Iohn White's defence.: In the behalfe of himself, his honoured commander, the lieutenant of the Tower and the other his fellow warders. Against a lying and slanderous pamphlet written by Iohn Lilburne, and intitled Liberty vindicated against slavery. The author of which pamphlet, is here reprehended for his slandering, taxed for his libelling, and incited (the spirit of disaffection abandoned.) to submit himselfe to his rulers, [brace] as he is commanded. To live in unity with his fellow commanders, [brace] as he ought.

To the Intelligent Reader.

AS we are not bound to reveale all truths, so are we tyed to vindicate the truth being evill spoken of. Lieutenant Colonel Lilburne, a man whose folly the world talketh of, whose presumption all men admire, and whose wrethed Estate, as being a man given up to himselfe, all men ought to deplore, having Taxed, Defamed, and Despised even the Governors and Rulers of this Nation, may cause those that are inferiors the lesse to set by, and slight his Calumnies.

But forasmuch as those Powers have already begun, and at their pleasure, may proceed to punish his sawcinesse, which privi∣ledge, I and others of the Commons want: is therefore remaines that we may assume that liberty, as by writing and speaking to vin∣dicate our selves.

First, therefore forasmuch as in a Pamphlet lately Printed, he particularly enveigheth against me falsely, taxing me of that wherof I am not the least guilty, I thought good gentle Reader, in the be∣halfe of my selfe, my Lieutenant and other my Fellow wardens of the Tower unworthily by him calumniated, to publish this my Answer, which the Highest knowes to be truth, and nothing but the truth, which followes.

First, he cryeth out and bitterly exclaimeth of the great Fees, which the Lieutenant of the Tower, and the Gentle-man Porter extort; let therefore all men Judge, what reason he hath to say so, when as they never received any of him, nor ever demanded any,

and here let me discharge my conscience freely; I protest not out of favour or affection, but out of the intire love I beare to the worth of the party,* 1.1 I conceive there was never a more pious up∣right and wel-affected man Lieutenant of the Tower, then he that executeth that office at the present, one for whom we have cause to blesse God, and acknowledge our thankfulnesse to the Par∣liament and City for their care for their chusing of so accomplisht a man as he is, to execute that Office of so high a concernment; the Gentleman Porter also an upright man, for ought ever I could perceive, who have been an eye witnesse of his Actions; but Lil∣burnes carriage and calumnyes are such, that some of his best friends begin to desert him, some of them have said to me, that they were sorty to see his unworthy carriage and behaviour; how basely hath this man Lilburne abused and vilified the ever to be ho∣noured Earle of Manchester, who hath ventured his life, and slight∣ed his Estate, to advance the publike good? and indeed who is there truly vertuous, that hath not tasted of his slanders? but whosoever shapeth not himselfe to his cut, and walketh not in the same path of error that he doth; by him is accursed; and not onely he, but also all his complices with their new lights placed in darke Lant∣hornes, misguide themselves, and deceive others, and refuse all fellowship save with their Brethren in— but now to the matter intended.

The Pamphleter saith,

One White a Warder of the Tower,* 1.2 who came to the Lieutenant Co∣lonel in Newgate, and gave him their evill and provoking Language, doth with contumelious, and reproachfull words, and gestures, frequent∣ly affront and abuse, &c.

Here observe he taxeth me once to have visited him in Newgate, and there to have given him evill and provoking Language; what my words were he reciteth not, but I shall; with the reason why I went to visit him having formerly some acquaintance with him, when he was an Apprentice, with a Cloth-Drawer; I then being a Clothier in Reading had occasion to have much Cloth passe through his Masters hands, and some time after hearing of his be∣ing Prisoner in Newgate, I went to see him there, and being ad∣mitted into his chamber, I found him writing of a Letter, one standing by him to receive it; when he had finish't, he asked me, if

I had any thing to him; I told him, I came out of my love to see him, and desired him for the glory of God,* 1.3 to carry himselfe humbly, and as one possessing the spirit, as onely professing the Gospell, for if he had a good cause he would spoile it in the hand∣ling; here he abruptly asked me, if this were all I came for, and rudely pulling me by the Coat said, if I had not beene an old man, he would have throwne me downe Stayrs; his rough speeches and sturdy gestures gave me cause to feare he would doe as he had said; being downe the Stayrs I told him, I had heard much of him, now had seen, and if warinesse prevented not, spirituall pride would be his overthrow: which he hearing was coming down the Staires after me, but I fled away and escaped his hands, and this was all the evill and provoking Language which I then gave him. I appeale to all the Prisoners in the Tower, how I have carryed my self to him; I wish Master Lilburne no more ill then mine own soule, I hate not the man, but his manners; and therefore let all the world judge, what cause this man hath to exclaime of my ill usage of Him.

* 1.4His next complaint is, that I have oft affronted him in the Tower, and given him reproachfull words. I know none that ever J gave him except once, when upon his commitment to the Tower, he came to the Lieute∣nants house,* 1.5 I came and bowing to him with my Hat in my hand * said Master Lilburne, I am sorry to see you come hither in this manner, J pray God help you and give you grace to demeane your self in all things as becometh his Child; upon which in a rough manner, he bade me go fur∣ther from him, he needed not my Prayers or company, at which many of his friends that stood by said they were sorry for his aversenesse, since which time, I have not had the least conference with him.

* 1.6He thirdly, complaineth that on my waiting Day, J keepe back those that would come unto him, and doe affront them to this I answer.

When I did visite, I never kept back any that would come unto him, provided they would give me their names,* 1.7 and the place of their dwelling; now there have come many that denyed to disco∣ver their names, and where they dwelt, but used threatnings, and contumelious speeches, saying that we should Answer the prohibition of them from going to visit Colonell Lilburne, and that the time was at hand, when they would come in whether our Lieutenant would or no; now those that would discover their

names, and abode, had free entrance at all times; divers we have proved, who under pretence of going to the Mint, have gone to the chamber of that Coyner of Lyes Lilburne; as for Instance, there came one in a Coach, I asking him whether he would goe, he said, to my fellow Frankling; I asked him, if he went to no place else, he said no; I mistrusting his falshood, sent one of my fellowes af∣ter him, who found him inquiring for Lilburns Chamber; my fellow approaching to him, told him he did not aske for Lilburne, but for Frankling when he came in, and brought him back with him to me. I told him he did ill in celling an untruth, to aske for one place and goe to another; yet notwithstanding if he would write downe his name, and his dwelling, &c. herewith the Gentleman, grew greatly inraged, and fured as one had been mad, and threatned me and my fellowes very severely, that he would make us dearely Answer, &c. and to say truth, there repaires not to Lilburne, any one of note save two or three, but often mens wives, and waste-coat mayds, and some stragling Souldiers; and those that come from him, report that he doth not want for money nor wine, now let all men judge, I doing nothing but what I am commanded to doe, and what I must doe at my perill, what cause this defamer hath to complaine of me? which when I consider, as also his standering of others without all ground, I cannot but conclude he hath the Frenzie, and his wits the issue of a distemper'd braine, but as long as he persiseth in those* 1.8 two Capitall sinnes, the one the over∣throw of the Mother of us all EƲE, the other, the damning of that once glorious Angell Lucifer, I cannot conceive how hee should shake of those bonds of obstinacy, and malevolencit, or breake those yoakes, of malice and revenge wherewith he is fet∣tered, and pinnion'd. For mine own part, let Master Lilburns and his complices know, I lost more for adhering as I ought to the Parliamene then ever he was worth; my sonnes having beene in the States Service, ever since the beginning of these warres, under Lord 〈◊〉〈◊〉, and with him in all his Fights, and since his Resignati∣on under the truly Noble Sir Thomas Fairefax, and with him in all 〈…〉〈…〉, one being a Captain under him, in his own Regiment, who is now Governour of Wallingford, the other Enngne in the same Regiment; yet I doe not blow a Trumpet nor proclaime what hath been done. His complices, what ever they put forthy, O how

often doe they iterate, and set downe in Letters Capitall, the worthy sufferer for his Country, LIEVTENANT COLO∣NELL LILBVRNE, as if the Titles of the party could ex∣piate his crimes, whereas it is rather an aggravation thereof and ac∣cording to the Poet,

Great is the crime it cannot chuse, If he be great that doth it use.

* 1.9But this I have observed in my time, that who ever hath under∣taken to maintain, any error or heresie, * the devill hath still fur∣nished his minde with arguments to wrestle with all opposers, nay, and so farre to prevaile, that in outward esteem, sometimes the DEVILS SOPHISTRY hath triumphed ore the CHRI∣STIAN VERITY for my part I esteem it my chiefe glory, my conscience bearing me witnesse, that I am to number my selfe with those solid Citizens, and with them who say in the Poet;

We are no Partners with those Factious fellowes, Who bring the fewell, or who blow the bellowes Of civill discords, nor of* 1.10 those that varie Their principles, when their designes miscarrie, Nor of* 1.11 their Creed who will beleeve no more Then what they have beleeved heretofore. Or what their Grandsires did beleeve of old, Or what shall by their Priests to them be told; Nor are we of their minde who therefore doe What* 1.12 they have done, because they have done so; But we are men who good advisement had, Of what we doe, though some yet thinke us mad; Men that have all our best endevours vowd, To* 1.13 loose no freedom, reason hath allow'd Men who resolve to seeke a perfect way, To walk it as uprightly as we may, To keepe unchanged, God's and Natures Lawes: And change all other things, as there is cause.

I would desire Master Lilburne to remember the Fate of BROVNE, an obstinate Heretick in the dayes of Queene Elizabeth, and the Father of that stubborne Sect, the Brownists. And as from Reverend Calvin, the maintainers of his righteous Tenets were called Calvi∣nists, so from misled Browne, the confirmers of his wicked tenets were called Brownists; this Brown. the giddy multitude followed in heapes, to heare him preach the Doctrine of Sedition and Rebel∣lion; this man, Master Lilburne zealously imitares, and once like him on Tower Hill, was surrounded with a company of mecha∣nicks, who at the Constables approach he exhorts to stand on their defence, and to kill the Constable; and about to draw his sword, the Constable closed in with him and with-held him, and present∣ly disarming him, his Audience being dispersed, brought him guarded to the Lieutenant of the Tower, who used him with all lenity, farre better then he deserved: He, by whose favour I know not, escaping without the payment of five pound due by the Law of our Land, and to be paid by him that shall dare to affront or hinder a Constable in the prosecution of his Office. But I now pro∣ceed to Answer his fourth Complaint, wherein he averreth, that great and extraordinary Rents are taken for Chambers, whereby I conceive he hoped to insinuate, and according to the proverbe, to curry favour with some of the Gentlemen in the Tower; but they are so well acquainted with his Lyes, that they know this is not the first.

* 1.14This medler and busie body in other mens matters, without all ground, or the least reason on his part, complaineth, and falsely accuseth some of the warders to take of some fifty shillings, of other fourty, of some thirty, &c. as notorious a Lie, as the Father of Lyes could have belched; true it is, that some of the Warders have beene so much a weeke the worse for some of their Prisoners; but there is no warder but is well content to take tenne shillings a weeke for his Chamber, with all furniture belonging to it, neither is any man compelled to give any more then what he listeth but say we did take more, accounting also the great care and paines we take so watch and ward all the yeare long, day and night, for 14. pence a day, and of that we are behinde on Arrears almost five yeares, some of us have∣ing nothing else in the world to live on, but the Honourable Committee have taken Order for our better payment for the future; I would intreat Master Lilburne not to adde to the wickednesse of his friend, Master B.

who hath already sufficiently wronged the warders; and although it pleas∣ed his friend aforementioned to say, that there were not above two or three in all the company that could be trusted without scruple, yet it cannot be proved, that ever any one of them failed in his trust, or let escape any Prisoner during this dangerous time: And here let the Reader take notice, of the wavering, and unstable minde of my accuser; who in this Booke highly advanceth (Magna Charta) and yet in another standerous ly∣ing Libell, intituled An ALARVM to the house of LORDS, he tearm∣eth it a beggerly Law; and saith also that the Laws were made by Kings, to keepe men in slavery— and yet the Lord Strafford, and the Arch∣hishop of Canterbury lost their heads, for going about to alter them,— and in a Booke of his intituled, The Freemans Freedome vindicated, page 11. He raileth against all Power and Authority: whatsoever, and setteth up an absolute Anarchie. His words are these.

A POSTSCRIPT, Containing a Generall Proposition.

GOd the absolute Soveraigne Lord and King of things in heaven, and earth; the originall Fountaine, and cause of all causes: who is circumscribed Governed, and limited by no rules; doth all meerely, and onely by his Soveraign, and unli∣mited good pleasure, who made the world, and all things there∣in for his owne glory; and who by his owne will and pleasure, gave man (his meere creature) the Soveraignty under himselfe, over all the rest of the Creatures, Gen. 1.26, 28, 29. and indued him with a rationall understanding; and thereby created him after his owne Image, Gen. 1.26, 27. and 9.6. the first of which was Adam a male man, made out of the dust or clay; out of whose side was taken a Rib; which by the Soveraigne, and abso∣lute mighty creating power of God, was made a Female or Woman, call'd EVE, which two are the earthly originall Foun∣tain as begetters & bringers forth of all and every particular, and individuall man and woman, that ever breathed in the world since; who are and were by nature a like, and equall in Power,

Dignity, Majesty, &c. none of them having by nature, any Au∣thority, Dominion, or Majesteriall Power one over or above another; neither have they, or can they execute any, but meere∣ly by institution, or donation, that is to say, by mutuall agree∣ment or consent given, derived, or assumed, by mutuall consent, and agreement, for the good, benefit, and comfort each of other; and not for the mischiefe, hurt, or dammage of any, it being un∣naturall, Irationall, sinfull, wicked, and unjust, for any man or men whatsoever, to part with so much of their Power, as shall unable any of their ☞ Parliament men, Trustees, Deputies, Vice∣royes, Ministers, Officers, or Servants, to destroy, and undoe them therewith and also, unnaturall, unjust, sinfull, and divel∣lish is it for any man whatsoever, spirituall, temporall, Cleargy man, or lay man, to appropriate, and assume unto himselfe power, Authority, and Jurisdiction, to Rule, Governe, or Reigne over, any sort of men in the world, without their free consent; and whosoever doth it, whether Cleargie men, or any other what∣soever, doe thereby as much as in them lyes, endeavour to appro∣priate and assume unto themselves, the Office and Soveraignty of God, who alone doth, & is to rule by his will and pleasure; and to be like their Creator, which was the sinne of the devils, who not being content, with their first Station, but would be like God, for which sinne they were throwne downe into hell, reserved in everlasting chaines unto the judgement of the great day, Lude v. 6. and Adams sinne it was, which brought the curse upon him, and all his Posterity, that he was not content in the Station, and condition, which God had created him, but did aspire to a better, and more excellent, namely to be like the Creator; which proved his ruine; yea, and indeed, had been the everlasting ruine, and destruction of all his, &c.

Let the wise and understanding Reader, judge the Authors in∣tention, in framing the Proscript afore recited, whether or no his inclination serveth not, were the reines in his hand, to dissolve the whole Frame of Government, to set up confusion, and give licence to every evill worke, to be acted without controule; and yet such was his boldnesse, that a the taile of his Proscript he ad∣deth his name, as glorying in his Lines.

Thus per me, IOHN LILBURNE.

Oh Master Lilburne, if e're these lines come to your vew, peruse them with patience, and consider what a rash and unadvised course you have taken; having been another ACHAN, a troubler of Is∣rael; I remember what I once learned at Schoole, nunquam sera est, ad benos mores via, now at length recollect your selve, set forth your recantation for the past, and your resolution for the future; which will for the glory of God, and the comfort of his Church.

But if this shall be hid from your eyes, and the spirit of delusion have tane so sure possession on you; all I can doe, is to deplore your miserable condition, and to pray God to open the eyes of your minde, that you may see, in what a Labyrinth of evils you are in∣volved; as also this Ile wherein we live by your meanes, and those bearing as evill a minde as your selfe: was ever a Nation so miserably divided, and according, as one of our Modern Poets said truly, in a Poem of his lately Printed.

Some for the Parliament partake, Some for the King a party make, As he is King, and some that hee A Tyrant might become to be. Some would a* 2.1 popular Estate; Some* 2.2 Aristocracie Create; Some are a Faction for the Pope, Some to maintaine the Prelats hope; Some for the Presbiterians Vote, Some Independencie promote; Some strive for this, and some for that; Some neither know, nor care for what, So warres goe on, and get they may Free Quarter, Plunder, and their Pay; Some fight their liberties to save, Some that they others might enslave; Some for Religion, and for Christ, Some that they might doe what they list;

Some for the Common-wealth availe, Some for themselves, with Tooth and Naile; And they that have the basest end, As fairly as the best pretend.

"This is our Posture, and whil'st we, "So foolish false, and factious be; "Or while affaires continue thus, "Who knowes what will become of us?

I have read in the Chronicles of a Speech of King HENRY the Eight, to the French Embassadour, now being in hand with that glorious worke of abolishing the Popes power▪ If your Master (said he) will be ruled by me, we will not leave Masse in all our King∣domes. O that God would put it into the hearts of our Rulers and Governours, not to leave one Heresie in the Kingdome unabolli∣shed; the smallest capacities may conceive, and the blindest eye may discerne, that if they be not taken away, it will cause God to take away his Gospell from us, and prove the inevitable ruine, and destruction of this Nation, which hath till of late yeeres been renowned through the earth, for peace and plenty; and peculiarly blessed, in having the Gospell sincerely preached, voyd of Faction and Schisme. But I hope the honourable Houses of Parliament will ere long, ayded by him, who hath hitherto ayded them in a wonderfull manner, wipe away and leave no blemish of this great spot, and manifest staine to our Nation; in the mean time it were to be wished, that the Framers, Printers, and Divulgers, of Slan∣ders, Heresies, and lies, were by some strict course prohibited from their frequent and customary use of spreading abroad bookes and Pamphlets, the contents whereof tend to the dishonour of God, the breach of peace, and the infecting and seducement of the peo∣ple, apt enough of themselves in this wavering age, to fall into errours without a prompter. I know this will be taken in evill part by some, but let them know, what a great man of this Realm once said to one, that desired him to be a meanes of calling in a booke, sharpely but truely rebuking the deeds of some notorious

offenders, that it was fit THAT THOSE THAT DID WHAT THEY SHOULD NOT, SHOULD HEARE WHAT THE WOULD NOT.

Was there ever a president since the worlds foundation as this, that God, and his Christ, and his holy word, should be so blasphe∣med and evill spoken of; the King, the Commons, and all sorts of men so abused, and railed on: as now they are by Paul Best, and John Lilburne! the one denying the distinction of the Trinity; the other averring, there ought to be no subjection to any. And here I cannot but wonder at the wilfull blindnesse of those men, who will not be convinced of their error, and in particularly M^r Lil∣burne, who against the cleare light of nature, obstinately affirmeth his imprisonment is unjust and illegall, and seemeth to wonder at his usage, as in his booke, entituled, THE FREE-MANS FREEDOM VINDICATED, p. 7. where relating the man∣ner of his owne apprehending, and being brought before the Lords he hath this passage, My usage to me seems strange, for doing my duty in a just way, &c.

Why should it seeme strange to any man (if putting his finger in the fire, it be burnt?) or why should it be a wonder to Master Lilburne, if that for his false accusations, and rebellious procee∣dings, he be called to an account, and suffer for unjust, and unholy actions; All Histories, both Morrall and Divine, relate that divers, for lesse crimes then his, have undergone the rigour of the Law,* 2.3 and suffered death: as Penree in daies of Queen ELIZABETH; and to my knowledge, it is the feare of his best Friends, that his end will be violent, who persisteth without remorse from ill to ill, and placeth his Felicity in casting calumnies and aspersions on the innocent: as on my selfe, who never wronged him in my life, any way, either by word or deed.

Did M^r Lilburne consider what a capitall crime it is before God▪ to censure the innocent, he would be more wary what he penned or published; and it will be surely a blemish to the many pious actions of those who mought, but were remisse to prohibit it. It therefore behooveth every man the least vertuous, to pray unto the Lord God, that he will put into the hearts of the ever honou∣red Lords and Commons to remedy this evill.

〈1 page duplicate〉〈1 page duplicate〉

〈1 page duplicate〉〈1 page duplicate〉

Notes

• * 1.1

  Who adven∣tured his life for the Parlia∣ment at the ••eleife of Glocester.
• * 1.2

  1 Complaint.
• * 1.3

  Fooles despise Counsell saith Solomon.
• * 1.4

  The second Complaint.
• * 1.5

  A soft answer turneth away wrath, but fooles are im∣placable.
• * 1.6

  The third Complaint:
• * 1.7

  Answer.
• * 1.8

  Ambition, Pride.
• * 1.9

  Sathans Policy.
• * 1.10

  Time-Servers.
• * 1.11

  That ty•• their faith on others, and will beleeve as did their fore-fathers.
• * 1.12

  Obstinate and blinded Persons.
• * 1.13

  True Christians.
• * 1.14

  The fourth Complaint.
• * 2.1

  Where the people ruled.
• * 2.2

  Arbitrary Government.
• * 2.3

  In 88 Penree tooke the same way to stir up sedition, as you doe now.