ELIZABETH BUNYAN, " My Lord," interrupted Justice Chester, one of the county magistrates, " he was lawfully convicted." " It is false," repeated Elizabeth ; " it was but a word of discourse that they took for a conviction, as you heard before." "But it is recorded, woman, it is recorded," answered Justice Chester ; and these words he reiterated, as if they formed a spell by which to silence her. Elizabeth Bunyan then told how she had travelled to London, to see if she could get her husband's liberty, and how Lord Barkwood had told her that the House of Lords could do nothing for her, as Bunyan's releasement had been committed to the Judges. " This he told me," she added, " and now I am come to you to see if anything may be done in this business, and you give neither release-. ment nor relief." " My Lord," cried Chester, " he is a pestilent fellow ; there is not such a fellow in the country again; " though even Twisden seemed a little touched, for he exclaimed, "What, will your husband leave preaching ? If he will do so, then send for him." " My Lord," replied the heroic wife, calmly, " HE DARES NOT LEAVE OFF PREACHING AS LONG AS HE CAN SPEAK ! " This answer enraged Twisden. " See here," he cried, " what should we talk any more about such a fellow ? Must he do what he lists ? He is a breaker of the peace !" 24
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