A declaration of Lieutenant-Colonel John Lilburn to the free-born pcople [sic] of England.: And his speech to the Parliament, on Tuesday last; in answer to the sentence denounced against him by Mr. Speaker, by speciall order and command together with his resolution (come life come death) not personally to yield active submission to the said sentence. And divers other remarkable things, worth the knowledge of all the free-men, not only of London, but of all England. Subscribed, John Lilburn.

Lieut. Col. John Lilburn's Remonstrance to the Freemen of England.

Beloved Brethren, and Countrey-men,

IT was the lot and portion of our onely Lord and Master Jesus Christ, to be persecuted, reviled, re∣proached, and counted a Troubler of the World, and one not fit to breath therein: And this even by his own Countrey-men and friends; And if we his ser∣vants meet with the same measure, he hath com∣manded Us not to be dismayed or troubled; and the reason is, because the servant is not above the master: And withall, that we might go on cheerfully in bear∣ing the yoak of our master, he hath ingaged himself to bear part of it with us, and takes all that is done to

us for adhering to him, as done unto himself, Act. 9.4. And therefore, saith the spirit of God, in all their afflictions, he was afflicted, and the Angel of his pre∣sence saved him, Esay 63.9. Paul, Peter, and John, found these sayings of their Master true, and had their portions in afflictions in an extraordinaay man∣ner, but yet tasted largely of the faithfulnesse of their Masters promise, which was to be with them, and in them; which made Paul glory in his tribulations, and to say, That as his afflictions did abound, so much more his consolations; and Paul's portion in these expressions and enjoyments, I my self have been made partaker of, in my great and pressing tribula∣tions, which I under-went in the Bishops dayes, and have had a large portion of sorrowes all along both before and since, throughout my pilgrimage in this present Vail of teares. And having had my spirit mightily refreshed and carryed above the world, and the lash of my bitter adversaries, by calling to mind my by-past experience and refreshings, that I have injoyed from that Fountain of fulnesse, that hath for many years together been my sensible injoyed por∣tion: And amongst all the Writings and Declarati∣ons of Gods Love and Kindnesse manifested to me in my sorrowes, this hath most affected, and taken my spirit with greatest content, That it is the work

of the Saints, to incounter with difficulties in the Cause and Quarrel of their Lord and Master, and not to be afraid of bonds nor imprisonments. A good Conscience had rather run the hazard of cru∣elty, then to abate an hairs breadth of contestation a∣gainst illegality. This was the saying of Mr. Over∣ton, in his late Case, depending in the House of Peers; for, saith he,

As their Lordships in their ar∣bytrary capacity found Warrants; so should they find Legs to obey them; for I was resolved mine should not be inslaved to that their Usurpation to do their Arbytrary Drudgery; I would rather lose my life, then in that kind to do them that vas∣salage: My Legs were born as free as the rest of my Body, and therefore I scorn that Legs, or arms, or hands, should do them any servicer; for as I am a free-man by Birth, so am I resolved to live and die, both in heart, word and deed, in substance and in shew.

In a word, my earnest desire is, That all those that love their just interest, may have cause to say, Faith∣ful are the wounds of a friend, but deceitful are the kisses of an Enemy; which task shall be one earnest and cordial endeavours of him that is a true lover of Englands happinesse and prosperity.

JOHN LILBURN.

FINIS.