A Strange Combination of History and Fun
You have to look here for the history but, there is some. The fun is easy to spot! But....despite possible lack of conventions of the day...Why the misspellings? Names well known at the time- Percy for example? One can also only say that some of the events somehow resemble the plot in a vague sort of way. History is clearly subservient to the dramatic element. One interesting thing is that there seems no bias. No judgment for or against the Catholic plotters. One thing in all of the chaos and confusion is that these men are brave desperados worthy of our awe and fear and,  that the play is a jolly good time. Fawkes captured here is certainly no fool but neither is he any more than a dramatic man of action. Read on and explore the action for yourself! Click here to begin.

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Hodgson’s Juvenile Drama

Piercy. It is daybreak.—Hark! Someone knocks at the gate, and dreams not that Piercy has not yet enjoyed his bed.—Stephen, you may retire to rest; I will attend the gate. (Stephen bows and retires.)

Now to the gate, and discover who it is that thus, at break of day, demands admission.

(Piercy goes to the gate, opens it, and

Tresham enters.)

Pier- Well, friend, what is your business with me?

Tres. Is it possible that you forget me?

Pier.(Aside) I have some knowledge of his countenance:--still he is not connected with our party in the plot.—I do forget you; therefore, your name and business?

Tres. My name is Walter Tresham; and if misfortune has not deprived me of every feature known to friendship, Hugh Piercy will not forget that Walter Tresham was once his school-fellow.

Pier- Nay, I rejoice to see you! And have to ask my friend, what soil has kept him from his native England?

Tres- You know full well that Eleanor, my wife, the sister of Monteagle, offended her proud family by her union with me.—Spurned and insulted, poverty seemed fast approaching, when we sought that peace in France which Providence denied us here.—Alas! ‘twas all an idle fantasy! Despoiled of every hope, even there our fate seemed portioned out in misery; and dark despair has once more sent us here, to claim the aiid of generous Piercy, and gain the friendship of Monteagle for my wife and child.

Pier- Tresham, I should wish to serve you; but we live in curious times; the rich and great are not too hasty in their wish to serve the poor;-- but what caused you to pay this early visit?

Tres- Because I thought it likely to find you at home.

Pier- And why at this time?

Tres- I have heard the world speak of you.

Pier- And what have you heard the world say against Hugh Piercy?—(alarmed:)

Tres- Nothing against him;--more in his favour. Nay, if report speaks true, Piercy has changed the day to night, and has left the follies of this life for the more exalted exercise of sound philosophy.

Cates-(Within) Where-where is master Hugh Piercy?

Tres- Some one calls you: I expected to have found you alone and disengaged.

Pier- My business is but trifling; therefore, let me not disturb you.—You perhaps will favour me by remaining here till I return, when I have much to say and hope to prove your friend. (Exit.)

Tres- Ah, Piercy! I want a friend, not for myself but for a virtuous, lovely wife, and our poor innocent and helpless child!—I sink with fatigue! In an arbour I can sit and rest myself, till my friend Piercy shall return.

(He goes into arbour, and sits down—Music—and he falls asleep.)

Catesby and Digby enter.

Cates- Well, Sir Everard, is all prepared for the execution of our design?

Dig- Everything—We have found a man daring and resolute: his name is Guido Fawkes; and he not only consents to lend his aid, but is anxious to put our plans in execution.

(A bugle is heard).

Cates-Ha! The signal!—and see our friends in yonder barge!

(A barge appears with conspirators-Robert Winter, Caies, Rockwood, Guy Fawkes, etc.)

Piercy enters- The Conspirators land; then Guy Fawkes comes down.

Piercy- Welcome, Guido Fawkes!—our party are <<??ger>> in the cause and long to see this injured country free,

Guy- And is this all who are to undertake it!?—Aha! Guido Fawkes can do without you!—Lead me to the place where the deed is to be done; and though Perish with the victims pointed out, I will not tremble in the hour of death.

Pier- One request we have to make;--our cause is desperate; and the secret once divulged, our destruction would be certain.—Will you swear to be secret?

Guy- Swear?—No!—if you think I am not to be trusted I will depart.—But, if I am to remain, I hope this arm may wither if it once falters in your cause! Let me away to the spot of death -- place the lighted match in my hand—and as the stately victims groan in agony, Guido Fawkes will laugh in the grasp of death, and listen as they cry—

Tres. (dreamin) Spare them!—Oh, spare them

(All the conspirators rush up to Tresham and drag him to front of stage. They are going to stab him, when Guy interferes, and speaks.)

Guy- Hold!—let that be my business—leave him to me, and I will manage him!

Pier.-Gentlemen, spare him! For he is my friend.

Guy- Then, if he is your friend, will he befriend your cause?—Say! Does he agree to this?—for should he not, his fate is sealed!

Tres- If your cause is honourable, or if my friend Piercy will be answerable, I consent.

Pier- Join us, Tresham, and save yourself!

Tres- Then I consent,

All- Swear! Swear to be secret!

Tres- I swear!

Guy- Now Follow; and we will explain our purpose -- Away!

Enter Lady Alice with Margaret

Mar- I say it is always so: you are ever talking about love; and I look upon love to be the most ridiculou thing in the world.

Alice- You may think so; but what is a poor lady to do who has little else to think of?—I can only assure you, Dame Margaret, if I did not amuse myself a little in that way, I should be sadly perplexed in fillng up my leisure Hours!—But it is time to drop the subject; for, see! The king honours us with a visit.

Enter King James, attended and followed by the Earls of Suffolk and Salisbury.

King- Good morrow, fair Alice!—the bloom of health is playing on thy cheek, and beauty animates thy cheerful countenance.

Alice- I pass my hours in contentment; and when I reflect that my sovereign is my protector—nay more than protector-for in him I have found a father—my heart beats with gratitude, and it adds new sweetness to my happy hours.

King- Foregad! I will soon make thee more happy; for I expect a Cornish knight, Sir Tristram Collywobble, and he shall be your husband.

Alice- Sire, I know it is my duty to obey your commands; and I should wish to do so in every point; but when my heart, my peace, my happiness are in question, I trust you will forgive me, when I refuse the addresses of this Cornish knight.

King- Foregad! I am in a pretty situation for a king, when I cannot be obeyed in one simple particular!—Never mind! Never mind! You shall receive my kindness better the next time I go husband-hunting for you!- Come, my lords!—come!

(Exit King with Salisbury and suffolk, Attendants , etc.)

Alice- No!—much as I value the king’s favour, I can never consent to this marriage!—My heart is not at my disposal, no more than my hand; and since nature tells me I have found him who is in every respect worthy the name of husband and friend, no power on earth shall force me to act contrary to true honour’s dictates.

(Exit with Margaret.

Monteagle enters, and perceives her exit,

Mont- Too late! One instant sooner, and I should have met the most charming of her sex! Amiable and unaffected, she charms all around her: and where her beauty may be hidden or forgot, her accomplishments and wit are sure to make her lovely! I’ll now to the levee room, where I, perhaps, may once more meet the eyes of angelic Alice.

(He is about to enter the levee room when a yeoman stops him.)

Yeo- My lord, you cannot pass.

Mont- Cannot!—I was with the king yesterday, and –

Teo- That is very true, my lord; but a day makes a great change at court.

Mont- True: courtiers must expect favour one day, and frowns the next. What have we here?—methinks a strange composition to grace a levee room!

Sir Tristram Collywobble enters.

Col- Pray, sir, can you tell me where I can find the King?

Mont- Yes, sir: you may find him in the levee room.

Col- The levee room!-pray, sir, are you a courtier?

Mont- I certainly have the honour, sir.

Col- Then that’s enough: I’ll make you my friend.

Mont- If I can serve you, I shall be happy.

Col- Then you can most materially:--You see, I have come to court; and now I am here, I wish to know how I am to behave myself.

Mont- You must bow, and cringe, and be as servile as possible: then you will not only gain a great name, but secure royal favour. Nay, every splendid fool you must greet with lowly reverence—coincide with all opinions-scandalize, betray, and speak ill of those who do good; and then you will behave in a manner that will at once constitute the true courtier.

(Exit.)

Col- That’s it?—Well, if I am to greet every splendid fool with reverence, first of all I’ll bow to this man at the door; and I dare say he’s a very great man in his way.

(Collywobble bows to the yeoman, who returns it, and both exeunt.)

Tresham enters, with a Letter.

Tres- At all events, I will endeavour to save Monteagle: he is my wife’s brother; and I cannot be so dead to feeling, as to see him fall a victim to such a dark conspiracy. Oh! That I e’er should be so unfortunate as to league myself with traitors!

(knocks a the door, and

Geoffry enters.)

Geof- Well, what is your business here?

Tres- I wish you to deliver this letter to the Lord Monteagle.

Geof- I cannot: I have his lordship’s orders not to receive any letters: if it is of any consequence, you can present it to the steward, and he will give you an answer.

(exit.)

Tres- Then I must see his lordship. Thus I is to deal with such myrmidons! But, luckily for his lordship, he is now coming this way; and I will do him this act of kindness.

Monteagle enters

Tres- My lord, receive this letter -- peruse it attentively -- and do not slight its contents!

(This speech is delivered mysteriously, and Tresham exits.)

Mont-

Some mystery!—I will peruse it.---What is the purport?—(misses Tresham)—Gone!—What Ho! Within there! (reads letter ) Ha! It is a letter warning me not to attend the House! This is strange; and must be laid before the council.

Geoffry enters.

Geoffry, did you notice a person of mysterious character lurking about the mansion?

Geof- I did, my lord.

Mont- Quick! Pursue him, and let him be brought before me. Business of some import to the state calls me hence: I must away to the council.

(Exeunt.)

Scene IV.

Tresham’s Lodging..-Night.Thunder, etc.

Eleanor Discovered.

Elea- This suspense is dreadful!—Oh, Tresham! You think not that Eleanor is thus miserable during your absence!—Surrounded by poverty, misfortune still hanging o’er us—and little hope remaining of bettering our condition,--death would be bliss, compared with living under such awful calamities!

(Footsteps heard, and Tresham enters wildly.—

Eleanor is astonished.)

Tres- My wife! Oh, hide me from the light of heaven!—I am pursued; and if discovered, my life, perhaps will be the forfeit!

Elea- Here! Here! –conceal yourself behind this screen!—and leave the rest to me.

(she conceals him behind the screen, and Geoffry enters.)

Geof- Have you seen a man pass this way, good lady?

Elea- I have not: are you pursuing one?

Geof- I am; and shall be sorry if I do not arrest him; for I think, from all appearances, he is a very bad character.

Elea- I cannot assist you; for I know him not:--but you had better proceed, or you may miss him altogether.

Geof- Right! I will therefore follow: but should you see him, I trust you will take care of him.

Elea- I will take care of him, you may be certain.

Geof- Thank you! Thank you!

(Exit.)

(Eleanor runs to door, and bolts it after his exit.)

Elea- Tresham, come forth! All is well! Providence will not forsake us, and we shall yet be happy.

Tres- (Advances to front of stage, kneels, and exclaims)

Gracious heaven, I thank thee!

(Eleanor joins him in thankfulness.)

King- My lords! What think you of this letter, delivered to us by the Lord Monteagle?

Salis- I think, my liege, it is a mere trick of his lordship’s to gain your royal favour.

King- We shall know more about it anon: Suffolk has been sent to search and make strict enquiries. But if I find my Lord Monteagle trifling with our authority, he shall find us a free king, and shall be dealt with accordingly.

Enter Suffolk and Monteagle

Well, my lords, what tidings? Have you made diligent search?

Suf- We have, my liege! But have discovered nothing to strengthen the purport of that letter.

King- Have you seen any arms?

Mont- Your majesty’s arms alone: and I trust there is but little or no foundation for our fears.

King-Fears! Oh, then, you imagined this letter would alarm us? My lord, we must not be thus trifled with! And perhaps it would be better for your lordship to attend strictly to more weighty matters, than thus to waste your time in playing tricks of idle folly on your lawful sovereign.—This way, gentlemen!

(Exit with council.)

Mont- So this is the reward for my loyalty!—I am amazed at his displeasure, when my motive was so honourable. Oh, Vanity! Thou parent of Ambition, I’ll forsake thee -- fly to some solitude, where kings are never seen, and forget that courtiers build their fortunes on the ruin of their brethren.—I must forget it all!---Still, if there is a possibility of diving into this mystery it shall be done; and Monteagle will convince his enemies that he is loyal, true, and honourable!

Elea- Alas! Every circumstance tends to increase our affliction! And my husband’s terror and anxiety makes me very unhappy! There he sleeps in restlessness, and seems to dream of something too dreadful to divulge even to her whose heart and soul would willingly be sacrificed for his peace and happiness!

Tres- (From within) Monteagle! Hear—oh, hear me!—(Entering Agitated) Ha! He will not hear me! And even now the dreadful deed is done!-See!—see the unhappy victims, suffering the most excruciating agony, and nothing now can save them!

Elea- Tresham, what is it thus alarms you!—tell me! And I, perhaps, may calm your agitation.

Tres- It is impossible! I have promised, and I must perform!

Elea- Remember! Tresham, you have promised eternal love to your wife!—I know you love your child; and if any man, or set of men, can make you forsake us, fly—fly at once, and join them, if the object is to crown yourself with happiness!

Tres- No, Eleanor! Happiness has forever left me! I have joined in a certain business, which I cannot disclose, because I have taken a most dreadful oath!

Elea- Entrust me with the secret! And here, before heaven, I’ll swear—

Tres- No, Eleanor! You shall not know that, which, once past my lips, will stain my fair character, and prove me traitor! But it never shall be said that Tresham lived to betray his king and country, and leave his wretched wife and child to suffer persecution for his crimes!—Thus! Thus I will free myself and them! And heaven I hope will forgive the only means I have remaining to be honest!

(He seizes a pistol, and attempts to shoot himself. Eleanor seizes it, and with great courage prevents him.)

Elea- Fie! Treham;--oh, fie! I thought you too bold a spirit thus to unman yourself!

(A bugle sounds.)

Tres- Ha! The fatal signal!—Eleanor, my love, farewell!—to heaven’s care I consign both you and our little innocent!—Remember me! –pray for me! –and-(Bugle sounds again.)

-- when St. Peter’s clock strikes twelve— the deed will be accomplished! Farewell! Farewell!

(He rushes out. She attempts to stop him in vain, and follows him, evidently alarmed.)

(Monteagle enters).

Mont- The more I think of the king’s treatment, the more I am vexed! My loyalty is suspected; and if chance makes me acquainted with any conspiracy against the state, although I may wish to check it, I perhaps may fall a victim to my loyalty. The letter delivered so mysteriously cannot be forgotten: and I would readily retire from public observation, but for the love I bear the Lady Alice; who, as the orphan ward of King James, must give her hand where he directs. Ha! Who have we here?

Enter Sir Tristram Collywobble.

Col- Oh, lovely, lovely Alice!

Mont- Lovely Alice! (aside)

Col- She is the most beautiful of her sex! And I love her—(Sees Monteagle) My lord, I am happy to see you!

Mont- Sir Tristram Collywobble, the happiness is mutual; and if I can serve you, you may command me.

Col- Indeed! Then I’ll tell you a secret.

Mont- Proceed.

Col- I am in love!

Mont- Who is the blessed lady?

Col- Why, the Lady Alice.

Mont- So! You love the lady Alice! (aside.) Very pleasant, truly.

Col- And I want you to stand my friend.

Mont- How?

Col- Look there!—you see the Lady Alice is coming; therefore you ,perhaps, will be kind enough to show me how to make love to her!

Mont-Certainly: and shall enjoy the opportunity of doing you so pleasing a service.

Lady Alice Enters- Monteagle takes her hand.

Mont- Lady! Whose beauty is the admiration of all around you, behold in me one who speaks the language of his heart, although now speaking for another!

Col- That’s just what I should have said!—Go on!—Now kneel and say something else.

Mont- (kneels) What shall I say?

Col- Say how much I love her; and assure her that my only wish is to call her my lady.

Mont- You, perhaps, do not imagine how much I love you; and the greatest delight your humble suitor can acknowledge , will be in calling the lovely Alice his friend, his partner, and hiss wife!

Col- How well he understands my manner!

Alice- My lord, an address so uncommon from you surprises me a little.

Mont- You are not to suppose that I have been speaking for myself: I have been making love for Sir Tristram Collywobble; and hope, in expressing his feelings, that I have not outraged those of one who is here- (placing his hand on his heart)—so highly respected.

Col- This is a very clever fellow; and he has nearly made me perfect.—Now, my lord we will go, if you please; for I want a word with you in private.

Mont- Sir Tristram, I am at your service.—Lady Alice, your goodness will excuse us! Till we meet again, be this remembered! ( Kissing her hand.)

Col-There you were wrong: I should have done that. But I’ll forgive you this time.

Mont- Come, Sir Tristram!—Ha! Ha! Ha!

Col.-(Looking at Lady Alice as he goes off) Ha! H! Ha! Ha!

Alice- (Solus) If Sir Tristram Collywobble is a sample of his majesty’s chusing, I think it would be more congenial with my wishes to remain as I am.—But no: Monteagle is the very man, of all others, I should fix upon; and him I will have, in spite of kings, courtiers, or Collywobbles!

Cates- Is all ready?

Rock- Aye: there are thirty-six barrels of gunpowder so situated, that once set fire to, if the king and all his court are above it, they must perish!

Guy- I shall be happy when St. Peter’s clock strikes twelve; for then we shall give liberty to a nation!

Rock- Look to the doors, Caies!

Piercy, Tresham, and Digby enter.

Dig- The time fast approaches!—the king will take his seat at twelve o’clock; and then, if we only do our duty, we shall be crowned with glory!

Winter enters.

Win- Why do you stand here?—the king, queen, and the Prince of Wales will be together to-day in the Parliament House, and will take their seats as the clock strikes twelve. The young prince is to remain at the palace, and the Princess Elizabeth will be at Lord Harrington’s. Piercy, you can gain admission to the palace, and rid us of the prince!

Pier- It shall be done! But how do you dispose of the princess?

Dig- My friendship with Lord Harrington will be my passport into his family; and I will dispatch the princess.

Grant Enters

Grant- My friends, I bring glorious news!—the peers, with their wives and families, have assembled! The king will be there by twelve.

Dig- And then the echoes from St. Peter’s clock will speak a nation’s freedom.

Guy- Now my comrades, farewell! I may never see you again, it is true; but I care not for that, if we only succeed.—Farewell! Farewell!

Dig- Tresham, you had better go into the vault, and see that all is right. We will each to our various posts, and say farewell, till we shall greet each other as our country’s saviors.

Guy- This is a situation most men would be afraid of: but I am not afraid to die. How many are there without, whose feelings would paralyze them, were they to hear that one man lived who could thus willingly place himelf upon the brink of death, and look into the dark abyss with more than mortal pelasure!—(Distant sound of trumpets.)

Ha! The procession advances!—the king, the queen, the court will soon be seated!—their minds, riveted alone to stately splendour, will not anticipate so short a road to eternity; and as St. Peter’s clock strikes twelve, the gaping crowd will view a scene of desolation, nor dream that heaven has sent an individual bold enough to punish Tyranny, and give a great and powerful people freedom!—Now the train is ready!—

(Monteagle, at back, gropes his way across, and exits, after hearing the last part of Guy’s speech.)

I must listen attentively: but first it will be as well to remove the faggots, and be in a state of readiness.

(Guy removes the faggots, and the thirty-six barrels of gunpowder are discovered. By the time he has removed them, St. Peter’s clock strikes "Twelve!". He lays the train, and sets fire to it when Monteagle enters, cuts the train with his sword and exclaims,

Mont- Villain! Forbear!

Guy-Ha! Treachery!—am I then betrayed?

Mont- Heaven whose power is always ready to assist the innocent, has exposed thee!—Villain! Submit! Or by my hand you perish!

(A scuffle between Monteagle and Guido Faweks. Guards enter, and a picture is formed.)

(Enter Monteagle and Sir Tristram, Singing.)

Mont- I think, Sir Tristram, you are now accomplished enough in love affairs to win the hearts of all the ladies of our court.

Coil- Yes, I certainly begin to feel more consequence:-- but here comes the lady, and you shall just hear me speak a few lines of poetry to her, which I composed last night after I went to bed; and if they don’t completely conquer her, say my name isn’t Collywobble!

Lady Alice enters.

Col- Lady, as I am going to make love to you, I kneel thus; and all I have to say is:--

The moon is bright,

It gives us light,

Which you may plainly see, I declare,

If you’ll lend your sight

On a moonlight night,

And see its beams, and all that there.

So, if you love me,

Only say so,

For dearly I love you;

And here I’ll be,

As you may see,

Till you say you love me true.

What do you think of that, my lord?

Mont- Beautiful! Is it your own composition?

Col-Every bit, I declare!—and I only read it six times after it was written, to make my corrections.

Alice- Upon my word, Sir Tristram, your poetry is enchanting!

Col- I knew it would catch her.

Mar-(Entering) My lady, your company is requested at the palace.

Alice-(Aside to Monteagle) Follow me, my lord!

(she puts Margaret in her place, and exits with Monteagle.)

Mar- (Pulls down her veil) Sir Knight?

Col- My lady- I am kneeling!—(Aside) I wish she’d tell me to get up.

Mar- Rise, Sir Knight!

Col- I do with pleasure, most adorable!

The moon is bright, Etc.

(Collywobble does not discover his mistake, but goes off, leading Margaret and reciting his poetry.)

Tgresham and Catesby enter.

Cates- Tresham, you are a traitor! And have betrayed us.

Tres- Catesby, ‘tis false! But false or, true, I am not a traitor!—but will face a traitor, and punish his presumption thus!—

(A scuffle between Tresham and Catesby; Catesby is disarmed. Eleanor enters as Tresham points his sword at Catesby’s breast.)

The Procession enters, composed of Officers, Guards, Executioner, Guido Fawkes, and others, proceeding to the Place of Execution.

Scene the Last.

Digby’s House, shewing the Kitchen and Upper Story.

All the Conspirators are discovered, and appear very much alarmed.—There are some barrels of gunpowder, which are supposed to be damp, placed dear the fire to dry, without being in danger of blowing up.—A noise is occasionally heard from without.---A cloth hangs on a line from the fire to the barrel.

Dig.-Alas! We have no hope left—escape is cut off!

Pier.- At all events, let us perish like men! Since our fate is sealed.

Cates.- Aye, my comrades! We have been betrayed! Therefore, let’s die here, and thus escape the disgrace of a public execution!

Win-Agreed!

Caies.- Agreed!

Pier.- Let us place ourselves before the upper story, and receive the fire of the military

.

Rock- Aye! Any thing sooner than linger in a prison and then be hanged like dogs.

Cates.- Come, my friends, follow me! And let us all die together!

All.- Follow him! Follow him!

(They all go up to the window.)

(As Piercy goes up, he touches the line accidentally—the cloth falls into the fire, one part remaining on the barrel.)

Per.- (Addressing Guards) Here you behold us, Ready to die!—Fire! For we are determined never to be taken alive!

(The guards fire from without—the cloth burns to the barrel—the powder catches fire, and a grand explosion takes place, which destroys the conspirators, and the Drama ends.)

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