BUIVYAN, Jon x ( I628-88). The author of The Pityrino's Progress. Ife was born in Elstow, mar Bedford, 1628. He was brought up to his father's trade of tinker, and spent his youth in the practice of that humble craft. It has gen erally been taken for granted that his early life was very loose and profligate, on the sole ground of hi, il.rrible self-accusations in after years, when, from a the height of religious fervor and Puritan strictness, he looked back on dancing and bell-ringing as deadly sins. But there is no good reason for believing that he was really it bad character. He served for a short time (probably 1644-46) in the Civil War, and most likely on the side of l'a rliament : hut be yond his taking some active part in the great struggle, nothing is precisely known. In 1648 or early the next year. he married, and through the influente of his wife and her 'godly books,' there was brought about a complete reformation in his life. in 1 453 he joined the Nonconformist body of which she was a member, and two years later he removed to Bedford. There the wife to whom he owed so much died. In 1657 was fornmlly recognized as it preacher. "All the mid land says Fronde, "heard of his fame, and demanded to hear him." After tho Restora tion it was made illegal to conduct divine ser vice except in accordance with the forms of the Established Church. Bunyan, who persisted in
his irregular preaching, was confined in Bedford County jail for twelve years (1660-72), though during a part. of this time he was allowed a large degree of freedom. Here he supported his family —he had married again—by making tagged laces. His library consisted of the Bible and Fox's Martyrs. He was again imprisoned for six months in 1675, when he probably finished print's Progress. After his enlargement his fame as a preacher increased more and more till his death, which took place in London, 31, MSS. Though Bunyan is best known Pil prim's Progress (1st part 1678. 2d part 1684), he wrote nmeh else. The Life and Death of Mr. Badman, which shows the rapid descent of a man from sin to sin, and Grace Abounding, a narrative of Bunyan's own spiritual life, are masterpieces in realistic literature, and The Holy War is a beautiful allegory. Among his sermons should not be forgotten "The heavenly Footman." Editions of Pilgrim's Progress are numerous. A facsimile reprint of the original edition was published (London. ISS5). Consult.: Brown, John Bunyan, His Life, Times, and ll'orks ( London. ISS81; Fronde. John Bunyan ( New York. 1888) : "enables. Life of John Minya?? (Oxford, ISSS) : and Maeanlay's famous essay.