5 Things You Probably Didn't Know About The Gunpowder Plot
4. The Gunpowder Plot Was Religiously Motivated
One of the big forgotten aspects of the Gunpowder Plot is that it was religiously motivated instead of being politically motivated. It's easy to see why people think it was a matter of politics with the House of Lords being the target, but the plot was created with the intention of killing anti-Catholic King James I. It was just convenient for the plotters to target the House of Lords as all King James I's advisers would be there also.
Fellow conspirator Thomas Percy had links with the House of Lords as one of his family members served there, making it relatively easy to access. However, Percy ended up becoming the whistle blower on the plot. The entire operation was foiled after an anonymous letter was sent to the House of Lords warning them of the attack and research concluded that the letter came from Percy. Percy was killed in a shootout with the law a few days later.
Catesby worked with a group of nine other men (including Guy Fawkes) to map out their plan and cause of action to eradicate King James I from the English throne. Even though Guy Fawkes is largely recognised now as an anti-establishment, anti-authoritarian figure, he was in fact neither and was instead focused on restoring Catholicism as the figurehead religion of England.