November 5

The next item has been a favorite of mine ever since John Lennon asked the question “Do you remember the fifth of November.” On the 5th, in 1605, England’s King James I was scheduled to address both houses of Parliament during the opening session of the 1605 parliament. Guy Fawkes was arrested when he was found in the basement with lots of gunpowder, preparing to assassinate James I and give the British yet another holiday – Guy Fawkes Day.

The leader of the Gunpowder Plot was Robert Catesby, who was also behind a failed attempt to remove Elizabeth I from the throne of England.