Page:Celebrated Trials - Volume 2.djvu/128

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Colonel John Lilburne,

them than the day of judgment; and that neither Korah, Dathan, and Abiram of old, nor the anabaptists, with John of Leyden, and Buperdullion at Munster, nor Jack Straw or Wat Tyler, were comparable to the General and his council for rebellions and treasons against all kinds of magistracy.

Mr. Attorney General.—We shall now proceed to his "Outcry," directed to the soldiers of the army. Read page 8.

The substance of it is, A grievous complaint of the oppressions the nation now lies under, and a recommendation thereof to the soldiers, especially the private men in the General's regiment of horse, for that the nation was now not only exposed to domestic broils, but to foreign invasions, from France, Denmark, Sweden, &c. And appeals to the private soldiers of the army for help, and that they would speedily chuse two out of each troop, &c. as before in page 620.

Mr. Attorney General.—Read the second page of his impeachment against Oliver Cromwell, &c.

In which there is an account of his apprehension by soldiers, his being carried to Derby House, and afterwards committed, as Lilburne himself relates in page 584.

Mr. Attorney General.—Read page 3, of his "Outcry," directed to the soldiers of the General's regiment.

Here he tells the soldiers, That they assist rather than endeavour to suppress the destroyers of the liberties of the people; that if any one complains, his house is immediately beset with armed janizaries, to take away the people's courage, and prevent the maintaining their freedoms.

Mr. Attorney General.—My Lords, the last clause of the act is, that if any person, not being an officer, &c. shall endeavour to stir up mutinies in the army, &c. it is high treason; you have heard the calumnies (read in these books) to asperse the officers and stir up the soldiers against them; as likewise the reproachful abuses thrown on the noble General, not to mention the advantage that might be made of the words which have slipped from himself, or more witnesses which I could have called to have proved Mr. Lilburne's publishing the books, which (though he will not own them) I think is already sufficiently proved against him.

[Here Lilburne compared his behaviour to this court, to that of our Saviour's before Pilate, who confessed nothing; and added, That, Mr. Prideaux, says it (they are my books) but prove it.]

Mr. Attorney General.—I think here are too many proofs; therefore, gentlemen of the jury, if you have any respect for the present government and council of state, or the preservation of the laws, you will find the prisoner guilty.

Foreman.—We desire the act of treasons to make use of.

Lieutenant Colonel Lilburne objected, that according to the third part of Coke's Institutes, a man ought to be tried in the county where the treason is committed; that his pretended crimes were laid in three different counties, and that there was but one witness to most of the particular treasons; and therefore he conceived it just, and thought it reasonable they should perform their promise and assign him council. That this and greater privileges were granted to Major Rolfe and Duke Hamilton. That it was impossible for him to give an extempore answer to so long a charge; and besides, that he had