At last, brought to trial on the charge of "treason," Lilburne was acquitted with "a loud and unanimous shout" of popular approval.[60] "In a revolution where others argued about the respective rights of King and Parliament, he spoke always of the rights of the people.

His dauntless courage and his power of speech made him the idol of the mob."[61] Lilburne was again brought to trial, in 1653, and again acquitted, with undiminished enthusiasm.

But "for the peace of the nation," Cromwell refused to allow the irrepressible agitator to be at large, and for two years Lilburne, "Free-born John," was kept in prison.

During those years all power in the House of Commons was broken by the rule of the Army of the Commonwealth, and Parliament stood in abject submission before the Lord Protector.

Only when his health was shattered, and he had embraced Quaker principles, was Lilburne released, and granted a pension of 40s.