Remember, remember, the fifth of November, and the inspiration for ‘V For Vendetta’

by Glenn Hauman on November 5th, 2009 at 7:54 pm
Posted In: News

On this day
in 1605, Sir Thomas Knyvet, a justice of the peace, found Guy Fawkes in
a cellar below the English Parliament building, involved in a plot to
blow up Parliament itself. The day was later known as “Guy Fawkes Day”
and served as an inspiration for Alan Moore and David Lloyd’s graphic
novel, V for Vendetta.

Today the folks across the pond remember, remember the fifth of
November in honor of a sense of independence and a shaking of fists at
British authority. While we reserve fireworks for summery July 4th,
today is their excuse to blow things up and set things on fire. Really,
every country should follow some such tradition of blowing things up in
good spirits, but in light of recent world politics, let’s not go
there. 

Or if we do, let’s wear an awesome mask while we’re at it.

Neil Gaiman, an ex-pat Brit, held an annual Guy Fawkes party at his home for many years. The late great John M. Ford, Neil’s favorite writer and good friend, once decided to write directions to that party, with great wit and style…

AMERICAN GUY
(C’mon. You know the tune, whether or not you
remember all the words.)

A long, long time ago
But it should be remembered
How it fell out on November five
Some nobles and a guy named Guy
Thought they’d make their oppressors fly
And there’d be revolution, by and by . . .
The commissary must have shivered
When all those herrings were delivered
Barrels in the basement
For Parliament’s effacement
It was a bold, quixotic dream
(Though some say Salisbury’s scheme)
Explosive treason was the theme
The day the fuse went out

They started singing:
Remember, remember, the fifth of November
It was a night full of gunpowder, treason and plot
I see no reason
Why a gunpowder treason
Ever, ever should be forgot
Ever, ever should be forgot

One day with Lord Monteagle’s bacon
A note says, bangers have been laid on
Take a powder, signed, A Friend
The sort of hint that starts you thinking
With leaks like this, we’ll soon be sinking
Knot the rope that marks the end
They thought rebellion had a chance
But no one got up for the dance
Guy bent but didn’t break
Until Salisbury’s stake
The bottom line could not be plainer
A round of trials and attainder
Divide by four with no remainder
The day the fuse went out
They started singing. . . .

I miss Mr. Ford’s writing a lot. Go visit Elise’s LiveJournal for the last verse and say hi.