Lieu. Col. John Lilburn's plea in law,: against an Act of Parliament of the 30 of January, 1651. entituled, An act for the execution of a judgment given in Parliament against Lieu. Col. John Lilburn. Contrived and penned, on purpose for him, by a true and faithful lover of the fundamental laws and liberties of the free people of England, ... all which compels and forceth the penman to be very studious of his own good and preservation, ... and therefore, for his own good and benefit, the honest readers information, and for Mr Lilburns the prisoners advantage, he presents these ensuing lines to thy view, and his, as the form of a plea; that the penman hereof, as a true well-wisher of his, and the people of England, would have him to ingross into parchment, and to have ready by him to make use of (in case his own braines cannot contrive a better) when he is called up to answer for his life before the judges of the upper-bench, or any other bar of justice whatsoever; and the said form of a plea for him thus followeth verbatim.

The illegal Mittimus of the Lord Major.

WHeras it was enacted by a late Act of Parl. (entituled an Act for the execution of a judgement given in Parliament, against Lieu. Col. John Lilburne) that the said John Lilburne, should within twenty days to be accounted from the 15 day of Ianuary, 1651. depart out of England,

Scotland, Ireland, and the Islands, Territories and Dominions thereof; and that in case the said John Lilburne, at any time, after the expira∣tion of the said 20 days, to be accompted as aforesaid, should be found or should be remaining within England, Scotland, Ireland, or within any of the Islands, Territories or Dominions thereof, the said J. Lil∣burne is thereby adjudged a Felon, and to be executed as a Felon, ••s in the said Act was mentioned; And whereas the said J. Lilburne, hath been re∣maining and found since the expiration of the said 20 dayes within the Liberties of the City of London, in the Commonwealth of Eng∣land, contrary to the said Act; These are therefore in the Name of the Keepers of the Liberties of England by Authority of Parl. to will and re∣quire you forthwith upon receipt hereof, to receive into your custo∣dy the body of the said J. Lilburne, whom I send unto you herewith, for the Felony aforesaid, and him safely to keep, untill he shall be deli∣vered by due course of Law, and this shall be your Warrant.

Given under my Hand and Seal, Dated this 16 day of Iune, in the year of our Lord, 1653.

JOHN FOWK, Major.

To the Keepers of the Goale of Newgate.