A true description Of a treacherous plot INTENDED against this Kingdome,
By the Lord Digby and his assistants, at Sherborne in the County of DORSET:
With the exact number of Armes, Muskets, Pikes and Barrels of Gunpowder, to the number of two hundred, by him hid and contrived in an old Cellar belonging to the Lord George his Father.
With the manner how and by what accident it came to bee descried.
As also how the Steward of his House being exaamined and found faultring in his speech, was committed to prison, where hee yet remaineth.
LONDON, Printed for Iohn Hammond. 1642.
A true description of a treacherous plot intended against this Kingdome.
THe wonderfull and quotidiall mercies of God towards this Kingdome, hath often and universally appeared unto us by his so many and never to be enough admired deliverances from both private and forraigne enemies. I need not nominate any particular, in respect there hath been many so late, and others so exemplary, as the memory thereof can by no meanes be extinct or blotted out. But this dire and yet unknowne example which I am about to treat on, which as it is unparalel'd, in respect of privacie; and the more contaminous in respect of the party and author, being formerly a Parliament ment [...]an. And as it was dismall, wee the more bound in duty to praise God for his mercy in revealing the same unto us. It is thus: The Lord Digby, a man whose vote hath formerly beene accounted iudicious, and for the benefit (or at leastwise so seeming) unto both King and State, whose sedulity, vigilancie, & superior authority in State affaires, hath been much noted, whose continuall labours and indulgent care for the Parliament, hath hidden it selfe under the cloake or shadow of loyalty and duty towards the State, whose principal endeavours, though now thought pernitious and infinitely [Page] nefarious, have carried with them a colour or elimination of the truth, prove now as clear contrary as the Poets stile, Qui color albus erat, nunc est contrarius albo. For no sooner had he opportunity offered him, wherein or whereby to vent his sp [...]eniall and malicious devices against us, no sooner perceiving a combustion stirring, but like an invective and opprobrious member, and enemy to the State, but he imploye his industrious, nay most apprehensive and sedulous labours to co-operate our destruction by ioyning his corroberature and strengthening of the enemy with his auxiliary helpes, and not onely so, but hee himselfe in person advancing, and is not ashamed to appropriate to himselfe the ignominions title of D [...]x omnium malorum, the leader, inducer and producer of our malevolent and inauspitious evils, through the profundity and inexorab [...]enesse of his deepe invented treachery.
No sooner could a Lunsford, or a deviating rebell embrace an op [...]rtunity of evill, but hee proffer [...], nay chalenges to himselfe the primitive and most specular place of ignominy, to bee a leader and producer of their former ill-intended mischiefs with this encouragment to his followers, Go you before, and I'le follow; begin you and I will end: or as the Poet Terence hath it, I p [...]e, sequar.
This ensuing story will testifie his reality and entire affection unto us, to bee but faigned, which you sha [...]l note in this sequell: for not onely working pernitiously here, but studying by all meares possible, to further and provide for machination at [Page] home, to assist his confederates if occasion in that case required, having caused to bee laid up in a deepe Cellar, divers Barrels of Gunpowder, to the number of two hundred, being over-layd and covered with abundance of old Caskes, Faggots, and other lumber; and amongst the rest, some Ferkins of wine drawne out, others full, to the intent the powder Barrels might be taken for the like. In another place adioyning, being accounted a Store-house for wooll, and such like things, were found three hundred Mu [...]kets, ready fixt and expedient for service; as also fifteen hundred Arme [...], with Pistols, Carbines, and Harquebusse [...], having nothing in them wanting to supply so many able men upon service. Pikes there were, and Lance likewise, but the number being of no validity, and therefore not expressed. What may bee intended by all this Amunition, and marshall provision, cannot of a certainly bee expressed, although that the Steward or Keeper thereof being taken and very strictly examined by divers iudicious and severe Iustices of Peace, yet could they get nothing out of him but this, That they were his Masters, things of consequence, and committed to his charge: and what wa [...] the use or intent concerning them, if they de [...]ired to know, they should en [...]uire of the owner and purchaser of them who was best able to give them an answer concerning the same. Being further enquired and examined why they were hid [...]en & concealed, [...]nd not admitted to pub [...]lick view as well as those Armes which were allowed for his Lordships Honour and defence. Hee answered, [Page] that he never demanded the question of his Master, and therefore was altogether unacquainted and unfit to give them an answer; but if they were so extraordinarily and earnestly desirous to know, they should have stayed untill such time as they had been produced; whenas they would bee able to speake for themselves the intent of their concealing. Being formerly suspected, and now almost convinced by his owne words of disloyalty, hee was forthwith committed to prison.
I will now in the next place explain unto you the great and wonderfull mercie of God towards us, and his iust and exemplary punishment shewed unto our enemies in the discovery of their wicked and pernitious designes and intentions, who is able to worke by weake meanes, without meanes, and contrary to meanes, as in the discourse of the ensuing words palpably appeares. There was divers little Boyes in the Towne of Sherborne, conioyned and united together in their disport [...]; where (amongst their pastimes) they made Squibs, and divers Fireworkes, with powder: one of them dwelling in the house of my Lord Digay, who supplied them with their Amunition; insomuch that many of them carried their workes home with them. Whereupon on their Parents demanding them, where they had their implements to compose them, they sayd, Iohn Pellam, naming the aforesaid Lad, had enough, and knew where was a Barrell full, and more. Whereupon having iust cause of suspition before, they called a great many wise and sage Protestants of the faid Towne privately together, and motioned the [Page] matter unto them: And upon mature consideration caused the Boy by flattery, to shew them the place where it was: And seeing many Barrels like that wherein the powder was inclosed, opened one other, and found it full. So upon diligent search made, being authorised by divers Iustices, the plot was discovered: For which we are bound to praise and glorifie the holy Name of Almighty God, who hath beene pleased to conserve and keepe us from all dangers. To whom be glory and honour now and for ever.