Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1851-09-01
MISCELLANEOUS.
John Runyam and his Judges.

MISCELLANEOUS.
John Kmnyan and his Judges.
Lord Campbell, in his Livesof the Chici
Justices of England, gives the following
account of the author Of Pilgrims Progress
when brought before Sir Matthew Hale
and Justice Twisden. The eulogium pass
cd by Lord Campbell upon ''thc noblcst Of
allegories," shows true heart and an ap-
preciate judgment in the Chief Justice ol
England. He is speaking of Sir Matthew
Hale:
"His demeanor in the case Of John Bun
yan, theauthor of'Thc Pilgrims Progress,
shows him paying respect both to the rules
Of law and to the dictates of humanity
The wonderful man-wbo, though bred a
tinker, showed genius little inferior to
that Of Dantc-having been Illegally con
vieted by the court OF quarter sessions
was lying in prison under his sentence, in
the gaol of Bedford. Soon after the res
toration of Charles II, the young enthusiast
had been a: rested while he was preaching
at a meeting in private house, and rcfu-
sing to enter into an engagement that he
would preach no more, had been indicted
as "a personw who devilishly and pernicious-
ly abstained from coming to church to
hear divine service, and a common upho!-
der of unlawful meetings and conventicles,
to the great disturbance and distraction OF
the good subjects of this realm
cat his arraignment, he said, Show me
the place in the Epistlcs where the Com
mon Prayer Book is written, or one text Of
scripture that commands me to read it, and
| will use it. But yet, Notwithstanding
they that have mind to use it, they have
their liberty; that is, would moi keep them
from it. But, for our own parts we can
pray TO God without 1t. Blessed be his
name The Justices considered this tanta-
mount to plea Of guilty, and without re-
ferrlng his case TO the jury, the chairman
pronounced the following sentence: you
must be led back to prison, and there lie
for three months following; and at the three
months end, if you do not submit to go to
church to hear divine service, and leave
your prcaching,you must be banished from
the realm. And if,alter such day as shall
be appointed you to be gone, you shall be
found in this realm, or be found to come
over again without special license from the
King, you must stretch by the neck for it;
tell you plainly
"Arbitrary as the laws then were, there
was no clause IN any statute that would
support this sentence; yet Bunyan was i'm
prisoned under it, as he refused to give
| I Il
ing. Elizabeth, his wife, actuatcd by his
nndaunted spirit, applied to the House OF
Lords for his release; and, according to her
relation, she was told, they could do moth
ing; but that his releasement was commit
ted to the Judges at the next Assizes. =
The Judges were Sir Matthew Hale and
Mr.. Justice Twsdcn; and remarkable
contrast appeared betweenthe well known
mcckacss Of the one, and the .tnry Of the
other, Elizabeth came before them, and,
stating her husbands case, prayed for jus
ticc.
Judge Twisdcn," snys John Bunyan,
''snapt her up, and angrily told her that |
was convicted person, and could not be
released unless | would promise to preach
no more"
Elizabeth. "Thc Lords told me that re
basement was committed to you, and You
give me neither relcasmcnt nor relief. My
husband is unlawfully in prison, and you
are bound to discharge him."
Twisdcn. "He has been lawfully con
victed."
Elizabeth. at is false; for when they
sad," DO you confess the Indictment he
answered, AT the meetings where he
preached, they had Gods presence among
them"
Twisden. "Will your husband leave
off prcachingl If he will do so, then send
for himi'
Elizabeth. "My Lord, he darcs not
leave off preaching 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. but the charity Of
Christian people. | myself swayed at the
news when my husband was apprchcnded
and, being but young, and unaccustomed
to such things, fell in labor; and, coniinu-
ing in il for eight days was delivered Of a
dead child"
Sir Matthew Hale. "Alas, poor wo-
man p
Twisdcn Poverty is your cloak, for
| hear your husband is better maintaincd
BY running up and down approaching. than
by following his calling"
Sir Matthew Hale. .'What is his eall-
ing %
Elizabeth. "A tinker, please you, my
Lord and because he is a tinker and a
poor man, therefore he is despised, and
cannot have justice"
.sSir Matthew Hale. IL am truly sorry
we can do you no good. Sitting here, we
can only act as the law gives US Warrant;
and we have no power TO reverse the sen
tenee, although it may be erroneous. What
your husband said was taken for "a CON
tession, and he stands convicted. There is,
therefore, no course for you but to apply
to the King for pardon, or to sue out a
writ Of error, and the indictment or subsc-
quent proceedings being shown to be con
trary to law, the sentence shall be reversed,
and your husband shall be set at liberty.
| am truly sorry for your piiiable case. |
wish could serve you, but ! fear | can do
you no good