Pastyme With Good Companye

Archives for: May 2007, 06

05/06/07

09:21:38 am, by sue

, 142 words

Categories: British History

The Magic Flute

John Bunyan in Bedford Gaol

Tradition holds that John Bunyan wrote the Pilgrim's Progress in Bedford Gaol, while imprisoned for the crime of holding a religious service not in conformity with the Church of England. Bunyan spent twelve years in Bedford Gaol for that offense, which helps to explain why nonconformists liked to emigrate to America when they could.

To pass away the gloomy hours of imprisonment John took a rail out of the stool that was put in his cell, and with his knife fashioned it into a flute.

The keeper heard the music, and followed it to it's source. Whilst the keeper unlocked the door John quickly put the newly made flute back into the stool.

Each time the jailers heard the music, John would quickly hide his flute, and they never did discover where the mysterious music came from.

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Welcome to the blog of amateur historians Matthew James Didier and Sue Darroch. Partners in life and in crime, we endeavor to entertain you with snippets from our combined historical research. Past time with good company indeed, as we shall introduce you to Kings and Knaves, Queens and Mistresses, Cons and Heroes, from our collective past......from events well known to those perhaps all but forgotten, we will do our best to bring you interesting historical factoids from around the globe. It is our belief that through understanding our past we will all gain a better perspective on our future.