Page:Trial of john lilburne (IA trial john lilburne).djvu/78

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the fower Gentlemen prisoners in the Tower of London, upon the first day of May 1649. as a peace offering to the Nation, by the Agreement of the People, (the aforesaid fained Agreement meaning) lastly, wee (the aforesaid young men and Apprentices of London meaning) earnestly beseech you, (the aforesaid private Souldiers again meaning) to acquaint us whether from your hands, to your power, we may expect any help or assistance in this our miserable, distressed condition, to the removall of those Iron bonds and yokes of oppression (the aforesaid Government in way of a Common-wealth and Councel of State meaning) that have thus enforced us to complain and addresse our selues thus to your consideration; for we (the aforesaid young men and Apprentices again meaning) cannot chuse but acquaint you (the aforesaid private Souldiers againe meaning (that we are seriously resolved through the strength and assistance of God, with all the interest wee have in the world, to adhere to the righteous things, contained in our treacherously defeted forementioned friends vindication, (the aforesaid traiterous Book, intituled, The Levellers vindicated, or the case of the twelve Troopers truly stated again meaning) And further, thou the said Iohn Lilburn as a false Traytor, by most wicked trayterous conspiracies, designes and endeavours of thine aforesaid, afterwards, that is to say, the aforesaid first day of October in the year of our Lord 1649. above said.

And diverse other daies and times, as well before as after, didst in the parish and ward of London aforesaid, in and by the aforesaid scandalous, poysonous and traiterous Book, intituled An Impeachment of high Treason against Oliver Cromwell, and his Son-in-law Henry Ireton, &c. most falsly, maliciously and traiterously publish, and openly declare amongst other things, in the said Booke, these following, scandalous, treacherous, tumultuous and traiterous clauses and words following, that is to say, But I (meaning thy self the said Iohn Lilburne) and many other persons (meaning the foresaid friends) inteat you seriously to consider that I cannot advise you to make addresses to him (meaning the aforesaid THOMAS Lord FAIRFAX, Captain General) as the Generall of the Nations forces (the Forces of this Natieon of England meaning) for he (the aforesaid Captain Generallmeaning)