THE Self Afflicter. Lively described in the whole course of the Life of Mr. John Lilburn, sometimes Lieut. Colonel in the Army of the PARLIAMENT.  
His being Whipped, Gagged, and committed Prisoner to the Fleet by the sentence of the Bishops, and the Star-Chamber.  
His Arraignment for his life by the Express command of the late King before the house of Lords.  
The arraignment of him for his life at Oxford bein● taken Prisoner at Brainford.  
His commitment to the Tower by the House of Lords, and his long imprisonment there.  
His arraignment before the Commissioners at Guild Hall for Treason.  
His banishment beyond the Seas. His arraignment afterwards at the Sessions in the Old-Baily, and his confinment again beyond the Seas. With his natural death at last by sickness.  
Together, With the Notable Difference betwixt the Levellers and Quakers about the black cloth to be laid over his Coffin when he was ●o be interred.  
Printed purposely to vindicate the truth against a ●ate Foolish Pamhlet lately published called an Exact and true Narra●ion.  
Printed for Tho. Vere and W. Gil●e●tson 1657.   

A True Account of the most Memorable Passages on the Life and Death of Mr. JOHN LILBURN: sometimes Lieutenant Colonel in the Victorious Army of the PARLIAMENT, etc.  
TO give you a view of his whole Life, and how much at all times he opposed with all his power this present Government. is to swell that up into a volume, which is meant for a single shéet: we shall proportion our discourse according to the Emergency of the Advantages, in which we shall be careful, not to be injurious to the Reader, nor unprofitable to ourselves.  
Some are of Opinion that this man of extraordinary Spirit and understanding did not so much strike at the present Government, as at the Enormities which he conceived to be too rank, or gnawing in that Government: Let them think what they please, we shall represent unto you the most Material passages that concerned him, And that without flattery, or affection, the causes whereof are far asunder from us.  
John Lilburn the famous subject of this present discourse, was born in the Year 1618. At Thickley in the County of Durham; He was Descended of Ancient and worshipful parentage, and being very young he was brought up to London, and bound an Apprentice to a Packer of Cloth in St. Swithens Lane: he was from his Cradle of a high and undaunted Spirit, of a quick and pregnant Apprehension, of an excellent memory, but all ways extremely addicted to contention, a lover of novelties an opposer of Government, unsettled in his judgement, and violent and bitter in his expressions.  
About the year 1632. he disliking his trade, had a mind to the Law, and became a servant to Mr. William Prin of Lincolns-Inne, who for wrighting some Books and amongst others that called Histriomastix, in which the State as the Players were whipped, was imprissoned with those that vended the Book, and censured by the Bishops.  
John Lilburn did then begin the quarrel, and full of his Master's Cause did write a Book against the Bishops, for which he was committed prisoner to the Fleet, and whipped at a Cart's tail from the prison of the Fleet, to Westminster.  
The Indignity whereof sat so heavy upon his Spirits, that even when the punishment was inflicting on him he ceased nort●ratle against his persecutors, insomuch that they caused him to be gagged.  
In the year 1640 he was released by the Parliament, and took upon him the place of a Captain in their service, and in the year 1642. not long after the battle at Edge Hill he was taken prisoner at Brainford, And carried to Oxford, where he was Arraigned not long Afterwards as a Traitor, for levying war against the person of the King, but his life was never in so much jeopardy as when he was arraigned at Guildhall for indeavoring to disturb the peace and subvert the Government of this Nation, established without a King.  
Several books to this purpose were laid to his charge, as a traitorous and scandalous book entitled a Salva Libertate: Also a traitorous and a scandalous book entitled An Impeachment of High Treason against Oliver Cromwell, and his Son in Law Henry Ireton Esquire. Also a scandalous and a traitorous book entitled, The outcry of the youngmen, and the Aprentices of London, or an inquisition after the lost fundamental laws and liberties of England, etc. Also another scandalous and traitorous book entitled The legal fundamental liberties of the people of England revived. Also another scandalous book entitled, A preparation to a hue and cry after sir Arthur H●selrigge, In which Books it was laid to his charge, that he did publish that the Government then in present was tyrannical usurped, And unlawful, And that the Commons then in Parliament Assembled were not the supreme Authority of the Nation.  
He stood also further indicted, that he as a falls traitor did maliciously plot and contrive to raise forces against the present Government for the subversion and Alteration of it, And did also maliciously endeavour to withdraw certain Soldiers of the Lord Fai fax his Army, from their obedience to their superior offices. It was also laid to his h●rge that traitorously and contumeliovesly he had spoken very reproachful words against the Lord General, sir Thomas Fai fax, as also against the high Court of justice.  
The Indictment held a long time. being read, Mr. Attorney did present unto the ●ury of what Dangerous Consequence were these traitorous books, and how much Derogating from the honour of the Parliament And the Counsel of state, And of the chief Captain and General of the Army. And other Officers Included in the Indictment whose fame doth ring through the world, Never Arm (said Mr. Attorney) hath done greater things, & yet they have not escaped from being Slandered by Mr. lilburn's tongue and pen, And not long after upon consideration of the evidence and witnesses he told the Jury that if they did respect the Government of the Parliament the honour of the Counsel of State, And the honour of the Nation, or of the Army, or the persecutions of the Laws of the Nation, they could not say but the prisoner was guilty of those crimes and treasons of which he was Accused And that they were obliged accordingly so to find him, And then Addressing his speech to Mr. Keeble, who was Lord chief Commissioner And to the judges and Barons. He declares unto them how the Indictment was proved by witness And evidences, and that the traitorous book entitled the Legal fundamental liberties was owned by Mr. Lilburn himself in his Impeachment of high Treason against Lieutenant General Cromwell. And his Son in Law Commissary Jreton, my Lords said he, you have heard the several charges wherewith he stands accused, you have heard a great deal of foul matter and dirt, that is fit for nothing but to be cast upon the ground, and returns to Mr. Lilburn again: the prisoner hath cast those Accusations and blemishes upon others but they return to his own face. Certainly the Parliament of England, the Army, And all the Officers of it (whose fame both as Parliament and Army are known in an extraordinary manner) Are now put in a balance against Mr. Lilburn. And as for the Army and the Officers of it, no man can say but that they have been faithful and true in their trust. valiant, courageous, And Successful to Admiration, even to the Peace and the Happiness of this Nation, And God is pleased at this instant to own them and bless them in a miraculous manner.  
This and much more excellently spoken by Mr. Attorney, was to lay open to the Lord judges, And to the jury, the crimes of the offender, And the Lord Keeble, who was Lord Commissioner, having suggested unto the jury what their duty was, And the Religion of an oath did represent unto them, that they should consider the strength of the Accusation, which did consist in those scandalous and traitorous Books, which did consist of three heads.  
The first was to vilify the Parliament and State, as it was then established in England: the second to take into their considerations, his counsels and Invitations therein for the stirring up of tumults, wars, And Commotions in the Nation.  
And the third, was the thing cited in the book to divide the Army, that the other might take effect. These (said he) are the three main charges, And these the Books that do come from him do plainly testify. Then directing his speech to Mr. Lilburn, at the bar. In this Act saith he, of yours thus declared (if your intentions had taken effect the plot was the greatest that ever England saw: For it struck at no less then at the Subvertion of the Common Wealth; of this state to have laid & put us all in blood: Your plot was such as never was seen in the world before to proceed from a private man as you are, And it must needs sit heavy upon your conscience. Therefore (turning again to the jury) he said you my Masters of the jury, look into your consciences, And see what that saith unto you. That which the prisoner stands too much upon. Viz. the witnesses is made plain and good in Law. I do not know in one particular that there is a single Testimony but it is Aggravated with many circumstances therefore let not that trouble you, ●ou are the proper judges of the matter of Fact, being of the Country, And if you have fully Apprehended the dangerous things plotted in these books of Mr. Lilburn, you shall find that the like treason was never hatched in England, and so in God's name As the prisoner doth lead to your consciences, so go and do  
Mr. Lilburn in the mean time who had much wasted his Spirits, And had with great earnestness been pleading for his life two days before at the Bar, did omit nothing to insinuate into the jury an Apprehension of his innocency, He protested that he never owned nor signed any Book that was proved against him▪ he diclaimed every Little of them. He certified the Bench that no book in the eye of the Law could be accounted his, unless it were Legally proved or voluntary confessed to be his by himself.  
To prove this he Alleged by several▪ Statutes, that it should be by two witnesses which he said they failed in, although Mr. Attorney. And the Lord Keeble did endeavour to give the jury all possible satisfaction therein.  
He much insisted to have Counsel to plead his Case in Law, which would not then be granted, Although he urged Examples as he said both by Law and precedent, which made him sometimes to use exclamations more violent than became the condition of a prisoner.  
He represented what a serviceable Instrument he had been in the common cause of the Nation in which to the hazard of his life one handred times over be had engaged for them with his sword in his hand, with as much resolution and faithfulness as ever man on earth served a Generation of men, having never betrayed his trust, nor ever given any Suspicion in the least that be would, nor ever so much as stagered in his principles, nor never so much as disputed any Commands though never so desperate that were laid upon him.  
Addressing himself to the jury, he said unto them, you Gentlemen of the jury, my sole judges, the Keepers of my life, At whose hands the Lord will require my blood in case you leave any part of my Indictment to these— I desire you to know your power, And consider your duty both to God, and me, to your ow● selves; And to your Country, And the gracious Assisting spirit, And the presence of the Lord God, Omnipotent, the Governor of Heaven and Earth, And all things therein contained, go along with you guide, counsel you, and direct you to that which is just And for his glory.  
The jury having withdrawn themselves, And consulted about the prisoner and his offences, for the space of three quarters of an hour, Did come into the Court again, And did bring in their verdict of him as not Guilty, At which the multitude that Attended in the Hall, to observe the event, did make so loud an acclamation for almost half an hour together, that the like was seldom heard. Mr. Lilburn being that Night conveyed to the Tower, where at that time he had been prisoner for the space of seven months, was about a fortnight afterwards released from thence by the order of the Counsel of state.  
Being now at liberty he was much inclined to the study of the Law, which in his hardest distress he found so successful unto him.  
But it was not long before he again fell under the displeasure of the Parliament, whereupon he was by an Act Fined, banished the Common wealth of England, And if ever he returned again he was to die as a Traitor.  
In obedience hereunto he want over into the Netherlands, And it was laid to his charge that there he came Acquainted with the Duke of Buckingham, the Lord Hopten, Captain Titus, Mr. Bartlet and others, & that for the sum of ten thousand pound he offered to settle the Government of this Nation in the same state as it was before the wars began, which whether true or false I will not take upon me to dispute: But howsoever it was, he had a great mind to return unto his Native Country, insomuch that without any leave he returned again into England, And thereupon being Apprehended and brought to Newgate, he was tried for his life at the Session's house in the Old Bailie, on Saturday the 20. of August, in the year 1653, where he found such favour, that the jury did again Acquit him.  
Nor long afterwards he was conducted by a Troop of horse to Portsmouth, being once more bound for beyond the Seas, where making use of all his friends, and putting in security for the peaceableness of his future deportment. he Landed at Dover. And falling at first into the Acquaintance of that Generation of men called Quakers, he was to taken with their H●at of Zeal and their hatred of the world, that he never afterwards Abandoned them but preaching after their Garb and method, Sometimes on the Lord's day at Eltham, And sometimes at Woolidge he surrendered his prepared soul to him that gave it him.  
One thing I cannot well omit that happened at his Burial, which is that his wife, or some Levellers of his old Acquaintance (as others say) had brought a Black Cloth to cover his hearse, the Quakers would by no means admit of it, Alleging that the less there was of pomp, there was the more of piety. And thus thorough many Contentions and variety of opinions, he at last wrangled himself into the grave, dying on Saturday the 29. of August, 1657. And was buried the Monday, following in the new Church yard near Bedlam.  

An Epitaph on Mr. JOHN LILBURN,  
HE in his life who ne'er did cease,  
To beat down Government & peace  
who his own sword abhorred to see  
The Iron with the Steel agree,  
And scorned the pen that did not drink  
Far more of Copres than of Ink.  
The scourge of peace, the soul of Jars,  
The hur-burly of the Stars,  
Whom neither creatures force nor fame,  
Nor Love, nor fear alive could tame,  
But Orders would and Laws forestall,  
And level Church, and state, and all,  
Lies now to have one Dust expressed,  
What wonders Death can do at rest.   

Another Epitaph on John Lilburn,  
Here's John Lilburn in good time deceased  
After much wrangling now he's gone to rest.  
If Factious Spirits still much coil do keep.  
Pray blame not him. he's fairly laid asleep  
whether i'th' right or wrong he hath thus left us.  
stout death of this stout champion hath bereft us  
Who liking not the furious noise he made,  
Threw dust upon him. so the storm was laid.   

Upon the late untimely death of JOHN LILBURN:  
Untimely cause so late. and late because,  
To save much. mischief: it no sooner was,  
Is John departed? and is Lilburn gone?  
Farewell to both, to Lilburn and to John,  
Yet being dead. take this advice from me  
Let them not both in one grave buried be,  
But lay John here. lay Lilburn hereabout.  
For if they ever meet they will fall out.   
FINIS.