A copy OF A LETTER WRITTEN BY JOHN LILBURNE, CLOSE PRISONER IN THE WARDS of the Fleet, which he sent to James Ingram and Henry Hopkins, Wardens of the said Fleet. Wherein is fully discovered their great Cruelty exercised upon his Body. SIRS, YOU are both so rooted in oppression, and so malicious in thirsting after innocent blood, that the actions of the one, may be attributed and judged, to be the actions of you both; there is such a harmony betwixt you in wickedness, so that I will now put you both in the singular number, and write unto you, as if you were but one; desiring to let you understaud, that in December was 2. years, the Devil your old Father, John 8, 44. (for my innocence) cast me into Prison, and William Laud his obedient son, got me committed to your custody to be tormented, in which Art you are very exquisite, and expert; and your plots to murder me, and to take away my innocent blood from me, have not been a few, which have been, and still are so palpable, that they cannot be hid from the world; unto the view of which I have already in part, in my Printed Books, laid them open in a brief way: but much more than I have in public said, have I yet behind, truly to declare. You may remember that last year, the 17. of September, you set the greatest part of twenty of your blood Hounds, to murder me, with whom I was forced to fight the greatest part of two hours, to save my life, and my left hand in the broil I had like to have lost; and to requite one of them for his good endeavours to take away my life, you gave him half a crown, as he himself confessed: but when I was under the chirurgeons hands, more likely to die upon the wound, then to live, yet would you neither pay the chirurgeons for the Cure, nor suffer my Friends to come to me, that so I might get moneys to pay them myself. Also, when your slaughtermen my Keepers afterwards did still prosecute the taking away of the last drop of my blood (divers quarts of which I lost the day before mentioned) I in a large Letter in December after in a fair way acquainted you with it, entreating you in peaceable terms to take some course, that I for my innocence might not be murdered by your men: then you and they together, as to'mes it seems, invented another way, if it were possible to put an end unto my days, and therefore placed two Chamber-Mates with me, the 12. of December, contrary unto my Order, which is, that I should lie alone, and so made use of them as instruments to get me into your cheating and poisoning shop, the Lodge, that so in a tub of liquor I might receive my death's wound: into which place when I absolutely refused to come (though I were several times earnestly solicited) then upon the 15. of December you set your murdering slaughtermen or cruel blood Hounds, not only to kill and murder myself, but also one of my Friends that came to the Prison door, to inquire after my necessaries▪ and in likelihood they had fulfilled their bloody intentions, if some Prisoners had not been that saved my life by rescuing of me from their devouring hands. And then betwixt that time and the beginning of the last Parliament, in April last, many plots there was contrived against me, and for fear that I should there prosecute you as a bloodthirsty and murdering man, you procured one of your Affidavite slaves many times to pick quarrels with me, that so some slight occasion might be taken to lock me up again, to frustrate me in my just and grievous complaints, and some blows was struck upon the second day of the Parliament: I being not the beginner of the quarrel, but only a defender of myself, as many of your Prisoners can justify, and the next morning you sent 5. or 6. of your murdering Officers unto me, as though you would speak with me, but they coming in such a hostile manner as they did, made me afraid that they would indeed kill me; and therefore to save my life, I kept my door barred against them, whereupon I was locked up, which when you had done, I wanted some water to dress my diate; and you have kept an honest Gentleman up ever since close Prisoner, for giving me but three bottles of water, that so the cruelty inflicted upon him, might make all the rest of the Prisoners afraid to do the least courtesy for me, that so you might at least prevail against me, to take away my life and blood from the earth. And my Friends being several times assaulted by your Officers (for coming to the Prison door to see me, and speak to me) to the great hazard of some of their lives; some of them to avoid the danger, that formerly they went through, did go up into Thomas Deans room over against me, that so they might know how it fared with me, there being the breadth of the Prison yard betwixt us; and our discourse and talk was such, that we did not care who heard it, which the Prisoners not only walking in the Yard, but also those that were in their Lodgings might hear, if they would, as well as ourselves: but seeing that still I live, and that your malice cannot put an end unto my days, you have taken him to task several times, as though my Order were so strict, that you shall incur a great deal of detriment, if Persons came there to speak with me. And therefore have you commanded him, either to leave his Lodging, or else to suffer no more Persons to speak to me out of his Chamber. Well, it may be, before you and I have done, you had as good have held your peace, and have said nothing. You can execute my Order when you please, and you can break it when you lift, or do any thing that my life may be brought in danger: for time hath been when my Friends would yield to the covetous exactions of my Keepers, to give them 12 pence, 18 pence, and 2 shillings, and more at a time, for coming to see me, and speak with me, they might be let up into my Chamber to talk with me. Yea to such a height of covetousness was your man Murry grown unto, that he would not let my Friends Servants up with that Diate they brought me, unless they would give him money, which was the first occasion of his outfall and mine. And you have not only broke my Order, by placing others in my Chamber to lodge with me, but also by your Man Murry in giving me leave to walk at my pleasure in the Prison Yard, and to come into his cozening and murdering Lodge, to drink with whom I would, and this I can justify by honest men, that were the messengers several times to bring me up the tidings: but because I was afraid of poisoning (as I told them) and would not upon any terms come into the Lodge to receive it: The strictness of my Order must be executed upon me again, and I must be locked up close in a room, and my Friends must not come to me, to relieve me, nor come to speak with me, to see if I be alive or no; and the poor Prisoners must be punished, and tormented; if they give me but a little water, or do any other courtesy for me (some of whom have had three Beds taken from under them, by your command and order, and several times put off the charity, and threatened by yourself to be put in Irons, for helping me to my Victuals) and yet, you, nor your great Lord and Master will not allow me one farthing to live upon: and if this be not hard measure, then sure I am, the devil's Instruments, never measured any in their lives. But for my Order, the strictness of which at some times you so much stand upon, let me tell you without fear, That I verily believe, if Beelzebub the Prince of Devils had sat in personal presence at the Inner Star-chamber, instead of the Pope of Lambeth, his dutiful Son, he could not have made a more merciless inhuman Order against me, than my Order is which the bloody prelate caused to be made against me the 18. of April was 2. years, after he had caused me to be whipped at a cart's arse, from Fleet Bridge to Westminster Hall. For how can a Man live when all resort of persons shall be kept from him, and that necessary subsistence from his Friends, and yet his Enemies will not allow him a bit of bread, or a drop of drink. Well Sir, if by your new plots you take away my life from me, before I can have Justice against you in the Parliament, know thus much, that I have already made my Will, and bequeathed my soul, to him that purchased it with his own blood, and my body to the dust, from whence it came; and if the Priests will not suffer it to be buried in the churchyard (as they call it) then would I have it laid beside the cobblers, in Finsbury Fields: and for my goods they are soon disposed of, for the prelates, have already robbed me of the most part of them; for Canterbury's Catchpoles took from me last year, at the Custom-house, almost two thousand of my Books, as they came from Amsterdam: but when I was informed that they had cozened him of the greatest part or them, and sent them to Scotland for filthy lucre's sake, at whose Parliament they were fold as public as Martin Parker (the Bishop's champion Ballad maker) Ballads are sold here at London, it made me to laugh at my loss: but yet for all that I have left you for a legacy, a biting whip to lash and scourge your fat and knavish sides; for to my Executor as the greatest part of my Treasure, that I have to leave him, have I bequeathed to him, a punctual anatomy, of some part of your matchless knavery, villainy, and blood-thirstiness, with a strict Order to put it in Print, with some marginal notes to it; and also to prosecute you in the greatest Court in England, for a criminal, and felonious person, for murdering the King's loyal and faithful Subjects, for their innocence, and their honest, real, and good endeavours for the welfare of his kingdoms. And though you have been so observant of that wicked man that bears so great a sway in the ruling of the kingdom (of whom and his commands you have said you must be observant) so that it seems if the Kings traitorly enemies be great ones, you must be a combinator with them to destroy the Kings best Subjects ● yet methinks the time is hard at hand, wherein, you and he both, for all your wickedness, and bloodthirstiness, will receive, your just, and long since due deserts at Saint Tyburn, if you do not make your Feet, to be worth two pair of Hands unto you, as your predecessor Harr● did before you in a former Parliament, in the beginning of King CHARLES his reign (which is the thing that I am greatly afraid of) which if you do, know, that I will endeavour to get Martin Parker the Papist, or some other Ballad maker, to send some of their rhymes after you, to jeer you for a Runaway: But if you dare but stay by it, the which I would entreat you, though you now by your greatness tyrannize over me, in my afflicted and distressed condition, yet I doubt not but time is a coming, wherein my innocence, and my honesty, will procure me more Friends, than all your base and ill gotten Gold, and Silver will do you; a great part of which hath been gotten by Cussening, Cheating, and Robbing of the poor, and by exacting and oppressing of the Prisoners in their Fees and Chamber rends; of some of whom to my own knowledge, you have taken 20. shillings, where 5. shillings was not your due; and for Tyrannising with unheard of cruelty, over others, to the taking away of some of their lives, and in●angering of divers others, it may be for bribes given to you by their potent adversaries; or else because you in revenge would plague and hamper them for complaining of your lawless and bloody oppre●sions, that so your cruel punishment inflicted upon them might be a terrifying example, to all the rest of the Prisoners no to trouble, or molest you in your in●ollerable wicked, and ungodly practices: but take notice, that I for my part, by these my lines, bid defiance to you, letting you understand, that do the worst you can, you can do no more unto me, than the devil did to Job; and I have by large experience found the tenderest of your mercies towards me, to be cruelty; and for my own particular, I neither fear you, nor care for you, nor ever a conferate the devil's agents hath upon the earth, For the Righteous are as bold as a lion, though the wicked flee when none pursues them, Prov. 28. 1. And for my subsistence in my condition, as I told the prelate, in my book, called, Come out of her my People, which I writ, when my hands were fettered together, with Irons, that by Faith, I could live in every condition, whether it were in hunger, or nakedness, in want, or scarcity▪ in Pr●son, or in dungeon▪ in exile, or in banishment; and now I tell you; that so strong is my Faith, that by it I can live upon a stony, and flinty mountain, where neither Bread, nor Water is to be had, nor found: yea so great is my grounded confidence in the Lord's goodness, and allmightiness, tha● I verily believe before I want that which is fitting for me, he will make the stones, and senseless creatures, to change their natures, and be serviceable in ministering to my necessities. You told my Neighbour Deane, when you commanded him to depart his Lodging, for letting People talk with me, out of his room, that you were afraid to get a great deal of anger about my Books: true it is that you● Barbaro●s, and more than Pagan like cruelty, made me the last year with shrillness and loudness, by way of just Complaint, bitterly to cry out to the Lord mayor and Aldermen of London, also to my fellow Aprentices; which now with four other Book are all in Print; and it is a wonder to me (but only unrighteousness, doth trample down Justice, and Equity) that you are not called to a strict account; indeed, for my just and lamentable Complaints against you: and to let you know, that when I had my health, which was before my Friends were acquainted with Thomas Deane, I was not idle, but writ the●, and have at command now, more sheets of paper (which many months ago I sent into Holland to my Printer, which the world yet never see) than all my Printed Books do contain, filled full of such lines as will not only vex the Prelate of Canterbury's heart, but also shake his Rotten Antichristian and Babylonian kingdom, as will be seen when the time is come that I have determined that they shall be dispersed in. It may be you will demand if I be mad, to write such lines as these to you. It is true indeed Oppression will make a wise man mad: but if you say these are a mad man's lines, you show yourself a fool, for I am as able to give a Reason, for any thing that I do, as yourself. And if you would know a Reason why I thus write, First of all, It is because, I love and take delight to rub a galled Horses bacl, especially, when I perceive he will make sport, by winching and kicking handsomely, that so I may have something to laugh a●in my solatary condition, now you have deprived me of the figh● of the face, of my Friends. 2. Secondly, That I might a little inform you, of the foolishness of your ways, to bring me to your bow; for before any man that ●rongs me as you have done, get me to crouch unto him by tyrannyzing ever me, I will first die at hi● foot: and therefore know, that the more cruelty you exercise upon me, the more notches you set upon the tally, to make the Bill of my complaint in Parliament the larger against you; and the more i● my spirit exasperated to cleave and stick as close unto you, as the shirt upon your back, or a● Drake did to the Spaniard: and the closer you lock me up, and the more you deprive me of the fight of my Friends, the more active and nimbler in my meditations, and invention to quit scores with you, and pay you in your own coin. Yea did but your great Master, his holiness of Lambeth know, how good service I have done, to help to pull down his wicked Antichristian kingdom, since you last locked me up (though I never made use of my neighbour Deane to carry nor bring none of my books) he would give you no thanks for your so doing, to provoke me to it. 3. Lastly, I send you this, that so you may know, that though your cruelty make many cowards in this Prison, yet I am not turned one, as your great Lord Laud is (though he be the King, and head of the black Regiment of Locusts in this kingdom) yet never durst look upon my face since I silenced him in the Star chamber in the open Court (almost 3. years ago) though I have often since, as you very well know challenged him to a disputation, for I have still a true bred soldiers heart in my belly, that dreads, nor fears none of my adversaries, and therefore know, seeing you have dealt with me as you have done, that if there be but a Printing-house in any of the Cities in the Provinces of Holland, I will cause this Letter to be Printed; that so, if it be possible, it may be claimed up upon the Posts, and made as public as the cobbler's Sermon, that so you may if you will read it in the Streets, as you go to the Parliament house: for because I hitherto, could never get justice against you, as I have often sent you word, I will now Print some more of your knavery. And as for the old knave Lewis the Steward, who as I am told, was the chief Informer against my neighbour Deane, and my Friends, because I have lately told him a little of his own, by taking him to task for his insolent domineering, and insulting over the poor ma●● and for his combination with yourself, to cozen and cheat them of their due: But time is a coming, wherein if I live, in the poor men's behalf, I shall in another manner tell him my mind; And so at present I rest, From your Common and bloody Slaughter-house, called the Wards of the Fleet, this 4th of October, 1640. Your lawless oppressed close Prisoner, that now scorns to be beholden to your courtesy, but bids defiance to your malice, honest JOHN LILBURNE. And this I counted my wedding day in which I was married to the Lord Jesus Christ● for now I know ●e loves me in that he hath bestowed so rich apparel this day upon me, and counted me worthy to suffer for his sake. I having a desire to retire into a private room from the multitude of people that were about me, which made me like to faint: I had not been there long but Mr. Lightburne the Tibstaffe of the Star-Chamber, came to me saying the Lords sent him to me, to know if I would acknowledge myself to be in a fault and then he knew what to say unto me. To whom I replied, have their Honours caused me to be whipped 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 been whip●; for now seeing I have v●dergone the greatest part of my punishment, I hope the Lord will assi●t me to go 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 bar. So I desire you to tell them again, that I am not conscio●s to myself of doing any thing that deserves a submission, but yet I do willingly submit to their lordship's pleasures in my Censure. He told me if I would confess, a fault it would save me astanding on the pillory o●herwise I must undergo the burden of it. Well, (Said I) i regard not a little outward d●sgrace for the cause of my God, I have sound already that sweetness in him in whom I have believed, that through his strength I am able to undergo any thing that shalb●e inflicted on me; But methinks that i had very hard measure that I should be condemned and thus punished upon two Oaths, in which the party hath most falsely foresworn himself●: and because I would not take an Oath to betray mire own innocency; Why ' Raul found more favour and mercy from the Heathen Roman-Governors, for they would not put him to an Oath to sccuse himself, but suffered him to make the best defence ●e could for himself, neither would they condemn him before his accusers and he were brought face to face, to justify and fully to prove their accusation: But the Lords have not d●alt so with m●, for my accusers and I were never brought face to face to justi●●e their accu●ati●n against m●: it is true two false oaths were sworn against me: and I was thereupon condemned, and because I would not accuse myself. It is true (said he) it was so with Paul but the laws of this Land, are otherwise then their laws were in those days. Then said I, they are worse and more cruel, than the laws of the Pagans and Heathen Romans were. who would condemn no man without witnesses, and they should be brought face to face, to justify their accusation. And so he went away, & I prepared myself for the pillory, to which i went with a joyful courage. and when I was upon i●, I made obeisance to the Lords, some of them as (I suppose) looking out at the Sarr-Chamber-window, towards me. And so I put my neck into the hole, which being a great deal to low for me, it was v●ry painful to me in regard of the continuance of time that I stood on the pillory: which was a bout two hours, my back also being very sore, and the sun shining exceeding hot. And the Topstaffe man, not suffering me to keep on my hat, to defend my head from the heat of the sun. So that I stood there in great pain. 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 pillory▪ i craved his powerful assistance: with the spirit of wisdom and courage, that I might open my mouth with boldness: and speak those things that might make for his greatest glory, and the good of his people, and so casting my eyes on the multitude, I began to speak after this manner. My Christean B●ethren, to all you that love the Lord Jesus Christ. and desire that he should reign and rule in your hearts and lives, to you especially: and to as many as hear me this day: I direct my speech. I stand here in the place of ignominy and shame. Yet to me it is not so, but I own and embrace it, as the Wellcome cross of Christ. And as a badge of my Christian Profession. I have been already whipped from the Fleet to this place, by virtue of a Censure: from the Honourable Lords of the star Chamber hereunto, The Cause of my Censure I shall declare unto you as briefly as I can. The Lord by his special hand of providence so ordered it, that Not long ago I was in Holland. Where I was like to have settled myself in a Course of trading, that might have brought me in a- pretty large portion of earthly things; (after which my heart did too much run) but the Lord having a better portion in store for me, and more durable riches to bestow upon my soul. By the same hand of providence: brought me back a gain. And cast me into easy affliction, that there by I might be weaned from the world, and see the vanity and emptiness of all things therein. And he hath now pitched my soul upon such an object of beauty, amiablenessc: & excellency, as is as permanent and endurable as eternity itself, Namely the personal excellency of the Lord Jesus Christ. the sweetness of whose presence, no affliction can ever be able to wrest out of my soul. Now while i was in Holland, it seems there were divers books. of that Noble and Renowned Dr. John Bastwick's sent into England. which came to the hands of one Edmond Chillington, for the sending over which I was taken, and apprehend. the plot being before laid, by one John Chilliburne (whom I supposed) & took to be my friend) servant to my old fellow soldier Mr. John Wharton living in Bowlane (after this manner.) I walking in the Street, with the said John Chilliburne, was taken by the pursuivant and his men. the said John as I verily believe, having given direction to them: where to stand, and he himself was the third man that laid hands on me to hold me. Now at my Censure before the Lords: I there declared upon the word of a Christian that I sent not over those books, neither did I know the ship that brought them. nor any of the men that belonged to the ship, nor to my knowledge did I ever see, either ship: or any appertaining to it, in all my days. Besides this, I was accused at my examination before, the King's attorney at his Chamber, by the said Edmond Chillington Button Seller ●iving in Canon street near Abchurch Lane, and late Prisoner in Bridewell & Newgate, for printing 10. or 12. thousand books in Holland, and that i would have printed the unmasking the mystery of iniquity if I could have got a true copy of it, and that I had a Chamber in Mr. John Foots house at Delfe where he thinks the books were kept. Now here I declare before you all, upon the word of a suffering Christian: that he might have as well accused me of printing ahundred thousand books, and the on been as true as the other; And for the printing the unmasking the mystery of Iniquity, upon the word of an honest man I never ●aw, nor to my knowledge heard of the book, till I came back again into England: And for my having a Chamber in Mr. John Foots house at Delfe, where he thinks the books were kept. I was so far from having a Chamber there, as I never lay in his house, but twice or thrice at the most, and upon the last Friday of the last term I was brought to the Star-Chamber bar, where before me was read the said Edmond Chillingtons Affidavit, upon Oath, against Mr. John Wharton and myself. The sum of which Oath was, That he and I had Printed (at Rotterdam in Holland,) Dr. Bastwick's Answer, and his litany, with divers other scandalous books. Now here again I speak it in the presence of God, & all you that hear me. that Mr. Wharton, and I never joined together in printing, either these or any other books whatsoever. Neither did I receive any money from him, toward the printing any. Withal, in his first Oath, he peremptorily swore that we had printed them at Rotterdam. unto which I likewise say, That he hath in this particular forsworn himself. for my own part, I never in all my days either printed, or caused to be printed, either for myself or Mr. Wharton any books at Rotterdam. Neither did I come into any Printing house there all the time I was in the city. And then upon the Twe●day after he swore, against both of us again. The sum of which Oaths was, that I had confessed to him (which is most false) that I had Printed Dr. Bastwick's Answer to S●. John Banks his Information, and his litany; & another book called certain answers to certain Objections; And another book called The vanity & impiety of the old litany; & that i had divers other books of the said Dr. Bastwick's in Printing, & that Mr. Wharton had been at the charges of Printing a book called A Breviat, of the Bishops late proceeding; and another book called 16. new Queries, and in this his Oath hath sworn they were Printed at Rotterdam, or somewhere else in Holland; & that on James Oldam. a Turner keeping Shop at Westminster hall-gate dispersed divers of these books. Now in this Oath he hath again forsworn himself in a high degree, for whereas he took his Oath that I had printed the book called The vanity and impiety of the old litany, I here speak it before you all, that I never in all my days did see one of them in print, but I must confess, I have seen & read it, in written hand, before the Dr. was censured, & as for other books, of which he saith I have diverse in printing. To that I answer, that for mine own particular I never read nor saw any of the Drs. books: but the forenamed four in English. and one little thing more of about two sheets of paper, which is annexed to the Vanity of the Old litany, And as for his Latin books i never saw any but two: Namely his Flag●llum, for which he was first censured in the High. Commission Court: and his Apologeticus, which were both in print long before i knew the Dr. But it is true, there is a second edition of his Flagellum, but that was at the press above two years ago: namely Anno 1634. And some of this impression was in England before i came out of Holland. And these are the main things for which I was Censured and Condemned. Being two Oaths in which the said Chillington, hath palpably forsworn himself. And if he had not forsworn himself. Yet by the law (as I am given to understand) I might have excepted against him, being a guilty person himself and a Prisoner, and did that which he did against ●ee for purchasing his own liberty which he hath by such Judasly means got and obtained. Who is also known 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 me (which i refused to take) on four several days; the sum of which Oath is thus much. You shall swear that you shall make true answer to all things that shall be asked of you: So help you God. Now this Oath I refused as a sinful and unlawful Oath: it being the High-Commission Oath, with which the Prelates ever have and still do so butcherly torment, afflict and undo, the dear Saints and Servants, of God, It is also an Oath against the Law of the Land, As Mr. Nicholas Fuller in his Argument doth prove. And olso it is expressly against the Petition of Right an Act of parliament Enacted in the second year of our King. Again, it is absolutely against the Law of God, for that law requires no man to accuse himself, 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 himself, who in all his examinations before the High Priest would not accuse himself: but upon their demands, returned this answer: Why ask yea me, go to them that heard me. With all this Oath is against the very law of nature, for nature is always a preserver of itself and not a destroyer. But if a man takes this wicked Oath he distroyes and undoes himself, as daily experience doth witness. Nay it is worse than the Law of the Heathen Romans, as we may read Act. 25. 16. For when Paul stood before the Pagan governors, and the Jews required judgement against him, the governor replied, it is not the manner of the Romans to condemn any man before his accusers & he were brought face to face to justify their accusation. But for my own part, if I had been proceeded against by a Bill, i would have answered & justified all that they could have proved against me, & by the strength of my God would have sealed whatsoever I have done with my blood, for I am privy to mine own actions, & my conscience bears me witness that I have laboured ever since the Lord in mercy made the riches of his grace known to my soul, to keep a good conscience and to walk inoffensably both towards God, & man. But as for that Oath that was put unto me I did refuse to take it, as a sinful and unlawful Oath, & by the strength of my God enabling me I will never take it though I be pu●d in pieces with wild horses as the ancient Chritians were by the bloody tyrants, in the Primitive Church, neither shall I think that man a faithful Subject, of Christ's kingdom, that shall at any time hereafter take it, seeing the wickedness of it hath been so apparently laid open by so many, for the refusal whereof many do suffer cruel 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 gr●unds censured by the Lords at the starchamber on the last Court day o● the last term to pay 500 pō. to the King and to receive the punishment which with rejoicing I have undergone, unto whose censure I do with willingness & cheerfulness submit, myself. 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 mind unto you. I have nothing to say to any man's person, and therefore will not meddle with that. Only the things that I have to say in the first place, are concerning the Bishops & their calling. They challenge their callings ●o be jure Divino, & for the oppugning of which, those three renowned living marters of the Lord, Dr. Bastwick M. Burton & M. Prinne: did suffer in this place, and they have sufficiently proved, that their, Calling is not from God, which men I love and honour, and do persuade myself their souls are dear and precious in the sight of God, though they were so cruelly and butcherly dealt with by the Prelates, and as for Mr. Burton and Mr. Prynne they are worthy and learned men, but yet did not in many things write so fully as the Dr. did, who hath sufficiently & plentifully set forth the wickedness, both of the Prelates themselves & of their callings. (as you may read in his books) that they are not jure Divino, which noble and reverend Dr. I love with my soul. and as he is a man that stands for the truth and glory of God, my very life and heart blood I will lay down for his honour, and the maintaining of his cause, for which he Suffered, it being God's 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 Dr. And as you may fully read in his Apollogeticus. And in his Answer to Sr. John banks his Information. now i will here maintain it before them all. That their Calling is so far from being jure divino (as they say they are) that they are rather jure Diabollico. Which if I be not able to prove, let me be hanged up at the Hall Gate. But my Brethren, for your better satisfaction. read the 9 & 13. Chapters of the revelation, and there you shall see, that there came Locust out of the bottomless Pitt, part of whom they are. and they are there lively discirbed. Also you shall there find, that the Beast (which is the Pope, or Roman State and government.) hath given to him by the D●agon (the devil) his Power and seat, and great authority. So that the Pope's authority comes from the devil, and the Prelates, and their Creatures in their printed books, do challenge their authority 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 & strongest argument is: that the Bb. are lineally descended from his holiness (or impiousnes) of Rome: as you may read in Pocklingtons' book, called Sunday no Sabbath. So that by their own 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 devil. For the Pope cannot give a better authority or calling to them, than he himself hath. But his authority and Calling is from the devil: Therefore the Prelates Calling and authority is from the devil also. Revel. 9 3. And there came out of the smoke, Locusts upon the earth: and unto them was given power as the Scorpions of the earth have power to hurt. and undo men, as the Prelates daily do. And also Revel. 13. 2. And the Beast which I saw (saith S. John) was like unto a Leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a Lion, and the Dragon (that is to say the devil) gave him his power, his seat, and great authority. and ver. 15. 16. 17. And whether the Prelates as well as the Pope, do not daily the same things: let every man that hath but common reason judge. For do not their daily practices and cruel burdens, imposed on all sorts of people, high and low, rich and poor: witness that their descent is from the Beast, part of his state and kingdom. So also Revel. 16. 13. 14. All which places do deçlare, that their Power a●d authority being from the Pope, (as they themselves confess) Therefore it must needs originally come from the devil For their power & callings, must of necessity proceed either from God, or else from the devil, But it proceeds not from God, as the Scriptures sufficiently declares▪ Therefore there calling and power proceeds from the devil, as both Scripture and there own daily practices do demonstrate and prove. And as for that last place cited Rev. 16. 13. ●4. If you please to read the Second, and third parts of Dr. Bastwick's litany, you shall find, he their proves that the Prelates practices do every way suit ●with, and make good that portion of Scripture to the utmost. For in their Sermons that they preach before his majesty: how do they incense the King & nobles against the people of God. labouring to make them odious in his sight & stirring him up to execute vengeance upon them, though they be the most harmless generation of all others. And as for all these officers that are under them & made by them, for mine own particular I cannot see but that their callings ●re as unlawful as the Bishops themselves, and in particular for the callings of the ministers, i do not, nor will not speak against their persons, for I know some of them to be very able men, and men of excellent gui●tes and qualifications, and I persuade my jelfe their souls are very dear and precious in the sight of God. Yet not withstanding, this proves not their Callings to be ever the better. As it is in civil government. If the King (whom God hath made a lawful magistrate) make a wicked man an officer, he is as true an officer and as well to be obeyed, coming in the King's name, as the best man in the world coming with the same atthority. for in such a case, he that is a wicked man hath his calling from as good authority as the godliest man hath: And therefore his calling is as good as the others. But on the other side, if he that hath no authority make officers, though the men themselves be never so good and holy. Yet their holiness makes their calling never awhitt the truer, but still is a false a calling: in regard his authority was not good nor lawful that made them, & even so the ministers, be they never so holy men: yet they have one and the same calling with the wickedest that is amongst them, their holiness proves not their callings to be ever the truer: seeing their authority that made them ministers is false, and therefore they have more to answer for then any of the rest: by how much the more God hath bestowed greater jousts upon them then upon others, and yet they detain the truth in unrighteousness from God's people: and do not make known to them as they ought, the whole will and counsel of God. And again, the greater is their sin if their callings be unlawful, (as i verily believe they are) in that they still hold them and do not willingly lay them down & renounce them, for they do but deceive the people and highly dishonour God, and sin against their own souls, while they preach unto the people by virtue of an Antichristian and unlawful Calling, and the more godly and able the Minister is that still preaches by virtue of this calling, the more hurt he doth, for the people that have such a Minister will not be persuaded of the truth of things, though one speak & inform them in the name of the Lord; but will be ready to reply, Our Minister that preaches still by virtue of this Calling, is so holy a man, that were not his calling right & good: I do assure myself he would no longer preach by virtue thereof, And thus the holiness of the minister is a cloak to cover the unlawfulness of his calling, and make the people continue rebels against Christ's his sceptre and kingdom, which is an agrevation of his sin. for by this means the people are kept off from receiving the whole truth into their souls, & rest in being but almost C●ristians, or but Christians in part. B●t Oh my Brethren, it behoves all you that fear God, and tender the Salvation of your own souls, to look about you & to shake of that long security & formality in Religion, that you have laid in. For God of all things cannot endure lukewarmness Revel 3. 16. And search out diligently the truth of things, and try them in the balance of the Sanctuary. I beseech you take things no more upon trust, as hitherto you have done, but take p●ines to search and fi●de out those spiritual and hidden truths that God hath enwraped in his sacred book, and find out a bottom for your own souls. For if you will have the comforts of them, you must bestow some labour for the getting of them, and you must search diligently before you find them Pro. 2. Labour also to withdraw your necks from under that spiritual and Antichristian bondage, (unto which you have for a long time subjected your souls) lest the Lord cause his plagues and the scarceness of his wrath to seize both upon your bodies and souls: seeing you are now warned of the danger of these things. For he himself hath said Revel. 14. 9 10. 11. That if any man worship the Beast and his Image, and receive his mark in his forehead or in his hand. The same shall drink of the wine of his wrath: which is powered out without mixture into the cup of his indignation, and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presences of the holy Angels, & in the presence of the lamb, and the smoke of their Torment ascended, up for ever and ever, and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the Beast, & his Image, and whosoever receiveth the m●ke of his name. Therefore as you love your own souls and look for that immortal crown of happiness in the world to come, look that you with draw yourselves from that Antichristian power & slavery that you are now under, even as God himself hath commanded and enjoined you in Rev. 18. 4. saying Come out of her my people that you be not partaker of her sins and that ye receive not of her Plagues, for her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities. Here is the voice of God himself 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 fearful condition, under the ●dolatrous, and spiritual bondage of the Prelates, in regard we have turned Traytours unto our God, in seeing his Almighty great name and his Heavenly truth trodden under foot, and so highly dishonoured by them, and yet we not only let them alone in holding our peace, but most slavishly & wickedly, subject ourselves unto them, fearing the face of a piece of durr, more than the almighty great God of Heaven and earth, who is able to cast both body & soul in to everlasting damnation. Oh repent, I beseech you therefore repent, for that great dishonour you have suffered to be done unto God by your fearfulness, and cowardliness, & for the time to come, put on courageous resolutions like valiant soldiers of Jesus Christ, and fight manfully in this his spiritual battle, in which battle some of his soldiers have already lost part of their blood, and withal; Study this book of the Revelation, and there you shall find the mystery of iniquity fully unfolded and explained; and also you shall see what great spiritual battles have been fought betwixt the lamb & his Servants, and the Dragon (the devil) and his vassals, and some are yet to fight. Therefore gird on your spiritual armour Spoken of Ephes. 6. that you may quit yourselves like good & faithful soldiers, and fear no colours the victory and conquest is ours already, for we are sure to have it, (I do not speak of any bodily and temporal battle but only of a spiritual one) and be not discouraged and knoct of from the study of it, because of the obscurity and darkness of it, for the Lord hath promised his enlightening Spirit unto all his people that are laborous and studious to know him aright, and also he hath promised a blessing and pronounced a blessedness unto all that read and labour to keep the things contained in this book Rev. 1. 3. My Christian Brethren, in the bowels of Jesus Christ I beseech you do not contemn the things that are delivered to you, in regard of the meanness and weakness of me the instrument, being but one of the meanest and unworthiest of the Servants of Je●us Christ, for the Lord many times doth great things by weak means, that his power may be more seen, for we are to ready to cast our eye upon the means and instrument: not looking up unto that Almighty power that is in God, who is able to do the greatest things by the weakest means, and therefore out of the mouths of Babes & Suckling● 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 weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty, & base things of the world, & things which are despised hath God chosen, Yea things which ate not, to bring to nought things that are 1. Cor. 1.27.28. And he gives the reason wherefore he is pleased so to do. That no flesh should glory in his presence So you se God is not tied to any instrument & means to effect his own glory, but ●ee by the least instrument is able to bring to pass the greatest things. It is true, I am a young man and no scholar, according to that which the world counts Scollership, yet I have obtained mercy of the Lord to be faithful, & he by a divine providence hath brought me hither this day, & I speak to you in the name of the Lord, being assisted with the spirit & power of the God of Heaven and earth, & I speak not the words of rashness or inconsiderateness, but the words of soberness, and mature deliberation, for I did consult with my God before I came hi●her, and desired him that he would direct and enable me to speak that which might be for his glory and the good of his people, And as I am a soldier fighting under the banner of the great and mighty captain the Lord Jesus Christ, and as i look for that crown 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 speak unto you with boldness in the might and strength of my God, the things which the Lord in mercy hath made known unto my soul, come life come death. When I was here a bout, there came a fat lawyer, I do not know his name, & commanded me to hold my peace & leave my preaching. To whom I replied and said, Sr. I will not hold my peace but speak my mind freely though I be hanged at Tyburn for my pains. It seems he himself was gauled and touched as the lawyers were in Christ time, when he spoke against the Scribes & Pharisees, which made them say, Master in saying thus thou revilest us also. so he went away and (I think) complained to the Lords, but i went on with my speech and said, My Brethren, be not discouraged at the ways of God for the affliction and cross that doth accompany them, for it is sweet & comfortable drawing in the yoke of Christ for all that, and I have found it so by experience, for my soul is filled so full of spiritual and heavenly joy, that with my tongue i am not able to express it, neither are any capable (I think) to partake of so great a degree of consolation but only those upon whom the Lord's gracious afflicting hand is. And for mine own part I stand this day in the place of an evil doer, but my conscience witnesseth that I am no● soe. And here about I put my hand in my pocket, and pulled out Three of worthy Dr. Bastwick's books and threw them among the people and said. There is part of the books for which I suffer, take them among you, and read 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 son of a Gentle man, and my Friends are of rank and quality in the country 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 me in my present estate, being i am stung by the Scorpions (the Prelates) and for any thing I know, it may be I shall never have a favourable countenance from any of them again, and wi●hall, I am a young man and likely to have lived well and in plenty, according to the fashion of the world. Yet notwithstanding, for the cause of Christ, and to do him service, I have and do bid adieu to Father, Friends, Riches, pleasures, ease, contented life and blood, and lay all down at the footstool of Jesus Christ, being willing to part with all rather than I will dishonour him, or in the least measure part with the peace of a good conscience, & that sweetness and joy which I have found in him, for in naked Christ is the quintessence of sweetness & I am so far from thinking my affliction and punishment which this day I have endured and still do endure and groan under (a disgrace) that I receive it as the welcome cross of Christ, and do think myself this day more honoured by my sufferings then if a crown of gold had been set upon my head, for I have in some part been made conformable to my Lord and Master, and have in some measure drunk of the same Cupp which he himself drank of, while he was in this sinful world, for he shed his most precious blood for the salvation of my poor soul, that so I might be reconciled to his father, therefore am I willing to undergo any thing for his sake, & that in ward joy & consolation within me that carries me high above all my pains & torments. & you (My Brethren) if you be willing to have Christ, you must own him and take him upon his own terms, & know that Christ and the cross is in separable, 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 & trials we must enter into glory and the Apostell faith, that if we be without afflictions whereof all are partakers, then are ye Bastards and, not sons. And therefore if you will have Christ sit down & reckon before ever you make profession of him what he will cost you; left when you come to the trial you dishonour him, and if you be not willing and contented to part withal; and let all go for his sake, you are not worthy of him. If Parents, husband, wife or children, lands or livings, riches, or honours, plea●ure, or ease, life or blood, st●nd in the way, you must be willing to part with all these and to entertain Christ naked & alone, though you have nothing but the cross, or else you are not worthy of him Math. 10.37.38. Oh my Brethren there is such sweetness and contentedness in enjoying the Lord Jesus alone, that it is able where it is felt, to make a man go through all difficulties ' & endure all hardshipps that may possibl●e come upon him. Therefore if he call you to it, do not deny him nor his truth in the le●st manner, for he hath said, he that denies him before men▪ him will he deny before his Father which is in Heaven. And now is the time that we must show ourselves good soldiers of Jesus Christ, for his truth, his cause and glory lies at stake in a high degree, therefore put one courageous resolutions, and withdraw your necks and souls from all false power and worship, and fight with courage and boldness in this spiritual battle, in which battle the Lord before your eyes hath raised up some valiant Champions that fought up to the ears in blood, therefore be courageous soldiers and fight it out brav●ly, that your God m●y be glorifi●d by you, and let him only have the service, both of your inward and outward man, and stand to his cause, and love your own Soul●s, and fear not the face of any mortal man, for God hath promised to be with you and uphold you that they shall not prevail against you, Isay. 41.10.11. But alas, how few are there that dare show any courage for God and his cause, though his glory lies at the Stake, but think themselves happy and well, and count themselves wise men if they can sleep in a whole skin, when Christ hath said, he 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 aman if he gain the whole world & lose his own soul? ‛ Therefore is it better for a man to be willing and contented to let all go for the enjoying of Christ and doing him service, then to sit down and sleep in a whole skin, though in so doing he ga●e all the w●rld and see him dishonoured, his glory and truth ●r●den under so●t, and the blood of his Servants shed and Spilt? Yes, without doubt it is. But many are in these times so far from suffering valiantly for Christ, that they rather dis●wade men from it, and count it a point of singularity and pride, and self ends for a man to put himself forward to do God service; a●●ing, what calling and warrant any private man hath thereunto, seeing it bel●ngs to the Ministers to speak of these things. Yes so it doth, But alas they are so cowardly and fearful that they dare not speak; And therefore it belongs also to thee, or me, or any other man, if thou be'st a soldier 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 maintain his power and glory to the utmost of thy power and strength, yea to the sh●dding the last drop of thy blood, for he hath not loved his life unto the death for thy sake, but shed his precious blood for the redemption of thy soul, bath he done this for th●e, and darest thou see him dishonour●d and his glory lie at the stake, and not speak on his behalf, or do him the best service thou canst? If out of a base and cowardly Spirit thus thou do●●, Let me tell thee here and that truly to thy face, thou hast a D●l●la in thy heart which thou lovest more than God, and that thou shalt on day certainly find by woeful experience. Alas if men should hold their peace in such times as these, the Lord would cause the very Stones to speak to convince man of his cowardly baseness. Having proceeded in amanner thus ●arre by the strength of my God, with boldness and courage in my speech, The Warden of the fleet came with the fat lawyer, and commanded me to hold my peace. To whom I replied, I would speak and declare my cause and mind, though i were to be Hanged at the gate for my speaking. And he caused proclamation to be maid upon the pillory: for brin to hi● the books. So than he commanded me to be gagged, and if I spoke any more that then i should be whipped again upon the pillory. So I remained about an hour & a half gagged, being intercepted of much matter which by God's 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 strengthened with the power of the almighty which made me with cheerfulness triumph over all my sufferings, not showing one sad countenance or a disconted heart. And when I was to come down having taken out my head out of the pillory, I looked about me upon the people and said. I am more than a conqueror though him that loved me. Vivat Rex. Let the King live for ever, and so I came down, and was had bacl again to the Tavern, where I together with Mr. Wharton, stayed a while till one went to the Warden to know what should be done with me, who gave order we should be carried back again to the fleet, 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 undergo my sufferings with such cheerfulness and courage as I did, for I was mightily filled with the sweet presence of God's Spirit, which caused me notwitstanding the pains of my sufferings to go along the streets with a joyful countenance not showing the least discontentedness, as if I had been going to take possession of some great treasures. After i came back to the prison, none were suffered to come at me but the Surgió to dress me, & I feeling myself somewhat feverish I went to bed, & my surgeon doubting the same also, gave me a Glister, and appointed to come the next morning & let me blood▪ but when he came, he could not be permitted to come at me: no● any else, for the Porter kept the key, and locked me up very close: saying the Warden gave him straight command so to do. Whereup on I desired the surgeon to go to Westminster to the Warden & certify him how it was with me, (being very ill) & that he might have liberty to come at me to let me blood and dress me, which could not be obtained till the Warden himself came home. About one of the clock John Hawes the Porter came to me, to know what I had to say to the warden, to whom I said, Mr. Hawes, this is very cruel & harsh dealing, that after so sore whipping my Surgió shall not be admitted to come & dress me, nor any other be suffered to administer to my necessities, having not eaten all this day nor the last evening but a little Caudle, I hope the Lords will be more merciful than after the undergo●ing the extremity of my Censure to take my life from me, by letting me perish for want of looking to, therefore I pray speak to Mr. Warden▪ that he would be pleased to give leave to my chirurgeon to come dress me and let me blood; otherwise I was in danger of a fever, which might take away my life; So he wished me to have 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 do 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 again, and said thus unto me: Mr. Lilburne I have one suit to you. What is that, said i? It is this, said he, that you would help me to one of those Books that you threw abroad at the pillory, that I might read it, for i never read any of them; I speak not for it to do you any hurt, only I have a great desire to read one of them. Sir, I think you do not (said i) but I cannot satisfy your desire, for if I had had more of them; they should yesterday have all gone. I verily believe you, said he, and so we parted. And in a very little while after, came the Warden himself with the Porter, and i being in my bed, he asked me how i did? Said i, I am well, I bless my God for it, and am very merry and cheerful. Well (said he) you have undone yourself with speaking what you did yesterday. Sir (said I) I am not sorry for what I said, but am heartily glad that the Lord gave me strength and courage to speak what I did, and were I to speak again, I would speak twice as much as I did, if i could have liberty, though I were immediately to lose my life afrer it. wouldst thou so, said he? Ay indeed Sir would I, with the Lord's assistance, said I, for I fear not the face of Man; And concerning what I yesterday spoke, i did not in the least manner speak against any of the Lords, but did openly declare, that I did willingly with all contentedness submit myself to their Censure; and as for the Bishops, I said nothing against any of their persons, but only against their callings. Ay, said the Warden, and thou saidst their calling was from the devil. Yes Sir so I did, said I, and i will prove it, and make it good, or else I willbe willing to lose my dearest blood; For if you please to read the 9 & 13. chap. of Rev. you shall there find, that the Beast which ascended out of the bottomloste Pitt (which is the Pope and Roman State, hath his power and authority given him by the Dragon; (the devil) So that all the power which the Pope hath and doth exercise, originally comes from the devil: If you read also some books lately set forth by the P●elates themselves and their Creatures, you shall there find, that they claim their jurisdiction, standing, and power from the Pope: Now, if their power and calling be from the Pope, (as they themselves say it is) than it must needs be from the devil also; For the Pope's power and calling is from the devil; And he cannot give a better power and calling to them then he himself hath; and I pray Sir, if the Bishop of Ca●terbury be offended at that which i spoke yesterday, tell him I will seal it with my blood; And if he please to send for me, I will justify it to his face, and if I be not able to make it good before any noble man in the kingdom, let me lose my life. Ay, but it had been a great deal better▪ said he, for thine own particular good to have been more sparing of thy speech at that time. No Sir, said I, nothing at all, for my life and blo●d is not dear and precious to me, ●o I may glorify God, and do him any service therewith. I assure thee, said he, I was exceedingly chidd about thee; and also there were old businesses rubbed up ●gainst me concerning Dr. Lai●on and Mr. Burton, for that Liberty that they had. Wherefore were yo● chidd fo● me, said I? About the books, said he, that you threw abroad, in regard you were close Prisoner, and yet had those books about you; I would ask you one question: Did you bring those books to the F●eete 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 known who they were that most resorted to me. I desired I might be excused in that also. Ay, but you must give me an answer, said he, for I must certify the Lords thereof. Then, said I, I pray you tell their Honours, I am unwilling to tell you. What were those books, said he, that you threw abroad, were they all of one sort? Those that have them, said I, can certify you of that. I myself have one of them, said he, and have read it, and I can find no wit in it, there is nothing but railing in it. Sir, said I, I conceive you are mistaken, for the book is all full of wit; it is true, this book which you lighted on▪ is not so full of solidity as other of his books are; but you must understand, that at that time when the Dr. made that book, he was full of heaviness and in danger of a great punishment, for the Prelates had breathed out more cruelty against him for writing his Apology; And at that time also he was compassed about on every side with the P●stilence; Th●refore he made that book to make himself merry. But, said he, he doth not write any thing in it to the purpose against the Bishop's callings. Sir, said I, I must confess, you lighted on the wo●stof the 3. And it is true, there is not much solidity and force of argument in it but only mirt●; But the other two are as full of s●l●ditie as this is of mir●h. What, were they ●f 3. so●ts, 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 Sr. I●hn Ba●ks his Information; The other is an Answer to some Objections that are made against that book which you have; But if ever you read his Latin books, you shall there find solidity enough, and the wickedness and unlawfulness of the Bishops Callings and practices set forth to the full. What Latin books be they, said he? His Flagelluw, for which he was first Censured, said I. What, hath he been twice Censured, said he? Yes, said I, he was Censured in the High-Commission Court, for writing his Flagellum; And after that he wrote his Apology; and that little book which you have, which were the cause of his Censure in the Starr-Chamb●r. But hast thou any more of those books, said he? Sir, said I, if I had had 20. of them more, they should all have gone yesterday. But, hast thou any more of them now, said he? Sir, said I, I verily think●, that if I should tell you, I had not, you would not believe me, and therefore if you please, you may search my Chamber. So I must (said he) for the Lords have commanded me so to do, therefore open your trunk. Sir, said I, it is open already. Search it John Hawes, said he. So he search it, and found nothing there. Open the cupboard, said he. So I gave the Porter the key of my cupboard, to search it, and he found nothing there but my victuals. 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 certify the Lords how you find things with me; But I pray Sir, mu●● I still be kept close Prisoner? I hope, now the Lords have inflicted their Censure on me, they will not still keep me close. No, said he, within a little time you willbe eased of it; So we took our leaves each of other, and he went away. And the next day, being Friday, and a start-chamber-day, i hoped I should have had the liberty of the Prison; But in stead thereof, news was brought me at evening, that I must be removed to the Common goal, or a worse place, and that I must be put in Irons. Well, for all this my God enabled me to keep my hold still, and not to let my confidence go; For (blessed be his name for it) this news did not in the least manner trouble me. And upon Saturday morning John Hawes the Porter came with the Woman that looked to me to my Chamber, to stand by her that none might speak with me till she had made my bed, and done other things for me; And he told me, he was sorry to hear such news as he did concerning me. What is it, said I? I hear, said he, that the Lords have ordered, that you must be put into the Wards, and kept close Prisoner there, and lie in irons, and none must be suffered to come at you, to bring you any thing; but you must live upon the poor man's Box. Sir, that's very hard, said i, but the will of my God be done; For mine own part, i● nothing at all troubles me; For I know in whom I have believed, and I know, not one hair of my Head shall fall to the ground without his providence; And I have cast up my account already what it will cost me; Therefore I weigh not any thing that can be inflicted on me; For I know, that God, that made Paul and Silas to sing in the Stocks at midnight, will also make me rejoice in my chains; But it is very much that they will let none come to me, to bring me any thing; it seems, they willbe more cruel to me then 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 go through all my afflictions with cheerfulness, for I feel his power within me so mightily supporting and upholding me, that no condition in this World can make me miserable; And for mine own part, I do no more set by my life and blood in this cause, than I do a piece of bread when I have newly dined. 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 ●uch care how it went with me, for Jeremy's Dungeon, or Daniels Denn, or the 3. children's furnace, 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 victuals, I told her I did not doubt but that God that fed the Prophet Eliah 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 would take away my stomach; Therefore I weighed not their cruelty; And thereupon uttered to her these 4. Verses: I do not fear nor dread the face of any mortal man, Let him against me bend his power, and do the worst he can, For my whole trust, strength, confidence, My hope, and all my aid Is in the Lord Jehovah's 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 been prevented by the Gag) I now forbear to set down, in regard I hear i am to come into the field again to fight a second battle, unto which time I reserve it, if the Lord so order it that I may have liberty to speak, 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 soldier of Jesus Christ; Come life, come death; And in the mean time to what I have here said and written, I set to my name, by me John Lilburn, being written with part of my own blood; The rest of which by the Lord's 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 Lilburne. My verses are to follow here. I do not (a) Psa. 27 1.2, 3, & 3.6, & 118.6. Isa. 51.12 fear the face nor power. of any mortal man, Though he against me rise, to do the worst he can, Because my (b) Isa. 18. 2, & 31. 3, & 28. 7.8. trust, my hope my strength, my confidence and aid Is in the Lord Jehovah's power, both now and ever stayed. Therefore my soul shall never cease, Triumphantly to sing, Thou art my Fort, (c) Psa. 33 & 119, 5. 7. Ioh. 20. Revel. 1.5 my sure defence, my Saviour and my King, For in my (d) Psal. 37. 7. strayts and trials all, thou well with me hast dealt, Thy mercies and (e) Isa. 41. 10. 13. 14 & 40. 31 upbearing hand, most sweetly I have felt. Thou hast in my (f) Revel. 2.13, & 3. 8. Psal. 119. 167. 168. distresses great, my stripes and bitter smart So held my soul as from thy truth, I never once did start. But to thy truth with cheerfulness, and courage have I stood, Though tortured for it were my flesh, and lost my dearest blood, When from fleet-bridge to Westminster, at cart's arse I was whipped, Than thou with joy my soul (g) Psal. 1●6. 8. upheldst, so that I never wept. Likewise when I on pillory, in palace-yard did stand, Then by thy help against my foes, i had the upperhand, For openly I to their face, did there truly declare, That from the Pope our Prelates all, descended still they are, And that I might for what I said, make confirmation, I named Chapters the 9 and 13. of Revelation. Likewise I then did fearelesly, unto the people show That what Pocklington hath writ, is found now very true, Namely, that they come lineally, from (h) Goodwin ● Catol. of Bb. Dr. Bastwick's answer to the information: the 2. & third parts of his litany Antichrist his chair, Even to him that now doth reign, the great Archbishop here. All which I did on pillory, there offer to make good, Or else I would lose willingly, my best and dearest blood, Moreover there to God's people, I did most plainly show That we have been, and so are still, ruled by a Popish crew; Therefore against them valiantly, we must (i) Revel. 2. 7, & 14.4, & 15.3, & 20.4. fight in the field, And to their laws at any hand, not ever once to yield. But from their (k) Revel. 18.4. yoke without delay, we must our necks outdraw, If that we will true Subjects be, unto our saviour's Law. (l) Psal. 2 Therefore my friends, if that you will, Christ Jesus here (m) 1. Cor. 7. 9.30.31, & Ioh. 2. 15.16. enjoy, Withdraw yourselves from these vile men, and eve●y Popish toy, And (n) Matth. 10.37.38.39. naked Christ be willing still, and ready to embrace; Though for the same you suffer shame, and wicked men's (o) Mark. 13.13. Ioh. 15. 9, & 16.2.3. disgrace, Because in him is more content, more full and (p) Ioh. 14 16.17.18, 27, & 16.33. sweeter bless Then can be found in any (q) Ps●l. 37. 16. thing; that in the world now is, And this I have by (r) Psal. 119. 67. ●1. ●5. trial tound, what here I do declare That to the comforts of our God, the Earthly nothing are, And he that will not (s) Mat. 19.21, 22 23, & 16. 24, 25. Luke 14, 26.27. quite deny, all things for Jesus sake, The joys of Christ he neither hear, nor (t) Mat. 10, 23. Luke. 12, 8, 9 after shall partake; (v) Isa. 5, 2.11. 1 Cor. 6.17. Revel. 14 Reject their Antichristian laws, and from Christ never swerve, Because the Lord hath said on those, his (x) Revol. 14, 9, 10, 11 & 17, 8, & 19, 20. wrath shall surely come, His sorest ire, his greatest strokes, his deepest plagues and doom, That do on hand or head receive, the hell-mark of the hour, Or do the Beast and his image, not cease for to adore Thus and much more on pillory, there openly I said, Till at the last my mouth was gagd, and by them basely stayed; And threatened there once again, that my back should be wiped, If that my tongue but one word more, against Rome's priests let slipped, Thus with a straight gag in my mouth, about an hour stood I, Having my God to comfort me, in all my misery; And having stood a long time there, i was at length down brought. Most sweetly cheered with (y) Heb. 6 1.10.1, 7. Rev. 1, 5. his blood, that had my poor soul bought; And when I was come down, i cheerfully did say, I am more than a conqueror, (z) Rom. 8, 37. through Christ that is my stay. Hallelujah, (a) Rev. 19 1, 4. all blessing, glory, honour, laud and praise, Be rendered to thee my God; of me (b) Psa. 34 1, 2, 3, 4, & 10 3, 1, 2 and thine always, For though that I was in myself; a Creature poor and (c) Psal. 119, 141. weak, Yet was i made through thy great strength, with boldness for to speak It was (d) Isa. 4, 1, 3, & 26, 4, 5. thou Lord, that didst uphold, with mercy and thy grace, My feeble (e) Psal. 27, 13. flesh so that I did, rejoice in my disgrace, Thou fildst my soul so full of joy, and inward feeling peace As that my tongue thy praise to tell, no time shall ever cease, And now, O Lord, keep thou my (g) Psal. 31, 5, & 119, 94. soul, most humbly I thee pray, That from thy just (h) Psal. 119, 80, & 66, 34. commandments, I never run a stray, But unto thee, and to thy Truth, my heart may still be fast, And not offend in any (i) 119, 112, 118, 157. thing, so long as life doth last, And as thou hast in me (i) Philip. 1. 6. begun, the saving work of grace, So grant, that I thy poor servant, may still therein increase, And when I shall lay down this House, of frail mortality, Then let thy Angels bring my soul, sweet Jesus unto thee. These Verses were my Meditation the next day, after the execution of my Censure; after the Warden of the Fleet had been with me, from the Lords of the counsel, and had searched my Chamber, it being after noon, and I being not 〈…〉