Master KAF and Mrs DTB have spent the last few days focusing on all things November 5th.
It started by us watching a series on the Beeb called Elizabeth I’s Secret Agents. Master KAF was very interested to learn about how the idea of Secret Agents was not a new thing and in fact, how the Cecil family, in particular, served both Queen Elizabeth I and King James VI/I. This led right into the topic of the Gun Powder Plot – very apt for this time of year, as we had also been watching many different displays of fireworks from our vantage point over the city of Hereford.
We found some great resources from the TeachItHistory website and worked through some tasks over a couple of days, looking at the evidence of what happened and to determine if the plotters were framed or truly guilty.
One thing surprised Master KAF; that differing information on the topic can come from the same source such as:
- Different opinions on how many barrels of gunpowder were used. The Parliament video said 30, then 34, but the work we did on yesterday said that there were 36. So at least we can agree that over 30 and less than 37 barrels were used!
- The Parliament video said that all those captured and tried were hanged drawn and quartered, but other accounts state that Fawkes jumped from the scaffold to ensure a quick death.
So we learned that is always important to keep asking questions and keep an open mind!