John, an enthusiastic demagogue, who was tyrannically punished by the star-chamber court, being put in the pillory, whipped, fined, and imprisoned, for importing and publishing seditious pamphlets, which he had got printed in Holland; they chiefly reflected on the church of England and its bishops. He suffered in 1637, and in prison was doubly-loaded with irons. In 1641, he was released by the long parliament; and from this time he had the address to make himself formidable to all parties, by his bold, aspiring genius. He signalized himself in the parliament army; and was at one time the secret friend and confidant of Cromwell, and at another his avowed enemy and accuser; so that, in 1650, Cromwell found it to be his interest to silence him, by a grant of some forfeited estates. But after this, he Lilburne grew outrageous against the protector's government; became chief of the levellers; and was twice tried for high treason, but acquitted by the juries. The last was for returning from exile (having been banished by the parliament) without a pass. He died in 1657, aged 83.