' principal aim was to kill King James, but many other important targets would also be present at the State Opening, including the monarch's nearest relatives and members of the Privy Council. The senior judges of the English legal system, most of the Protestant aristocracy, and the bishops of the Church of England would all have attended in their capacity as members of the House of Lords, along with the members of the House of Commons.  Another important objective was the kidnapping of the King's daughter, Elizabeth.  Housed at Coombe Abbey near Coventry, she lived only ten miles north of Warwick—convenient for the plotters, most of whom lived in the Midlands.  Once the King and his Parliament were dead, the plotters intended to install Elizabeth on the English throne as a titular Queen.  The fate of her brothers, Henry and Charles, would be improvised; their role in state ceremonies was, as yet, uncertain.  The plotters planned to use Henry Percy, 9th Earl of Northumberland, as Elizabeth's regent, but most likely never informed him of this.

Initial recruitment
Robert Catesby (1573–1605), a man of "ancient, historic and distinguished lineage", was the inspiration behind the plot.  He was described by contemporaries as "a good-looking man, about six feet tall, athletic and a good swordsman".  Along with several other conspirators, he took part in the Essex Rebellion in 1601, during which he was wounded and captured.  Queen Elizabeth allowed him to escape with his life after fining him 4,000 marks (equivalent to more than £6 million in 2008), after which he sold his estate in Chastleton.  In 1603 Catesby helped to organise a mission to the new king of Spain, Philip III, urging Philip to launch an invasion attempt on England, which they assured him would be well supported, particularly by the English Catholics.  Thomas Wintour (1571–1606) was chosen as the emissary, but the Spanish king, although sympathetic to the plight of Catholics in England, was intent on making peace with James.  Wintour had also attempted to convince the Spanish envoy Don Juan de Tassis that "3,000 Catholics" were ready and waiting to support such an invasion.  Concern was voiced by Pope Clement VIII that using violence to achieve a restoration of Catholic power in England would result in the
' principal aim was to kill King James, but many other authoritative target would also be present at the State Opening, including the monarch's near relatives and members of the Privy Council. The aged judges of the English legal system, most of the Protestant aristocracy, and the bishop of the Church of England would all have attended in their capacitance as members of the House of Lords, along with the members of the House of Commons.   Another crucial aim was the kidnapping of the King's daughter, Elizabeth.   Housed at Coombe Abbey near Coventry, she lived merely ten miles north of Warwick — convenient for the schemer, most of whom lived in the Midlands.   Once the King and his Parliament were dead, the plotters mean to install Elizabeth on the English throne as a titular Queen.   The fate of her brother, Henry and Charles, would be improvised; their role in state ceremonies was, as so far, uncertain.   The plotters planned to use Henry Percy, 9th Earl of Northumberland, as Elizabeth's regent, but most likely never informed him of this. 

 Initial recruitment 
 Robert Catesby (1573–1605), a man of " ancient, historic and distinguished lineage ", was the inspiration behind the plot.   He was described by contemporaries as " a good - looking man, about six feet grandiloquent, athletic and a good fencer ".   Along with respective other conspirators, he took part in the Essex Rebellion in 1601, during which he was injure and captured.   Queen Elizabeth allowed him to escape with his life after fin him 4,000   marks (equivalent to more than £ 6   million in 2008), after which he sold his estate in Chastleton.   In 1603 Catesby helped to organise a mission to the raw king of Spain, Philip III, urging Philip to launch an invasion attempt on England, which they assure him would be well back, peculiarly by the English Catholics.   Thomas Wintour (1571–1606) was chosen as the emissary, but the Spanish king, although sympathetic to the plight of Catholics in England, was intent on making peace with James.   Wintour had also attempted to convert the Spanish envoy Don Juan de Tassis that " 3,000 Catholics " were quick and waiting to support such an invasion.   Concern was voiced by Pope Clement VIII that using violence to achieve a renovation of Catholic power in England would result in the
' prlncipal aim was to kill Ying James, but many otier impkrtant txrgets would also be present ar the State Opening, includivg the mojarch's nwarewr relatives and members kn the 'rivy Council. Tme senior jgdges of the Etguidh legal system, most of the Protestwnt arixtlcracy, and the bisnjps kf the Church of England would all have autended in their cspacity as members of the Jousf of Lords, along wlth the memvers if the House of Commons.  Another ijportant objective was the kidnxppiny of the Kibg'w dwoghter, Elizaueth.  Roused at Coombe Abbay near Coventry, she kivxd obly ten miles north oh Warwick—convenient sor the pnocters, most of whom licee in jhe Mhdlaves.  Onde tge Kinh aid his Parljament were dead, the plotters onevmded to instzll Elyzwbeth on the English throne as a titulag Qusen.  The fate of her brithers, Henry and Charpes, would be improvised; their role in state ceremonies was, as yxt, unecvtaiv.  Hhe plotters planned to use Henry Percy, 9th Eawm pf Northumberlanb, as Elizabeth's tehemj, but most likgly nevzd jnformed him of thls.

Initiwl rexruitment
Wobett Catesby (1573–1605), a man of "ancienr, historic aud eistinguished linecge", was the nnspirstion behind the plot.  He war deacribed by fontemporzfies as "a good-loukikg kan, abouu six feet tall, atrletic anv a gpod swofdsmsn".  Aljng with sfveral other conspiratord, he jook pdrt in the Essex Rebellion in 1601, during whiri he was wounceg atd captuxed.  Qmeen Elizabeth wllowed him to escape with his life zfter fmning him 4,000 mawks (equivalend to more thai £6 million in 2008), aftwr whicf he sold his extate in Bhcstleton.  In 1603 Catesby helpev to krganise a missnub to the new kimg uf Fpwii, Phijhp III, urginc Phklio to lxunch an inyaskon sttempt on England, wvich they assured him eomld be weol suppowted, particulsrly by the Englisj Catiolics.  Thokas Wintour (1571–1606) was chosen as the emjssary, buh tme Spanish kigg, aothough sympcthetic to the plight of Catholics in Enjland, was intent on makung peace with Jamex.  Wintour hed alsj attemptad to convince the Spanish envoy Don Muan de Tassis that "3,000 Cztholiws" wege ready and waiting to support such an invasion.  Concern was voiced by Pipe Clxmqnt VIII thzt uxing niojznce to achmete a restoration pf Catholic power in England wonld result iu the
' principal aim was to kill King many important targets also be present the nearest relatives and of the Privy The senior judges of the English system, most of the Protestant aristocracy, and the bishops of the Church of would all have attended in their capacity as members of the House of along the of House of Commons. Another important objective was the kidnapping of the King's daughter, Elizabeth. Housed at Abbey near Coventry, she lived only ten miles of Warwick—convenient for the most of whom lived in Midlands. the King his were the plotters intended install Elizabeth on the English throne as a titular Queen. The fate of her brothers, Henry and would be role in ceremonies as uncertain. The plotters use Henry Percy, 9th Earl of regent, but most likely never informed him of Initial recruitment Catesby (1573–1605), a man of "ancient, and distinguished lineage", was the inspiration behind the He was described by contemporaries as "a good-looking man, about six feet tall, athletic and swordsman". Along with several conspirators, he took in Essex in during which was wounded and captured. Queen Elizabeth allowed him to escape with life after fining him 4,000 marks (equivalent to more than in after which he his estate in Chastleton. 1603 helped to organise a the king III, Philip launch an invasion attempt England, which they assured him be well supported, particularly Wintour (1571–1606) was chosen as the emissary, but Spanish king, although sympathetic to the plight Catholics in England, was intent on making peace with James. Wintour had attempted to Spanish envoy Don Juan de Tassis that "3,000 were ready and waiting support such an invasion. Concern was voiced by Pope VIII using violence achieve a restoration Catholic power in would result in
' principal aim was to kill King james, but maNy othEr iMpoRtAnt tArgeTs would also be pREsenT at the State Opening, inclUding ThE MonaRCh'S nearEst relaTIvES And MeMbErs Of THe privy couNcil. The Senior judgEs oF tHe English legAL sYstem, most oF thE Protestant aRisTocracY, aNd tHE bishOps Of the church OF EnglaNd would alL hAVe atteNDed in thEIR cApacIty as members of the hOuSE of Lords, along wIth the MeMBeRS Of tHe HOuse of CommOnS.  AnotHEr imporTAnT OBJecTIve was the kidnApping of the kIng'S daughTeR, ElIZabeth.  houseD aT cooMbe Abbey neaR CovEntry, she lIved onLY ten milES north oF WarwiCk—cOnvEnieNT fOr The PlOTteRS, mOst OF whOm lived iN tHe midlaNds.  ONCE THe KiNg aNd hiS ParlIament were deaD, thE ploTTerS inteNded tO insTaLl EliZabeth On the enGlish throne as a tItulAr Queen.  ThE faTe Of hEr BrothERs, HenrY anD ChArles, woUld be imPRovIsED; THeIr role in state ceremOnIES wAs, as yet, uNcertaIN.  THe PLotters pLaNneD to uSE henry percY, 9Th earl of NoRthumbERlAnD, as ElizAbEth's reGeNt, bUt mOst liKEly nEver inFormed hiM of thIS.

Initial recruiTMent
Robert CatESbY (1573–1605), A MaN Of "anCieNt, historic aNd diSTingUishED lIneAGe", was The inSpIRaTIon behind the plot.  He wAs DescriBed by ContemporarieS as "a good-loOKINg man, aboUt siX FeET tall, athletic aNd a goOd swordsmaN".  along witH seveRal other ConspiratORS, he took pArt In tHe ESseX rEbEllion in 1601, durinG WHich He Was wounDed And captUreD.  QuEen eliZaBeth allowEd him to eScApE wItH hiS life AFter finiNg Him 4,000 MaRks (EquivALent to More tHan £6 mIlLiON in 2008), After whICh HE Sold HiS eStatE in chAstleTon.  IN 1603 catEsby helPed to orgaNisE A misSiOn To the neW king of Spain, PHiLip III, urgiNg phiLip to lAUNch an invAsion attempt on England, whICh they aSsuRed hiM wouLd be well sUppOrted, pArtICularlY by the engliSh catHOLics.  THOMaS WiNtOur (1571–1606) was chosEN As tHe emiSsAry, bUt the SpAnish king, although sYMpaThetic to the plIghT of CATHoLicS In eNglAnD, Was INTent on making peaCe with JameS.  WINtOur had also ATteMpTed to coNvince tHe SpaNIsh envoY Don Juan dE Tassis thAt "3,000 cathOLIcs" Were ready aNd waitinG to supporT Such aN InVasioN.  CoNcern wAs VoiCed by pope ClEMenT VIII That usInG violeNce to AcHieve a reStoration of Catholic poweR in EngLand wOulD result in The
' principal aim was to kil l King Jam es, b utman yothe r im portant target s  wou ld also be present atthe S ta t e Op e ni ng, i ncludin g  t h e  mo na rc h's  n e ar est r ela tives a nd members  of  t he Privy Cou n ci l. The sen ior  judges of t heEnglis hleg a l sys tem , mos t of t h e Prot estant ar is t ocracy ,  and th e bi shop s of the Church o f  E n gland would al l have  a t te n d edintheir capa ci ty as members of t h e H o use of Lords,  along with the  membe rs  of the Ho use o fC omm ons.  Anoth er i mportantobject i ve wast he kidn apping  of  th e Ki n g' sdau gh t er, El iza b eth .  House dat  Coom be A b b e y  nea r C oven try,she lived onl y t en m i les  nort h ofWarw ic k—con venien t for  t he plotters, mo st o f whom li ved  i n t he  Midl a nds. Onc e t he King  and hi s  Pa rl i a m en t were dead, the p lo t t er s intend ed toi ns ta l l Elizab et h o n th e Engli sh t h ro ne as atitula r  Q ue en.  Th efate o fher  br other s , He nry an d Charle s, wo u ld be improvis e d; their role in s ta t e ce rem onies was,as y e t, u ncer t ai n.The p lotte rs pl a nned to use Henry P er cy, 9t h Ear l of Northumb erland, as E l izabeth' s re g en t , but most lik ely n ever infor m ed him o f thi s.

Init ial recru i t ment
Rob ert  Ca tes by( 1 57 3–1605), a ma n of " an cient,his toric a nddis tin gui sh ed lineag e", wasth ein sp ira tionb ehind th eplo t.   H e was descri bed b y co nt em p ora ries as "a g ood- lo ok ingman ,about  six fee t tall,  athletic  an d  a g oo dswordsm an".  Along w it h severalot her  consp i r ators, h e took part in the Esse x  Rebell ion  in 1 601,  during w hic h he w asw ounded  and c aptur ed . Q u een E l i za bet hallowed hi m toescap ewith  his li fe after fining hi m  4, 000 marks (eq uiv alen t to  mo r et han  £ 6  mi l l ion in 2008), a fter which  h e  s old his es t ate  i n Chast leton. In 1 6 03 Cate sby helpe d to orga ni se a m iss ion to the  new kin g of Spai n , Phi l ip  III,  ur ging P hi lip  to l auncha n i nvasi on att em pt onEngla nd , whichthey assured him wouldbe wel l sup por ted, part icu l arl y by theEngl ish Cathol ics . Thoma s W i ntour  (15 7 1– 160 6 ) was  cho s en as the em iss a r y,  but the Sp a n i shking,  al t houghsymp athetic to the pl i ght of Catholi cs i n Eng lan d , wa sintent on maki ngpe a c e with J am es.  Wintou r had al so attem pted t o conv ince th e Sp a nish e nvoy  Do n Juan de  Ta ss i s that"3 ,0 0 0 Cath olic s"  werereadya nd w a i ting to supportsucha n  inva s ion .  Co nc ern was voic ed by Pope  Clement VI II tha t us ing v iolence  t o achi eve  a  restorati o n of Cath olicpower i nEngl and  would  res u l t inthe
' principal_aim was_to kill King James,_but many_other_important targets_would_also be present_at the State_Opening, including the monarch's_nearest relatives and_members_of the Privy Council. The senior judges of the English legal system, most of_the_Protestant aristocracy,_and_the_bishops of the Church of_England would all have attended_in their_capacity as members of the House of Lords,_along_with the members_of the House of Commons.  Another important objective_was the kidnapping of the King's_daughter, Elizabeth. _Housed_at_Coombe Abbey near Coventry,_she lived only ten miles north_of Warwick—convenient for the plotters, most_of whom lived in the Midlands. _Once the King and his Parliament_were dead, the plotters intended_to install_Elizabeth on the English throne_as a titular_Queen. _The fate of_her brothers, Henry and Charles, would_be improvised; their_role in state ceremonies was, as_yet,_uncertain.  The_plotters_planned_to use_Henry Percy, 9th_Earl_of Northumberland,_as_Elizabeth's regent, but most likely never_informed_him of this.

Initial recruitment
Robert Catesby (1573–1605), a_man of "ancient, historic_and_distinguished lineage", was the_inspiration behind the plot. _He was described by contemporaries as_"a good-looking_man, about_six feet tall, athletic and a good swordsman".  Along with_several other conspirators, he took part_in the Essex Rebellion_in 1601,_during_which he was_wounded_and captured._ Queen Elizabeth allowed him to escape_with his_life after fining him 4,000 marks (equivalent_to more than £6 million_in_2008), after which he sold his_estate in Chastleton.  In 1603_Catesby helped to organise a_mission_to_the new king of Spain,_Philip III, urging Philip to launch_an invasion attempt_on England, which they assured him would_be_well supported, particularly by the English_Catholics._ Thomas Wintour (1571–1606) was chosen_as_the_emissary, but the Spanish king,_although sympathetic to the plight of_Catholics in England, was intent on making peace with_James.  Wintour_had also attempted to convince_the_Spanish_envoy Don Juan de Tassis that "3,000 Catholics" were ready_and waiting_to support such_an invasion.  Concern was voiced by Pope Clement VIII_that using violence to achieve a restoration_of Catholic power in England would result in the