An Anatomy of John Lilburns Spirit, Text

An Anatomy of John Lilburns Spirit · Text

p. 1AN ANATOMY OF Lievt. Colonel John Lilburn's SPIRIT and PAMPHLETS.

AMong all the Exorbitancies of this laſt age, there is none hath ſtained the Glory of this Nation more then the multitude of licentious and abuſive Pamphlets that continually fly abroad like Atomes in the Air, whereby the Preſs is made a common Strumpet to conceive and bring forth the froth of every idle and wanton fancy, or to vent the malice and venom of every diſcontented and debaucht ſpirit: and Books, that were wont to be monuments of the induſtry and ſeriouſneſs of mens ſpirits, and records of the vertues and noble acts of brave men, adorned with Reaſon and Judgment, and ordained to be as embalmings to their names, are now turned into Paſquils and Libels, ſtuft with the rancor and rage of theſe men, who know no way to recruit their own loſt reputation, but by defacing the names of their betters. But of all the Pamphlets that I have yet ſeen, there are none that expreſs ſuch a dangerous and unworthy ſpirit, as thoſe that go under the name of Lievt. Colonel John Lilburn. Some Pamphlets, though they have little of truth, yet have nothing of falſhood: Others, though of little concernment, p. 2yet may ſerve to divert a ſtudious head from the continual preſſures of more ſerious thoughts. Others are pretty eſſays, and done on purpoſe to engage better pens in manifeſting Truth; and the continual writing, or rather ſcribling of the moſt, demonſtrates that men are not idle, but that the Nation is big with ſomething that will be brought forth at laſt in form and beauty. In Diurnals (thoſe lean and miſerable ſheets) you have ſome things true, among many miſtakes, and lyes but probably reported; and you may know how the days paſs away by them, though there be little elſe. In Pragmaticus and the Man in the Moon, with the reſt of that bauling Crue, you have ſome wit, with their malice; But this man (eſpecially in his two laſt Pamphlets) breaking all the bonds of Religion, Civility, Humanity, profeſſing open defiance to the Laws of Grace and Nature,) hath devoted himſelf to ſlander, reproach, defame, rack, and crucifie the names of all ſorts of men that have the face of honeſty, or that cannot comply with him in his Levelling Deſigns; ſwelling up his Title-pages with horrid and naſty expreſſions, as Polecat, Foxes, Wolves, and ſuch like, as if he had been newly come out of the Deſarts of Arabia, or been converſing with Nebuchadnezzar ſeven years at graſs, interlining his ſentences with barbarous and cruel Invectives againſt men in Authority, calling them Murtherers, Theeves, Robbers, threatning them with the worſt of deaths; quoting himſelf and his own Pamphlets as often as others do the moſt learned and orthodox Authors, with ſuch like expreſſions as theſe, P. 2. See to this purpoſe my Impeachment of High Treaſon, &c. See my Arguments or Reaſons in the ſecond Edition of my Book of the 8. of June, 1649. intituled, The Legal and Fundamental Liberties of England, &c. P. 3. Peruſe carefully, I entreat you, the 6. & 8. pages of my Impeachment, &c. as alſo the 12. and 16. pages of the ſecond Edition of my forementioned Book. So P. 4. See my ſecond Edition of my Picture of the Councel of State. Making bold and daring Titles, that men may expect great things from; and when they are engaged to look after the proofs, finde nothing but a heap of Impertinencies, and a Catalogue of his Petitions, and Letters, and Conferences, and References to his other Pamphlets for ſatisfaction; but ſatis eſt repetere. He that loves the ſmell, may have enough of theſe noiſom weeds almoſt in every line or ſentence. As for ſober and ſerious men, I know their ſtomacks riſe at firſt ſight: But my intent, in this Diſcourſe, is not to run through all his Volumes, by which he hath defiled the Preſs, and brought himſelf into a labyrinth of juſt Troubles and Miſeries, leſt, in raking p. 3ſuch a Dunghil, I ſhould raiſe too great a ſtink in the noſtrils of my ſelf and Reader; I ſhall follow his own requeſt, and refer it to any, who have patience enough, and are not ſubject to fall into the ſame diſtempers, unto the peruſing of them: But ſhall view him in his laſt works, which ſhould be his beſt and moſt ſolemn manifeſtations of himſelf, eſpecially ſeeing he thinks he is ſo nigh his death.

I have read, of late, two Pamphlets under his name and authority, and by them you may probably gueſs of the reſt; The Title of the firſt being An Impeachment of High Treaſon againſt Mr OLIVER CROMWEL and his Son in Law HENRY IRETON, (for ſo he is pleaſed to ſtile them;) and the laſt A Preparative to a Hue and Cry againſt Sir ARTHƲR HASLERIG: At the reading of the Titles I was much amazed, the accuſations being ſo high, and affirmations ſo poſitive, and the language ſo terrible, that I began to reflect on the Gentlemen with ſtrange apprehenſions, and to wonder that ſuch men ſhould live, and be ſo much in the eyes of honeſt men, and yet be guilty of ſuch Crimes, that all the Villains and Traytors in this Nation never equalled them; and was impatient to be in the midſt of his Pamphlets, to hear their Charge, expecting the Titles to be but a ſhadow and a name onelyonly to that ſubſtance of proof I ſhould finde againſt them; not dreaming that any man could be ſo impudent, and carry ſuch a face of braſs and wickedneſs, as to abuſe not onelyonly others, but himſelf ſo demonſtratively, if he had not much againſt them, and that by the evidence of noon day: But, contrary to all this, when I looked for to have ſeen the horrible Crimes written with a Sun beam, and terrifying my ſpirit at the firſt appearance, I could finde little elſe but the Copies of Letters and Petitions, empty and fooliſh gloryings in himſelf, railing upon other men, and the whole Parliament equal with them, which made me much more to wonder what was become of the Religion, Conſcience, Modeſty, and Sobriety of the man; and to conclude, that certainly he was either drunk, or in a dream, when he writ theſe ſheets.

But, that all honeſt men may know him for the future, I ſhall take ſo much pains as to conſider his Charge againſt theſe two Gentlemen, viz. againſt Lievt. Gen. Cromwel, now Lord Governor of Ireland, and Sir Arthur Haſlerig, now Governor of Newcaſtle on Tine, men of ſuch integrity and honor, that John Lilburn could not pitch on two leſs capable of his malice and reproach then they, and that (though againſt his will) his calumnies will be but foils to ſet off their honeſty p. 4and innocency with greater grace to all ingenuous and ſober men.

To his Impeachment of High Treaſon (of Mr Oliver Cromwel, as he calls him,) the firſt queſtion, by any man that reads the Charge, wil be, Where are the Articles? I have looked over the Pamphlet with as much diligence and obſervance as his method would permit me, and I finde not one diſtinct Article of any miſdemeanors that hath the ſhadow of a Charge, much leſs of High Treaſon, and the Higheſt Treaſon, but onelyonly a Letter to Mr Holland, and a Challenge, and a Prayer wherein he abuſeth the bleſſed Name of the moſt High God, and invocates him to deſtroy and root out the name of Cromwel and his poſterity, with ſuch hideous imprecations, that any Chriſtian tongue would fail and ſtammer but to repeat, much leſs to urge to God as a Prayer; and ſome looſe expreſſions about Cromwels complying with the King, and his ſhedding the blood of War in the time of Peace: but it may be this he intended as the Charge, for which he calls him a Murtherer and a Traytor, and ſays, He deſerves to dye rather then the late King, or, then all the Judges and Villains that have been condemned ever ſince the Conqueſt: And if his meaning be ſo, (for there is nothing elſe that looks like it) let the World be judg of the Treaſon.

For the firſt, His compliance with the late King, I ſhall ſay no more to it but this;

Firſt, If there were any ſuch compliance or engagement, doubtleſs the King would have made advantage enough of it, eſpecially would have manifeſted ſomething of it to the world, or given ſome hint of it that might have reflected on Cromwel, while he lived; and moſt eſpecially when he ſaw what was like to be done with him by the Power of the Parliament and Army: But the King neither by word, nor in that Book which goes under his name, doth give an intimation of any ſuch compliance: And ſecondly, He hath manifeſted the contrary by his practiſe and conſtant oppoſition to him, and his party, ever ſince; and of late, by his ſtrenuous endeavors to bring him to Juſtice; by which all honeſt men may well be ſatisfied, that it was but a ſlander, and a whelp of John Lilburns malice.

Were John Lilburns compliance with Malignants in the Tower, and other where, printed, we ſhould ſoon have cauſe to ſequeſter him from his 3000 l. in the Biſhoprick of Durham: It's well known, beſides his trading in Cooks Inſtitutes, what Malignant converſe he & Judg Jenkins have had together, ſome fruits of it we ſee in his Pamphlets, but I will not impeach him; you ſee, Reader, what his firſt Article amounts unto.

p. 5His ſecond Charge, whereby he calls him a wilful murtherer, is, For that he, about the 15 of Novemb. 1647. near Ware in Hartford-ſhire, wilfully and of ſet malice murthered Rich. Arnell, and ſo ſhed the blood of War in the time of Peace.

That you may ſee the malice of this man, and his unexpreſſible rage, he taxeth Cromwel with that which was done by the whole Councel of War, and by the General, rather then by him, who was but a Member, and had only a ſingle vote; and he might rather ſay, that the General and Councel of War murthered him, then of Lieutenant General Cromwel; yea, he may as well ſay, That it's murther to ſhoot a Souldier to death for any Mutiny or enormious crime whatever, as for that; and whereas he thinks to make up his Treaſon by this expreſſion, That it was the blood of War in the time of Peace. Can he call it a time of Peace, when an Enemy is but newly ſubdued, and an Army kept up, and an Enemy feared? However (that he may have his deſire) grant it to be a time of Peace, that is, that no viſible Enemy appears; yet doth not he deſerve to dye that ſhall begin a new War in a time of Peace? And ſhall, when there is no common Enemy, raiſe a Mutiny among the Souldiers, which is the firſt principle of a War? Nay, is not he rather to be adjudged to death, that, when an Army hath conquered a common Enemy, will begin a new War among themſelves? This is Richard Arnels cauſe, who was a Ring-leader in that firſt Mutiny, which was the firſt diſcovery of the levelling Agitators, and their wicked intentions; and had John Lilburn his due (who was then coming to the Army, but durſt not appear among them) he had not had the opportunity to have burthened the world with his ſcandalous Libels, as now he hath. Thus you have John Lilburns Impeachment, and theſe his horrid crimes of Treaſon, for which Lieut. Gen. Cromwel deſerves to dye ſo many thouſand deaths, according to his Law: Can any man believe, this man ever conſulted ſo much as with his ſenſus communis, much leſs either with God or Nature, when he writ this Pamphlet? Or that ever he reviewed his expreſſions after they dropt from the fury of his ſpirit? Or can any man imagine, that this man is not more fit for Bedlam, then for the drawing up fundamental Principles of Government? But I pity him, for certainly he never thought any man of underſtanding or ſeriouſneſs would ever read his Pamphlets: It hath been a juſt judgment of God on him, ſince he left off converſing with the Principles of Religion, to let an unclean ſpirit poſſeſs him, wherby, that he might follow the devils art exactly, he hath ever oppoſed thoſe, & delighted to caſt dirt in the faces of p. 6thoſe that have been moſt publique Inſtruments, and God from heaven hath moſt honoured to do ſervice to his people. But I have done with his Impeachment, and only add this, The Gentleman who he thus ſlanders, hath that character of reſpect in the hearts of all that love the good of this Nation, that no ſuch Momus can deface by the blackeſt ſlanders he can lay on him. For me to make encomiums of his vertues and deſerts from this Nation, were but to ſet paint on burniſht marble, he is now gone to do more work in another Nation, and may he do as faithful and gallant ſervice there as he hath done in England, while John Lilburn ſwells up himſelf in rage and malice, vomits nothing but Treaſon and Murther againſt him, and other true-hearted Engliſhmen.

I am now come to his preparative to a Hue and Cry after Sir Arthur Haſterig, (for the Gentleman you ſee is big with more wrath,) and becauſe Cromwel is gone, and he cannot follow him to Ireland, that he may not be out of action, Sir Arthur muſt be the next ſubject of his envy and wrath, as if railing and lying were his element; he is ſo endeared to it, that he is reſolved to hazard his very life in the acting of it. I dare not repeat his Title, with all the expreſſions of it, leſt I trouble the Reader again with the ill ſavour of them, he that reads them, would think Sir Arthur had been a monſter, and no man, that he was not fit to breathe in a common air. But that now at laſt the world may ſee what a man of diſcontent and unhappineſs this Iohn Lilburn is, before the end of the ſtory, you ſhall find him a perfect Lyar, one that cares not what he ſays, ſo he may ſay ſomething to diſgrace.

I confeſs I have had but little perſonal acquaintance with Sir Arthur Haſlerig (or with the other Gentleman) and know not what inviſible and particular infirmities, common to mankind, he may labour under: I am not of that opinion, but that the beſt of men have their Errata's, as well as Lieut. Col. Iohn Lilburn.

But for his publique tranſactions in the North, I have followed this Hue and Cry throughout the four Northern Counties, the publique ſtage of his actions, and find his name exceeding precious among honeſt men, and I can ſay with the vote of all but Malignants (unto whom he hath been a juſt terror) that they bleſs God that ever he came to the North, and do think it was as ſeaſonable and prudential an act to ſend him to be Governor of Newcaſtle, as any act of a like nature done by the Parliament, and could heartily wiſh every Gariſon had ſuch a Governor, and every Regiment ſuch a Colonel: But Iohn Lilburn, as if he were the Epitome of all Freedom and Liberty, the Centre of all Oppreſſions, p. 7the publique and great perſon againſt whom onelyonly Treaſon and Murther can be committed, Preſidium, & dulce decus, the ſafeguard and glory of the Nation, complains, and cries out on Sir Arthur, for but a common, an ordinary act (which yet is moſt falſly reported) as a Felon, a Murtherer, &c. though all the North rejoyce, and bleſs God for his preſence, and honeſty.

But his diligence and induſtry, his vigilance and intereſt the laſt year, when the Scots came in, may well be printed as one great cauſe of the Preſervation of the North, notwithſtanding his brother Henry Lilburn, at the ſame time, betrayed Tinmouth Caſtle: His fair and equal carriage and reſpect to all honeſt men, though of ſeveral judgments, his diſcountenancing Malignants, his ſevere and careful improvement of Sequeſtrations for the uſe of the State, make his name more precious to honeſt men, then all, or any, or a thouſand like expreſſions can to render it unſavory.

But let us follow the Hue and Cry, and ſee more particularly what the man ſtorms ſo much for: The Reader may ſee that the ground of this Hue and Cry is a Letter written from George Lilburn, whom he calls Eſquire, that the World may beleeve he hath a Gentleman to his Uncle, though it's well known, before theſe times, he never had the birth, breeding, nor eſtate of a Gentleman; his carriage in the Parliament ſervice will be ſhortly diſcovered, that if you conſider but the Letter à quo, and the Letter ad quem, you will be pretty well ſatisfied of the ground of the Pamphlet; a ſuſpected and guilty Uncle writes to a diſcontented and malicious Nephew, and between them both they bring forth a Monſter called A Hue and Cry: The Uncle is under examination, and like to have ſtrange things proved againſt him, viz. That he hath been a Malignant formerly, and ſince he hath profest to be a Parliamenteer, hath cheated the State: And hath now no way left him to make the world beleeve he is honeſt, but by defaming Sir Arthur, before whom moſt of his Knaveries are already, and are to be heard: And no fitter Inſtrument for to do it, but John Lilburn, a man of a deſperate and loſt fortune: Two things he lays to Sir Arthurs Charge, as heinous and unpardonable Crimes; Firſt, That he hath Feloniouſly robbed him of between twenty four and twenty five hundred pounds. Secondly, That he hath brib'd falſe witneſſes to take away his life. For proof of the firſt, page 3. he ſaith, He cannot but wonder upon what pretence Sir Arthur Haſlerig and Colonel George Fenwick, and the reſt of the Committee at Newcaſtle, can ſeize upon his p. 8Estate in the hands of Sir Henry Bellingham and Thomas Bowes, and ſtop his Rents due from Sir Henry Gibb his hands, to the full value of betwixt twenty four and twenty five hundred pounds: So that it is moſt apparent by his own exprrſſion, That if any thing was done, it was not by Sir Arthur alone, but by the whole Committee: He ſaith, That they have ſtopped Rents, due to him from Sir Hen: Gibb his hands, to the value of about twenty four or twenty five hundred pounds.

In anſwer to that, the Order of Parliament commanded, That all Delinquents Rents, not excepted from Pardon, and Papiſts, ſhould be ſtayed in the Tenants hands till the firſt of September laſt; and this Letter of Lilburns bears date the 18. of Auguſt: So that then both Bellinghams, Bowes, and Gibbs Rents were all ſtayd by Authority of Parliament, and not by Sir Arthurs arbitrary tyrannical will and power; But to obey Orders of Parliament is Felony in John Lilburns Law: And for Lilburns eſtate, ſeized by Sir Arthur, in the hands of Sir Henry Bellingham and Thomas Bowes, they have both made their Compoſitions; the Moyety of Bowes Fine came to Two hundred pounds, which was payd into the Treaſury; the Moyety of Sir Henry Bellinghams Compoſition, for his Lands in Biſhoprick (which did onelyonly concern John Lilburn) was about One pound; and his chief Eſtate being in Weſtmerland, Mr Richard Lilburn, Father to John, and one of the Committee, gave his free conſent, and was very well contented, that the Committee of Westmerland ſhould receive that firſt Moyety due to his Son John, and that Sir Henry Bellingham ſhould pay the Moyety of his whole Fine to the Committee of Weſtmerland, for the ſpeedy disbanding of their Horſe; So that there was but onelyonly Thomas Bowes Two hundred pounds, either of Rent or Compoſition-money, due to John Lilburn, that came into the Treaſury; and Mr Richard Lilburn complaining to the Committee of his Sons great wants, and neceſſities, and deſiring maintenance for him, being in priſon, and relating his ſad affliction by the ſickneſs of his Wife, and death of ſome of his Children, and infection amongſt the reſt, the Committee gave an Order to his Father for the receiving of that Two hundred pounds, which accordingly was payd him, and no doubt John Lilburn received it long ſince, the Order being granted before his Letter bears date: And thus you ſee, not one penny, either of Rents or Compoſition-moneys belonging to John Lilburn, was before the 18. of Auguſt remaining in the Treaſury, neither is there, as yet, one penny of his money payd in; Let all honeſt men therefore judg whether Sir Arthur Haſlerig has p. 9robbed John Lilburn of between Twenty four and Twenty five hundred pounds, and whether Sir Arthur Haſlerig deſerves, or, as John Lilburn prints, may, or ought, to be knocked in the head, as a Polecat, Fox, Wolf. What humor and deſperate fury poſſeſt the man that he thus foams out his own ſhame? You ſee he hath perfectly learnt Machiavils great Principle of wickedneſs, Calumniare audacter aliquid haerebit; Slander to purpoſe, ſomething will ſtick: But enough of that.

For the proofs of Lilburns ſecond Charge of Sir Arthur, bribing falſe witneſſes to take away his life, and to murther him, it is in pag. 7. becauſe he was one of his unjuſt Judges that, for nothing, committed him: This needs no large Anſwer; It is notoriouſly known the Parliament committed him for High Treaſon, and his Pamphlets do ſufficiently declare their grounds; and ſurely ſuch ſtuff was never written and publiſhed againſt any State, or Supream Authority of any Nation, and the Author moſt audaciouſly to juſtifie it.

For his ſecond proof he prints a ſtory of one William Blank, this William Blank, about the 13. of April laſt, came to the door, where the Councel of State then ſate, and delivered a Paper to Mr Froſt the Secretary, wherein he informed, That one Sir Peter Rocket a Frenchman was in London, and contriving a moſt dangerous Deſign againſt the Publique, and that the ſaid Sir Peter Rocket had been in London the year before, ſtirring up the Citizens to riſe in arms about the time of the ſiege at Colcheſter, and that divers Citizens and Apprentices were combined with him. After the Information was read, the Councel of State appointed Lievt. General Cromwel and Sir Arthur Haſlerig to ſpeak with Blank, from time to time, for diſcovery of that deſign, and before that day Sir Arthur never ſaw him, nor heard of him: Blank thereupon went to the Lievt. Generals houſe, and finding his employments ſo great that he could not often ſpeak with him, went to Sir Arthur Haſlerig, and told him, that two of Mr Ruſhworths, the Lord Generals Secretaries ſervants were in the Plot againſt the State, and named divers Merchants of quality in the City, and told of their Meetings, Debates and Reſolutions in ſeveral places, both in City and Country, and that himſelf was preſent at their Meetings, and heard their Debates, and ſaw ſuch & ſuch men at thoſe Meetings, and at laſt, that the Reſolution was the ſurprizing the General, the taking of the Preſident of the Councel of State, the Speaker of the Parliament, L. Gen. Cromwel, & divers of the chief Officers of the Army, and to deſtroy them and others; And that this way was carryed on by a Committee, half of John p. 10Lilburns party, and half of the Kings party, and that they were all under an engagement by oath, and named ſome members of one Mr Lambs Church, and then told the appointed day when it ſhould be put in execution, which was about the 24 of April: Blank ſpoke not a word to Sir Arthur, but he made him to ſet it down with his own hand, and put his name to it, and kept a Diary of all his Informations, from the time he came firſt to the Councel of State, to the 24. of April, the time when the Plot ſhould have been acted; and Blank gave the reaſon why that 24. day ſhould be the day, becauſe that then ſuch Officers were to be both at the Lord Generals houſe, and upon the Guards, as were privy to the Deſigns: Then Sir Arthur, with the advice of the Lievt. General, acquainted Commiſſary General Ireton with it, the day growing very neer when the Plot ſhould be effected; and that very night, as Blank informed, the Malignants ſhould riſe upon the winding of a Horn. Sir Arthur carryed Blank to Commiſſary General Ireton at S. James's, and He, and Colonel Pride, and ſome other Officers, marvelling at Blanks confident ſpeeches concerning the Deſign, and examining him in all his Papers, he affirming that theſe things were true, they preſently apprehended two of Mr Ruſhworths Servants, and they were brought to S. James's face to face before Blank, they denyed their ever ſeeing him, or being at any ſuch place as he mentioned, and he affirmed, and they denyed; Commiſſary General Ireton and Colonel Pride then took care of the chief Officers of the Guard, and ſent ſome Officers with Blank to apprehend ſome of the Citizens, viz. George Almoner, William Seubal, John Arrowſmith, James, Eddington, whom they found in their houſes, and in bed; and they brought them about one a clock in the night to S. Iames's: when they came, it appeared they were the Parliaments very good friends, and all the Informations that Blank had given, were all falſe, and had not the leaſt colour or ſhadow of truth in them; and Blank did before their faces acknowledg, that what he had ſet under his hand was falſe, and that he had never ſeen them at any ſuch Meetings: The Gentlemen having ſeen the Reaſon, why they were ſent for, and ſaying that Blank was a very naughty young fellow, and they knew both him and his Father, returned to their houſes, and the Commiſſary General and Colonel Pride kept Blank and the ſaid Eddington, which Blank ſaid was Sir Peter Rockets Servant, for a further diſcovery of the truth: Then it being between two or three in the morning, Sir Arthur Haſlerig went from S. James's to his Lodging, and never ſince that time ever ſaw Blank, or heard from him; neither did he, at p. 11any time, give him any money, or promiſe of money; But about two or three days after, ſpeaking with the Commiſſary General, he told Sir Arthur, that what ever Blank had ſaid or written, were lyes, and that Blank was adjudged to run the Gantlope, and ſurely if he were not well whipt, the Souldiers deſerve to be blamed; and whereas Lilburn ſays, he was no Souldier, it will be affirmed on Oath, that Blank confeſt to an Officer of the Army, that he was of Col. Hortons Regiment of Horſe, and that of the Colonels own Troop, and that his horſe ſtood at Sawpots the Kings-head in Grays-in-lane, and deſired a Certificate to Col: Horton to excuſe his abſence from the Troop: Then Sir Arthur hearing that after he had run the Gantlope, he went to the Tower to Iohn Lilburn, and thereupon Lilburn began to blazon theſe falſe reports that he hath ſince printed. Sir Arthur being to go into the North, delivered all Blanks Informations, with his own hand, and ſigned with his own name, to Mr Iohn Price at the Exchange, entreating him to publiſh the truth of that ſtory, if need required: And thus you ſee how guilty Sir Arthur is of murther, in conſpiring to take away his life; but the man hath got Cains ſpirit, and is afraid that every man that ſees him will deſtroy him; ſee what it is to have a guilty conſcience.

But his fear yet encreaſes, and page 9. relates a long ſtory of one Thomas Varney, which Sir Arthur imployed to entrap him, and ſo to take away his life.

As for this Varney Sir Arthur verily thinks he never ſaw him, unleſs it ſhould be one Varney that was ſon to the Marſhal that was killed at Edg-hill, that was a Trooper under him, and ran to the Enemy when he was in the Weſt; if that be the man, he hath not ſeen him, nor ſpoke with him, nor heard from him this five or ſix years; if it be not the man, he knows neither firſt nor laſt any thing of him, nor the deſign, before he ſaw it in Lilburns Pamphlet. Parturiunt montes; What is become of all theſe high and great expreſſions? Do not you think, Readers, that Sir Arthur Haſlerig is a man not fit for humane ſociety, that he deſerves death more then the Earl of Strafford, and may be knocked in the head, like a Polecat? &c. I need make no Application.

There is one additional Charge yet which I will but name, that is, That Sir Arthur was none of the Committee, and his Uncle George thinks the ſame, whereas Sir Arthur Haſlerig was authorized by the Parliament to ſit in all Commiſſions and Committees in the four Northern Counties, and it's happy for the Biſhoprick he is one, elſe his Uncle would play as mad pranks there as Iohn doth above.

You now ſee, Reader, the picture of Iohn Lilburn, what a fair and p. 12lovely aſpect he caſts upon honeſt men, what a precious ſavour flows from his Pen, how worthy this man is to live among humane ſociety, or to model States and Governments, that makes no conſcience of traducing, ſcandalizing, lying; what deſperate and dangerous principles he acts upon, holding private murther, in revenge, to be lawful, eſteeming the life of an honeſt man, if but diſſenting from him, or doing him any particular wrong, to be no more then the life of a beaſt of prey; and if theſe be his ſerious thoughts in cold blood (if you can imagine him to be at any time in a cool & ſober temper) what may he not attempt to do in his raging raptures? It maybe very probably expected, that he which hath given ſuch a licence to his Pen to vent his malice, may let looſe his hands to do ſome ſuch horrible act as private, and wilful murther, that he may confirm by his practiſe what he entertains as his principle; and it's juſt with God that theſe which make lyes their refuge, ſhould make deſtruction their end.

But to come more ſpecially to a review of the great Charge, and conſider the damages between Sir Arthur and Iohn Lilburn, he chargeth him with robbing of him of 24 or 2500 l. which you ſee is every word of it falſe, with endeavouring to take away his life, which you ſee is a lye: But what recompence may Sir Arthur Haſlerig demand? nay, what recompence can Iohn Lilburn give to him, and the other Gentleman, (conſidering the diſproportion of the perſons,) who hath endeavoured to ſtretch the utmoſt limits of malice, to blaſt their reputations, and take their good names from them, which Solomon profeſſeth in Prov. 22.1. is better, and rather to be choſen then great riches? What is rob'd and ſtoln from me, may be made up again ſeven-fold; but my name, that, is like a glaſs, that holds ſome precious liquor, once broken, can hardly ever be made up again in that beauty and firmneſs as it was before: A good name it's the perfume of noble ſpirits and actions, without which men ſtink as they walk in the world, and is the only reward in this world of vertue and proweſs, by this men live when they dye, and are famous to eternity. What a Cannibal is this Lilburn then? And what a ravenous ſpirit hath he, that nothing but the ruine of the honour and good names of the moſt deſerving men can content his malice? What is Lilburns 24 or 2500 l. to make up ſuch a breach? But the man is ſenſible of no diſhonour himſelf, his perſon or fortunes being never yet capable of any.

The Romans were ſo ſenſible of the names of the Citizens or Freemen of Rome, that they made ſpecial Laws, with moſt ſevere puniſhments, againſt Libellers, or any that ſhould write Pamphlets to defame p. 13any Free-man, or take away his good report, Cicero lib. 4. de repub: flagitium capital eſto, Let it be a capital offence, that is as he expounds it, quod capitis poena luitur, which ſhall endanger a mans head, but publikely to defame any man, without legal conviction.

And in paudectis ex ulpiano, he that ſhall write to defame and ſcandalize a Citizen, whether without name, or in the name of another, or by his own name, Inteſtabilis ex lege eſſe jubetur, that was the character the Law gave him, (that is) qui nec teſtamentum facere potest, nec ad teſtimonium adheberi teſtis, was never to be beleeved more in whatever he ſaid, nor his teſtimony ever more to be credited: And Horace obſerving the ſame Law and Sentence, Intestabilis dixit pro deteſtabili, a man deteſtible, and to be abominated by all men of any honeſty or integrity; and that the world may further ſee the hainouſneſs of this Crime, the Graecians (as Budeus obſerves in his Commentaries) were wont to call the ſame men (foreign) velut fortunis omnibus averſi, civilia jura non retinebant, men forſaken of all fortunes, that keep to no civil Rule or Law, as baniſhed, and diſſolute men, that enjoy nothing, and care to live by no rule but their luſt, preſidii legum exortes, out of protection of Law and Juſtice, and yet he gives a further deſcription in the ſame place of thoſe men, (foreign) dicti fuerunt, foreign, men of diſhonour, that act wickedly, and talk wickedly, to whom no reſpect, nor eſteem is to be given on any terms. You ſee how libelling was reſented among the wiſeſt and beſt governed States and Kingdoms; and doubtleſs the Laws of England are not defective, as to this offence. Murther and ſlander ſeem of a like hainous nature; yea, ſlander to an ingenious and raiſed ſpirit, ſeems the greater miſery; many would rather chooſe to dye, then to live baſely: Murther to an honeſt man, is rather the ſin of the murtherer, then the hurt of the perſon, he being better provided for; but ſlander kills the man, while he lives, and without any hope of reparation; the death it ſelf of the libeller cannot make up the loſs, for when he is gone, the man that lives under that reproach, ſuffers a dayly Martyrdom, and lives as a forlorn and dead man, without love or reſpect, telluris inutile pondus, as the burthen and miſery of the earth.

What a ſentence then of Condemnation would be paſt on this man, if he had his due? How will his name rot to poſterity, who hath ſo unchriſtianlike and unworthily ſlandered theſe two Gentlemen? As I dare ſay, never any were by the moſt horrid and wretched tongue in the world, yea the very language of Bedlam and Billingſgate is ſmooth and comely to his expreſſions.

p. 14But I cannot wonder that his rage is ſo much againſt them, ſeeing the very Churches of Chriſt (thoſe ſacred Bodies and Pillars of Glory) are the butt of his fury, calling Mr John Goodwins Congregation, A knaviſh Conspiracy: and in other Pamphlets doing the like to other Churches: What will this man come unto? Where will his malice centre? Will it not at laſt end in trampling on the Gospel, and the Name of Ieſus Chriſt, who doubtleſs ſtands in diametrical oppoſition to his ſpirit and actions.

And that he may prove himſelf to be a perfect Iſhmaelite, to have his hand againſt every man, and ſatisfie his envy at once, he ſlanders the whole Parliament, Councel of State, Army, calling them Col: Prides Iunto, a mock Parliament, a company of Theeves, Robbers, with a thouſand ſuch like Monſters, and, which is intolerable, glories in this his ſhame; never was any State ſo publikely affronted by ſuch a pedantique Pamphleter, and yet ſo patient and indulgent to him; yet though he denies their Authority, and profeſſeth contempt againſt them, as no Parliament, this Gentleman, upon an Agreement of the People (that grant Idol of the Levellers) though it were but of the thouſand part of them, and conſiſting only of a few Apprentices, and Bankrupts, and men of inconſiderable intereſt in the Commonwealth, could be contented not only to purge but diſſolve this Parliament, and chooſe whom they pleaſed, and have put the ſtamp of the Supream Authority of this Nation on it. It's well known, that there are far more of all ſorts that have heartily and freely conſented to this preſent Authority, then ever would have done on ſuch an Agreement of the People, (according to his model,) in which there was ſuch Popular Principles, ſuch a looſe and licentious Liberty, to be given to all ſorts of wicked Blasphemies and Opinions, that all godly and conſciencious men abominate; if the Army would have agreed with him, and two or three more Mechanick Levellers, though neither Preſbyterian nor Independent, neither one party nor other, but themſelves had conſented to it, they would have (if they had power) ſubjected all mens judgments and conſciences to it, and have cry'd it up for the firſt Parliament of Freedom & Liberty that ever England enjoyed: And had that party prevailed againſt the Army, which mutinied of late, and gathered a Head at Burford and Oxford, we ſhould have ſoon ſeen what a Parliament and Councel of State we ſhould have been bleſſed with: And this very Parliament, in its illegal eſtate, yea, the Councel of State it ſelf, if it had but Iohn Lilburns hands layd on it, ſhould be the Supream Authority in a moment. But what need all this ſpending of paper and words on him, who is reſolved p. 15to dy a royal death with the King, and end his days like a Malignant, denying the authority of theſe, who found a juſt power of condemning him. The Government is now happily changed, both by the Principles of Reaſon, Neceſſity, and Conveniency: If guilty perſons hate the Authority by which they muſt be condemned, I ſhall not wonder: For Iohn Lilburn, I know his nature is onelyonly diſpoſed to oppoſition, and no Government whatever ſhall be appointed, without that wherein he might be Supream, but he would cry it down as illegal and tyrannical. But if he thinks to dye a Martyr, in oppoſing this preſent Government, I ſhall not envy him the glory to be canoniz'd with King Charls in the Malignant and Popiſh Kalender. I ſhall ſay no more as to this, but leave him to the righteous execution of their Power, whom he denies to have Authority.

And whereas he ſtill pleads to be tryed by the known Laws of the Land, you may ſee he is put to his ſhifts; when he fought againſt the King, he could finde a diſtinction between the ſence of the Law, and intent of it, and the letter; and now he is come to be tryed by the Parliament, he flies to the letter of theſe Laws, by which he could not, without Treaſon, fight againſt the King; but any thing to ſcape the Gallows: Had he ſtood to every Statute Law formerly, where had John Lilburn been? Nay, did not John Lilburn juſtly deſerve all thoſe whips and ſcourges, by the letter of ſome Laws then in force? Particular Laws are made according to particular occaſions & conveniencies, and bind not ad ſemper, eſpecially no occaſional Statutes can binde up the hands of the Legiſlators; the Parliament being the Repreſentative of the People, are the Supream Authority, and what they enact, or do, in the time of their Seſſion, is to be accounted as abſolute a Law (at leaſt as long as they ſhall think fit to continue it) as any other Law made by former Parliaments; and to tye the Supream Authority to former preſidents, is all one as to give Laws to the Legiſlators. And whereas John Lilburn will have the Parliament, both now, and formerly, to follow the form of every common Statute in making an Order for his impriſonment, it is as much as to ſay, that the Parliament hath not power to repeal, or, as they ſee occaſion, to ſuſpend the execution, or alter the form of any Statute; or that their Orders, in the time of their Seſſion, though but occaſionally made, and pro tempore, according as they ſee neceſſity or conveniency, are not as legal and juſt, and to be obeyed, as theſe Statutes which other Parliaments made on the ſight of the ſame convenience, or reaſon: But there is no doubt but they have Laws enough to prove John Lilburn a Traytor, and a man p. 16which deſerves the laſt puniſhment; But if there ſhould be a defect of any expreſs Preſident, or Law, whereby he may be puniſhed, it's becauſe he hath gone beyond the common ſtrain of former offendors, and is without preſident and example in his miſcarriages; and no Parliament could ever imagine, there would any man be ſo quite deſtitute of the Law of Nature, as to abuſe himſelf, and affront Authority ſo impudently, as he hath done; But new ſins muſt have new puniſhments: Some muſt be made examples now, as well as others formerly. It was the Earl of Straffords plea, there was no Law and preſident for his cenſure, who acted it better then John Lilburn, and yet Iohn was one of the Apprentices that cried out for Juſtice, which was legally executed then; And the King denyed the Authority of the High Court of Iuſtice, and yet juſtly loſt his Head: Let Iohn Lilburn take heed next, The Parliament hath made a Law, and it's publiſhed, That who ever ſhall ſpeak againſt the preſent Government, or for the title of Prince Charls to the Crown, ſhall be puniſhed as a Traytor; How far the Gentleman hath ſin'd againſt this known Law, he may ſhortly know.

I have now done with his terrible and hyperbolical Charges, though it ſeems he means never to have done, for he ſtiles his laſt Pamphlet but A Preparative to a Hue and Cry, and in the latter end of his Preparative, calls for more fuel to the fire, commanding his Uncle (as if he were the god of this world) to ſend up to him intelligence what Sir Arthur Haſlerig doth, and Let me know, ſaith he, if he do not this, and that, profeſſing he will not abate him an ace, be it true or falſe, which he can but ſcrape out of any Malignant Letters concerning him; But I hope by this time all ſober and honeſt men know what uſe to put his Pamphlets unto hereafter: And to thoſe that have a minde to buy a ſhillingworth of lyes to carry in their pockets againſt they ſhall finde uſe of them, or would learn the art of railing and ſlandering moſt exactly, I ſhall commend the buying of Lievt. Col. John Lilburns Pamphlets, and reading of them with the moſt care and diligence that they can afford; For my part, my ſtomack is full, I ſhall onelyonly deſire theſe two Gentlemen, that are thus the objects of his revenge, That though your Names and Honors are untainted, and ſhine clear through the cloud of his Calumnies, yet you would make this advantage of it, and ſo honeſtly cheat him of his hopes, to ſpur you on to more gallant and brave actions, and to improve your Intereſt for the advancing Religion, and the Power of Godlineſs in this Nation, as well as Civil Freedom and Liberty, then ſhall your names be written in Braſs or Marble, to poſterity, as they are, and will be, in the hearts of godly and conſciencious men, when John Lilburns ſhall be written in the duſt.

I expect another Hue and Cry after me ſhortly; But I intend to foul my hands no more with him; but leave the diſcreet Reader to judg, and beſtow what Faith and Charity he hath to ſpare upon his former and enſuing Pamphlets.

FINIS.

End of the text · Cuthbert Sydenham, An Anatomy of John Lilburns Spirit (1649)