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or you can get all of History Daily plus other fantastic history podcasts at IntoHistory.com. It's the early hours of November 5th, 1605, underneath the houses of Parliament in London, England.

35-year-old Guy Fawkes leans his head back against the cellar wall, listening to the rhythmic drip of water

on the stone flagstones. He shuffles his feet and stretches his legs. Although it's the middle of the

night, Guy needs to stay alert. Several weeks ago, Guy rented this cellar beneath the houses of

Parliament and spent days secretly filling its chambers with barrels of gunpowder.

Yesterday evening, he slipped into the cellar and hid before Royal Guards set up a security perimeter around the building.

Later today, King James I is due to open a new session of Parliament.

When he does, Guy intends to blow up the gunpowder and destroy the

houses of Parliament, killing the king and wiping out England's government. Guy snaps to attention

when he hears footsteps approaching. No one should be wandering the cellars at this time of night,

so Guy's pulse quickens as he realizes his plot is at risk of discovery.

Hurriedly, he picks up a sack of firewood he was going to use his kindling

and empties the contents over the barrels, trying to conceal them.

A moment later, the door bursts open.

It's a search party of armed men.

One of them roughly pushes Guy against the wall.

The others fan out across the cellar.

They sweep the firewood out of the way with their swords, revealing the hidden barrels.

Then one of the men breaks open the barrel.

...