Punishment:

Torture was only legal in England under specific instruction of the king. Guy Fawkes and his friends were tortured to allow authorities to obtain confessions about their roles in the plot. Fawkes was tortured using the rack method (wooden frame that stretched the body apart). It was only 12 days after his arrest that Fawkes confessed.

In January 1606, the trials of the conspirators began and they were all convicted of treason. They were to be hanged, drawn and quartered. This extreme public punishment was viewed as a means to warn and deter others about criminal offences.

Consequences of the Gunpowder Plot:

James I helped to encourage further anti-Catholic attitudes within the English state
1605 Thanksgiving Act: order the commemoration of the events of November 5th each year; Catholics were banned from legal professions and serving as officers in the army
1606 Popish Recusants Act: Catholics were forced to take an oath of allegiance to the crown; forced to take part in Protestant services or face fines
The plot had long term consequences too:
- Catholics were restricted from voting
- They were not allowed become MPs or own land
- They were prevented from voting in any election until 1829

Case Study: Gunpowder Plot