In quintum Novembris -
In Search of Poetry Relating to the Gunpowder Plot
This piece is the start of a longer study that I am working on, looking at the Gunpowder Plot and its place in Apocalypse culture of the 17th century and beyond.
Links between drama and the Gunpowder Plot continue to be made. Macbeth is the most obvious play that allegedly draws on the Gunpowder Treason of 1605 . James Shapiro has also tried to connect King Lear to the Plot (SHAPIRO) . Contemporary plays which used the event for dramatic effect included John Martson's Sophonisba,Thomas Dekker's The Whore of Babylon, and Barnabe Barnes' The Devils Charter (WILLS) . From the 17th century until well into the 19th century regular sermons and an annual Church of England service of deliverance reminded the congregations of the failure of the 'Plot . Of course the most important commemoration takes place on Bonfire Nights even though by the 21st century the growing popularity of Halloween is usurping November 5th as the popular Autumn festival in many regions (SHARPE).
Although of course the famous 'Remember, Remember, the 5th November ' rhyme was popular. Generally speaking, poetry has not particularly shaped the national view of the Gunpowder Plot.And it has been hard to locate texts of contemporary examples . A Fellow of the University of Cambridge , Thomas Goad wrote Chithara Octorda Pectine Pulsata on 15th November 1605, and was printed soon after followed by Richard Williams' Acclamatio Patrie . One Edward Hawes, teenage poet and pupil of Westminster School wrote Trayterous Percyes and Catesbyes Prosopeia. Another Cambridge graduate. Francis Herring. wrote Pietas Pontific in 1607. (HAYES) . This text was translated into English by John Vicars either in 1615 or 1617 as 'Mischeefs Mysterie or Treasons master peece , the Powder plot ,Invented by hellish malice, prevented by heavenly mercy' TEXT The title alone says a great deal. Francis Herring later became better known as a physician rather than poet.
In 1611 a Fellow of Kings College Cambridge, Phineas Fletcher began an epic poem titled Locustae vel Pietaa Jesuitca sometimes known as The Apollyonists. in 50 cantos. It is available now on AllPoetry.com A manuscript version was circulating in 1612 though not formally printed until 1627. The connection between Satan, the Jesuit Order and the Gunpowder Treason was apparent (MCDOWELL)
That little swimming island above the rest/ Spite of our spite, and all our plots,remaines/And growes in happiness;but late our nest,/Where wee and Rome, and blood, and all our traines,/Monks, Nuns, dead, and live idols, safe did rest;......Text
King James VI of Scotland/1 of England, died in 1625, the same year that John Milton ( born 1608) , went to University of Cambridge. Milton wrote five epigrams in Latin to commemorate the death of King James, all drawing heavily on the fact that he had survived the 1605 Gunpowder Plot. In 1626 Milton wrote a 226 line poem in Latin, In Quintum Novembris, [On the Fifth of November), on the same theme.
How far Milton was influenced by Phineas Fletcher is not easy to judge. Nicholas McDowell in his recent biography accepts that this was the case ( McDOWELL). Not all historians would accept this (HAYES). Phineas Fletcher ( born in 1582) belonged to a different generation of scholars, and had already left Cambridge by 1616.
What is fascinating is that the younger Milton, long before his support for tyrants being deposed, is quite complimentary about King James, heralding the fact the James had united England and Scotland peacefully. Milton also promoted the traditional view the Plot was somehow the result of divine intervention to preserve a Protestant Britain- a stance sometimes called 'Providentialism' (SHARPE). The reign of Mary 1 being of short duration , the Catholic plots against Elizabeth coming to nothing, the Spanish Armada failing. and then the Gunpowder Plot and the accompanying rebellion collapsing, were viewed as forming a pattern showing that the Protestant faith would triumph.
In Quintum Novembris, 'on the 5th November '1605. Satan comes to earth disguised as a friar - possibly a reference to the Jesuit priests who entered the country illegally - to inspire those who were plotting. The last lines see the will of God as delivering the kingdom from an evil event outcome.
But in the meantime our heavenly father took pity from the people on high, and checked the Papists cruel attempts. But pious incense and grateful honours are paid to God, Our happy streets are all smoking with joyous bonfires, the youthful throng goes a -dancing; in the whole year no day is celebrated more than the Fifth of November. Translation from
Significantly, in both poems, Fletcher and Milton detect the hand of Satan in instigating the Gunpowder Plot. The locustae referred to by Fletcher - locusts- are Jesuits. Members of this order were hunted down and could be hung, drawn,and quartered if caught in Britain. Neither poet seemed perturbed by this fact.
Decided to end with Milton, lines 502-515 , Book Six , Paradise Lost , which seems to have echoes of the Gunpowder Treason:
In future days, if malice should about,
Someone intent on mischief or inspired
With devilish machination might devise
Like instrument to plague the sons of men
For sin, on war mutual slaughter bent
For with from council to the work they flew,
None arguing stood,innumerable hands
Were ready, in a moment up they turned
Wide the celestial soil, and saw beneath
The originals of nature in their crude
Conception, sulphurous and nitrous foam,
They found, they mingled, and with subtle art,
Concocted and adusted they reduced
To blackest grain, and into store conveyed....
Books consulted
Haynes, Alan 'The Gunpowder Plot', 2011
McDowell, Nicholas 'Poet of Revolution, the Making of John Milton', 2020
Shapiro, James ' 1606, Shakespeare and the Year of Lear'
Sharpe, James, 'Remember, Remember, the Fifth of November-Guy Fawkes and the Gunpowder Plot' 2005
Wills, Garry 'Witches & Jesuits Shakespeare's Macbeth' 1995
Portrait of James VI of Scotland/ I of England by John de Critz 1606 , courtesy of 'Wikipedia' ( In public domain)
Other blog pages relating to The Gunpowder Plot
Interview with Tony Morgan Historical fiction writer and researcher
Interview with John Paul Davis Thriller writer and historian, author of Guy Fawkes' biography 'Pity for the Guy'
Other blog pages relating to John Milton
Poet of Revolution Latest Milton biography by Nicholas Mcdowell
Lord Fairfax and the Seige (sic) of Colchester Look at Milton's sonnet
Other blogs maintained by Michael Bully
New blog launched 2nd February 2023 BleakChesneyWold Charles Dickens & dark 19th century history
Hope that all blog readers stay safe and well during these troubled times
Michael Bully,
5th November 2020
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