Page:Biographia britannica v. 5 (IA biographiabritan05adam).djvu/73

Rh became of uch eminence among thoe people, as to be conulted upon the boldet of their undertakings while an apprentice, and preently after, was eteemed by them as a peron inpired. Among others, the teacher of that congregation which he attended, frequently approving thereof, contracted an intimacy with him, and in 1636, brought him into the acquaintance of Dr Batwick, then a Star-chamber prioner in the Gate-houe, whom he afterwards contantly viited. At one of thee viits, the Doctor reading his Merry Litany, young Lilburne was o much captivated with the anti-epicopal pirit of the piece, that with the author’s conent, he carried the manucript to Holland, and printing it there , after a tay of everal months, employed in libelling and defaming the Bihops and the Prerogative, he returned home, and continued the ame practices in diguie; but being in a little time betrayed by his aociate, he was eized and carried before the Council-Board, and the High-Commiion-Court, after ome examinations being referred to the Star-chamber, was, after everal examinations there, alo found guilty February 13, 1637. of printing and publihing libels and editious books, particularly one entitled, News from Ipwich. In all thee examinations, tiffly refuing to comply with the ordinary rules of trial, as contrary to the liberties of a free-born Englihman, he got the nick-name of Free-born John ; and being condemned to a evere punihment which was rigorouly executed, he went through it with uch a degree of hardines and unfeeling obtinacy, as obtained him the title of a Saint among the Enthuiats. After this he was ordered to be imprioned in the Fleet, ’till he hould make his ubmiion, where, tho’ he was loaded with double irons on his arms and legs, and put into one of the baet wards, yet he found means to print and publih another libel of his own writing, under the title of The Christian Man’s Trial, in 4to, the ame year.