From my innocent and every way
causeless captivity in Dover
Castle, the place of my soul’s
delightful and contentful
abode, where I have really and
substantially found that which
my soul many years hath sought
diligently after, and with
unsatisfied longingness thirsted
to enjoy: this present First-day
of the week, being the 4th of the
Third Month, 1655.
It sufficiently appears by this, that Lilburn did not think that this
declaration would procure his liberty; and he guessed not wrong; for
before he was released, Cromwell died. Lilburn being then discharged
from his confinement, continued steadfast to the doctrine of the
Truth he had embraced, and died at London in the year 1660. But being
advanced in the time, I go therefore back a little, and intend in the
sequel to give a more circumstantial description of Cromwell’s death.
And thus I conclude this book with the year 1655, in which year there
was a plot of the royalists against Cromwell; and in Nottinghamshire
they had already surprised some places; and towards the West the city
of Salisbury. The young king, (Charles,) was now come from Cologne
into Zealand, to be the nearer if the attempt succeeded. But his time
of ruling was not yet come; for the cavaliers were soon forced to give
way to the power of Cromwell: and the design being thus squashed, king
Charles returned to Cologne. In the meanwhile, Cromwell, to raise
his esteem abroad, sent a fleet, under admiral Penn, to the West
Indies, and another, under the command of admiral Blake, towards the
Mediterranean sea.