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Show HOW JOHN BUN YAN COT OUT OF PRISON. Bunyan was in his way quite a controversial writer, and was very severe upon the Quakers until he oblaiued his release from prison. It is a somewhat noteworthy fact, now well authenticated, that Charles II. liberated Quakers and Puritans from confinement through the personal intercession of the Quakers, among whom was Richard Carver, who was mate of the fishing vessel which conveyed con-veyed the king to France after the famous battle of Worcester, 1651. This honest Quaker sailor, alter twenty years had . rolled away, appealed to the king in person in bo-half bo-half of those who were in prison. When the fugitive king fled for his life, this sailor conveyed him on shore. The vessel was bound for Poole, coal laden, with tno passengers, who passed for merchants running away from their creditors. The fugitive king and Lord Wilmot were landed at Fecamp, in Normandy, upon the back of a Quaker, and tho vessel recrosaed the channel to Poole. When the honest sailor appeared, his majesty the king expressed astonishment as-tonishment that he had not previously sought some reward. The sailor replied re-plied that he had done his duty and God had rewarded him with peace ol mind. "And now, sire, I ask nothing noth-ing for my self, but that your majesty will do the same for my friends that I did for you; sot the poor, pious sufferers suf-ferers at liberty, that yon may have that peace and satisfaction that always follow good actions." King Charles thereupon pardoned four hundred and seventy one Quakers and many Independents and Baptists among them John Bunyan. |