And when we had told them, “We were prisoners, going from one prison to another (from Newgate to Bridewell).”

“What,” said they, “without a keeper?”

“No,” said we, “for our Word, which we have given, is our keeper.”

Some thereupon would advise us, not to go to prison; but to go home.  But we told them, “We could not do so.  We could suffer for our testimony; but could not fly from it.”

I do not remember we had any abuse offered us; but were generally pitied by the people.

When we were come to Bridewell, we were not put up into the great room in which we had been before; but into a low room, in another fair court, which had a pump in the middle of it.  And, here, we were not shut up as before; but had the liberty of the court, to walk in; and of the pump, to wash and drink at.  And, indeed, we might easily have gone quite away, if we would; there was a passage through the court into the street:  but we were true and steady prisoners, and looked upon this liberty arising from their confidence in us, to be a kind of parole upon us; so that both Conscience and Honour stood now engaged for our true imprisonment.

And this privilege we enjoyed by the indulgence of our Keeper, whose heart GOD disposed to favour us; so that both the Master and his porter were very civil and kind to us, and had been so, indeed, all along.  For when we were shut up before; the porter would readily let some of us go home in an evening, and stay at home till next morning, which was a great conveniency to men of trade and business; which I, being free from, forbore asking for myself, that I might not hinder others.

Under this easy restraint, we lay till the Court sate at the Old Bailey again; and, then (whether it was that the heat of the storm was somewhat abated, or by what other means Providence wrought it, I know not), we were called to the bar; and without further question, discharged.

Whereupon we returned to Bridewell again; and having raised some monies among us, and therewith gratified both the Master and his porter, for their kindness to us; we spent some time in a solemn meeting, to return our thankful acknowledgment to the LORD; both for His preservation of us in prison, and deliverance of us out of it.  And then, taking a solemn farewell of each other; we departed with bag and baggage [at the end of January 1663].

[Thus, by such magnificent patience under arbitrary injustice, these invincible Quakers shamed the reckless Crime which, in those days, went by the name of The Law; and such stories as ELLWOOD’s Life and GEORGE FOX’s Journal abound with like splendid victories of patience, by men who were incapable of telling a lie or of intentionally breaking their word.

JOHN BUNYAN’s imprisonment at this time was much of the same kind as ELLWOOD’s, as soon as the Keeper of Bedford gaol found he could trust him.]