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in Scripture）。 We had much other discourse which I cannot well remember； about the laws of the nation； and submission to governments； to which I did tell him； that I did look upon myself as bound in conscience to walk according to all righteous laws； and that； whether there was a king or no； and if I did any thing that was contrary； I did hold it my duty to bear patiently the penalty of the law； that was provided against such offenders； with many more words to the like effect。 And said； moreover； that to cut off all occasions of suspicion from any； as touching the harmlessness of my doctrine in private； I would willingly take the pains to give any one the notes of all my sermons； for I do sincerely desire to live quietly in my country； and to submit to the present authority。
COBB。 Well； neighbour BUNYAN； said he； but indeed I would wish you seriously to consider of these things； between this and the quarter…sessions； and to submit yourself。 You may do much good if you continue still in the land； but alas； what benefit will it be to your friends； or what good can you do to them； if you should be sent away beyond the seas into SPAIN； or CONSTANTINOPLE； or some other remote part of the world？ Pray be ruled。
JAILOR。 Indeed； Sir； I hope he will be ruled。
BUN。 I shall desire； said I； in all honesty to behave myself in the nation； whilst I am in it。 And if I must be so dealt withal； as you say； I hope God will help me to bear what they shall lay upon me。 I know no evil that I have done in this matter； to be so used。 I speak as in the presence of God。
COBB。 You know； saith he； that the Scripture saith； THE POWERS THAT BE； ARE ORDAINED OF GOD。
BUN。 I said； Yes； and that I was to submit to the King as supreme； and also to the governors； as to them who are sent by Him。
COBB。 Well then； said he； the King then commands you； that you should not have any private meetings； because it is against his law； and he is ordained of God； therefore you should not have any。
BUN。 I told him that PAUL did own the powers that were in his day； to be of God； and yet he was often in prison under them for all that。 And also； though JESUS CHRIST told PILATE； that He had no power against him； but of God； yet He died under the same PILATE； and yet； said I； I hope you will not say that either PAUL； or Christ； were such as did deny magistracy； and so sinned against God in slighting the ordinance。 Sir； said I； the law hath provided two ways of obeying： the one to do that which I； in my conscience； do believe that I am bound to do； actively； and where I cannot obey actively； there I am willing to lie down； and to suffer what they shall do unto me。 At this he sat still； and said no more； which when he had done； I did thank him for his civil and meek discoursing with me； and so we parted。
O！ that we might meet in heaven！
Farewell。 J。 B。
HERE FOLLOWETH A DISCOURSE BETWEEN MY WIFE AND THE JUDGES； WITH OTHERS； TOUCHING MY DELIVERANCE AT THE ASSIZES FOLLOWING； THE WHICH I TOOK FROM HER OWN MOUTH。
AFTER that I had received this sentence of banishing； or hanging； from them； and after the former admonition； touching the determination of the justices if I did not recant； just when the time drew nigh； in which I should have abjured； or have done worse （as Mr Cobb told me）； came the time in which the King was to be crowned。 Now； at the coronation of kings； there is usually a releasement of divers prisoners； by virtue of his coronation； in which privilege also I should have had my share； but that they took me for a convicted person； and therefore； unless I sued out a pardon （as they called it）； I could have no benefit thereby； notwithstanding； yet； forasmuch as the coronation proclamation did give liberty； from the day the King was crowned； to that day twelvemonth； to sue them out； therefore； though they would not let me out of prison； as they let out thousands； yet they could not meddle with me； as touching the execution of their sentence； because of the liberty offered for the suing out of pardons。 Whereupon I continued in prison till the next assizes； which are called MIDSUMMER ASSIZES； being then kept in AUGUST； 1661。
Now； at that assizes； because I would not leave any possible means unattempted that might be lawful； I did； by my wife； present a petition to the judges three times； that I might be heard； and that they would impartially take my case into consideration。
The first time my wife went； she presented it to Judge HALE； who very mildly received it at her hand； telling her that he would do her and me the best good he could； but he feared； he said； he could do none。 The next day； again； lest they should； through the multitude of business； forget me； we did throw another petition into the coach to Judge TWISDON； who； when he had seen it； snapt her up； and angrily told her that I was a convicted person； and could not be released； unless I would promise to preach no more； etc。
Well； after this； she yet again presented another to judge Hale； as he sat on the bench； who； as it seemed； was willing to give her audience。 Only Justice CHESTER being present； stept up and said； that I was convicted in the court； and that I was a hot…spirited fellow （or words to that purpose）； whereat he waived it； and did not meddle therewith。 But yet； my wife being encouraged by the high…sheriff； did venture once more into their presence （as the poor widow did before the unjust judge） to try what she could do with them for my liberty； before they went forth of the town。 The place where she went to them； was to the SWAN…CHAMBER； where the two judges； and many justices and gentry of the country； was in company together。 She then coming into the chamber with a bashed face； and a trembling heart； began her errand to them in this manner：…
WOMAN。 My lord （directing herself to judge Hale）； I make bold to come once again to your Lordship； to know what may be done with my husband。
JUDGE HALE。 To whom he said； Woman； I told thee before I could do thee no good； because they have taken that for a conviction which thy husband spoke at the sessions： and unless there be something done to undo that； I can do thee no good。
WOMAN。 My lord； said she； he is kept unlawfully in prison； they clapped him up before there was any proclamation against the meetings； the indictment also is false。 Besides； they never asked him whether he was guilty or no； neither did he confess the indictment。
ONE OF THE JUSTICES。 Then one of the justices that stood by； whom she knew not； said； My Lord； he was lawfully convicted。
WOM。 It is false； said she； for when they said to him； Do you confess the indictment？ he said only this； that he had been at several meetings； both where there were preaching the Word； and prayer； and that they had God's presence among them。
JUDGE TWISDON。 Whereat Judge TWISDON answered very angrily； saying； What； you think we can do what we list； your husband is a breaker of the peace； and is convicted by the law； etc。 Whereupon Judge HALE called for the Statute Book。
WOM。 But； said she； my lord； he was not lawfully convi