A letter of Lieutenant Colonel John Lilburns,: written to Mr. John Price of Colemanstreet London, (and a member of Mr. John Goodwins congregation) the 31. of March 1651. about the harsh and unequal dealing that his unckle Mr. George Lilburn, and several others of his family findes from the hands of Sir Arthur Haslerig. Unto which is annexed Mr. John Price his answer thereunto.

The Abstract of the cause between Mr. Tho. Shadforth, and Mr. George Lilburn, referred to the Honourable Committee for the Northern Association, to be examined by Order of the House, the 5. of March, 1648.

IMprimis, two Warrants were produced, directed to the chief Constables of the County of Durham, and dated at Newcastle Septemb. 12. 1642. Commanding them to furnish the Earl of Newcastle with Horses, to carry Ammunition for the Kings service; and unto these was subscribed George Lilburn, and a seal was set to them by the name, as the Seal of George Lilburn.

George Lilburn being examined, and asked whether the name of George Lilburn subscribed to those warrants produced, and the Seal set to them as his, were his Hand and Seal; he answered that he knew not that it was his Hand and Seal, saying his Hand and Seal had been divers times counterfeited, as he could prove.

For proof that the Warrants were signed and sealed by George Lilburn, Mr. Martin Foster was examined as a witness, who saith,

That he was a Captain in the Kings service, under the Earl of

Newcastle, and that he saw (as he thinketh) about six years since, about the latter end of November, a Warrant for promoting the Kings service, signed George Lilburn; but whether it were his hand or his Seal, he knoweth not.

Mr. Foster further saith,

That he knew one Chilton was in Col. Hiltons Regiment, under the E. of Newcastle, & that he came into the Regiment before they marched out of the Bishopr. of Durham, which was after the Battel at Yareham, against Sir Hugh Cholmley, as he takes it, about Febr. 1642. And that he believes that the said Chilton served for Mr. George Lilburn, because Chilton made an answer for George Lilburn, when the list of the names of those which were charged with Arms in that County, was call∣ed over;

but he further saith,

that he heard that George Lilburn was in prison by the Earl of Newcastles forces, at the time of the raising Col. Hiltons Regiment.

Mr. Shadforth being the prosecutor, examined for information, but not as a witness, saith,

that he saw not George Lilburn sign or seal the Warrants produced, dated the 12. of Septemb. 1642. but saith, that George Lilburn did acknowledge voluntarily in the pre∣sence of Francis Wren, and others of the Committee of sequestra∣tions at Durham, who were then sitting as a Committee, that he did sign and seal the aforesaid Warrants; saying, that when he signed them, he would have signed 20. more of the like nature, if they had been then offered unto him; for that he was then under a kind of restraint.

In the defence of George Lilburn Esq against the charge exhibited against him by Mr. Thomas Shadforth.

CAptain Robert Sharp examined, saith,

That about the 12. of Septemb. 1642. he was at the Town-house in Newcastle, where he saw sitting Sir Wil. Carnaby, Sir Tho. Liddle junior, and Mr. Liddle Justices of the Peace, who sent twice for M. George Lilburn, who came not, and thereupon a motion was made, that the said George Lilburn should be sent for by Command; and at the third time the said George Lilburn came to the said Town-house, whe∣ther by Command or not, he knoweth not; but being come, he was thrust back by the shoulders, disrespectively, and the Kings Souldiers being at that time within 20. yards of the place, where Mr. Lilburn was thus used: the said Rob. Sharp was afraid that they would keep Mr. Lilburn prisoner, and also apprehend him, and

so he fled out of Town; for that he knew Mr. Lilburn was well af∣fected to the Parliament, and that the Kings forces had a List of all that were well-affected in that County.

Mr. Robert Carr examined saith,

That he met George Lilburn at Newcastle in 1642. when the E. of Newcastle was raising forces for the King, the particular time he remembers not. And the said George Lilburn did at Sir Thomas Riddles dore, in the Close at New••castle, complain to him the said Carr, that he was in a sad condition; because Bishoprick Gentlemen would force him against his Conscience to sign a Warrant, and saying further, that he thought he should be sent to prison, and all that he had should be lost; and the said Carre heard at that time, Sir Tho. Riddles man told the said George Lilburn, that his Master required him to come to him.

Mr. Henry Lever examined saith,

That George Lilburn in August 1642. met him at Newcastle, when the E of Newcastle was raising forces against the Parliament; and that the said George Lilburn was then very solicitous to op∣pose those forces, saying, he would rather die in a halter, then joyn with those forces against the Parliament. And the said Lever saith, that they then resolved that George Lilburn should go to Scotland for help for the well-affected.

Mr. Robert Carr, Mr. George Gray, and Mr. Hen. Lever say,

That in Octob. 1642. the said George Lilburn went to Edenburgh to Mr. Pickering, Agent in Scotland for the Parliament of England, to implore him to acquaint the Parliament with the sad condition of the North, and to desire help for the well-affected from the South, which Mr. Pickering promised to do for them.

Mr John Smart, and Mr. Gilbert Marshall examined severally say,

That Mr. George Lilburn in Octob. 1642. at the meeting of the Countrey, to put the Commission of Array in execution, did op∣pose it, saying, the Parliament did declare it to be illegal

and they; further say,

That Mr. George Lilburn had been then imprisoned for his affections to the Parliament, if he had not fled out of Dur∣ham privately.

Mr. Robert Sharp, Mr. Rob. Carr, Mr. Henry Lever, Mr. Gilbert Marshall, and Thomas Chilton say,

That George Lilburn was about the 11. of November 1642. for his affection to the Parliament, taken prisoner by one of the Earl of New∣castles

Colonels, and was barbarously used, forced to go on foot, pinion∣ed with ropes, arm to arm, with some other well-affected men through the dirt, after the Carriages from Durham to York Gate-house, having neither fire nor bed, meat nor drink, for 3. dayes and 3. nights, and that the said George Lilburn was afterwards removed and imprisoned for above 6 moneths in York-Castle, where he was sometimes in the Dungeon, sometimes in the common Goale. And Martin Foster saith, he saw the said George Lilburn Prisoner in York, in the Kings forces in August 1643.

Mr. John Smart, and Mr. Robert Sharp, examined say,

That in their hearing the said George Lilburn during his impri∣sonment, was very often above ten times solicited by Mr. Raphe Hambleton, to give any small matter to the assistance of the E. of Newcastle, either a Horse or the like, and his inlargement should be procured; but the said George Lilburn refused alwayes, saying, he had rather rot in prison then give any thing to that service.

Thomas Chilton examined, being the party mentioned in the Charge to serve for George Lilburn, in Col. Hiltons Regiment, against the Parliamen, saith,

That he never did bear Arms for George Lilburn against the Par∣liament, neither did the said George Lilburn ever desire him so to do.

And Mr. George Gray, Mr. John Smart, and the said Thomas Chilton, said

that Col. Hiltons Regiment begun to be raised about the beginning of Decemb. 1642.

And Mr. George Gray relates from the said Col. Hiltons mouth,

that the Commission of the said Col. Hil∣ton to raise his Regiment, bore date the 24. of Decemb.

And they all say,

that the said George Lilburn was a prisoner before that time.

Mr. Gilbert Marshall, Mr. Henry Lever, Mr. George Gray, Mr. Robert Sharp, examined say.

That they having lived in the same Countrey with the said George Lilburn, have alwayes observed, that the said George Lilburn hath been from the first to the last, faithful and active for the Par∣liaments

service, and one of the chiefest incouragers of the well-affected in that Countrey.