kill the Generall 1 Because it is no more then what his own mouth hath publiquely spoken that formerly he intended to doe it p. 101 102. 2 We cannot observe in his practice and carriage beyond Sea that there was any Change in his mind or resolution concerning the murdring of his Excellency p. 102 His rage and rayling was rather more then lesse p. 103 104. 3 His owne words published when he was in the Netherlands doe amount to as much as by the witnesses is asserted in this particular p. 105 106. Reasons to believe that he intended to destroy the Parl. and Councell of State 1 Because during the time of his Banishment in the Netherlands he counted the Parl. no other then hee did before viz. Tyrants Traytors Knipperdolings c. p. 107. The Author of the historie of Independency greatly commended by him specially for some passages p. 107 108. 2 Because could such a thing be done it would content him very much and the Authors of such Treason and Murder should be reputed by him to be the true lovers of the liberties and freedoms of England p. 108 109. 3 Because as to the meanes and way asserted by the witnesses how he would destroy the Parl. Councell of State is the same which else-where he declares publiquely to the world p. 109 110 111. What Lilburn had suffered for his devices had he liv'd among the Lycians p. 111 112. His grosse hypocrisie discovered by himselfe that it was not the peoples liberty which moved him to oppose Authority but his own private gain and advantage p. 112 113 Reasons to believe that he promised the Lord Hopton and others to settle Charls Stuart King of England as he called him in his Throne in England 1 Because no man was more against the putting of the last King to death then he p. 113 114. 2 Acknowledgeth Prince Charls apparent Heire to his Fathers Crown and Throne p. 114. 3 hath perswaded the people to receive him and to joyn with him as being more justifiable before God or man yea a thousand times more justly then to joyne with the present ruling men p. 114. 4 The great familiarity which was between him and the arch Cavalliers whilst hee was resident in the Low Countries is sufficient to prove the same p. 115. How Lilburn would make the world believe that the Cavalliers suspected him to be a Spy sent over by the State to learn their Counsels p. 116. 5 That corrupt Juries and seditious people are so much for his enlargement another Argument p. 116 117. 6 As Tiberius would have Caligula to reigne that he might destroy the people so would he set up his King here to suppres honest men p. 117. Concerning Lilburns return as to the time manner and other circumstances p. 118. 1 As to the occasion of his coming over here an Argument is fram'd to prove that the reason of his return was to murder the Lord Gen Cromwell p. 118 119 2 How he seekes for a Passe no pardon p. 119. 3 A mysterie opened viz. how he had before vowed never to believe nor trust the Generall and yet petitioneth to him for his liberty p. 120. 4 How Lilburn following the ordinary practice of former Incendiaries takes the advantage of our Change in the Government of State and thus for two Reasons partly because things are then unsetled and partly because at such turnings many men are unsatisfied p. 121. 5 Severall passages are opened which hee writes in a Letter to his wife of seditious consequence p. 121 122. 6 If he have not his Passe granted him how hee will take Major Gen Harrison for his principallest and grandest Adversarie and what he hath oonceiv'd already in his braine against the Major Gen pag. 122 123. Some Observations upon it ibid. 7 With whom Lilburn dined and sup'd when hee was at Callais immediately before his coming over and his Companions with him in the passage-boat p. 124. The third Assertion Namely no man banished out of England being returned again ever offered such Insolencies and high contempt against Authority as he hath done since his coming over specially for the time ibid. 8 His great swelling words at Canterburie as that he needed no Passe was as good a man as Cromwel c. ibid. Lilburn scorns to have his mouth stopt like the Geese in their flight over Taurus p. 125. 9 No sooner is he come at London but hee sends his Agents and Papers abroad to acquaint the people where he was and how to come to him as intending to have made new Tumults presently if the people would have joyned with him p. 125. For his carriage since his coming over 1 What he hath said 2 What he hath done Vpon his Tryall at the Sessions in the Old Bailie hee spake as followes 1 That the Act whereupon he was indicted was a lye a falshood it had no Law nor Reason in it c. p. 125. The Answer to it p. 126. 2 That the Parliament could not make any Act of Parliament since the Kings head was cut off ibid. How he spake Treason but covertly p. 126 127. By the same Law they voted him to death they might vote his honest 12 Jury-men p. 127. Reasons moving his Jurie to acquit him hereupon p. 127 128. 4 How he commends the Parliament which was before the Kings head was cut off p. 128. Two things observed thereupon 1 His notable dissimulation ibid. 2 His grosse absurdity and contradiction p. 129. How the Parliament never made good Laws since Lilb had some money bestowed upon him ibid. How Lilburn speaks plain English and so makes himself a Traytor by Cokes Institutes p. 129. His Jury encouraged to quit him in hearing him to speak Treason so boldly p. 130. How slightly he speaks of all Parliaments as having no power to send for him or any other man c. ibid. His great inhumanity towards the Parliament As to take away their weapons and afterwards to beat them p. 131. His falshood answered and ignorance discovered p. 131 132 How most unworthily he abused the Court p. 132. 1 The Lord Mayor ibid. wherein 1 He lyed against knowledg and conscience 2 Grosly contradicted himselfe 3 Wherein he spake truth it was against himself p. 132 Another Reason to encourage the Jurie to quit him viz. what a stout Champion he would be for them in the great businesse when occasion should serve p. 133. 2 His rayling at the Lord Keeble as being a Partâ—â— and having a sallarie p. 133. Magna Charta for Traitors and Fellons not for the liberty and security of honest men ibid. Why the Lord Keeble may not have 1000 l. per annum of the State to suppresse Riots and Incendiaries as Lilburn to have 1000 acres for ever to maintaine Riots and Insurrections in the Nation p. 133 134. 3 What he called Mr. Pridiaux Attorney Gen p. 134. How like herein to the Beast Duron who seeks to escape by casting forth her dung against the
of men h He faith himselfe that he hath a quicke and sharp pen he might have added and a tongue sharper then an arrow more contemptible then ever the foolish and ridiculous actions fathered upon and said to be committed at Munster in Germany by John of Leyden and Knipperdoling whom in follie murder madnesse and ridiculousnesse you have visibly in the face of the world out-stripped And already made good the truth of the worst of the Kings sayings against you or the sharpest and bitterest of his pens against you And who in historie must leave behind you to future ages the blackest name that ever the sons of men had and for you no defence or excuse or shadow of a bare figleaf-covering can be made for you i Here we may see how falsely he speakes when hee saith In all my actions and carriages beyond Sea I have beene to the utmost of my power understanding and ability as studious and industrious a reall wel-wisher to the prosperity of the people of ENGLAND in generall as ever I was in my life A defensive Declaration of Lieut Coll John Lilburn page 16. He knowes qui nescit dissimulare nescit impeâ—rare It was the policie of Ziba to devise a lye against his Master and then to speak of it himself unto David whereby to alienate the Kings affection from that honest man k So did Nero when hee had set Rome on fire he falsely charged the Christians with it The very same here is Lilburns designe hee raiseth falshoods and slanders against us and then spreads them abroad in other Nations as thinking by this means to divide all people from us But 2. As we have observed before how Mr. Lilburn like the Pope makes our Governours State-Hereticks and then proceeds to cutting off So it was his design beyond Sea And because this businesse is of great concernment we shall therefore first set down the particulars whereof he is accused and by whom and then give the Reader some rational Considerations as to the truth of the thing 1. Isaac Berkenhead affirms that hee heard Colonell Charls Lloid Engineer Gen and Quarter-master Gen to the late King Captain Luke Whittington Agent to Charls Stuart Captain John Titus and Captain Bartlet say That Lieut. Col John Lilburn had l In the Laws of Dâ—…co there is nothing memorable but that it was appointed death for the least crimes there is hardly any thing remarkable in Lilburns writings but the fury and madnesse of the man as if hee would kill destroy every body that is in his way proposed severall times to Sir Ralph Hopton and sometimes to Coll Charls Lloid aforesaid severall others that if the aforenamed persons would procure him m Well may the love of monie be said to be the roote of all evill For what wickednesse is there but a covetous man will commit if he may gaine by it 10000 l. he would destroy the Lord Generall Cromwell the Parliament and Councell of State that now sitteth at Westminster and settle Charls Stuart King of England as hee called him in his Throne in England or else hee would have a piece of him nail'd upon every post in Bruges I further observed saith he from Lieutenant Coll John Lilburn and others who told me of his actions that the Lieut Collonel did not only move with much violence and earnestnesse shewing which way he would bring this his proposed design about but n This is the more likely to be true because wheÌ„ he was in England it was his constant practice to goe from place to place to stirr up as many as he could to seditious courses went from person to person whose reputation he thought could o O cives cives quaerenda pecunia primum virtus post nummos procure so much as he proposed for the advancement of this his declared designe and whose affections and opinions were most sutable to further him in such employment Thus he 2. Captain John Titus saith that the said Lieuten Col John Lilburn proposed to the Lord Hopton that if he would procure him ten thousand pounds hee would p One of Mr. Lilburns friends writes thus It is a firme law and radicall principle in nature ingraven in the heart by the finger of God in the Creation for every living moving thing wherein is the breath of life to preserve award and deliver it selfe from all hurtfull things destructive and obnoxious thereto to the uttermost of his power Overtons Appeale pag. 3. If this be true then hath the Common-wealth of ENGLAND great reason to looke about and beware of this mans designe destroy the Common-wealth of England in six months or he would have a piece of him nail'd upon every post in Bruges The Lord Hopton told the said Lilburn that it could not be so facile a thing though hee believed it might be done but not in so short time To which the said Lilburn replyed My Lord I 'le shew you how it shall be done give me but the monies I propose for and I 'le have my Agents for I have enough of them that shall give me an account of all the Common-wealth of Englands proceedings And by those q But who are they Vaine and light fellowes like such as followed Abimilech Agents I will spread my papers abroad that shall instigate the people against the Parliament so by that r Wee hope when this Case and Craft which is here discovered shall be understood by the people of this Nation hee will have little cause to boast any more of Power here power I have already and that power my Agents shall make by working upon the people I will destroy the Parl. the Councell of State and the Lord Gen Cromwel in halfe an hour So he 3. Captain John Bartlet saith About the 20 of July 1652. in an Arbor in Plaringdoll three miles from Ostend in Flanders Lieut. Coll. John Lilb did propose to Coll. Charls Lloid Quarter-master Gen Engineer Gen to the late King in the late Wars in England and to Capt. John Bartlet the Examinant and Captain Luke Whittington Agent for the King of Scots that if the said Charls Lloid or any of the aforesaid persons would procure him * It is reported of one who for the like sum of money was hyred to kill a man And having done it hung the money about his neck and went up and down offering it to any man that would cut his throat post duca amara Gravior Inimicus qui latet sub pectore 10000 l. he the said Lilburn would settle the King in his Throne to wit Charles Stuart in England And that the King to wit Charles Stuart should never come into his Throne but by the said Lilburns means 4. Richard Foot affirmeth that hee heard Mr. Lilburn speak these words If my Passe come not up and I find that its Cromwel that hinders it as it must be for it lies in his power I
any Novelty in matter of State should deliver it in publick with d That which he hath published since his coming over concerning Parliaments not having power to alter fundamentall Laws is such a noveltie as hee had been hang'd for it had hee published it among the Lysians a halter about his neck to the end if their Propositions were not found to be good and profitable the Authors should be strangled in the place That these things are Novelties he knew well enough and we know as well that in propounding them he meant neither good nor profit to the Nation But like an Enemie without the walls casteth Granado's and Wild-fire in not regarding where it falls so it may doe some mischiefe and hurt amongst us But one thing here is remarkable to wit how evidently his own grosse hypocrisie is discovered by himself Mark all Readers that have sense he pretends as if the Liberties Freedoms of the people were deare to him and hence it is that he writes so much against Tyranny and Oppression Whereas it is e The Jesuites protest to live by begging yet so uti vel non uti prout commodum vi deretur to do it or not as they see occasion Hist Trent l. 10. so is he for the peoples Libertie to speak or not to speak of it as he sees it is best for his own advantage otherwise his mouth witnesseth against him For thus it follows If by the help and benefit of this intended Appeale the people of England come to assume unto themselves the true excercise of their publick declared power that their present Tyrants in words have already instated them in and deal with my grand Adversaries thereby according to their demerits Let my bloody and malicious Adversaries THANKE THEMSELVES IN NOT LETTING ME ALONE TO SIT UNDER MY OWNE VINE IN PEACE AND QUIETNESSE f And so much hath apeared in all Incendiaries and disturburs of States Only their own Interest because they have been unsatisfied in some things concerning themselves Thereupon have made Insurrections Tumults and to draw the people in with them have cried up Liberty Freedom whereas the publick good was not at all minded So then if Mr. Lilb had been let alone and not crost in his will and way there had been no Appeale made No Hue and Cry after Tyrants Murderers Thieves c. nor any need or cause so to do It was not the peoples Liberty Freedom that mov'd him thus against the State but as he saith himselfe his owne private Interest namely because he could not have such things as g But that we think hee understands not Latine otherwise one would have thought he had read Seneca where it is said Pecunia ingens generis humani bonum cui non voluptas matris aut blandae potest paresse pralis non sacer meritis parēs money lands preferment as he expected All which we know to be true had not his own mouth spoken it Wee come now to the third and last particular viz. To settle Charls Stuart King of England as he called him in his Throne in England That he should thus speak and promised so to do wee have these reasons to believe that the same is true h Neither hath any man shewed himself a greater dissembler then he hath done in this particular viz. in doing as much as any man to have the K. put to death and afterward to pretend he was against it i Lilburn revived 2 letter p. 6 7. we only relate what hee saith himself as speaking now to the Caval No man saith he was more against the putting of the last King to death then myselfe and spake more to the Grandees teeth about it then all the Cavalliers put together in one avoidably durst have done Yea so highly displeased was he with that action that had there been two sons of his own Judges in the high Court of Justice he would have k This is the man who a little before told us that if he had been let alone he would never have medled with matters of publicke oncernment chopt off both their heads for conspiring to overthrow and destroy the liberties of the Common-wealth following herein that famous and renowned Consul Lucius Brutus in Rome See here how like another Jehu he calls out to the Cavalliers See my zeale to your Lord and Master Againe l An Out cry of the young men p. 2. the King most illegally was put to death by a strange monstrous illegal arbitrary Court such as England never knew This speech of his is much like the Answer which m Cicic de divin Pythius the Priest gave to Pyrrhus the King of Epire. Aio te Aeacida Romanos vincere posse An Answer so dubious and discrepant as it cannot be gathered from it whether He or the Romans should overcome his speech here is of the like ambiguity and darknesse For ye cannot directly say whether he thought the King guilty and worthy of death yet so as not to have suffered in the manner he did or whether innocent and so not to have suffered as to his life in any judicatory way at all Now in this there was some reason why hee should not be n The Turkes Painter being to set forth severall Nations according to their dresse and habit leaves one people naked and being demanded a reason thereof Answered he knew not what apparell to put on them So we must here leave this man naked as being ashamed and affraid to speak out his mind as to the taking off the Kings head as waving the māner of the proceeding whether as a King the people could have put him to death or no. Machiavels maxime is that in designs men must be close and in Conspiracie against the State the complotters therof must not passe the number of 3 or 4. too open for thereby he might have lost the Interest of some parties in not joyning with him in the GRAND DESIGN 2. Not only hath he apparently declared Prince Charls Apparant Heire to his Fathers Crown and Throne but likewise in his former papers hath most treacherously perswaded the people to receive him as being a thing justifiable before God and man and very much to the prosperity and welfare of the Nation his owne words are these I do not see but you may more justifiably before God or man joyne with the Prince himselfe yea I am sure o Judg Reader whether this man would not sooner joyne with Charls Stuart then with the Interest of the present Government if there should be any engagement in War between them who affirms that it is better a thousand times to joyn with him then to the present Government a thousand times more justly then the present ruling MEN and if we must have a King p Not for any love to him we dare say but as a Thief cares not how nor which way be take away the true mans purse
had left them and declin'd heir cause In medio tutissimus ibis a little to reach the haven of his expectation 3. We find that it hath been the ordinary practice of all Incendiaries both in this Nation and elsewhere whensoever they have intended to put their premeditated Treason in execution to do it upon k Nosce tempus or tempori pari is the old saying a change of the Government of the State partly because things are l A stake or a pole that is loose in the earth is easily taken up and carried away so here then unsetled and loose and partly because at such Turnings and Changes many men are m Such persons are usually like weather-cocks to move turn about if any seditious wind blow upon them unsatisfied and discontented and so the readier to make tumults insurrections And this was not unknown to him whose knowledg in sedition hath exceeded most And therefore takes the advantage of Our Change there being no fitter opportunity then now to manage his owne present businesse as a master-workman to the purpose 4. In the Letter to his wife a little before his coming over he presseth her very much n Here is another mysterie why so speedily unlesse to strike whilst the iron was hot Indeed time must be taken fronte capillata est post occasio Calva speedily to get him a passe And one reason moving him as he saith to make the more hast is because if I come over and finde things in a handsome way to my liking I have something of very great consequence to say speedily to such a great faithfull man as I shall trust The Law saith o Dubium in meliorem partem accipienduÌ„ lâ— cum Creditor de furtis A doubtfull action is to be taken in the better part and the p In re dubia benigniorem semper fieri interpretationem L proxime C de his quae in Testdel fairer interpretation must be made Againe q Nobiliores praesumptiones semper in dubijs eligendas L. merito pro socio in doubts the nobler presumptions are alwayes to be chosen Now howsoever our desire is to walk r Ratio sit linguae orationis Modeâ—aâ—ix where we can by such charitable and Christian rules Neverthelesse considering here the condition of the man As 1 That he counts few to be honest and faithfull but Rioters and seditious persons 2 What he calls matters of great consequence are Å¿ Whosoever shal read over all his printed papers shal find that they contain little else but either reproaches aspersions cast out against particular men or sowing seditious seed in the Nation ordinarily Conspiracies and Treasons against the State 3. To have things t Querie whether that were not a handsom way when his true Burford frieÌ„ds revolted And so when the Rioters layd wast the Inclosures and destroyed mens corn habitations No doubt this was to his liking in a handsome way and to his liking is to have the Nation in blood and warr We say the case standing thus we cannot but conclude that this passage contains a laying of a ground or foundation in order to the promise which he made to Hopton and others viz. to murder the Generall destroy the Parliament and Councell of State and to settle Charls Stuart King of England as he called him in his Throne in England Before the creature brings forth her conception we certainly know what it will be as to the kind and nature whether man-kind bird beast c. by the male in whose womb it is It is easie to guesse what Mr. Lilburns conceptions are and so sutable what he will bring forth by knowing his nature and what u Hitherto omnia fuit nihil fuit as one said of Severus hitherto he hath brought forth as so many bastards of his own begetting 5 In the same Letter he writes thus But if our new Councell of State or Governours will not cast a favourable eye upon me but either denie x Tolle mores semper nocuit differre paratis Again Tu propera nec te venturas differ in Horas Qui non est hodie cras minus aptus erit or delay me a Passe so that the next Post I heare not of it I shall then take it up for granted that Major Gen Harrison being as I heare one of your New Councell of State is my Principallest and Grandest Adversarie and accordingly I shall only take a rise from what I was informed he said in the House at y Note how at his last Tryall hâ— used these words I call Jehovah to witnesse and doe protest before God Angells and men I aâ— not the person intended to be banished in that Act. Speaking of the Act whereupon he was indicted and yet forgetting the proverb that a lyar hath need of a good memorie here hee confesseth that he was the same John Lilburn my banishment and what he said publiquely at Alhallows when from Dover I sent my Letter to the people that met there To write him such a letter which already in my z This in likelihood wil be a piece more solid then the rest when it comes abroad because by his former writings he hath shewed to have more sand then brain in his head braine I have conceived as will no way please him What so high already and the thing already contrived in his head This is much No doubt it was some Arraignment or Hue and Crie It is is likely it will come forth for his head is like a sieve keeps nothing in it But a We find the cause of his brain-design against Major Gen Harrison to be thus The Major Gen had said as he saith that there was no credit to be given to him because he had found him so false Now see how tender the man is of his owne good name But for others they must sit still beare all his reproaches why if the Passe be not granted must Major Gen Harrison be his principallest grandest Adversarie It seems the Gentleman being judicious and of singular discerning observed more then other men the deceitfulnesse of his wayes and so became an instrument to preserve many honest hearts as ignorant of his wiles from being taken by his snares now this he cannot forget But sound Drums and Trumpets and have at thee Harrison with all my might Wee question not but the Reader will here observe with what spirit this man came over And the good hand of God towards us that such restlesness self-revenge and malice should thus still be discovered by his own b he scorns to do like those beasts which wipe out with their rayle the print of their feet lest the pursuers should follow them by their track mouth This is the man that makes account to be the Instrument and Actor for the Restauration of our Freedome and Libertie Now herein wee know not whereunto better to like him then to
proprieties are confounded and destroyed For by the same rule that he layes a hundred and twenty thousand pounds a Moneth he may lay six Millions a Moneth when he pleaseth and so ad infinitum Here we have him prosecuting the method which he propounded to the Duke of Buckingham Sir Ralph Hopton and others as to c That which he publisheth there may serve as another Reason to prove the former charge against him Namely his Resolution to kill the Generall destroy the Parliament set up Charls Steward c. For had he not intended such a thing such seditions words would not have been uttered specially at this time being a prisoner destroy the Lord Generall Cromwel the Parliament and Councell of State and to make Charls Stuart King of England by working a mutiny in the Army and raising up the people against the present Government and so put the Nation into blood and confusion Now howsoever we shall not speak any thing as to his method notwithstanding for the season we conceive he was not right for being lately come over and known to be seditious a man would have thought that for a while he would not have been tampering with the publick affaires of the State untill he had gotten his liberty and so been in a better capacity to have followed the businesse he came about But we see the Gall of sedition is so predominant and overflowing in him as he cannot for his life forbear the acting of it whensoever he d Take a woâ— and beat him blacke and blew cut off his legs and then pluck his skin off yet unlesse you can change his nature he will be a wolf still so it is with men accustomed to sedition it is not banishment imprisonment or any other punishment will reclaim them unlesse God change their heart finds an occasion to goe to work be it in season or out of season The Controversie was soon decided as to what Countrey those Islands did belong when they brought Snakes and Adders thither So we may know of what side and party this man is by the venemous Vermins which naturally do live in him The Snakes of Treason which he carried away with him he kept in his bosom all the time of his abode beyond Sea and we see here they are brought back again so that dye they cannot the soyl being so naturall to them We shall goe no further with his Books only besides those here mentioned he hath dispersed with his own hands among severall persons many other e Some of the Heathen Emperours ceased from persecuting the Christians because they saw how unsuccessfull they were in their actions One would thinke he should be quite wearie of publishing Bookes against the State to observe how the hand of the Lord hath been still against him as to blast and curse his doings Printed Papers of the same nature and tendency since his coming over Having made so large a discourse of his Case and Craft we shall now in the winding up of all take occasion from the premises to speak a word in season to the whole Nation What course the Parliament should take with him f Only this Sed sapiens in fâ—nte oculos habet omnia spectans omnia prudenti cum ratione videns And venienti occurite morbo we shall not at all meddle with it it being onely our purpose to satisfie all people in all places with this particular namely That he is one whose liberty is not to be desired dangerous to the Common-wealth and therefore to be wisht rather further off then to live amongst us And that it may appear we speak not here lightly or unadvisedly but what is rationall and well bottomed we desire that these following Considerations may be weighed 1. How he hath sought by severall seditious wayes the overthrow of the Common-wealth ever since it was established And nothing will satisfie him by his own confession but g As if hee were another Alecto whom Juno is said to send forth to raise tumults and seditions in the world Cui tristia Bella Iraeque insidiaeque crimina noxia cordi murder and blood where he takes himself to be wrong'd Be it true or false h He that can murder with the least scruple of conscience such as are in Authority in what safety are other people whom hee takes for his Enemies Surely he will feare lesse either by his Agents to destroy such low and weak things for here none must be judge but himself Plynie saith that the Earth never receiveth within her entrailes that Serpent which hath stung any man to death We have shewed before how his tongue ha's not spared any but the poyson thereof hath been poured out upon Parliament Army Generals Councel of State c. Insomuch that if after all his poysoning and killing there should be an opening to him as to receive him into our bowels it might truly be said like that voyce which was heard from Heaven Hodie venemum Reipubl est immissum This day is poyson poured into the Common-wealth 2. In all the stirs that he makes and the severall Pamphlets which are forth under his name we find nothing in them of Christ nothing of his Kingdome power and glory and of the great Work which the Lord is now carrying forth in the world It is true we find him often scoffing and jeering at the things of God but for the present i Here wee cannot say of this man as it was said of the Asse the master hath need of him For neither Christ nor his people have any need of him as to the cause work of God going on in the world Generation-worke he is altogether ignorant of it it is foolishness to him When one asked Duke d'Alva whether he had seen the blazing Star or no he answered that his work was so much below on earth as he had neither leisure nor time to look up to see what was doing in the Heavens The like may be said of this much to be pittied miserable man who hath made it so his work to be contentious and alwayes quarrelling with one or other as he hath had no spare houres to look up or to look on any thing saving self-revenge and therefore as he knowes nothing of Generation-worke so he is better out then in for should he be taken in he would but stand in the way k It is reported of a tree that if the boughs thereof be thrown into a vessell it will occasioÌ„ a mutiny among the Mariners and passengers and so endanger the losse both of men and vesseâ—l Should this man be shipt with the Saints there would bee no peace among them Besides such divisions and contentions would he make as they would be the lesse useful and serviceable in their generation to hinder the prosecuting and furthering of it 3. Take him without his Wiles and at the best what are the things which he talks so much of But in
making disturbances and tumults in a Nation p 37 38 39 4 Lilburns complaints against the General are groundlesse for being ignorant of what is just good he therefore speaks evill of it p 39 40 41 5 As his Accusations against the Generall are prov'd to be false malicious and scandalous so hath hee shewed himselfes herein most inhumane and ungratefull p 41 42 The which in humanity and ingratitude is demonstrated in severall particulars p 42 1 In the basenesse of his speeches ibid. 2 In rendring evill for good ibid. 3 Having no provocation or occasion so to do p 42. 43 44 Lilburns End and grand designe in opposing Government and aspersing such as are in Authority and herein how like unto the Pope p 44 45 The severall ways and wiles which he hath used to bring his end and designe to passe ibid. 1 By instigating all people Souldiers as well as others unanimously to rise against the Parliament and to apprehend them as so many professed Traytors Theeves Murderers c. p 45 46 2 By making division betweene the Parliament and Armie which is shewed in several particulars p 46 47 48 3 By attempting to destroy the Armie p 49 The which is demonstrated By perswading the Souldiers to revolt and cast off their Commanders page 49 50 51 52 Here some particulars are noted as how he and his partie have occasioned the Souldiers to revolt p 52 1 By charging the principall Officers of the Armie with most scandalous horrid and base things p 52 53 2 When any of the Souldiers have acted any thing treacherously and dangerously against the Armie their manner was highly to commend such mutinous and seditious persons p 53 54 3 By urging and instigating other Souldiers when their fellow-souldiers for causing sedition have been justly punished to take severe revenge for it presently upon their Officers p. 54 55 4 In stead of a Court-Marshall Mr. Lilburn appointed a Committee of Indempnity whereby all Souldiers are acquitted as not to suffer for sedition or any other crime whatsoever p. 55 56 Lilburns designs and resolutions far worse and more abominable then the former p. 56 As how he resolv'd to murder and massacre severall persons ibid. 1 Sir Arthur Haslerig p. 57 2 He hath openly professed to the world that hee resolv'd to kil the Lord Generall Cromwel at the Parliament doore p. 58 Reasons wherefore he did it it not 1 For the love he bore to his Wife and Children 2 Because he was assured that he should see the Generals downfall without the killing of him And 3. Be an instrument himselfe for the restauration of Englands Liberties and Freedoms ibid. Hence these Inferences are made 1 That Lilburns coming lately into England was to effect what he had promised to the Duke of Buckingham Hopton and others p. 59 2 A singular providence of God that a design so desperate should be made known by himselfe p. 59 60 3 The Common wealth of England needs no such Actors 4 The intended murder confest by himselfe leads us as by the hand to the Author and Instrument of the Libels and Pasquils which have been thrown abroad pa. 61 62. 3 It hath not only been his resolution to stabb and kill particular persons but a whole Parliament of men at one time as so many Weasels and Poulcats p. 62 63 64 Lilburns first Tryall p. 64 The Act declaring what offences shall be adjudged Treason pag. 65 66 67 68 69. That the witnesses and proofes produced on the Common-wealths behalf were full legall against Liuet Col. John Lilburn in point of Treason p. 70. 1 The Treason was confest by himselfe p. 70 71 72 2 Proved by severall legall and sufficient witnesses pag. 72 73 3 In the Booke which he owned and and acknowledged himselfe the Author the whole Treason whereof he was accused is there set forth pag. 73 74 How impartial illegal unjust the Jury was p. 74 75 How impertinent and vain Lilburns whole Answer is p. 75 76 77 78 79 80. Lilburns slight trick how he escapes at his Tryalls p. 80 81. Mr. Lilburns actions and doings after his Enlargement pag. 81. Here wee find him a Solicitor attending the Committees pleading in all Causes where he might have any advantage thereby p. 81 82. He who had formerly cryed out against the Lawyers is more foule and criminall in the same particulars p 82 83 Having been so long vers'd in Nationall Tumults he is like a fish out of the water till his hand be again in publique Commotions p. 83. The Case stated concerning Hatfield Chase ibid. 84 The Riots and Insurrections there made ibid. Daniel Noddel gets to his assistance Lilburn and Major Wildman p. 85 How Lilburn cum socijs totally abolish'd destroy'd the whole Town of Stantoft 82 Habitations and destroyed in Corn and Rapes 34000 acres the damage not lesse then 80000 l. p. 86. An agreement between Lilburn and severall men of the Mannor of Epworth that in consideration of 2000 Acres to be given to Lilburn and Wildman they shall be defended from all Riots past and to come p. 87 Lilburn's Lords dayes worke at Stantoft p. 87 88. How he instigates the people of Crowle to make Insurrections and Riots p. 88. Noddel's wager that Lilburn would call the Parliament to an account p. 89. Lilburns land measured out and by him taken into possession ibid. Major Wildman present when Lilburn made the bargaine p. 90. Observations upon the whole ibid. 1 According to Cokes Institutes Lilburn is a Traitor by his Actions p. 91 92. 2 His unparalleld insolencie having but a little before escaped punishment for raysing tumults would throw himselfe againe headlong in the danger pag. 92. 3 Should such a president as this be left without due Execution of Justice in what danger were the whole Common-wealth p. 93. The originall and chief cause of his banishment p. 94. Lilb actions and proceedings beyond Sea ibid. Here is asserted that no English Exile in the time of his Banishment shewed more malice or contrived greater Treason against England then Mr. Lilburn did in the time of his Residence in the Netherlands p. 95. For 1. never was a State by the mouth or penne of any Exile made more odious or execrable then he hath rendred ours to Forreign Nations p. 95 96 97. 2 Having made our Governours State-Hereticks then be proceeds Pope-like to cut them off p. 98. The which is demonstrated By the particulars whereof he is accused 1 Isaac Berkenheads Charge against him p. 98 99 2 Captain John Titus p. 99. 3 Capt. John Bartlet ibid. 100. 4 Richard Foot 100. How Lilburn like the Sepiae seekes to escape by blacking the water p. 100 101. The whole Charge cast into three heads or branches 1 His resolution to kill the Lord Gen Cromwel 2 To destroy the Parl. and Councell of State 3 To settle King Charles as hâ—e called him in his Throne in England pa. 101. Reasons to believe that he intended to
Command neglect duties make uproars and tumults in the Nation As for other Courts in this case n Witnesse Mr. Lilburns first and second Tryall in both which he was quitted by the Juries though as great a mutineer as hath been known in any age As the victories wonn by Alexander and Julius Caesar are not to be attributed so much to their valour as to the condition of the people in those dayes so Mr. Lilb escaped not by his skill in Law or truth on his side but through the fault and errour of his Juries Mutineers will little regard them Thus we have shewed what mischiefs to the Nation by using others as his instruments hee hath attempted to do We come now to declare wherein his Designs and Resolutions have been far wors and more abhominable even so in humane and barbarous as no tongue or penn but his owne would have durst to set them forth to the world And this concerns his designs and resolution to o Vbi est fervida vindicta non est temperata justitia Cassiodor murder and massacre such persons we speak here of his intent who have disliked his treacherous plots and from time to time endeavoured to hinder the execution of them 1. For Sir Arthur Haslerigg what he meant to do by him as to the taking away of his life he hath published it himself p A just reproof to Haberdashers Hall pag. 6. Meeting Mr. Pearson at the George in Channel-Row this message by him he sent his Master As he loved his Masters life and welfare I intreated him saith he to tell him I wore a good Dagger by my right side and a good Rapier by my left side if within eight dayes he did not send me all my money or give me some rationall satisfaction let him looke to himselfe for after that day where-ever I meet him I would pay him for altogether though I were cut in a thousand pieces on the very place Judge READER are these the words of a Christian or rather a Heathen and one that seeks nothing but himself and his own Interest what would this q If a State in a prudentiall way will not suffer devouring Beasts to be at liberty whereby meÌ„s Cattell might be destroyed More carefull should they be of shutting up such beasts who openly declare that they will stab and kill such men as refuse to do what they require of them fellow do had he r Sic voleo sic jubeo sit pro ratione voluntas power in his hand that threatens thus to stab and kill in reference only to his own particular Case The cruelties and infamies of Caligula are imputed to the Nurse that gave him suck the which being cruell and barbarous of her selfe rubbed the ends of her breasts with blood causing the child to whom she gave milk to suck them Whose milke this man suck'd we know not Å¿ Dicearchus set up two Altars the one to Cruelty the other to Iniquity upon the which he sacrificed and prayed as to the gods whether Cruelty and Iniquity be not his great Diana let the Reader judg but this is certain if out of the aboundance of the heart the mouth speaketh t It is without all peradventure should this man and his party once rule they would make such Lawes as might well bee caled Officina scelerum carnificina sanctorum shops of wickednesse and shambles of the Saints he hath taken in so much self-revenge and seeds of crulty and murder that like another Caligula the peace of a Nation and safety of mens lives lie at the stake where he hath Freedom to act according to his Resolution But 2. concerning his wicked intent to murther the Lord Generall Cromwel u We have here fulfilled what a learned Author writes There is nothing endures so small a time as the memory of benefits received and the more great they are the more commonly are they recompenced with in gratitude Gâ—…c hist l. 4. he hath openly avowed it to the world that had it not been for the affection which he bore to his Wife and Children and the assurance which hee had to see the Generals downfall without his killing of him and himself an instrument for the restauration of Englands liberties and freedom he had absolutely destroyed him with his owne hand before hee went in to Holland And that the Reader may be fully satisfied in the truth of this we shall here set down his own words x Note that he makes meÌ„tion of his intent to murder the Gen in other places besides what he saith here Therefore my Lord sit as fast as you can in the strength of the Lord God Almighty see how the wretched man prophanes the name of God have at you if I perish I perish As you were p. 33. If it had not been for the strong affection I bore to her and my poore babes whom willingly I would not leave beggars when I dye for that I had some grounded assurance in my owne spirit that I should live to see his downfall and the full restauration of our English Liberties and Freedoms and my selfe be an Actor or Instrument to procure it without so apparant hazard to my life as such an Act would be y The wonderfull wisdom of God is to be seen here that this mans tongue should reveale the wickednesse of his own heart and that he should glory thus in his own shame as counting it his grace to be graceles I had with my owne right hand at the House doore avowedly ended the quarrell betwixt him and me and the rest of the free-born people of England With a paper of Reasons in my left hand ready to be sent unto the Speaker and with severall others in my pocket to justifie to the whole world the lawfulness and justness of such an Action both by the lawes of God Nature and Nations Wee need not z It went as a proverb of Cranmer Do my Lord of Canterbury an ill turn and you shall be sure to have him your friend for ever If Mr. Lilb continual treacherous dealing against the Gen be considered and his Excellencies readines notwithstanding upon all occasion to doe him good It might be said of Cromwel as the proverb went of Crammer comment upon the speech his unparallel'd wickednesse is enough shewed by his own mouth Notwithstanding some things we shal infer from it 1. Hence all men may clearly understand the end of Mr. Lilburns coming lately into England Namely to effect what he had promised to the Duke of Buckingham the Lord Hopton and others a So much is testified by Isaac Berkenhead Je Titus Joh Bartlet Rich. Foot which was for 10000 l. he would destroy the Parliament Councell of State AND THE LORD GENERAL settle Charls Steward King of England in his Throne in England b It is true he denies all thâ—s but he knows the old saying in loco facere in
will either kill him my selfe or Å¿ This shewes what for Agents hee had send one to do it Then one of the Merchants asked him how he could doe such a thing with conscience he answered tell not me of t Note that the Levellers hold that there is no heaven nor hell No resurrection of the flesh for to take it so in the letter they say is a dreame of our Preacher New Law p 78. Conscience in this case For if I am banished without law conscience or equitie and deprived of my naturall Ayre to breath in which is every mans birth-right I may u How justly whether is there any such Law in Magna Charta We mention not the Scriptures For all that we call the hostorie of the Scripture Levellers say is an idoll New Law pag. 97. justly right my selfe if I can If I would take a Hare or a Deer I ought to give them fair play because they are Beasts of Game but if a Fox or Wolfe I may use what device I can to kill him So if Cromwel keepe himselfe above the law that I cannot have my right by the law I may kill him how I can The Sepiae a certaine kinde of Fish perceiving themselves in danger of taking by an instinct which they have do darken the water and so many times escape the net which is laid for them Mr. Lilburn finding himself here almost taken seeks to get off by such a device as blacking the water partly by denyall and partly by aspersing the x There is one Capâ— Wendy Oxford whom he often in his writings cries out against as to be a Spy and sought to murder him But we do not remeÌ„ber that hee hath any where laid any thing to the charge of these men as to tax theÌ„ with any particular miscariages So that every rational man will give the more credit to what they have testâ—fied upon oath Witnesses as to be Spies suborn'd Rogues Knaves c. Here now our businesse is to lay downe some Rationall Considerations as to the proof of the Charge that is whether the impartiall and understanding Reader walking by the rules of Judgment and Reason is to believe his bare and single denyall though backt with Vows y May not he lye in his protestations here as he did at his last Tryall when he took Jehovah to witness and protested before God men Angels that he was not the person intended to be banished by that Act. Protestations Asseverations c. rather then what these I upon oath have attested The whole Charge may be cast into three heads or branches 1 His resolution to kill the Lord Generall Cromwel 2 To destroy the Parliament and Councell of State 3 To settle King Charles as he call'd him in his Throne in England Of these wee shall speak in order Concerning the killing of the Generall that he said it and intended as much we have these Reasons to believe it For 1. this is no more then what his own a It is likely so he will againe if he can set it out in print with his name to it but here he knows how to help himself if call'd to an account Who can prove it is mine mouth hath publickly spoken that formerly he intended to do it wherein therefore is it improbable that he might not privately to a few say as much as before he had openly declared to the world When a messenger came from Jezebel to tell Elias that shee had a purpose to kill him if some other afterward should have told the Prophet that hee heard her likewise say the same had hee not reason to have believed this later report also Decipies alios verbis vultuque benigno Nam mihi jam notus dissimulator eris Others thou maist beguile with words and such face make But unto me art so well known dissembler I 'le thee take But 2. Wee cannot observe in Mr. Lilburns practice and carriage beyond the Seas any change of his mind concerning the murdering of the Generall b Yet at his first arrivall it was my Lord and his Excellency and yours to serve you But the Gen knows non facile est eodem A dulaore amiâ—uti but if wee may give credit to what is published under his owne hand an increase and growth of desperate wrath selfe-revenge and blood-thirstinesse And so much is evident by such expressions That grand Tyrant Cromwel Cromwels beastly and abhominable tyrannie The cheats of that hypocriticall and Alchymie Saint Oliver and his gracelesse Tribe Their false treacherous c Nec tibi dua parnis generis nec Dardanus author perfide sed duris genuiâ— te cautibus horrens Caucasis Hyrcanaeque admorunt ubera â—gres Virg. Aeneid l. 4. hellish diabolical cowardly means I judge him to be as false as the Devill and whom d What man ever shewed more hypocrisie then after all this by insinuation and flatteterie to seeke the General 's favour I will never trust againe whilst I breath let him sweare and protest never so much For e For shame once in your life shew your self like a man be not still a beast shame my Lord once in your life learn to be just ought not you your self my Lord to be hang'd c. The f Omnia membra in sene deficiunt excepta lingua quae nunquam quiescit Wolfang Franzius hist Animal Tract 4. Cap. 2. pag. 726. 272. Aspe in her old age hath all her members decayed onely her tongue is as bad as ever This Booke wherein he thus reproacheth the Generall is call'd Lieut Coll John Lilburn g If you wake a drunkard out of his sleep before the drinke be out of his head hee will rage and take on as if hee were mad It seems Lilburn was â—aâ— asleep being drunk with malice self-revenge being awaked sooner theÌ„ he should carries himself like a Bedlam revived Now this must be understood only of his venomous tongue For the Law holds every banished man to be dead A dead man wee know smels not the stinck which cometh from him It was an Argument that Lilburn was not revived saving his tongue that such Trash and h This is the Dung-trap w th we mention'd before pa. 30. wherewith he hath caught many malignaÌ„t Gnats dung should proceed from him and hee no way sensible of the stink thereof But seeing this i His tongue hath bin like a mill loose hung which makes a noise crackling but grinds no corn So with his reproaches and raylings he hath fill'd all places with a noyse but nothing have we from him that is profitable and good for the Nation unruly member of his is revived with the Readers patience we shall set downe a little more that it may appear the intended murder which he acknowledgeth himselfe and by others since is witnessed was fixt and setled in his malicious heart In a letter to his Excellencie thus he writes You