Who was Francis Tresham and how was he involved in the Gunpowder Plot?
FRANCIS Tresham was almost certainly the man who betrayed the Gunpowder Plot of 1605.
As the plan to destroy the Houses of Parliament neared its climax, the authorities received an anonymous tip-off – here's why historians believe Tresham was behind it...
What was the Gunpowder Plot of 1605?
The Gunpowder Plot was the first major act of terrorism in British History.
Hatched by Catholics outraged at King James I, it was a plan to blow up James, the Prince of Wales and MPs in the Lords and Commons.
Thirty six barrels of gunpowder were packed into a coal-cellar beneath the House of Lords.
The resulting explosion would have obliterated the parliament buildings and spread to the surrounding streets.
Such a blast would have killed not only the intended victims, but hundred if not thousands of Londoners.
Had it succeeded it would have been the most devastating act of terrorism in British history, and would have plunged the nation into religious war.
What was Francis Tresham’s role in the Gunpowder Plot?
From the start Robert Catesby, the fanatical Catholic who devised the Plot, and the other conspirators did not entirely trust Tresham.
He shared Catesby’s religious zeal and hatred of James and the Protestant regime that ruled the country, and had been involved in earlier Catholic conspiracies.
But the other plotters had doubts about his commitment to the mass murder that they were planning.
They overcame these misgivings because Francis’ father, Sir Thomas Tresham, had recently died, leaving him a massive estate in Northamptonshire.
They believed that he would bankroll the whole enterprise – this proved a huge mistake.
As soon as Catesby told him about the Plot, Tresham expressed revulsion at the idea of blowing up Catholics as well as Protestants.
He tried to talk them out of the whole scheme and even attempted to bribe their leader to give it up.
They suspected that he was about to betray them and Catesby interrogated him at the point of a dagger, but slippery Tresham managed to bluff his way out.
Did Francis Tresham betray the other plotters?
On 26th October 1605, as the Plot was reaching its finale, Tresham was almost certainly the man who wrote a fateful letter to Lord Monteagle.
The prominent Catholic peer was Tresham's brother-in-law, and the anonymous note warned him to stay away from the state opening of parliament. Monteagle then promptly informed the authorities.
They searched the chambers underneath the House of Lords, caught Guy Fawkes match in hand about to ignite the barrels of gunpowder, and the plot was foiled.
What happened to Francis Tresham?
When Guy Fawkes was arrested Tresham tried to demonstrate his innocence by offering to help to round up the other conspirators.
But at his interrogation, under torture Fawkes revealed his support for the conspiracy.
Tresham, along with the other surviving plotters, was imprisoned in the Tower of London.
He died there from illness on 23 December 1605 and thus escaped the fate that awaited the others – being hung, drawn and quartered.
However, even after his death he was convicted of treason and his head was cut off and displayed on a pole in Northampton as a grisly warning to others.
