A DAMNABLE TREASON, By a Contagious Plaster of a PLAGUESORE: Wrapped up in a Letter, and sent to Mr. PYM: Wherein is dicovered a Devilish, and Unchristian Plot against the High Court of PARLIAMENT, October 25. 1641.  
The true Effige of M. I. Pym, Esqu. Burgess in he High Court of Parliament for Tavistock in Devonshire.  
Read in this Image him, whose dearest Blood  
Is thought no price, to buy his Country's good,  
Whose name shall flourish, till the blast of Fame  
Shall want a Trumpet, or true worth, a Name.   depiction of John Pym, English Parliamentarian (1584-1643) 
Printed for W. B. Anno Dom. 1641.   

 (?) depiction of John Pym, English Parliamentarian (1584-1643)   

A Damnable TREASON: BY A PLAGVE-SORE: Wrapped up in a Letter, and sent to Mr. PYM.  
ARe ye still involved in such inveterate malice (O ye the breath of Romish Dragons) to cast your poison at our purest Fountains! O greedy Caterpillars: why do you seek to devour our choicest Plants? Do ye not know that in striving against God's dearest Saints, ye do but with too great pains wove out your own Destruction; for God beholdeth all your mischief, and saveth the righteous from the cruelly?  
How bold was this attempt of inhumanity, and filthiness in the very abstract. And that attempted not from some secure place, or Our-side of the City: but near the very heart, and in the face of the City, at Ludgate: where they might have but cast up their eyes, and looked upon that famous Monument of Queen Elizabeth, the Memorial whereof may strike them with terror to all Ages. But see the suttlety of this Damnable Project, compiled without all Christianity. Whether it was a man, or woman, spirit of Devil. This without all doubt is certain, that the filthiest puddle of Hellish Corruption, cannot be more detestable A Man in the shape of a Devil, or the Devil in shape of a Man, became visibly the only Actor in this unclean Conspirasie. And whether because to hid his shaggy hair, or to transform his vissadge, he comes not in his hat, but with a Mounteere on his head. This thought he, will in some Case keep me, that I may the farther presume to be kept from Discovery.  
And for his Messenger he takes not such an one, who had any knowledge of him; lest so unconstancy should move discovery: he takes away such suspicion, and called a sturdy Porter, whom he thought (being ignorant of what he did) would effect this matter as it was intended: which that he should be the more ready to perform, he rewarded him with 12. pence, which made the Porter to be very ready to undertake the delivery, and do the message, little knowing (without all doubt, as is conceived) the great and filthy burden that he was to carry. The Gentleman habited, but Dunghill, nay, filthy Actor takes into his polluted hands a Letter which he delivered incontinently to the Porter, with such Relations, as if his actions had been real.  
The Letter was to be delivered to the Honourable Mr. Pym, & at the Parliament house; there was the aim of this conspiracy even to undo us all by depriving us of these worthy pillars of our Kingdom.  
But thought he, perhaps Master Pym may not be there, what then? what shall be done? if this porter deliver the letter carelessly, Master Pym being from the House, this may perhaps not take effect, therefore, porter (quoth he) if thou dost not see Master Pym himself, leave the letter with the doorkeeper, (directing him carefully to deliver it to his own hands;) this was plotted to the end it should be opened; and viewed by the whole house.  
Thus the porter went to Westminster to perform his message O poor man, thou never carried'st such burden, a fair letter full of filth.  
When he came to the Parliament house, he delivered the letter according to the direction. Which Mr Pym received very courteously, little imagining what was within the letter; who sitting in the house of Commons, incontinently before the Honourable Assembly broke it open in the view of the whole House; which being opened! (Oh who can parallel so unchristian an action, did Hell ever before broach the like? Behold, admire and wonder. O the filthiness of this invention, did ever letter enclose the like? who could ever have thought that any christian should have forged such an invention.)  
IN the Letter was enclosed a filthy clout, with the contagious plaster of a Plague sore upon it; would not this have started the stoutest Hector or Hercules, would not this have made the stoutest heart to tremble, when a man should open it in the presence of such an assembly, a letter full of nothing but a polluted clout in the corruption of a plague sore; but yet oh noble Senators, hold up your heads with comfort for God is with you.  

The wicked Lines that were writ in the LETTER.  
To my honoured friend, John Pym, Esq;  
Mr. Pym,  
Do not think that a Guard of men can protect you, if you persist in your Traitorous courses, and wicked Designs. I have sent a Paper-Messenger to you, and if this do not touch your heart, a Dagger shall, so soon as I am recovered of my Plaguesore: In the mean time you may be forborn, because no better man may be endangered for you.  
Repent Traitor.   
What a bold, wicked presumption was this, thus to abuse that Honourable, and worthy Gentleman; whom I pray God, ever to protect, with comfort, peace, honour, safety, in this life: and in the Life to come, eternal Glory? What would such as these do, in case they might have their will who dare thus to breath out their poison against the Honourable Assembly!  
O wretched abusers, to call him Traitor, who is so good a Subject. But as a Liars tongue is no slander; so such poisoned Asps cannot hurt, whom God preserves. Doth not the whole Kingdom talk with one voice agreeing, that we are happy in such as he, whom God preserve amongst us?  
Was ever such a Paper-Messenger sent before: by which, what rational man in the world will not say, that such Popish Inventions come from the Devil.  
But let me ask them why they do presume, that to threaten to prevail with Sword, or Poniard? Is not God the Guide of all things, he can turn your own swords upon yourselves, ye Hellish Plotters, & destroy you utterly with your own weapons, in the midst of your greatest Glory.  
See your own vanity: are not your two days past; and yet God hath blessed, and preserved them all from your hands; and so I trust he will for ever.  
God overturn at his own time, and in his own way, all those Wicked, and Damnable Plots of the ungodly Papists. But ever let this Blessing light on and go along with the Honourable Assembly, in all their Consultations, and Decrees: that God may be thereby glorified, Reformation wrought, Peace and Tranquillity settled, and the whole Land become the People of the Lord for ever.  

The true Relation how he was descried.  
SEarch being made (by Command from the House) for the finding out of this wretched fellow, who delivered the Letter to the porter. They came to the Inn where it was supposed he lay, as he was described by the Porter, and a Boy: who also casually looked upon him when he sent the Porter. This boy coming to the Inn puts on a Tapster's Apron, and ran up the Stairs into his Chamber, with a good spirit (as he was directed) that so he might see whether it was the man, or not, Anan, anon, anon Sir, saith he, what lack ye: who being in Bed; said, he did not call, but being to go out early that morning, before it was day: he therefore called for a Candle, which was brought him. Then the boy looked upon his nose, and saw a Wart, of which before he took notice. as also a red Ribond about his arm; of which, he gave information to the Constables, he were there ready, and to apprehend him presently, who denied it. But the Porter and the Boy accused him: he being asked, if he had taken the Oath of Allegiance; he said, he never knew what it meant.  
But in fine, he is committed to the Gatehouse, & when it shall please the Honourabls Assembly to bring him to his trial: I pray God that his providence may so rule the matter; that what mischief, plots, Innovations, or popish Treacheries, lie hid under his knowledge, may, by him be discovered, and all other whatsoever, in God's good time; which God grant, for his Christ, his sake, Amen.   
FINIS.