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Lord⟨ ⟩Ke⟨e⟩ble. M. Lilburn, I pray you hear me a word, for now you speak not Rationally nor discreetly, you have had a fair respect and hearing, what you speak of liberties and lawes, we come here to maintain them for all, and for you too; and we also come for to vindicate our actions; and as for that you speak of in reference to the Commission, I must let you know, the Commission is warrantable by the lawes of England for this five hundred years, nay and before five hundred years in substance: The second thing that you speak to, is, that you were apprehended in such an hostile manner, understanding by law you should have been taken in an ordinary way by an ordinary Officer: But M. Lilburn, in all apprehensions of Traitors, Fellons; and Murderers is not the Power of the County to be raised, and the Sherife is to call and take what Power he pleaseth.
Lieut: Col. Lilburn. By your favour Sir, not unlesse I resist, which I did not, and besides, there was no Sherife nor no other civil Officer at my Apprehension.
Lord Keeble, M. Lilburn spare your felf, it is as they are informed of the danger of the man, they may do it before ever they see him. The next thing you are upon, is the wrong and injustice that you received by the proceedings in the Star-chamber against you, you see the proceedings there have been questioned, and you justified; if there be any thing else that hath been by others in the North or elsewhere acted, there is no man here that will justifie them in their evil, but for a private man as you are to tell us of them here, and to come and tell us to our faces that we are Created and constituted by the Atturny General, we will not suffer it, nor further hear of it; and therefore M. Lilburn although you have spoken fair words, (and happily more then your friends expected from you) I must tell you that words are but words, and it were well that you would do as well and as Rationally as becomes a Rational man, as you have declared you will.
Lieut: Col. Lilburn, With your favour but one word more.
Judge Jerman. M. Lilburn, pray spare a word, and hear the Court, this Court sits here by lawful Authority, and that is from the Parliament, that are the Supreme Authority of England, so that our Power is not derived from those that have no Rightful Authority to constitute us, but our Power is from the Publick Authority of England, which is now by an Admirable act of Gods providence, lately, but truly revived, and settled by God upon them. By that Authority this Court doth now sit, and you are brought here before them that are most of us Judges of the Law, and we are sworn to do you and every man justice and right according as his cause requires; according to Law, Judgement, equity, and reason. And it wassaid
