The Preacher's Bride (29 page)
Read The Preacher's Bride Online
Authors: Jody Hedlund
“I truly take you as my wife, Elizabeth.”
“Yes, but for how long?”
His fingers followed the path her tears had left. “A very wise young woman once told me ’tis better to love and be loved, if only for a day, than to have not loved at all.”
She smiled through her tears.
“I love you, Elizabeth.”
His soft words wrapped around her. She read his eyes and saw the truth in their depths.
“I promise to love you for as long as God shall give you to me—even if it is only for a day.”
She took the flowers from him and buried her face in them, washing the petals with her tears.
“But it’s my hope I have longer than a day to love you,” he said, reaching for her and drawing her to him.
“What is the verdict?”
He shook his head and a shadow crossed his eyes, and she could see then the lines that the months in prison had added to his face.
“Sir Matthew Hale gave me no guarantees.”
“You are here now.” She brushed a hand across the crevices near his temple. “And that’s all that matters.”
A sudden grin played at his lips. “They told me you argued with those judges better than I could have.”
She couldn’t keep back a smile of her own. “I doubt anyone could argue more convincingly than the preacher John Costin.”
His grin broke free. “Anyone except the preacher’s bride.”
The Preacher’s Bride
is inspired by the real-life story of one of history’s greatest heroes of the faith, John Bunyan, writer of the classic
Pilgrim’s Progress
. While history gives due laud to John, it fails to recognize the woman who stood by his side and helped shape him into the hero we all know and love. It is my sincerest hope that in telling this story, I have brought to life Elizabeth Bunyan and have given her the recognition she deserves.
While I have attempted to remain true to the recorded facts, I have taken liberty with a few dates, as well as John’s final release from prison. As with most historical fiction, an author must use his or her imagination to fill in the framework of what was left untold by history, to patch up the gaps and add details to the real story. Thus, most of
The Preacher’s Bride
is true fiction, the runaway creativity of a writer’s mind.
However, you may be wondering which things within the story actually happened.
We do know John lost his first wife and was left with four young children, the oldest of which, a daughter, was blind. He received help from the women of his congregation in caring for his motherless children so he could continue preaching and teaching. John’s enemies spread many vicious rumors about him, and I have tried to accurately portray the nature of what was being spread. William Foster was one of the staunchest persecutors of the Puritans in Bedfordshire. John was arrested by Francis Wingate, and the dialogue during his time at Harlington House is based on John’s writings. Elizabeth fell into labor for an unbelievable seven days, and the baby she birthed died. She traveled to London as well as petitioned the judges at the assizes for John’s release. The words during that trial are taken from transcripts. Characters like Gibbs, Sir Matthew Hale, Sister Norton, Mrs. Grew, Vicar Burton, and other members of the congregation were real people, as recorded in documents of their church. I have also attempted to use many of John’s famous quotes throughout the book.
While I have taken liberty to have John released from prison at the end of
The Preacher’s Bride
, in reality, John and Elizabeth faced twelve long years apart while John languished in the Bedford prison—twelve years of incredible hardship and the struggle to survive. They were indeed pilgrims on a difficult path. John steadfastly refused to give in to the Anglican Church’s demands to stop preaching. Although they did not banish him from the country as they’d threatened, they did confine him in prison indefinitely.
During his twelve years of imprisonment, John was allowed occasional and brief periods of freedom. In 1665 the deadly bubonic plague swept through England, and John was allowed to go home. Then in 1666 after the Great Fire of London he was given another respite from prison. Neither of his breaks was long, and he ended up back in the same jail for six more years.
In 1672 King Charles II, in an effort to reduce tensions, issued an indulgence that permitted Puritans and other Independents to obtain licenses to worship freely. John was finally freed from prison and received a royal license to preach. He was named minister of the Bedford congregation, winning the right to share the good news of the Gospel anywhere and to everyone. The tinker had truly become preacher.
John and Elizabeth were finally reunited. They had two more children together, as well as a long and satisfying marriage. God used their hardships to strengthen their love for Him and their love for each other. If John had given in to the demands to stop preaching, then quite possibly the world would not have known one of the greatest pieces of literature ever written. For it was during John’s dreary days in jail that he wrote
Pilgrim’s Progress
, a testament to the persevering of faith in the midst of hardships.
* * *
So who was Elizabeth Bunyan? Near the end of his life John wrote these words in a deed of gift, and it describes Elizabeth better than I ever could: “. . . the natural affection and love which I have and bear into my well-beloved wife, Elizabeth Bunyan.”
She was the
well-beloved wife
of one of the greatest heroes of the faith. May her story encourage and strengthen you in your pilgrimage.
As a mother of five young children, I often struggle to find writing time. I try to schedule it in six days a week, usually in the early mornings and also in the afternoons after I’m done teaching my children. But each day is full of challenges, distractions, and activities that often cut into that writing time. Some days it’s a wonder I write at all!
But thankfully, God provided some incredible support during the writing of
The Preacher’s Bride
, and I’d like to take the opportunity to thank all those who helped me.
I need to first and foremost thank the Lord for giving me the type of personality that can work through interruptions and chaos day after day! Secondly, I want to thank my husband for his support of my writing passion and for his willingness to help me find that illusive uninterrupted time.
I’m grateful to my older children for taking turns babysitting and playing with their younger siblings in the afternoons so that I could write. Without their help, I would have had innumerably more distractions. They sacrificed for me and cheered me on day after day.
I also want to acknowledge the fantastic organization ACFW (American Christian Fiction Writers). Every year ACFW sponsors the Genesis Contest, a national fiction-writing contest for unpublished writers. My double final in the 2009 contest helped me gain recognition and helped propel my writing career forward.
So many other people have come alongside me in my writing journey. My agent, Rachelle Gardner, championed my books. My freelance editor, Tiffany Colter, provided insightful and challenging feedback. All of my blogging writer friends have encouraged me every step of the way. My writing journey is so much richer because of each friend I’ve made.
Finally, I would like to thank the staff at Bethany House for their hard work on
The Preacher’s Bride
. In the production of a book, much goes on behind the scenes, and I want to thank every single person for working so hard—initial readers, the cover and design team, marketing, and everyone else who had a hand in shaping this book. I especially want to thank my editors, Dave Long and Sharon Asmus, for their wisdom and dedication.
Thank you, Readers, for joining me in the story of John and Elizabeth in
The Preacher’s Bride
. I would love to hear from you. Here are several ways you can connect with me:
Mail: Jody Hedlund
P.O. Box 1230
Midland, Michigan 48641
Web site:
JodyHedlund.com
Email:
[email protected]
Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/AuthorJodyHedlund
Twitter:
@JodyHedlund
JODY HEDLUND
is a debut historical romance novelist who was a double finalist in the 2009 ACFW Genesis Contest in Historical Romance. She received a bachelor’s degree from Taylor University and a master’s from the University of Wisconsin, both in social work. Currently she makes her home in Midland, Michigan, with her husband and five busy children.