Guy Fawkes’ Post-Torture Signature

Guy Fawkes, or Guido Fawkes, was a member of a group of English Catholics who plotted to blow up parliament and kill the King in 1605. Fawkes was charged with the job of lighting the gunpowder the group had secretly stored in the cellars below parliament. I made a more detailed post on this last year and, conscious of repeating myself, I thought I’d dedicate this year’s post the Fawkes’ torture specifically.

After being apprehended by guards who had been previously tipped-off about the plot, Fawkes was first interrogated but, as he remained defiant and refused to give the names of his co-conspirators, the King ordered that he should be tortured. Fawkes was transferred to the Tower of London where a confession was eventually pulled from him through various means of torture. The King dictated that these tortures should begin with the most ‘gentle’, perhaps manacling the prisoner, and by degrees get worse, for example the rack.

It is unknown precisely what methods of torture Fawkes was subjected to, however, the worsening state of the signatures obtained on his confessions (images 2 and 3, which were written a day apart. Image 1 is an example of Fawkes’ signature before torture) suggest the horrors he endured. Fawkes made his third and final confession on the 9th November, three days after his capture. Fawkes was executed for high treason. He was dragged behind a horse and carriage before being hung, drawn and quartered. His body parts were then distributed to the four corners of the kingdom to be displayed as a warning to others.

[Sources: Wikipedia]

Casual reminder that he was a terrorist and not at all someone to look up to.