If you think you know about the Gunpowder Plot, this talk may make you think again.

It focuses not on Guy Fawkes but arguably someone who had an even more profound impact: Father Henry Garnet, Jesuit priest and the last man to be executed for involvement in the Plot. 

Henry was the son of Brian Garnet (Headmaster of Nottingham High School from 1565 – 1575) and the uncle of Saint Thomas Garnet, another executed Jesuit priest.

This talk has grown from a number of extraordinary coincidences.  One is that William Ruff owns a rare brass box dating from 1606 and commemorating a miracle which, it was claimed, occurred during Garnet’s execution.

The talk explores one of the most turbulent and tragic times in English history.  Religious extremism, government spies, state-sponsored torture, miraculous events: all these and more feature in William’s talk.

William Ruff

William was for many years Head of English at Nottingham High School.  Since 1993 he has been classical music critic of the Nottingham Post and more recently for the ReviewsGate website.  Since his retirement from the High School he has been a member of the U3A, teaching a wide range of literary and musical topics.  He is also President of the Nottingham Shakespeare Society.