Fawkes was a Catholic, gentry I think, and none too bright... he got duped into it, basically. The plan was to take out King James, various of his ministers (virtually all nobles at the time) and of course most of the archbishops of the CofE, I think during a formal state Opening.
I'm not sure if the idea was to replace James, or at least dominate a more Catholic King - Prince Charles (later Charles II) was very young at the time, Prince Rupert even younger if he was even born. James had certainly disappointed Catholics by not being more lenient on them, after the harsher treatment under Elisabeth I. There was meant to be Spanish backing for the plot, of course, and Spain - besides being very Catholic indeed (this was the Inquisition era) had a tenuous claim on the throne (via Philip's descendants)...
I have an idea that Parliament itself was not the target, however - they just knew the King would be there, and when. |
