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Guy Fawkes and Catesby landing the Powder
George Cruikshank
November 1840
Steel-engraving
12 cm high by 9.7 cm wide vignetted, facing the opening of Book the Second, p. 179 in the volume, facing p. 425 in volume 8 of Bentley's Miscellany
Eleventh monthly engraving for William Harrison Ainsworth's Guy Fawkes, or, The Gunpowder Treason.
[Click on image to enlarge it.]
Serialised in Bentley's Miscellany, vols. 7-10, in twenty-three monthly parts.
Scanned image and text by Philip V. Allingham.
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One night, when they were labouring as usual, Guy Fawkes, who was foremost in the excavation, thought he heard the tolling of a bell within the wall. He instantly suspended his task, and being convinced that he was not deceived, crept out of the hole, and made a sign to the others to listen. Each had heard the awful sound before; but as it was partially drowned by the noise of the pick-axe, it had not produced much impression upon them, as they attributed it to some vibration in the wall, caused by the echo of the blows. But it was now distinctly audible — deep, clear, slow, — like a passing bell, — but so s olemn, so unearthly, that its tones froze the blood in their veins.
They listened for a while in speechless astonishment, scarcely daring to look at each other, and expecting each moment that the building would fall upon them, and bury them alive. The light of a single lantern placed upon an upturned basket fell upon figures rigid as statues, and countenances charged with awe.
"My arm is paralysed," said Guy Fawkes, breaking silence; "I can work no more."
"Try holy water, father," cried Catesby. "If it proceeds from aught of evil, that will quell it."
The chalice containing the sacred lymph was brought, and pronouncing a solemn exorcism, Garnet sprinkled the wall.
The sound immediately ceased.
"It is as I thought, father," observed Catesby; "it is the delusion of an evil spirit."
As he spoke, the tolling of the mysterious bell was again heard, and more solemnly, — more slowly than before. [Book the Second, "The Discovery," Chapter IV, "The Mine," pp. 178-79]
Cruikshank has chosen for realisation one of the most suspenseful moments in the November 1840 instalment in Bentley's. The plate involving the chief conspirators — Father Henry Garnet, Catesby, and Fawkes (pointing upward) appears on the initial page of that number, facing the chapter that leads off the monthly instalment, which ends on page 425. The illustration, however, anticipates a moment on page 440, which marks the end of the November instalment.
This is the first time that Cruikshank has illustrated all of the Gunpowder Plotters, but he distinguishes just the three principals. Fawkes's gesture upwards, signifying that they should pause to listen for the tolling of a bell, may have a metaphysical implication, since Viviana Radcliffe has warned Fawkes that his scheme is contrary to the will of Heaven. The chiaroscuro created by the dark lantern sheds an eerie light on the faces of the plotters, whose attention Fawkes has arrested. The reader has no way of knowing whether at this moment the authorities will interrupt the plotters, or whether the unknown noise is a mere red herring. Shadows in the vault add to the ominous atmosphere of the dark plate.
In the volume edition, the juxtaposed illustration of the scene momentarily disrupts the flow of textual reading in order to read the image, which incorporates the novelist's earlier description of the stone vault. Ainsworth has given, as it were, the specifications for the stage set: “The vault itself harmonized with its occupants. It was of great antiquity; and its solid stone masonry had acquired a time-worn hoary tint. In width it was about nine feet, and of corresponding height, supported by a semi-circular arch, and its length was more than twenty feet” (177). Cruikshank effectively depicts the compact space in which the plotters are digging but surprisingly includes neither dust, nor dishevelment, nor even obvious signs of perspiration — but most have their hats on, despite their having to come and go from above through constricted access.
Ainsworth, William Harrison. Guy Fawkes, or The Gunpowder Treason: An Historical Romance. With 22 illustrations by George Cruikshank. London: Cunningham & Mortimer, 1841 (first edition). Rpt., London: George Routledge & Sons, n. d. [See the text and images of the novel posted in May 2013 at Project Gutenberg Australia's website: http://gutenberg.net.au/ebooks13/1302021h.html .]
Vann, J. Don. "Guy Fawkes in Bentley's Miscellany, January 1840-Noevember 1841." Victorian Novels in Serial. New York: MLA, 1985. P. 20.
Last modified 22 August 2018