Page:Trial of john lilburne (IA trial john lilburne).djvu/26

 ton, M. Pym, M. Hollis, M. Stroud, Sir Arthur Hasleridge, and M. Hamden; I say and aver, I ought to have had the process of the Law of England, due Process of Law according to the fore-mentioned Statutes and Presidents, for I never forceably resisted or contended with the Parliament, and therefore ought to have had my Warrant served upon me by a Constable, or the like Civil Officer, and upon no pretense whatsoever, ought I to have been forced out of my bed and house by Mercenary armed Officers and Souldiers. But Sir comming to White-hall, I was there also kept by armed men, contrary to all law and justice, and by armed men against Law, I was by force carryed before a company of Gentlemen sitting at Darby-house, that look upon themselves as Authorized by the Parliament, to be a Committee or Councel of State, (who by the Law I am sure in any kind had nothing at all to do with me in cases of pretended Treasons) where I was brought before M. Iohn Bradshaw, sometimes a Councellor for my selfe before the House of Lords against my unjust Star-chamber Judges; who there in my behalfe Feb. 1645. did urge against the Lords of the Star-chamber as the highest Crime against the liberties of the people that could be. as being Illegal, Arbitrary, and Tyrannical, that the Lords in Star-chamber should censure me to be whip’d, pillared, &c. for no other cause but for refusing to answer their Interrogatories against my selfe; and when I was brought before the said Councel of State, I saw no accuser, no prosecuter, no accusation, nor charge, nor inditement; but all the Crime that there was laid unto my charge, was M. Bradshawe’s very seriously examining me to questions against my selfe; although I am confident he could not forget, that himself and M. Iohn Cook were my Councellers in Feb. 1645. at the Barre of the House of Lords, where he did most vehemently aggravate, and with detestations condemn the Lords of the Star-chambers unjust and wicked dealing with English freemen, in censuring them for their refusing to answer to questions concerning themselves, and yet notwithstanding, walked with his dealing with me in the very steps that formerly he had bitterly condemned in the Star-chamber Lords; yea and there for refusing to answer his questions, (for any thing he declared to me to the contrary) committed me to Prison for Treason in general; and you know very well, better then I do, that by your own Law, generalls in Law signifie nothing.

Judge Jarmen. M. Lilburne you very much abuse and wrong your selfe, for you very well know M. Bradshaw is now denominated by another name, namely, Lord President to the Councell of State of England, and it would well become you in your condition so to have styled him.