Page:Biographia britannica v. 5 (IA biographiabritan05adam).djvu/75

was received in the army with extraordinary marks of joy, and his gallant behaviour rewarded with a purse of 300 pounds by the Earl of Essex^{[sidenote 1][footnote 1]}. But that General beginning to press the Scots Covenant upon his followers, the Captain left him^{[sidenote 2]}, and going to the army newly raised, under the Earl of Manchester in 1643, obtained from him a commission on the 7th of October that year^{[sidenote 3]}, for a Major of foot in the regiment commanded by Colonel Edward King, Governor of Boston in Lincolnshire^{[sidenote 4]}. The Major was diligent in putting that garrison into a good state of defence^{[footnote 2]}, and very narrowly escaped with his life at raising the siege at Newark, by Prince Rupert^{[footnote 3]}. He had quarrelled with his Colonel some time before, and proceeding to lay several accusations against him before the General^{[footnote 4]}. His Lordship removed the Major from Boston, and made him Lieu-tenant-

Footnotes

^{[citation 1]}. On the other hand, our author himself declares he was exchanged by the Parliament^{[citation 2]}, and that he lost 5 or 600 pounds during this imprisonment out of his own estate^{[citation 3]}; he also complains heavily of Smith the jailor’s cruelty to him, especially at the time when he lay dangerously ill of a fever (wherein he lost the hair of his head) and for which, as his manner was, he afterwards repaid him with a stroke of his pen, calling him a merciless Turk^{[citation 4]}. Lord Clarendon likewise to the same purpose observes^{[citation 5]}, that he was not so well treated in prison as was like to reconcile him.

1. [K] The Earl of Essex gave him 300 pounds for his service.] Besides the particulars related above, there are some others concerning his behaviour at that time, of which we have from himself the following account: That in his sufferings and arraignment at Oxford, he carried himself with a great deal of resolution and undauntedness of spirit, for which the Parliament, by special declaration^{[citation 6]}, justified him, and exchanged him very honourably, high above his quality and condition; and at his coming home, some of them that were no mean ones, profered his wife a place of honour and profit for him, then reputed worth about 1000 pounds per annum, which he conscientiously scorned and slighted, professing to his wife, to her extraordinary grief, that he must fight (tho’ it were) for eight pence a day, ’till he saw the liberties and peace of England settled, rather than set himself down in a rich place for his own advantage, in the midst of so many grand distractions of his native country, as then possessed it^{[citation 7]}. The same facts are touched by Lord Clarendon, and set in a different light. That, ‘When he was brought to his trial before the justice he behaved himself with so great impudence in extolling the power of the parliament, that it was manifest he ambitioned martyrdom for that cause.’—and upon his returning after his escape out of prison to the Parliament’s quarters, ‘he was received there with public joy, as a champion that had defied the King in his own court^{[citation 8]}.
2. [L] He was diligent in putting that garrison into a good state of defence.] An instance of this we have in his account of monies disbursed during this service, one article of which is,
   A note of all the swords, belts, and holsters for pistoles, and bandeliers, that Major Lilburne caused to be brought into the magazine at Boston, February the 5th, 1643.
   Received from London by Major Lilburne’s appointment, two hundred and ninety swords. More received immediately after, by Major Lilburne’s appointment five hundred swords. Feb. 1643, received from Thomas Forman at Lynn, by Major Lilburne’s appointment, one chest of swords, containing two hundred. Received in April after from Major Lilburne, that his man brought into the magazine, and delivered them to my son Shepherdson, twenty swords. So received in swords 1010.
   Received of Major Lilburne 80 pair of holsters for pistols, and three hundred belts for swords. Received of Mr Wood and Mr Wind, by Major Lilburn’s appointment, one thousand collars of bandeliers. All these swords, holsters for pistols, sword-belts, and bandeliers, were received into the magazine from Major Lilburne, but what money has been paid in for any of them I know not. By me Richard Coney, keeper of the magazine in Boston.
   Our author speaking to this article of his accounts observes, that he furnished these stores at least, 20 pound in the hundred cheaper than the Colonel [King] then paid for the like at Boston^{[citation 9]}.
3. [M] He had a narrow escape at Newark.] After the articles for raising the siege were concluded between Prince Rupert and Sir John Meldrum, Colonel King commanded, and in a manner forced, Major Lilburne, contrary to the agreement, to march away his regiment in a hostile manner with their arms, &c. so that they were set upon by the enemy’s horse, and forcibly disarmed, and also plundered, as violaters of the covenant and contract, to the disparagement of the whole army, yea and the Parliament itself, and to the extreme hazard and danger of abundance of their lives. ‘Yet King, continues our author, was so honest and valiant, that as soon as he saw the storm fall upon us, he fairly left us, and shifted for himself, without being plundered as we were, at which bout I lost well nigh 100 pounds^{[citation 10]}; being plundered from the crowne of my head to the sole of my foote, and forced over hedge and ditch in by-ways for the safety of my life, to march almost ten miles without a hat or perewig (having by cruell sickness lately lost my heire in Oxford prison) britches or doublet, bootes or shooes^{[citation 11]}. Our Major seems to have behaved with great bravery in the attack at Newark, which, Mr Rushworth informs us, was begun by three companies of Colonel King’s regiment, who marching up to the Countess of Exeter’s house, after a very sharp conflict took it. There were likewise two Captain Lilburnes in the division of horse commanded by Colonel Rocester, who signalized themselves in this action^{[citation 12]}. These two Captain Lilburnes were probably the Major’s two brothers, Robert and Henry^{[citation 13]}.
4. [N] He quarrelled with, and brought several accusations against his Colonel.] Our author observing that his promotion in Colonel King’s regiment was owing to Cromwell, tells us, that this friend gave him then some private instructions, which were, to be faithful in his place, and to complain either of Colonel King, or whomsoever he groundedly knew did any actions that tended to the ruin of salus populi, the safety of the people, or the state universal; and promised upon his honour and reputation, that he would do the best he could to have justice done, ‘and, continues our Major, he gave me the reason, wherefore he so earnestly tyed me to it, which was, because our General with his army was to march out of Lincolnshire, and that country being lately wonne out of the hands of the Cavaliers, there being very few of that country at that time, that desired command under the Generall, therefore, saith he, we are necessitated to make use of Col. King, and to make him Governour of Boston and Holland, looking upon him as an active popular man, who promised to do mighty things for the good of that country and the publique.
   ‘But in regard divers of the chiefe men of Boston doe mislike him, I have therefore, saith he, in his behalfe, engaged my selfe to them for him, that he shall be faithful, just, and honest towards them: and therefore, in regard I have no large experience of the man and of his temper, I principally looke upon thee Lilburne, and thy Lieutenant-Col. John Bury, whose faithfulness I can rest upon, and for both of whom I have used my interest to place on purpose with him, that so if he should break out to the dishonour of my engagement, and the detriment of the publique, I may from time to time be sure to know of it from you, that so it may be prevented, before it be past remedy.’ In pursuance of this secret counsel, our Major heartily vexed at his misfortune before Newark, took especial care to acquaint both the Earl of Manchester and Cromwell, with his Colonel’s behaviour^{[citation 14]} there, as also of some other commands given by him, without consulting any of the officers of his regiment. And upon the first opportunity, he posted away himself to Bedford, where finding both the General and Cromwell, he gave them a full narrative of all the Colonel’s absolute carriage, in marching and countermarching his forces without the consent or approbation of his Field-officers; and that tho’ he had received from the committee of Lincolnshire divers thousand pounds

Sidenotes

1. (u) Legal and Fundamental Liberties, p. 23.
2. (w) Our author’s words are, I left him [Essex] for his persecuting for non-taking the Covenant. Ibid. But ’tis certain too, that Cromwell had a hand in it, since to him Lilburne constantly ascribes his obtaining the majority from the Earl of Manchester. See remark [M].
3. (x) The Earl of Manchester’s army was raised in August. Salmon’s Chron. Hist. in this year.
4. (y) Resolved Man’s Resolution, p. 32.

Citations

1. (22) History of the Rebellion, Vol. II. part ii. p. 501. 8vo. edit.
2. (23) See the next remark [K].
3. (24) A Preparative to a Hue and Cry, &c. p. 17.
4. (25) Resolved Man’s Resolution, p. 36. In the Collection of Somers’s Tracts, Vol. XIII. there is a piece intituled, The Relation of Captain William Smith against the Parliament Prisoners in 1643.
5. (26) Ubi supra.
6. (27) Viz. the Declaration abovementioned.
7. (28) Legal and Fundamental Liberties, p. 23.
8. (29) History of the Rebellion, Vol. II. part ii. p. 501, 8vo. edit.
9. (30) Resolved Man’s Resolution, p. 33.
10. (31) His loss was four horses with his portmanteau and cloaths, besides his papers of accounts. Ibid. p. 36.
11. (32) Just Man’s Justification, p. 7. 2d edition, 1647, 4to.
12. (33) Historical Collections, Vol. II. part iii. p. 306, 307, 308.
13. (34) Resolved Man’s Resolution, p. 34. where Robert is stiled Captain, and Henry Captain-Lieutenant, June 11, 1644, and the action at Newark happened in March preceding.
14. (35) He says it cost him 20 or 30 l. in posts, the Earl being at Bedford, and Cromwell in or about Cambridge. Just Man’s Justification, p. 6.

to