Death and burial Concluding remarks LIFE OF JOHN BUNYAN. Bunyan's reputation at the close of the eighteenth century His dreams and reflections when a boy His substitute shot at the siege of Leicester His veneration for the religious Directory of the Puritans The peculiar people of God.-Inquiries of his father Game at cat upon Sunday Conversion of Bunyan Rebuked by an "ungodly" woman for his early habit of swearing Its good effect Studies his Bible Story of his love for bell-ringing Dancing the last sin he adheres to Early impressions Fate of one of his converters Efficacy of prayer . Conversation of three poor women in the streets of Bedford Joins a small Baptist congregation to which they belong 6 First germ of the Pilgrim's Progress' Doctrine of election-Self-inquiries Effects of certain passages in Scripture on his mind His false notions of the corruption of our nature Confirmations and doubts A voice from within. Suggestions of unbelief Recurrence of consolatory thoughts Ministry of Gifford Meets with Luther's Commentary on the Epistle to the Galatians Fresh temptations of the evil spirit. Hears a voice from without, as of a sudden rushing wind Reverie upon a settle in the street Hopes of heavenly pardon His own belief of the causes of his long temptations Searches the Scriptures anew Baptized by Gifford in the river Ouse Death of Gifford Value of Bunyan's self-accusations His copy of Fox's 'Book of Martyrs' Tetrastics written therein Bunyan called upon to speak a word of exhortation in Gifford's church 127 Bunyan arrested. History of his imprisonment Nature of his indictment Examination by Justice Wingate His interview with the Clerk of the Peace in prison • 132 134 · 137 . 137 138 • 139 His midnight preachings Visits the Christians at London Book of Martyrs;-Pomponius Algerius Bunyan's observations on the letter of Pomponius Algerius. Apprehensions and inward conflict. Bunyan not the victim of intolerant laws Supports his family when in prison by making tagged thread-laces Chosen Pastor of the Baptist congregation at Bedford Bunyan set free in the twelfth year of his imprisonment Preaches at the meeting-house in Southwark His collected works indiscriminately arranged His first publications Looks for a millennium Bunyan tolerant in controversy His great desire to be denominated a Christian Extracts from his printed writings Yearly visit to London Tradition of him at Reading Death and burial His widow's advertisement about her husband's works The first volume of his works published His children Description of his character and person His portrait by Sadler His pulpit Bible Recent discovery of the first edition of 'The Pilgrim's Progress' Gay's humorous allusion to the eighth edition Dishonest imitators of his allegory and manner Germ of "The Pilgrim's Progress' Charge of plagiarism refuted Bolswert's Pilgrimage of Dovekin and Willekin Dr. Patrick's Parable of the Pilgrim Lucian's Hermotimus LIFE OF CROMWELL. THE pedigree of the Protector's family commences about the middle of the eleventh century with Glothyan Lord of Powys, who married Morveth the daughter and heiress of Edwyn ap Tydwell, Lord of Cardigan;—a Welsh genealogist no doubt would be able to trace the Lords of Cardigan and Powys up to Cadwallader and so on to Brennus and Belinus. William ap Yevan, the representative of the family in the fifteenth century, *1. 'Histoire de Cromwell, d'après les Mémoires du Temps et les Recueils Parlementaires.' Par M. Villemain. 2 tom. 8vo. Paris, 1819.-2. 'Memoirs of the Protector, Oliver Cromwell, and of his Sons Richard and Henry. Illustrated by Original Letters, and other Family Papers." By Oliver Cromwell, Esq., a Descendant of the family. With Portraits from Original Pictures. London. 1820. 4to.-3. Oliver Cromwell and his Times.' By Thomas Cromwell. London. 1821.-4. 'Cromwelliana. A Chronological Detail of Events in which Oliver Cromwell was engaged from the year 1642 to his Death 1658 with a continuation of other Transactions to the Restoration.' Westminster. 1810. Folio. The first of these works is in all respects a very good book; the second, which contains much less original matter than we had hoped to find there, is the commendable attempt of an old and respectable gentleman to vindicate the character of his great ancestor. Mr. Thomas Cromwell, the author of the third work, appears not to be a descendant of the family: his book, though very inferior to M. Villemain's, and composed in too ambitious a style, is on the whole so fairly written and intended, that we advise the author to ask himself whether some of his statements are not more conformable to the prejudices with which he took up the subject, than to the facts with which he became acquainted in pursuing it,-to reconsider the grounds and the consistency of some of his opinions-and if a second edition of his book should be called for, to introduce it by a preface somewhat more modest and decorous. The fourth and last article consists of a series of extracts from the Diurnalls, and other publications of those times. With these works before us, and with the aid of such other materials as the rich memoirs of that disastrous age afford, and the industry of later writers has supplied (among whom Mr. Noble deserves especial mention as one of the most laborious and accurate and useful of the pioneer class), we shall endeavour to present a compendious and faithful account of Oliver Cromwell's eventful life. B was in the service first of Jasper Duke of Bedford, Henry the Seventh's uncle, afterwards of that king himself. His son. Morgan Williams, married the sister of that Cromwell whose name is conspicuous in the history of the Reformation, and who, though not irreproachable for his share in the transactions of a portentous reign, is on the whole largely entitled to commiseration and respect. The eldest son of this marriage called himself Richard Cromwell, alias Williams, and as the former was the more popular and distinctive name, the alias, though long retained by the family in their deeds and wills, was dropt in ordinary use. This Richard was one of the six challengers who held a tournament in 1540 at Westminster against all comers. The justs were proclaimed in France, Flanders, Spain, and Scotland. The challengers entered the field richly accoutred, and their horses trapped in white velvet; the knights and gentlemen who rode before them were apparelled in velvet and white sarsnet, and their servants were all in white doublets, and "hosen cut after the Burgonian fashion."* Sir Richard was knighted on the second day, and performed his part in the justs so well that the king cried out to him, " formerly thou wast my Dick, but hereafter thou shalt be my diamond;" and then dropping a diamond ring from his finger bade him take it, and ever after bear such a one in the fore gamb of the demy-lion in his crest. As a further proof of the royal favour, he and each of the challengers had a house and an hundred marks annually, to them and their heirs for ever, granted out of the property of the Knights of Rhodes, the last prior of that religion dying at this time broken-hearted for the dissolution of his order. Sir Richard Cromwell was one of those persons who were enriched by the spoils of the Church. He was appointed one of the visitors of the Religious Houses, and received for his reward so large a portion of the plunder, that the church lands which he had possessed in Huntingdonshire only, were let in Charles the Second's reign for more than £30,000 a year; and besides these he had very great estates in the adjoining counties of Cambridge. Bedford, Rutland, and Northampton. The donors of estates to monasteries and churches usually inserted in their deeds of gift a solemn imprecation against all persons who should usurp [* Stow, by Howes, ed. 1631, p. 579.] |