Editing John Lilburne (section)

==Quakerism and death==
In 1656, he was allowed to leave Dover Castle during the daytime to visit his wife and children, who had settled in Dover. It was here that Lilburne met Luke Howard, a [[Quaker]] whose serenity impressed him and began the process of his own conversion. Lilburne declared himself a convert to the tenets of the Quakers, and announced his conversion in a letter to his wife.{{sfn|Sharp|2004}}  General Fleetwood showed a copy of this letter to the Protector, who was at first inclined to regard it merely as a politic device to escape imprisonment. When Cromwell was convinced that Lilburne really intended to live peaceably, he released him on parole from prison, and seems to have continued till his death the pension of 40''s''. a week allowed him for his maintenance during his imprisonment.<ref>{{harvnb|Firth|1893|p=249}} cites ''The Resurrection of John Lilburne, now a prisoner in Dover Castle'', 1656 ''Cal. Stat Papers'', Dom. 1656–7, p. 21.</ref> Later he was permitted to stay away from prison for several days at a time and took to visiting Quaker congregations in Kent.{{sfn|Sharp|2004}}

In the summer of 1657, while visiting his wife, who was expecting their tenth child,<ref>Plant, David. [http://www.british-civil-wars.co.uk/biog/lilburne.htm John Lilburne, c. 1615–1657] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190806152305/http://www.british-civil-wars.co.uk/biog/lilburne.htm |date=6 August 2019 }}, [http://www.british-civil-wars.co.uk British-Civil-Wars], retrieved 5 August 2010</ref> Lilburne died at Eltham 29 August 1657, and was buried at Moorfields, "in the [[New Churchyard|new churchyard adjoining to Bedlam]]".<ref>{{harvnb|Firth|1893|p=249}} cites ''Mercurius Politictus'', 27 August{{snd}}3 September 1657.</ref>

On 21 January 1659 Elizabeth Lilburne petitioned [[Richard Cromwell]] for the discharge of the fine imposed on her husband by the act of 30 Jan. 1652, and her request was granted. Parliament on a similar petition recommended the repealing of the act, and the recommendation was carried by the restored Long Parliament on 15 August 1659.<ref>{{harvnb|Firth|1893|p=250}} cites ''Cal. State Papers'', Dom. 1658-9, p. 260; ''Commons' Journals'', vii. 600, 608, 760.</ref>