THE FAITHFUL HELPMATE. tinker's abilities, I would gladly give in exchange all my learning." All was not sunshine, however ; for the persecu- tions against the Non- conformists being revived with great bitterness on the accession of the bigoted James, Elizabeth's fond heart must have beat many times with fear for the safety of the husband of whom she had such just reason to be proud. Fre- quently he was compelled to assumevarious disguises, in order to perform his ministerial duties ; once he went through Reading, dressed as a waggoner, with a long whip in his hand, having reason to fear that, should he be captured, he would be likely again to occupy his old quarters in Bedford jail. At Read- ing he was a favourite ; and so afraid were they of his being seized, that at the back of the Baptist meeting-house, which was situated in a lane, they had a bridge over a branch of the river Kennett, whereby, in case of alarm, he might escape. Dreading lest his faithful Elizabeth might be left penniless again, should his little worldly means be taken under a pretence of fines and penalties, John Bunyan, on the 23rd of December, 1685, executed a deed of gift, vesting in her everythinghe possessed. This document is still in existence, and is a singular one in many respects; the original is in the church - book at Bedford, and is remarkable for having been sealed with a silver twopenny piece. The deed secured to Elizabeth his property, such as it was, without the trouble and expense of applying to the Ecclesiastical Courts for probate of a will. It 37
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