[Illustration: Relic of John Bunyan.]
The cut represents the vessel from which John Bunyan, the author of
that popular allegory, "the Pilgrim's Progress," was accustomed to
drink syllabub, during his incarceration in Bedford County Gaol. The
original is in the possession of the correspondent who has furnished
us with the sketch for the engraver. It is of common earthen-ware,
7-1/2 inches in height, and will contain 3-1/2 pints; one of the
handles is partly broken off; the glaze is of a light flesh tint; and
the vessel is a fair specimen of pottery in the early part of the
seventeenth century.
Bunyan, it will be recollected, was born in 1628, at Elstow, near
Bedford, where the cottage stood in its original state till within
these few years. It has latterly been new fronted, but the interior
remains nearly as in Bunyan's time. He was the son of a tinker, and
followed his father's trade; and at Elstow are the remains of a closet
in which, in early life, he carried on business. During the civil war
he served as a soldier in the parliament army; and subsequently joined
a society of Anabaptists at Bedford, and became their public teacher.
Soon after the Restoration, he was indicted for "abstaining from
coming to church," and holding "unlawful meetings and conventicles,"
for which he was sentenced to transportation, which was not executed,
as he was detained in prison upwards of twelve years, and at last
liberated through the charitable interposition of Dr. Barlow, Bishop
of Lincoln.
Sir Richard Phillips, in his recent "Personal Tour," says, "on
inquiring for relics of honest Bunyan, I was introduced to Mr.
Hilyard, the present amiable and exemplary pastor of the large
Independent Congregation, which 150 years since was under the
spiritual care of Bunyan. Mr. H. at his meeting-house, showed me the
vestry-chair of Bunyan; and the present pulpit is that in which Bunyan
used to preach. At his own house he preserves the records of the
establishment, many pages of which are in a neat and very scholastic
hand by Bunyan, and contain many of his signatures."
Bunyan's imprisonment gave rise to "The Pilgrim's Progress," a work,
which like "Robinson Crusoe," has remained unrivalled amidst a host of
imitators. He was too, a wit as well as a preacher. Towards the close
of his imprisonment a Quaker called on him, probably to make a convert
of the author of the Pilgrim. He thus addressed him:--"Friend John, I
am come to thee with a message from the Lord; and after having
searched for thee in half the prisons in England, I am glad that I
have found thee at last." "If the Lord had sent you," sarcastically
replied Bunyan, "you need not have taken so much pains, for the Lord
knows that I have been a prisoner in Bedford Gaol for these twelve
years past."
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