Robert Keyes facts for kids

Robert Keyes (born around 1565 – died 1606) was part of a group of English Catholics who planned the famous Gunpowder Plot of 1605. This was a secret plan to kill King James I and blow up the House of Lords during the opening of Parliament on 5 November 1605. Keyes was the sixth person to join this dangerous plot.

Unlike some of the other plotters, Robert Keyes was not a rich man. However, Robert Catesby, who was the leader of the plot, trusted Keyes a lot. Keyes was given the important job of guarding the explosives (gunpowder) that were hidden in Catesby's home in London. When the plot was discovered, Keyes tried to escape the city. He was caught a few days later in Warwickshire. He was put on trial with the other plotters, found guilty, and was put to death in a very harsh way in January 1606.

Early Life and Beliefs

Robert Keyes was born around 1565. His father was a Protestant church leader in Staveley, but his mother came from a family with Catholic relatives. One of his cousins, Elizabeth Tyrrwhitt, was married to another plotter named Ambrose Rookwood.

By 1604, Robert Keyes had become a Catholic. His wife, Christina, was a widow when they married. She worked as a governess, teaching the children of Lord Mordaunt. Because of his wife's job, Keyes was able to use horses and other things from Lord Mordaunt's estate in Drayton, Northamptonshire.

Joining the Gunpowder Plot

Many English Catholics hoped that King James I would be more accepting of their religion than Queen Elizabeth I had been. However, Robert Catesby, a very strong Catholic from Ashby St Ledgers, was not happy with the new king.

Catesby decided to plan a way to kill King James. His idea was to blow up the House of Lords using gunpowder. After this, he hoped to start a rebellion and make James's daughter, Princess Elizabeth, the new Queen. Robert Keyes joined the plot in October 1604. His main job was to guard the gunpowder and other supplies stored at Catesby's house.

Keyes's Role and Concerns

A Jesuit priest named John Gerard described Keyes as "a serious and sensible man, and very clever." Another priest, Oswald Tesimond, said that Keyes had "experienced unfair treatment himself, losing his belongings because of it." Even though Keyes was not rich, Catesby believed he was "a trustworthy and honest man." Catesby might have even paid him for his help. Like Guy Fawkes, another plotter, Keyes was seen as someone who could take care of himself.

Some of the plotters were worried about other Catholics who would be at Parliament on the day of the explosion. Keyes was especially concerned about Lord Mordaunt, his wife's employer. Keyes suggested warning Lord Mordaunt, but Catesby refused. Catesby said he would not tell Lord Mordaunt the secret, even for a room full of diamonds, because he knew Lord Mordaunt could not keep a secret.

The night before the planned explosion, Keyes and his cousin-in-law Ambrose Rookwood stayed at a house near Temple Bar. Late that evening, Guy Fawkes visited them. Fawkes was in charge of the explosives under the House of Lords. He picked up a watch that Thomas Percy had left, which was needed to time the fuse. Just a few hours later, Fawkes was found guarding the explosives and was arrested.

The Plot's Failure and Keyes's End

When Robert Keyes heard that Guy Fawkes had been caught, he quickly got on his horse and rode towards the Midlands. He was soon caught up by Ambrose Rookwood, who was rushing to tell Catesby and the others what had happened. After Keyes and Rookwood met up with Catesby, Percy, Thomas Bates, and John and Christopher Wright, Keyes left the group. He went to Lord Mordaunt's house at Drayton to hide. He was identified as a suspect on 6 November and was captured a few days later.

The plotters were put on trial on 27 January 1606 at Westminster Hall. Even though most of them said they were not guilty, all eight were found guilty of a very serious crime against the king. Each of them was allowed to speak before their punishment was announced. Robert Keyes did not try to make excuses for his actions. He said that "death was as good now as at any other time," and that it was better than living "in the middle of so much unfair rule."

On 31 January 1606, Robert Keyes, Ambrose Rookwood, Thomas Wintour, and Guy Fawkes were taken to the Old Palace Yard in Westminster. There, they were put to death in a very harsh public execution. Rookwood and Wintour were the first to go up to the gallows. Keyes, looking serious, bravely climbed the ladder. With the rope around his neck, he threw himself off, probably hoping for a quick end. However, the rope broke. He was then taken to the block to suffer the rest of his punishment.