The most famous of the conspirators was one Guy Fawkes, who spent a lot of time as a mercenary fighting in Europe as Guido Fawkes.
As we all know the plot failed and Guy and his cronies were arrested. Fawkes was put on the rack, where he would be stretched until his joints popped and cartilage snapped, so he could give up his fellow plotters.
After a time Fawkes was broken and when he was led to the gallows could barely ascend the ladder to meet his death.
Now the way he was to die was pretty horrible.
He was to be hanged, drawn and quartered. Basically that was to be hanged close to death. Then he would be hauled down, emasculated and have his still-connected entrails pulled out from his stomach and set alight on a brazier. After that he was to have his body chopped into four pieces and sent around England and Wales as a warning to others.
One tale of execution I found incredibly courageous was that of Major-General Harrison, one of the English Parliamentarians who voted for the death of King Charles I.
It was in 1660 after Charles' son, Charles II, arrived back in England during the Restoration of the monarchy. Harrison was convicted of being a king killer and found guilty of high treason. He was hanged for a few minutes, taken down and cut open ready for disembowelling - whereupon he leaned across and hit the executioner!
Heroic bravery, but also lucky as he was swiftly beheaded.
Back to Guy Fawkes.
Fawkes was an extremist. Very brave, but someone we would brand a terrorist nowadays. And he was mentally quick. As he was climbing up the ladder to the noose, already half dead from torture, he threw himself off and suffered an instant death from a broken neck.
So tonight as you light your bonfire on which to burn the guy, or when you touch off your crackers, sparklers, cascades or Roman candles, keep in mind the Guy who made it all possible.
"Remember, remember, the fifth of November, Gunpowder Treason and Plot."
THERE was a huge turnout on Sunday morning to the first Junior Surf event of the season at Papamoa Beach.
Run by the Papamoa Surf Life Saving Club it is a chance for kids to get involved in physical activity and water safety that will hopefully lead to them becoming our guardians on the beach - lifesavers.
I reckon there were 300 littlies zipping around the sands and most wearing bright yellow sunshirts and yellow-and-black lifeguard beanies.
The Papamoa surf club is a fantastic organisation for our area and we should all get behind them because they do a fabulous job.
And well done to the Papamoa Pak'n'Save store for its sponsorship of the club. It shows community spirit is not dead.
IT was good to see so many youngsters out and about on Halloween enjoying themselves in the annual candy run.
Even better was the number of parents who stood watch at the end of the drive as their youngsters knocked on doors to scare we home dwellers into parting with treats.
The costumes were great and the children really polite ... and grateful.
Unlike some customers in a Norwegian supermarket who objected to a Halloween prank by the store's owners.
The jokers had planted fake human limbs in the freezer section. It seems many folk didn't find the bloodied hands and feet very amusing. I reckon it's hilarious and it's gotta be cheaper than lamb.
Richard Moore is an award-winning Western Bay journalist and photographer.
