20:38Speaker 02

  It was found all over your saddle and reins, Your Majesty.

• 20:42Alice Levine?

  Elizabeth feels herself hardened, looks down at her bandaged hand. This is the closest those Catholic monsters have come. Regicide. One of the sides you don't hear about very much.

• 20:56Matt Forde?

  No, you hear homicide? Pesticide?

• 20:59Alice Levine?

  Left-hand side.

• 21:05Alice Levine?

  She cannot relax while Catholics are free. Elizabeth fixes her eyes on Sir Francis. She's going to tell him to hunt down and execute every Catholic priest he can find on English soil. Kill any person who helps them. She'll strike fear into the treasonous hearts of every Catholic in the land. And destroy this poisonous network of dirty papists, once and for all.

• 21:37Alice Levine?

  Later that year, Scotland Hall, Scotland, Yorkshire.

• 21:41Matt Forde?

  I love a big grand hall.

• 21:43Alice Levine?

  I adore. Big day out.

• 21:45Matt Forde?

  In those days, you'd have just thought, well, that's a rich person's house. These days, you'd go, wedding venue.

• 21:53Alice Levine?

  Guy stands in the dim hallway, his heart pounding in his chest. He feels for the secret latch hidden in the oak panelling. He finds the spot, presses, and with a soft click, the panel opens to reveal... A very trendy bar! No, I'm joking. A long, dark passageway. He leans in. Why is that now, though? That is the trend. Every bar is hidden behind, like a fake door to a fridge, or a fake bookcase.

• 22:21Matt Forde?

  Yeah, and actually, that is square footage not being profit maximised. Having a hipster in front of a fake fridge, you could have put a couple more tables there.

• 22:30Alice Levine?

  I love the idea of your hipster bar, which is as many chairs in it as possible. It's basically laid out like a stadium, everyone facing forward, and it's rows.

• 22:39Matt Forde?

  It's rows.

• 22:42Alice Levine?

  He leans in. They're coming. Stooped in front of him is a gaunt, tired man. He's still dressed in his religious robes, but they're creased and damp with sweat.

• 22:54Alice Levine?

  Guy clicks the panel back into position and stands alone in the empty hallway. As a thunderous knock rattles the door of the grand house. His mum appears at his side. He takes her shaking hands in his and signals towards the priest. He boards a ship for the Netherlands tomorrow. This is just for one night. Open up, in the name of the Queen! Guy takes a deep breath, looks at his mum, opens the door. The man before him is dressed in simple, practical attire. If it weren't for his Tudor rose insignia, he'd look like any other civilian. Where is he, Forks?

• 23:36Alice Levine?

  Blood rushes to his head, but he forces a smile. I have nothing to hide. But the man pushes past him and starts to scan the room. Guy can only watch as the man takes a small copper baton from his inside pocket. He starts to slowly drag it across the panalled walls. Guy winces at the noise. He can't imagine what it must sound like from inside. The man stops in the corridor. His hand moves methodically, tapping rhythmically, searching for any hint of a hidden space behind. Guy's pulse quickens as the man's hand comes to rest on the hidden priest hole. He watches as the priest hunter's hand rises and is about to come down with a hollow thud on the oak panel.

• 24:22Alice Levine?

  Guy's mind scrambles. He hears his mother from down the corridor. Sir, may I offer you a posset?

• 24:31Matt Forde?

  I love a posset. I think I've only ever had a lemon one, but they are delicious.

• 24:35Alice Levine?

  I think you're talking about the dessert. This is in fact ale with cream in it, which does sound like a dessert.

• 24:40Matt Forde?

  But that's even better, because that's booze plus pudding. Like, man, let's forget all this priest hunting.

• 24:48Alice Levine?

  Sweat beads on Guy's brow. He realises he's holding his breath. To his surprise, the priest hunter drops his hand and replies. That would be very welcome. An hour later, the priest hunter leaves the house. Guy slumps down, feeling light-headed. His mother is helping the priest out of his tight hole. She shakes her head. I'm sorry, Guy. I can't have you living here. I can't have this going on in my... He hangs his head, knows what she's saying is true. Where would I go? I'd be monitored if I... He's surprised to hear the priest speak up. Europe. Guy shoots back a look. Europe?

• 25:30Alice Levine?

  You could escape with me to the Netherlands, fight in the Holy War, alongside the King of Spain. Only one thing: you'll need to leave the name Guy Forks behind.

• 25:45Alice Levine?

  Guy stares back at him. He picks up a knife and starts to idly carve his name into the tabletop. He starts with G, then U, but pauses at Y. Instead, he carves a single line, an I, followed by a D and an O.

• 26:04Alice Levine?

  He looks at the name in the table. Guido. He'll escape with the priest, keep his family safe, fight in the Holy War, and reinvent himself as a Catholic revolutionary by the name of Guido Forks.

• 27:24Alice Levine?

  Six years later, March 15th, 1604, Westminster. Robert Catesby adjusts his purple velvet doublet as his tailor takes one final measurement. He stares at his tired expression in the mirror, picks at the few grey hairs in his otherwise neat beard. He's always prided himself on his elegant, yet practical attire. He believes it speaks of his quiet authority and his readiness for action. All ready for the King's coronation, sir. Catesby eyes his tailor. He's glad the odious blasphemer Elizabeth is dead. Catesby has friends who have promised him

• 28:05Alice Levine?

  that James intends to take a more lenient position towards Catholics such as himself. He can only hope the rumours are true.

• 28:14Matt Forde?

  Is this just that Elizabeth was so brutal that they're presuming anyone else is going to be less so, or was there more to it?

• 28:21Alice Levine?

  No, that's definitely fair, that it would be hard to be as harsh as Elizabeth was in her persecution of the Catholics. But James I, formerly King of Scotland, made sort of vague promises about making Catholics' lives easier. So there is hope in the air that their ability to practise their faith free from persecution, or even with just less persecution, is possible.

• 28:47Alice Levine?

  The tailor puts his tape measure over one shoulder. Will that be all today, Master Catesby? Catesby takes out his snuffbox, presses his thumbnail into the powder, and lifts it to his nostril. He takes a short, sharp sniff. Yes, thank you. He's about to leave when he notices the tailor hovering. Master Catesby, I'm afraid there's still the outstanding credit to be settled. Catesby clenches his jaw. In truth, he isn't quite sure how he's going to pay for his suit. The past few years have been hard. He's been forced to endure every conceivable humiliation Queen Elizabeth could throw at him. He's been imprisoned, had his considerable estate confiscated. He's even been spat at in the street.

• 29:33Alice Levine?

  Yes, yes, I will have my man settle it.

• 29:38Alice Levine?

  He pushes out into the throng of revelers lining the streets. He starts to let himself relax as waves of excitement and hope carry him along Whitehall when a glint of metal catches his eye. His blood runs cold. Beyond the cheering masses outside Westminster Yard, three severed priests' heads, impaled on spikes, stare back at him.

• 30:02Matt Forde?

  Settle your bills on time.

• 30:04Alice Levine?

  Oh, God.

• 30:05Matt Forde?

  These tailors do not muck about.

• 30:09Alice Levine?

  He remains fixed to the spot as crowds jostle around him. Catesby's grip tightens around his cane when he hears the sound of approaching guards. Robert Catesby? One of the guard's eyes follow his own to the severed heads. Curious to find a nobleman here, especially one known for his Catholic sympathies. Catesby recoils as he feels the two guard's hands on him. What is the meaning of this? He hears the velvet of his new jacket tear. Just a routine inspection. Direct orders from the King. Direct orders? But he's cut off. You lot thought you had it bad under the late Queen.

• 30:53Alice Levine?

  That's nothing to what the King's got planned for you, traitorous bastards. He feels a sharp jab to his ribs. His legs buckle. He looks up to protest and feels one of the guard's boots meet his face.

• 31:08Alice Levine?

  Catesby flinches as he hears an explosion above him. He lifts his hands to his ears as a passerby looks at him and laughs. It's only a bloody firework. He looks up to see three more rockets fire into the night sky and explode over Parliament, painting the sky with bursts of colour. Catesby's mind races. One rocket ignites, then falls from the sky into the Thames. As it sinks, Westminster comes into his view. And for the first time, an idea begins to form. He cannot bear the thought of decades more persecution. It has to stop, here, now.

• 31:52Alice Levine?

  His eyes settle back on Parliament. He knows there are others who share his burning desire to restore popish authority and the Catholic faith to English soil. To rid this country of this Protestant tyranny. But he'll need men, and there's one name at the top of his list.

• 32:17Alice Levine?

  Newport, Flanders, France. Guy Fawkes balances his cigarette in his mouth. He hunches behind a makeshift barricade, his scarred fingers expertly preparing a fuse. The smell of gunpowder and the rhythmic sound of cannons fill the air. He tentatively sticks his head above the parapet, shouts across at a subordinate. Dispea, el camino! Guy's been fighting alongside the Spanish Catholics in Europe since he fled from York. He collects his tools, ignites the fuse and scrambles back, boots squelching in the blood-soaked sand. A thunderous roar drowns out all sound as debris rains from the sky, demolishing a Dutch fortification.

• 33:03Alice Levine?

  Two hours later, Guy enters a crowded tavern in the Spanish-held town. The air is thick with tobacco smoke and spilled ale. He settles at the bar.

• 33:14Alice Levine?

  His eyes search for the one face he wants to see. He spots her serving a customer before she catches his eye and shuffles down towards him. Pint of your finest, love. She leans forward and gives him a kiss. I've got something else for you, too. A glint forms in Guy's eye, but his brow furrows as she produces two letters from behind a bottle of Spanish brandy. He examines the envelopes. One bears his mum's familiar scrawl. He feels a pang of guilt. He tucks it inside his pocket and takes in the other. An unfamiliar red wax seal. He feels Lena's eyes on him. I'll just be a moment. He retreats to a corner,

• 33:57Alice Levine?

  breaks the seal and tries to make out the elegant cursive. But as he reads, he feels a dark cloud flood his thoughts. His eyes scan the letter in confusion.

• 34:07Matt Forde?

  To the occupier, if you're thinking of selling your house, then we at Knight Frank specialise in selling properties in your area. This is junk mail, you don't have to give me this. Man.

• 34:17Alice Levine?

  The matter I wish to discuss with you is of the gravest importance and urgency. As you are well aware, our faith and our people suffer under the yoke of Protestant tyranny. I have devised a plan to strike at the very heart of the establishment.

• 34:37Alice Levine?

  Lena's voice snaps his focus back into the laughter of the pub. Hey, everything alright? He feels the warmth of her body as she glides in next to him. I've got fifteen minutes, we could... He takes in her heart-shaped face, then sees her hesitate. What? Guido, what is it? Is it your mother? He looks at her wide-eyed. I need to return home, to England. He pulls Lena to him. It's my mother, yes. She's... ill. He holds Lena's face in his hands, hears himself promise he'll be back, and immediately regrets it. Why would you even say that? He sees distrust in her eyes as Lena's father beckons for her to return to the bar.

• 35:23Alice Levine?

  He looks at the woman he loves and then creeps out the side door. He isn't sure when he'll be back.

• 35:30Alice Levine?

  He just knows he needs to take the first boat back to England and that he's leaving tonight.

• 35:40Alice Levine?

  Three days later, midnight, a clandestine Catholic church. Guy pulls his black cloak tighter around him and lowers his dark stovepipe hat over his face. A single candle illuminates the tiny chapel. His eyes study the shadows, searching for any sign that he might be walking into a trap. He reaches into his inside pocket, pulls out Robert Catesby's letter, rereads the instructions. The old chapel, beneath Saint Anselm's, midnight. He moves carefully down a narrow staircase. He crosses himself as he passes a small discreet alcove containing a rough wooden crucifix. He never imagined England would feel so alien, so unfamiliar.

• 36:24Alice Levine?

  He reaches the bottom of the stairs, pauses at the entrance to the secret chapel, gives three long knocks, followed by two short ones.

• 36:34Alice Levine?

  It's a moment before his eyes adjust to the darkness. There are figures kneeling in silence, heads bowed. Murmured prayers fill the air. His heart beats faster as he searches for the man he's supposed to meet. The only problem, he has no idea what Robert Catesby looks like. He glances at a figure seated at a small pew near the altar, shrouded in a dark cloak. Foul weather we're having. Guy stiffens, his eyes narrowing as he turns towards the voice. Aye, if you're not used to it. You've the look of a man who's spent time abroad. Guy's pulse quickens. If you've got something to say, say it. Otherwise, leave me to my prayers.

• 37:19Alice Levine?

  The stranger's eyes glint in the dim candlelight as he leans towards Guy. He whispers. Tell me, Mr. Fawkes, how do you find England after your time away?

• 37:32Alice Levine?

  Guy feels himself finally relaxed. Rotten to the core. Catesby rises from his pew. It's time to cut out the infection. Root and branch. Robert Catesby, I believe we have much to discuss. But not here. We've lingered too long already. Guy reaches out his hand, gripping Catesby's wrist before he can move away. I didn't cross the North Sea for secrets and silence. I need to know why I'm here. He slides a leather satchel from beneath his cloak and hands it to Guy. Guy opens it cautiously. His eyes scan maps and plans. In the flickering candlelight,

• 38:17Alice Levine?

  he can take in diagrams of buildings, notes on troop movements. I don't understand. He looks up at Catesby, flames in his eyes. An army, Mr. Fawkes. One to take back this country of ours. What's the trigger? What sets all this in motion? Catesby leans in closer. That is where I need your expertise. He feels Catesby's eyes on him. It's very simple, Mr. Fawkes. You are the trigger. Guy looks up in confusion, then curiosity. Perhaps this trip was worth it after all? Guy leans in.

• 39:03Alice Levine?

  I'm listening.

• 39:09Alice Levine?

  One week later, 10pm, the Thames. Guy hunches over in a small skiff, his numb fingers slipping on the oars as the putrid water laps at the side of the boat. Rain hammers his sodden black cape and drips from his hat as he retches from the stench of human sewage and river waste. Bloody Catesby! Catesby is refusing to give him any concrete details. In fact, all Guy's really learned of this damn plan is that Catesby's intending to build an army in the North and target the opening of Parliament. Matt, one of your favourite dates in the diary, I imagine.

• 39:47Matt Forde?

  I feel like this is an attack on my people. The opening of Parliament, which I recently am very pleased to say that I attended, is the biggest event in the parliamentary calendar. The monarch processes from Buckingham Palace to the Houses of Parliament. So not only have you got the Prime Minister, the Cabinet, the Leader of the Opposition, all the Privy Council, religious leaders in there, Lords. I mean, the most powerful people in the country are all gathered really within a few square metres of each other. This would be the event to target.

• 40:16Alice Levine?

  And some of our favourite broadcasters and stand-ups.

• 40:19Matt Forde?

  And friends of noble Lords, Prime Ministers. Yes, good people.

• 40:28Alice Levine?

  For the past three nights, Guy's been on a mission to scout Westminster, meticulously noting guard rotations and river escape points. He pulls out the soaking piece of parchment from his satchel, stares at the partially completed map of Westminster, but the ink runs in watery streaks. Bugga this! He rows towards a set of worn stone steps jutting from the riverbank. He's meeting Catesby in an hour and needs to make tracks. He heaves the boat up the riverbank as forked lightning splits the sky, illuminating two figures right before him. Guy's stomach lurches. Nice boat!

• 41:09Alice Levine?

  Guy starts to slowly creep back towards the water's edge when he hears the sudden clatter of hooves. He gazes up at the mounted figure, his polished armour, his self-satisfied grin, his absurd helmet adorned with a giant feather.

• 41:27Alice Levine?

  Guy takes in the man's breastplate and its unmistakable insignia, the King's Guard. What seems to be the problem here, gentlemen? Guy watches as the guards snap to attention. Suspicious character, sir. Skulking about on the river. The King's Guard dismounts his horse. Guy watches as he reaches into his pocket. His own hand tightens on his dagger as the man pulls out a small, green velvet bag. Then, to Guy's shock, he offers it to him. Sugared almond? Guy stares at him in confusion. He's heard stories of courtiers and their poison. He glances at the guards, but they look even more confused than he is. Is it a trap?

• 42:13Alice Levine?

  He's about to reply when the man retracts his pouch and instead fixes his gaze to the boat. Guy can only look on as he begins to poke around the skiff, prodding nets and ropes. What's in the bag? He panics. He's left the bag in the boat. The maps, the plans! Well then, let's have a look, shall we? He sees the King's Guard pause, his eyebrow twitch. He can't let the man look inside the bag. Catesby, the revolution. The future of England itself depends on it. Guy pulls his dagger from his holster, steadies his feet in the sodden earth and prepares himself to fight. Because if the contents of that bag are seen,

• 42:59Alice Levine?

  he's a dead man walking.

• 43:06Speaker 05

  Journalist Tristan Redman goes where no son-in-law should ever go. Deep into his wife's family history, digging up the cold case of who murdered her great-grandmother. Because, I should mention, he thinks the murderer might actually be the beloved family patriarch. For the best binge-watch series like Ghost Story, listen to the Audible True Crime Podcast wherever you get your podcasts.

• 43:26Speaker 06

  On January 24th, 2023, in Duckspree, Massachusetts, Patrick Clancy called 911. He had found his wife Lindsay badly injured and his three children dead and dying. What followed would become one of the most searing and complicated cases in recent memory, raising hard questions about motherhood, mental illness, and how far our justice system will go to understand what really happened. I'm Candace DeLong, host of the podcast Killer Psyche. In our latest episode, we take you inside the case of Lindsay Clancy, the postpartum psychosis defense, the courtroom battle, and the trial that just ended in a stunning mistrial.

• 44:10Speaker 06

  Follow Killer Psyche wherever you get your podcasts. Audible subscribers can listen to all episodes of Killer Psyche one week early and ad-free right now. Join Audible in the Audible app or by subscribing on Apple Podcasts.

• 44:32Alice Levine?

  Moments later, the banks of the Thames. Sir Thomas Percy glances anxiously at the bedraggled figure in the stovepipe hat standing before him. He keeps his eyes locked on the man's dagger as he reaches for his own sword. He never intended this to escalate. He has to get himself out of this mess. He leans forward, the feather in his helmet catching in the rain. I know you, Forks. I'm not your enemy. He sees a flash of confusion on Forks's face. He puffs his chest, asks again. What's in the bag? He watches Forks hesitate.

• 45:10Matt Forde?

  This is insane.

• 45:13Alice Levine?

  Can you imagine not knowing at any turn who is on your side and who's not?

• 45:17Matt Forde?

  And all they can do is whisper.

• 45:19Alice Levine?

  Whispering is playing a huge part in this revolution.

• 45:22Matt Forde?

  I'm on your side. I'm not on your side. Oh, God, do I trust his loud voice or his soft voice?

• 45:28Alice Levine?

  Percy used to be one of the king's best friends. But then James I went back on his promise of a more open, tolerant climate. And so he became Catesby's man on the inside, his eyes and ears in court, with the ear of the king. But he never imagined he'd be out in the rain risking his life. He lifts an eye to Forks. His heart pounds as he gives him an almost imperceptible nod, but he can't tell if Forks has understood. You OK, sir? Percy spins around, stares daggers at the guard who's spoken. He knows he's running out of time.

• 46:10Alice Levine?

  He snatches the sodden satchel from the boat, pretends to thumb through the contents. Gentlemen, I do apologize for this inconvenience. He swallows hard as he snaps the satchel shut. He thrusts it back into Forks's hands, turns back to the guards. This is my new manservant. He's northern, always wandering off. Aren't you, lad? Percy holds the guard's gaze. He's not going to risk his head being on a spike at traitor's gate for this imbecile. He carefully takes off one of his white leather gloves, then, quick as a flash, thwacks it around Forks's face.

• 46:51Alice Levine?

  He thinks he sees every muscle in Forks's body tighten, but Forks lowers his head. I...I'm very sorry, sir. I must have got lost. He looks out of the corner of his eye, sees the guards exchange glances, decide there's nothing dodgy going on. Relief floods through Percy's body as the guards disappear into the rain, but it's short-lived. Before he knows it, he's being slammed against a wall, the sharp point of a dagger poking into his ribs. Who are you? Percy hisses, his bravado gone. Thomas Percy, you bloody idiot. Catesby sent me.

• 47:33Alice Levine?

  He sees Guy's face soften, feels his grip loosen. He doesn't like this man one bit, but he's promised Catesby he'll do all he can to protect his men. And right now, that means getting this thug to where he needs to be.

• 47:56Alice Levine?

  An hour later, the Duck and Drake, London. Guy paces nervously. He glances at the ticking clock, eyes narrowing. He scowls at Percy. Catesby should be here by now. If you're lying to me, Percy, I'll gut you like a fucking fish.

• 48:13Matt Forde?

  I don't agree with everything that Guy Forks did, but his emphasis on punctuality is something that I really admire.

• 48:19Alice Levine?

  Percy smiles and puts his feet upon a chair. He'll be here. Then a voice cuts through the silence. Gentlemen. Catesby strides in, flanked by two strangers. Guy reaches for his dagger, his eyes flitting between the unfamiliar faces and Catesby, sees him give a dismissive wave. Easy, soldier. I vouch for these men with my life. This is Thomas Wintour and John Wright. Guy ignores them. Instead, he thrusts the soaking satchel into Catesby's hands. Next time, do your own stupid reckies. I'm sick of stinking like shit. I'm sick of being in the dark.

• 49:04Alice Levine?

  Percy rolls out Guy's sketched plans on the rickety table and clears his throat. Guy and the others huddle round. Catesby points at Parliament Square. We're going to strike at the heart of the Protestant regime, the state opening, three months' time. Catesby lets the words hang in the air. Guy sighs. It's the one piece of information he does know. The king, his family, both houses, they'll all be there. Guy watches Catesby take out a small leather pouch from his pocket. He empties a thimble-sized heap of black powder onto the table.

• 49:44Alice Levine?

  Guy's eyes widen at the familiar substance, at the acrid, sulfuric smell. He jumps back as Catesby reaches for a nearby candle and touches the flame to the pile. Sparks dance across the table. What are you trying to do? Kill us all? Catesby's eyes are gleaming in the light. Imagine this, but thousands of times more powerful. Silence falls across the room, broken only by the ticking clock.

• 50:17Alice Levine?

  What I propose is the most daring assault on the English crown this nation has ever witnessed. Guy fixes his eyes on Catesby. By reducing Parliament to rubble. Guy looks at Catesby in disbelief. To rubble? He watches as a mad grin spreads on Catesby's face. So, Mr. Forks, are you in or are you out?

• 50:54Matt Forde?

  You've been listening to British Scandal, an Audible original. Produced by Audible with Samizdat. Hosted by me, Matt Ford.

• 51:01Alice Levine?

  And me, Alice Levine. This is the first episode in our series, Guy Forks.

• 51:09Matt Forde?

  A quick note about our dialogue. In most cases, we can't know exactly what was said, but all our dramatizations are based on historical research.

• 51:17Alice Levine?

  If you'd like to know more about this story, you can read Faith and Treason by Antonia Fraser and The Real Guy Forks by Nick Holland. Written by Andy Sheridan. Additional writing by Alice Levine and Matt Ford. Our story editor is James Maniac. Sound design by Richard Ward. Our engineer is Jay Williams. For Samizdat, our producer is Chika Ayers. Our assistant producer is Redsey Bernard. The executive producers for Samizdat were Joe Sykes and Dashilis Zina. Executive producers for Audible were Theodora Leludis and Astell Doyle.

• 51:58Speaker 07

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• 52:41Speaker 07

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• 53:39Speaker 07

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