John Bunyon was an English 17th Christian writer and preacher. He is best known for his allegory The Pilgrims Progress. Bunyan wrote The Holy War while being imprisoned for preaching without a license. This confinement lasted 12 years. The Holy War, made by King Shaddai upon Diabolus, for the regaining of the metropolis of the world; or, the losing and taking again of the town of Mansoul is a book of spiritual warfare. In this allegory an old tinker named Bedford is the central character. He is an independent Baptist. When telling the story of the symbolic battles Bunyan uses actual military tactics, which he may have learned from a soldier in Cromwell's army.