said Lilburn I know him to be otherwise for heretofore all his Business was mannaged by Ireton and is since by others And for the Generall himself he is as false a perfidious false-hearted Rogue as ever lived in the world And I know no reason why I should not vy with Cromwell since I had once as great a power as he had and greater too and am as good a Gentleman and of as good a family To this the said Duke replyed Sir if you have any Interest in England as you say you have I pray you to use it for me for I have a great desire to be reconciled to my native Country Then the said Lilburn perceiving he could not moove the said Duke to any thing in relation to his the said Lilburns proposalls and perswasions he the said Lilburn promised to use his interest in England on the said Dukes behalf to which purpose the said Lilburn wrote to some in England but to whom this Examinant knoweth not But with all the said Lilburn advised the said Duke not to stir in it yet This Examinant further saith that the said Lilburn said that there was one Rogers that was a Rogue for that he was a Spy for the Common-wealth of England and therefore he the said Lilburn would ruin and destroy him And that he the said Lilburn had discovered several that were imployd in that way before And after this apprehending the said Rogers was to come towards Bruges the said Lilburn lay an hour and a half waiting for the said Rogers his coming at Placingdoll three English miles from Ostend which was his way to Bruges The Examinant further saith that there was one Mr. Lambert a man that keeps much company with the said Lilburn who took the said Lilburn his house for him in Bruges that said that Lieut. C. Lilburn told him the said Lambert that he the said Lilburn had found a Rogue out one Rogers that was a Spy for the Common-wealth of England The said Lambert further said with another Papist commonly called by the name of Paracelsus as he the said Lambert was that if the said Rogers had staid two daies longer in the Town he the said Rogers should never have gone thence alive for that they would have him the said Rogers knocked on the head This Examinant further saith that the said Lilburn said that the Lord General had abused Major General Lambert who when time serv'd would berevenged on the General JOHN TYTUS The Examination of Capt. John Bartlet concerning Lieut. Col. John Lilburn ABout the 20. of July 1652 in an Arbor in Placingdoll three miles from Ostend in Flanders Lieut. Col. John Lilburn did propose to Col. Charles Lloyd sometimes called Sir Charles Lloyd Quarter master General and Egineer General to the late King in the late warres in England and to Capt. John Bartlet this Examinant and Capt. Luke Whittington Agent for the King of Scots that if he the said Charles Lloyd or any of the aforesaid persons would procure him ten thousand pounds he the said Lilburn would settle the King in his Throne to wit Charles Stuart in England And this Examinant further saith that at the same time the said Lilburn said that the King to wit Charles Stuart should never come into his Throne but by his the said Lilburns means And that he further said the said Lilburn did oppose the late Kings death more than any man in England besides then durst do And this Examinant further saith that the said Lilburn did then boast much of the largeness of his own party as he the said Lilburn called them which he had in England This Examinant further saith that there was a Rumor in Flanders that his Excellency the Lord General Cromwell was made Lord Admiral of the Seas and that he was to go to Sea in the Ship called the Soveraign the which when Lieut. Col. Lilburn heard he was very angry saying That the General had more commands than ever Julius Caesar had but t is no matter said he let him go to Sea when he will I le warrant him he shall never return or words to this effect This Examinant further saith That Lieut. Col. John Lilburn said that Mr. Rogers was a Spy for the Common-wealth of England as he was told by Lieut. Col. Layton And further said that if he the said Lilburn knew it certainly he would destroy the said Rogers And further said that he had warn'd the Duke of Buckingham the Lord Hopton Doctor Nicholas Judge of the Admiralty Court for the Scotch King in Dunkirk and several other Cavaliers that they should not trust him and the said Lilburn further said that he had spoild two of the Parliaments Spies already and would do the like to this And further said that he the said Lilburn and the said Col. Layton supposing which way the said Rogers would come lay an hour and a half waiting for him but though he mist him then he would ruin him afterwards and at this time the said Lilb commanded this Examinant to keep it secretly and to beware of him the said Rogers After this it appeared that the said Lilburn had intelligence that this Examinant had discovered to the said Rogers what had formerly past betwixt the said Lilburn and this Examinant as secrets and what is related in this Paper and understanding that the said Rogers and this Examinant were to go from Bruges to Ostend and so for England that none of the said Lilburns actions might be declared there in England to the Parliament which the said Lilburn feard he the said Lilburn with certain others that he had procured with their weapons as Pistols and Swords way-laid the said Rogers and this Examinant but by Providence the said Rogers resolved not to go that day and prevalld with this Examinant to stay till the next which this Examinant did though they never heard any thing of the Conspiracy against them But their stay being understood by the said Lilburn and the rest of his corspirators one that was privy to the conspiracy Capt. Ignatius Brett an Irish Rebel with Capt. Luke Whittington came to the house where this Examinant and the said Rogers were and this said Brett sent for this Examinant and asked this Examinant what was the reason why this Examinant continued not his resolution for his journey This Examinant answered that by a friends advice he staid till to morrow The said Brett replyed you may thank God you went not down to the boat for had you gone ye had been harder put to it in fighting than ever you were in your dayes wherupon this Examinant asked the said Brett by whom the said Brett answered you shall excuse me I will never be a Traitor to them so long as I live but you know them all as well as I. Then the said Whittington being in company said I am glad with all my heart you went not down for the persons were Lilburn c. who were all well furnished for
wrote they were gone to Callis to meet the Duke of Buckingham and desired me to send the aforesaid letter with the pass in it to Gravelling and within 2 or 3 daies after returned to Dunkirk being Sunday the 29. of May and Lilburn and Jamot being at a Tavern called the Conserge with one Cap. Whitington and Col. Layton both of the Kings party here in England and two Merchants desired me to send one for his letters to the Post house upon which one of the company askt him what he would say if this pass came not he said that if my pass come not and that I find that it is Cromwell that hinders it as it must be for it lies in his power I will either kill him my self or send one to do it then one of the Merchants askt him how he could do such a thing with conscience he answered tell not me of conscience in this case for if that I am banished without law conscience or equity deprived of my natural air to breath in which is every mans birth-right with such like expressions I may justly right my self if I can if I would take a hare or a deer I ought to give him fair play because they are beast of game but if a fox or wolf I may use what device I can to kill him so if Cromwell keep himself above the Law that I cannot have my right by the Law I may kill him how I can Then presently his letters came and after he had read them and saw his pass was not come he said I am resolved to have one fling more at Cromwell Further he said that Cromwell hath been an Atheist this seven years and that his design is and hath been to make himself King so having been there together three or four hours expressing great confidence in one another I and this Informant left them The next day Lilburn and Layton went again for Callis to the Duke of Buckingham and were not returned when I came for England which was eight dayes after RICHARD FOOT The Information of John Staplehill of Dartmouth taken 20 June 1653. THis Informant saith 〈…〉 oming through France in his way to England from Spain he lodged at Callis upon Friday â—â—s Sevenight at the Silverr Lyon where was the Duke of Buckingham and likewise some Collonels of the late Kings Army and with them was Lieut. Col. John Lilburn and his wife that the Informant being in the next Chamber he heard them discourse of the Lord General Cromwell but could not understand distinctly the particulars of their discourse but did apprehand he spake very slightly of the General hearing him say these words Cromwell what can Cromwell do And this Informant did observe that the said Duke Cavaliers and Lilburn were very familiar together and Lilburn and his wife dined and supped constantly with them That the Informant being bound for England hired a Boat-upon Sunday for his passage and being upon the Key a Boat man came to him and told him that he need not hire a Boat but might go over with three Gentlemen that were going over meaning Lieut Col. Lilburn and two Caviliers in his company and the Boatman went to them to ask them whether this Informant might not go with them but the said Lilburn refused to admitit and said he should not go with them And he afterwards hearing that the Informant had hired a Boat himself procured the Duke to go to the Governour of Callis to stop the Informants going over at that time and the Informant being sent for by the Governour to that purpose the Informant met the said Duke there and was then prohibited by the Governour not to depart till he had leave so the said Lilburn went away that night about midnight with his wife and two Caviliers wherof one was a Collonel and embarqued all in one Boat the Duke accompanying them to the water side That the next day about two a Clock the Governour gave liberty to the Informant to come away who arrived at Dover at seven a Clock the same night where he heard Lilburn arrived in the morning before and this Informant coming through Canterbury in his way to Londan staid at the three Kings the Post-house to dine and there asked whether Lieut Col. Lilburn past that way and one of the Drawers told him he did and the Informant thereupon saying he was a great Enemy to the General the Drawer answered that he did expresse as much here saying He came into England without 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and that he did not fear what Cromwell could 〈…〉 as good a man as he and this was upon Tuesday last He likewise boasted that he had caused three Gentlemen to be stopt at Callis which was the Informant a Spaniard and an Englishman who 〈…〉 company together JOHN STAPLEHILL FINIS
for Cap. Bartlet with the said Cap. Whitington who were both privy to the design and discovered it after God in his mercy had prevented them By this time it was noysed up and down the City insomuch that some of the Citizens offered me their assistance which some of them afterwards gave me and brought me to the boat the next day at which time the Lieut. C. with some more of his Conspirators lay behind a hedge near the way that I was to passe and thus blessed be God I escaped his hands A little before the Lieut. C. had discovered that Captain Bartlet informed me of whatsoever the Lieut. C. told him Capt. Bartlet said that he had told him that he the Lieut. C. had much intercourse and correspondency with Holland by which means he would ruin me in causing me to be apprehended because as he said I was a Spy for the Commonwealth of England which Capt. Bartlet giving me timely notice of hindred my journey and so a third time I escaped his malice which was not against me any further than as he said I was a Spy for the Common-wealth of England ISAAC BERKENHEAD The Examination of Capt. John Tytus concerning Lieut. Col. John Lilburn Sept. 22. 1652. THis Examinant saith that the said Lieut. C. John Lilburn proposed to the Lord Hopton that if he would procure him ten thousand pounds he would destroy the Common-wealth of England in six moneths or he would have a piece of him naild upon every Post in Bruges The Lord Hopton told the said Lilburn that it could not be so facile a thing though he believed it would 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 that I propose for and I le have my Agents for I have enough of them that shall give me a continual account of all the Commonwealth of Englands Proceedings And by those Agents I will spread My Papers abroad that shall instigate the people against the Parliament and so by that Power I have already and that Power that My Agents shall make by working upon the people I will destroy this Parliament the Councill of State and the Lord General Cromwell in half an hour This Examinant further saith that George Villers Duke of Buckingham sent for the said Lilburn to inquire which way he might make his addresses to the Parliament for his Peace But the said Lilburn advised the Duke from it for that the Lord General Cromwell and the Parliament were so false a Company of Rogues that it was not safe for the said Duke to put his life into their hands And further said that if the King to wit Charles Stuart would but observe what he the said Lilburn had set down in some Papers which shew the reason why the said Lilburn would not be a Cavalier and reform but them he might easily do his businesse and sit in his chair But the said Duke spurr'd him the said Lilburn on to his first request of advising him which way he might make his peace with the Parliament But the said Lilburn would not hear of that but advised the said Duke to the contrary and further telling him the said Duke that they had hitherto naming his Excellency the Lord General Cromwell and the Parliament broken all their Ingagements and particularly the Lord General to me who promised with all the Protestations in the world and by what ever else was sacred that so soon as the General had done his business in Scotland he would then answer all their expectations and desires meaning the desires of that party which are called Levellers and further promised that Magna Charta should be set on foot and all the privileges of the people fully answered according as they the said Levellers had in several papers of theirs proposed But the said Duke still drove the said Lilburn off desiring him the said Lilburn that if he had any interest or party in England as he the said Lilburn boasted much of that he would use it on the Dukes behalf for said the said Duke could I procure a pass to day to come into my native Country I would fling my self into the Lord General and Parliaments hands to morrow For said he the said Duke so far as I have assisted the King hitherto hath been but to quit my self of ingratitude since my Family hath been raised by the King and his Ancestors To which the said Lilburn replyed My Lord since you are so resolved I would advice you not to stir in such things as yet for that there is expected a New Representative at which time he the said Lilburn doubted not but he should be able to do him the said Duke service for he the said Lil. should then be as powerful as any in the Representative But the said Duke desired that if he the said Lilburn had any Interest that he would use it forthwith for that he had a desire to be reconciled to his Country To which the said Lilburn replyed My Lord the General and the Parliament are so false a company of Rogues that it cannot be safe for you to put your self in their hands This Examinant further saith that at this same time the said Lil. proposed to the said Duke that if he the said Duke could but procure him 10000l he the said Lilburn would have a piece of him nailed upon every post in Bruges if he the said Lilburn did not overthrow and destroy those damnable Villains in England I mean said he the said Lilburn the Lord General Cromwell the Parliament and that Monstrous Councill of State To which the said Duke replyed I pray you Sir let me hear which way you will do this The said Lilburn replyed My Lord I le tell you how First I le set my Presse on work for which purpose I have bought one with a Letter at Amsterdam which cost me thirty pounds and then I le send my papers over into England which by my Agents shall be spread all over the Nation and by my Agents for I have enough my papers shall be brought into the Army there where I have double Interest and now every Trooper begins to understand his own privilege and so soon as these papers are spread they l fly in the faces of their Officers so that with the help of my particular interest the Souldiery shall do all themselves and I le do nothing but sit in my chair and use my pen To which the Duke replyed Sir you may observe that in all your attempts the General out-witted you and broke your business in the bud besides you may see that on all occasions the Souldiery hath been obedient unto his Officer so discreetly hath the Generall ordered his Army Why then saith the said Lilburn I perceive you take the General for a wise man Yes said the Duke let the world read his Stories and they l find him so No said the
SEVERALL INFORMATIONS AND EXAMINATIONS Taken concerning Lieutenant Colonell Iohn Lilburn SHEWING HIS APOSTACY to the Party of Charles Stuart â—â—d what his Intentions are in coming over into ENGLAND out of FLANDERS LONDON Printed by H. Hills and for G. Calvert and T. Br 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and are to be sold at the Black-spread Eagle and the three Bibles at and near the West-end of Pauls 165â— A Perfect Narrative of what passages I observed from Lieut. Col. Joh. Lilburn and others touching him in Flanders About the beginning of Iuly 1652. I was imployed on the behalf of this Common-wealth into Holland and Flanders and landing at Octend I found a number of very desperate enemies of all sorts to this Commonwealth with whom I observed Lieut C. Lilburn much to associate and having observed before his restlesness of spirit and that his late actïons had rendred him so obnoxious to this Common-wealth that incurred an Act of Banishment upon himself I therefore applyed my self to find out what his endeavours at present drove at And to this purpose it was not long before I found that Lieut. Col. Lilburn had been very conversant with Cap. Ioh. Bartlet and to whom he had imparted severall secrets as he himself called them the said Cap. Iohn Bartlet who told me that there were many delinquents and Cavaliers of dangerous consequence that escaped out of England to that Town of Ostend whom L. C. Lilburn no sooner heard of but came to them and in as gross a manner as he could did endeavour to lessen the Justice Honor and power of this Commonwealth and this in so vile and scurilous language as produc'd rather a wonder than an affection in its chiefest adversaries as was several times confessed to me by several of them with whom he convers'd Cap. Bartlet as well as several others further told me that L. C. Iohn Lilburn kept great correspondencies with several people in England and that one Sanctly Mr. Prinns man he conceived did send away his letters for which purpose the Lie Col. every Saturday came from Bruges to Ostend and having wrote them on the Monday following he returned as I my self often observed him to do Not long after I heard Col. Charls Lloid sometimes called Sir Charls Lloid Engineer General and Quartermaster General to the late King Cap. Luke Whitington Agent to Charls Stuart Cap. Iohn Tytus Cap. Ioh. Bartlet say that L. C. Iohn Lilburn had proposed several times sometimes to the Duke of Buckingham sometimes to Sir Ralph Hopton sometimes call'd the Lord Hopton and sometimes to Col. Charls Lloid aforesaid and several others That if any of the forenamed persons would procure him 10000l he would destroy the Lord General Cromwel the Parliament and the Council of State that now sitteth at Westminster and settle Charls Stuart King of England as he called him in his Throne in England or he would have a piece of him nayl'd upon every post in Bruges In answer to which Sir Charls Lloid as aforesaid told me that if he thought the L. Col. could perform what he proposed to them it would be hard but they would procure so much money upon so good a score I observed further from L. C. Iohn Lilburn and others who told me of his actions that the L. Col. did not only move with much violence and earnestness shewing which way he would bring this his proposed design about but went from person to person whose reputation he thought could procure so much as he proposed for for the advancement of this his declared design and whose affections and opinions were most suitable to further him in such imployments Not long after this L. C. Lilburn took up a presumtion that I was imployed by the Commonwealth of England which he averred he was certified of by several of his friends and named one Col. Layton as one of his friends who now stands exil'd from this Commonwealth and was Secretary to the Council of Warr to Charls Stuart in Scotland The L. C. hereupon went to the Duke of Buckingham Sir Ralph Hopton as aforesaid Col. Charls Lloid as aforesaid Major General Diol a Scotchman that came and invaded England with Charls Stuart and had lately broke out of the Tower Dr. Nicholas Judge of the Admiralty court in Dunkirk for Charls Stuart Cap. Luke Whitington Agent for Charls Stuart Cap. Iohn Tytus brother to Cap. Tytus the professed Enemie of this Commonwealth Cap. Iohn Bartlet and what other Cavaliers 〈…〉 uld meet with and told them that I was a Spy for the P 〈…〉 of England and warned them to beware of me For he had already spoiled two of the Parliament Spyes and would in a short time ruin me also And to this purpose as Cap. Tytus and several others afterwards told me the Li. Col. went to Placingdol and the said Col. Layton where they way-laid me an hour and a half to have ruined me as L. C. Lil. often said he would though it pleased God in his Mercy not to let me come that day from Ostend when I knew nothing of the design against me Not long after this X conversed with some of the L. C. his Associats and told them I wondred much why L. C. Lilburn should offer thus to abuse his own Country-man in another Nation in so high a Nature as he had done me since I never did him hurt and repeating what I had heard from others that L. C. Lilburn should say of me It was soon told the L. Col. again who presently presumed that it was Cap. Bartlet that had told me and from that time forward he sought with more violence than before to have me murdered as too plainly appeared by his after-actions and by two witnesses that I examined by order who gave it under their hands and offered to depose it That one of the L. C. his Conspirators against me often told them that the L. C. and this other Conspirator had hired a man to have stabb'd me because I was employed an Intelligencer for the Parliament of England and had not I escaped speedily away their business had been effected upon me But I understanding the L. C. his practises against me resolved on my voyage for England which being understood by the Lieut. Col. some more men besides himself with weapons way-laid me and Cap. Bartlet as we were to take boat for Ostend that so he might have executed what he had formerly spoke against me which was for this purpose as some afterwards confessed to me who had it from his own mouth that his carriages in Flanders should not be declared to the Parliament of England for said he as they have banished my person so they will sequester my estate But it pleased Almighty God this second time by his providence to protect me in giving me a resolution not to go till the morrow which the L. C. perceiving supposed himself to be discovered and returned into the Town And suddenly therupon came on Cap. Bret an Irish Rebell to inquire