The Illustrated Guide to Terrorism
Chapter 2: A History of Terrorism
Page 5: The Plot Begins
Young James VI of Scotland closeup.
NARRATOR
Autumn 1602. Elizabeth’s dying. Next in line is Scotland’s king James VI. James firmly believes that a king has absolute power, and the “divine right” to rule.
JAMES
And we kings have to protect our power — at all costs!
Thomas Percy meeting with James IV and a member of his court.
NARRATOR
Catesby’s buddy THOMAS PERCY has ridden all the way to Edinburgh to find out whether James plans to ease up on the official persecution of Catholics.
James was a master of letting people hear what they WANTED to hear, without actually SAYING it.
JAMES
Wouldn’t it be nice if we all just got along?
COURTIER
Indeed, your highness.
PERCY
That’s just what we wanted to hear! Wait’ll I tell the Catholics back in England!
King James I speaking with a courtier.
NARRATOR
A few months later, Elizabeth died, and James was crowned King James I of England. At first, things were looking hopeful indeed.
JAMES
All these laws punishing Catholics for their faith… we don’t see any need to enforce them, do we?
COURTIER
If you want my opinion-
JAMES
Who asked you? We are telling you how it’s gonna be.
James I looking dubious.
NARRATOR
But by mid-1604, it was clear that the king had no intention of making tolerance OFFICIAL.
JAMES
Abolish laws against treason?
Legalize opposition to my own legitimacy?
I’m “Defender of the Faith” for a reason, you know.
Upset cavalier-looking dude
NARRATOR
Catholics felt disappointed…
UPSET CAVALIER-LOOKING DUDE
“Disappointed?” You mean betrayed!
Thomas Percy and Robert Catesby looking agitated.
NARRATOR
But most weren’t what you’d call “angry.” For 70 YEARS they’d been living with a Protestant England. Fighting back was the furthest thing from their minds… except for a few like Percy and young Catesby.
PERCY
Let’s face it, Robin: The world’s not gonna change itself.
CATESBY
We were fools to hope.
We must force the world to change!
Percy and Catesby stick figures
PERCY
“…force?”
US?
Sure, we wear capes (and how cool is that) but — no offense — we’re not exactly fighting men.
CATESBY
Maybe not. But I know someone who is.
Map showing Flanders across the Channel from England.
NARRATOR
Catesby sent word to Flanders (northern Belgium, today), where many Catholic men had escaped English persecution by joining the Spanish army.
MESSENGER
Fox?
Is there a guy named Fox here?
Got a message for an Englishman named Fox!
SOLDIER VOICES
You mean good old Gunpowder Guido?
One of the finest soldiers I know!
You’ll have to wait. He’s over yonder right now, mining to blow up the enemy’s fort.
Group of plotters drinking at a bar. Names captioned: Robert Catesby, Thomas Percy, Guido Fawkes, Thomas Winter, Jack Wright.
NARRATOR
Guido dropped everything to come back and help his friends. Soon, in May 1604, some angry young Catholic men gathered at the ‘Duck & Drake’ (the most popular pub in London.)
[SUGGESTED EDIT: Move the period to the outside of the parentheses.]
PERCY
I said, spies can’t eavesdrop if they can’t hear us over the noise!
CATESBY
I can barely hear us over the noise!
PERCY
What?
FAWKES
So your plan is… I blow up… everyone?
WINTER
That’s right! Then we can get a new government.
WRIGHT
A Catholic government!
(Maybe persecute the bleedin’ C. of E. for a change!)
Set us up another, Bill. My round.
Robert Cecil lounging in a heavy wooden armchair.
NARRATOR
Now would be a good time to introduce ROBERT CECIL.
Brilliant man. Manipulates money almost as well as he manipulates people.
Previously Elizabeth’s royal counselor, he’s so good at his job that James has kept him around.
If there’s anything in England worth knowing, you can bet Cecil knows it.
CECIL
For example, I know ale’s not the only thing brewing down at the Duck & Drake.
I do believe I detect an opportunity.