A PEARL IN A DOUNGHILL. OR Lieu. Col. JOHN LILBURNE in Newgate: Committed illegally by the House of Lords, first for refusing (according to his Liberty) to answer Interrogatories, but protesting against them as not being competent Judges, and appealing to the House of Commons. Next, committed close prisoner for his just refusing to kneel at the House of Lords Bar  
ALthough most of States and States men be of late turned upside down like a wheel, yet this worthy valiant and public spirited Gentleman (unto whom his Nation is as much bound to, at least as to any one, all things considered) is the very same man (both in principles and practice) whom the Bishops so long imprisoned in the Eleet by a most cruel and barbarous sentence, which they procured in the Star-chamber against him, and so ●as whipped, gauged and pilloried, yea and in his close imprisonment almost famished and murdered,  
And all because he would not submit to be examined against himself, betray his friends, accuse his brethrens, nor sell the lawful rights and just liberties of England, for a mess or morsel of base preferment, whose fidelity, constancy and integrity the Parliament justified, and condemned that sentence as illegal, bloody, and tyrannical, delivered him out of prison, adjudged him worthy of reparation, abolished Episcopacy, the Star-chamber, High Commission, Council-table, and many such arbitrary proceed,  
All which being duly and seriously considered, may it not seem very strange, that this so famous a man still holding forth the same tenets and practise now in time of Parliament and Reformation, should be now again in Newgate as he was once before, by an Order from the House of Commons, both in less than a twelve month? Is it not because there is a Popish and Episcopal party under other pretences as busy working in the Kingdom now as ever? And as he was a special instrument of the Bishop's overthrow, so those their agents are the prime causers and workers both of his ruin, and all that will take his part, if posibly they could once get that Decree sealed and un altered, so that their should not be Separate or Sectary any more mentioned.  
And though his malicious adversaries will not be warned of their Downfall, and are as mad against him, because he will not bow before them, as ever Hamon was against Mordecay; yea and more shameless and bloody, then ever his former adversaries in sending him to Newgate, the basest of prisons, and showing plainly they thirst much more after his precious life, than ever Kain did after Abel's, his apparently proceeding of a present discontent, and theirs of a long forged malicious intent and therefore if God permit these wicked men thus to prevail over the Godly, it is to crown the sufferings of the one with glory, and to reward the persecutions of the other with misery.  
But to take a view of his actions, we find by such credible proof, that his very adversaries shall not be able to contradict (yea and themselves did never the like) passing by both what he did, and suffered under the Episcopal tyranny, because large volumes thereof are extant, and beginning, since his deliverance out of the Fleet prison at the beginning of the Parliament:  
In the fi●st place, hath he been ingrateful to his Deliverers, or perfidious to his Country? No his engagements was with the first in this present war: to defend his Country, and for f●…king a comfortable and profitable way of living; his actions at Westminster-ball, Keinton-field, and Brainford, his carriage at Oxford in Iron Chains, against strong temtations, and upon trial for his life their, will witness his fidelity, magnanimity, and undaunted resolution to the Parliament and Common wealth, and that in such measure that not many, if any of this age can show the like, testimony.  
And for such as would recapitulate his actions & sufferings since, let them trace him in his service to the Sat, under the Earl of Manchester, and defending the public freedoms since, & they will find that with the loss both of his blood, estate & many hazards of his life, he hath performed Noble services, as the taking of Tickle Casts, Sir John Wortleys' bouse, and the like, in all which, malice itself cannot accuse him, either of Cowardice or Covetousness.  
No nor yet of carelessness, not deeming it sufficie●… to be faithful himself, but always held a watchful eye over the actions of others, and as bold in discovery of the Fraud, Treachery, Cowardice, Cruelties, plundering, and Covetousness, of false hearted friends, as valiant in fight against the enemies:  
And now if you will begin to think why a man so faithful in all his ways should be so liable to trouble as he hath been [for be hath been divers times in Pursuivants bands and so committed by Committees] if you shall consider how this Pearl comes to be cast upon this Dung bill, you will find, the faithfulness of his heart towards God and all good People, and the freeness of his tongue against all kind of injustice or unworthiness, in whom soever, is the only cause and no other.  
And if you seriously weigh things, you will confess it would grieve any good man's heart, that Treachery, Cowardice, Cruelty, plundering & Covetousness have been too too slenderly punished, & faithfulness so many ways discouraged, and that it is a very sad thing in a time so zealously pretending to reformation: That any quiet people should be punished & reproached, for worshipping and serving of God according to their conscience, and [that trouble house] Consormity as much Cried up as in the Bishop's times.  
That the Press should be stopped in time of Parliament, as barring all free informations, & admitting only what appointed Lycencers shall allow; doth it not even break the hearts of all knowing good People, to see the doors kept shut in Committees, and men examined against themselves, and for refusing to accuse themselves, sent to Prison; and that free Commoners, who by the Laws of the Land, are not to be adjudged of life, limb, liberty or estate, but by Commoners: should at the pleasure of the Lords, be liable to their summons, and attachment by Pursuivants, to their Oath ex officio, to their examination in criminal causes to selfe-accuseing, and to imprisonment during their pleasures, the chosen Commons of England, the SUPREME POWER, standing by like a cipher, as unconcerned, mcer loukers on; this is that which puts wise men past all patience, ask, for what it is that this Nation hath engaged in such, in so deadly a war? For what it is so much precious blood hath been spilt, so many Families wasted, so much treasure consumed, so many Widows and father less children made miserable? Is all this to take down the High Commission, Starchamber, and council-board: and to set up the Lords with the like power, to oppress the Commons? It had been well say they, this had been declared, when our Money, Plate, Horse, and voluntary Contributions, were first desired; But then other things were mentioned, though now neglected.  
We had (say they) as many Lords before the Parliament as since, and it was often boasted they should remove our grievances, as well as a Parliament, but it was done by addition, and increase of more, not by Substraction; God forbidden a Parliament should do so But why then (say they) are we now subjected to the Lords? Is it not sufficient that they are Lords over their Tenants, but they must be Lords over the People; that every one must be at their summons, at their command, at their imprisonment, yea to Newgate; why not whipping, gagging, banging? Oh, they are but green in their power, and do not know what the People will bear, nor what the People's friend (that should be) the HOUSE OF COMMONS will suffer; hereafter may be time enough, they are yet the People's most gracious Lords, intending to the most knowing, faithful and religious, no worse than Newgate for the present.  
And why presume ye thus Oh ye Lords? Set forth your merit before the People, and say, for this good it is, that we Will reign over ye. Remember yourselves, or shall we remember ye? Which of ye before this Parliament, minded my thing so much as your pleasures? Plays, Masques, Feast, Hunt, Gamings, Dawncing, with the appurtenances. If you owed any man money, or abused any man, what law was to be find against you? What Patents and Project; did you suppress, or so much as 〈…〉 (nay had not a hand in?) What fearful enemies you were to Ship money, 〈…〉 to the proceed of the High Commission; Star-chamber, and council-board, 〈…〉 goodness was unexpressible, and undiscernible, before this 〈◊〉.  
But though you cannot excuse all, you will say, you that are the good 〈…〉 then over topped with the evil, will you then be tried by what good you have done since this Parliament, and since the expulsion of the Popish Lords and Bishops; where will you begin? What think you of the stay at Worcester, till the Enemy was provided at Shrewsbury, a shrewd beginning for poor England? Or what think you of the Earl of Bedford's business at Sherbarn Castle, or of the enemies escape at Brainford, or at Oxford or at Dennington, and to close all with that memorable but shameful defeat in the West; It must needs be remembered how the war thrived, whilst any Lord was employed: and how powerful the enemy is grown, since the Now Medill, wherein there is not one Lord.  
It was wont to be said when a thing was spoiled, that the Bishop's Foot had been in it, and if the LORDS MEND NOT, it will be said so of them, and justly too.  
For what other have they been, but a mere Clog to the HOUSE OF COMMONS in all their proceed? How many necessary things have they obstructed? How many evil things promoted? What devices have they had of prudentials and expedients, to delay and pervert what is good: and subtle policies to introduce things evil.  
It is easy to discern who are their Creatures in the House of Commons, and how they were made theirs, constantly manifesting themselves, by their evil and pernicious partake against the Freedom of the People, by whose united endeavours, Monepolies in Trades of Merchandise, Oppressions in Committees, Corruptions in Courts, of justice, gross abuses in our Laws and Lawyers are maintained, and the Reformation intended in all things, performed by balves, nay, quite perverted, and a mere shadow given for a substance, to the astonishment of all knowing free born Englishmen, and to their perpetual vexation and danger; Because to know, or find fault, or discover these things, to preserve just freedom, and to withstand their exorbitances: is the most hateful thing to these Lords, of any thing in the world, Newgate (in their esteem) is too good for all such.  
And this is the only crime for which this worthy man is made the subject of their malice, a man that hath discovered more of the liberties of England, than any one man alive; a man that hath resisted all kinds of Oppressions, with the perpetual hazard of his life, liberty, and estate.  
And must no place but Newgate be his habitation? Is this the reparation for his damages, and recompense for his faithful service? Must he be here reserved a sucrifice to appease the displeasure of the late reconciled enemies of the Commonwealth  
Thou dost well O England, to give up this thy firstborn LILBURNE, the SON of thy STRENGTH, and high RESOLUTION, for FREEDOM; If thou intendest to become a Bond slave again, to either King, Lords, or any others: for he will never submit either body or mind to any kind of slavery.  
But certainly those Worthies in the House of Commons, that consider what the People have done and suffered for their libertyes will never suffee so foul a deed, it cannot be but they intent the utter most of just freedom to the People, and love those best, that most know and affect true liberty, and are greatest opposers of exorbitant power in whomsoever: and consequently cannot but instantly deliver this just man, and in him all English men, from the like oppression and h●…eforth reduce the Lords to a condition suitable to the freedom of the 〈◊〉 and 〈…〉 with the freedom of Parliaments.  
The People are become a Knowing and Judicious People, 〈…〉 hath made them wise, now Opression maketh wise men mad, 〈…〉 all one to them, who oppresseth them, oppression they cannot 〈…〉 and if Parliaments do in deed and in truth really deliver them, they will love Varliements, as performing the trust reposed in them, and the end for which Parliaments were ordained, otherwise they will ebominate them, because, for People 〈…〉 or intime of Parliament, is like as for a man to be betrayed o 〈…〉 father; which God of his mercy preserve both People and Parliament 〈…〉 that for ever.  
London June, 1646.  
FINI●.