THE JUST MAN IN BONDS.  
OR Lievt. Col. john Lilburne close Prisoner in Newgate, by order of the HOUSE of LORDS.  
SInce this worthy gentle man's case is mine, and every man's, who though we be at liberty to day, may be in Newgate to morrow, if the House of Lords so please, doth it not equally and alike concern all the people of England to lay it to heart, and either fit both our minds and necks to undergo this slavery, or otherwise think of some speedy and effectual means to free ourselves and our posterity there from.  
This noble and resolute Gentleman Mr. Lilburne, than whom his country has not a truer and more faithful servant, hath broke the Ice for us all, who being sensible that the people are in real bondage to the Lords (and that the Laws and Statutes providing to the contrary, serving them in no stead) hath singly adventured himself a Champion for his abused country men, nothing doubting but that he shall thereby open the eyes, and awake the drowsy spirits of his fellow Commoners, or rather Slaves (as the case now stands) with them; and likewise animate the representative body of the people, to make use of that power wherewith they are trusted to free us, themselves, their and our posterities, from the House of Lords imperious and ambitious usurpation.  
Object. Some through ignorance, or poverty of spirit, may (peradventure) judge Mr. Lilburne a rash young man for his opposing himself against so mighty a stream or torrent of worldly power, which the Lords now possess. To such I answer, 1. That the power of the House of Lords, is like a shallow, un-even water, more in noise then substance; If we could distinguish between what is theirs of right, and what by encroachment, we should soon find that they have decked themselves with the Commoners bravefeathers, which being reassumed, they would appear no better arrayed then other men, even equal by Law, inferior in uprightness, and honesty of conversation: We should then find that they are but painted properties, Dagons, that our superstition and ignorance, their own craft and impudence have erected, no natural issues of laws, but the extuberances and mushrooms of Prerogative, the Wens of just government, putting the body of the People to pain, as well as occasioning deformity, Sons of conquest they are and usurpation, not of choice and election, intruded upon us by power, not constituted by consent, not made by the people, from whom all power, place and office that is just in this kingdom ought only to arise.  
2. Mr. Lilburnes opposing himself against this exorbitant and extrajudicial power of the Lords, ought rather to be admired by us as a pitch of valour we are not yet arrived too, through the faintness of our spirits, and dotage upon our trades, ease, riches, and pleasures, then censured by us as rash or furious. He that dares scale the walls of an enemy, or venture himself upon the utmost of danger in the field, is not judged rash but a valiant man, unless by those low spirits that dares not do as he hath done. Let us therefore rather blame ourselves for want of fortitude, then accuse him, as having too much.  
Consider I pray the great danger we are in, if the Lords thus presume to clap a Commoner of England in close prison, even now when the Commons of England are sitting in Parliament, who are put in trust, and enabled with power to protect the people from such bondage (yea and so suddenly after they have in effect declared, that they will do it, in their Declaration of the 17. of April last) what injuries will not these Lords do to us, when the Parliament is ended, and the people have none of their own Commons nor trusties to protect them, hear their cries, nor redress their grievances; What prison or dungeon will then be base enough, what punishment or torture great enough for them, that are not cowardish enough so to be slaves and bondmen? And so is not the last error, like to be worse than the first?  
Death itself is more tolerable to a generous spirit, then close imprisonment, besides the continual fears that such an inhuman practice brings with it, of private murder or poisoning, as there are manifold examples of such cruelties, of which Overberies was not one of the least who was poisoned in the Tower, and to salve or colour that wickedness, it was strongly given out and avouched that he murdered himself, though afterwards divers were hanged for it, and the Earl of Somerset and his Countess hardly escaped. Sir Richard Wiseman was moped and stupefied with his close imprisonment, and what mischiefs (of divers sorts) may be done to honest and faithful Mr. Lilburne upon this renewed opportunity by the Lords (as he had too much formerly by the Bishops, though contrary to all equity and justice, yea and even to the Lords own reparations which lately they voted and allotted to him) whiles he is now close prisoner in their own hands, who know him to be their chiefest opposite in all their usurpations and encroachments upon the Commoners freedoms? doth it not concern all the Commons of England to consider and prevent the same, especially their great and general Counsel in Parliament assembled.  
Lay to heart I beseech you O YE HOUSE of COMMONS, that neither yourselves nor your children can plead any immumitie or security from this cruelty and bondage of the House of Lords, if now ye be slack or negligent, but ye may justly expect and feel the smart thereof upon you and your posterity, as well as we upon us and ours, at least after you are dissolved, and dismissed from your Authorities. And is not this one of the main points for which ye have put yourselves, us, and so many of this Nation as stand in your defence, to the effusion and expense of so much blood and multituds of estates?  
If ye did intent to expose this Kingdom to the miseries of war for no other ends but that one kind of Arbitrary government, Star-chamber, or High Commission Power, might be abolished, and others of these kinds established over us, why would ye not tell us in due time, that we might have both spared our lives and estates, and not made so many soldiers, Widows and fatherless to mourn at the Parliaments gates, for the manifold wants occasioned by your service, and made us sooner like humble vassals, to present ourselves like slaves upon our knees at the House of Lords Bar, and suffer our cares to be bored through with an all, in testimony that we are: heir bondmen for ever.  
But if ye would either free yourselves of this suspicion, or us of those just fears, then show yourselves to be such worthies as do truly deserve that title, by using this happy opportunity which God hath put into your hands, and making us freemen; it being the main cause for which we used and entrusted you; and as a present sign of your fidelity and magnanimity, let your real intentions in the general appear by the exactness and speediness of your delivering of this your own, and his Country's faithful servant Mr. Lilburn from prison with all due reparations.  
Banish all base fears, for there be more with you then against you, and the justness of your cause will daily increase both your number and power, for God is always present where Justice is extant, and ye cannot but observe by manifold experiences that he not only loves and protects just men, but by his Almighty power to abaseth all their Enemies, that they shall flee before him and his, like the dust before the wind: If ye will but take example by the courage and justice of your own Armies, and do as they do, doubtless the same God who hath prospered them will also prosper you, yea and be with you, in all your proceed whilst ye are with him, but if ye forsake him, (by denying, selling, or delaying justice, contrary to your duties, Oaths, Covenants, Protestations, and declarations) he will also forsake you, as he hath in all ages (even his own People for their injustice, sins, and abominations) and stirred up both foreign and intestine enemies to revenge his just quarrel and true cause against them.  
For more particular information, these ensuing lines will be a special means.  
Upon the 22. of June 1646. the House of Lords sent an Order to the Keeper of Newgate, to bring Mr. Lilburn before them upon the 23. thereof at ten a clock, whereof he having notice that morning, wrote a letter to the said Keeper, declaring his just liberties and the House of Lords usurpation thereof, contrary to Magna Charta and other fundamental Laws of this, Kingdom and that he would not go to them willingly, but had appealed and petitioned to the House of Commons, and therefore he desired the Keeper to take heed what he did, lest he could not recall any violent action, not grounded upon Law:  
And after Mr. Lilburn had sent the said letter by his wife, together with the printed copy of his protestation against the House of Lords illegal proceed against him as a Commoner, & his appeal & Petition to the House of Commons as his competent Judges, but sh●e not finding the Keeper at Newgate prison, nor at his own house, & the hour of his appearance before the House of Lords near aproching, she delivered the same to the Sheriff; of London, being then in Guildhall at the Court of Aldermen, where doubtless both the said letter and book were read, and as Sheriff Foot informed her, that they sent a messenger to Newgate with their answer, what it was, is not yet known.  
But if it came at all, it was not in due time, for after the deputy Keeper and his assistants had attended half an hour for Mr. lilburn's coming from his chamber to go with them before the House of Lords at the time appointed, and upon his constant refusing to go willingly with them (or so much as to open his Chamber door; but shut it in token of his constant opposing so unjust a power over him a free borne Englishman) and before the messenger whom he sent to Guildhall with their consent, had returned with an answer (and whose returning they promised to attend) [they broke open his door, took him away to Westminster] and no messenger was sent (who yet we have heard off) from the Court of Aldermen.  
When they had brought him to the painted chamber next the House of Lords door, where he attended with his Keepers almost two hours before he was called in, (as it seemeth) the House of Lords servants and attendants, taking notice of the of the intercourse of Parliament men and others speaking to, him told their master's thereof●●, and lest their usurpation of the Commons liberties, and his just cause should be manifested as well by word, as by writing, the Lords did call his Keepers and commanded them that they should speedily charge him to hold his peace, and speak with none at all; but to be altogether silent until he was called in before them to answer their interrogatories.  
Unto whom he returned this answer, and bade them tell the same to the House of Lords who sent them, that he would not hold his peace, but speak with any man who in the way of love spoke to him, so long as he had his tongue, except the Lords should put a gag into his mouth as their Fellow Lords the Bishops did to him 8. years ago, on the Pillory at Westminster, after they had caused him to be whipped from the Fleet prison thither, and after he had told them their spiritual usurpations, as it doth these Lords their temporal encroachments on free men's liberties.  
Then he being called into the House of Lords, was commanded by their keeper of the Black-Rod to kneel before them, which he absolutely refused to do, and after their still urging, and his constant refusing, they asked him the reason, he answered that he had learned both better Religion and manners then to kneel to any humane or mortal power how great so ever, whom he never offended, and far less to them whom he had defended with the adventure both of his life and estate, yea and withal the friends he could make: whereupon they not only returned him to Newgate prison, but commanded him to be kept close-Prisoner, as appeareth by these ensuing orders.  

Die Lunae 22. Junij 1646.  
Ordered by the Lords in Parliament assembled, that Lieu. Col. John Lilburne now a prisoner in Newgate, shall be brought before their Lordships in the [High Court of PARLIAMENT] to morrow morning by ten of the clock: And this to be a sufficient warrant in that behalf.  
To the Gent. Usher of this House, or his Deputy, to be delivered to the Keeper of Newgate or his Deputy.  
joh. Brown Cler. Parliamentorum.   

Die Martis 23. junij. 1646.  
Ordered by the LORDS in PARLIAMENT assembled, that john Lilburn shall stand committed close prisoner in the Prison of Newgate; and that he be not permitted to have pen, ink, or paper; and none shall have access unto him in any kind, but only his Keeper, until this Court doth take further order.  
To the Keeper of Newgate his deputy or deputies.  
joh. Brown Cleric. Parliamentorum. Exam. per. Rec. Bristoe Cleric. de Newgate.   
FINIS.