If  we  are  right,  then,  in  saying  that  Bunyan  was  again  in
gaol  in  1675-6,  and  that  the  place  of  his  confinement  was  this
prison  on  Bedford  bridge,  we  come  now  to  ask.  Was  it  then  and
there  that  he  wrote  the  "  Pilgrim's  Progress  ?  "  Two  consider-
ations seem  to  give  us  the  answer  in  the  aflBrmative.  First  we
know  for  certain  that  the  book  was  written  in  prison,  and  if  we
suppose  that  it  was  written  during  his  twelve  years'  imprison-
ment we  shall  have  to  account  for  the  long  interval  of  six  years
between  its  composition  and  its  publication  ;  for  from  that  im-
prisonment Bunyan  was  released  in  1672,  whereas  the  "Pil-
grim's Progress  "  was  not  published  till  1678.  His  own  account
of  the  matter  seems  to  suggest  a  very  much  more  prompt


1G7G.]  TEE  "  PILGRIM'S  rnOGnESSy  261

procedure.  He  tells  us  that  as  soon  as  lie  had  finished  the
book  he  was  curious  to  see  what  reception  it  would  meet  with
at  the  hands  of  his  neighbours  : —

"  When  I  had  put  mine  ends  together,
I  show'd  them  others  that  I  might  see  whether
They  would  condi'nin  them  or  them  justify;
And  some  said  lot  them  live  ;   some  let  them  die.
Some  said  John  print  it ;  others  said,  not  so  ;
Some  said  it  might  do  good  ;  others  said  no."

nis  book  thus  being  met  by  grave  looks  of  dubiety,  as  well
as  with  bright  smiles  of  appreciation,  Bunyan  was  for  a  time
in  as  much  perplexity  as  a  man  usually  is  who  takes  counsel  of
his  neighbours.  Therefore,  in  the  exercise  of  his  sturdy  common
sense,  he  will  settle  the  matter  for  himself.
