John Lilburne facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Freeborn John Lilburne
John Lilburne, a portrait by the engraver George Glover, 1641.
Personal details
Born	1614 (1614) Sunderland , County Durham, England
Died	29 August 1657(1657-08-29) (aged 42–43) Eltham, England
Resting place	New Churchyard, Moorfields
Political party	Levellers
Other political affiliations	Parliamentarians
Known for	Putney Debates
Military service
Allegiance	Parliament of England
Branch/service	Eastern Association
Years of service	1642–1645
Rank	Lieutenant colonel
Commands	Dragoons
Battles/wars	First English Civil War Battle of Edgehill Battle of Brentford Battle of Marston Moor

John Lilburne (around 1614 – 29 August 1657), also known as Freeborn John, was an English political leader. He was a key figure in the group called the Levellers during and after the English Civil War (1642–1650). He famously used the phrase "freeborn rights". These are rights that every person is born with, not rights given by a government or laws.

Lilburne started his life as a Puritan, a type of Christian who wanted to make the Church of England simpler. Later in his life, he became a Quaker, another Christian group known for its peaceful beliefs. His ideas have even been mentioned by the highest court in the United States, the United States Supreme Court.

Early Life and Beliefs

John Lilburne was born around 1614 in Sunderland, England. His father, Richard Lilburne, was a landowner. John went to school in Newcastle upon Tyne and Bishop Auckland.

In the 1630s, he worked for John Hewson, who introduced him to a Puritan doctor named John Bastwick. Bastwick wrote pamphlets against the Church of England's leaders. Lilburne helped print some of these writings, which forced him to leave England and go to the Netherlands for a short time.

"Freeborn John" and His Fight for Rights

When Lilburne returned to England in 1637, he was arrested. He had been printing and sharing books that were not officially approved. At that time, all printing had to be licensed by the government.

Lilburne was brought before a special court called the Court of Star Chamber. He refused to take an oath that would make him answer questions that could get him into trouble. He believed he shouldn't have to accuse himself. Because he refused, he was fined, whipped, put in a pillory (a device that held him in public), and sent to prison.

On 18 April 1638, Lilburne was whipped and dragged through the streets. Even while in the pillory, he tried to share more of his writings. He was then gagged to stop him. In prison, he wrote about his unfair treatment.

After his release, Lilburne married Elizabeth Dewell in 1641. He continued to speak out for what he called his "freeborn rights." These rights included the right to know what you are accused of, the right to face those who accuse you, and the right not to have to accuse yourself. Because of his brave actions, many people started calling him "Freeborn John." This trial is seen as an important part of the history behind the Fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution in the USA, which protects people from having to testify against themselves.

John Lilburne in the English Civil War

During the First English Civil War, Lilburne joined the Parliamentary army. He became a captain and fought in battles like the Battle of Edgehill. In 1642, he was captured by the Royalists at the Battle of Brentford. The Royalists planned to try him for treason, but Parliament threatened to execute Royalist prisoners in return. So, Lilburne was exchanged for a Royalist officer.

He then joined another part of the Parliamentary army and became a lieutenant-colonel. He became friends with Oliver Cromwell, a very important leader in the army. Lilburne fought bravely at the Battle of Marston Moor in 1644. He even captured Tickhill Castle on his own, even though his commander had told him not to.

In 1645, Lilburne left the army. He refused to sign an agreement called the Solemn League and Covenant. This agreement would have forced everyone to follow the Presbyterian religion. Lilburne believed that people should have freedom of religion and that he had fought for this freedom.

Fighting for Common Rights

After leaving the army, John Lilburne began to actively campaign for "freeborn rights." These were the basic rights he believed all English people were born with, not special favors given by a king or government. He also pushed for more people to be able to vote, for everyone to be treated equally by the law, and for religious tolerance.

His opponents called him a "Leveller," which was meant to be an insult. They worried that Levellers wanted to take away people's property. But Lilburne said he was a "Leveller so-called" because he only wanted to make basic human rights equal. He called his supporters "Agitators."

Around the same time, another group called the True Levellers (also known as Diggers) wanted to make property equal for everyone, not just political rights.

The Putney Debates and a Written Constitution

Lilburne was put in prison again in 1645 for speaking out against members of Parliament who lived comfortably while soldiers suffered. While in prison, he wrote an important pamphlet called England's Birthright Justified.

In 1646, he was imprisoned in the Tower of London for accusing a former commander of being a traitor. The effort to free him from prison helped create the political group known as the Levellers.

Lilburne's ideas were very popular with the New Model Army. In 1647, when the army held important discussions known as the Putney Debates, their main topic was a document influenced by Lilburne's writings. It was called An Agreement of the People for a firm and present peace upon grounds of common right.

Lilburne helped write two more versions of this document. The third version, An Agreement of the Free People of England. Tendered as a Peace-Offering to this distressed Nation, was written while he was in the Tower of London in 1649. He hoped this document would become a written constitution for England, like a set of rules for the new government. A US Supreme Court Justice, Hugo Black, believed that Lilburne's work from 1649 was a foundation for the basic rights found in the US Constitution and its Bill of Rights.

Trial for Treason

After King Charles I was executed and England became a republic in 1649, Lilburne still spoke out against the new government if he felt it was unfair. He even said he would prefer the old king's rule to the new government if it remained too strict.

Because of rumors that the Levellers were working with Royalists, Parliament decided to try Lilburne for high treason. This was a very serious charge. His trial began on 24 October 1649, in London. Unlike the king's trial, Lilburne's trial included a jury of 12 people to decide if he was guilty.

The jury found him not guilty. The public cheered so loudly that it took half an hour for the court to calm down. People were so happy that two medals were made to celebrate his freedom. Even though the government was unhappy, they had to release him after two weeks due to public pressure.

Exile and Return

For the next two years, Lilburne stayed out of major political trouble. He was elected to a city council position in London, but Parliament quickly canceled his election. He also worked to help people who felt they had been treated unfairly by powerful individuals or companies.

However, Lilburne got into a big argument with Sir Arthur Hesilrige over some land. Lilburne strongly attacked Hesilrige and a government committee, calling them "unjust and unworthy men." As a result, in January 1652, Lilburne was fined a large sum of money and banished from England for life.

He spent his exile in the Netherlands. He continued to write against the English government and even met with some Royalists who wanted to bring back the king.

In 1653, when the government in England changed, Lilburne decided to return without permission. He was immediately arrested and put in Newgate Prison. His trial began in July and ended with his acquittal (being found not guilty) in August. He fought hard during the trial, and the public strongly supported him. Even soldiers cheered when they heard he was acquitted.

Despite being found not guilty, the government did not want Lilburne to be free. He was moved to the Tower of London and then to a castle on the island of Jersey. He refused to accept freedom if it meant he had to stop speaking out against the government.

Later Life and Death

Lilburne's health suffered in prison. In 1656, he was allowed to visit his wife and children in Dover. There, he met a Quaker named Luke Howard, whose peaceful nature impressed him. Lilburne became a Quaker himself and wrote a letter to his wife about his conversion.

When Oliver Cromwell, the leader of England, heard about Lilburne's conversion, he was at first suspicious. But when he was convinced Lilburne truly wanted to live peacefully, he released him from prison on parole. Lilburne then visited Quaker groups in Kent.

John Lilburne died on 29 August 1657, in Eltham, while visiting his wife. He was buried in Moorfields. After his death, his wife successfully asked for the large fine against him to be removed.

Why John Lilburne Was Important

John Lilburne was important because he always spoke about the rights of the common people, even when others were arguing about the rights of the King or Parliament. He was very brave and a powerful speaker, which made him popular with many people. He was ready to fight against any unfairness, no matter the cost to himself.

He truly cared about people who were suffering from unfair treatment. Even when he was in exile, he tried to help English prisoners of war. While he sometimes argued with others, he remained loyal to his closest friends, William Walwyn and Richard Overton.

Images for kids

• 

  Lilburne reads from Coke's Institutes at his trial.

In Popular Culture

• Lt-Colonel John Lilburne has a regiment named after him in the Sealed Knot Society, which re-enacts historical battles.
• In 1997, the singer-songwriter Rev Hammer released a music album called "Freeborn John" that told Lilburne's story.

See also

In Spanish: John Lilburne para niños