be whipt but neither time nor place allotted And for the Old Man in regard of his age being 85. yeares old they would spare his corporall punishment though said they hee deserves it as well as the other meaning me yet he should stand upon the Pillory but I could not understand or perceive by Censure that I was to stand upon the Pillory So we tooke our leaves of them And when I came from the Bar I spoke in an audible voice and said My Lords J beseech God to blesse your Honours and to discover and make knowne unto you the wickednesse and cruelty of the Prelates So here is an end of my publike proceedings as yet which I have had since I came into my troubles the Lord sanctifie them unto me and make me the better by them and put an end to them in his due time and make way for my deliverance as I hope he will After our Censure we had the libertie of the prison for a few dayes but the Old Man my fellow partner went to the Warden of the Fleete and told him the summe of that which he intended in the Star-Chamber to have spoken against the Bishops if the Lords would have let him So he told the Warden how the Bishops were the greatest Tyrants that ever were since Adams Creation and that they were more crueller than the Cannibals those Men-eaters for said he they presently devouted men and put an end to their paine but the Bishops doe it by degrees and are many yeares in exercising their cruelty and tyranny upon those that stand out against them and therefore are worse than the very Canibals and in this he saith very true for the Holy Ghost saith They that be slaine with the Sword are better than they that be slaine with Hunger and he gives the reason of it For those pine away striken through for want of the fruits of the field Lamen 4. 9 Whereas those that are slaine out-right are soone out of their paine and said he they have persecuted mee about forty yeares and cast mee into eight severall Prisons and all to undoe me and waste my estate that so I might not be worth a penny to buy me meate but starve in prison for want of food and yet were never able to lay any thing to my charge that I had done either against Gods Law or the Law of the land and said he they are the wickedest men that are in the Kingdome and I can prove them saith he to be enemies of God and of the Lord Iesus Christ and of the King and Common-wealth Or else I will be willing to loose my life and also told him that they did thrust the Lord Jesus Christ out of his Priestly Propheticall and Kingly Offices and hath set up a will worship of their owne invention contrary to the Holy Scriptures and that they led by their wicked practises the greater halfe of the Kingdome to Hell with them and that they rob the King of a million of money in a yeare and the subjects of as much by their powling sinfull wicked Courts and that their living by which they lived was got by * lying and cozning of poore ignorant Children for said he the Pope and the Priest did promise the Children of deceased Parents if they would give so much to the Church they would pray their Parents out of Purgatory and so cozened them of their estates said he by such dissemblings and cozening wayes and meanes as this were their livings at the first raised Yea but Sir saith the Warden what is that to them that was in time of Popery Yea but Sir said he their livings hath continued ever since and they live still to this day upon the sweetnesse and fatnesse of them This and much more he then told the Warden as Mr. Wharton himselfe since then hath told me And there being a Papist with foure or five more in the roome the Warden said Papist come hither and heare what the Old Man saith So it came to the Lords of the Counsels eares whereupon we were the next Munday after brought both together and locked upclose prisoners in one Chamber without any Order or Warrant at all but only Warden INGRAMS bare Command and Pleasure But the Old Man about three weekes after made a Petition to the Lords of the Counsell that he might have some liberty and being very weake more likely to dye than to live hee had his libertie granted till the Tearme but I doe still remaine close Prisoner but for my owne part I am as cheerefull and merry and as well contented with my present condition in regard I see the over-ruling hand of my good God in it as ever I was with any condition in my life I blesse his holy name for it for in all my troubles I have had such sweete and comfortable refreshings from my God that though my imprisonment and those straights that I have beene in might seeme to the World to be a great and heavy burthen yet to me it hath beene a happy condition and a cause of exceeding joy and rejoycing From the Fleete the place of my joy and rejoycing the 12. of March 1637. By me JOHN LILBVRNE Being close Imprisoned by James Ingram the Warden of the Fleete who locked me up within few dayes after my Sentence untill the day of my suffering and would never suffer me to walke in the Prison yard with a Keeper though I often sent to him and desired it of him but told me all was little enough because I was so refractory A VVORKE OF THE BEAST OR A Relation of a most unchristian Censure executed upon IOHN LILBVRNE Now Prisoner in the Fleete the 18. of April 1638. with the Heavenly Speech uttered by Him at the time of his Suffering VPon Wednesday the said 18. of April Having no certaine notice of the execution of my Censure till this present morning I prepared my selfe by prayer unto God that he would make good his promise to be with me and enable me to undergoe my affliction with joyfulnesse and courage and that hee would be a mouth and utterance unto me to enable me to speake that which might make for his greatest honour And in my Meditations my soule did principally pitch upon these three places of Scripture First That in Esay 41. 10. 11. 12. 13. Feare thou not for I am with thee be not dismaid for I am thy God I will strengthen thee yea I will helpe thee yea I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousnesse Behold all they that were incensed against thee shall be ashamed and confounded they shall be as nothing and they that strive with thee shall perish Thou shalt seeke them and shalt not find them even them that contended with thee they that warre against thee shall be as nothing and as a thing of naught For the Lord thy God will hold thee by thy right hand saying unto thee feare not I will helpe thee Feare
that you be not partakers of her sinnes and that you receive not of her plagues for her sinnes have reached unto heaven and God hath remembred her iniquities Here is the voyce of God himselfe commanding all his chosen ones though they have lived under this Antichristian slavish power and estate along time yet at last to withdraw their obedience and subjection from it My brethren we are all at this present in a very dangerous and fearefull condition under the Idolatrous and spirituall bondage of the Prelates in regard wee have turned traytors unto our God in seeing his Almighty great name and his heavenly truth troden under foot and so highly dishonoured by them and yet wee not onely let them alone in holding our peace but most slavishly and wickedly subject our selves unto them fearing the face of a piece of dirt more than the Almighty great God of Heaven and Earth who is able to cast both body and soule into everlasting damnation Oh repent I beseech you therefore repent for that great dishonour you have suffered to be done unto God by your fearefulnesse and cowardlinesse and for the time to come put on couragious resolutions like valiant souldiers of Iesus Christ and fight manfully in this his spirituall battell in which battell some of his souldiers have already lost part of their blood and withall study this Booke of the Revelation and there you shall find the mysterie of iniquitie fully unfolded and explained and also you shall see what great spirituall battels have beene fought betwixt the Lambe and his Servant and the Dragon the Divell and his vassals and some are to fight Therefore gird on your spirituall armour spoken of Ephes. 6. that you may quit your selves like good and faithful souldiers and feare no colours the victory and conquest is ours already for wee are sure to have it I doe not speake of any bodily and temporall battell but onely of a spirituall one and be not discouraged and knocked off from the study of it because of the obscurity and darknesse of it fore Lord hath promised his enlightening Spirit unto all his people that are laborious and studious to know him aright and also hee hath promised a blessing and pronounced a blessednesse unto all that reade and labour to keep the things contained in this booke Rev. 1. 3. My Christian brethren in the bowels of Jesus Christ I beseech you doe not contemne the things that are delivered to you in regard of the meannesse and weakenesse of me the instrument being but one of the meanest and unworthiest of the servants of Jesus Christ for the Lord many times doth great things by weake meanes that his power may be more seene for we are too ready to cast our eye upon the meanes and instrument not looking up unto that Almighty power that is in God who is able to doe the greatest things by the weakest meanes and therefore out of the mouths of Babes and Sucklings he hath ordained strength Psal. 8. 2. And he hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise and God hath chosen the weake things of the world to confound the things which are mighty and base things of the world and things which are despised hath God chosen yea things which are not to bring to nought things that are 1 Cor. 1. 27. 28. And he gives the reason wherefore he is pleased so to doe That no flesh should glory in his presence So you see God is not tyed to any instrument and meanes to effect his owne glory but hee by the least instrument is able to bring to passe the greatest things It is true I am a young man and no Scholler according to that which the world counts Schollership yet I have obtained mercy of the Lord to be faithfull and bee by a divine providence hath brought mee hither this day and I speake to you in the name of the Lord being assisted with the spirit and power of the God of heaven and earth and I speake not the words of rashnesse or inconsideratenesse but the words of sobernesse and mature deliberation for I did consult with my God before I came hither and desired him that hee would direct and enable me to speake that which might be for his glory and the good of his people And as I am a souldier fighting under the banner of the great and mighty Captain the Lord Iesus Christ and as I looke for that crowne of immortality which one day I know shall be set upon my temples being in the condition that I am in I dare not hold my peace but speake unto you with boldnesse in the might and strength of my God the things which the Lord in mercy hath made knowne unto my soule come life come death When I was here about there came a fat Lawyer I doe not know his name and commanded me to hold my peace and leave my preaching To whom I replyed and said Sir I will not hold my peace but speake my mind freely though I be hanged at Tiburne for my paines It seems he himselfe was galled and touched as the Lawyers were in Christs time when he spake against the Scribes and Pharisees which made them say Master in saying thus thou revilest us also So he went his way and I think complained to the Lords but I went on with my speech and said My brethren be not discouraged at the wayes of God for the affliction and crosse that doth accompany them for it is sweet and comfortable drawing in the yoake of Christ for all that and I have found it so by experience for my soule is fild so full of spirituall and heavenly joy that with my tongue I am not able to expresse it neither are any capable I think to partake of so great a degree of consolation but onely those upon whom the Lords gracious afflicting hand is And for mine owne part I stand this day in the place of an evill doer but my conscience witnesseth that I am not so And hereabout I put my hand into my pocket and puld out three of worthy Dr. Bastwicks Books and threw them among the people and said There is part of the Bookes for which I suffer take them among you and reade them and see if you find any thing in them against the Law of God the Law of the Land the glory of God the honour of the King or State I am the sonne of a Gentle man and my friends are of ranke and qualitie in the Countrey where they live which is 200. miles from this place and I am in my present condition deserted of them all for I know not one of them dare meddle with mee in my present estate being I am stung by the Scorpions the Prelates and for any thing that I know it may be I shall never have a favourable countenance from any of them againe and withall I am a young man and likely to have lived well and in plenty according to the
which hee replied and said in these words Come said he be not sad you are but fallen into the Knaves hands To which I said I am not sad in the least and for my falling into Knaves hands I verily beleeve without any questioning that which you have said And then he swore another Oath and said it was true enough So good Christian Reader take notice of thus much by the way that the Prelates and their Creatures are a company of Knaves by Boniragge his owne confession That night I was kept at Elamstedds house where I blesse God I was merry and cherefull and nothing at all danted at that which had befalne me And about twelve of the clocke the next day I was committed to the Gatehouse by Sir Iohn the Prelate of Canterburies Chancellour with others without any examination at all for sending of factious and fcandalous Bookes out of Holland into England And having not beene at the foresaid prison above three dayes I was removed by a Warrant from the Lords of the Counsell to the Fleet where I now remaine And after my being there some time I drew a Petition to the Lords of the Counsell for my liberty and their answer to it was that I should be examined before Sir Iohn Bankes the Kings Atturney The Coppy of which examination thus followes Vpon Tuesday the 14. of Ianuary 1637. I was had to Sir Iohâ— Bankâ— the Atturney Generall's Chamber now Lord chiefe Justice of the 〈◊〉 of Pleas and was referred to be examined by Mr. 〈◊〉 his chiâ—â—â— Clerke And at our first comming together he did kindly intreat me and made me sit downe by him and put on my hat and began with me after this manner Mr. Lilburne what is your Christian name I said Iohn Did you live in London before you went into Holland Yes that I did Where Neare Londonstone With whom there With Mr. Thomas Hewson What Trade is he A dealer in Cloath I told him How long did you serve him About five yeares How came you to part After this manner I * perceiving my Master had an intention to desist his Trade I often moved him that I might have my liberty to provide for my selfe and at the last hee condescended unto it and so I went into the Country to have the consent of my friends and after that departed into Holland Where were you there At Rotterdam And from thence you went to Amsterdam Yes I was at Amsterdam What Bookes did you see in Holland Great store of Bookes for in every Bookesellers shop as I came in there were greate store of Bookes I know that but I aske you if you did see Dr. Bastwicks Answer to my Masters Information and a Book called his Letany yes I saw them there and if you please to goe thither you may buy an hundred of them at the Bookesellers if you have a minde to them Have you seene the Vnbishopping of Timothy and Titus the Lookingglasse and * a Breviate of the Bishops late proceedings Yes I have and those also you may have there if you please to send for them Who Printed all those Bookes I doe not know Who was at the charges of Printing of them Of that I am ignorant But did you not send over some of these Bookes I sent not any of them over Doe you know one Hargust there Yes I did see such a man Where did you see him I met with him one day accidentally at Amsterdam How oft did you see him there Twise upon one day But did not he send over Bookes If he did it is nothing to me for his doings is unknowne to me But he wrote a Letter over by your directions did he not What he writ I know no more than you But did you see him no where else there Yes I saw him at Rotterdam What conference had you with him Very little But why doe you aske me all these questions These are besides the matter of my imprisonment I pray come to the thing for which I am accused and imprisoned No these are not besides the businesse but doe belong to the thing for which you are imprisoned But doe you know of any that sent over any Bookes What other men did doth not belong to me to know or search into sufficient it is for me to looke well to my owne occasions Well here is the examination of one Edmond Chilington doe you know such a one Yeâ— How long have you beene acquainted with him A little before I went away but how long I doe not certainely know Doe you know one Iohn Wharton No Doe you not he is a Hot-presser I know him but I doe not well remember his other name How long have you beene acquainted with him And how came you acquainted I cannot well tell you How long doe you thinke I doe not know What speeches had you with Chillington since you came to Towne I am not bound to tell you But Sir as I said before why doe you aske me all these questions these are nothing pertinent to my imprisonment for I am not imprisoned for knowing and talking with such and such men But for sending over Bookes And therefore I am not willing to answer you to any more of these questions because I see you goe about by this examination to insnare mee for seeing the things for which I am imprisoned cannot be proved against me you would get other matter out of my examination and therefore iâ— you will not aske me about the thing laid to my charge I shall answer no more but if you will aske me of that I shall then answer you and doe answer that for the thing for which I am imprisoned which is for sending over Bookes I am cleare for I sent none And of any other matter that you have to accuse me of I know it is warrantable by the Law of God and I thinke by the Law of the Land that I may stand upon my just defence and not answer to your intergatorie and that my accusers ought to be brought face to face to justifie what they accuse me of And this is all the answer that for the present I am willing to make And if you aske me of any more things I shall answer you with silence At this he was exceeding angry and said There would be course taken with me to make me answer I told him I did not way what course they would take with me onely this I desire you to take notice of that I doe not refuse to answer out of any contempt but onely because I am ignorant what belongs to an examination for this is the first time that ever I was examined and therefore I am unwilling to answer to any importinent questions for feare that with my answer I may doe my selfe hurt This is not the way to get liberty I had thought you would have answered punctually that so you might have beene dispatched as shortly as might be So I have answered punctually to the
he opened the booke we desire you to sweare by no forraigne thing but to sweare by the holy Evangelist Sir I doe not doubt or question thatonely I question how lawfull it is for me to sweare to I doe not know what So some of the Clarks began to reason with me and told me every one tooke that Oath and would I be wiser than all other men I told them it made no matter to me what other men doe but before I sweare I will know better grounds and reasons than other mens practises to convince mee of the lawfulnesse of such an Oath to sweare I doe not know to what So Mr. Goad bid them hold their peace he was not to convince any mans conscience of the lawfulnesse of it but onely to offer and tender it Will you take it or no saith he Sir I will be better advised first with this there was such looking upon mee and censuring me for a singular man for the refusing of that which was never refused before whereupon there was a Messenger sent to Sir Iohn Bankes to certifie him that I would not take the Star-Chamber Oath And also to know of him what should be done with me So I looked I should be committed close prisoner or worse And about an houre after came Mr. Cockschey Sir Iohns chiefe Clarke what said he Mr. Lilburne it seemes you will not take your Oath to make true answer I told him I would be better advised before I took such an Oath Well then saith he you must * goe from whence you came and then I spoke merrily to my Keepers and bid them let us be gone we have beene long enough here Thus have I made a true Relation of that dayes worke But before I proceede I desire to declare unto you the Lords goodnesse manifested unto me in being my counsellour and director in my great straights The Prelates intendment towards me was carried so close that I could not learne what they would doe with me onely I supposed they would have mee into the Star-chamber in regard I was removed by the Lords of the Counsell and also tidings was brought unto me by some friends what cruelty their Creatures did breath out against me but I incouraged my selfe in my God and did not feare what man could doe unto me Esayâ—1 12. 13. for I had the peace of a good conscience within me and the assurance of Gods love reconciled unto me in the precious blood of his Sonne JESVS CHRIST which was as good as Shield and Buckler unto me to keepe off all the assaults of my enemies and I was as it were in a strong walled Towne nothing dreading but lightly esteeming the cruelty of my Adversaries for I knew God was my God and would be with me and inable me to undergoe whatsoever by his permission they could inflict upon me and to his praise I desire to speak it I found his gracious goodnesse and loving kindnes so exceedingly made known unto me that he enabled me to undergoe my captivity with contentednesse joyfulnesse and cherefulnesse And also was pleased according to his promise to be a mouth unto me whensoever I was brought before them and gave me courage and boldnesse to speake unto them his holy and blessed name be praised and magnified for it Vpon the Fryday next after this in the morning one of the Officers of the Fleete came to my Chamber and bid mee get up and make mee ready to goe to the Star-Chamber-barre forth with I having no time to fit my selfe made me ready in all haste to goe yet when I came there the Lord according to his promise was pleased to be present with me by his speciall assistance that I was inabled without any dantednesse of spirit to speake unto that great and noble Assembly as though they had beene but my equalls And being at the barre Sir Iohn Bankes laid a verball accusation * against me which was that I refused to answer and also to enter my appearance and that I refused to take the Star-Chamber Oath and then was read the Affidavit of one Edmond Chillington Buttonseller made against Mr. Iohn Warton and my selfe * The summe of which was that he and I had Printed at Rotterdam in Holland Dr. Bastwickes answer and his Letany and divers other scandalous Bookes And then after I had obtained leave to speake I said My noble Lords as for that Affidavit it is a most false lie and untruth Well said the Lord-keeper why will you not answer My Honorable Lord said I I have answered fully before Sir Iohn Bankes to all things that belongs to me to answer unto and for other things which concerne other men I have nothing to doe with them But why doe you refuse to take the Star-Chamber Oath Most Noble Lord I refused upon this ground because that when I was examined though I had fully answered all things that belonged to me to answer unto and had cleared my selfe of the thing for which I am imprisoned which was for sending bookes out of Holland yet that would not satisfie and give content but other things was put unto me concerning other men to insnare me and get further matter against me which I perceiving refused being not bound to answer to such things as doe not belong unto me and withall I perceived the Oath to be an Oath of inquiry and for the lawfulnesse of which Oath I have no warrant and upon these grounds I did and doe still refuse the Oath with this some of the Kings Counsell and some of the Lords spoke would I condemne and contradict the Lawes of the Land * and be wiser than all other men to refuse that which is the Oath of the Court administred unto all that come there Well said my Lord Keeper tender him the booke I standing against the Prelate of Canterburies backe he looked over his shoulder at me bid me pull off my glove and lay my hand upon the book Unto whom I replied Sir I will not sweare and then directing my speech unto the Lords I said Most Honorable and Noble Lords with all reverence and submission unto your Honours submitting my body unto your Lordships pleasure and whatsoever you please to inflict upon it yet must I refuse the Oath My Lords said the Arch Prelate in a deriding manner doe you heare him hee saith with all reverence and submission he refuseth the * Oath Well come come said my Lord Keeper submit your selfe unto the Court Most Noble Lords with all willingnesse I submit my body unto your Honours pleasure but for any other submission most Honourable Lords I am conscious unto my selfe that I have done nothing that doth deserve a convention before this illustrious Assembly and therefore for me to submit is to submit I doe not know wherefore With that up stood the Earle of Dorset and said My Lords this is one of their private spirits Doe you heare him how he stands in his owne
shined very hot upon mee and the tipstaffe-man at the first would not let me have my hat to keepe the vehement heate of the Sunne from my head Also hee many times spake to the Cart-man to drive softly so that the heate of the Sunne exceedingly pierced my head and made me somewhat faint But yet my God upheld mee with courage and made mee undergoe it with a joyfull heart And when I came to Chearing Crosse some Christian friends spake to me and bid me be of good cheere so I am said I for I rest not in mine owne strength but I fight under the Banner of my great and mighty Captaine The Lord Iesus Christ who hath conquered all his Enemies and I doubt not but through his strength I shall conquer and overcome all my sufferings for his power upholds me his strength enables mee his presence cheeres mee and his Spirit comforts me and I looke for an immortall crowne which never shall fade nor decay the assured hope and expectation whereof makes mee to contemne my sufferings and count them as nothing for my momentany affliction will work for me a farre more exceeding crowne and weight of glory And as I went by the Kings Palace a great multitude of people came to looke upon me and passing through the gate unto Westminster many demanded what was the matter To whom I replyed My brethren against the Law of God against the Law of the Land against the King or State have I not committed the least offence that deserves this punishment but onely I suffer as an object of the Prelates crueltie and malice and hereupon one of the Warden of the Fleets-officers began to interrupt inee and tols me my sufferings were just and therefore I should hold my tongue whom I bid meddle with his owne businesse for I would speake come what would for my cause is good for which I suffered and here I was ready to shed my dearest blood for it And as wee went through Kings-street many encouraged mee and bid mee be cheerfull others whose faces to my knowledge I never saw before and who I verily thinke knew not the cause of my suffering but seeing my cheerfulnesse under it beseeched the Lord to blesse me and strengthen me At the last we came to the Pillorie where I was unloosed from the Cart and having put on some of my clothes wee went to the Taverne where I staid a prettie while waiting for my Surgeon which was not yet come to dresse mee where were many of my friends who exceedingly rejoyced to see my courage that the Lord had enabled me to undergoe my punishment so willingly who asked mee how I did I told them as well as ever I was in my life I blesse my God for it for I felt such inward joy and comfort cheering up my soule that I lightly esteemed my sufferings And this I counted my wedding day in which I was married to the Lord Jesus Christ for now I know hee loves me in that hee hath bestowed so rich apparell this day upon mee and counted mee worthy to suffer for his sake I having a desire to retire into a private roome from the multitude of people that were about mee which made mee like to faine I had not beene there long but Mr. Lightborne the Tipstaffe of the Star-Chamber came unto me saying the Lords sent him to me to know if I would acknowledge my selfe to be in a fault and then hee knew what to say unto me To whom I replyed Have their Honours caused mee to be whipt from the Fleet to Westminster and do they now send to know if I will acknowledge a fault they should have done this before I had beene whipt for now seeing I have undergone the greatest part of my punishment I hope the Lord will assist me to goe through it all and besides if I would have done this at the first I needed not to have come to this But as I told the Lords when I was before them at the Barre so I desire you to tell them againe that I am not conscious to my selfe of doing any thing that deserves a submission but yet I doe willingly submit to their Lordships pleasures in my censure Hee told mee if I would confesse a fault it would save mee a standing in the Pillorie otherwise I must undergoe the burthen of it Well said I I regard not a little outward disgrace for the cause of my God I have found alreadie that sweetnesse in him in whom I have believed that through his strength I am able to undergoe any thing that shall be inflicted on me But me thinks that I had very hard measure that I should be condemned and thus punished upon two Oathes in which the partie hath most falsly forsworne himselfe and because I would not take an Oath to betray mine owne innocencie Why Paul found more mercy from the Heathen Romane Governours for they would not put him to an Oath to accuse himselfe but suffered him to make the best defence he could for himselfe neither would they condemne him before his accusers and hee were brought face to face to justifie and fully to prove their accusation but the Lords have not dealt so with me for my accusers and I were never brought face to face to justifie their accusation against me it is true two false Oaths were sworne against me and I was thereupon condemned and because I would not accuse my selfe It is true said hee it was so with Paul but the Lawes of this Land is otherwise than their Lawes were in those dayes Then said I they are worse and more cruell than the Lawes of the Pagans and Heathen Romanes were who would condemne no man without witnesses and they should be brought face to face to justifie their accusation and so he went away and I prepared my selfe for the Pillory to which I went with a joyfull courage and when I was upon it I made obeysance to the Lords some of them as I suppose looking out at the Star-chamber window towards me And so I put my necke into the hole which being a great deale too low for mee it was very painfull to me in regard of continuance of the time that I stood on the pillorie which was about two houres my backe also being very sore and the Sunne shining so exceeding hot and the Tipstaffe-man not suffering mee to keepe on my hat to defend my head from the heate of the Sunne so that I stood there in great paine yet through the strength of my God I underwent it with courage to the very last minute and lifting up my heart and spirit unto my God While I was thus standing on the pillorie I craved his powerfull assistance with the Spirit of wisedome and courage that I might open my mouth with boldnesse and speake those things that might make for his greatest glory and the goood of his people and so casting mine eyes on the multitude I began to speake after this manner My Christian
IEHOVAS fence which Heaven and earth hath made The rest that I intended by the strength of my God to have spoken if I had not beene prevented by the Gag I now forbeare to set downe in regard I heare I am to come into the field again to fight a second battel unto which time I reserve it if the Lord so order it that I may have liberty to speake I doubt not but by the might and power of my God in whom I rest and trust valiantly to display the weapons of a good souldier of Iesus Christ Come life come death and in the meane time to what I have here said and written I set to my name by mee IOHN LILBVRN being wiritten with part of mine owne blood The rest of which by the Lords assistance I will willingly shed if he call for it in the maintaining of his Truth and Glory and that which I have here said and written by me JOHN LILBVRNE At the Inner Star-Chamber the 18th of April Anno Dom. 1638. Present Lord Archbishop of Canterbury Lord Keeper Lord Treasurer Lord Privy Seale Earle Marshall Earle of Salisbury Lord Cottington Lord Newburch M. Secretary Cooke M. Secretary Windebanck WHereas Iohn Lilburne Prisoner in the Fleet by sentence in Starchamber did this day suffer condigne punishment for his severall offences by whipping at a Cart and standing in the Pillory and as their Lordships were this day informed during the time that his body was under the said execution audaciously and wickedly did not only utter sundry scandalous speeches but likewise scattered divers copies of seditious bookes among the people that beheld the said execution for which very thing among other offences of like nature he hath beene censured in the said Court by the aforesaid sentence It is therefore by their Lordships ordered that the said Iohn Lilburne should be laid alone with yrons on his hands and legges in the Wards of the Fleet where the basest and meanest sort of prisoners are used to be put and that the Warden of the Fleet take especiall care to hinder the resort of any persons whatsoever unto him And particularly that he be not supplyed with money from any friend and thâ—â— hee take especiall notice of all letters writings and bookes brought unto him and seise and deliver the same unto their Lordships and take notice from time to time who they be that resort unto the said prison to visit the said Lilburne or to speake with him and informe the Board thereof And it was lastly ordered that all persons that shall be hereafter produced to receive corporall punishment according to sentence of that Court or by order of the Board shall have their garments searched before they be brought forth and neither writing nor other thing suffered to be about them and their hands likewise to be bound during the time they are under punishment Whereof together with the other premisses the said Warden of the Fleet is hereby required to take notice and to have especiall care that this their Lordships order be accordingly observed Examined per DVDLY CARLETON FINIS * And was since advanced by the Bishop of London to be his 〈◊〉 Licencer for his paines * But the greatest ground was Canterburies malice who sent his Pursevants to my Masters to apprehend me for my visiting of and welwishing to Noble Dr. Bastwicke which forced me to fly to save my selfe from thse cruell blood-suckers * Which Book proves them guilty of high trea * No legall proceeding in Star-Chamber * Iust in quisition like * This is the Divinities of the Prelates and their Creatures * But there was never any Bill as there ought to have been * Who they forced by cruelty so to doe having almost starved him in prison and also removed him into severall prisons to torment him to make him bend to their â—ow * There is no Law in this Land for warranting of thu Oath * This Prelate cannot lie * But sat downe in a fury having oâ— more to say * O cruell persecutors * O brave Iustice * And almost starved * So my youth was the cause of my whipping by Iudge â—ones his Law * Very satable to their constant practise * It hath beene an ordinary thing in the Star-chamber and high Commission either to forge Affidavits or to make addition unto them
IOHN LILBURNE AETAT SVAE 23. Ano 1641. G Glo fecit Gaze not vpon this shaddow that is vaine But rather raise thy thoughts a higher straine To GOD I meane who set this young-man free And in like straits can eke deliuer thee THE CHRISTIAN MANS TRIALL OR A TRVE RELATION of the first apprehension and severall examinations of IOHN LILBVRNE With his Censure in Star-Chamber and the manner of his cruell whipping through the Streets whereunto is annexed his Speech in the Pillory and their gagging of him Also the severe Order of the Lords made the same day for fettering his hands and feet in yrons and for keeping his friends and monies from him which was accordingly executed upon him for a long time together by the Wardens of the Fleet with a great deale of barbarous cruelty and inhumanity c. Revel. 2. 10. Behold the Divell shall cast some of you into prison that you may be tryed and you shall have tribulation ten dayes be thou faithfull unto death and I will give thee a Crowne of life Matth. 10. 19. But when they deliver you up take no thought how or what you shall speake for it shall be given you in that houre what you shall say The second Edition with an addition LONDON Printed for WILLIAM LARNAR and are to be sold at his Shop at the Signe of the Golden Anchor neere Pauls-Chaine 1641. To the READER CHristian Reader here is presented to thy view a part of these cruell and grievous sufferings imposed upon this Author by the malignant malice of the Prelacy and that faction wherein thou mayest likewise see the twonder full gracious dealings of a good God carrying this Author through them all with boldnesse and courage being not daunted neither at their frownes nor whippings nor pilâ—oriesâ— nor closoe prisons no nor yrons so that we may see the faithfull â—romises of our God before our eyes made good in this young man who path promised to be with his people in six troubles and seven and to hew himselfe strong in the behalfe of all those whose hearts are perfect before him that so hee might out of the mouthes of Babes and Suckings perfect his owne praise to the astonishment of all those who shall lift up heart or hand against him or the least of his holy ones and to the comfort and encouragement of all the Saints who from the consideration of the sweet supporting power of God appearing to others in their bonds are the more encouraged publiquely to hold forth their profession of the truths of the Lord Iesus with much more boldnesse and confidence as knowing that that God which hath appeared to others of the Saints in times of sufferings even before their eyes will also appeare to them in the like condition and therefore wee may a little see and take notice of the follyes of wicked mens wisdomes who thinke by their hellish wits to raze downe Syon and the truth of God to the ground and therefore they labour by the imprisonments and tortures of some to dash the rest out of heart that they should feare to shew any countenance to such a persecuted way whereas indeed the Saints have by this meanes a fairer object to pitch their faith and confidence upon namely the power and wisedome and grace and mercy of their God appearing in a more fuller vision before their eyes for the afflictions and persecution that are imposed by wicked men upon the Saints causeth them to see a spirit of glory resting upon them even in this condition here 1 Pet. 4. 13. 14 and a 〈◊〉 weight of glory provided for them hereafter 1 Cor. 4. 18. So that we may daily see the God of heaven fulfilling of his owne Word even in this thing which is that hee will confound the wisedome of the wise and bring to nought the understanding of the prudent and catch the wicked in their owne snares making the rage of man turne to his owne praise his peoples comforts and their ruins wherefore let the servants of God comfort one another with these words That we may not feare the feares of men which that we may be the more strengthened against them let us consider the cloud of witnesses which hath gone before 〈◊〉 a way of suffering even in these our times amongst whom the Author of this booke hath had his share with the deepest of them 〈◊〉 therefore to this end hath he published to the world this Tract that he might keepe alive to all posterities the goodnesse and mercy and love of God manifested to him under those cruell barbarous and tyrannical dealings of the prelaticall hierarchie that so all the Saints of God maâ— hate that wicked calling and power of theirs and never give ovâ—â— crying to God and men till it be razed downe to the ground that so the Lord Iesus may be set up as Lord and King which ought to he the desire and endeavour of all the chosen ones of God and is the desire of him who desires the good of the servants of God in all things in 〈◊〉 for Christ WILLIAM KIFFEN This is the first Part. A CHRISTIAN MANS TRIALL VPon Tuesday last the 11. or 12. of December 1637. I was treacherously and Judasly betraied by one that I supposed to be my friend into the hands of the Pursevant with foure of his assistants as I was walking in a narrow lane called Soper-lane being walking with one Iohn Chilliburhe servant to old Mr. Iohn Wharton in Bow-lane a Hotpresser * Which Iohn had laid the plot before for my apprehension as I am able for to prove and make good that he shall not be able with truth to deny it And at my taking the Pursevants were very violem me and having by force got me into a shop they throw me over a Sugar-chest to take my Sword from me and cried out for helpe and said he had taken one of the notoriousest dispersers of scandalous bookes that was in the Kingdome for saith he he hath dispersed them from one end of the Land to the other And from thence I was had to the Pole-head Taverne neere to the Dr. Commons where the Pursevants called freely for wine to make themselves merry thinking they had got a great prise Being not long there with my Pursevant Flamsted who apprehended me in came Bonnâ—ragge the great Prelates Pursevant and he looking upon me said Mr. Lilburne I am glad with all my heart that wee are met for you are the man that I have much desired for a long time to see To which I replied are you so And for my owne part I am not much unglad But you thinke you have got a great purchase in taking me but it may be you may be deceived Come saith he give us some wine and with that he swore an Oath he would give me a quart of Sacke for joyfulnesse of our meeting and so he called for it and dranke to me And I told him I would drinke no wine To
of Londons Chaplaines meanes Also Smith is not ignorant but doth very well know that promise that Iohn made to Mr. Baker about twelve moneths agoe to doe him speciall service about such things which promise I doe verily beleeve he hath faithfully kept for he hath confessed to his Master since the beginning of my trouble that he hath used to carry to Baker all new bookes he could get as soone as they came out and how for the which he gave him money but how much he best knowes Also what free and samiliar accesse Iohn hath had to him and he and Iohn to Baker and for those secrets which Iohn from time to time hath revealed to him and Baker what they are I name not but appeale to their owne consciences for it is too manifest that hee is a darling both to Smith and Baker in regard they stand so stoutly for him as they doe for Mr. Wharton being not long since with Baker he told him hee heard he was about to put away his Man Iohn Yea said he what should I do with him else Well said he if you doe it and put him away the Chamberlaine will make you take him againe Will he so said he he can not doe it for he is a Iudas and a Theefe for he hath stolne money from me and I can prove it said the Old Man and therefore he can not make me take him againe Baker could not well tell what to say to it but yet did perswade him to keepe him This the Old man told me himselfe it seemes they have kept him at his Masters as a private and secret servant for their owne turnes above this fourteene Moneths and they would still if they could keepe him there But what secret mischiefe hee hath done by his so frequent resorting to Baker and Smith is not yet fully knowne but I hope it will come out by degrees Therefore let all that heares of it take notice of it and let some of those that were in the information with the three Worthies cast back their eyes and see if they can finde and spie out who was their Originall Accuser and Betrayer These things may be worth the making knowne though I may incurre hatred and spite from them for it yet I weigh not that for I have not declared these things out of any revenge for I commit that unto God And for that wrong they have done unto mee I freely forgive them and if any of them belong to God I pray him to call them home unto him But these things I have set downe being forced thereunto for vindicating my good name from their bitter reproaches and calumniations and all you that read this judge and censure what I have said But now after my Digression I will returne againe to our former matter And being at the Gatehouse I was removed by sixe of your Honours to the Fleete at which time the said Chillington was removed from Bridewell to Newgate and being kept * close there then he by their threats and perswasions and the procuring of his owne liberty goes and accuses me for printing ten or twelve thousand Bookes in Holland And at my Examination before Sir Iohn Bankes I cleared my selfe of that and upon Fryday last he made an Affidavit against me in which hee hath most falsly forsworne himselfe and to day he hath made another which is also a most false untruth And withall my Lords he is knowne to be a notorious lying fellow and hath accused mee for the purchasing of his owne liberty which he hath got And therefore I beseech your Honours to take into your serious consideration and see whether I am to be censured upon such a fellowes Affidavits or no Then said the Lord Keeper thou art a mad fellow seeing things are thus that thou wilt not take thine Oath and answer truely My Honourable Lord I have declared unto you the reall Truth but for the Oath it is an Oath of Inquiry and of the same nature of the High-Commission-Oath Which Oath I know to be unlawfull and withall I finde no warrant in the Word of God for an Oath of Inquiry and it ought to be the director of mee in all things that I doe and therefore my Lords at no hand I dare not take the Oath when I named the Word of God the Court began to laugh as though they had had nothing to doe with it my Lords said Mr. Goad he told me yesterday he durst not take the Oath though he suffered death for the refusall of it And with that my Lord Privy Seal spoke Will you said he take your Oath that that which you have said is true My Lord said I I am but a young Man and doe not well know what belongs to the nature of an Oath but that which I have said is a reall truth but thus much by Gods appointment I know an Oath ought to be the end of all controversie and strife Heb. 6. 16. And if it might be so in this my present cause I would safely take my Oath that what I have said is true So they spoke to the Old man my fellow partner and asked him whether he would take the Oath So he desired them to give him leave to speake and he begun to thunder it out against the Bishops and told them they required three Oathes of the Kings Subjects namely the Oath of Churchwardenship and the Oath of Canonicall Obedience and the Oath Ex Officio Which said he are all against the Law of the Land and by which they deceive and perjure thousands of the Kings Subjects in a yeare And withall my Lords said he there is a Maxime in Divinity that we should prefer the glory of God the good of our King and Country before our owne lives but the Lords wondering to heare the Old Man begin to talke after this manner commanded him to hold his peace and to answer them whether he would take the Oath or no To which he replied and desired them to let him talke a little and he would tell them by and by At which all the Court burst out of a laughing but they would not let him goe on but commanded silence which if they would have let him proceed he would so have peppered the Bishops as they were never in their lives in an open Court of Iudicature So they asked us againe whether we would take the Oath which we both againe refused and withall I told them that for the reasons before I durst not take it Then they said they would proceed to Censure I bid them doe as they pleased for I knew my selfe innocent of the thing for which I was imprisoned and accused but yet notwithstanding did submit my body to their Honours pleasure So they censured us 500. pound a peece and then stood up Judge Ioans and said It was fit that I being a young man for example sake should have some-corporall * punishment inflicted upon me So my Censure was to
being a guiltie person himselfe and a prisoner and did that which he did against mee for purchasing his owne libertie which hee hath by such Judasly meanes got and obtained who is also knowne to be a lying fellow as I told the Lords I was able to prove and make good But besides all this there was an inquisition-oath tendered unto mee which I refused to take on foure severall dayes the summe of which Oath is thus much You shall sweare that you shall make true answer to all things that shall be asked of you So helpe you God Now this Oath I refused as a sinfull and unlawfull Oath it being the High-Commission Oath with which the Prelates ever have and still doe so butcherly torment afflict and undoe the deare Saints and Servants of God It is an oath against the Law of the Land as Master Nicholas Fuller in his Argument doth prove And also it is expressely against the Petition of Right an Act of Parliament Enacted in the second yeere of our King Againe it is absolutely against the Law of God for that Law requires no man to accuse himselfe but if any thing be laid to his charge there must come two or three witnesses at the least to prove it It is also against the practice of Christ himselfe who in all his examinations before the High Priest would not accuse himselfe but upon their demands returned this answer Why aske you me goe to them that heard me Withall this Oath is against the very law of Nature for nature is alwaies a preserver of it selfe and not a destroyer But if a man takes this wicked oath he destroyes and undoes himselfe as daily experience doth witnesse Nay it is worse than the Law of the Heathen Romanes as wee may reade Acts 25. 16. For when Paul stood before the Pagan Governours and the Iewes required judgement against him the Governour replyed it is not the manner of the Romans to condemne any man before he and his accusers be brought face to face to justifie their accusation But for mine owne part if I had beene proceeded against by a Bill I would have answered and justified all that they could have proved against me and by the strength of my God would have sealed whatsoever I have done with my blood for I am privie to mine owne actions and my conscience beares mee witnesse that I have laboured ever since the Lord in mercy made the riches of his grace knowne to my soule to keepe a good conscience and to walke inoffensively both towards God and man But as for that oath that was put upon mee I did refuse to take it as a sinfull and unlawfull oath and by the strength of my God inabling me I will never take it though I be puld in pieces with wilde horses as the ancient Christians were by the bloody Tyrants in the Primitive Church neither shall I thinke that man a faithfull Subject of Christs Kingdome that shall at any time hereafter take it seeing the wickednesse of it hath been so apparently laid open by so many for the refusall whereof many doe suffer cruell persecution to this day Thus have I as briefly as I could declared unto you the whole cause of my standing here this day I being upon these grounds censured by the Lords at the Star-chamber on the last Court day of the last Terme to pay 500. pounds to the King and to receive the punishment which with rejoycing I have undergone unto whose censure I doe with willingnesse and cheerefulnesse submit my selfe But seeing I now stand here at this present I intend the Lord assisting me with his power and guiding me by his Spirit to declare my minde unto you I have nothing to say to any mans person and therefore will not meddle with that onely the things that I have to say in the first place are concerning the Bishops and their calling They challenge their callings to be Iure Divino and for the oppugning of which those there renowned living martyrs of the Lord Doctor Bastwicke Master Burton and Master Prin did suffer in this place and they have sufficiently proved that their calling is not from God which men I love and honour and doe perswade my selfe that their soules are deare and precious in the sight of God though they were so cruelly and butcherly dealt with by the Prelates and as for Master Burton and Master Prin they are worthy and learned men but yet did not in many things write so fully as the Doctor did who hath sufficiently and plentifully set forth the wickednesse both of the Prelates themselves and of their callings as you may reade in his Bookes that they are not Jure Divino which noble and reverend Doctor I love with my soule and as he is a man that stands for the truth and glory of God my very life and heart-blood I will lay downe for his honour and the maintaining of his cause for which hee suffered it being Gods cause As for the Bishops they used in former times to challenge their jurisdiction callings and power from the King but they have now openly in the High Commission Court renounced that as was heard by many at the censure of that Noble Doctor And as you may fully reade in his Apologettcus and in his Answer to Sir John Bancks his Information Now I will here maintain it before them all that their callings is so far from being Jure Divino as they say they are that they are rather jure Diabolico which if I be not able to prove let mee be hanged up at the Hall gate But my brethren for your better satisfaction reade the 9. and 13. Chapters of the Revelation and there you shall see that there came Locusts out of the Bottomlesse Pit part of whom they are and they are there lively described Also you shall there finde that the Beast which is the Pope or Romane State and government hath given to him by the Dragon the Divell his power and seate and great authoritie So that the Popes authoritie comes from the divell and the Prelates and their Creatures in their printed Bookes doe challenge their authoritie jurisdiction and power that they exercise over all sorts of people is from Rome And for proving of the Church of England to be a true Church their best and strongest argument is that the Bishops are lineally destended from his Holinesse or Impiousnesse of Rome as you may reade in Pocklingtons Booke called Sunday no Sabbath So that by their owne confession they stand by that same power and authority that they have received from the Pope So that their calling is not from God but from the Divell For the Pope cannot give a better authoritie or calling to them then he himselfe hath but his authority and calling is from the Divell therefore the Prelates calling and authority is from the Divell also Revel. 9. 3. And there came out of the smoake Locusts upon the earth and unto them was given power as
fashion of the world yet notwithstanding for the cause of Christ and to doe him service I have and doe bid adue to father friends riches pleasures ease contented life and blood and lay all downe at the foot-stoole of Iesus Christ being willing to part with all rather then I will dishonour him or in the least measure part with the peace of a good conscience and that sweetnesse and joy which I have found in him for in naked Christ is the quintessence of sweetnesse and I am so farre from thinking my affliction and punishment which this day I have indured and still doe endure and grone under a disgrace that I receive it as the welcome Crosse of Christ and doe thinke my selfe this day more honoured by my sufferings then if a crowne of gold had beene set upon my head for I have in some part beene made conformable to my Lord and Master and have in some measure drunke of the same Cup which hee himselfe dranke of while he was in this sinfull world for hee shed his most pretious blood for the salvation of my poore soule that so I might be reconciled to his father therefore am I willing to undergoe any thing for his sake and that inward joy and consolation within me that carries me high above all my pains and torments and you my brethren if you be willing to have Christ you must owne him and take him upon his own termes and know that Christ and the crosse is inseparable for he that will live godly in Christ Jesus must suffer persecution and affliction it is the lot and portion of all his chosen ones through many afflictions and trialls we must enter into glory and the Apostle saith that if wee be without afflictions whereof all are partakers then are yee Bastards and not Sonnes And therefore if you will have Christ sit downe and reckon before ever you make profession of him what hee will cost you lest when you come to the triall you dishonour him and if you be not willing and contented with all and let all goe for his sake you are not worthy of him If Parents Husband Wife or children lands or livings riches or honours pleasure or case life or blood stand in the way you must be willing to part with all these and to entertaine Christ naked and alone though you have nothing but the Crosse or else you are not worthy of him Matth. 10. 37. 38. Oh my brethren there is such sweetnesse and contentednesse in enjoying the Lord Jesus alone that it is able where it is felt to make a man goe through all difficulties and endure all hardships that may possibly come upon him Therefore if he call you to it doe not deny him nor his truth in the least manner for he hath said Hee that denyes him before men him will he deny before his Father which is in Heaven And now is the time that wee must shew our selves good souldiers of Iesus Christ for his truth his cause and glory lies at stake in a high degree therefore put on couragious resolutions and withdraw your necks and soules from all false power and worship and fight with courage and boldnesse in this spirituall battell in which battell the Lord before your eyes hath raised up some valiant Champions that fought up to the eares in blood therefore be couragious souldiers and fight it out bravely that your God may be glorified by you and let him onely have the service both of your inward and outward man and stand to his cause and love your owne soules and feare not the face of any mortâ—ll man for God hath promised to be with you and uphold you that they shall not prevail against you Esay 41. 10 11. But alas how few are there that date shew any courage for God and his cause though his glory lies at the stake but thinke themselves happy and well and count themselves wise men if they can sleepe in a whole skin when Christ hath said Hee that will save his life shall lose it and he that will lose his life for his sake shall find it What shall it profit a man if he gaine the whole world and lose his owne soule Therefore it is better for a man to be willing and contented to let all goe for the enjoying of Christ and doing him service then to sit downe and sleepe in a whole skinne though in so doing hee gaine all the world and see him dishonoured his glory and truth troden under foot and the blood of his servants shed and spilt Yes without doubt it is but many are in these times so farre from suffering valiantly for Christ that they rather disswade men from it and count it a point of singularity and pride and selfe-ends for a man to put himselfe forward to doe God service asking what calling and warrant any private man hath there unto seeing it belongs to the Ministers to speake of these things Yes so it doth but alas they are so cowardly and fearfull that they dare not speake And therefore it belongs also to thee or me or any other man if thou beest a souldier of Jesus Christ whatsoever by place or calling thy rank or degree be be it higher or lower yet if he call for thy service thou art bound though others stand still to maintaine his power and glory to the utmost of thy power strength yea to the shedding the last drop of thy blood for hee hath not loved his life unto the death for thy sake but shed his precious blood for the redemption of thy soule hath hee done this for thee and darest thou see him dishonoured and his glory lie at the stake and not speake on his behalfe or doe him the best service thou canst If one of a base cowardly spirit thus thou dost let me tell thee here and that truly to thy face thou hast a Dalila in thine heart which thou lovest more than God and that thou shalt one day certainly finde by wofull experience Alas if men should hold their peace in such times as these the Lord would cause the very stones to speake to convince man of his cowardly basenesse Having proceeded in a manner thus far by the strength of my God with boldnesse and courage in my speech The Warden of the Fleet came with the sat Lawyer and commanded me to hold my peace To whom I replyed I would speake and declare my cause and minde though I were to be hanged at the gate for my speaking And hee caused proclamation to be made upon the pillory for bringing to him the bookes so then he commanded mee to be gagged and if I spake any more that then I should be whipt againe upon the Pillory So I remained about an houre and a halfe gagged being intercepted of much matter which by Gods assistance I intended to have spoken but yet with their cruelty I was nothing at all daunted for I was full of comfort and courage being mightily strengthned
with the power of the Almighty which made me with cheerefullnesse triumph over all my sufferings not shewing one sad countenance or discontented heart And when I was to come downe having taken out my head out of the Pillory I looked about mee upon the people and said I am more then a conqueror through him that hath loved mee Vivat Rex Let the King live for ever and so I came downe and was had backe againe to the Taverne where I together with Mr. Wharton staid a while till one went to the Warden to know what should be done with mee who gave order we should be carryed backe againe to the Fleete and as I went by land through the streets great store of people stood all along to behold me and many of them blessed God for enabling me to undergoe my sufferings with such cheerefulnesse and courage as I did for I was mightily filled with the sweet presence of Gods Spirit which caused me notwithstanding the paines of my sufferings to goe alone the streets with a joyfull countenance not shewing the least discontentednesse as if I had been going to take possession of so ne great treasures After I came back to the prison none were suffered to come at me but the Surgeon to dresse mee and I feeling my selfe somewhat feverish I went to bed and my Surgeon doubting the same also gave me a Glister and appointed to come the next morning and let me blood but when he came he could not be permitted to come at me nor any else for the Porter kep◠the key and lock'd me up very close saying the Warden gave him straight command so to doe Whereupon I desired the Surgeon to goe to Westminster to the Warden and certifie him how it was with me being very ill and that he might have liberty to come at me to let me blood and dresse me which could not be obtained till the Warden himselfe came home About one of the clock Iohn Hawes the Porter came to me to know what I had to say to the Warden to whom I said Master Hawes this is very cruell and harsh dealing that after so sore whipping my Surgeon shall not be admitted to come and dresse me nor any other be suffered to administer to my necessities having not eaten all this day nor the last evening but a little Caudlè I hope the Lords will be more mercifull than after the undergoing the extremity of my censure to take my life from me by letting me perish for want of looking to therefore I pray speake to Mr. Warden that he would be pleased to give leave to my Chirurgion to come to dresse and let me blood otherwise I was in danger of a Feaver which might take away my life So hee wished me to haye written to the Warden I told him if he would help me to Pen Ink and Paper so I would No said he I dare not doe that Then I desired him to deliver my mind to the Warden by word of mouth who then went away and after I was in my bed he came to me againe and said thus unto mee Mr. Lilburne I have one suite to you What is that said I It is this said he that you would help me to one of those bookes that you threw abroad at the Pillory that I might read it for I never read any of them I speake not for it to doe you any hurt only I have a great desire to reade one of them Sir I thinke you doe not said I but I cannot satisfie your desire for if I had had more of them they should yesterday have all gone I verily believe you said he and so wee parted And in a very little while after came the Warden himselfe with the Porter and I being in my bed hee asked me how I did Said I I am well I blesse my God for it and am very merry and cheerefull Well said he you have undone your selfe with speaking what you did yesterday Sir said I I am not sorry for what I have said but am heartily glad that the Lord gave me strength and courage to speake what I did and were I to speake againe I would speake twice as much as I did if I could have liberty though I were immediately to lose my life after it Wouldst thou so said hee Ey indeed Sir would I with the Lords assistance said I for I feare not the face of Man And concerning what I yesterday spake I did not in the least manner speake against any of the Lords but did openly declare that I did willingly with all contentednesse submit my selfe to their censure and as for the Bishops I said nothing against any of their persons but onely against their Callings Ey said the Warden and thou saidst their Calling was from the Divell Yes Sir so I did said I and I will prove it and make it good or else I will be willing to lose my dearest blood For if you please to reade the 9. and 13. Chapters of the Revelations you shall there finde that the Beast which ascended out of the bottomlesse pit which is the Pope and Romane State hath his power and authority given him by the Dragon the Divell So that all the power which the Pope hath and doth exercise originally comes from the Divell If you reade also some Bookes lately set out by the Prelates themselves and their Creatures you shall there finde that they claime their jurisdiction standing and power from the Pope Now if their power and calling be from the Pope as they themselves say it is then it must needs be from the Divell also For the Popes power and calling is from the Divell And he cannot give a better power and calling to them than hee himselfe hath And I pray Sir if the Bishop of Canterbury be offended at that which I spake yesterday tell him I will seale it with my blood And if hee please to send for mee I will justifie it to his face and if I be not able to make it good before any Noble man in the Kingdome let mee lose my life Ey but it had beene a great deale better said hee for thine owne particular good to have beene more sparing of thy speech at that time No Sir said I nothing at all for my life and blood is not deare and precious to mee so I may glorifie God and doe him any service therewith I assure thee said he I was exceedingly chid about thee and also there were old businesses rubb'd up aginst mee concerning Doctor Laiton and Master Burton for that liberty that they had Wherefore were you chid for me said I About the Bookes said hee that you threw abroad in regard you were close prisoner and yet had those bookes about you I would aske you one question Did you bring those bookes to the Fleet with you or were they since brought to you by any other I beseech you Sir pardon me for revealing that said I. Then he would have knowne who they
were that most resorted to me I desired I might be excused in that also Ey but you must give me an answer said he for I must certifie the Lords thereof Then said I I pray you tell their Honours I am unwilling to tell you What were those bookes said he that you threw abroad were they all of one sort Those that have them said I can certifie you of that I my selfe have one of them said he and have read it and can find no wit in it there is nothing but railing in it Sir said I I conceive you are mistaken for the booke is all full of wit it is true this booke which which you lighted on is not so full of solidity as other of his bookes are but you must understand that at that time when the Doctor made that booke he was full of heavinesse and in danger of a great punishment for the Prelates had breathed out more cruelty against him for writing his Apologie and at that time also hee was compassed about on every side with the Pestilence therefore hee made that booke to make himselfe merry But said he hee doth not write any thing in it to the purpose against the Bishops callings Sir said I I must confesse you lighted on the worst of the three And it is true there is not much soliditie and force of argument in it but onely mirth but the other two are as full of soliditie as this is of mirth What were they of three sorts said he Yes Sir that they were said I What were the other two called said he The one said I was his Answer to Sir Iohn Banks his information The other is an Answer to some Objections that are made against that books which you have but if ever you reade his Latine bookes you shall there find solidity enough and the wickednesse and unlawfulnesse of the Bishops callings and practises set forth to the full What Latine bookes be they said he His Flagellum for which hee was first censured said I What hath hee beene twice censured said hee Yes said I hee was censured in the High Commission Court for writing his Flagellum and after that he wrote his Apologie and that little booke which you have which were the cause of his censure in the Star-Chamber But hast thou any more of those bookes said hee Sir said I if I had had twenty of them more they should all have gone yesterday But hast thou any more of them now said hee Sir said I I verily thinke that if I should tell you I had not you would not believe mee and therefore if you please you may search my Chamber So I must said he for the Lords have commanded me so to doe therefore open your Trunke Sir said I it is open already Search it Iohn Hawes said he So he search'd it and found nothing there Open the Cubbard said he So I gave the Porter the key of my Cubbard to search it and he found nothing there but my victualls Search his pocket said the Warden Indeed Sir said I there is none in them yet he searched them and found as I said Then he searched all my Chamber over but found nothing at all Well Sir said I now you can certifie the Lords how you find things with mee but I pray Sir must I still be kept close prisoner I hope now the Lords have inflicted their censure on me they will not still keep mee close No said he within a little time you will be eased of it so wee tooke our leaves each of other and he went away And the next day being Friday and a Star-Chamber-day I hoped I should have had the liberty of the Prison but in stead thereof newes was brought me at evening that I must be removed to the Comon-Gâ—al or a worse place and that I must be put in yrons Well for all this my God enabled me to keepe my hold still and not to let my confidence goe for blessed be his name for it this newes did not in the least manner trouble me And upon Saturday morning Iohn Hawes the Porter came with the woman that looked to me to my Chamber to stand by her that none might speake with me till shee had made my bed and done other things for me and he told me hee was sorry to heare such newes as he did concerning me What is it said I I heare said he that the Lords have ordered that you must be put into the Wards and kept close prisoner there and lie in yrons and none must be suffered to come at you to bring you any thing but you must live upon the Poore Mans Box Sir that 's very hard said I but the will of my God be done For mine owne part it nothing at all troubles me for I know in whom I have believed and I know not one hayre of my head shall fall to the ground without his providence and I have cast up my account already what it wil cost me therefore I weigh not any thing that can be inflicted on mee for I know that God made Paul and Silas to sing in the Stockes at midnight will also make mee rejoyce in my chaynes but it is very much that they will let none come to me to bring me any thing it seemes they will be more cruell to me than the very Heathens and Pagan Romans were to Paul who when he was in Prison did never refuse to let any come to him to administer to his necessities but I weigh it not for I know my God is and will be with me to make me goe through all my afflictions with cheerfulnesse for I feele his power within me so mightily supporting and upholding me that no condition in this world can make mee miserable and for mine own part I do no more set by my life blood in this cause then I doe a piece of bread when I have newly dyned Afterwards the woman telling me she hoped I should not have so sore a punishment laid on me but that I might have things brought me from my friends I told her I did not much care how it went with me for Ieremyes Dungeon or Daniels Den or the three Childrens Fornace is as pleasant and welcome to me as a Palace for wheresoever I am I shall find God there and if I have him that is enough to me and for victualls I told her I did not doubt but that God that fed the Prophet Esiah by a Raven would preserve me and fill me to the full by the way of his providence and if no meat should be brought me I knew if they take away my meat God will take away my stomack therefore I weighed not their cruelty and thereupon uttered to her these foure verses I doe not feare nor dread the face of any mortall man Let him against me bend his power and do the worst be can For my whole trust strength confidence My hope and all my aide Is in the Lord