Author Description

The Publications of the Bedfordshire Historical Record Society volume LIX ‘The internal politics of Bedford 1660-1688’, by Michael Mullet [Describes the constitution of Bedford’s corporation and the effects of religion on the town’s politics in the reign of Charles II. The article shows how John Bunyan drew on Bedford for the town in his book The Holy War.] ‘Sir John Kelyng, Chief Justice of the King’s Bench, 1665-1671’, by Eric Stockdale [Kelyng presided over the trial at Quarter Sessions of John Bunyan in 1661. The article discusses Kelyng’s legal career generally.] ‘The Bedfordshire County Petitions of 1795’, by Clive Emsley [An attack on George III prompted many counties to presented petitions congratulating him on his escape. This article traces two conflicting Bedfordshire petitions. The Duke of Bedford and Samuel Whitbread held meetings that also requested peace with France and the withdrawal of two Parliamentary bills against inciting hatred of the King and against assemblies. A rival meeting congratulated the King on his escape, requested an honourable peace when the war was won and supported the two Parliamentary bills.] ‘The Earl de Grey’s account of the building of Wrest House’, edited by A. F. Cirket [The account describes the garden, the house and its contents, room by room. It is in the form of a letter from the Earl to his daughter, Anne Florence, Countess Cowper in April 1846.] ‘The memoirs of Jane and William Inskip’, edited by Yvonne Nicholls and Sylvia Woods [These are memoirs of a mother (Jane) and son (William). The Inskips were Methodists and Jane and her husband were farmers. Their son William lived in London and worked in a bank.]