Remember, remember the fifth of November... Oh yes, this is Guy Fawkes Day! In the 400 years that have passed since the Gunpowder Plot, a lot of the historical details of the story have become garbled in popular culture, and many people don't know the story at all. But Guy Fawkes is not the only English folk hero. Oh you know King Arthur and Robin Hood, but have you ever heard the story of Jan Tregeagle?
Geekosystem has his story, as well as those of nine other folk heroes from English history. Link
Aside from having a hilariously awesome name, Jan Tregeagle was definitely a magistrate in the 17th century who was so much of a jerk that stories circulated claiming he made a pact with the devil. And murdered his wife. And that he supposedly rose to power by stealing an estate from an orphan.
Geekosystem has his story, as well as those of nine other folk heroes from English history. Link
We're living beyond the year 2000! Amazing, right?
You'd hardly expect a protestant country to consider a hero a catholic who tried to assassinate the king and head of the church, would you?