The New Bloomfield, Pa. times. (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1877-188?, 1877-05-22
The Wife Of Bunyan.

THERE is only one instance, in the
i whole history of England, of wo-
man making her appearance at West
minister Hall, and before the Judges of
Assize, in order to make formal de-
fence in favor of the unfortuate. That
woman was the young and interesting
wife of John Bunyan
She, first of all, had the courage to ap-
pear before the House of Lords, to ask
the Supreme Court of Appeals to relax
the rigors of a prosecuting law. Their
Lordships, it is said, rudely told her to
go to the Judges of Assize, who con-
demned her husband, and she did SO.
At the Assize Court, Sir Matthew Hale
presided, accompanied by Judge Twis-
den, magistrate of ferocious tempera-
ment, whose countenance strangely con-
trasted with the mildness and plaeidity
of the Lord Chief Justice. We are in
debted to John Bunyan himself for q
description of the conduct of Judge
Twisden on this memorable occasion.
He says: Judge Twisden snapped at
my poor wife, Elizabeth, and angrily
told her that her husband was a con-
victed person, and could not be released
unless he would promise to preach no
more.
But Elizabeth, however much she
loved her husband, was more enamored
of the Gospel, and she gave the Court to
understand that her husband could not
purchase freedom at the expense of keep
ing silence about the mercy of God. a" 1t
is false" continued Elizabeth, &C to say
he has done wrong, for at the meeting
where he preached they had Gods pres
ence with them"
g Will he leave off preaching 20 roar
ed Twisden.
My Lords,'' said Elizabeth, she dares
not leave off preaching as long as he
can speak. But, my Lords,' she pro-
ceeded, with tears in her eyes, ''iust
consider that we have four small chill
dren, one of them blind, and all of them
have nothing to live on while their
father is in prison, but the charity Of
Christian people. Oh, my Lords, my
self, 'smdyed at the news when my hus-
band was apprehended, and being young
and unaccustomed to such things, L fell
in labor, and was delivered of q dead
child"
This was too much for Sir Matthew
Hale, who now interposed with the
ejaculation-''' Alas, poor woman ~ He
then inquired what was her husbands
calling.
{" A tinker, please you, my Lord, said
his wife; s. and because he is tinker,
and a poor man, he is despised and can
not have justice"
The Lord Chief Justice told her that
her husband had broken the law. There
was but one person in the realm who
could pardon her husband, and that per-
son was the king. But how was the
broken hearted wife of tinker to find
her way to the footstool of o monarch
Z" Alas, poor woman - he said, 81 am
sorry for your pitiable case.n
Elizabeth now became convinced how
vain it was to expect justice from an
earthly tribunal and with heroic glory
which can only be found i'm the annals
of the Christian faith, she pointed to her
tears as she departed, and uttered words
which never shall die as long as the
English language exists. See these
tears,' said she; but 1 do not weep
for myself. ! weep for you when
think what an account such poor crea-
lures as you will have to give at the
coming Of the Lord.n
This scene took place not only before
John Bunyan was known as the author
of book, but before he had even con-
ceived the outline of his Pilgrims
Progress He was kept in Jail in order
that he might not preach; but by this
persecution he was enabled to write a
book in his prison cell, which has
preached to England for many genera
tions, and which will edify and enlight-
en- the world to the uttermost posterity.
rnt