having been shown the letter, the king ordered sir thomas knyvet to conduct a search of the cellars underneath parliament, which he did in the early hours of 5 november. shortly after midnight, fawkes was found leaving the cellar the conspirators had rented and was arrested, giving his name as john johnson. inside, the barrels of gunpowder were discovered hidden under piles of firewood and coal. far from denying his intentions during the arrest, fawkes stated that it had been his purpose to destroy the king and the parliament. nevertheless, fawkes maintained his false identity and continued to insist that he was acting alone. later in the morning, before noon, he was again interrogated. he was questioned on the nature of his accomplices, the involvement of thomas percy, what letters he had received from overseas and whether or not he had spoken with hugh owen.