Whilst the greatest effort has been made to ensure the quality of this text, due to the historical nature of this content, in some rare cases there may be minor issues with legibility. I am deeply grateful to Mr. Thomas Cooper, F.L.A., and his colleagues in Bedford Public Library for their assistance in my research on John Bunyan's life and work.<br><br>It is especially difficult to find adequate words in which to acknowledge my debt to Mr. Cyril Hargreaves, who as Deputy Borough Librarian in charge of the John Bunyan Library has not only kept me constantly supplied with the information that I required, but has also given so much of his free time and skill as an amateur photographer to making the majority of the pictures for this book. I am equally indebted to him for reading and checking the manuscript. Throughout my work he has acted as my Interpreter, and if I have failed to make the best use of his interpretations, the fault is not his.<br><br>Sincere thanks are also due to Mr. Joseph Whiting and the Trustees of the Bunyan Meeting, Mill Street, Bedford, for the inspection of their treasures and permission to photograph their property; to Mr. Whiting personally for reading the manuscript; and to the custodian of Bunyan Meeting, Mr. F.T. Wells, for accompanying me to the site of Bunyan's birthplace and the scenes of his mission.<br><br>I owe another debt of gratitude to Mrs. Audrey Samet, of the De Parys Hotel, Bedford, who kindly allowed me to use my petrol allowance in her own car, with herself as the patient and resourceful driver.<br><br>Grateful thanks are also due to His Worship the Mayor of Bedford, and Mr. G.D. Gilmore, Assistant Solicitor to Bedford Corporation, for their help with the Borough Records and the legal aspects of Bunyan's story. For assistance with the County records I am greatly indebted to Miss Joyce Godber, the Bedford shire County Archivist, whose generous help in relation to recent Bunyan discoveries is more adequately acknowledged in the Introduction; and to Mr. Eric J.Davis and Mrs. Joan Varley, County Archivists of Buckinghamshire and Lincolnshire.
