Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1851-09-04
fli5rrilnuccus.
John Bunyan and his Judges.

Lord Campbell 900 h- Lives Of the Chief
Justices of England, gives 'he following
account Of thc author of Pu-um', Progress
when brought before St Matthew II Ie aud
Ju.uce 1w-den rbceulolum passed 10y
Lord Campbell upon "ihe uobIe-t Of AIDE
ro,t- " shows irle heart and an appre-
c,ate Hdsm,uf ga the Cmct Justice 81 EnG-
land Ne j, speaking of Sir Matthew
Hale:
His demeanor IN the case of John Bun
van the author of The Pilgrims Progress
shows him paving respec, both 10 the rules
of law aud TO the dictates of humanity -
This wonderful man-who though bred
tinker. showed a genius lHile inferior to
that of Danie-hapng h,eu illegally convic-
ted by the court of quarter sessions, was w.
inr IN prison under has sentence. m the laIl
Of Bedford soon after the Restoration of
Charles II the louLg enthusiast had been
arrested while bee was preaching at meet
ing 90 private house, and refusing to enter
into an engagement that he would preach
no more, had been Indicted a. a person who
deyli,hv and pcrmclou.ly ahslalned from
coming To church to hear divine service
aud common uphuidcr of unlawful meet
ine, aud couyenucles, Co the great disturb
auce aud distraction of the good subjects of
ms realm AZ his arrairnmcut. be said
SHOW me the place 200 the Episiles where
the Common Pgser-Bo.k is written, or one
text OF Scripture that commands me TO read
D.. and wlu use H. Bot vet, notwithslan-
dlor they that have q mind 10 use It. they
have their liberty. thaii-. would not keep
them nomu But. for our own parts we
can pra, to God without d. Blessed be his
name The Justice, considered tins tauta.
mount To d plea If guilty. aud without re-
ierrma his case to the Jury, the chairman
pronounced the following sentence You
must be led back TO prison, and there lie for
three month following aud at the three
month,' end. If yau do not submit to 60 TO
church 10 hear divine service. aud leave
,our preachlnr. YOU must be banished the
realm And. If after such day as shall be
appointed ,oa to be zone. YOU shall be found
IA thus realm, or be found to come over again
without special Incense from the King, YOU
must stretch by the neck for 1t; tell YOU
plalnly
Arbiirar, as the laws then were there
was noclausc IN any statute that would sup
nort tb,s sentence. vet Bnnyan was lmpris-
oned under IT as he refused to 1--WE surety
tbai he ,,opl5 abstain from preaching -
Elz,be,b his wife ac,nl,cdb, his nndaun-
tod .,,,,, ,,,l,eJ ~ tte Unu.e nf I.ora,
for ms release. and according to her rela-
ton. She was told the, could do nolhl.
bnt that has releasemeft was conmtted a.
the Jndpes a, the next Assrzes. The Ju,
tees we're Sir Mathew Hale aud Mr. Ju-
nee T,y,.de. and remarkable contra-
appeared between the well known meeku,,,
of the o,e and tury of the ,dher. Euz
be,b came before Them. and. stating nr.
bnsh,nd.s csc nra,ed for instice
"Ind,e Tvlsden." saws john Bun,an
us,,,,, -. 81 s,,,,l, mid hertlat
W. cony,c,ed n.r.on aid could not h,
,eIe,,.d miss would promise to preaci
M ~ y
Fl1,ho,h ".rbe I.,ds told me that re-.
la,.on1a',, ,.... ...,,,,on,,ed T., ,,u. and VOC
','.,'.'',., ,,, rabsf Al,
e"d '.. LII ,' ,,,.oo and Won ar,
hon" 1' -. - 1.i,', ~, ~
rs ~ 49,. t,,,c,l ..,,