Page:Biographia britannica v. 5 (IA biographiabritan05adam).djvu/74

Rh He continued a prisoner ’till the meeting of the long Parliament, November 3d 1640; when, upon his petition to the House of Commons, he was ordered on the 7th of that month, to have the liberties of the Fleet, and a better apartment there. In consequence of which, we find him a chief ringleader in the armed mob that appeared at Westminster May 3d 1641, crying out justice, against the Earl of Strafford; and drawing his sword upon Colonel Lunsford, was apprehended and arraigned the next day of high-treason at the bar of the House of Lords, but dismissed; and the same day, May the 4th, the following votes passed the House of Commons. That the sentence of the Star-chamber against him [Lilburne]'' is illegal, barbarous, bloody, and tyrannical. That reparations ought to be given him for his imprisonment, sufferings, and losses, and that the committee shall prepare this case of Mr Lilburne’s to be transmitted to the Lords, with those other of Bastwick, Leighton, Burton, and Prynne .'' As soon as the Parliament voted an army, Mr Lilburne entered a volunteer therein, was a Captain of foot on that side, at the battle of Edge-hill, October 23d 1642; and remarkably distinguished himself in the engagement on the 12th of November following, at Brentford : where being taken prisoner by the King’s forces, he was carried to Oxford, and brought upon his trial for high-treason, but the sentence was prevented by means of a special declaration of the Parliament in his favour, December 17th 1642; after which returning to his party, he