Gunpowder Plot of 1605

On 5th November 1605, two years after the death of Queen Elizabeth I, soldiers discovered a man called Guy Fawkes in a cellar under the Houses of Parliament. With him were at least twenty barrels of gunpowder. Guy Fawkes was arrested and tortured. At last he gave way and told his torturers about a plot to blow up Parliament, together with the King, James I, his Ministers and Members of Parliament.

Guy Fawkes was a Roman Catholic who had been angered by the failure of King James, who was after all the son of the Catholic Mary Queen of Scots, to grant more religious toleration to Catholics. He had joined with a group of four other Catholics led by Robert Catesby in the plot to kill the king. Catesby had made the mistake of inviting other Catholics to join the plot. One of these was called Francis Tresham. Tresham wrote a letter to his brother-in-law Lord Monteagle warning him not to go to Parliament and Monteagle told the government. Guy Fawkes and his fellow conspirators were executed as traitors. In 1606 Parliament agreed to make 5th November a day of public thanksgiving and ever since then the day has been celebrated with fireworks and bonfires.

Bonfire Prayers

Remember, remember the Fifth of November
The Gunpowder Treason and plot (echo plot plot plot)
I see no reason why Gunpowder Treason
Should ever be forgot (echo got got got)
Guy Fawkes, Guy Fawkes 'twas his intent
To blow up the King and the Parliament
Three score barrels of powder below
Poor old England to overthrow
By God's providence he was catch'd
With a dark lantern and burning match
Holler boys, holler boys, ring bells ring
Holler boys, holler boys, God Save the Queen!
Hip Hip Hoorah!
Hip Hip Hoorah!
Hip Hip Hoorah! 

We say Queen in the forth to last line even though Guy tried to blow up the King
 we are saying Save (protect) our current reigning monarch from harm.

In Littlehampton bonfire prayers are said at the end of the night. Bonfire Payers can differ between societies on the wording. Also some societies like some of the Lewes societies use a second additional verse.