The men amined. told them about whom the fair was almost overturned. So the men were brought to examination; and they that sat upon them, asked They are exthem whence they came, whither they went, and what they did there, in such an unusual garb? that they were pilgrims and strangers in the world, and that they were going to their own country, which was the heavenly Jerusalem (Heb. ix. 13-16); and that they came. had given no occasion to the men of the town, nor yet to the merchandisers, thus to abuse them, and to let them in their journey, except They tell who and they are, whence they But they that were appointed believe them to be any other as came to put all things into Therefore they took them and it was for that, when one asked them what they would buy, they said They are not they would buy the truth. believed. to examine them did not than bedlams and mad, or else such a confusion in the fair. They are put in the cage. beat them, and besmeared them with dirt, and then put them into the cage, that they might be made a spectacle to all the men of the fair. in the cage. The men of the fair do fall out among them selves about these two men. There, therefore, they lay for some time, and were made the objects of any man's sport, or malice, or revenge, the great one of the fair laughing still at all that befell them. But the men being patient, and Their behaviour not rendering railing for railing, but contrariwise, blessing, and giving good words for bad, and kindness for injuries done, some men in the fair that were more observing, and less prejudiced than the rest, began to check and blame the baser sort for their continual abuses done by them to the men; they, therefore, in angry manner, let fly at them again, counting them as bad as the men in the cage, and telling them that they seemed confederates, and should be made partakers of their misfortunes. 88 The other replied, that for aught they could see, the men were quiet, and sober, and intended nobody any harm; and that there were many that traded in their fair that were more worthy to be put into the cage, yea, and pillory too, than were the men they had abused. Thus, after divers words had passed on both sides, the men behaving themselves all the while very wisely and soberly before them, they fell to some blows among themselves, and did harm one the authors of to another. Then were these two poor men brought before their examiners again, and there charged as being guilty of the late hubbub that had been in the fair. So they beat them pitifully, and hanged irons upon them, and led them in chains up and down the fair, for an example and a terror to They are made this disturbance. They are led up and down the fair in chains, for a terror to others. others, lest any should speak in their behalf, or join themselves unto them. But Christian and Faithful behaved themselves yet more wisely, and received the ignominy and shame that was cast upon them, with so much meekness and patience, Some of the that it won to their side, though but few in comparison men of the fair of the rest, several of the men in the fair. This put the other party yet into greater rage, insomuch that they concluded the won to them. death of these two men. Their adversa Wherefore they threatened, that the cage nor irons should serve their turn, but that they should die, ries resolve to for the abuse they had done, and for deluding the men of kill them. 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 of it; therefore each man secretly wished that he might have that 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 89 They are again put into the 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 Hate-good. Their indictment was one and the same in substance, though somewhat varying in form, the contents whereof were this: cage, and after brought to trial. "That they were enemies to and disturbers of their 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." Their indictment. Faithful's answer Then Faithful began to answer, that he had only set himself against that which hath set itself against Him that is higher than for himself. 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 he is Beelzebub, the enemy of our Lord, I defy him and all his angels. |