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

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

Table of contents

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Title page

To the READER.

A CHRISTIAN MANS TRIALL.

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.

At the Inner Star-Chamber the 18th. of April, Anno Dom. 1638.

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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.

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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.

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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 pil [...]ories [...] nor cloſoe priſons no, nor yrons: ſo that we may ſee the faithfull [...]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 [Page] 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 ma [...] hate that wicked calling and power of theirs, and never give ov [...] 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.

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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 HotpreſſerAnd was ſince advanced by the Biſhop of London to be his [...] Licencer for his paines. 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 ſeandalous 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 Bonn [...]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 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, [Page] 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▪ Ioh [...] Bank [...] the Atturney Generall's Chamber (now Lord chiefe Juſtice of the [...] of Pleas) and was referred to be examined by Mr. [...] his chi [...] 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: IBut 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 bloodſuckers. 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, andWhich Book proves them guilty of high trea▪ 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. [Page] 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? Ye [...] 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 i [...] 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 [Page] 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 thing for which I am impriſoned and more I am not bound to anſwer, and for my liberty I muſt waite Gods time. You had better anſwer, for I have two examinations where in you are accuſed Of what am I accuſed? Chillington hath accuſed you for printing ten or twelve thouſands of Books in Holland, and that they ſtand you in about eighty pound, and that you had a Chamber at Mr. Iohn [...]oot [...]s, at Delſt, where he thinks the Bookes were kept, and that you would have printed the Vnmasking of the Myſtery of Iniquity, if you could have got a true Copy of it. I doe not beleeve that Chillington ſaid any ſuch things and if he did, I know, and am ſure, that they are all of them lies. You received money of Mr. Wharton ſince you came to Towne, did you not? What if I did? It was for Bookes? I doe not ſay ſo. For what ſorts of bookes was it? I doe not ſay it was for any, and I have already anſwered you all, that for the preſent I have to anſwer and if that will give you content, well and good, if not, doe what you pleaſe. If you will not anſwer no more (here I told him if I had thought you would have inſiſted upon ſuch impertinent queſtions, I would not have given him ſo many anſwers) wee have power to ſend you to the place from whence you came. You may doe your pleaſure, ſaid I. So hee called in anger for my Keeper, and gave him aſtrict charge to looke well to me. I ſaid they ſhould not feare my running away. And ſo I was ſent down to Sir Iohn Bankes himſelf. And after that he had read over what his man had writ, he called me in, and ſaid, I conceive you are unwilling to confeſſe the Truth. No Sir, I have ſpoken the Truth This is your Examination, is it not? What your man hath writ I doe not know. Come neare and ſee that I read it right. Sir, I doe not owne it for my Examination for your man hath writ what it pleaſed him, and hath not writ my anſwer, for my anſwer was to him, and ſo is to you that for the thing for which I am impriſoned (which is for ſending over bookes) I am cleare, for I did not ſend any, and for any other matter that is laid to my charge. I know it is warrantable by the Law of God, and I thinke by the Law of the Land, for me to ſtand upon my juſt defence, and that my accuſers ought to be brought face to face, to juſtifie what they accuſe me of And this is all that I have to ſay for the preſent. You muſt ſet your hand to this your Examination. I beſeech you Sir pardon me, I will ſet my hand to nothing but what I have now ſaid. So he tooke the Pen and writ, the examined is unwilling [Page] to anſwer to any thing but that for which hee is impriſoned. Now you will ſet your hand to it? I am not willing in regard I doe not owne that which your man hath writ, but if it pleaſe you to lend me the Pen. I will write my Anſwer, and ſet my hand to it. So he gave mee the Pen, and I begun to write thus: The Anſwer of me Iohn Lilburne is, And here hee tooke the Pen from me, and ſaid he could not ſtay, that was ſufficient. Then one of my Keepers asked him if they might have me backe againe? And he ſaid yea: for he had no Order for my inlargement, and ſo I tooke my leave of him, and deſired the Lord to bleſſe and keepe him, and came away.

And then about ten or twelve dayes after, I was had forth to Grayes Inne againe, but when I went, I did not know what they would doe with me there: And when I came there, I was had to the Starre-Chamber Office; and being there, as the Order is, I muſt enter my appearance, they told me, I ſaid, to what, for I was never ſerved with any Subpoena; neither was there any Bill preferred againſt meNo legall proceeding in Star-Chamber. that I did heare of. One of the Clarkes told me, I muſt firſt be examined, and then Sir Iohn would make the Bill: it ſeemes they had no grounded matter againſt me for to write a Bill, and therefore they went about to make me betray my owne innocency, that ſo they might ground the Bill upon my owne words: but my God ſhewed his goodneſſe to me, inkeeping me, (a poore weake worme) that they could not in the leaſt intangle mee, though I was altogether ignorant of the manner of their proceedings: And at the entrance of my appearance, the Clarke and I had a deale of pritty diſcourſe; the particulars whereof for brevity ſake I now pretermit, but in the concluſion he demanded mony of me for entring of my appearance: and I told him I was but a young man, and a priſoner, and money was not very plentifull with me, and therefore I would not part with any money upon ſuch termes. At which anſwer the man began to wonder that I ſhould ſpeake ſo to him, and with that the whole company of the Clarkes in the Office began to looke and gaze at me. Well (ſaid he) if you will not pay your ſee, I will daſh out your name againe. Doe what you pleaſe (ſaid I) I care not if you doe. So he made a complaint to Mr. Goad, the Maſter of the Office, that I refuſed to enter my appearance. And then I was brought before him, and he demanded of me what my buſineſſe was? I told him, I had no buſineſſe with him, but I was a priſoner in the Fleete, and was ſent for but to whom and to what end I doe not know, and therefore if he had nothing to ſay to me, I had no buſineſſe with him. And then one of the Clarks ſaid, I was to be examined. Then Mr. Goad ſaid, tender him the booke. So I looked another way, as though I did not give eare to what he ſaid; and then he bid me pull off my glove, and lay my hand upon the booke. What to doe Sir? ſaid I. You muſt ſweare ſaid he. To what? That you Iuſt in quiſition like. ſhall make true anſwer to all things that is asked you, Muſt I ſo Sir? But [Page] before I ſweare, I will know to what I muſt ſweare. As ſoone as you have ſworne, you ſhall, but not before. To that I anſwered. Sir, I am but a young man, and doe not well know what belongs to the nature of an Oath, and therefore before I ſweare, I will be better adviſed. Saith he, how old are you? About twenty yeares old, I told him. You have received the Sacrament, have you not? Yes that I have. And you have heard the Mininiſters deliver Gods Word, have you not? Yes, I have heard Sermons. Well then, you know the holy Evangeliſt? Yes that I doe. But Sir though I have received the Sacrament, and have heard Sermons, yet it doth not therefore follow that I am bound to take an Oath, which I doubt of the lawfulneſſe of. Looke you here, ſaid he; and with that 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 muſtThis is the Divinities of the Prelates and their Creatures. 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. Eſay [...]1, 12. 13. for I had the peace of a [Page] 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 accuſationBut there was never any Bill as there ought to have been. 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;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 [...]ow. 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 [Page] Oath: with this ſome of the Kings Counſell, and ſome of the Lords ſpoke, would I condemne and contradict the Lawes of the Land,There is no Law in this Land for warranting of thu Oath. 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 theThis Prelate cannot lie. 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 juſtification? Well my Lords, ſaid the great Prelate; this fellow (meaning me) hath been one of the notoriouſeſt diſperſer of Libellous bookes that is in the Kingdome, and that is the Father of them all (pointing to old Mr. Wharton.) Then I replied, and ſaid, Sir, I know you are not able to prove, and to make that good which you have ſaid. I have teſtimony of it, ſaid he. Then ſaid I produce them in the face of the open Court, that wee may ſee what they have to accuſe me of; And I am ready here to anſwer for my ſelfe, and to make my juſt defence. With this he was ſilent, But ſat downe in a fury having o [...] more to ſay. and ſaid not one word more to me: and then they asked my fellow Souldiour old Mr. Wharton, whether he would take the Oath, which hee refuſed, and began to tell them of the Biſhops cruelty towards him; and that they had had him inO cruell perſecutors five ſeverall priſons within this two yeares, for refuſing the Oath. And then there was ſilence, after which was read a long peece of buſineſſe how the Court had proceeded againſt ſome that had harboured Jeſuits and Seminary-Prieſts (thoſe Traitors) who refuſed to be examined upon Oath, and in regard that we refuſed likewiſe to be examined upon Oath, it was fit they ſaid, that we ſhould be proceeded againſt, as they were, ſo they were the preſident by which we were cenſured, though their cauſe and ours be much unlike, in regard theirs were little better than Treaſon; but our crime was ſo farre from Treaſon, that it was neither againſt the glory of God, the honour of the King, the Lawes of the Land, nor the good of the Commonwealth: but rather for the maintaining of the honour of them all, as [Page] all thoſe that read the bookes without partiall affections, and prejudicate hearts, can witneſſe and declare, and if the bookes had had any Treaſon, or any thing againſt the Law of the Land in them, yet we were but ſubpoſedly guilty, for the things were never fully proved againſt us; indeed there was two Oathes read in court, which they ſaid was ſworne againſt us by one man but he was never brought face to face, and in both his Oathes he hath forſworne himſelfe, as in many particulars thereof wee both are able to make good. In the concluſion, my Lord Keeper ſtood up, and ſaid, My Lords, I hold it fit, that they ſhould be both for their contempt committed cloſe priſoners till Tueſday next; and if they doe not conforme themſelves betwixt this and then to take the Oath, and yeeld to be examined before Mr. Goad, then that they ſhall be brought hither againe, and cenſured, and made an Example;O brave Iuſtice. Unto which they all agreed; and ſo we were committed cloſe priſoners, and no friends admitted to come unto us.

And upon Munday after we were had to Grayes Inne, and I being the firſt there, Mr. Goad ſaid to me, according to the Lords Order upon Friday laſt, I have ſent for you to tender the Oath unto you. Sir, I beſeech you, let me heare the Lords Order. So he cauſed it to be read unto mee, and then tendered mee the Booke. Well Sir, ſaid I, I am of the ſame minde I was, and withall I underſtand, that this Oath is one and the ſame with the High Commiſsion Oath, which Oath I know to be both againſt the Law of God, and the Law of the Land; and therefore in briefe I dare not take the Oath, though I ſuffer death for the refuſall of it. Well, ſaid he, I did not ſend for you to diſpute with you about the lawfulneſſe of it, but onely according to my place to tender it unto you. Sir I dare not take it, though I looſe my life for the refuſall of it. So he ſaid, he had no more to ſay to me; and I tooke my leave of him and came away. And after that came the old Man, and it was tendered unto him, which he refuſed to take: (and as he hath told me) he declared unto him how the Biſhops had him eight times in priſon for the refuſall of it, and he had ſuffered the Biſhops mercileſſe cruelty for many yeares together, and he would nownever take it as long as he lived; and withall told him, that if there were a Cart ready at the doore to carry him to Tiburne, he would be hanged, before ever hee would take it. And this was that dayes buſineſſe.

Upon the next morning about ſeven a clocke, we were had to the Star-Chamber-bar againe to receive our Cenſure; and ſtood at the Bar about two boures before Sir Iohn Bancks came; but at the laſt hee began his accuſation againſt us, that we did ſtill continue in our former ſtubborneneſſe: and alſo there was another Affidavit of the foreſaid Edmond Chillingtons read againſt us; the ſumme of which was, that I had confeſſed to him, that I had printed Dr. Baſtwickes Anſwer to Sir Iohn Bancks his Information, and his Letany; and an other booke, called, An Anſwer unto certaine Objections; and another booke of his, called the Vanitie and Impiety [Page]of the old Letany; and that I had divers other bookes of Dr. Baſtwickes a Printing; and that Mr. Iohn Wharton had beene at the charges of Printing a booke called A breviate of the Biſhops late proceedings; and an other booke, called Sixteene new Quertes, and divers other factious bookes; and that one James Ouldam, a Turner in Weſtminſter-Hall, had diſperſed divers of theſe bookes. So it came to me to ſpeake; and I ſaid after this manner: Moſt Noble Lords, I beſeech your Honours, that you would be pleaſed to give me leave to ſpeake for my ſelfe, and to make my juſt defence; and I ſhall labour ſo to Order my ſpeeches, as that I ſhall not give your Honours any juſt diſtaſte; and withall ſhall doe it with as much brevitie as I can. So having obtained my deſire, I began, and ſaid, My Lords, it ſeemes there was divers bookes ſent out of Holland, which came to the hands of one Edmond Chillinton, which made this affidavit againſt us: and as I underſtand, he delivered divers of theſe bookes unto one Iohn Chilliburne, ſervant to this old Man Mr. Wharton (I, ſaid he, my Lords, and I had given him a ſtrict charge, that he ſhould not meddle with any,) and his Maſter being in Priſon, he diſperſed divers of them for the foreſaid Chillingtons uſe, whereupon the bookes were taken in his Cuſtody, and he being found diſperſing of them, gos to one Smith, a Taylor in Bridewell (as I am informed) & deſires him to get his peace made with the Biſhops, whereupon he covenants with ſome of the Biſhops Creatures, to betray me into their hands, being newly come out of Holland, which (as he ſaid) did ſend over theſe bookes. So my Lords, he having purchaſed his owne libertie, layes the plot for betraying me, and I was taken by a Purfevant and foure others of his aſſiſtance, walking in the ſtreets with the foreſaid Iohn Chilliburne, who had laid and contrived the plot before (as I am able to make good) and the next morning I was committed by Sir Iohn Lamb to the Gate-houſe, (now my Lords, I doe proteſt before your Honours in the word of a Chriſtian that I did not ſend over thefe bookes, neither did J know the Ship that brought them, nor any that belongs to the ſhip, nor to my knowledge did never ſee with my eyes, either the ſhip, or any that belongs unto it.

(But before I proceede with my Speech, I deſire to digreſſe a little, in regard that Iohn Chilliburne doth yet ſtifly maintaine, that he did not betray me, nor laid the plot, and therefore I doe him wrong for accuſing him, he ſaith. To which I anſwer, and ſay, in this, he is worfe than Iudas himſelfe; for after he had betrayed Chriſt, he came and confeſſed his ſinne, and ſaid; I have ſinned in betraying the innocent blood; and this man hath betraied Chriſt in betraying me his member, for what is done to his ſervant, he takes it as done to himſelfe: but he is not ſo good as Iudas, who confeſſed his fault, but he hides and juſtifies his ſinne, and therefore I will declare my Grounds and Demonſtrations, whereupon I am ſure he was the Judas: The firſt is thus, He and I appointed to meete one day upon the Exchange at] two a clocke, unto which place I [Page] came, and ſtaid long for his comming, but hee came not: and I verily thinke, he ſent two or three in his place, two of them being Arminians, living in Cornehill, which J my ſelfe knew, who paſſed againe and again by me, vewing very narrowly my apparell, viſage and countenance, as J thinke for that end that they might know mee againe: and when J ſat downe, they would paſſe by, and goe a little from me, and ſit downe and fix their eyes upon me, inſomuch that J was afraid that J ſhould there have beene taken▪ which forced me to depart. And at our next meeting J told him of it, and how that (unleſſe J had knowne him well) J ſhould have beleeved he had betrayed me. Unto which hee gave me no ſatisfactory anſwer, but put it off, and ſaid his libertie was as precious as mine; and if he ſhould betray me, he muſt betray himſelfe, and therefore J needed not to doubt any ſuch thing: the Lord having blinded my eyes; J could not ſee into his treacherous heart, but tooke this for a currant anſwer, J knowing that he had had a deepe hand in the diſperſing of bookes, and therefore J gave credite to that which he had ſaid, as being a reall Truth, the Lord having a ſecret hand of providence in it, (J hope at the laſt for his glorie and my good) did ſo Order it, that I ſhould not take notice, or perceive his perfidiouſneſſe, though I had an incling given me of it before by ſome friends, yet J could not beleeve it, till the event manifeſted it, for that day J was taken, he hearing (by what meanes I doe not know) that I was to meete one at the Temple, and underſtanding that I had a deſire to ſee his Maſter at his owne houſe (being newly let out of priſon) we came towards the Temple, and met me in Fleet-ſtreete, and ſo we went backe towards the Temple, and had ſome diſcourſe there, in which he put me forward to goe ſee and ſpeake with his Maſter, unto whom I declared, how fearefull I was to goe thither (in regard I heard they laid waite for me) leaſt I ſhould be taken; but he made all things cleare, and contrived a way, by meanes of which he ſaid, I might without any feare goe ſpeake with him. So we parted, and appointed to meete at the ſtaires that goes from Bridewell to Black-Fryers. I came to the Staires, and ſtood a great while, but he came not, till I was a comming away; and I expecting him to come out of Bridewell, I having ſent him in thither, to ſpeake with one, unto whom I thinke he did not goe, but yet he told me, he was with him; but rather he went to Flamſted the Purſevant to get him in a readineſſe, for he came to me from Flamſteds-houſeward, downe from Black-Fryers, being a cleane contrary way to that I ſent him. So we went towards his Maſters houſe, and parted againe, and appointed to meet at Tantlins-Church; and when I came there, I ſaw one walking with him, which I verily beleeve was one of the five that tooke me; and when I came to him, I declared unto him that comming downe Soper-lane, I ſaw a fellow ſtand in a corner, very ſuſpiciouſly, who looked very wiſhfully at me, and I at him; and therefore I [Page] deſired him to goe, and ſee who it was, and whether I might goe ſafely to his Maſters or no. So he went, and came backe, and told me his Maſter was come to the doore, and I might goe without any danger, and as we went, I declared unto him my fearefulneſſe, to goe to his Maſters; and I told him, I would halfe draw my ſword, that I might be in a readineſſe; and he went before towards his Maſters; and I doe verily thinke acquainted them how it was with me; and I going after him in the narrow Lane, I paſſed by two great fellowes, ſuſpecting nothing; and by and by they ſeazed upon my backe and ſhoulders, and cried out in the Kings Name for helpe, they had taken the Rogues Whartons men, and Iohn was the third man that ſeized upon me, laying faſt hold of my left ſhoulder, and they three pulled my cloake croſſe, over my armes, that ſo, though I had my ſword halfe drawne, yet by no meanes could I get it out; which if I had, and got my backe againſt the wall, I doe not doubt but I ſhould have made them be willing to let me alone; for though they had faſt hold of me, they quaked and trembled for feare; and though they were five or ſixe, yet they cryed out for more helpe to aſſiſt them. I being but one, and when they all ſeaſed on me, then they called me by my name, and though we were in the darke, yet they knew my habit, that I was in as well as my ſelfe, and ſhewed me their warrant with my name in it. I have beene forced of neceſſity to recite theſe things in regard of his dayly ſpeeches againſt me, and his writing to me in juſtification of his innocency though as yet, for all I have ſent for him, hee would never come face to face: Tart Letters likewiſe I have received from Smith and Chillington, for ſpeaking that which I have ſaid in publique of them: and as for Smith, take notice what I ſaid of him; and I here give my reaſons for that I ſaid, it is knowne that at the laſt time the bookes were taken at Mr. Whartons, part of them was not taken; which Iohn can not deny, but he carried them unto Smith; and what paſſed betwixt them, they themſelves beſt know: but this is ſure, Iohn was never troubled for the bookes, though hee was taken diſperſing of them; and I am ſure, his libertie was obtained by Smiths and Sam, Bakers the Prelate 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 [Page] 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 keptAnd almoſt ſtarved. 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 [Page] 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 So my youth was the cauſe of my whipping by Iudge [...]ones his Law. puniſhment inflicted upon me. So my Cenſure was to 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) [Page] 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 byVery ſatable to their conſtant practiſe. 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 [Page] 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.

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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 not thou worme Jacob, and yee men of Iſrael, I will helpe thee, ſaith the Lord, and thy redeemer the Holy one of Iſrael, &c.

Secondly, that place in Eſay 43. 1. 2. Where God ſpeakes thus to his Elect. Feare not, for I have redeemed thee▪ I have called thee by thy name, thou[Page]art mine. When thou paſſeſt through the w [...]ters, I will be with thee, and through the rivers they ſhall not overflow thee, when thou walkeſt through the fire thou ſhalt not be burnt, neither ſhall the flame kindle upon thee.

Thirdly, that in Heb. 13. 5. 6. In theſe words, For he hath ſaid I will never leave thee nor forſake thee, So that we may boldly ſay, the Lord is my helper, I will not feare wh [...]t man can doe unto me.

With the conſideration of theſe and other gracious promiſes, made to his people. I being one of his choſen ones, did claime my ſhare and intereſt in them, and the Lord of his infinite goodneſſe enabled me to caſt my ſelfe upon, and reſt in them, knowing and ſtedfaſtly beleeving that he is a God of faithfulneſſe and power, who is able and willing to make good theſe his promiſes to the utmoſt, and (to his praiſe be it ſpoken, I deſire to ſpeake it) my ſoule was that morning exceedingly lifted up with ſpirituall conſolation: and I felt within me ſuch a divine ſupportation, that the baſeneſſe of my puniſhment. I was to undergoe did ſeeme as a matter of nothing to me. And I went to my ſuffering with as willing and joyfull a heart as if I had been go [...]g to ſolemnize the day of my marriage with one of the choiſeſt creatures this world could afford.

The Warden of the Fleete having ſent his men for my old fellow ſouldier Mr. Iohn Wharton, and my ſelfe being both in one Chamber, we made our ſelves ready to goe to the place of Execution. I tooke the Old Man by the hand and led him downe three paire of ſtaires, and [...]o along the yard till we came to the gate. And when we came there, George Harrington the Porter told me I muſt ſtay a little, and after our partin [...] (commending one another to the protection of our alſufficient God) I was bid goe to the Porters Lodge, no ſooner was I gone in, but came Iohn Hawes. the other Porter to me uſing theſe words.

Mr. Lilbourne, I am very ſorry for your puniſhment, you are now to undergoe, you muſt ſtrip you, and be whipt from hence to Weſt-minſter.

I replied, The will of my God be done, for I know he wil carry me through it with an undanted Spirit; but▪ I muſt confeſſe it ſeemed at the firſt a little ſtrange to me, in regard I had no more notice given me for my preparation for ſo ſore a puniſhment. For I thought I ſhould not have beene whipt through the ſtreete, but onely at the Pillory. And ſo paſſing a long the Lane, being attended with many Staves and Halberts, as Chriſt was when he was apprehended by his enemies, and led to the High Prieſts Hall, M [...]t. 26. we came to Fleete-bridge, where was a Cart ſtanding ready for me; and I being commanded to ſtrip me▪ I did it with all willingneſſe and cheerefulneſſe, whereupon the Executioner tooke out a cord and tied my hands to the Carts-Arſe, which cauſed me to utter theſe words, Welcome be the Croſſe of Chriſt.

With that there drew neere a young man of my acquaintance, and [Page] bid me put on a couragious reſolution to ſuffer cheerefully, and not to diſhonour my cauſe, for you ſuffer (ſaid he▪ for a good cauſe I gave him thanks for his Chriſtian encouragement, I replying I know the cauſe is good ▪ for it is Gods cauſe, and for mine owne part, I am cheerfull and merry in the Lord, and am as well contented with this my preſent portion as if I were to receive my preſent liberty: For I know my God that hath gone along with me hitherto, will carry me through to the end. And for the affliction it ſelfe, though it be the puniſhment inflicted upon Rogues, yet▪ I eſteeme it not the leaſt diſgrace, but the greateſt honour that can be done unto mee, that the Lord counts mee worthy to ſuffer any thing for his great Name.

And you my brethren that doe now here behold my preſent condition this day▪ be not diſcouraged, be not diſcouraged at the wayes of godlineſſe, by reaſon of the Croſſe that accompanies it, for it is the lot and portion of all which will live godly in Chriſt Jeſus, to ſuffer perſecution.

The Cart being ready to goe forward, I ſpake to the Executioner (when I ſaw him pull out his Corded whip out of his pocket) after this manner; Well, my friend, doe thy office; to which he replyed, I have whipt many a Rogue, but now I ſhall whip an honeſt man, but be not diſcouraged (ſaid hee) it will be ſoone over.

To which I replyed, I know my God hath not onely enabled me to believe in his Name, but alſo to ſuffer for his ſake. So the Carman drove forward his Cart, and I laboured with my God for ſtrength to ſubmit my backe with cheerfulneſſe unto the ſmiter, and he heard my deſire, and granted my requeſt; for when the firſt ſtripe was given, I felt not the leaſt paine, but ſaid, Bleſſed be thy Name, O Lord my God, that haſt counted mee worthy to ſuffer thy glorious Names ſake; and at the giving of the ſecond, I cryed out with a loud voyce, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Glory, Honour and Praiſe be given to thee, O Lord, for ever, and to the Lambe that ſits upon the Throne. So wee went up to Fleetſtreet, the Lord enabling me to endure the ſtripes with ſuch patience and cheerefulneſſe, that I did not in the leaſt manner ſhew the leaſt diſcontent at them, for my God hardened my backe and ſteeled my reynes, and tooke away the ſmart and paine of the ſtripes from mee.

But I muſt confeſſe, if I had had no more but mine owne naturall ſtrength, I had ſunke under the burthen of my puniſhment; for to the fleſh the paine was very grievous and heavie, but my God in whom I did truſt, was higher and ſtronger than my ſelfe▪ who ſtrengthened and enabled mee not onely to undergoe the puniſhment with cheerefulneſſe but made mee triumph, and with a holy diſdaine, to inſult over my torments.

And as wee went along the Strand, many friends ſpoke to mee and asked how I did, and bid me be cheerfull, to whom I replied I was merry [Page] and cheerfull, and was upheld with a divine and heavenly ſupportation, comforted with the ſweet conſolations of Gods Spirit. And about the middle of the Strand, there came a friend, and bid mee ſpeake with boldneſſe; to whom I replied, when the time comes ſo I will; for then if I ſhould have ſpoken and ſpent my ſtrength, it would have been but as water ſpilt on the ground, in regard of the noyſe and preſſe of people: And alſo at that time I was not in a ſit temper to ſpeake; becauſe the duſt much troubled me, and the Sunne 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 [Page] 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. [Page] 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 Brethren, to all you that love the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, and deſire that he ſhould raigne and rule in your hearts and lives, to you eſpecially, and to as many as heare 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 owne and embrace it, as the Welcome Croſſe of Chriſt, and as a badge of my Chriſtian Profeſsion: I have beene already whipt from the Fleete to this place, by vertue 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 ſpeciall hand of providence, ſo ordered it, that not long agoe I was in Holland, where I was like to have ſettled my ſelfe 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 runne) but the Lord having a better portion in ſtore for me, and more durable riches to beſtow upon my ſoule, by the ſame hand of providence, brought me backe againe, and caſt mee into eaſie affliction, that thereby I might be weaned from the world, and ſee the vanity and emptineſſe of all things therein. And hee hath now pitched my ſoule upon ſuch an object of beautie, amiableneſſe and excellencie, as is as permanent and endurable, as Eternity it ſelfe, namely, the perſonall excellencie of the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, the ſweetneſſe of whoſe preſence, no affliction can ever be able to wreſt out of my ſoule.

Now, while I was in Holland, it ſeemes there were divers Bookes, of that noble and renowned Doctor Iohn Baſtwicke ſent into England, [Page] which came to the hands of one Edmond Chillington, for the ſending over of which I was taken and apprehended, the plot being before laid, by one Iohn Chilliburne (whom I ſuppoſed, and tooke to be my friend) ſervant to my old fellow ſoldier, Maſter Iohn Wharton, living in Bowlane, after this manner.

I walking in the ſtreet with the ſaid Iohn Chilliburne, was taken by the Purſevant and his men; the ſaid Iohn, as I verily believe, having given direction to them where to ſtand, and hee himſelfe was the third man that laid hands on mee to hold mee.

Now at my cenſure before the Lords, I there declared upon the word of a Chriſtian, that I ſent not over thoſe Bookes neither did I know the Ship that brought them, nor my 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 dayes.

Beſides this, I was accuſed at my examination before the Kings Atturney at his Chamber, by the ſaid [...] Chillington,) Button-ſeller, living in Canon-ſtreet, neere Alchurch Lane, and late priſoner in Bridewell and Newgate, for printing ten or welve thouſand Bookes in Holland, and that I woud have printed the Vnmasking the myſterie of Iniquitie; if I could have gotten a true copy of it, and that I had a Chamber in Maſtor Iohn 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 hee might as well have accuſed me of printing a hundred thouſand hookes, and the one been as true as the other; and for the printing the Vnmasking the Myſterie of Iniquitie▪ upon the word of an honeſt man, I never ſaw, nor to my knowledge heard of the Booke; till I came backe againe into England: and for my having a Chamber in Maſter Iohn Foots houſe at Delfe, where he thinks the Bookes were kept; I was ſo farre 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 Terme, I was brought to the Star-Chamber Barre, where before me was read the ſaidIt hath beene an ordinary thing in the Star-chamber and high Commiſsion, either to forge Affidavits, or to make addition unto them. Edmond Chillingtons Affidavit, upon Oath, againſt Mr. Iohn Wharton and my ſelfe; the ſumme of which oath, was, That hee and I had printed (at Rotterdam in Holland) Doctor Baſtwicks Anſwer, and his Letany, withdivers other ſcandalous Bookes.

Now, here againe, I ſpeake it in the preſence of God, and all you that heare mee, that Maſter Wharton and I never joyned together in printing either theſe, or any other Bookes whatſoever, neither did I receive any money from him toward the printing any.

Withall, in his firſt Oath, hee peremptorily ſwore; that wee had printed them at Rotterdam, unto which I likewiſe ſay, That he hath in this particular forſworne himſelfe; for mine owne part, I never in all my dayes either printed, or cauſed to be printed, either for my ſelfe, or for Maſter Wharton any Bookes at Rotterdam; neither [Page] did I come into any Printing-houſe there, all the time I was in the Citie.

And then upon the Tueſday after, he ſwore againſt both of us againe. The ſumme of which Oathes was, that I had confeſſed to him (which is moſt falſe) that I had printed Doctor Baſtwicke [...] Anſwer to Sir Iohn Bancks his Information, and his Letany; and another Booke, called, Certaine Anſwers to Certaine Objections: and another Booke, called, The Vanity and Impiety of the old Letany; and that I had divers other Bookes of the ſaid Doctor Baſtwicks in printing, and that Maſter Wharton had been at the charges of printing a Book called A Breviate of the Biſhops late proceedings; and another Booke called ſixteene new Queries, and in this his Oath hath ſworne they were printed at Rotterdam, or ſomewhere elſe in Holland; and that one Iames Oldam, a Turner, keeping Shop at Weſtminſter-hall-gate, diſperſed divers of theſe Bookes. Now, in this Oath he hath againe forſworne himſelfe in a high degree; for whereas he tooke his Oath that I had printed the Booke called The Vanity and Impiety of the old Letany; I here ſpeake it before you all, that I never in all my dayes did ſee one of them in print, but I muſt confeſſe, I have ſeene and read it in written hand, before the Doctor was cenſured, and as for other Bookes, of which he ſaith, I have divers in printing. To that I anſwer, that for mine owne particular. I never read nor ſaw any of the Doctors Bookes; but the forenamed foure in Engliſh, and one little thing more of about two ſheets of paper, which is annexed to the Vanity of the old Letany and as for his Latine Bookes, I never ſaw any but two. Namely, his Flagellum, for which he was firſt cenſured in the High Commiſsion Court, and his Apologeticus, which were both in print long before I knew the Doctor. But it is true, there is a ſecond edition of his Flagellum, but that was at the preſſe above two yeeres agoe: namely, Anno 1634. and ſome of this impreſſion was in England before I came out of Holland.

And theſe are the maine things for which I was cenſured and condemned, being two oathes in which the ſaid Chillington hath palpably forſworne himſelfe; and if hee had not forſworne himſelfe, yet by the Law (as I am given to underſtand) I might have excepted againſt him, 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 [Page] 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.

[Page] 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 [Page] 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 the Scorpions of the earth have power to hurt and undoe men, as the Prelates daily doe: and alſo, Revel. 13. 2. And the Beaſt which I ſaw (ſaith Saint Iohn) was like unto a Leopard, and his feete were as the feete of a Beare, and his mouth as the mouth of a Lion, and the Dragon (that is to ſay, the Divell) gave him his power, his ſeat and great authoritie; and verſe 15. 16, 17. And whether the Prelates as well as the Pope, doe not daily the ſame things, let every man that hath but comon reaſon judge.

For, doe not their daily practiſes and cruell burthens impoſed on all ſorts of people, high and low, rich and poore, witneſſe that their diſcent is from the Beaſt, part of his ſtate and kingdome: So alſo Revel. 16. 13, 14. all which places doe declare, that their power and authoritie being from the Pope, (as they themſelves confeſſe) therefore it muſt needs originally come from the Divell; for their power and callings muſt of neceſſitie proceed either from God, or elſe from the Divell; but it proceeds not from God, as the Scriptures ſufficiently declare, therefore their calling and power proceeds from the Divell, as both Scripture and their owne daily practiſes doe demonſtrate and prove, and as for that laſt place cited, Rev. 16. 13. 14. If you pleaſe to reade the ſecond and third parts of Doctor Baſtwicks Letany, you ſhall finde, hee there proves, that the Prelates practices doe every way ſuit with, and make good that portion of Scripture to the utmoſt. For in their Sermons that they preach before his Majeſtie, how doe they incenſe the King and Nobles againſt the people of God, labouring to make them odious in his ſight, and ſtirring him up to execute vengeance upon them, though they be the moſt harmeleſſe generation of all others.

And as for all theſe officers that are under them, and made by them, for mine owne particular, I cannot ſee, but that their callings are as unlawfull as the Biſhops themſelves; and in particular, for the callings of the Miniſters, I doe not, nor will not ſpeake againſt their perſons, for I know ſome of them to be very able men, and men of excellent gifts and qualifications, and I perſwade my ſelfe, their ſoules are very deare and pretious in the ſight of God.

Yet notwithſtanding, this proves not their callings to be ever the better, as it is in civill government: If the King (whom God hath made a lawfull Magiſtrate) make a wicked man an officer, hee is as true an officer, and as well to be obeyed, comming in the Kings name, as the beſt man in the world comming with the ſame authority; for in ſuch a caſe, hee that is a wicked man, hath his calling from as good authoritie as the godlieſt man hath; and therefore his calling is as good as the others.

[Page] But on the other ſide, if hee that hath no authority make officers, though the men themſelves be never ſo good and holy, yet their holineſſe makes their calling never a whit the truer, but ſtill is a falſe calling, in regard his authority was not good not lawfull that made them: and 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 holineſſe 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 than any of the reſt, by how much the more God hath beſtowed greater guifts upon them than upon others, and yet they detaine the truth in unrighteouſneſſe from Gods people, and doe not make knowne to them as they ought, the whole Will and Counſell, of God.

And againe, the greater is their ſinne, if their callings be unlawfull (as I verily believe they are) in that they ſtil hold them and do not willingly lay down and renounce them, or they do but deceive the people, and highly diſhonour God, and ſin againſt their own ſoules, while they preach unto the people by vertue of an Antichriſtian and unlawfull calling; and the more godly and able the Miniſter is that ſtill preaches by vertue of this calling, the more hurt he doth; for the people that have ſuch a Miniſter will not be perſwaded of the truth of things, though one ſpeake and informe them in the name of the Lord, but will be ready to reply, Our Miniſter that preaches ſtill by vertue of this Calling, is ſo holy a man, that were not his calling right and good, I doe aſſure my ſelfe he would no longer preach by vertue thereof. And thus the holineſſe of the Miniſter is a cloake to cover the unlawfulneſſe of his calling, and make the people continue rebels againſt Chriſt his Scepter and Kingdome, which is an aggravation of his ſinne: for by this meanes the people are kept off from receiving the whole truth into their ſoules, and reſt in being but almoſt Chriſtians, or but Chriſtians in part. But, Oh my brethren, it behoves all you that feare God, and tender the ſalvation of your owne ſoules, to looke about you, and to ſhake off that long ſecurity and formality in Religion, that you have laine in: For God of all things cannot endure Lukewarmneſſe, Rev. 3. 16. and ſearch out diligently the truth of things, and try them in the Ballance of the Sanctuary. I beſeech you take things no more upon truſt, as hitherto you have done, but take paines to ſearch and find out thoſe ſpirituall and hidden truths that God hath enwrapped in his ſacred Booke, and find out a bottome for your owne ſoules: 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 finde them, Prov. 2. Labour alſo to withdraw your necks from under that ſpirituall and Antichriſtian bondage (unto which you have for a long time ſubjected your ſoules) leſt the Lord cauſe his plagues, and the fierceneſſe [Page] of his wrath to ſeize both upon your bodies and ſoules; ſeeing you are now warned of the danger of theſe things.

For he himſelfe hath ſaid, Rev. 14. 9. 10, 11. That if any man worſhip the Beaſt and his Image and receive his marke in his forehead, or in his hand; the ſame ſhall drinke of the wine of his wrath, which is powred out without mixture, into the cup of his indignation, and he ſhall he tormented with fire and brimſtone in the preſence of the holy Angels, and in the preſence of the Lambe, and the ſmooke of their torment aſcended up for ever and ever, and they have no reſt, day nor night, who worſhip the Beaſt and his Image, and whoſoever receiveth the marke of his name. Therefore, as you love your owne ſoules, and looke for that immortall Crowne of happineſſe in the world to come, looke that you withdraw your ſelves from that Antichriſtian power and ſlavery that you are now under, even as God himſelfe hath commanded and injoyned you in Rev. 18. 4. ſaying, Come out of her my people, 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 [Page] 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 [Page] 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 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 [Page] 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 mort [...]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 [Page] 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 [Page] 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, [Page] 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. [Page] 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.

[Page] 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-G [...]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,

[Page] For my whole truſt, ſtrength, confidence, My hope, and all my aide,

Is in the Lord 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 th [...] [Page] 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.

Information about this book

Title statement

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

Lilburne, John, 1614?-1657.

Edition statement

1641

Publication

Publisher

Text Creation Partnership,

Place of publication

Ann Arbor, MI ; Oxford (UK) :

Date

2006-06 (EEBO-TCP Phase 1).

ID [DLPS]

A48454

ID [STC]

Wing L2089

ID [STC]

ESTC R1513

ID [EEBO-CITATION]

12954343

ID [OCLC]

ocm 12954343

ID [VID]

96031

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Early English books online.

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(EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A48454)

Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 96031)

Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English books, 1641-1700 ; 257:E181, no 7)

Source

— 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, Lilburne, John, 1614?-1657., Kiffin, William, 1616-1701., Lilburne, John, 1614?-1657. Work of the beast.. The second edition, with an addition..

Extent

[4], 39 p.

Printed for William Larnar ...,. London :: 1641.. (To the reader signed : William Kiffen.) (Includes his "A worke of the beast.") (Reproduction of original in Thomason Collection, British Library.)

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