The Rebels have made an Order, that no man whatsoever shall depart
the Kingdome into any other La[unr]d without a Passe first obtained
from such Offi ers as their Devilships have appointed for that purpose,
who are to take Band or other security, that such parties as shall be suffered
to passe shall act nothing (neither in Councellor otherwise) against
their proceedings in England, during the time of their absence,
and that all such Person or Persons which shall obtaine such Passes or
Lycence are further to ing age that they will not at any time after the
receiving such Passe, Act and assist, advise, or Councell any thing in
behalfe of the King against the Rebels at Westminster; and further no
Person is to bee allowed by vertue of any such Passe, to take Shipping
any where [unr]at a publick Port. This is the fruits of Blood-stained
guil y Consciences, who thinke all things that doe but move rise up against
them and are their mortall enemies.
Wednesday Aprill 18. The faynted Levellers (in London) presented
a petition to their brother Rebells, concerning the discharge of Lief-tenant
Col. John Lilburne, Walwen, Prince, and Overton. Likewise the
Petitioners , did desire that Capt. Bray now prisoners in Winsor, mig t
be inlarged from that restraint, and that all the aforesayd Levellers,
might speedi y be brought to a legall tryall, in some ordinary Court of
Justice (how now you fooles doe you thinke there is any justice to be
had in any Court this tyme) and not be restravned from liberty, by a
Marshall power nor ke t in the Tower like prerogative prisoners, not having
the freedome befitting freeborn English-men: but by a Tyrannicall
Sword, contrary to Law, and the power of Civill Magistrates, kept still
in durance by an arbitrary restraint; These and many more expressions
of love to their Captaine John Lilburne and the rest, these brave Levellers
shewed, intimating a great dislike of Westminster proceedings
which was not with so much violence done by them, but it was as
soone taken snuffe at, by their Idoll Parliament, who smel'd presently
that the Petitioners were of the Levellers faction, and so consequently
enemies to king Ruby-nose, which was not sufferable, as they did conceive,
therefore the Vote passed presently, that those and [unr] presuming
fellowes, who durst deliver such a Petition to their Rogueships,
should have a sharpe reproofe given them from the House([unr] of
Rebels) prohibiting hereafter any such attempts, telling them in short,
their petition had been perused, but the persons for whom they did desire
freedome were imprisoned upon just grounds, and should be proceeded
against as Law-breakers : and they should have lyberty to speake