Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1851-07-17

ing; but that his releasement was committed to
the Judges at the next assizes.' The Judges
were Sir Matthew Hale and Mr.. Justice ,Twis.
den, and a remarkable contrast appeared between
the well known meekness Of the one,. and Gtu1
or the other. Elizabeth came before them. and
stating her husbands case, prayed earnestly for
justice -
"' Judge Twisden,' says John Bunyan, snapt
her up, and angrily told her that was convict.
cd person, and could not be released unless |
would promise to preach no more.'
Elizabeth. The Lords told me that release
mfent was committed to you, and you give me
neither releasement nor relief. My husband Is
unlawfnlly in prison, and you are bound to dis
charge him.
Twisden. But. he has been lawfully con-
victed.'
E. tits faise, for when they said Do you
confess the Indictment? {? he answered, At the
meetings where he preached, they had Gods
presence among them.'
T. 'Will your husband leave preaching ? il
he will do so, send for him.
E. My Lord, he dares not leave off preach
ing as long as he can speak. But, good my
Lords, consider that we have four small children
one of them blind, and that they have nothing
to live upon, while their father is in prison, bu
the charity of Christian people. myself smay
ed at the news when my husband was apprehen
ded, and, being but young, and unaccustome
to such things, fell in labor; and, continuing il
it for eight days, was delivered of dead child
Sir Matthew Hale. ALAS, poor womann
T. Poverty is your cloak, for hear you
husband is better maintained by running up an
down approaching, than by following his call
ing
Sir M. 'What is his calling?'
E. "A tinker, please you, my Lord; and be
cause he is a tinker, and poor man, therefor
he is despsed, and cannot have Justice
Sir. M. Il am truly sorry we can do you n
good Sitting here, we can only act as the la
gives US warrant and we have no power to re
verse the sentence, although it may be erroneous
What your husband said was taken for a cor
fession, and he stands convicted. There
therefore, no course for you but to apply to tn
King for pardon, or to sue out writ of error
and the indictment or subsequent proceeding
being shown to be contrary to law, the sentenC
shall be reversed, and your husband shall be 81
at liberty. am truly sorry for your pitiab
case. wish could serve you, but fear ca
do you no good.
"Bunyan as yet, was not distinguished fror
the great crowd of enthusiasts who were the
desirous Of rivalling the heroes of Fox's Marty
ology,-their favorite manual. Hale, maxim
inquiries about him, was told that he was ho
spirited fellow, and actually found that the
would be no use in supplying the means of pro
ecutng writ of error, as, set at liberty,
would soon get into worse durance, for at Be
ford he was very kindly treated by the humal
gaoer, and his family were cared for by the P
rltans of the town and neighborhood. VIII,
the Judges were trumpeted out of Bedford, lea
ing the tinker still in prison, he was very wrot
and Elizabeth burst into tears, saying, Not
much because they are so hard hearted agar
me and my husband, but to think what sad a
count such poor creatures will have to give
the coming of the Lord
"Lttle do we know what is for our permane
good. Had Bunyan then been discharged a
allowed to enjoy liberty, he no doubt would ha
returned to his trade, filling up his intervals
leisure with preaching, his name would l
have survived his own generation, and he col
have done little for the religious improvemt
of mankind. The prison.doors were shut up
him for twelve years. Being cut off from
external world, he communed with his own 81
and, inspired by Him who touched Elijah's h
lowed lips, with fire, he composed the noblest
allegories, the merit of which was first discov
: ed by the lowly, but which in now lauded
the most refined critics and which has dc
more to awaken piety, and to enforce the p
cepts Of Christian morality, than all the sermC
that have been published by all The prelates of
Anglican Church"