THE LIAR CONFOUNDED OR A Brief Refutation of John Lilburnes miserably-mistated-Case, mistaken-Law; Seditious Calumnies, and most malicious Lies against the High Court of PARLIAMENT, the Honourable Committee of Examinations, Mr Speaker, with other Members of the Commons House; and Mr William Prynne; wherewith he hath seduced many ignorant over-credulous People. Manifesting the Parliaments extraordinary Clemency towards him, their Justice in their Commitment of, and proceed against him; for which he so ingratefully and falsely taxeth them, with Tyranny and Injustice  
By WILLIAM PRYNNE of Lincoln's Inn, Esquire.  John 8. 44. 
Ye are of your Father the Devil, and the lusts of your Father will ye do: he was a murderer from the beginning and abode not in the truth, because there is NO TRUTH IN HIM: when he speaketh a Lie he speaketh of his own; for he is a LIAR, and the FATHER OF IT.  Eph. 4. 25. 
Wherefore putting away Lying, speak every man TRUTH to his Neighbour: for we are members one of another.  Prov. 12. 19 
The lip of truth shall be established for ever, but a LYING TONGVE is but for a moment.  
LONDON, Printed by John Macock; for Michael Spark signior. 1645.   

TO The Honourable William Lenthall Esquire, Speaker of the Honourable House of COMMONS and Master of the ROLLS.  
Sir,  
I Here present you with a Brief Relation and Refutation, of John Lilburnes Notorious Lies, and forged Calumnies, against the Parliament, and whole House of Commons in General, the Committee of Examination; Yourself; some other Members of both Houses, your Brother Sir John Lenthall, and Myself in special: Whereby the whole Kingdom may discern his (and his confederates) Impudent Falsities, Forgeries, Lies, groundless Slanders; and Your Untainted Innocency's, triumphing gloriously over them. The truth of his Case, misreported by him, rightly stated; the Legality of Your Proceed against, commitment of him, demonstrated; his mistaken Law, refuted; and the seeds of Mutiny, of Sedition sown among the Ignorant Vulgar, in his seditious Printed Papers (scattered abroad by one Leaner and others, among the Kentish Malignants and the Malcontents in other parts) extirpated, to prevent all Popular, Insurrections against the Parliaments Sovereign Authority.  
Your special Interest in the Subject matter of this Relation, hath (among other motives) induced me to select You for its Patron, in the Dedication, to whose Protection I commend it, and Your self to Gods; desiring really to express myself upon all just Occasions,  
Your most Affectionate Friend to serve You, William Prynne.   

To the Jmpartiall Reader.  
Christian Reader,  
IT is S. James his Observation, c. 3. 5. Behold how great a matter a little fire kindleth: And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity, and setteth on fire the course of nature, and is seton fire of hell: which I may truly apply to John lilburn's tongue, and much more to his pen employed only in compiling Libellous Letters and Papers: Behold how great combustions and tumults have they kindled among the Ignorant Vulgar, who adore him as the only Oracle of Truth, when as he is a mere Legend of Lies: Had not his Papers kindled a public dangerous flame, dis-affected divers of his Seditious Faction, and set their tongues nay hearts against the Parliament, against whom they are brewing mischief in sundry private Conventicles, and ripening public Mutinies, I had sat still in silence, and only answered this Railer as the Archangel Michael did the Devil, when he strove with him about the body of Moses Judas 9 The Lord rebuke thee: or have spread his Letter only in private before the Lord, as Hezekiah spread Sennacharibs blasphemous Letter, 2 Kings 19 14, 15, 16. saying, Lord bow down thine ear and hear, open Lord thine eyes and see, hear the words of this Senacharib (Lilburne) which hath sent to reproach the Living God; and the highest powers under him. But the flame being now grown to such an height as endangers the firing of our whole State into a public combustion, I could do no less, then contribute my best endeavours (after so long a silence) and bring one bucket or two of water towards the extinguishing of his Prodigious firebrands, which were certanely set on fire of hell, which breathes forth in his seditious Papers, fit for no other use then to make public bonfires in the streets.  
I shall desire the unprejudiced Reader, whoever he be, to read this short Relation and Refutation with an impartial eye, and then, I dare say, he will soon resolve; There was never such an execrable Libel and Legion of Lies published against the Parliaments the Committees Just proceed, and other well-deserving Members, Persons Integrities, as this of Lilburnes Letters; who (if we may lawfully judge of the Tree by the fruits) is in Simon Magus his condition, even drenched in The very gall of bitterness, and fettered in the bond of iniquity; and he will more admire, and perchance blame the Parliament for their overmuch Clemency and Mildness, in proceeding with so much Patience and Moderation against such an obstinate Delinquent, than he or any of his Confederates do, or can maliciously exclaim against them, for their pretended overmuch Oppression, Tyranny and Injustice, of which there is not the least shadow appearing in any of their proceed. So submitting all to thy censure, and God's blessing, I shall cease to trouble thee with any further Prologue.   

A Brief Relation and Refutation of John Lilburnes notorious Lies and Calumnies, against the PARLJAMENT and others.  
OF all the most Glorious Attributes of God in Scripture, there is none more eminent than this, 
a Deut. 32. 4. Psal. 31. 5. Esay 65. 16.  That he is a God of TRUTH, in the affirmative; A 
b Tit. 1. 2.  God that CANNOT LIE; yea, that it is 
c Heb. 6. 18.  Impossible for him to Lie, in the Negative: And of all the disgraceful Titles given to the Devil himself in Sacred Writ, there is none more infamous than this: 
d John 8. 44.  That he is a LIAR and the Father of Lies, and abode not in the TRUTH: Whence it necessarily follows, That of all persons in the world, none are more desperately wicked, and unlike to God; or more Diabolically impious and like to the very Devil himself, than LIARS; and of all Liars those especially, who most maliciously forge, and then scandalously Register, Print, and Publish to all the world, most notorious Lies and Untruths of others, who least of all deserve such Devilish usage at their hands. Hence it was, that our Saviour told the Lying Jews; 
e John 8. 44.  Ye are of your Father the Devil; and the lusts of your father will ye do: and that Peter used this expression to Ananias, when he told but a kind of officious, not a mere malicious slanderous Lie, 
f Acts 5. 3.  Why hath SATAN FILLED THY HEART, TO LIE to the Holy Ghost? Intimating, that Liars hearts are filled up to the brim with Satan, their Ghostly Father; and that they have not the least dram of God's Holy Spirit in them; which is ever styled 
g John 14. 17 c. 15 26. c. 16. 13. 1 John 4. 6. c. 5. 6.  A Spirit of Truth, which guides true Christians into all Truth: Upon this ground Solomon ranks, 
h Prov. 6. 16. 17. 19  A lying tongue and a false witness that speaketh Lies, among those things which the Lord especially hates and abhominates; And Saint John registers 
i Rev. 21. 8. c. 22. 15.  Liars, and he that loveth and maketh a lie, in the black Catalogue of those damned ones, who shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, and shall be excluded the Celestial Jerusalem; to 
k Mat. 25. 4●.  accompany the Devil and his Angels for Eternity, in hell fire.  
Yet notwithstanding this undeniable verity, there is a new Generation of fiery zealots sprung up in the world of late, who deem themselves brimful of the Spirit of Truth, and most others no better than Reprobates or Devils in carnate; who like Jobs deceitful friends, are 
l Job 13. 4.  Forgers of Lies; or like the 
m Tit. 1. 12.  Cretians, always Liars; if not like those wicked ones whom David describes, Psal. 58. 3, 4. They go astray as soon as they be born (yea newborn into their factious separation) speaking Lies; their poison is like the poison of the Serpent; 
n Psal. 52. 2, 3, 4.  Their tongue deviseth mischiefs like a sharp razor, working deceitfully; They love lying more than to speak righteousness; they love all devouring words: Yea, 
o Jer. 9 3. 5.  they bend their tongues like their bow for lies, but are not valiant for the Truth, and they will deceive every man his Neighbour, and will not speak the Truth: they have taught their tongues to speak Lies, and weary themselves to commit Iniquity, even in Print: being the very generation of men in the latter times of whom the 
p 1 Tim. 4. 1. 2. 2 Tim. 3. 3. 4.  Spirit speaketh expressly, that they should departed from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits; speaking Lies in hypocrisy, having their conscience seared with a hot Iron: false accusers, sierce, heady, highminded, etc. having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof.  
Among the whole rabble of this lying, slandering Generation, there is none more peceant than John Lilburn, of late years a poor obscure Apprentice in London, but now a Lieutenant Colonel, and Ringleader of an Anti-Parliamentary Anabaptistical Faction: who forgetting all the Laws of Christianity & common Civility, hath abused his best Benefactors, yea the very high Court of Parliament who (as himself confessed) saved him from the Gallows; and most grossly belied, traduced his ancient Christian friends in such a scurrilous, virulent, unchristian manner, without any provocation, as no age can parallel, in sundry Printed Libels, which he entitles Letters, wherewith he hath poisoned the minds of many poor Ignorant people of his Sect and others, with prejudices against the Parliaments proceed, and filled their mouths with bitter invectives, calumnies, and reports against those they formerly honoured most of any Mortally, and the very Raiser's of John Lilburne to all the reputation he ever gained in the world; to wit, Master William Prynne, (whose Servant he was generally reputed to be, and was contented to own that Title for his own emoliment, though never capable of such an Honour;) and Dr. John Bastwick; the Printing of whose Litany (which he freely bestowed on him at his request) was the best stock he had, and that which first made him notorious to the Prelates, (their opposites) and the present Parliament; whereas otherwise he had lain buried in obscurity among the rubbish of the meanest vulgar, scarce known to any but himself.  
For my own particular, I so much undervalue all his scurrilous lies, and railing invectives against myself, that I deem them more worthy scorn, than answer, and his Libellous, seditious Letter to a Friend, with that unto myself, fit to be refuted by the hangman hand than any others: But because I am certainly informed by divers, That this last Letter, with other seditious Printed papers of his, which he hath privately scattered among his friends, have done extraordinary hurt, much incensed his ignorant misinformed Brethren of the Separation, and opened the mouths of them, yea of many Royalists and Malignants against the Parliaments proceed in his and other cases, as tyrannical, illegal, arbitrary, unjust, and diametrally contrary to Magna Charta; (which this grand Ignoramus had never law enough to understand in the Language wherein it was first written, nor in his mother tongue, as appears by his very transcribing of it, wherein he writes DISEASED for DISSEISED,) the meaning of which Law term I am certain he understands not) and that his mistaken Law (embraced by his disciples as infallible Oracles) hath deceived many poor silly souls, and is conceived to have been learned from myself, (whose servant heretofore and now he is generally cried up to have been, when as I bless God, I never entertained him in my service; nor any such turbulent, factious, crosse-graind piece as he shows himself.) I have at the motion of some friends, undertaken to pass a brief censure on this his most seditious Letter, so far as it trencheth upon the Parliaments and Committees most just Proceed, and my own personal reputation, both which I shall clearly vindicate from his Malicious Lies, and intolerable Libellous slanders. Wherein I shall pursue this method.  
First, truly State the Parliaments most just and favourable Proceed against him; which he most wilfully, falsely, and ungratefully misrelates to alinate the people's affections from, and draw down an odium upon them, without the least just occasion.  
Secondly, Rectify his gross mistaken Law, his misinterpretation of Magna Charta, and the Petition of Right, and manifest the Parliaments and Committees proceed against him to be warranted by both; not contrary to either, much less to be utterly Illegal, Tyrannical, Unjust, and destructive to the Subject's Liberties, as he scandalously reports them.  
Thirdly, Recite and answer this whole Jury of most gross Lies and Slanders, summoned from the very Vicinage of Hell, and brought by him to the Bar to give in a Verdict intentionally against my Reputation, but really against his own.  
1 To begin with the first of these; Upon the publication of my, Truth triumphing over Falsehood, Antiquity over Novelty, in defence of the Parliaments undoubted Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction, against Papists, Prelates, Anabaptists, Independents, Royalists, who oppugned the same, john Lilburne, for whom I had done sundry Courtesies, but never injured in thought, word, or deed, I know not out of what malicious, schismatical, or unchristian humour, before ever he had read over my book (a great part whereof he understood not) Writ and sent me a most railing virulent Letter, dated the 7. of January 1645. wherein he scurrilously Libels not only against myself, but likewise against the Synod assembled by Parliament, against the Ordinances of Parliament, prohibiting the Printing of Libellous and Seditious Pamphlets, Books without special Licence, (as contrary to the Liberty and Privileges of the Subject, and learned of the Spanish Inquisition) and against the Ordinance for payment of Tithes, which he tells the Parliament is, A CONTRADICTION TO THEIR COVENANT, charging them thereby with no less than Perjury; which Letter before I had leisure fully to peruse, he published in Print without any Licence, to the great scanned all both of the Synod, Parliament, and their proceed: whereupon it was about 2. days after complained of, and some clauses thereof read in the Commons House, and thereupon this Order made, and entered in the Commons journal.  

Janu. 17. 1644.  
Ordered, that the consideration of a Letter Printed under the name of John Lilburne be referred to the Examination and Inquirie of the Committee of Examinations; and it is further referred to that Committee to summon the said John Lilburne, and to examine him upon the writing, Printing, and publishing of the said Letter, and to report the state of the whole business to the House.  
The Committee is further to send for the Company of Stationers, and toknow of them, by whose default it happens, that such scurrilous, libellous, and seditious Pamphlets are every day Printed and published, they undertaking at the passing of their Ordinance, to prevent all these Inconveniences, that formerly grew by the licentiousness of the Press, and to enjoin them to be more diligent in suppressing such licentiousness, and to acquaint them, that the House doth expect a better account of their Proceed herein, hereafter.   
Immediately after this Order made, john Lilburne was casually run into the eye with the head of a Pike about moorfield's, which for a time endangered both the loss of his life, and eye too; whereupon the prosecution of this Order was suspended. No sooner was he recovered, but he caused sundry false, and scandalous Articles to be Printed against Colonel Edward King, under whom he served for a time in Lincolnshiere, till this Colonel committed and cashiered him, for his seditious and Schismatical carriage, and bitter invectives against the Church and Ministers of England, in the Country and Army; which Articles he caused to be Printed and dispersed through London and Lincolnshire, to defame this well-deserving Gentleman, who hath adventured his life, and spent his estate in his Country's Service. No sooner had he Printed and vented these Libellous Articles here, but he posted into Lincolnshire to disperse them there, In the mean time, the Printer with one or two of the underhand dispensers of these libellous Articles being apprehended, confessed, that Lylburne gave order to Print them, undertook the payment of the Printer, and had, or was to have, 200. Copies of them for himself to disperse privately among his friends.  
In May following, this Libeler returning to London, conscious to himself of his guilt, and of the Injury he had done the Parliament, Assembly, and myself, in his forementioned published Letter, declined the meeting of me face to face, ever turning aside when as he came near me. Which I oft observing, he one day met me full butt, near the lower end of Westminster Hall, ere he espied me, and then turned his back suddenly upon me to avoid me. Whereupon I presently accosting him; spoke to him with all mildness to this effect: Lieutenant Colonel Lilburne, I am very sorry that you have so fare forgotten your duty to the Parliament, as without any cause on their parts (who have purchased your liberty, and saved your life of Late) to Libel against their Ordinances, Proceed, and charge them with no less than breach of their Covenant; to revile the Synod assembled by their Authority, which never gave you any offence; and so fare transgressed the Laws of friendship, and Christianity towards me your ancient Friend, as to rail against, and slander me in Print in such a reproachful, unchristian manner, as you have: when as I have done you many Courtesies, but never offered you the smallest Injury in word or deed. I hope by this time you have seriously considered these Injuries, of which the House of Commons hath taken special notice; and I shall next desire you in a friendly Christian way, to give some satisfaction to the House, and myself, for the Indignities done us by your Libellous Letter, which had you not published in Print before I had leisure to peruse; I had been silent. But instead of giving an ingenuous answer to this just request, he fell into an angry fit; Using many unsitting insolent words to me, in the open Hall; and to show his Billingsgate education, among other uncivil speeches, said; A turd in your teeth; if you were out of the Hall, I would teach you to lay your hand on mine, when as I only touched his hand in a familiar manner with my finger; using divers other harsh threatening words no ways beseeming him or me: Whereupon, I returned him this answer: Sir, I perceive you a man of such a fiery temper, that there is no discoursing with you in any private loving way; and therefore since you are so choleric and refractory, I hope you will not take it ill, if you be called to an account for this your Letter in an other place before your betters, (according to a Vote already passed in Parliament) where I presume you will remember yourself, better, and not be so rude as now you are. To which he replied to this effect; Do what you dare against me, I shall justify my do in any place. Whereupon I answered, That if this were his resolution, he should shortly answer his Letter before the Committee of Examinations, to which. the House had referred it: And so we parted.  
This Committee being soon after informed, that Lilburne was returned to London, on the 16 of May, made a Warrant, only to Summon him to appear before them the next day at two of the clock, concerning the Printing and publishing of his Libellous Letter, without any Licence, contrary to an Ordinance of Parliament. Upon which Summons he appearing May 17. confessed upon his Examination, that he did write this Letter, (the original whereof was produced under his hand) that he not receiving an answer to it in three or four day's space, did thereupon cause it to be Printed without Licence; But refused to declare the Printers name that Printed it. Mr. Prynne being then present at his Examination, informed the Committee, That he did not desire to prosecute the business against him with rigour, but only to make him confess his Injuries to the Parliament, and Assembly, and crave pardon for them: which if he would there do, he would freely remit all personal scandals, and injuries done by him to himself, desiring only his reformation, not his ruin, or vexation. Whereupon Lilburne desired this favour from the Committee, That he might set down his own Answer in writing, touching the Printing and contents of his Letter, and that if he might have co●●●●ient time to do it, he would deliver it in under his hand, at the time appointed; W●i●h the Committee (out of their clemency) freely granted, though I believe, they never indulged so much liberty to any other in the like case: only they added this command (then entered in their Book of Examinations,) He was commanded to be careful to publish nothing. Hereupon being dismissed for the present, he Penned an Answer full of Invectives against the Parliament, the judges, and justices Legal proceed against seditious Sectaries, seconded with many false relations of unheard off cruelties towards them, to render the Parliament odious to his Faction: calumniates and rails afresh against me, as an enemy to God's people, a Seditious Firebrand, one deserving to be hanged etc. which answer he no sooner delivered in to the Committee, but the very same, or the next day after, he published it in Print without any Licence, contrary to the Committees express Command, and the Privileges and Orders of Parliament, and to show his further contempt of Authority, caused this very Letter, for which he was questioned, to be reprinted. About which time, the Scurrilous Libels entitled, The Arraignment of Persecution, and A Sacred Synodical Decretal, were published, Printed with the self same Letter and Press, as his Letter and Answer were, and some of them seized together with his Letters by the Stationers. Who acquainting the Committee of Examinations therewith, according to the former Order of the House; thereupon the Committee, for these insufferable insolences and contempts of his, on the 18. of June ordered; that Lilburne should be sent for in custody, touching the Printing of his Letter, and other Scandalous Books; in which number was his Answer to nine Arguments, Printed at an unlicensed Press, Anno 1645. with his Picture and Verses before it; wherein he intolerably rails against our Church, Ministers, Worship, Government, as Antichristian, and Diabolical, to be utterly abhorred, renounced by all God's people. Upon this the Messenger only summoned him to appear before the Committee, but did not at all attach or imprison him. After that another seditious Libel, entitled, martin's Echo, Printed with the self same Letter and Press, that Lilburnes Letters and Pamphelts were, being published, and having some of his very Expressions and Phrases scattered in it, Lilburne, upon the Stationer's Information (who were checked for suffering these Libels to be Printed, which they said, they could not remedy, unless some were exemplarily punished) was again Ordered to be sent for in custody by the said Committee; whereupon the Messenger took & detained him in his house, but for one night's space, where he used him very courteously, and took not one farthing of him: And notwithstanding his publishing of so many Libellous Pamphlets, contrary to express Ordinances of both Houses, (which inflict not only Imprisonment, but other Censures too upon such delinquents) and his refusal to discover the Printers of those Books, the Committee of Examinations were so exceeding indulgent to him (thinking to reclaim his incorrigible obstinacy by lenity) that they permitted him to go at large, attending them only when he should be sent for, without putting in any Bail.  
On the 19.th. of July following, Lilburne walking in the Court of Requests with one Hawkins, and others, reported to them (without any real ground at all, but bare reports, heare-sayes from persons of mean condition) That there were strange things discovered against many Members of the House of Commons, and went as high as the Speaker, against whom it would be proved, that he had with his own hand sent three score thousand pounds to the King at Oxford; and that many Members had made their Peace, and done strange things, amongst whom, Sir Robert Harloe was one. Of which seditious and scandalous Speeches, the House being informed by Colonel King, Dr. Bastwicke, and other Witnesses of good credit, and having no time to examine the business, having sat all that day till past six of the clock, made this ensuing Vote.  

Die Sabbati. 19 Julij 1645.  
Resolved upon the Question, by the Commons assembled in Parliament, that Lieutenant Colonel Lilburne be forth with taken into Custody, by the Sergeant at Arms attending this House; and so kept till the House take further Order.  
To the Sergeant at Arms, attending on this House, or to his Deputy, etc.  
H. Elsing Cler. Parl. D. Com.   
By virtue of this Warrant, and upon this occasion only, he was apprehended by the Sergeant of the House, and kept in Custody, till the 24. of July. At which time being brought to the Committee of Examinations, and there examined touching this forementioned scandalous Speeches of the Speaker, and others: He peremptorily refused to give them any answer, unless the Committee would first express the cause, why he was ordered to be taken into custody, when as himselse did well knwo, it was for those very words against the Speaker, and other Members, whereupon they told him they would then examine him. Using divers insolent Speeches to them, and charging them with the breach of Magna Charta which he is not ashamed to relate at large in his Printed Libel to his Friend, pag. 2. to 5. whereupon he was most justly and Legally committed to Custody, and his contempt Ordered to be reported to the House.  
The very next day, he compiled a most lying, scandalous, seditious Libel, Against the Parliament, Speaker, some eminent Members of both Houses. Sir john Lentall, Doctor Bastwicke, and myself, which he Entitled, The Copy of a Letter from Lieutenant Colonel john Lilburne to a friend. The most seditious, scandalous, false lying Libel against the Parliament, Commit of Examinations, and Members of both Houses, that ever yet was penned, fare worse than any Oxford Aulicus, and tending only to stir up the People to rise up against the Parliament, to resist their power, Proceed, & alienate their affections from them. This, after his old manner, he sent to a private Unlicensed Press (always ready at his command) where being speedily Printed, he despersed the printed Copies thereof every where by his Agents among his Friends, and Confederates, who vented them underhand for money: One of the Printed Copies whereof being brought into the House, and there read, the House unanimously passed this Vote.  

Die Sabbati 9 August. 1645.  
Ordered by the Commons assembled in Parliament, That the consideration for finding out the Author of this Book, be referred to the Committee of Examinations, and that in case it appears to be Lilbournes Book, they shall have power to commit him to what Prison they please.   
Hereupon the Committee of Examinations sent for Lilburne this very day in the afternoon, to examine him concerning the writing and printing of this Letter; but he most obstinately, in a peremptory and contemtuous manner refused to be examined, or give any answer to the questions demanded of him, concerning the writing, or publishing thereof; whereupon he was committed to Newgate, by this ensuing Warrant, expressing the cause of his commitment thither, according to the Petition of Right, and Magna Charta, the effect whereof is thus entered in the Keeper's Book of Newgate.  

Gibb & Chambers Vic August. 1645.  
Lieutenant Colonel Lilburne committed by Laur. Whittaker Esquire, from the Committee for Examination, for refusing to answer to such Questions as were propounded unto him by this Committee, by Order of the House of Commons, and for the reasons that he gave for the same. And not to permit him to go out of the same, without further Order of the House or Committee.  
Dat. 9ᵒ. Augusti 1645. Examinat per Radm. Briscoe. Cler. de Newgate.   
On Monday the 11th. of August, this contemptuous obstinate deportment of his, and refusal to be examined, was reported to the House, together with his commitment for it to Newgate: whereupon the House unanimously made and entered these two Votes.  

Die Lunae 11ᵒ. Augusti 1645.  
Ordered upon the Question by the Commons assembled in Parliament, that they do approve of what the  hath done concerning Lieutenant Colonel Lilbourne.  
Ordered upon the Question, That Lieutenant Colonel Lilburne be tried at the next Quarter Sessions to be held for the City of London, concerning the contriving, making, devulging, and spreading DIVERS NOTORIOUS SCANDALS, set forth in his name, in a Printed Pamphlet, under the Title of a Letter to a Friend, AGAINST THE PARLIAMENT, AND SEVERAL MEMBERS OF THE COMMONS HOUSE: and the care hereof, is especially referred to Master Recorder.   
And by other subsequent Orders, a Solicitor and Council were specially assigned in the behalf of the Parliament, to prosecute this business against him.  
Yet notwithstanding this incorrigible Libeler, and unparallelled affronter of the Higher Powers, persevering in his villainy and seditious practices, since his commitment to Newgate, hath compiled, printed, and privily dispersed another most pestilent, mutinous Libel against the Parliaments power and proceed, to incense and mutiny the people against them, (Printed in half a sheet) as Libellous and seditious as his Letter, and much of the same stra●ne: for all which unparallelled insolences he shall no doubt be brought to a fair Legal trial, and receive condign punishment in due season.  
This is the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth of his Case, and of the Parliaments, and Committees proceed against him, every Tittle whereof, will be justified, and made good by a cloud of Witnesses, being persons of Honour, quality, Piety, Fidelity, by the Parliaments and Committees Journals, Lilburnes own Pamphlets, and himself, (if he be not past all shame, grace) dares not gainsay it in any particular.  
Now this being the true state of his Libellous, Seditious, Incorrigible, Contemptuous carriages toward the Parliament, successively from time to time; and of the Parliaments leisurely, mild, indulgent proceed towards him; I appeal to all the world, yea, to his best and most partial friends and Confederates.  
First, Whether any mortal, be he Papist, Prelate, Malignant, Royalist, or Cavalliere, much less, any professed Votary to the Parliaments service, did ever demean himself so Libellously, Slanderously, Seditiously, Contemptuously, Peremptorily, Presumptuously, and ungratefully to the Parliament, the Committee of Examinations, the Members, & proceed of the House, as this proud upstart jacke hath done, both in words, writing, deeds, without the least shadow of remorse or penitence? Or, whether any History records his Parallel?  
Secondly, Whether ever any Parliament, Committee, or other Court of Justice, did with so much lenity, patience, and long-suffering endure so many reiterated multiplied Libels, and public affronts against their Jurisdiction, Proceed, Justice, Members, without any just occasion, or ground at all, as this Parliament and Committee hath received from this Seditious Lying Libeler, before they did commit him, after so many precedent questionings, and admonitions? Or, whether any such pattern of Clemency, Patience, as they have used toward this incorrigible wretch, can be produced out of any Parliament Rolls, or Journals, in preceding Ages? If not, as I am confident none can; then how desperately ingrateful and malicious is this Lilburne, for taxing them with Tyranny, Cruelty, and injustice in their proceed against him?  
Thirdly, Whether ever any proceed were more Legal, just, and regular in every punctilio of Law, or more consonant to Magna Charta, the Petition of Right, or Laws of the Land, than these against him? And whether ever any man committed by Parliament had less cause to complain of Injustice, and Infringement of the Subjects Liberty, than he? Yet never did any man, both in discourse, and Printed Libels, so rail against the Parliament, for Tyranny, Injustice, breach of Magna Charta, the Petition of Right, the Subjects Hereditary freedom and liberty, as he hath most causelessly and seditiously done, of purpose, to raise up tumults against, and alienate the people's affections from the Parliament, his Emissaries scattering abroad these his seditious Libels among the Malignants in Kent, and else where, no doubt to excite them to a new Rebellion.  
Having thus truly stated his case, and the truth of the Parliaments proceed: I shall in the next place discover and refute his malicious Lies and Forgeries against the Parliament, and Committee of Examinations, in his own Printed Relation of his Case, in his Letter to a Friend.  
In this Lying Libel Pag. 3. he writes: Yet notwithstanding, since the first of May last, I have by the Authority of the House of Commons, BEEN THREE TIMES IMPRISONED, before ever I knew mine Accuser, or mine accusation, or ever was suffered to speak one word in mine own defence: which I humbly conceive is contrary to Magna Charta, And these Privileges that I ought to enjoy, by virtue of my having an interest therein. The manner whereof, he relates more largely, Pag. 12. 13. 14 where he repeats the former words with this addition: In again I was called, and told, I must wait again to morrow; I expressed myself again and again unto them, to give me leave to declare but one thing to them, but heard I could not be till about two hours after, waiting at the door, bemoaning, and 
* Note here his seditious carriage.  crying out to those that stood by, of the sad and deplorable condition, that I, and the rest of the Free people in England are fallen into, to be so unjustly Imprisonned, for the expense of our blood, for the just preservation of our just Freedoms, that we should from Committees of Parliaments themselves be Imprisoned, we know not wherefore, and when we come before them, according to their own command, that we shall be 
* If the Committee hath business of great●● importance, y●t John Lilburn, must forthwith be heard, and have precedence of all others, else Magna Charta, & the Subects Liberties are presently infringed.  remanded back again, and not suffered to speak one word for ourselves; Hear o Heavens, and give ear o Earth, and thou righteous God, that lovest justice, and judgement, and hatest, and abh●orrest oppression, and cruelty, which makest wise men mad, put forth thy hand, and do justice thyself upon the unjust and unrighteous judges of this age, whom the people have set up for their good; namely, to preserve their Lives, Liberties, and Estates, as their faithful Stewards and Servants, do yet destroy what they would seem to maintain.  
What heavier charge of Injustice, Oppression could be objected against the Parliament & its Committees, than this vile libellous Incendiary hath most falsely and scandalously cast upon them, in these seditious bitter lines, in which there is scarce one word of truth. For where as he publisheth with a b●azen forehead.  
1. That he hath been three times imprisoned since the first of May last; by Authority from the House of Commont; (before his two last commitments.)  
It is most certain, he was not so much as once imprisoned by any Authority from the House, though he deserved to be three times successively imprisoned in that space, for his intolerable Libels, and affronts against the Parliament: Let him therefore shame the Devil, and tell his deluded Confederates, when, where and by whom he was thus three times imprisoned; to what Goal he was thus committed; how long he lay there; what fees he paid, and how he got thence released: or else recant this desperate malicious Lye. True it is, he was thrice summoned to appear before the Committee of examinations for his successive printed Libels; and the last time sent for in custody, by a Messenger but yet not apprehended as a Prisoner, but entertained, and lodged by him at his house as a friend one night without paying any fees; and permitted the next morning to go at liberty without bail or mainprize. And these are the three (No) imprisonments, this libeler so much declaimes against, instead of rendering heartiest thanks to the Committee for their incomparable Clemency towards him; considering his reiterated Crimes and obstinacy.  
2. Whereas he ave●s he was thrice imprisoned before ever he knew his Accuser or Accusation: he writes expressly in the very next words pag. 1. 2. 3. etc. that I was his Accuser; that his Accusation was, the writing and printing of his letter to me, and that he was the Author of Martin's Books. Was not here then both an Accuser and Accusation by his own printed confession? True it is, that when he first appeared before the Committee, I did accuse him for printing his libellous Letter; but the Commons house had accused him for it some two or three Months before and ordered the Committee to send for and examine him; which order he knew off long before he was sent for: and when he was summoned the second and third time, the Wardens of the Stationers (formerly checked about his unlicensed libels,) were his known Accusers, not I, but as their Council: And therefore it is a most impudent Lie; that he neither knew his Accuser nor accusation before he was committed.  
3. Whereas he complains he was committed before he was ever suffered to speak one word for himself; this is a more audacious Lie then all the rest. For at his first appearance before the Committee, he had liberty to speak what he pleased for himself; nay, (which was never granted to any before upon a bare Examination without Articles, by express order from the house) Leave and time indulged him by them to set down his own answer in writing, which he not only gave in under his hand, but likewise published in print to all the world, and informs them again in this very Libel that he did so; Yet forsooth he hath the monstrous impudence to print this contradiction, That he was never heard to answer or speak one word for himself. O the falseness and boldness of this matchless Liar! who needs no other testimony against him, but himself. It may be at his second appearance, the Committee being otherwise employed, had no time to hear him; but I am certain, they did not then commit him, before he was heard or suffered to speak one word; For he was not at all committed. And that he was committed at other times, before he was heard one word, is so apparently false, that the greatest part of his Libellous Letter to a Friend, is but a mere Relation of what saucy, malapert, daring speeches he used to the Committees faces, charging them with the breach of Magna Charta, (which they gave him free liberty to read, as himself records for their vindication against his brazen-face Lies) and much trampling upon the Subject's Liberties; they hearing him speak, with much patience, such desperate Language against their Authority and most just proceed, as never any Malignant Cavaleere, or Royalist of the Kings own Party, durst use unto them; which they would not have endured from any other, but such an impudent ungratfull Companion as himself, Yet for all this liberty of speech, in his defence, he cries out of the sad and deplorable condition that himself, and the other free people of England are fallen into, that they should from Committees of Parliament themselves, be Imprisoned they know not wherefore, and when we come before them according to their own commands, be remanded bacl again, unheard AND NOT SUFFERED TO SPEAK ONE WORD FOR OURSELVES, when himself was suffered (as he there relates) to speak, and write so much: Wherefore I shall only turn his own Scripture exclamation against himself. Hear o Heavens, and give ear o Earth, and thou righteous God, that lovest justice, and Truth, and hatest and abhorrest Lying, and Liars, put forth thy hand, and do justice thyself upon this most desperate Malignant Liar, Slanderer of the Parliaments most just proceed against him, for his conversion and amendment, if he belong thee, or else to his just punishment, who hath thus falsely abused his Tongue and Pen, against these highest Powers, who represent thy person, and are thy faithful Ministers: And all you giddy seduced people of his combination and Schism; now at last discern and Judge, I beseech you, of the graceless, nay, Devilish temper of this transcendent Liar; and how false those vile imputations are, which he hath publicly charged on the Parliament, to render them odious to the people, out of the mere malevolence and virulency of his seditious spirit, contrary to his own knowledge, in his Printed papers. How can, or dare you credit him in any thing, who hath so grossly belied both the Parliament, and Committee, in those very particulars, which are the ground of all his Satirical Declamations against their Proceeding as Tyrannical, and unjust, which certainly himself, of all Malignants ever yet brought before them, had the least cause of any to complain.  
But admit, all these three malicious Lies to be true; there is no such cause for such an outcry as he makes against the Parliaments proceed as Arbitrary and unjust: Certainly, had he ever enjoyed the honour of being mine, or any other Lawyers, or Justice's Clerk, he would have known, that there is nothing more usual, then for Judges, Justices, Mayors, Aldermen, and all superior and inferior Courts of Justice in the Realm, upon private credible Informations or complaints, to summon, yea, attach men by Bailiffs, Sergeants, Constables, and other Officers, to appear before them upon general summons, to answer such matters as shall be objected, or alleged against them; and sometimes to commit them to safe Custody till examined, before they ever acquaint them with their Accuser, or Accusation, or hear them speak one word in their own behalf; yet none ever deemed these ordinary proceed of theirs, either Arbitrary, Tyrannical, or Illegal, contrary to Magna Charta, or the Subject's Liberties, but most just. And shall not the Parliament, the supremest Court, have as great a liberty and power, thus to summon and attach men upon informations against them, only to answer their Accusations, when ripe for Examination, as the meanest justice of the Peace doth daily ex●rcise without exceptions? How many thousands have the Lord Mayor of London, the Courts of Guard, and Committee of Examinations sent sor, attached, and restrained thus for a short space of their liberty, till they could be examined, before ever they knew their Accuser or Accusaton, or could be brought to public examination; and yet not one of them, ever made such an horrid outcry against the Legality of their proceed, as this Ignoramus, who understands the Law, and Magna Charta, no more than a jack-daw, as one once said of a doting Lawyer.  
But to proceed to his other falsehoods, Page 7. he writes: That during his imprisonment at Oxford, he was ruined in his estate to the value of six or seven hundred pounds, which he left behind him at London, which he can clearly make appear. Which he likewise recites in two other printed papers. This certainly is as gross a lie as any of the former. For his best and nearest friends will attest, he was never worth half so much; and the main reason, why he left the City, and went into the Parliaments Forces, was not so much for any good affection to the Parliaments cause, as to protect himself against his Creditors arrests for these many debts, which he incurred by renting of a Brewhouse, which (both himself and his Father, oft times told me, when they repaired to me for advice in Law concerning it) had quite undone and broke both himself and his friends, who stood engaged for him. And this Libeler himself Pag. 5. insinuates as much, complaining for want of recompense for his imprisonment, TO PAY HIS DEBTS, and buy him and his bread: So that he was as much or more beholing to the Parliaments Service for protecting him from the arrests and executions of his Creditors, as they were to him for any of his good services, the praise whereof he hath now, utterly lost and blemished by his evil, Libellous, and Seditious attempts against them.  
Pag. 16. He most scandalously and falsely avers; That many of the House of Commons took to themselves 3. l. 10. s. a week, and some of them more, and others of them great places, worth 500 l. 1000 l. 1500 l. 2000 l. and more per annum, and live in as great pomp, superfluity, and bravery, as ever they did in their days, by the ruin of the Commonwealth, when as thousands who have spent all they have in the world, and done the Kingdom good service, have not a bit of bread to put in their mouths, etc. This is a most notorious Lie: the Lords and Commons having removed all their Members by a special Ordinance, from all the Offices conferred on them by the Parliament, though well deserving, and fit to manage them: And when this slanderer shall make good this false charge by sufficient witnesses against any particular Members guilty of it, he shall receive a fuller answer.  
Page 5. He complains; that the Parliament and House of Commons, who formerly owned him, having served their turns of him; he could never have Justice from them, though he hath been as faithful a friend to the Commonwealth, as ever any they employed. And whereas Magna Charta saith, Justice and Right we will deny to none, we will defer to none, yet have I waited these four years upon them, at great expenses, and cannot get them to put their Votes in execution, And now of late I have followed them about this six months, to the expense of about 100 l. to get a Petition read, that I might have justice, and reparation, but have been denied Justice and Right, and could not get my Petition read: which he ingeminates, inculcates in sundry other pages. To which I answer, that it appears by the next preceding words, that the Parliament served his turn first, not he theirs. First, By enlarging him out of Prison, and restoring him to his Liberty. Secondly, By hearing his cause, and Voting his sentence in the Star-Chamber illegal, and that he ought to have reparations. Thirdly, By saving him from an arraignment for his life before the whole House of Peers about the Earl of Strafford, when the King himself sent in an Accusation against him, Aug. 4. 1641. (for his seditious carriage) To which he might have added (and doth elsewhere relate) a fourth; by saveing his neck from the Gallows at Oxford, and purchasing his release by an exchange from thence, to which I contributed my own best assistance. But did the House ever employ him in any public service to serve their turns? Surely never, for aught I could learn, and if they had, they should have heard of it to purpose in this Letter. What an ungrateful lying Merchant then doth he show himself, thus ill to requite the House of Commons for this their extraordinary favours, to use such scandalous false speeches, and Libellous invectives against them, that having served their own turns of him, he could never have justice from them since, etc. Yea, but he hath waited above four hours' space, and can have no reparations for his losses, according to their Votes. But is this the House of Commons fault? Have they been backwards to do him right? or rather hath not he been negligent and wanting to himself, in procuring a transmission of his cause to the Lords, without whose concurrence his sentence cannot be reversed, nor his damages ascertained and repaired. Surely it is very well known to the world, that my own Sufferings, Imprisonments, Losses, transcended his by many degrees, and that the Commons Voted me Reparations and Damages for them, long before they passed their Votes for him; that never yet received one farthing recompense for all my Losses, Damages, eight year's Imprisonment, Exile, the loss of my calling and estate, in any kind whatsoever, though (I presume) I have done far greater more and better Services for the State, Church, Parliament, than ever he performed for them: Yet did I never complain either of or against the Parliament, for breach of Magna Charta, in not doing or delaying to do me Right or Justice, neither had I just cause to do it, since the weightier public affairs of three bleeding Kingdoms, Churches, and our Bloody Wars and Schisms in all three, have engrossed all their time, thoughts, and deprived them both of vacancy, opportunity, and since, of present means to right me in this kind, in these necessitous times. The like I might say of my Dear Fellow-sufferers, Doctor Bastwicke, Mr. Henry Burton, Mr. Peter Smart, Dr. Leighton, Mr. Walker, and sundry others, who suffered far greater losses, and underwent far longer imprisonments than John Lilburn, and were Voted Reparations in the Commons House before any such Vote for him, yet never received any satisfaction or fruit of these Votes, by reason of the Parliaments more public employments, whose Counsels, Debates, time have been wholly taken up, to preserve our three whole Kingdoms, Religion, Lives, Liberties, and themselves from eminent ruin, which, blessed be God, they have done: Yet never did any of these revile the Parliament or Commons, or publicly tax them of injustice, in such a Libellous base unchristian way as he hath done, but still sit down quietly, and wait with patience till God shall restore the Parliament and Kingdom to such a condition, as may enable them effectually to accomplish what they so long since Voted in their behalves. Only poor upstart John is lately swelled to such an Altitude of worth and Merit in his own conceit, for his late Libellous and seditious Anti-parliamentary pamphlets, that he thinks the whole Parliament guilty of the breach of Magna Charta for not setting all public businesses aside, to hear his private Petition, and give him Reparations; whereas if they had strictly pursued Magna Charta in doing undelayed justice against him for his seditious▪ scandalous, execrable Libels against themselves, their Proceed Power, Members, and others who have done them service, perchance he might have received his just recompense at Tyburn ere this; and I pray God give him so much grace and timely repeatance, as may make him capable of so much mercy, to escape it at last.  
I find another notorious slander of his, with which I shall conclude, in the 11 page of this Letter of his to this effect: I served under my Lord of Manchester, where and with whom I adventured my life, as freely as any man in the Army; and the best requital that I got at his hands was, an earnest endeavour by him to hang me, for taking Tickell castle from the Cavaliers: Truly though none will or can believe this Slander of this Noble Lord; yet they will easily believe it of himself (if they considerable his seditious Anti-Parliamentary Libels, Practices, and some other conspiracies of him or his confederates against the Parliament and some chief members of it) that he doth most earnestly endeavour to hang himself; and some of his best friends fear, that hanging will be his destiny, since he takes such desperate courses to bring him to it. He hath therefore now need to ply God with his prayers, to give him so much Grace, (and I hearty pray he may so do) as may prevent so great a shame, so sharp a sentence, and reserve him for some better end.  
Having thus charged throug and rooted his main Squadron of Lies and Scandals against the Parliaments and Committees proceed: I shall in the third place a little examine and refute his mistaken law, his misinterpretation of Magna Charta and the Petition of Right, which had very ill fortune to fall into the hands of such a lawless Ignoramus. The sum of Lilburnes complaint against the Parliament is: That he hath been several times sent for, examined and imprisoned by the Parliament and its Authority, in a most unjust, arbitrary and tyrannical way, contrary to Magna Charta, the Petition of Right, and liberty of a freeborn subject. This I have already manifested to be a most false and scandalous Lie in matter of fact: I shall now clear it to be so in point of law, to stop his and all men's clamorous mouths, by making good these 4. Propositions  
First, that his first summons, only to appear before the Committee of Examinations, upon an express order of the Commons house, for printing his first Libellous Letter against the Parliaments Ordinances, Proceed, Power, the Venerable Assembly, and myself, without licence; contrary to several Ordinances of both Houses; is neither against Magna Charta, nor the Petition of Right, nor the Subject's Liberty, not Law of the Land, but consonant to them all.  
2. That his second summons, and third sending for in custody for printing his Libellous Answer given under his hand to the Committee without licence, contrary to their express order, and direct Ordinances of Parliament, is not contrary to Magna Charta, etc. but agreeable thereunto.  
3. That the Committee's examination of him concerning his last printed unlicensed Papers and words of Mr. Speaker, was no infringement of Magna Charta or the Subject's liberty, but warranted by Law: and his commitment for refusing to answer, most just and Legal.  
4. That his commitment to the Sergeants custody by Vote of the Commons House before ever he knew his Accusation or Accusor, and without being called to the Bar and heard to speak there for himself, is no infringement of Magna Charta, the Petition of Right, the common law, or subjects liberty, but warrantable, just, and Legal.  
Before I proceed to these particular Heads, I shall give you a briese Account what the law of the land is in cases of Libels against private or public persons Lilburnes Libels and false reports both of the Parliament Committees, Speaker, and members of both houses being the ground both of his summons and imprisonment.  
The law before the Conquest was, that the Author and spreader of false Rumours among the people, had his Tongue cut out, if he redeemed it not by the prize of his head: as appeared by the Laws of King Alfred: cap. 28. and Sir Edward Cooks 3. Institutes p. 198. We read in Bracton l. 2. Tit. De Crimine lesae Majestatis; in Glanvil. l. 2. f. 110. in Britton Tit. of Appeals f. 39 in Stamford, Pleas deal Corone f. 1. b. and sundry other law-bookes: that at the Common Law, both before and since Magna Charta, it was no less than High-Treason for any man to do or give consent or assistance to any thing which might move Sedition in the Realm, or Army: which nothing is more apt to do then seditious Libels against the Parliament and chief Members of it, to mutiny the people and Army against them: of which crime how guilty Lilburne is, let all who have read his most seditious Papers judge: Tr. 18. E. 4. B: R: Thomas Heber was indicted and outlawed of High-Treason among other things, for saying (after the Parliament ended) That the last Parliament was the most simple and insufficient Parliament that ever had been in England: I am certain John Lilburne hath not only said but written, printed, and published to the world of this present Parliament yet sitting, that which is fare worse: viz: p. 4. 5. etc. That Judgement (there) is turned backward and equity cannot enter: That the Lord saw it, and it displeased him that there was no Judgement there. That the Parliament having served their turns of him, he could have no justice since: that he hath been denied Justice and Right both by the House and Mr. Speaker. That the vote of the house for his Commitment is contrary to Magna Charta, and to the just practice that was used by the very Heathen Romans: O brave times, and brave justice! To which he adds this imprecation to heaven against them; Hear o Heavens, and give ear o earth, and thou righteous judge that lovest justice and judgement, put forth thy hand and do justice thyself upon these unjust and unrighteous Judges of this age, whom the people have set up for their good, namely to preserve their lives, Libertyes, and Estates, as their faithful Stewards, and yet destroy what they would seem to maintain: with other passages as bad or worse.  
By the Statutes of Westminster 1. (made 3. Ed. 1.) c. 33. 2. R. 2. c. 5. 12. R. 2. c. 11 1. and 2. Phil. Marry c. 3. and 1. Eliz. c. 7. It is enacted and straight defended upon grievous pain, that from thenceforth none should be so hardy to contrive, speak, or tell any false news, lies, or other such false things, or publish any false News, Lies or Tales, or Prelates, Dukes, Earls, Barons, Nobles or Great men of the Realm, whereby debates, discords, or slanders may arise between the King and his people, or the Lords, Nobles and commons, whereof great peril and mischief might come to all the Realm, and quick subvertion and destruction of the 
Note.  said Realm, if remedy were not provided; And that he that shall offend herein, shall be kept in prison, until he hath brought him forth in Court, that did first speak and report the same; and if he cannot bring him forth, that then he should be grievously punished (according to the nature of the offence) by the Council. And all Justices of Peace within every shire, City, and Town Corporate, are enabled to hear examine and determine the said causes, and enjoined to put these Laws in due execution, that from henceforth condign punishment be not deferred from such offenders: And by virtue of these Acts, and of the very Common Law itself, many persons for libellous false speeches, News, Reports, and writings not only against Noblemen, judges, great Officers, and other persons of honour, but even of private persons, have constantly in all ages been indicted in the King's Bench before the judges, and proceeded against in the Star-chamber, for raising or spreading false News, Lies, Libels, Rumours, and been imprisoned, fined, adjudged to the pillory, to wear papers on their heads, lose their ears, undergo other corporal punishments, and bound with good sureties to the good behaviour, as you may read in Sir Edward Cooks Commentary or Institutes on Magna Charta 3 E. 1. c. 33. His 3. Institutes c. 76. f. 174. His 4 Institutes cap. 5. & 7. 5. Rep. pars 2. f. 129. 125. 9 Rep. f. 59 Cromptons' jurisdiction of Courts Tit. Starchamber and Bank le Roy 43 Ass. 38. and Parson Harrisons case in the King's Bench for defaming judge Hutton, being a late memorable precedent of justice in this nature, which every man approved.  
This being the known, received Common and Statute Law of the Realm, agreeable to Magna Charta and the Petition of Right, which protect no man's liberty, person, or estate, against the due proceedings and punishments of Law, when he turns a Libeler, Malefactor, Felon, Traitor, or Delinquent against the Law (for then every Thief, Murderer, Felon in Newgate might plead it as well as john Lilburn against their imprisonments and judgements) The first question will be; Whether the Committee of Examinations and House of Commons being really and truly informed of all the forementioned seditious Papers, Libels, Lies and false Reports published and printed by Lilburn against the jurisdiction, Ordinances, Proceed of the Parliament, their Committees, Members, the Synod, and others, might not justly summon him to appear before them, being authorized and commanded by a special Order of the House to do it, without any infringement of Magna Charta and the Petition of Right? Certainly, this being the truth of the question, there is no man that knows what belongs to Law or justice, but will acknowledge it, since there is nothing so common in daily practice or experience, as for the Lord Mayor and Aldermen of London, the Mayor, justices, and chief Officers in every City or Corporation, the justices of Peace in every County, the Judges and Stewards in every Court of justice, the several Committees, and all Subcommittees of Parliament, upon informations and complaints of any wrong or injury within their several jurisdictions, to send out general warrants, writs, or summons to the parties complained of, to appear before them, to answer such things or misdemeanours as shall be objected against them. And in the Army itself john Lilburne cannot but know, it is an ordinary course for the General, or Council of war, or any chief Officer of the Army, to send the Provost Martial, or other under Officers to summon any soldier under their Command to appear before them upon complaints, without sending them notice first, what their accusation is, or who their accuser; and john Lilburne himself (as I am credibly informed) hath without any Commission done more than this amounts to in Lincolnshire, whiles he had there some petty Command. And shall not a Committee of Parliament then have as much authority to summon John Lilburne to appear before them upon a just complaint and special Order of the House, without a grand infringement of Magna Charta, the Petition of Right, and such an outcry as you have heard in print; when as any justice of Peace, or petty Officer may do as much and more in the like case; and every Soldier or Officer at any Court of Guard in any the Parliaments Garrisons? Hear O Heavens, and hearken O Earth, what mad Nonsense new Law and Doctrine this Ignoramus hath published! How many thousands have this Committee and other Committees and Sub-Committees of Parliament summoned to appear before them, many of them in custody since the Parliament begun; and yet not one of them, (though the veriest malignant Royalist or Anti-parliamentarian breathing) did ever pretend or allege, that this was an infringement of Magna Charta, or invasion of the Subject's Liberties. And all that have read any Parliament journals in either House, know, that in all Order which appoint Committees or Sub-Committees to examine any business, this clause is added, And this Committee hath power to send for Parties, Witnesses, Records, etc. which they pursue accordingly and have done so in all ages. Further, take notice, First, that in matters which concern the State or Republic merely, there needs no particular Informer or Relator, but the judges and Officers of State ought ex officio to inform and prosecute all public Delinquents. Secondly, that john Lilburne certainly was the first of any I ever met with that preached, or at least printed such Apocryphal Nonsense Law, for which he produceth no Authority but his own Ignorance. And if the summoning of men to appear either in Courts of justice, or before Magistrates and justices of Peace, should be against Magna Charta, certainly there could never be any Law or justice executed, the summons being ever the first process and means to bring men to appear before the Officers of justice, who are to examine their misdemeanours complained of, and so to inform them of them when they appear; and if men should know their particular accusers or accusations before their summons, it would be a means: First, to make the Delinquents fly or hid away to avoid the hand of justice, if they could possibly make escapes. Secondly, to corrupt the Informers and witnesses that should prosecute, & to smother or extenuate theeir crimes. Thirdly, to furnish the Delinquent with premeditated answers and evasions, and so introduce a total subversion or pervertion of justice; All which inconveniences a general summons, which the Laws provide and allow of, prevents. In few words, a summons to appear without an actual attachment of the person summoned, is no imprisonment, no outing of any man of his freehold, lands, goods, franchises; no sentence passed against him; Therefore clearly, no proceed at all within the words or intent of Magna Charta or the Petition of Right, as this New Lawyer, out of his deep ignorance, hath most magisterially resolved: being one of those unintelligent Lawyers that St Paul speaks of 1 Tim. 1. 17. Desiring to be Teachers of the Law, understanding neither what they say, nor what they affirm.  
These Premises make way for proof of the second Conclusion: to wit, That the Committees sending for Lilburne in custody, upon new information of the Stationers against him for printing his libellous Answer given in to them, contrary to their express Order, with scandalous marginal Notes, and other schismatical, seditious Papers, contrary to Law, and several Ordinances of Parliament; is agreeable to Magna Charta, and the Petition of Right, not any ways repugnant to them.  
For the clearing whereof to the very meanest capacy, we must distinguish, between a warrant to apprehend a man in nature of a process or attachment; and the commitment of a man to a prison, goal, or Messenger upon his examination, after an apprehension or attachment. In the first of these, a general warrant made to a Sheriff, Constable, Messenger, or any other inferior Officer, upon a precedent particular information, or vehement suspicion, is and ever was reputed just, legal; without expressing the name of the Accuser or particulars of the Accusation in the warrant. For example, If an information be given in to the Lord Mayor of London, or to the Chief justice of England, or any justice of Peace, that any particular person hath committed or is suspected to be guilty of such a Murder, Robbery, Treason, Trespass, or offended any penal Law, the breach whereof they have power to examine, there is nothing so ordinary in daily practice and experience as to send a warrant to the Sheriff, Constable, or other under Officer, to apprehend and bring the party accused or suspected before them, to answer such things as shall be objected against him. The like is done daily in all Courts of justice upon complaint of Misdemeanours; in and by both Houses of Parliament, their Committees, and Sub-Committees, and hath been done of late in many thousand persons cases, who neither did nor could of right so much as once complain of the breach of Magna Charta. And I appeal to john Lilburn, or any other Officer or Soldier in our Armies, whether the General, Council of war, and other Officers do not every day almost upon complaints send for Soldiers and others in custody, and apprehend them by the Marshal, sometimes by a warrant in writing, sometimes by a mere verbal command, without acquainting them before hand with the Accusers name, or his particular accusation, but only in general terms, to answer such things as are or shall be objected against them? and did ever any Soldier yet complain that this was tyranny, injustice in their General, the Counsel of war, their Officers, or contrary to Magna Charta, the Petition of Right, and the Liberty of the Subject for which they fight? What ground then hath this clamorous Libeler to rail against the Parliament or Committee of Examinations, for sending for him in custody upon a precedent true, just and vi●●ble complaint, even the printing of these libellous Papers, conttary to their express Order, the privileges of Parliament, and Ordinances against unlicensed printing, which inflict in this case imprisonment by this very Committee, with other penalties upon such offenders? Certainly none at all but only his own seditious, malignant, venomous rancour against the Parliaments justice? But certainly if others, yet he of all men had least cause to complain thus in this case; because though the warrant was to bring him in custody, yet he was not brought thither in custody as other prisoners eaten, but only summoned to appear, and that upon a more particular warrant than others, expressing in general terms the cause for which he was sent for; and when he came, he was neither committed to any prison, nor forced to put in Bail, nor detained in the Messenger's custody as a prisoner, but remained with him one night at his free liberty as a friend, and paid no fees nor any thing for his diet and lodging, as the Messenger himself will depose. And was this sending for an infringement of Magna Charta, and the Laws of the Land? Certainly if it were, it was only in his favour, that he was not according to the Law of the Land, Magna Charta, and the several Ordinances concerning printing, presently committed to some Goal or other for his seditious Libels and Lies, and there detained as he hath been since.  
This case of summons and attachment by virtue of a general warrant being clear out of Magna Charta and the Petition of Right, the sole question will be; What commitment and imprisonment that is which is against Magna Charta and the Petition of Right? and whether Lilburnes was such a commitment? This will best appear by the very Petition of Right itself, and the original case and votes in Parliament which were the grounds and occasion of this Petition: The case was only this.  
Divers eminent Gentlemen of the Kingdom, in the third year of King Charles, were sent for by Pursuivants before the Lords of the Council, for refusing the loan of monies then set on foot, contrary to divers Statutes, and by them committed to several prisons sundry months, without expressing any cause of their commitment in the warrant: And when for their deliverances they brought their Habeas corpus in the King's Bench, the jailors certified no cause of their deliverance or commitment, but only the King's special Command, signified by the Lords of his privy Council; yet the judges would not bail, but remaunded them to prison; Hereupon in the next Parliament complaint was made, that this imprisonment and detaining of them in prison only upon the King's bare Command, without any other cause expressed, was against Magna Charta and other Statutes, and the judges remanding of them to prison upon such a general warrant, illegal: And after a long and sound debate of the business, it was thus unanimously resolved in the Commons House, 3 April. 4. Car. Regis, and afterwards 
A Conference had by a Committee o●●oth Houses concerning the Rights and Privileges of the Subject: 3 April. 4 Car. printed 1642. p. 66.  consented to by the Lords.  
1. Resolved upon the Question, That no Freeman ought to be detained or kept in prison, or otherwise restrained by the Command of the King, or the Privy Council, or any other, unless some cause of the commitment, detainer, or restraint be expressed, for which by Law he ought to be committed, detained, or restrained.  
2. That the Writ of Habeas corpus may not be delayed, but aught to be granted to every man that is committed or detained in prison, or otherwise restrained, though it be by the Command of the King, the Privy Council, or any other, he praying the same.  
3. That if a Freeman be committed or detained in prison, or otherwise restrained by the Command of the King and Privy Council, or any other, no cause of such commitment, detainer, or restraint being expressed, for which by Law he ought to be committed, detained or restrained, and the same to be returned upon a Habeas Corpus granted for the said party, than he ought to be delivered or bailed.  
These Votes and the Lords concurrence with them, begat the Petition of Right after many day's debate, which thus states the Subjects grievance in this particular. First it recites Magna Charta c. 29. and 28. of Ed. 3. That no Freeman should be taken or imprisoned, without being brought to answer by due process of Law; and then proceeds thus.  
Nevertheless against the Tenor of the said Statutes, and other the good Laws and Statutes of your Realm to that end provided, divers of your Subjects have of late been imprisoned without any cause shown: And when for their deliverance they were brought before your Justices by your Majesty's Writs of Habeas corpus, there to undergo and receive as the Court should order; and their keepers commanded to certify the causes of their detainer, no cause was certified but that they were detained by your Majesty's special Command signified by the Lords of your Privy Council, and yet were returned back to several prisons, without being charged with any thing to which they might make answer according to the Law. Whereupon they pray in this Petition, That no Freeman in any such manner as is before mentioned, be imprisoned or detained. To which the King subscribed this Answer, Let Right be done as is desired. Now what is this to lilburn's case? Who was not now committed to prison by the Committee without any cause expressed, but only sent for in custody to come before the Committee (as these Gentlemen were sent for by Pursuivants, to come before the Privy Council) to answer to such things as should be objected against them; which sending for was never so much as once complained of in Parliament, as a breach of the Great Charter or Subjects Rights, but admitted to be legal. Had the Parliament or Committee sent Lilburne then to Newgate (without expressing any cause of his commitment in the warrant) and he had brought a Habeas corpus in the King's Bench to be bailed, as these Gentlemen did, and then no cause of his commitment or detainer had been returned, but only the Committees pleasure, if thereupon he had been remanded; perchance than he might have had some colour to complain of injustice and breach of Magna Charta, and the Petition of Right: But the Committee not so much as then proceeding against him so fare as to commit him, but only sending for him in custody, and permitting him to go at large upon his appearance without bail, only upon his bare word to attend them when he should be summoned, how this can be brought within the compass of Magna Charta or the Petition of Right, as a breach of both, or either, transcends my understanding, and all other Lawyers but himself. I am credibly informed, that this upstart monstrous Lawyer since he was called to the Bar at Newgate, where he now practiseth, hath the Book of Statutes there lying open before him, which he reads and interprets to all the poor ignorant people that visit him, telling them, that he will in a few days make them understand the Laws and Statutes of the Realm as exactly as any Lawyer in the Kingdom; Belike he keeps now his Reading in that Inn of Court, and will be a Sergeant at Law, or a judge very shortly, since he hath commenced a Reader of Law in so short a space. But I shall beseech his Readership to resolve this Mootpoint, against what clause of Magna Charta and the Petition of Right his sending for in custody by the Committee of Examinations, is, and what coherence there is in this his Argument?  
No man ought to be detained or kept in prison upon a Habeas corpus returned in the King's Bench, unless some legal cause of his commitment be returned upon the Writ; because it is contrary to Magna Charta, and so resolved in the Petition of Right.  
Ergo the Committee of Examinations in sending for John Lilburne in custody to examine him for his printing & divulging Libels (contrary to the Common, Statute Law, and Ordinances of Parliament) without any commitment of him, or any Habeas corpus brought or returned, is contrary to Magna Charta, and so resolved in the Petition of Right.  
When all the wise men of Gotham College can make this argument Sense or Reason, it may pass for Law among the vulgar Separatists, till than it deserves no other censure but this, that it is only John lilburn's Newgate Law.  
Yea but he hath something more to say against the Commons House (though not against the Committee of Examinations) in this point; which is contrary, 
Object.  as he conceives (and it is but his conceit, to the true intent of Magna Charta: And what is that? forsooth, he was by the forementioned Vote of the House of Commons on the 19 july 1645. upon Dr Bastwicks' Paper only (which the Doctor hath sufficiently clea●ed to be a mere Lie and slander to defame him) ordered to be forthwith taken into custody by the Sergeant at Arms attending that House, and so kept till the House took further order; by means of which Vote he was committed to prison (to his custody only) before he was ever heard speak. This forsooth is the grand breach of Magna Charta, so much declaimed against in his Letter to a Friend; and since seconded in another most seditious printed paper, entitled, The Copy of a Letter from an Utter Barrister to his special friend, concerning Lieutenant Colonel Lilburnes Imprisonment, there justified to be illegal, and against Magna Charta.  
I answer and aver, that this Commitment of his by the House of Commons was most just, and necessary, if the occasion and ground of it be considered. 
Answ.  john Lilburne had that very day publicly reported to Independent Hawkins, and others at Westminster, divers groundless, scandalous, malicious Reports, amounting to no less than High Treason, concerning Mr Speaker and other members of the House of Commons, in a libellous, illegal, scandalous, seditious way, of purpose to defame, and stir up the people against them and the House of Commons, whose destruction by source and violence he, or his confederates, had then been plotting, and since pursued in sundry private meetings: which being done without any ground, proof, or legal way of accusation, the House being informed of it that Evening when they had sat all day, and had no time to examine Lilburne touching it that night, did for this false Rumour spread by him in such sort, contrary to the forementioned Statutes, and the Liberties and Privileges of Parliament, only Vote, That the Sergeant at Arms belonging to the House, should apprehend and take him into custody, till further order taken by the House for examination of the business: Which Order is no judicial Imprisonment or Commitment contrary to Magna Charta, or the Petition of Right, but a mere Process or Attachment to apprehend and bring him to examination. Of which there are thousands of precedents in both Houses in this and former Parliaments, as well in the case of the members themselves when informed or complained against, as of others; and no more than all Courts of justice do, and ever have done, before and since Magna Charta, who grant out writs to arrest men upon Actions of Debt, Trespass, and the like, before ever they hear the parties; and that which every Magistrate, justice of Peace, and Subcommittee daily do without exception, who make out warrants to attatch and bring Delinquents before them upon mere informations, before ever they hear them speak: For how, I pray, should they hear them speak before they be sent for? and if no warrant or process should be granted by the Houses, Committees, Courts of justice; Officers, judges, justices, against any, till they were first heard speak, than no man ever would or could appear before them, for this would be to hear men first, and then to summon them that they might be heard, when as they must first be summoned, and then heard, the process ever necessarily preceding the hearing. See then the sottishness and folly of this grand Ignoramus, who complains of a breach of Magna Charta, only because he was not heard in the House, before they voted him to be apprehended and sent for by the House, which had no cause to send for him to hear him speak, if he had been heard before he was sent for: he might have as justly complained against his own mother that she did not hear him cry before he was born, or against his father, for not binding him an Apprentice in London before he sent him up thither that he might be bound, as against the Parliament, for not hearing him speak before they voted him to be sent for or attached by the Sergeant at Arms. Prithee, john Lilburn, to use but thy own instances; did ever Straford or the Archbishop of Canterbury complain of the breach of Magna Charta, because they were accused by the Commons of High Treason and committed upon their Accusation, before ever they acquainted them with th●ir Charge or heard them speak? Or if Newgate examples like thee better, did ever any Horse-stealer, Thief, or Felon in Newgate, complain that Magna Charta was violated, the Petition of Right infringed because he was apprehended by a Constable by warrant from the justice, before ever he was brought before him, or he heard him speak, or because he was not arraigned at the Bar, and there heard and tried before he was indicted? Silly john if this be all thy Law, and Reason, there is no man in his right senses, but will judge thee fit for Bedlam than Newgate, and think thy overmuch Learning in the Law hath made thee mad or lunatic. And if the Sergeants keeping thee in his custody, till the House or Committee had leisure to examine and hear thee speak for thyself, be a breach of Magna Charta, and the Petition of Right, than Straford, Canterbury, might as justly have complained of this injustice as thee, for that they were detained prisoners till they were brought unto their Trials to prevent escapes; and all thy fellow prisoners in Newgate, may as justly complain for being there detained till their trials. Wherefore john, if I may advise thee as thy old Friend and Council, never meddle any more with matters concerning Law, until thou hast studied thyself and it a little better, especially so fare as to cast dirt with it into the Parliaments face, and charge them with injustice, tyranny, or proceeding against Law and Magna Charta; their imprisonment of thee in this nature upon this occasion, being by the lawful judgement of thy peers, and by the Law of the Land, as well as by the Law and Custom of Parliament, which neither is nor aught to be always bounded by Magna Charta, especially in extraordinary cases (as we see by sundry particulars in these extraordinary times of war and danger) having power to repeal old Laws, to enact new ones if they see occasion, and to inflict new punishments upon new crimes and offences, not heard of in former ages: of which nature thy Libels and Invectives against them seem to be, though the Parliament and Committee in their proceed against thee and them, have gone on in the old way of Law and justice in all particulars; to the last of which I shall next proceed.  
And that is, to prove in the third place, That the Committee of Examinations examination of thee by order of the House, concerning thy false Reports of Mr Speaker and other members, and thy printed Libel against the Parliament and them, entitled, A Copy of a Letter to a friend, and their commitment of thee to Newgate for refusing to be examined, and the House of Commons Vote in prosecution of it, were legal, and just; agreeable, not contrary to Magna Charta and the Petition of Right.  
Had Poor john but Law enough to qualify him to be the meanest justice of Peace his Clerk, or some Recorders, or Clerk of the Assizes his Clerks Clerk, he might have known, that by the Law of the Land, every justice of Peace every day doth, may and aught to examine every Traitor and Felon that is brought before him, concerning the Treasons and Felonies that are laid to their charge; that those examinations so taken usually are and aught to be returned to the Assizes, Sessions, and there openly read and given in evidencé many times against them to the jury, even in these capital causes; And if they refuse to be examined, it is held a contempt against Law and the ordinary course of justice: and when they are indicted, arraigned at the Bar, the judges and justices demand of them when the indictment is read, Whether they are guilty or not guilty? and if they refuse to answer, and put themselves upon the trial of the Country, the law of the Land deems it such an high contempt against justice, that presently, without further trial or evidence of their guiltiness, they are for this their obstinacy and contumacy 
* See Brookes Abridgement, ti●. Pain and Penance.  adjudged to be pressed to death in the most painful manner, far worse than any hanging; because their contempt in not answering, is in Law a greater offence then that for which they stand indicted; as obstinacy in any sin is worse than the sin itself. And in case they answer, not guilty, and so come unto their legal trial, the judge, justices, and jury sometimes, doc usually strictly examine and interrogate them again (as well as the witnesses) touching the particular Treasons, and Felonies whereof they stand indicted, and oft times when witnesses fail or prove short, find them guilty, and hang them by their own examinations and confessions at the Bar, or at their apprehension. If then judges and justices may proceed thus to examine Traitors and Felons themselves, in their own cases in capital crimes which concern their very lives and estates, without violating Magna Charta or any other Law; may not the House of Commons then much more appoint the Committee of Examinations to interrogate Lilburn concerning his 
* See p. 6, 7, 8.  forementioned speeches and Letter, without any infringement of Magna Charta or the Subject's Liberty, which protect no man against such legal examinations? There was never any Traitor or other grand Delinquent, to my knowledge, committed by the Parliament, Privy Council, or others, to the Tower or any other prison, but was once at least, if not twice or thrice examined, concerning the Treasons and offences for which they stood committed: How m●●y members of both Houses in form●● Parliaments, and in this especially (which hath stood most of any for the Subject's Liberties and Privileges of Parliament) have been thus examined in their own cases? yet never any of them at any time refused to be examined, or ever esteemed it a breach of Magna Charta, or a thing against the Subject's Liberty? I dare say, the Committee of Examinations have examined above five thousand persons of all sorts, sexes, degrees, before them in cases which concern themselves, and yet never met with any that refused to be examined, or that pleaded Magna Charta against it, till Lawless John Lilburn (or some of his Disciples) came to be examined before them; who when he was sent for before this very Committee about his first printed Letter to myself, had not learned so much Law as he hath gained since, for he then submitted to an examination, wherein he confessed both the writing and printing of that Letter; and for this his conformity was not then committed, but suffered to go at large, till the matter should be reported to the House. Not to spend more time, or cite precedents in so plain a case; the two grand Irish Rebels, Mac-Guire and Mac-Mohon, were upon their apprehensions in Ireland, examined touching that late horrid Treason and Rebellion there, of which they were chief contrivers; and being sent for over hither by the Parliament, were several times examined by Order of the Houses, both by the Chiefe-Iustice and others; and by their own examinations thus taken, (being the principal evidence against them) condemned and executed at Tyburn, according to their just demerits, never pleading nor pretending, that their examinations & the proceed against them were against Magna Charta. If Io. Lilburn then and all others cannot but subscribe to all the premises, he must then recant his false mistaken Law in this particular, as well as in the former.  
This poor Ignoramus hath nothing to object against this, but that to be examined upon Interrogatories concerning ourselves, as we were in the Starchamber and High-Commission, is against the Law of Nature, and that which caused this Parliament to suppress those Courts, and to vote his own sentence there illegal, unjust, arbitrary, against the subjects Liberty; and yet now they walk in the very same steps, and build up that again which by that Vote they formerly destroyed. So he dogmatizeth in page 15 of his Letter.  
Take then an answer to it in few words; 1 It is neither against the Law of Nature, nor of the Land, nor Magna Charta, nor the Petition of Right, for a man to be examined against himself upon interrogatories (as all the premises sufficiently manifest) no not in cases of Treason, Felony, nor in any other case; nor yet against the Law of God, for then joshua had never thus examined Achan in a case where his confession cost him his life, Iosh. 7. 14. 15. 19, to 26. nor Peter, Ananias and Saphyra, wherein their Lie lost their lives, Acts 5. 1. to 11. Indeed in capital, and some other mere criminal causes, a man by our Laws ought not to be examined upon his oath against himself, nor yet in case of Illegal Loans, the only thing complained of and provided against by the Petition of Right; but without oath men are and may be thus examined against themselves, by the rules and constant practice of our Law, and in some criminal causes upon oath to.  
2 The examination of men upon their oaths in Starchamber, was held lawful, and used there above an hundred years without dispute; neither did this Parliament ever judge such examinations against Law, or pull down that Court for them; nor yet in your own case so vote or adjudge: But that which they voted against, and that for which they suppressed this Court, was the bloodiness and exorbitancy of their Censures, Fines, for small or no offences; for making that criminal which was legal; that a great offence, which was neither a fault, nor crime, and making that Court as an Engine to undermine all our Laws and Liberties by degrees; and bringing those into it (as Sheriffs, justices, and others) who refused to levy or pay Ship-money, or opposed any Oppressions, Monopolies, unlawful Taxes, Projects, Impositions, Innovations, or Arbitrary proceed in State or Church; or maintained the just Rights, Laws, and Liberties of the Subjects against them. And the High Commission was voted down on the like grounds, but not principally for the Oath ex Officio, which was condemned in them not so much because it was unlawful for any man to accuse himself, or be examined in his own cause, with, or without an oath (for then the Chancery, Exchequer, and Court of Wards, where men are to answer and are examined upon oath against themselves, should have been suppressed as well as it;) but upon two other reasons. 1. Because men were there forced to take this Oath before sight of their Articles, and so sworn to answer criminally to what they knew not when they took the Oath, so as they could not swear in judgement. 2. Because the High-Commissioners had no power given them by the Statute of 1 Eliz. c. 1. or any other Law, to administer any such Oath.  
3 Sundry Acts of Parliament have prescribed Oaths, to be given to men in their own cases in sundry particulars, as the Statutes in the 
* 5 R. 2. c. 13. 8 H. 6. c. 7. 14. H. 8. c. 5. 3 jac. c. 4. 5. 1 jac. c. 15. 21 jac. c. 19  Margin will inform you. Therefore they are not simply against Law; but yet the Committee of Examinations examined not Lilburne upon Oath against himself, and they had a special Order from the House to examine him without Oath, which they might justly do, & daily practise in case of Delinquency, in other men's cases; therefore his insolent contemptuous refusal to be thus examined by them, was a most high insufferable contumacy against the Committee, Parliament, their Power and Privileges, for which he was most justly committed 
See p. 7. 8.  to Newgate, as the House hath unanimously voted; and that according to the rules of Law, Magna Charta, and the Petition of Right, the particular causes of his imprisonment being expressed in the forcited warrant by which he was committed to Newgate.  
By all which it is most evident, that both the Committees and Parliaments proceed against this obstinate Libeler and Liar, have been in every circumstance and punctilio, agreeable to the constant practice, rules, proceed of Law and justice, yea warranted by Magna Charta and the Petition of Right, and no ways repugnant to them in any particular whatsoever. Therefore Lilburnes seditious railing Invectives against them, both in his printed Libels, and his ordinary Discourses, with the late most seditious printed Paper, entitled, A Copy of a Letter from an Utter Barrister to his special Friend, concerning Lieutenant Colonel Lilburnes imprisonment, declaiming against his commitment as illegal, and advising him to appeal to the People for right against the Parliament concerning his restraint, as to the supreme Power, etc. are but mere malicious, scandalous Libels and Firebrands of sedition, to excite the ignorant vulgar, and Separatists of his Faction against the Parliament; and promote some Anabaptists long agitated and late detected Conspiracy, to root out the Members of this Parliament by degrees, beginning with Mr Speaker, whom if they could cut off, all the rest would easily follow: and if this succeeded not, then to suppress and cut off this Parliament by force of Arms, and set up a new Parliament of their own choice and Faction; to which Conspiracy all Lilburnes mutinous Papers, the Arraignment of Persecution, A sacred Synodall Decretal, Martin's Echo, with other seditious Pamphlets mentioned in my Fresh Discovery of new prodigious lights and Firebrands, and two new printed Pamphlets since; the one entitled, England's misery and remedy, in a judicious Letter from an Utter Barrister to his special Friend, concerning Lieutenant Colonel Lilburnes imprisonment in Newgate; and another Paper beginning thus; In the 115 page, etc. were but so many preparatives and incentives to prepare the people to join with, and assist them in this damnable Traytorly Plot.  
Having thus fare vindicated the Parliaments and Committees justice and legality in their proceed against Lilburnes Notorious Calumnies, Lies, and mistaken law, I should in the next place have vindicated Mr Speaker, with the rest of the Members of the Commons House, from those groundless lies and slanders he reported of them, for which he was first apprehended by Vote of the House. But because this matter hath been fully sifted to the bottom by the Committee of Examinations, and from thence reported to the House, which hath by solemn Votes acquitted Mr Speaker, the other Members, and Sir john Lenthall, from the groundless slanderous reports concerning them, I shall only here insert the Votes, and so pass it over.  

Die Lunae 15 Septembris 1645.  
UPon Mr Whittacres Report of the whole state of the Proceed before the Committee of Examinations, concerning Mr Speaker and Sir john Lenthall, it is  
Resolved etc.  
That the House doth agree with the Committee, that there is no colour of proof appearing of Mr Speakers sending of 60000. l. or any sum of money to Oxford, or consenting thereunto.  
Resolved etc.  
That this House doth agree with the Committee, that there is no colour of proof appearing of Mr Speaker, or any Member of the House, holding any correspondency with Oxford.  
Resolved etc.  
That this House doth agree with the Committee, that it was a breach of Privilege of Parliament in the Committees of Surry and Salter's Hall, to enter upon any examination touching Mr Speaker or any Member of this House.  
Resolved etc.  
That there is not any colour of proof of 60000. l. or any money at all sent by Sir john Lenthall to Oxford, or that he was privy to any money sent or received to that purpose.  
Resolved etc.  
That there is not any proof against Sir john Lenthall of holding any correspondency with Oxford, by Letter, Message or any other way.  
Resolved etc.  
That this Complaint hath been raised and prosecuted without any ground at all, falsely, maliciously, and scandalously.  
Resolved etc.  
That William Pendred, Edward jenkes and Hannah his wife, james Frieze, and Stephen Prat, have been principal instigators and prosecutors of these proceed, and deserve severe and exemplary punishment.  

Mr Selden  
Mr Grimstone  
Mr Recorder  
Mr Sandys  
Mr Whitlock  
Mr Less  
Sir Tho. Widdrington  
Sergeant Wild.   
This Committee or any three of them, is appointed to consider what exemplary punishment is fit to be inflicted upon the malicious Instigators and Prosecutors of these Proceed named in the Votes aforesaid, and that they do bring in their Report by Thursday morning next peremptorily; And are to meet when and where they please.  
Copia vera. H. Elsing Cler. Parl. D. Com.   
I could willingly here cast Anchor, and rake no further into Lilburnes dunghill and Legend of lies; pretermitting all his scurrilous Invectives and slanderous falsehoods against myself, as not worth my taking notice, or any Animadversions on them; but because I know the Natural Disposition of this Libeler, and his perverse Generation of seduced Disciples, that they would judge me guilty of all the false Aspersions he hath cast upon me in his Libels, if I should only vindicate the Parliament and its Members, not myself; and so cannot, without betraying mine own Innocency and Reputation, pretermit or pass them by in silence; I shall crave so much liberty and patience from the Reader, as to wipe off the dirt and lying Calumnies which he hath most injuriously cast into my face, to wound and blast my credit and integrity with all of his own Schismatical Tribe, and others to, as much as in him lies, though unable to effect it.  
In his Copy of a Letter to a Friend, pag. 12. he gins his railing scandalous Lies against myself, in stead of recanting those in his former Letter and Answer to the Committee; and because I am a Lawyer he hath mustered up no less than a whole jury of notorious Lies and Slanders against me, which I shall relate and answer in their order.  
1. The first is, That Mr Prynne writ Books, and the Parliament licenced them, wherein he presseth to have all those destroyed and cut in pieces, which he styled Independents, for all the good services that they had done the Kingdom, and by his unsufferable slanders, wicked bloody, and unenglish man's provocations, having written Books AGAINST ME and my harmless Brethren, tending causelessly to our utter ruin and destruction. Certainly this is a Lie for the whetstone; let him show any such thing in any of my writings, as he relates (confessed to be licenced by the Parliament for their greater honour and authenticness) which I am certain he can never do, though he writes, Poor I being almost overwhelmed in my spirit at the perusal of them &c. writ to him an Epistle in one sheet; or any Books writ by me against himself; or else be for ever branded for a Liar in the highest degree.  
2. The second; That I did most lyingly, just William Prynne like, affirm before the Committee of Examinations, that his Letter was sent to the Press and published in print, before ever I read or perused it: which verily is most false (mark his reason) for it was delivered him three or four days, before it was printed. I answer, admit this latter clause true, touching the delivery of his Letter to me, yet doth it follow thereupon, that I did presently read and peruse it as soon as it was delivered? or can this false Accuser produce any one witness or circumstance to prove, I did ever read or peruse it before it was printed by his appointment? Surely no, I had at that time other public pressing occasions lying on my hands, of greater importance than the perusal of his libellous Letter, which retarded me from any serious perusal or reading it over, till I saw it in print. This I affirmed for truth to the Committee, and will still maintain, whatever john Lilburne (to use his own language) most lyingly, just like himself, affirms to the contrary.  
3. The third, That Mr Prynne was then ashmed of this his false information before the Committee, and durst not go on to abide the proof of it, but put it off with sophistical tricks: And also 
† Ergo he was heard before the Committee, and knew his Accusation and Accuser by his own con●●ssion.  before the Committee at the next time, to his face, I challenged him hand to hand, to dispute upon any one proposition he would pitch upon in the whole Letter, and refer myself to the Committee themselves to be judges, and would stand to their judgement, but the paltry Simpleton declined it. All this is a most palpable paltry Lie, and not one syllable of it true, as both the Chair man and Committee will attest; he being then and there questioned, not for writing to, or libelling against Mr Prynne, but for printing this Letter without licence, contrary to Ordinances of Parliament, and for libelling therein against the Assembly, the Ordinances and Proceed of Parliament, and charging the Parliament itself (most falsely and seditiously) with breach of their Covenant: Whereupon he was by special Order of the Commons House forementioned, convented before the Committee of Examinations for those offences only, not for any thing relating to Mr Pryn, nor for any Proposition in his Letter. And whereas he vaunts, that he challenged Mr Prynne to dispute with him before the Committee upon any Proposition in his Letter, and make the Committee themselves judges, it is a mere vainglorious Lie, without any shadow of truth; serving only to discover his pride and insolency to the world, such a challenge (if true) being no ways seemly or sufferable before such a Committee: And had any such been made, Mr Pryn could with ease have proved him as great an Ignoramus in his Divinity, as he hath here manifested him to be in his Law; and have informed him, he might have done well to wave such a challenge, his Propositions having been long before that answered, refuted publicly in print by another hand, to which this Simpleton never yet durst adventure to return the least Reply.  
4. The fourth; That Mr Prynne (it seems) was the man that got justice Whitaker to commit him to custody about the 14 of May, before either he knew his accuser or accusation. This is but his own seeming conjecture, a scandal to Mr Whitaker and the Committee, who saw cause sufficient upon the very Order of the House, the examination of the libellous Passages in his Letter against the Assembly and Parliament, and his contemptuous unlicensed printing of his Answer given unto them in writing, contrary to sundry Ordinances of Parliament, and the Stationer's complaints against him, to send for him by a Messenger then, and since that to commit him to Newgate, for printing his last scandalous, scurrilous, and most seditious Letter; and that without any infringement of Magna Charta, or the Subject's Liberties, which never authorised John Lilburne, nor any other person, to print Lies and Libels against the whole Parliament, Speaker, Particular Members of both Houses, or other persons of Quality, which by the Statutes of Westminster 2. c. 33. 2 R. 3. c. 5. 12 R. 2. c. 5. and other Acts, is not only punishable by imprisonment, 
See Cook. 5. Rep. f. 125. etc. 9 f. 59.b.  fine, and other corporal censures, but in some cases with death.  
5. The fifth is p. 20. That surely the man (Mr Prynne) is out of his wits, (for discovering, publishing his and his Confederates gross Lies, Libels, and Slanders against the Parliament and Assembly, to the world in his last Book) whereas all that read his Letters, their Libels, and Mr Prynnes said Book, will rather deem himself and them out of their wits, than Mr Prynne, who was then, and yet, God be thanked, known to be in his right senses by all but Bedlam john Lilburne.  
6. The sixth is contained in the same page, where he honours me with this worshipful Epithet, and language, Will. Pryn the Lawyer, but rather the grand Liar; (and why so?) because he it told by Captain Hobson a Tailor, and Captain Beamond an Apothecary, (two anabaptistical Lay-preachers, committed for preaching about Newport Pannell, contrary to an Ordinance of Parliament) that the main things charged against them by Sir Samuel Luke, are only proved by one witness, (who as they have informed him, is as base and vile as a man can be) and contradicted by some four or five of Sir Samuel Luke's own witnesses etc. Certainly some Members of the Committee and Commons House, who then heard, and have since read the Examinations of Sir samuel's witnesses, to the shame of these unsufferable GRAND LIARS, will avow, that all the Charges against them are not only confirmed and made good by Sir Samuel Luke's own testimony, a person of Honour, but likewise punctually proved, attested by three or four witnesses at least (whose depositions I myself have perused in the original Book) of fare better credit, quality, and reputation than the parties accused; and that they all unanimously concur, without the least contradiction, proving much more against them then Mr Prynne relates of them; And therefore john Lilburn (to use his own language) here shows himself once more a Grand Liar, in giving such unseemly speeches to Mr Prynne, for relating nought but truth; and defaming, traducing the witnesses produced by Sir Samuel (whose persons, conditions he knows not) in so gross a manner, upon the Delinquents own bare false reports.  
7. The seventh, That Mr Prynne hath published to the world abundance of lies and slanders, not only against these Lay-preachers, but also against Honourable Sir Thomas Fairfax, and Honourable Cromwell, and divers other chief Officers in the Army, to whom the whole Kingdom owes so much honour and respect, for all their faithfulness and good service done them: which (writes he) is so insufferable, unwarrantable, unjust, and abusive as I think was never done by any to the Parliament since they sat, besides Mr Prynne: And I am confident, if I had done as much as he hath in that Book (he means, my Fresh Discovery) and had been such a firebrand, as there he is, I should hardly escape Tyburn.  
O the intolerable Impudence of this Scribbler, whose lines are as full of lies as a Dog of fleas! In my Epistle to the Parliament before my Fresh Discovery, I occasionally related; That two Captain Pr●achers. Hobson and Beamond, apprehended by Sir Samuel Luke for bre●ch of an Ordinance of Parliament against Lay-Preachers, did among other their lavash speeches, MOST FALSELY AND SEDITIOUSLY AFFIRM; That the General and all the Colonels in the Army were deeply engaged in their design of preaching &c. of purpose to vindicate the Honourable Victorious General and his Noble Colonels from this very notorious false slander most untruly cast upon them by these slanderers. For doing them this right and honour, I am thus most scandalously charged by Lilburne, with publishing lies and slanders against them, with being a firebrand, and deserving Tyburn; who on the contrary justifies and pleads for these slanderous Delinquents in three whole pages, and thereby slanders both the General and Officers in the highest degree, whose Innocency I have vindicated from their misreports. Certainly, all Lilburnes friends, who have any spark of Truth or Christianity in their breasts, will for ever execrate and renounce such an abominable impudent slanderer as this, who dares affirm such gross untruths, even in print; and I wish his public penitence for all his premised slanders may be such as none may ever conclude in his own terms; that since he hath been a fare greater Firebrand in his last printed libellous Letters, than Mr Prynne appears to be in his Fresh Discovery, he will hardly escape Tyburn, if justly prosecuted for and censured according to his misdemeanours.  
8. The eighth is, That in page 22. he promiseth hereafter at some other time to anatomize Will Prynnes lies and fooleries, and destructive practices to the Commonwealth in supporting Sir Philip Cartwright, the Malignant governor of jersey, who by his means alone hath been as great an instrument of the support of the King, and of his unjust wars, as any hath been in England.  
It seems this Libeler for want of present matter intends to forge and publish some new lies and forgeries of me for the future, which I shall as easily wipe off, as those already charged on me: As for my supposed destructive practices to the Commonwealth in supporting Sir Philip Cartwright (he should say Carteret, a man he never knew) I shall give a brief account thereof because it most concerns the State to be truly informed of it, and of the loss of Jersey.  
It is very well known to the world, what extraordinary favours and respect I received from Sir Philip Carteret and his Lady during my three years close imprisonment, and exile in jersey, when all my kindred and friends, by special order from the Lords were debarred any access unto me; and none of my friends in England durst publicly to own me; and that my brother Burton (then close prisoner in Garnsey Castle) did by his interest in the Governor there, at my request, procure him more liberty, respect, and better Accommodations than all his other friends could obtain for him. In respect of which obligations, I should have manifested myself a Monster of ingratitude, had I not contributed my best assistance to support Sir Philip's innocency, honour, and reputation, against the malicious and injurious Accusations, Aspersions of his inveterate backbiting Enemies, who endeavoured only to defame, and out him of his Offices of trust, that themselves might step into them. Among these his Adversaries, one Bandinell an Italian, Dean of jersey (who first introduced Episcopal Government, and jurisdiction into that Island) a man of a very lewd and wicked life, and a crafty Machivilian was the chief; who came purposely over into England, to procure a Benefice in jersey for a distracted son of his, and to complain to the Archbishop of Canterbury against Sir Philip, for his courtesies and kindness unto me, as the readiest means to obtain his desires; but instead thereof, this Parliament being assembled before his arrival here, and the Archbishop questioned, he met with Articles of complaint against himself, for several gross misdemeanours and oppressions done by him in that Isle as Dean, for which he was committed by the Commons House for two or three months to the Sergeants custody; after which he confederating with one Monsieur Samyres of jersey, who was justly questioned by Sir Philip for an astront against him as Deputy Governor, in laying down his Captain's staff, and command in the open field, because he could not have his will in disposing of the Lieutenant's place in his band to a person altogether unfit, whom the whole company disliked; they first of all secretly contrived divers false and scandalous Articles against Sir Philip to the Parliament, without any name subscribed to them, and enclosed them in a Letter, desiring any well-affected person, who should take them, to present them to the house of Parliament, left them upon the Stocks at London, where being found by one who passed that way, they were presented to some Members of the House, who gave Sir Philip notice thereof: Not long after, this Dean and Samyres drew up a large paper of Articles (the very same in substance, and for the most part in words with the former) and delivered some Copies of them to sundry Members of both Houses, but were not forwards to press them to be read, that so they might slander Sir Philip in the opinion of those Members by this underhand dealing to stay his return to jersey, and he be disabled to clear his innocency; which Sir Philip hearing of, procured these Articles (which they left in the Earl of Stamfords' hands) to be read in the Lord's House, and so moved his adversaries to make them good if they could, that so he might clear himself from their false Accusations ere his departure from hence, and not be slandered in his absence: Whereupon at Sir Philip's solicitation only, not theirs, a day of hearing was appointed before a Committee of Lords in the Lord's House, whereat I was present: The Dean and Samyres being called in, they were demanded first, whether they had any deputation, or Commission from all the Islanders, or any considerable part of them to exhibit these Articles against Sir Philip, they being entitled, Articles exhibited by the Inhabitants of the Isle of jersey against Sir Philip Carteret, and complaining for the most part only of general grievances to the Island: They answered, they had no deputation from the States or Inhabitants of the Island to exhibit those articles, but they doubted not but they would justify and allow what they had done; Whereupon Sir Philip produced a Deputation from the three Estates of that Island made in their general Assembly under their common Seal, deputing & intrusting him for their Agent to the Parliament, to inform them of some public grievances of which they desired redress, and crave some confirmation and enlargement of their privileges; which Deputation certainly they would never have made to him, had himself been the chief and only public grievance, as the Articles imported, and such an enemy to their common good as was suggested. Whereupon the Lords were fully satisfied, the accusers silenced & reproved by the Lords for abusing them & the Islanders, in presenting a Petition in their names without their privity and Commission, against a person of honour deputed by them to the Parliament and state. After which, they demanded of them severally, what they could object or prove against Sir Philip, who answered that they could prove nothing for the present, since all their witnesses were in jersey, and that they could attest little of their own knowledge; only Samyres complained, that Sir Philip had put him from his Captain's place, and ordered him to answer his contempt in England in refusing to take it up again; whereupon Sir Philip answered, that he had voluntarily laid it down in contempt, for which he had power to Fine and commit him; but in regard he was his kinsman, and one of a weak estate, he only gave him an admonition, and used him with all kindness and civility: which Samyres could not deny, on whose part the business appeared so foul, that they told Sir Philip, because he did not commit him for his contempt then, they would commit him now, and the Dean too, for their malicious libellous Articles, which they could not prove, nor say any thing to of their own knowledge; But by Sir Philip's importunity and request, their commitment was taken off: Soon after which, Sir Philip was settled Deputy Governor of that Isle by order and approbation of both Houses, and ordered to put it in a posture of defence against the French; whereupon he returned to jersey, and I departed into the Country; of which his malicious prosecutors taking advantage, caused their false and scanscandalous Articles to be secretly Printed at their own charge, and dispersed into divers Parliament men's hands and others about London, and then carried the residue of them into jersey, where they translated them into French, and dispersed them among their Acquaintance and the people, as if they had been Printed by the Parliaments Authority, and made good before them, of purpose to raise a Faction against Sir Philip, for which being there judicially questioned and Indicted, they thereupon appealed to the Parliament, pretending their Articles were there depending; to take off which prosecution, upon some misinformation of theirs against Sir Philip to the close Committee, they procured a Warrant to send for him over into England as a Prisoner, to answer to some charges against him, contained in the former Articles.  
Whereupon Sir Philip writ a Letter to the Committee, acquainting them with the former malice of his enemies; his discharge of these Accusations on a hearing before the Lords, the cost and danger of his journey thence, the inconvenience to the state of his present deserting the Island, desiring that till some offence were really proved against him, he might not thus bevexed upon a mere suggestion being a person of quality having so great a trust, and settled there by a late special Order of both Houses, offering to give Bond or any other security to the Parliament, to answer any charge that his prosecutors should either in England, or by a Commission in jersey be able to prove against him; so as they on the other side might enter into Bond to answer him damages, in case he should clear himself from all their accusations, of which he made no doubt; Whereupon the Committee were fully satisfied, but not the prosecutors malice; For one Maximilian Messervy and his brother, who during my imprisonment in jersey were accused for Coining, and venting counterfeit Coin of all sorts, both Gold and silver; and (Maximilian being imprisoned for his crime divers months, the melting pot, Mould, Mettles, sophisticated with some false Silver and Gold being found in his study, which I myself there saw, besides sundry single and double false Pistols, which he vented unto others, for which offence he had been executed, had not he obtained a special pardon from the King, by Sir Philip's and Captain Carterets means) falling about this time to their old trade of Coining false gold, and venting some of it both in Normandy and the Island; Sir Philip upon complaint and proof thereof, sent out Warrants and Officers to apprehend them, and made Proclamation (there usual) that none should convey them out of the Island; notwithstanding, they both escaped thence in the night in a small boat, and fled into France, and not long after into England: Sir Philip upon their flight, before their arrival here, writ a Letter to myself, informing me of the particulars of the offence and proof against them, craving my advice how to proceed now they were fled from thence, and how to punish him that transported them contrary to his Proclamation; to which I returned an Answer. Upon these Coiners arrival at London, they siding with Sir Philip's opposites, complained of great injuries he had done them for their good affection to the Parliament, and pretended they could ptove great matters against him concerning the State, if they could but procure a Warrant to apprehend and bring him over prisoner; and by the help of some friends they made here, and their false insinuations they procured a Warrant from the close Committee, for these two Coiners to go unto jersey and apprehend Sir Philip, and bring him over Prisoner to the Parliament, which Warrant was signed and delivered to Ma●●●●●●ian: Of which I casually having information, and knowing what cr●●es they were guilty of, and that Maximilian was as very a villain, & cunning ●heater as breathed (having formerly cheated divers of my friends, & my 〈◊〉) did according to my bounden duty, and the care I had of the Parliaments honour, acquaint some of the Committee with this gross abuse, and the qualities of tho●● persons, informing them, what an extraordinary scandal and dishonour it would be to the Parliament, and what cause of clamours and just exceptions it would give to the King's Malignant party to exclaim against them, if they upon the information of those false Coiners, who were Traitors by Law, and had relapsed into this offence after a Pardon, and now fled from thence to escape the hands of justice, should thus be sent over thither by the Parliaments Authority as their Agents, to apprehend Sir Philip, the Governor, a man of honour and credit, (who had formerly saved them from the Gallows, and did now but his duty in prosecuting them, and craved my advice therein before their arrival here) and bring him prisoner over hither, who had just cause to apprehend and hang them there: That this would be such an Act of indiscretion and injustice, as would open the mouths of all the world against them, and alienate the heart of Sir Philip, the whole Island and all good men from them: And thereupon I desired them to take some course to call in their Warrant, which they thought very just, and desired my assistance therein; whereupon, I employed one to find out their lodgings, which he did at last, informing me withal, that they were full of money, and that Maximilian had offered a small Ingot of gold to sell; whereupon I conceiving they had here set up their Coining trade for which they fled from Jersey, procured a Warrant from justice Hooker to apprehend their persons, and search their lodgings for suspicion of Coining, which was delivered to one Master Stone a Constable in Saint Clements; who coming early in the morning to their lodging, and standing at their Chamber door, heard them telling money on the Table, which he conceived to amount to five or six pounds at least by the noise it made, after which he knocking at the door and demanding them to open it, they suspecting by his words and carriage he was some Officer, refused to do it, stood upon their guard, and Maximilian offered to escape forth out of a Garret window, and after that at a back door; but at last they were both apprehended and searched, but no money could be found about them, except three or four pieces of French and Spanish Coin, not amounting to above five or six shillings: But in Maximilians' Trunk there was found a plate and mould to coin with, which himself bespoke about a month before of a Smith near Charing Cross, bringing him the pattern in paper, pretending it was an instrument, which he must use in the Army, wherein he pretended he was to be a Trooper; together with powder to cast gold and silver mettle in, and Alchemy Salts to colour their false silver with; & in the chamber over theirs, there was found about a pound or two of their false mettle (hid under the mats in a corner) some in the lump not sophisticated, some in small pieces newly melted, and so cunningly sophisticated with Alchemy ingredients, that it shown like silver, and would endure the Test; insomuch, that the Goldsmiths themselves could not discern whether it was sophisticated or not, till Sir John Wollastons servants melted it down; and then there was not one grain of silver in it, being the most artificial counterfeiting of silver without any mixture of it, that they ever saw. Upon these pregnant evidences of their guiltiness of coining false money here, seconded with their real guilt of it in jersey, whence they so lately fled: They were examined by justice Shepherd: where Maximilian confessing his having the Ingot of gold, which he tendered to sale, and being examined what he had done therewith; First, he said he had given it away, but to whom he knew not: then, that he had exchanged it for some Commodities he wanted, but when, where, and with whom he exchanged it he knew not; afterwards he said, he had delivered it to a Master of a Ship, and being taken tardy in that; his last envasion was, that he had sent it to Saint Mal●es in France: Upon all these circumstances they were both committed Prisoners to the Gatehouse, there being nothing wanting fully to convict them, but only some of their false Coin, which they conveyed away in such sort that no piece of it could be found, though the Constable heard them telling it, as he conceived. After which they were examined by Sir Robert Harles Master of the Mint, who took away the Warrant they had from the close Committee, to apprehend Sir Philip, which Maximilian carried about him in a little box: Not long after this, these two Coiners lying prisoners in the Gatehouse, procured some jersey Anabaptists, and other of Sir Philip's adversaries, to inform some Members of the House of Commons, that these two Coiners were very honest men, who came purposely from jersey to complain of Sir Philip to the Parliament for his Malignity and great oppressions, and that by a mere plot and combination of some Malignants and friends of Sir Philip's; their lodgings were searched, and they committed by justice Hooker and justice Shepherd to the Gatehouse, of purpose to take them off from prosecuting Sir Philip who was a great Royalist, and notorious Enemy to the Parliament, and would keep the Island only for the King; they having complained against him, and one or two of his Agents here, that were in custody, to the Committee of Examinations; Upon which misinformation, both the justices and Constable were sent for to that Committee to be examined, touching this practice; who acquainting me therewith, I accompanied them thither, and hearing them begin to examine justice Shepherd in a criminal way, upon the pretended plot against these Coiners; I the reupon took all the business on myself, that the justices and Constable did what they had done upon my information, being mere strangers to Sir Philip and the Prisoners, acquainted them with all the premises, produced Sir Philip's Letters, the Mettle, Mould, and other particulars to make them good: informing how they had abused the close Committee, and this Committee too, through their misinformations, and what a dishonour it would be to countenance, or employ such villains, whom they should either hang here, or send over thither in a way of justice to be executed, desiring them to take some course to punish those who did thus misinform and abuse them; neither of them daring to appear, to make good what they suggested: Whereupon the justices were dismisled, these Coiners remanded to the Gatehouse, and Ordered to be proceeded against at the Sessions: Whilst these things were in agitation, about the time of these Coiners first arrival in England, Sir Philip assembled the Estates of jersey together in nature of a Parliament; where he, and the States in name of the whole Island, framed and joined together in two Petitions, the one to the King, the other to the Parliament, to this effect: That they were deeply affected with the dissensions and civil Wars in England between the King and Parliament; that they feared the like distractions there, unless timely prevented by their wisdoms and care: That it was their cordial desire not to look on the King or Parliament as divided one from another, but united, and would thus cordially adhere to both, without siding against either, etc. Whereupon they humbly prayed they might enjoy their joint favour and protection, and the like liberty of Trade to both their Quarters, as they enjoyed by ancient Charters between England and France, during the Wars between both, only with their Lawful Commodities, without doing prejudice to either side.  
This Petition to the Parliament, with Letters from Sir Philip to Mr. Pym were sent to London by one John le Coulter of jersey, bound thence for England with divers Letters from some English Captives in Argeir, to their friends here about their Redemption; who coming to London with the Letters and Petition, presently met with some jersey men, opposites to Sir Philip, and acquainting them that he had Letters from Sir Philip to Mr. Pym, with a Petition from the Estates of the whole Island to the Parliament, and desiring their direction how he might present them to Mr. Pym, they presently procured him to be seized on by a Messenger, as a Spy sent purposely over by Sir Philip, (whom they cried up for a Malignant and Enemy to the Parliament, without any colour or shadow of proof) took away all his Letters and the Petition, which by this means was smothered and never presented to the House; and if presented and Answered, would doubtless have settled that Island in quietness, and made Sir Philip and the whole Island firm to the Parliament: After which, by false suggestions, they detained him above three months in their Custody, to his great expense, before I could procure his full release: About the same time, one Osmond Cook, a Soldier of Mount-Orguile Castle, who attended on me in my Chamber, during all the time of my close Imprisonment there, and came into England about half a year before, merely upon his own private business, to recover a house and some Lands in Beckles, devised to him by his Uncle, returning into jersey from hence, was in his passage thither by these malicious persons Informations seized on in the Western parts as a Spy to Sir Philip, sent up Prisoner to London by Sea, and there detained in Custody divers months: Notwithstanding, there was no proof of any thing at all against him, but mere suggestions behind his back, the which to my knowledge were false. Whiles these two parties were thus Imprisoned, Sir Philip's Adversaries, by their malicious suggestions, of his dangerous malignity and Enmity to the Parliament, and importunate solicitations, procured an Order from the close Committee, for Major Lidcot and some other Officers, with six very good brass Ordnance, and sundry Muskets, Barrels of Powder, Match and Ammunition, to be sent into jersey to apprehend Sir Philip, as an enemy to the Parliament, to besiege and take in the Castles, secure the Island to the Parliament, and descend their party there, and withal, got the Coiners Messeruies enlarged, to go over with them into jersey, Maximilian promising to do great matters for the Parliament, with the party he and his confederates would there raise, and out of my cordial affection to the Parliament and that Island, acquainted Mr. Solicitor and others of the close Committee, with the inconveniences and ill consequence of this rash design, of which I having intelligence, grounded upon mere misinformations of Sir Philip's adversaries to effect their own ends: informing them upon my own knowledge that both Castles in jersey were so strongly situated & fortified, that they must have an Army by Land, and a Fleet by Sea to Block them up, that an hundred men in each would maintain the Castles against all the Force the Island could make, and three times more; and therefore it was a ridiculous thing to imagine that a Major with five or six Gunners and Officers, and that small force Sir Philip's Enemies could raise there should take both or either of the Castles, especially without a Fleet to assist them, one of them being quite surrounded with the Sea at half Flood, and above half the other at low water; that the Castles to my knowledge were very well furnished with Ordnance and Ammunition, for two or three years' Siege; that they could every tide receive fresh Supplies of Victuals, Men, and what ever they wanted from France and elsewhere: That the Islanders were generally raw faint-hearted Soldiers, who durst not come within Canon shot of the Castles, much less approach a Breach, and run upon the Canon's mouth, as they must do if they will take them: That if they sent any Ordnance, Muskets, or Ammunitions thither, which they needed at home, they would all certainly be lost, and that they who engaged them in this action, did it more out of private ends and malice against Sir Philip, than any public good to the Parliament; for admit the Parliament had the Castles and Island surrendered without a stroke, they would cost them more the keeping, than they were worth, and draw a charge upon the State in these needful times to no purpose, but to waste the public Treasure: That in times of Peace, the King received not one penny profit from the Island, but only the Governor, whose whole income in time of war, would not maintain the Garrison soldiers, requisite to keep one of the two Castles, and that it could supply the Parliament neither with fight men, nor money, nor Shipping in this time of War, but must be supplied from hence with all these: And admit the King had it all in his absolute power, it could do the Parliament no hurt at all, since it could neither supply him with Soldiers, Men, Money, Provisions, nor Ammunition; and far remote from England, quite out of the road of our English Trade. That the Inhabitants being generally very poor, and having none but base French Coin among them, could yield the King no supply of moneys: That Sir Philip Carteret and the States of the Island, did now by Petition and Letter, desire the Parliaments friendship and Kings jointly, and not to side with either as divided but United; and that he would engage himself, if they would give but a fair Answer to their Petition (which was suppressed by the opposite party) that Sir Philip and those Islanders of his party, should continue firm unto the Parliament, and their friends, and never do one act of Hostility or unkindness on the King's behalf against them; and that the Parliaments and the King's Ships upon all occasions, should have all accommodations, and ride safely in the Harbour there at their pleasure, which was all the benefit we could reap if the Island and two Castles were totally in the Parliaments possession: That if they sent any Ships or Forces thither to apprehend Sir Philip, or Seize the Island and Castles by source, (especially by such infamous persons as the Coiners and some others were) it would make Sir Philip and his party to stand upon their guard, and perchance of friends or Neuters at the most, to turn professed enemies, and side with them that were ill affected, without any advantage to the State, and draw much expense upon them, which would end in loss and dishonour, as experience would manifest, and I would make appear by unanswerable Arguments, before the whole Committee in the presence of those who put them upon this design: To which end, I did put all this under my hand in writing, and left it with some of the close Committee: Whereupon, there was some stop made of the jersey Expedition for a week or two; but afterwards some of the Committee crediting Sir Philip's Adversaries, who continually solicited them, and kept Osmond Cook and le Coultre in Prison, and promised a present Conquest of the Castles and Island: Major Lidcot and some other Officers, through their importunity, were sent over thither with six great Brass pieces, Musket's, Powder, Match, and other necessaries: Before the Major departed hence, I meeting him at Westminster Hall, informed him of the strength of the Castles, the impossibility of taking them, the Cowardice and treachery of the Islanders, and of some of those who were to go over with him, who would certainly betray him for their own advantage, especially Maximilian the coiner; and therefore advised him to be very vigilant, telling him I much feared he would soon return thence with loss and dishonour, and without any success; which I acquainted him with, out of my good affection to himself and the State, the importunity of Sir Philip's Adversaries having engaged the Parliament and himself in this design; which I endeavoured to hinder, but could not, and therefore had done my duty. Soon after they set sail for jersey, and there Landing with their Ordnance, Arms, Ammunition, summoned in the Country to beleaguer the Castles, which they did at a distance, out of danger of Canon shot for a little space. But Captain Carteret arriving there with about fifty new Soldiers after Sir Philip's death, (who died in the new Castle during the Leaguer,) the event proved answerable to my Predictions; the Canons, Muskets, and Ammunition sent thither, were all lost and taken by Captain Carteret, the Major basely deserted by the Islanders, the Dean, Messeruy & others that went over with him from hence, who revolted to the other side, and with the hazard of life was forced to make his passage through the Enemy, and to fly thence by night in a small Boat, and return for England, to the great dishonour and expense of the Parliament: And by this means the Island was totally lost to the Parliament, and of real Friends, or Neuters at the most, made their professed Enemies: Whereas if my advice had been followed, this vast expense had been saved, this dishonour prevented, and the Island continued firm to the Parliament, which hath been thus abused by Sir Philip's opposites, merely out of private spleen and ambition to gain his places, which God knows, they had neither wisdom nor ability to manage: And this is Mr. Prynnes destructive practices to the Commonwealth, in supporting Sir Philip Cartret, whom this slanderous Libeler, only upon false reports styles, the Malignant Governor of jersey, and as great an instrument of supporting the King in his unjust wars as any hath been in England, which is certainly a most loud Lie, since it hath not at all been proved, none I believe can say, that Sir Philip ever supported the King in his wars, with Men, Money, Ammunition, nor ever did the least hostile act against the Parliament; but only defended himself, when causelessly sent for, and terribly assaulted by his Enemy's solicitations, and misinformations to the Parliament; how ever this is certain, that I never supported him in his Malignity, or since he turned Malignant, if he proved such a one after the Major's arrival there. And Major Ledcot will inform this slanderer, and all the world (as he did in Westminster Hall, and in my chamber upon his return from this jersey expedition) that it had been happy for the Parliament and Island too, had my advice agrinst that most improbable design been harkened to, that those who put the Parliament on this Expedition, were most of them false dishonest men, biased with private interests, who deserted him for their own advantage. And that he found every tittle I had informed the Parliament and himself before his voyage, to be true by woful experience: And therefore john Lilburne may save the labour of anatomising Mr. pryn's destructive practices to the Commonwealth, in this particular of jersey, and support of Sir Philip Cartret, wherewith he promiseth to abuse the world ere long. And to that purpose hath employed Anabaptists from jersey, who were the principal fomenters of this Expedition, to make a present underhand Inquisition, of my carriage in this business, which they are now very busy about enquiring of every jersey man and others, (as divers of the parties have lately informed me) what they know or have heard concerning me and my carriage in jersey, and holding intelligence with Sir Philip: And I shall only desire him to take notice, that the Dean, Sir Phillip's principal enemy, who betrayed Major Lydcot, being since imprisoned in jersey, and attempting an escape, broke both his leg and neck over the Castle walls; that Messeruy another principal actor who proved treacherous, is since executed in jersey for his coining; that Monsieur Kiddel, a great stickler against Sir Philip, because he could not have one of his daughters for his wife, was a person so scandalous for his drunkenness and Venery, and storing Garnsey with a specious generation of Bastards, that he was enforced to fly thence into England; That both the Gurdons Lawyers and others, who were most active in this plot, and made most friends in Parliament, are professed Anabaptists, and now grown so insolent, that they threaten and abuse their other Countrymen, who will not join with them in their anabaptistical Religion, and Church, and promise to themselves all the Offices and government of the Island when reduced, and to set up their Religion there cum privilegio; That Monsieur Daristux was late a zealous popish Monk, who deserting his orders (some say for incontinency) and advanced by Sir Phillip's means to a living there, to my own knowledge proved a most ingrateful wretch towards him, and a mere firebrand in the isle, and since his coming over a chief incendiary in the French Church in Norwich, which he hath in a manner quite ruined & dissolved; and these were Sir Phillip's chief opposites, who engaged the Parliament in the invasion of the Island of jersey, for their own private ends, and have quite undone both jersey and Garnsey too, and put the Parliament to a vast expense, only to make the Islanders & Governors of them their Enemies, who upon my certain knowledge were once, and I believe would still have continued their faithful friends, or at least remained Neuters, and not attempted ought against the Parliament, or any really adhering to them. And for a close of this particular, I shall aver thus much of my own knowledge to do deceased Sir Philip right against his slanderers.  
1. That during my imprisonment in jersey, and ever since, I found him a real Friend to the State and Parliament of England in all his discourses and actions; and a man as much joyed at the calling of this and the former Parliament, and as much grieved, and complaining at the dissolving the last Parliament, as any.  
2. That he was a man most cordial and helpful to poor distressed Protestants and Ministers in France, during the late wars and persecutions against them there; a noble harbourer and entertainer of them and theirs upon all occasions, and more cordially assistant to, and honoured, beloved by them, and more complaining of our Courts treacheries towards them, especially in the loss of Rochel, than any English Subject whatsoever, and both the Islands of jersey and Garnsey put together.  
3. That he was the greatest favourer, advancer, incourager of godly Ministers of any in that Island, and more charitable, helpful to the poor and sick, upon all occasions than all the Island besides, there being scarce one day in the week, wherein his Lady at her own expense did not freely at Sir Philip's cost send Physic, and cordials to divers diseased persons of all sorts.  
4. That his Family was the most orderly, pious, Religious, courteous, Hospital, and best nurtured by far of any in the Island, generally honoured and respected by all persons of honour in Normandy, Britain, Picardy, England and jersy too.  
5. That he was an enemy to the Bishop's Tyranny and Proceeding, Innovations, and was so reputed at Court by the Archbishop; and used me and my brother Burton too, by my interest in him, with such nobleness and respect, when no other persons of quality durst to own us, or stand our friends, though we were mere strangers to him.  
6. That he was a man of more eminent parts for Government, justice, Peace, War, State affairs, and all public employment, than all the Islanders put together, and an excellent Penman.  
7. That he was a faithful, constant friend, and the only man in the Isle; that I ever found or heard of sit to be trusted with the Government and eustody of it, or to be relied on as a friend: most natives having this Norman quality, that never a two of them almost (though allied and of the same blood) do cordially love, or really trust one another, and will prove treacherous at any time to their nearest friends and kindred for advantage.  
8. He was the only man, that by reason of his friends and acquaintance in France, was either able or active to protect the Natives from injuries, and to procure them justice and relief, when injured, rob or wronged by seizing of their goods in France: The only man able or willing to entertain strangers with nobleness and freedom; the best justiciary between man and man in the whole Isle, and the most willing and able to do any public good, and procure favours for the Islanders, whom I am certain have much repent his death, and will hardly ever enjoy so good a Governor and real friend to them as he was, having now a Lion to rule over them instead of a Lamb.  
9 He was the only man that procured Scholarships and Fellowships in Oxford for the Islanders of jersey, with sundry Immunities both from England and France concerning Trade; and did twenty times more good in, to, and for the Island, than all his enemies put together, and to my knowledge had done far more, had he not been discouraged by his malicious and ingrateful prosecutors, some whereof were obliged to him for their very lives and estates, and all them for many more courtesies than ever they received from them: It being one virtue in the Islanders, of which I had experience in hundreds, which I there helped and cured gratis to my cost, and not one of twenty would so much as return me verbal thanks, nor yet will those Sir Philip's Lady recovered even from the very jaws of death, and relieved both with food and raiment.  
Lastly, He was the only man of note in all the Isle (setting all pretences and self ends aside) that was really cordial to the Parliament, and best able, and most willing to do them any service: And I am confident would have continued so till his death, and kept both Islands friendly and obedient to them, had not those his malicious enemies (of mean birth and fortune in respect of him) by their Libels, slanders and false informations to the Parliament, and practices against him, dis-obliged and engaged him to stand upon his guard till he could vindicate his own innocency and honour to the Parliament, against the false suggestions of his enemies, who never yet proved the least crime or offence against him, and some of them the Messeruyes by name) professed after to myself and others, and acknowledged as much before the Committee of Examinations; That they could testify nothing at all against him, and that he was the best Governor and Friend the Island ever had, after they had so much traduced him for a Malignant and oppressor.  
All which considered, let the world judge, what cause I had to support Sir Philip's honour and reputation against such malicious scandalous conspirators, who plotted his dis-grace and ruin, and who are most guilty of the does engaging, undoing and loss of jersey and Garnsey Castle, the Island to in effect, and putting the Parliament to a vast unnecessary expense, to satisfy their own malicious and ambitious designs to multiply the Parliaments enemies, and disoblige their best and faithfullest friends.  
His 9 slanderous lie against me is, That he shall make it appear that I have been a protector of those that have betrayed the strong holds of the Parliament, into the hands of the Cavaliers. Certainly, most think I am guiltless of this, except it be only in prosecuting Col. Nathaniel Fincs (an Independent) so fare as a Council of War, upon his own engagements prove, for delivering up the strong hold and rich City of Bristol, (the greatest loss which befell the Parliament since these wars) into the hands of the Cavaliers, in such a cowardly and unworthy manner, that he had judgement given and passed against him, for it, as a Traitor and to have his head cut off; For which just prosecution my Independent brother Robinson hath enveighed against me in Print, belike because he desired to have more faults bewrayed.  
10. That I am a pleader of all Malignant Priests causes for money: Certainly this is a loud lie. There have been hundreds of Malignant Priests, with whom whom I was never of Council, many with whom I have refused to be of Council, rejecting both them and their fees, which I might have justly taken: Many against whom I have been of Council, being ten to one to those I have been of Council for; Therefore no pleader of All Malignant Priest's causes. True it is, I have been of Council with some good Ministers, articled against (by some separatists) as Malignant and scandalous, which upon examination proved not such, and I presume is no crime to defend such Innocents' against unjust accusers. True it is, I have appeared as Council for some three Ministers, which upon Examination have been voted Malignant, or scandalous, whereupon sequestered, but it was before it appeared to me they were such, and upon the Letters, recommendations, or importunity of some special friends of mine, who assured me of their innocency in the things whereof they were accused; Otherwise I was never voluntary of Council, much less for fees with any such, nor intent to be, if I know them such. However, since divers matters and questions of late arise and are mixed in most cases, in which Ministers need the help of Council, as likewise to manage their evidence, to clear things that are doubtful both to the Committee, judges and jury, it is neither a crime nor scandal for any Lawyer, to be of Council with an ill person, in an ill, much less in a doubtful cause, so as he neither wrist the Law, nor evidence to justify the guilty person, nor extenuate the crime, but only to sift out the truth, to rectify the contrary, evidence where it is mistaken or pressed over fare, and and so truly to state the case as it is, and ripen it for a just judgement.  
The 11. is, That I have been a pleader of Patents in point of Law, and that against express Acts of Parliament, Magna Charta, and the Petition of Right, and that lately before Committees of Parliament.  
This is a gross untruth, I having been of Council against many such Patents, (but never with any such to my knowledge,) both before and since the Parliament, if he means it of my being Council against the importation of false printed English Bibles from Holland, contrary to several Ordinances, some old Acts of Parliament, and some new ones, long since drawn, read and committed by the House, he shown himself a very Ignoramus, as little skilled in common Law, as in Magna Charta which he so much talks of, but understands no more than Mr. Goose, since he cannot distinguish an Ordinance and Act of Parliament from a Patent,  
His 12. slander is, That I am a pleader of judge's practices as binding to the people, against express Acts, Magna Charta, and the Petition of Right, the overthrowers and destroyers thereof being Traitors to the Common wealth: This he desires time to prove for want of present Evidence, and he will do it just at doomsday in the afternoon, not before; and when he hath better studied those Acts and understands them, perchance he will be of another judgement.  
You have heard a full jury of Lies, and slanders only against myself in this one Libellous Letter, all which conjoined together, with those forementioned against the Parliament, Speaker and Members, give in this verdict against the impudence of this same Author, That he is a Father of Lies and slanders, deserving the alteration of one Letter in his Name, and to be called only LYEBORNE instead of Lilburne for the future, to shame him from his lying practices, which no friendly admonitions or advice could hitherto effect.  
I shall not mention his several untruths touching my honoured Brother Dr. Bastwicke, who hath sufficiently vindicated both himself, and the Parliament in print against these Libellous Calumnies: Not his many railing invective speeches against the Parliaments justice and proceed, since his imprisonment at Newgate, and his practices to raise commotions against the Houses, by new printed Libellsand Letters, affronting, questioning, both their power, justice, and animating the Vulgar rabble to call them to account, which I have formerly touched upon, but, shall only mention one particular more.  
Soon after his imprisonment in Newgate, in a very irregular and seditious way he caused divers of his confederated brethren of the Separation about London, to present a petition in his behalf to the Parliament in affront of their proceed; wherein they style him, The great instrument of the Bishops, and Star-chambers downfall, attributing that honour principally to him, which I am certain was more due to others; concluding with these three desires to the House.  
1. That you will be pleased to order his sudden removal from the infamous prison of New gate, (a very sancy request, contrary to the Committees and both Houses express vote.)  
2. That in debating the occasion of his restraint, you will be pleased to make the most favourable construction thereof, and (if it may stand with your wisdoms,) to give him his speedy enlargement: (A request almost as insolent as the former.)  
3. That you will be plase to give relief to those pressures that lie upon him, and to order him a competent part of his Arrears, for support of his wife and family.  
How ill the House took this Petition in behalf of such an incorrigible peremptory Delinquent, and how great an infringement they deemed it of their Privileges both for manner and matter, the Members present at the debate can best inform the World; certainly it was very displeasing to them, as the Votes, and Answer to the Petitioners manifested, however to show their charity, they Ordered him one hundred pounds of his Arrears to be forthwith paid, for his, and his family's relief, according to the last request in the Petition: But to the monstrous ingratitude and obstinacy of this Libeler and his confederates; They generally report over all the City and Country, that The Parliament voted, and paid him this money, only to stop his mouth for their injustice towards him, and to take off his Prosecution of Mr. Speaker and others, for holding Intelligence with, and sending money to the King; Interpreting this their Charity towards him, upon this Petition of theirs, no other than a Bribe, and taking occasion from it, to cast new Libellous Aspersions on the House; it being the accursed disposition of this Generation of Vipers (who have Adders poison under their lips) to turn the very best things into poison, and misconstrue the Parliaments best actions, though occasioned by themselves.  
I shall therefore, for a close of this Relation and Resutation:  
First, earnestly desire the Honourable Houses of Parliament, and whole Kingdom to take notice of the Lying, Libelling, Railing, False, Dishonest, Perverse, Uncharitable, Unchristian disposition of Anabaptists and Separatists, who make no conscience of Forging, Reporting, Publishing, and Printing the most False, Impudent, Notorious, Scandalous Lies and Forgeries that can be, both of the Houses of Parliament, their Covenant, Members, and most innocent, pious, blameless persons living, that are not of their Faction, or opposites unto it, without the least shadow of proof or truth, in which Infernal, Diabolical, black Art, many of them outstrip the very Devil himself, and john Lilburn all his followers: And thereupon to be very circumspect, 1. How they believe or entertain any Informations or Reports of any of this Sect, against the Parliament or any other persons, especially against our Ministers, whose utter Extirpation they have plotted, together with their Tithes and Maintenance. 2. How they adhere or give any countenance to any of this Seditious, Factious party, who endeavour and aim at nothing but Anarchy and Ataxy, and confusion in Church and state. 3. To have a vigilant, jealous eye over them and their private Conventicles, where they forge and devise Lies, Slanders, and plot the overthrow or disturbance of Church and State; and to proceed strictly against their Ring-seaders according to Law and Justice, to preserve both from speedy ruin, our connivance at them, having strongly multiplied both their Numbers and Insolences in all places, which will prove more mischievous than any Clubmen, if not speedily suppressed.  
Secondly, I shall desire all people truly fearing God, to consider seriously of john lilburn's confident, insolent, unchristian carriage and ingratitude towards the Parliament, his Raiser's and best Benefactors; and those many Lies, Forgeries, and Falsehoods he hath most Libellously and Seditiously published, even in print, against them, without the least shadow of truth: And to beware how they give him the least countenance, encouragement, in these sinful and ungodly courses, for fear they participate both of his sins and punishments. And if at any time they resort unto him, to charge those sins of his effectually and impartially, like two Christian friends, upon his conscience, and not to soothe him in them, that to he may become sensible and ashamed of them, and make a public, real confession and Recantation of them, answerable to the public Scandal they have given. And if he continue obstinate and impenitent, for ever to renounce his company, as an incorrigible, desperate Delinquent, whose heart is hardened to his own destruction.  
Thirdly, to beware how they take up lilburn's mistakes upon trust for currant Law, or Divinity, since he hath so far overshot and mistaken himself in both; and never to adventure upon any Design against the Parliament, State or Church, which may hazard either their Lives, Liberties, Estates or Credits, upon the idle Dreams and Dotages of ignorant Mechanic Lawyers or Divines, who understand neither Law nor Gospel, though they deem themselves learneder and wiser than either the Parliament, Assembly, or all the Lawyers in the Realm, as john Lilburn clearly doth.  
Finally, I shall desire john Lilburn, out of my ancient and present Christian respects towards him, and all who truly love him, to make a right use and interpretation of this Relation and Refutation of his gross Lies, Slanders, and mistaken Law; and my sharp Expressions in some places, which are but answerable, and scarce equivalent to his offences, which can neither be expressed, censured or refuted, but by Expressions suitable to their Exorbitances, The friendliest Christian office I could do him, considering his former obstinacy and impenitency, is, to discover his Errors and Offences to him and the world, the better to bring him to a sight and feeling of, and godly sorrow for them; It is Gods own precept, Levit. 1917. Thou shalt in any wise rebuke thy neighbour (or Brother) and not suffer sin upon him: And we are commanded to rebuke Liars sharply, that they may be found in the Faith, Tit. 1. 12, 13. Yea Solomon informs us, Prov. 27. 5, 6. Open rebuke is better than secret love (in some cases) for faithful are the wounds of a friend, but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful: Adding further, Prov. 24. 24, 25. He that saith unto the wicked, Thou art Righteous, him shall the people curse, Nations shall abhor him; But to them that rebuke him shall be delight, and a good Blessing shall come upon him. Prov. 9 2. Rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee. And however he may take it for the present, yet, Prov. 28. 23. He that rebuketh a man, afterwards shall find more favour than he that shall teach him with the tongue. And therefore if God hath reserved him for Mercy, not for judgement only, (which his obstinacy and others flattery of him in his ungodly pride, and presumptuous evil ways give no cause to favour) I hope this Corrosive, the public Discovery and Censure of his execrable Lies and Slanders against the highest Powers, and his best and dearest friends, without just provocation, which bring him to a due sight and sense of his horrible misdemeanours, humble his haughty insolent spirit, bend his inflexible obstinate Will, and work such a thorough change of his heart, and detestable, malicious, seditious, slanderous courses, to the Infamy of that Profession of Religion he outwardly seemeth to make (though no sparks of it appear in his actions, writings) that he will henceforth learn to know himself, and the Error of his former courses, and bless God and me for dealing in this round friendly manner with him, when others favour him in his sins for their own ends, to the apparent hazard of his soul and body. It is the Apostles Canon in 1 Tim. 5. 20. Them that sin, rebuke before all, that others also may fear. I am sure Lilburn hath sinned, and that more than twice or thrice openly, impudently, obstinately, with a high hand, and a stout heart, against God, Religion, the Parliament, its Committees, Members, his dearest Christian friends and preservers, yet in his wickedness without remorse. No Christian then can justly tax me, for Relating openly before all that himself may repent, and others fear the like transgressions, or to countenance or share with him in his, which is so apparently guilty. I shall desire God to give him grace to repent in time, ere it be too late, and request both him and all his Adherents, to 
* 2 Tim. 2. 7.  consider what I have here said and writ, and the Lord give them understanding in all things. I will close up all with the close of St. James his Epistle general, c. 5. 19, 20. Brethren, if any of you do ERR FROM THE TRUTH, and can convert him, let him know, that he that converteth the sinner from the Error of his way, shall save a soul from death, and shall hid a multitude of sins. If I may be so happy, as to effect such a conversion in him, by all the Premises, I have my end, and shall bless God for it while I live; so far am I from bearing any malice to his Person, though I sharply lash his sins and lies.  
FINIS.