A true description Of a treacherous plot INTENDED against this kingdom,  
By the Lord Digby and his assistants, at Sherborne in the County of DORSET:  
With the exact number of arms, 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 be descried.  
As also how the Steward of his House being exaamined and found faltering in his speech, was committed to prison, where he yet remaineth.  
LONDON, Printed for John Hammond. 1642.   

A true description of a treacherous plot intended against this kingdom.  
THe wonderful and quotidial mercies of God towards this kingdom, hath often and universally appeared unto us by his so many and never to be enough admired deliverances from both private and foreign 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 means be extinct or blotted out. But this dire and yet unknown example which I am about to treat on, which as it is unparalleled, in respect of privacy; and the more contaminous in respect of the party and author, being formerly a Parliament man. And as it was dismal, we 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 been accounted judicious, and for the benefit (or at leastwise so seeming) unto both King and State, whose sedulity, vigilancy, & superior authority in State affairs, hath been much noted, whose continual labours and indulgent care for the Parliament, hath hidden itself under the cloak or shadow of loyalty and duty towards the State, whose principal endeavours, though now thought pernicious and infinitely nefarious, have carried with them a colour or elimination of the truth, prove now as clear contrary as the poet's stile, Qui colour albus erat, nunc est contrarius albo. For no sooner had he opportunity offered him, wherein or whereby to vent his spleniall 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 employ his industrious, nay most apprehensive and sedulous labours to cooperate our destruction by joining his corroberature and strengthening of the enemy with his auxiliary helps, and not only so, but he himself in person advancing, and is not ashamed to appropriate to himself the ignominions title of D●●x omnium malorum, the leader, inducer and producer of our malevolent and inauspitious evils, through the profundity and inexorableness of his deep invented treachery.  
No sooner could a Lunsford, or a deviating rebel embrace an op●rtunity of evil, but he proffer●, nay challenges to himself the primitive and most specular place of ignominy, to be a leader and producer of their former ill-intended mischiefs with this encouragement to his followers, Go you before, and I'll follow; begin you and I will end: or as the Poet Terence hath it, I p●e, sequar.  
This ensuing story will testify his reality and entire affection unto us, to be but feigned, which you sha●l note in this sequel: for not only working perniciously here, but studying by all meres possible, to further and provide for machination at home, to assist his confederates if occasion in that case required, having caused to be laid up in a deep Cellar, divers Barrels of Gunpowder, to the number of two hundred, being overlaid and covered with abundance of old casks, Faggots, and other lumber; and amongst the rest, some Ferkins of wine drawn out, others full, to the intent the powder Barrels might be taken for the like. In another place adjoining, being accounted a storehouse for wool, and such like things, were found three hundred Mu●kets, ready fixed 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 be intended by all this ammunition, and martial provision, cannot of a certainly be expressed, although that the Steward or Keeper thereof being taken and very strictly examined by divers judicious and severe justices 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 inquired and examined why they were hid●en & concealed, ●nd not admitted to pub●lick view as well as those arms which were allowed for his lordship's Honour and defence. He answered, 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 until such time as they had been produced; whenas they would be able to speak for themselves the intent of their concealing. Being formerly suspected, and now almost convinced by his own words of disloyalty, he was forthwith committed to prison.  
I will now in the next place explain unto you the great and wonderful mercy of God towards us, and his just and exemplary punishment showed unto our enemies in the discovery of their wicked and pernicious designs and intentions, who is able to work by weak means, without means, and contrary to means, as in the discourse of the ensuing words palpably appears. There was divers little boys in the town of Sherborne, conjoined and united together in their disport●; where (amongst their pastimes) they made Squibs, and divers fireworks, with powder: one of them dwelling in the house of my Lord Digay, who supplied them with their ammunition; insomuch that many of them carried their works home with them. Whereupon on their Parents demanding them, where they had their implements to compose them, they said, John Pellam, naming the aforesaid Lad, had enough, and knew where was a barrel full, and more. Whereupon having just cause of suspicion before, they called a great many wise and sage Protestants of the faid town privately together, and motioned the matter unto them: And upon mature consideration caused the Boy by flattery, to show them the place where it was: And seeing many Barrels like that wherein the powder was enclosed, opened one other, and found it full. So upon diligent search made, being authorised by divers justices, the plot was discovered: For which we are bound to praise and glorify the holy Name of Almighty God, who hath been pleased to conserve and keep us from all dangers. To whom be glory and honour now and for ever.  
FINIS.