The Proposition of lief. Col. John Lilburne, Prisoner in the Tower of London, made unto the Lords and Commons assembled at Westminster, and to the whole kingdom of England, October 2. 1647.  
I Grant the House of Lords, according to the Statute of the 14. Ed. 3. chap. 5. to have in La● a jurisdiction for redressing of grievances, either upon illegal delays, or illegal judgements given in any of the Courts at Westminster Hall, provided they have the Kings particular Commission therefore, and all other the legal Pu●ctillos contained in that Statute, which jurisdiction and no other, seems to me to be confirmed by the Statutes of the 27. Eliz. chap 8. and 31. Eliz. chap. 1.  
But I positively deny, that the House of Lords, by the known and declared Law of England, have any original jurisdiction over any Commoner, of England whatsoever, ei her for life, limb, liberty or estate, which is the only and alone thing in controversy betwixt them and me, And this position I will in a public Assembly, or before both Houses in Law debate with any 40, Lawyers in England that are practisers of the Law, and I will be content the Lords shall choose them every m●n, and if after I have said for myself what I can, that any three of these forty Lawyers sworn to deliver their judgements according to the known Law of England, give it under their hands against me, I will give over my present contest with the Lords, and surrender myself up to the punishment and sentence of the present Lords and Commons.  
Provided at this debate, I may have six or ten of my own friends present to take in writing all that passeth thereupon.  
witness my hand and seal, in the presence of divers witnesses in the Tower of London, this 2. of October, 1647. John Lilburne.