They comfort each other.

81

several of the men in the fair. This put the other party yet into a greater rage, insomuch that they concluded the death of these two men. Wherefore they threatened that neither cage nor irons should serve their turn, but that they should die for the abuse they had done, and for deluding the men of the fair.

Then were they remanded to the cage again, until further order should be taken with them. So they put them in, and made their feet fast in the stocks.

Here, therefore, they called again to mind what they had heard from their faithful friend Evangelist, and were the more confirmed in their way and sufferings by what he told them would happen to them. They also now comforted each other, that whose lot it was to suffer, even he should have the best on't; therefore each man secretly wished that he might have the preferment; but committing themselves to the all-wise disposal of Him that ruleth all things, with much content they abode in the condition in which they were, until they should be otherwise disposed of.

Then a convenient time being appointed, they brought them forth to their trial, in order to their condemnation. When the time was come, they were brought before their enemies, and arraigned. The Judge's name was Lord Hategood; their indictment was one and the same in substance, though somewhat varying in form; the contents whereof were these:

"That they are enemies to and disturbers of the trade; that they had made commotions and divisions in the town, and had won a party to their own most dangerous opinions, in contempt of the law of their Prince."

Then Faithful began to answer, That he had only set himself against that which had set itself against Him that is higher than the highest. And, said he, as for disturbance, I make none, being myself a man of peace; the parties that were won to us were won by beholding our truth and innocence, and they are only turned from the worse to the better. And as to the king you talk of, since

1 The description of the process, instituted against the pilgrims, is given in language taken from the legal forms used in our courts of justice, which in Mr. Bunyan's days were shamefully perverted to subserve the most iniquitous oppressions.

L

he is Beelzebub, the enemy of our Lord, I defy him and all his angels.1

Then proclamation was made, that they that had ought to say for their lord the king against the prisoner at the bar should forthwith appear and give in their evidence. So there came in three witnesses, to wit, Envy, Superstition, and Pickthank. They were then asked, if they knew the prisoner at the bar? and what they had to say for their lord the king against him?

Then stood forth Envy, and said to this effect: My lord, I have known this man a long time, and will attest upon oath, before this honourable bench, that he is

Judge. Hold- -Give him his oath.

So they sware him. Then he said, My lord, this man, notwithstanding his plausible name, is one of the vilest men in our country; he neither regardeth prince nor people, law nor custom; but doth all that he can to possess all men with certain of his disloyal notions, 3 which he, in the general, calls principles of faith and holiness. And, in particular, I heard him once myself affirm, that Christianity and the customs of our town of vanity were diametrically opposite, and could not be reconciled: by which saying, my lord, he doth at once not only condemn all our laudable doings, but us in the doing of them.

3

Then did the Judge say to him, Hast thou any more to say? Envy. My lord, I could say much more, only I would not be tedious to the court; yet, if need be, when the other gentlemen have given in their evidence, rather than any thing shall be wanting that will despatch him, I will enlarge my testimony against him. So he was bid stand by.

1 This allegorical narrative is framed in such a manner, as emphatically to expose the secret reasons which influence men to persecute their inoffensive neighbours; and the very names employed declare the several corrupt principles of the heart, from whence this atrocious conduct results.

2 The names of these witnesses declare the characters of the most active instruments of persecution. Even Pilate could perceive that the Jewish scribes and priests were actuated by envy, in delivering up Jesus to him. His instructions discredited theirs, and diminished their reputation and influence; he was more followed than they; and, in proportion as he was deemed a teacher sent from God, they were disregarded as blind guides.

* It has always been the practice of envious accusers to represent those, who refuse religious conformity, as disloyal and disaffected to the civil government of their country; because they judge it "right to obey God rather than man!"