Cuthbert Sydenham

son of Cuthb. Syd. Gent. was born at Truro in Cornwall, became a Commoner of S. Albans Hall in Lent term 1639, aged 17, continued there till the City of Oxford was garrison’d for the King; at which time being entertained by some of the godly party, became a forward Zealot among them. About the year 1644 he became Lecturer of S. Nicholas Church in Newcastle upon Tyne, without any orders, unless those of the Presbytery, confer’d upon him; where, by his constant and confident preaching, he obtained more respect from the Brethren than any grave or venerable Minister in that, or another Corporation, could do. In the latter end of 1650 he was actually created Master of Arts, by vertue of ((*))((*)) In reg. Convoc. T. p. 131. Letters sent to the Members of Convocation from the Committee of Parliament for regulating the University of Oxon, which partly say, “that he (Mr. Cuth. Sydenham) hath long since full time for taking the degree of Master of Arts, and is likewise of sufficient abilities in learning, whereof he hath given large and publick evidence, both by his Writings in asserting the cause of the Parliament, and otherwise.—That though he cannot for his pressing occasions perform his Exercises for that degree, yet he hath performed some part of them before the Enemies possessing Oxon, &c.” Among several of his Writings, only these following, as yet, have come to my hands, viz.

The false Brother: or, the Mapp of Scotland, drawn by an English Pencil.—Printed in quar.

Anatomy of Joh. Lilbourn’s Spirit and Pamphlets: or, a Vindication of the two honorable Patriots, Oliver Cromwell Lord Governour of Ireland and Sir Arth. Haselrigg Knight and Baronet: wherein the said Lilbourn is demonstratively proved to be a common lyar, and unworthy of civil converse.—Printed in qu. This Joh. Lilbourn being several times occasionally mention’d in this work, I shall be more large of him by and by.

A Christian, Sober and plain exercitation of the two grand practical controversies of these times, Infant-baptisme and singing of Psalmes. Lond. 1653. in tw. Answer’d by Will. Kaye Minister of Stokesley in his book called Baptisme without bason, &c. Lond. 1653. qu. and by others.

The greatness of the Mysterie of godliness, opened in several Sermons. Lond. 1654. 56. and 1672. in oct. and tw. Which book is the sum of ten Sermons on 1. Tim. 3.16. and hath before the second Edition of it the Authors picture, with this written under it, Aet. 31. 1654.

Hypocrisie discovered in its nature and workings, being the sum of seven Sermons on Luke 12. latter end of the first verse. Lond. 1654. oct. with his picture before it in a cloak. Printed there again in 1657. and 71. oct. This book was published by T. W. one of his perswasion, who in his pref. to it saith that, “ Cuthb. Sydenham was trained up under religious education from his Childhood, which made him often profess his jealousie of professors, especially such who had the advantage of a godly education through the many experiences and deceits of their own hearts—That he was extreme painful even to the visible wasting of his own bodily strength in the work of the Ministry, and his great care over his flock, &c. ” The said Sermons were taken from his mouth in short hand by the said T. W. who published them without any alteration. At leng [•] h our Author retiring to London to gain health, and to print some of his books, took up his Lodging in Axeyard joyning to Kingstreet within the City of Westminster, where he died in the very beginning of the year (about 25 of March) sixteen hundred fifty and four, but where he was buried,1654. I cannot tell; for the register of S. Margarets Church, wherein Axe-yard is situated, mentions him not to have been buried in that Parish. Now as for John Lilbourne before-mention’d, he having been very famous for his infamy, I shall say these things of him. He was born of a good Family at Thickley-Punchardon in the County Pal. of Durham, and when very young was sent to London, and bound an Apprentice to a packer of Cloth in S. Swithins-lane. At which time and before, he was esteemed a youth of an high and undaunted spirit, of a quick and pregnant apprehension, and of an excellent memory, yet, always after, much addicted to contention, novelties, opposition of Government and to violent and bitter expressions. About the year 1632, he, upon the dislike of his trade, had a mind to study the common Law, and therefore upon his, and the desire of his friends, he was taken into the service of Mr. Will. Prynne of Linc. Inn; who shortly after suffering for his Histrio-Mastix, (as I shall tell you at large when I come to him) his Servant Lilbourne took his Masters part, imprinted and vended a book or books against the Bishops; for which being committed Prisoner to the Fleet, was afterwards whipped at a Carts tail from the said Fleet to Westminster; the indignity of which he being not able to endure, railed all the way against his Persecutors. When he came to the Pallace yard, he stood in the Pillory two hours, and talking there to the People against the State, was gagg’d. In 1640, he was released from his Prison by the Members of the Long Parliament, and soon after took upon him the place of a Captain in their Service; and after the battle of Edghill being taken Prisoner at Brainford in the year 1642, was carried to Oxon, and there arraigned for a Traytor for levying War against the Person of the King. Afterwards he being released, he was made a Lieutenant Colonel, and became for a time the Idol of the factious party. But he being naturally a great trouble-world in all the variety of Governments, became a hodg-podg of Religion, the chief ringleader of the Levellers, a great proposal maker, and modeller of state, and publisher of several seditious Pamphlets; among which were (1) A Salva Libertate (2) Impeachment of High Treason against Oliver Cromwell, and his Son in Law Hen. Ireton Esq (3) The outcry of the young men and the Apprentices of Lond. or, an inquisition after the loss of the fundamental Laws and Liberties of England, &c. (4) The legal fundamental Liberties of the People of England revived. (5) Preparation to an hue and crie after Sir Arth. Haselrig, &c. For which, and for his endeavors to disturb the peace and subvert the Government of this Nation, he was committed Prisoner to Newgate in Aug. 1645, where continuing a considerable while, several Petitions subscribed by hundreds of Citizens and others, as also by his Wife and many Women, were put up to the Parliament for his releasment. Afterwards he was transmitted to the Tower, where having too much liberty allowed him, he and his party spake very disgracefully of the two Houses of Parliament, to whom it appeared that there was a design of many thousands intended, under a colour of Petition, to dishonour the Parliament and their proceedings; whereupon his liberty was restrained, and he was ordered to appear at the bar of the H. of Commons. This was in Jan. 1647, and accordingly appearing he made a large answer to the information against him; at which time the reading of proofs and examination of the business held till six of the Clock at night, and then the House ordered that he be remanded to the Tower, and tried by the Law of the Land, for seditious and scandalous practices against the State. Which order being not obeyed, for his party withheld him, under a pretence of a great meeting to be at Deptford in Kent about their Petition, that is, The Petition of many thousands of the free-born People of England, &c. it was ordered that the Officers of the Guards do assist the Sergeant in carrying him and Maj. Jo. Wildman to Prison, (which was done) and that the Committee of Kent take care to suppress all meetings upon that Petition, and to prevent all tumults, and that the Militia of London, &c. take care to suppress such meetings, and to prevent inconveniencies which may arise thereby and upon the said Petition. Afterwards he seems to have been not only set at liberty, but to have had reparations made for his sentence in the Star Chamber and sufferings before the Civil War began. But he being of a restless spirit, as I have told you, published a Pamphlet entit. Englands ((*))((*)) ’Twas divided in two parts, the first was published in 1648, and the other which contains but one sheet, in 1648. new Chains discovered, &c. which was the bottom and foundation of the Levellers design, of whom he was the Corypheus: Whereupon being committed again about the beginning of 1649, was brought to his trial in the Guild-hall, where after great pleadings to and fro, he was quitted by his Jury, to the great rejoycing of his party. Afterwards he went into the Netherlands, and there, as ’tis said, became acquainted with the Duke of Buckingham, Lord Hopton, Captain Titus, &c. At length being desirous to see his native Country, he returned into England, where after he had continued some time in his projects to disturb the Government, he was apprehended and committed to Newgate, and at length brought to his trial at the Sessionshouse in the Old Baylie, 20. Aug. 1653. but quitted again by his Jury. Soon after he was conducted to Portsmouth in order to his conveyance beyond the Seas, but by putting in for his peaceable deportment for the future, he return’d, fell into the acquaintance of the Quakers, became one of them, setled at Eltham in Kent, where somtimes he preached, and at other times at Wollidge, and was in great esteem among that party. At length departing this mortal life at Eltham on Saturday 29. of Aug. 1657, his body was two days after conveyed to the house called The Mouth near Aldersgate in London, which was then the usual meeting place of Quakers: Whence, after a great controversie among a strange medley of People there, (mostly Quakers) whether the Ceremony of a Hearse-cloth should be cast over his Coffin, (which was carried in the negative) it was conveyed to the then new burial place in Morefields near to the place called now Old Bedlam, where it was interred. This is the Person of whom the magnanimous Judge Jenkins used to say, that if the World was emptied of all but John Lilbourne, Lilbourne would quarrel with John, and John with Lilbourne. This Jo. Lilbourne who was second Son of Rich. Lilbourne Esq by Margaret his Wife, Daughter of Thom. Hixon of Greenwich in the County of Kent, Yeoman of the Wardrobe to Qu. Elizabeth, had an elder Brother called Robert, who being puritanically educated, sided with the rout against his Majesty in the beginning of the rebellion, and being thorow-pac’d to Olivers interest, was by him advanced to be a Colonel of Horse, sometime before the Murther of K. Ch. 1. and therefore he thought he could do no less in civility than to requite him with having a hand in it. Afterwards he was made Major General of the North of England, and Commander in chief of all the Parliament Forces in Scotland. After his Majesties restauration, he surrendered himself upon Proclamation, was attainted and committed Prisoner during life. But his Father being then living, the Estate at Thickley devolved upon the said Roberts Children, begotten on the body of his Wife Margaret, only Daughter of Hen. Beke of Hadenham in Bucks Gent. viz. (1) Robert, born an. 1650 (2) Richard born 1652 (3) Ephraim born about 1662; &c. all which were living in 1688. This Col. Lilbourne spent the remainder of his days in close confinement, in St. Nicholas Island, called by some Plymouth Isle, near Plymouth in Devonshire; where dying in August, an. 1665. aged 52 years or thereabouts, was buried, as his Son Richard thinks, at Plymouth.