The Petition thus followeth.
To the honourable the Judges of the Kings bench, The humble Petition of Lievt. Col. Iohn Lilburne Prisoner in the Tower of London,
Sheweth,
THat your Petitioner is an Englishman, and thereby intailed and intituled to the benefit of all the lawes of England which by your Oaths(†) you are sworne indifferently and equally with∣out feare or partiallity to administer gratis to all per∣sons rich and poore, without having regard to any person notwithstanding any command whatsoever to the contrary.
Now forasmuch as a Habeas Corpus is part of the law of England, and ought not by law to be denyed to any man(*) whatsoever that demand it, which though your petitioner earnestly endeavoured the last Tearme to obtaine, yet could not prevaile with his Counsell to move for it, although he hath almost this two yeares been detained in prison in the Tow∣er of London, without all shadow of Law or iustice, and by the Lievtenant thereof, hath been divorced from the societie of his wife, debarred from the free accesse of his friends, deprived of the use of pen, inke and paper: all which usages are against the expresse lawes and Statutes of this land, your petitioners birth right and inheritance.
Therefore your petitioner humbly prayeth, according to his right, and your oaths, the benefit of a Habeas Corpus, (and that be may have it gratis† according to the law of the land and your Oaths) to bring his body and cause before you in open Court, there to receive your award and iudgement according to the declared Law of England.
John Lilburne. And your Petitioner shall pray, &c.