The picture of the Councell of State, held forth to the free people of England by Lieut. Col. John Lilburn, M. Thomas Prince, and M. Richard Overton, now prisoners in the Tower of London for bearing testimony to the liberties of England against the present tyrants at White-Hall, and their associates, or, a full narrative of the late extrajudiciall and military proceedings against them ; together with the substance of their severall examinations, answers, and deportments before them at Darby-house, upon March 28 last.

The Narrative of the Proceedings against Lieutenant Col. John Lil∣burn thus followeth.

ON Wednesday the 28 of March 1649, about four or five a clock in the morning, my lodging at Winchester-house in Southwark, was beset with about 100 or 200 armed men, Horse and Foot, one of which knocking at my Chamber∣door, I rose and opened him the door, and asked him who he would speak with, and what he would have? He replyed, he was come to take me prisoner; whereupon I demanded of him to see his Warrant; he told me he had one, but had it not here, but as soon as I came to Pauls I should see it; I told him, if he walked by the rules of justice, he ought to have brought his Warrant with him, and to have shewed it me, and given me leave to have copied it out, if I had desired it. But divers of the foot Souldiers rushing into my room at his heels; I desired him to demean himself like a Gentleman, and not with any incivilities affright my children and family; for if it were nothing but my person he would have, I would but make me ready, and go along with him without any more ado, whither he would carry me; for his power of armed men was beyond my present resisting, or power to dispute: so I desired him and another Gentleman with him to sit down, which they did; and when I was almost ready to go, I demanded of him whether it would not fully sa∣tisfie his end, in my going along with him and one or two more of his company in a boat, and I would ingage unto him as I was an English man, there should be no disturbance to him by me, or any in my behalf, but I would quietly and peacebly go with him where-ever he would have me: but he told me no, I must march thorow the streets with the same

Guard that came for me: I told him, I could not now dispute, but it would be no great conquest to lead a single captive thorow the streets in the head of so many armed men, who neither had made resistance, nor was in any capacity to do it; and coming down stairs in∣to the great yard, I was commanded to stand till the men were marshalled in Rank and File, and two other prisoners were brought unto me, viz. my Landlord Mr. Devennish's two Sons, but for what they knew not, nor could imagine; So away thorow the streets the armed Victors carry us, like three conquered Slaves, making us often halt by the way, that so their men might draw up in good order, to encounter with an Army of Butterflies, in case they should meet them in the way to rescue us their Captives from them; so coming to Pauls Church, I there meet with my Comrade M. Prince, and after imbraces each of other, and a little discourse, we see our acquaintance M. William Walwin marching at the head of ano∣ther Party as a captive; and having understood that our being seised as Prisoners, was a∣bout a new addresse by way of Petition to the Parliament, intituled, The second part of Englands new Chains discovered; We could not but wonder at the apprehending of M. Walwin about that, he having for some months past (that ever I could see or hear of) never been at any of our meetings, where any such things were managed: But Adjutant General Stubber that was the Commander of the Party, coming then to view, I repaired to him, and desired to see his Warrant, by vertue of which his men forced me out of my bed and habitation, from my Wife and children; and his Warrant he produced, which I read, he denying me a copy of it, though both there and at White-hall I earnestly demanded it as my right: the substance of which, so neer as I can remember, is, From the Committee, commonly stiled the Councel of State, to authorise Sir Hardresse Waller, and Colonell Edward Whaley, or whom they shall appoint, to repair to any place whatsoever, where they shall hear Lieut. Col. John Lil∣burn, and M. Prince, M. Walwin, and M. Overton are, them to apprehend, and bring before the Councel of State, for supposition of high Treason, for compiling, &c. a seditious and scandalous Pamphlet, intituled, The second part of Englands new Chains discoverd. And for so doing, that shall be their Warrant.

Signed, John Bradshaw President.