Editing Guy Fawkes (section)

===Torture===
Fawkes gave his name as John Johnson and was first interrogated by members of the king's [[Privy chamber]], where he remained defiant.<ref name="NorthcoteParkinsonpp9192">{{Harvnb|Northcote Parkinson|1976|pp=91–92}}</ref> When asked by one of the lords what he was doing in possession of so much gunpowder, Fawkes answered that his intention was "to blow you Scotch beggars back to your native mountains."{{sfn|Cobbett|1857|p=229}} He identified himself as a 36-year-old Catholic from [[Nidderdale|Netherdale]] in Yorkshire, and gave his father's name as Thomas and his mother's as Edith Jackson. Wounds on his body noted by his questioners he explained as the effects of [[pleurisy]]. Fawkes admitted his intention to blow up the House of Lords, and expressed regret at his failure to do so. His steadfast manner impressed King James, who described Fawkes as possessing "a Roman resolution".{{sfn|Fraser|2005|pp=208–209}}

James's respect did not, however, prevent him from ordering on 6 November that "John Johnson" be tortured, to reveal the names of his co-conspirators.{{sfn|Fraser|2005|p=211}} He directed that the torture be light at first, referring to the use of [[handcuffs|manacles]], but more severe if necessary, authorising the use of the [[Rack (torture)|rack]]: "the gentler Tortures are to be first used unto him {{lang|la|et sic per gradus ad ima tenditur}} [and so by degrees proceeding to the worst]".<ref name="NorthcoteParkinsonpp9192"/>{{sfn|Fraser|2005|p=215}} Fawkes was transferred to the [[Tower of London]]. The king composed a list of questions to be put to "Johnson", such as "''as to what he is'', For I can never yet hear of any man that knows him", "When and where he learned to speak French?", and "If he was a Papist, who brought him up in it?"{{sfn|Fraser|2005|p=212}} The room in which Fawkes was interrogated subsequently became known as the Guy Fawkes Room.{{sfn|Younghusband|2008|p=46}}

[[File:Guy fawkes torture signatures.jpg|thumb|alt=Two signatures|Fawkes's signature of "Guido", made soon after his torture, is a barely evident scrawl compared to a later instance eight days after the torture.]]
[[William Wade (English politician)|Sir William Waad]], Lieutenant of the Tower, supervised the torture and obtained Fawkes's confession.<ref name="NorthcoteParkinsonpp9192"/> He searched his prisoner, and found a letter addressed to Guy Fawkes. To Waad's surprise, "Johnson" remained silent, revealing nothing about the plot or its authors.{{sfn|Bengsten|2005|p=58}} On the night of 6 November he spoke with Waad, who reported to Salisbury "He [Johnson] told us that since he undertook this action he did every day pray to God he might perform that which might be for the advancement of the Catholic Faith and saving his own soul". According to Waad, Fawkes managed to rest through the night, despite his being warned that he would be interrogated until "I had gotton the inwards secret of his thoughts and all his complices".{{sfn|Bengsten|2005|p=59}} His composure was broken at some point during the following day.{{sfn|Fraser|2005|pp=216–217}}

The observer [[Sir Edward Hoby]] remarked "Since Johnson's being in the Tower, he beginneth to speak English". Fawkes revealed his true identity on 7 November, and told his interrogators that there were five people involved in the plot to kill the king. He began to reveal their names on 8 November, and told how they intended to place Princess Elizabeth on the throne. His third confession, on 9 November, implicated [[Francis Tresham]]. Following the [[Ridolfi plot]] of 1571, prisoners were made to dictate their confessions, before copying and signing them, if they still could.{{sfn|Bengsten|2005|p=60}} Although it is uncertain if he was tortured on the rack, Fawkes's scrawled signature suggests the suffering he endured at the hands of his interrogators.{{sfn|Fraser|2005|pp=215–216, 228–229}}