Page:The Leveller movement; a study in the history and political theory of the English Great Civil War (IA levellermovement01peas).djvu/145

 The first article of the charge against him covered the words of The Iust Mans Iustification. The remaining ones included the obnoxious parts of The Free-mans Freedome, and his conduct at the bar of the House. When Lilburne was brought in to answer the charge July 11, he stopped his ears that he might not hear it read, saying that he appealed to the House of Commons and would stand to that resolution “as long as he had life”. A second time he did the same thing. He was sent out to give him an opportunity for reflection; when he remained defiant, the House proceeded to judgment. It sentenced him to a fine of two thousand pounds and seven years’ imprisonment, and pronounced him thenceforth incapable of public employment. Further, it ordered to be burned publicly the two pamphlets whose so-called seditious utterances had brought this fate upon him.

Repeated petitions to the House of Commons at last induced it to consider Lilburne’s case. It appointed a committee under the chairmanship of