Page:The Leveller movement; a study in the history and political theory of the English Great Civil War (IA levellermovement01peas).djvu/117

 Lilburne threw himself into the thick of the fray. The line of argument that appealed to him as most telling was practical—that the Parliament in countenancing hostile proceedings against the Independents was harassing its truest friends. January 7, 1644/5, he wrote Prynne a letter in a style that was lofty when addressed to Prynne and abusive when directed at the Assembly. Complaining in this letter that the “Black coates” had closed the presses to Independent books, he challenged Prynne to debate with him the fundamental doctrines of Independency. For printing this letter, and printing an explanation of it which he had given before a parliamentary committee, Lilburne was twice brought before the committee under arrest. All this he attributed to Prynne’s malice.