The Holy War made by Shaddai upon Diabolus, by John Bunyan

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Transcribed from the 1907 Religious Tract Society edition byDavid Price,best electronic learning toys for 4 year olds under 50 dollars email [email protected]

THE HOLY WAR MADE
BY SHADDI UPON
DIABOLUS FOR THE
REGAINING OF THE METROPOLIS
OF THE WORLD OR THE LOSING
AND TAKING AGAIN OF THE TOWN
OF MANSOUL.  BY JOHNBUNYAN

WITHTHREE
COLOURED ILLUSTRATIONS
BY VICTOR PROUT [0]

“I have usedsimilitudes.”  Hosea xii. 10

London
THE RELIGIOUS TRACT SOCIETY
4 Bouverie Street and 65 St Paul’s Churchyard
1907

PRINTEDBY
HAZELL, WATSON AND VINEY, LD.
LONDON AND AYLESBURY.

PREFACE.

Inthe year 1682 therewas published by Dorman Newman, ‘at the King’sArms in the Poultry,’and Benjamin Alsop,‘at the Angel and Bible in the Poultry,’avolume entitled‘The Holy War, made byShaddai upon Diabolus for the regaining of the Metropolis of theWorld; or the Losing and Taking again of the Town ofMansoul.’  It was the work of John Bunyan,who, sixteen years before, had published thestory of his own spiritual struggle under the title of‘Grace abounding to the Chief of Sinners’;and, but four years before, had produced‘The Pilgrim’s Progress’ (PartI).  Bunyan had speedily followed the issue ofthe‘Pilgrim’s Progress’ withthe‘Life and Death of Mr. Badman,’picture of English life and character as he had seen it,grimly faithful to fact.  In‘TheHoly War’Bunyan returned to allegory. As a piece of literature the book is in no way inferior tothe‘Pilgrim’s Progress.’ If Bunyan had written nothing else, ‘The HolyWar’ would have sufficed to establish his claim to aplace amongst the masters of English prose.  As anappeal to the conscience it is not a whit less effective thanthe‘Pilgrim’s Progress’; but inthe power of seizing and retaining the reader’s attentionit is scarcely so successful.  Nevertheless Macaulayheld that‘if there had been no“Pilgrim’s Progress” “The HolyWar” would have been the first of religiousallegories.’

In working out the details of‘The HolyWar’ Bunyan seems to have kept in mind his ownexperience.  The fortifications of the city,the movements of the opposing forces, the changes inthe municipal offices of Mansoul were reproductions of scenes andevents that had but recently gone on under Bunyan’seyes.  He adapted them with extraordinary success tothe presentation both of the doctrines of grace and of thetemptations which attend the Christian life.  Thecharacters and the incidents are, in effect, thecharacters and incidents of every age.  It is thiswhich gives to the story of Mansoul its undying freshness,and suits it to the needs of men in all climes. ‘The Holy War’ has been translated intomany languages, including some of those with the scantiestof literature.  Indeed, as this edition isbeing prepared for the press, assistance is being renderedby the Religious Tract Society in the printing of‘The Holy War’ in Kongo.

A. R. BUCKLAND.

TO THE READER.

   ’Tis strange to me, thatthey that love to tell
Things done of old, yea, and that do excel
Their equals in historiology,
Speak not of Mansoul’s wars, but let them lie
Dead, like old fables, or such worthless things,
That to the reader no advantage brings:
When men, let them make what they will their own,
Till they know this, are to themselves unknown.
   Of stories, I well know, there’s diverssorts,
Some foreign, some domestic; and reports
Are thereof made as fancy leads the writers:
(By books a man may guess at the inditers.)
Some will again of that which never was,
Nor will be, feign (and that without a cause)
Such matter, raise such mountains, tell such things
Of men, of laws, of countries, and of kings;
And in their story seem to be so sage,
And with such gravity clothe every page,
That though their frontispiece says all is vain,
Yet to their way disciples they obtain.
   But, readers, I have somewhat else to do,
Than with vain stories thus to trouble you.
What here I say, some men do know so well,
They can with tears and joy the story tell.
   The town of Mansoul is well known to many,
Nor are her troubles doubted of by any
That are acquainted with those Histories
That Mansoul and her wars anatomize.
   Then lend thine ear to what I do relate,
Touching the town of Mansoul and her state:
How she was lost, took captive, made a slave:
And how against him set, that should her save;
Yea, how by hostile ways she did oppose
Her Lord, and with his enemy did close.
For they are true: he that will them deny
Must needs the best of records vilify.
For my part, I myself was in the town,
Both when ’twas set up, and when pulling down.
I saw Diabolus in his possession,
And Mansoul also under his oppression.
Yea, I was there when she own’d him for lord,
And to him did submit with one accord.
   When Mansoul trampled upon things divine,
And wallowed in filth as doth a swine;
When she betook herself unto her arms,
Fought her Emmanuel, despis’d his charms;
Then I was there, and did rejoice to see
Diabolus and Mansoul so agree.
   Let no men, then, count me a fable-maker,
Nor make my name or credit a partaker
Of their derision: what is here in view,
Of mine own knowledge, I dare say is true.
   I saw the Prince’s armed men come down
By troops, by thousands, to besiege the town;
I saw the captains, heard the trumpets sound,
And how his forces covered all the ground.
Yea, how they set themselves in battle-’ray,
I shall remember to my dying day.
   I saw the colours waving in the wind,
And they within to mischief how combin’d
To ruin Mansoul, and to make away
Her primum mobile without delay.
   I saw the mounts cast up against the town,
And how the slings were placed to beat it down:
I heard the stones fly whizzing by mine ears,
(What longer kept in mind than got in fears?)
I heard them fall, and saw what work they made.
And how old Mors did cover with his shade
The face of Mansoul; and I heard her cry,
‘Woe worth the day, in dying I shall die!’
   I saw the battering-rams, and how theyplay’d
To beat open Ear-gate; and I was afraid
Not only Ear-gate, but the very town
Would by those battering-rams be beaten down.
I saw the fights, and heard the captains shout,
And in each battle saw who faced about;
I saw who wounded were, and who were slain;
And who, when dead, would come to life again.
   I heard the cries of those that wounded were,
(While others fought like men bereft of fear,)
And while the cry, ‘Kill, kill,’ was in mine ears,
The gutters ran, not so with blood as tears.
   Indeed, the captains did not always fight,
But then they would molest us day and night;
Their cry, ‘Up, fall on, let us take the town,’
Kept us from sleeping, or from lying down.
   I was there when the gates were broken ope,
And saw how Mansoul then was stripp’d of hope;
I saw the captains march into the town,
How there they fought, and did their foes cut down.
   I heard the Prince bid Boanerges go
Up to the castle, and there seize his foe;
And saw him and his fellows bring him down,
In chains of great contempt quite through the town.
   I saw Emmanuel, when he possess’d
His town of Mansoul; and how greatly blest
A town his gallant town of Mansoul was,
When she received his pardon, loved his laws.
   When the Diabolonians were caught,
When tried, and when to execution brought,
Then I was there; yea, I was standing by
When Mansoul did the rebels crucify.
   I also saw Mansoul clad all in white,
I heard her Prince call her his heart’s delight.
I saw him put upon her chains of gold,
And rings, and bracelets, goodly to behold.
   What shall I say?  I heard the people’scries,
And saw the Prince wipe tears from Mansoul’s eyes.
And heard the groans, and saw the joy of many:
Tell you of all, I neither will, nor can I.
But by what here I say, you well may see
That Mansoul’s matchless wars no fables be.
   Mansoul, the desire of both princes was:
One keep his gain would, t’other gain his loss.
Diabolus would cry, ‘The town is mine!’
Emmanuel would plead a right divine
Unto his Mansoul: then to blows they go,
And Mansoul cries, ‘These wars will me undo.’
   Mansoul! her wars seemed endless in her eyes;
She’s lost by one, becomes another’s prize:
And he again that lost her last would swear,
‘Have her I will, or her in pieces tear.’
   Mansoul! it was the very seat of war;
Wherefore her troubles greater were by far
Than only where the noise of war is heard,
Or where the shaking of a sword is fear’d;
Or only where small skirmishes are fought,
Or where the fancy fighteth with a thought.
   She saw the swords of fighting men made red,
And heard the cries of those with them wounded:
Must not her frights, then, be much more by far
Than theirs that to such doings strangers are?
Or theirs that hear the beating of a drum,
But not made fly for fear from house and home?
   Mansoul not only heard the trumpet’s sound,
But saw her gallants gasping on the ground:
Wherefore we must not think that she could rest
With them, whose greatest earnest is but jest:
Or where the blust’ring threat’ning of great wars
Do end in parlies, or in wording jars.
Mansoul! her mighty wars, they did portend
Her weal or woe, and that world without end:
Wherefore she must be more concern’d than they
Whose fears begin, and end the selfsame day;
Or where none other harm doth come to him
That is engaged, but loss of life or limb,
As all must needs confess that now do dwell
In Universe, and can this story tell.
   Count me not, then, with them that, to amaze
The people, set them on the stars to gaze,
Insinuating with much confidence,
That each of them is now the residence
Of some brave creatures: yea, a world they will
Have in each star, though it be past their skill
To make it manifest to any man,
That reason hath, or tell his fingers can.
   But I have too long held thee in the porch,
And kept thee from the sunshine with a torch,
Well, now go forward, step within the door,
And there behold five hundred times much more
Of all sorts of such inward rarities
As please the mind will, and will feed the eyes
With those, which, if a Christian, thou wilt see
Not small, but things of greatest moment be.
   Nor do thou go to work without my key;
(In mysteries men soon do lose their way;)
And also turn it right, if thou wouldst know
My riddle, and wouldst with my heifer plough;
It lies there in the window.  Fare thee well,
My next may be to ring thy passing-bell.

JohnBunyan.

AN ADVERTISEMENT TO THE READER.

   Somesay the ‘Pilgrim’s Progress’ is not mine,
Insinuating as if I would shine
In name and fame by the worth of another,
Like some made rich by robbing of their brother.
Or that so fond I am of being sire,
I’ll father bastards; or, if need require,
I’ll tell a lie in print to get applause.
I scorn it: John such dirt-heap never was,
Since God converted him.  Let this suffice
To show why I my ‘Pilgrim’ patronize.
   It came from mine own heart, so to my head,
And thence into my fingers trickled;
Then to my pen, from whence immediately
On paper I did dribble it daintily.
   Manner and matter, too, was all mine own,
Nor was it unto any mortal known
Till I had done it; nor did any then
By books, by wits, by tongues, or hand, or pen,
Add five words to it, or write half a line
Thereof: the whole, and every whit is mine.
   Also for THIS, thineeye is now upon,
The matter in this manner came from none
But the same heart, and head, fingers, and pen,
As did the other.  Witness all good men;
For none in all the world, without a lie,
Can say that this is mine, excepting I
   I write not this of my ostentation,
Nor ‘cause I seek of men their commendation;
I do it to keep them from such surmise,
As tempt them will my name to scandalize.
Witness my name, if anagram’d to thee,
The letters make—‘Nu hony in a B.’

JohnBunyan.

A RELATION OF THE HOLY WAR.

In my travels, as I walked throughmany regions and countries, it was my chance to happen into thatfamous continent of Universe.  A very large and spaciouscountry it is: it lieth between the two poles, and just amidstthe four points of the heavens.  It is a place well watered,and richly adorned with hills and valleys, bravely situate, andfor the most part, at least where I was, very fruitful, also wellpeopled, and a very sweet air.

The people are not all of one complexion, nor yet of onelanguage, mode, or way of religion, but differ as much as, it issaid, do the planets themselves.  Some are right, and someare wrong, even as it happeneth to be in lesser regions.

In this country, as I said, it was my lot to travel; and theretravel I did, and that so long, even till I learned much of theirmother tongue, together with the customs and manners of themamong whom I was.  And, to speak truth, I was much delightedto see and hear many things which I saw and heard among them;yea, I had, to be sure, even lived and died a native among them,(so was I taken with them and their doings,) had not my mastersent for me home to his house, there to do business for him, andto oversee business done.

Now there is in this gallant country of Universe a fair anddelicate town, a corporation called Mansoul; a town for itsbuilding so curious, for its situation so commodious, for itsprivileges so advantageous, (I mean with reference to itsorigin,) that I may say of it, as was said before of thecontinent in which it is placed, There is not its equal under thewhole heaven.

As to the situation of this town, it lieth just between thetwo worlds; and the first founder and builder of it, so far as bythe best and most authentic records I can gather, was oneShaddai; and he built it for his own delight.  He made itthe mirror and glory of all that he made, even the top-piece,beyond anything else that he did in that country.  Yea, sogoodly a town was Mansoul when first built, that it is said bysome, the gods, at the setting up thereof, came down to see it,and sang for joy.  And as he made it goodly to behold, soalso mighty to have dominion over all the country roundabout.  Yea, all were commanded to acknowledge Mansoul fortheir metropolitan, all were enjoined to do homage to it. Aye, the town itself had positive commission and power from herKing to demand service of all, and also to subdue any thatanyways denied to do it.

There was reared up in the midst of this town a most famousand stately palace; for strength, it might be called a castle;for pleasantness, a paradise; for largeness, a place so copiousas to contain all the world.  This place the King Shaddaiintended but for himself alone, and not another with him; partlybecause of his own delights, and partly because he would not thatthe terror of strangers should be upon the town.  This placeShaddai made also a garrison of, but committed the keeping of itonly to the men of the town.

The walls of the town were well built, yea, so fast and firmwere they knit and compact together, that, had it not been forthe townsmen themselves, they could not have been shaken orbroken for ever.  For here lay the excellent wisdom of himthat builded Mansoul, that the walls could never be broken downnor hurt by the most mighty adverse potentate, unless thetownsmen gave consent thereto.

This famous town of Mansoul had five gates, in at which tocome, out at which to go; and these were made likewise answerableto the walls, to wit, impregnable, and such as could never beopened nor forced but by the will and leave of thosewithin.  The names of the gates were these: Ear-gate,Eye-gate, Mouth-gate, Nose-gate, and Feel-gate.

Other things there were that belonged to the town of Mansoul,which if you adjoin to these, will yet give farther demonstrationto all, of the glory and strength of the place.  It hadalways a sufficiency of provision within its walls; it had thebest, most wholesome, and excellent law that then was extant inthe world.  There was not a rascal, rogue, or traitorousperson then within its walls; they were all true men, and fastjoined together; and this, you know, is a great matter.  Andto all these, it had always (so long as it had the goodness tokeep true to Shaddai the King) his countenance, his protection,and it was his delight, etc.

Well, upon a time, there was one Diabolus, a mighty giant,made an assault upon this famous town of Mansoul, to take it, andmake it his own habitation.  This giant was king of theblacks, and a most raving prince he was.  We will, if youplease, first discourse of the origin of this Diabolus, and thenof his taking of this famous town of Mansoul.

This Diabolus is indeed a great and mighty prince, and yetboth poor and beggarly.  As to his origin, he was at firstone of the servants of King Shaddai, made, and taken, and put byhim into most high and mighty place; yea, was put into suchprincipalities as belonged to the best of his territories anddominions.  This Diabolus was made ‘son of themorning,’ and a brave place he had of it: it brought himmuch glory, and gave him much brightness, an income that mighthave contented his Luciferian heart, had it not been insatiable,and enlarged as hell itself.

Well, he seeing himself thus exalted to greatness and honour,and raging in his mind for higher state and degree, what doth hebut begins to think with himself how he might be set up as lordover all, and have the sole power under Shaddai.  (Now thatdid the King reserve for his Son, yea, and had already bestowedit upon him.)  Wherefore he first consults with himself whathad best to be done; and then breaks his mind to some other ofhis companions, to the which they also agreed.  So, in fine,they came to this issue that they should make an attempt upon theKing’s Son to destroy him, that the inheritance might betheirs.  Well, to be short, the treason, as I said, wasconcluded, the time appointed, the word given, the rebelsrendezvoused, and the assault attempted.  Now the King andhis Son being all and always eye, could not but discern allpassages in his dominions; and he, having always love for his Sonas for himself, could not at what he saw but be greatly provokedand offended: wherefore what does he, but takes them in the verynick and first trip that they made towards their design, convictsthem of the treason, horrid rebellion, and conspiracy that theyhad devised, and now attempted to put into practice, and caststhem altogether out of all place of trust, benefit, honour, andpreferment.  This done, he banishes them the court, turnsthem down into the horrible pits, as fast bound in chains, nevermore to expect the least favour from his hands, but to abide thejudgment that he had appointed, and that for ever.

Now they being thus cast out of all place of trust, profit,and honour, and also knowing that they had lost theirprince’s favour for ever, (being banished his court, andcast down to the horrible pits,) you may he sure they would nowadd to their former pride what malice and rage against Shaddai,and against his Son, they could.  Wherefore, roving andranging in much fury from place to place, if, perhaps, they mightfind something that was the King’s, by spoiling of that, torevenge themselves on him; at last they happened into thisspacious country of Universe, and steer their course towards thetown of Mansoul; and considering that that town was one of thechief works and delights of King Shaddai, what do they but, aftercounsel taken, make an assault upon that.  I say, they knewthat Mansoul belonged unto Shaddai; for they were there when hebuilt it and beautified it for himself.  So when they hadfound the place, they shouted horribly for joy, and roared on itas a lion upon the prey, saying, ‘Now we have found theprize, and how to be revenged on King Shaddai for what he hathdone to us.’  So they sat down and called a council ofwar, and considered with themselves what ways and methods theyhad best to engage in for the winning to themselves this famoustown of Mansoul, and these four things were then propounded to beconsidered of.

First.  Whether they had best all of them to showthemselves in this design to the town of Mansoul.

Secondly.  Whether they had best to go and sit downagainst Mansoul in their now ragged and beggarly guise.

Thirdly.  Whether they had best show to Mansoul theirintentions, and what design they came about, or whether toassault it with words and ways of deceit.

Fourthly.  Whether they had not best to some of theircompanions to give out private orders to take the advantage, ifthey see one or more of the principal townsmen, to shoot them, ifthereby they shall judge their cause and design will the betterbe promoted.

1. It was answered to the first of these proposals in thenegative, to wit, that it would not be best that all should showthemselves before the town, because the appearance of many ofthem might alarm and frighten the town; whereas a few or but oneof them was not so likely to do it.  And to enforce thisadvice to take place it was added further, that if Mansoul wasfrighted, or did take the alarm, ‘It is impossible,’said Diabolus (for he spake now), ‘that we should take thetown: for that none can enter into it without its ownconsent.  Let, therefore, but few, or but one, assaultMansoul; and in mine opinion,’ said Diabolus, ‘let mebe he.’  Wherefore to this they all agreed.

2. And then to the second proposal they came, namely, Whetherthey had best go and sit down before Mansoul in their now raggedand beggarly guise.  To which it was answered also in thenegative, By no means; and that because, though the town ofMansoul had been made to know, and to have to do, before now,with things that are invisible, they did never as yet see any oftheir fellow-creatures in so sad and rascally condition as they;and this was the advice of that fierce Alecto.  Then saidApollyon, ‘The advice is pertinent; for even one of usappearing to them as we are now, must needs both beget andmultiply such thoughts in them as will both put them into aconsternation of spirit, and necessitate them to put themselvesupon their guard.  And if so,’ said he, ‘then,as my Lord Diabolus said but now, it is in vain for us to thinkof taking the town.’  Then said that mighty giantBeelzebub, ‘The advice that already is given is safe; forthough the men of Mansoul have seen such things as we once were,yet hitherto they did never behold such things as we now are; andit is best, in mine opinion, to come upon them in such a guise asis common to, and most familiar among them.’  To this,when they had consented, the next thing to be considered was, inwhat shape, hue, or guise Diabolus had best to show himself whenhe went about to make Mansoul his own.  Then one said onething, and another the contrary.  At last Lucifer answered,that, in his opinion, it was best that his lordship should assumethe body of some of those creatures that they of the town haddominion over; ‘for,’ quoth he, ‘these are notonly familiar to them, but, being under them, they will neverimagine that an attempt should by them be made upon the town;and, to blind all, let him assume the body of one of those beaststhat Mansoul deems to be wiser than any of the rest.’ This advice was applauded of all: so it was determined that thegiant Diabolus should assume the dragon, for that he was in thosedays as familiar with the town of Mansoul as now is the bird withthe boy; for nothing that was in its primitive state was at allamazing to them.  Then they proceeded to the third thing,which was:

3. Whether they had best to show their intentions, or thedesign of his coming, to Mansoul, or no.  This also wasanswered in the negative, because of the weight that was in theformer reasons, to wit, for that Mansoul were a strong people, astrong people in a strong town, whose wall and gates wereimpregnable, (to say nothing of their castle,) nor can they byany means be won but by their own consent. ‘Besides,’ said Legion, (for he gave answer to this,)‘a discovery of our intentions may make them send to theirking for aid; and if that be done, I know quickly what time ofday it will be with us.  Therefore let us assault them inall pretended fairness, covering our intentions with all mannerof lies, flatteries, delusive words; feigning things that neverwill be, and promising that to them that they shall neverfind.  This is the way to win Mansoul, and to make them ofthemselves open their gates to us; yea, and to desire us too tocome in to them.  And the reason why I think that thisproject will do is, because the people of Mansoul now are, everyone, simple and innocent, all honest and true; nor do they as yetknow what it is to be assaulted with fraud, guile, andhypocrisy.  They are strangers to lying and dissemblinglips; wherefore we cannot, if thus we be disguised, by them atall be discerned; our lies shall go for true sayings, and ourdissimulations for upright dealings.  What we promise themthey will in that believe us, especially if, in all our lies andfeigned words, we pretend great love to them, and that our designis only their advantage and honour.’  Now there wasnot one bit of a reply against this; this went as current down asdoth the water down a steep descent.  Wherefore they go toconsider of the last proposal, which was:

4. Whether they had not best to give out orders to some oftheir company to shoot some one or more of the principal of thetownsmen, if they judge that their cause may be promotedthereby.  This was carried in the affirmative, and the manthat was designed by this stratagem to be destroyed was one Mr.Resistance, otherwise called Captain Resistance.  And agreat man in Mansoul this Captain Resistance was, and a man thatthe giant Diabolus and his band more feared than they feared thewhole town of Mansoul besides.  Now who should be the actorto do the murder?  That was the next, and they appointed oneTisiphone, a fury of the lake, to do it.

They thus having ended their council of war, rose up, andessayed to do as they had determined; they marched towardsMansoul, but all in a manner invisible, save one, only one; nordid he approach the town in his own likeness, but under the shadeand in the body of the dragon.

So they drew up and sat down before Ear-gate, for that was theplace of hearing for all without the town, as Eye-gate was theplace of perspection.  So, as I said, he came up with histrain to the gate, and laid his ambuscado for Captain Resistancewithin bow-shot of the town.  This done, the giant ascendedup close to the gate, and called to the town of Mansoul foraudience.  Nor took he any with him but one Ill-pause, whowas his orator in all difficult matters.  Now, as I said, hebeing come up to the gate, (as the manner of those times was,)sounded his trumpet for audience; at which the chief of the townof Mansoul, such as my Lord Innocent, my Lord Willbewill, my LordMayor, Mr. Recorder, and Captain Resistance, came down to thewall to see who was there, and what was the matter.  And myLord Willbewill, when he had looked over and saw who stood at thegate, demanded what he was, wherefore he was come, and why heroused the town of Mansoul with so unusual a sound.

Diabolus, then, as if he had been a lamb, began his oration,and said: ‘Gentlemen of the famous town of Mansoul, I am,as you may perceive, no far dweller from you, but near, and onethat is bound by the king to do you my homage and what service Ican; wherefore, that I may be faithful to myself and to you, Ihave somewhat of concern to impart unto you.  Wherefore,grant me your audience, and hear me patiently.  And first, Iwill assure you, it is not myself, but you—not mine, butyour advantage that I seek by what I now do, as will full well bemade manifest, by that I have opened my mind unto you.  For,gentlemen, I am (to tell you the truth) come to show you how youmay obtain great and ample deliverance from a bondage that,unawares to yourselves, you are captivated and enslavedunder.’  At this the town of Mansoul began to prick upits ears.  And ‘What is it?  Pray what isit?’ thought they.  And he said, ‘I havesomewhat to say to you concerning your King, concerning his law,and also touching yourselves.  Touching your King, I know heis great and potent; but yet all that he hath said to you isneither true nor yet for your advantage.  1. It is not true,for that wherewith he hath hitherto awed you, shall not come topass, nor be fulfilled, though you do the thing that he hathforbidden.  But if there was danger, what a slavery is it tolive always in fear of the greatest of punishments, for doing sosmall and trivial a thing as eating of a little fruit is. 2. Touching his laws, this I say further, they are bothunreasonable, intricate, and intolerable.  Unreasonable, aswas hinted before; for that the punishment is not proportioned tothe offence: there is great difference and disproportion betweenthe life and an apple; yet the one must go for the other by thelaw of your Shaddai.  But it is also intricate, in that hesaith, first, you may eat of all; and yet after forbids theeating of one.  And then, in the last place, it must needsbe intolerable, forasmuch as that fruit which you are forbiddento eat of (if you are forbidden any) is that, and that alone,which is able, by your eating, to minister to you a good as yetunknown by you.  This is manifest by the very name of thetree; it is called the “tree of knowledge of good andevil;” and have you that knowledge as yet? No, no; nor canyou conceive how good, how pleasant, and how much to be desiredto make one wise it is, so long as you stand by your King’scommandment.  Why should you be holden in ignorance andblindness?  Why should you not be enlarged in knowledge andunderstanding?  And now, O ye inhabitants of the famous townof Mansoul, to speak more particularly to yourselves you are nota free people!  You are kept both in bondage and slavery,and that by a grievous threat; no reason being annexed but,“So I will have it; so it shall be.”  And is itnot grievous to think on, that that very thing which you areforbidden to do might you but do it, would yield you both wisdomand honour? for then your eyes will be opened, and you shall beas gods.  Now, since this is thus,’ quoth he,‘can you be kept by any prince in more slavery and ingreater bondage than you are under this day?  You are madeunderlings, and are wrapped up in inconveniences, as I have wellmade appear.  For what bondage greater than to be kept inblindness?  Will not reason tell you that it is better tohave eyes than to be without them? and so to be at liberty to bebetter than to be shut up in a dark and stinking cave?’

And just now, while Diabolus was speaking these words toMansoul, Tisiphone shot at Captain Resistance, where he stood onthe gate, and mortally wounded him in the head; so that he, tothe amazement of the townsmen, and the encouragement of Diabolus,fell down dead quite over the wall.  Now, when CaptainResistance was dead, (and he was the only man of war in thetown,) poor Mansoul was wholly left naked of courage, nor had shenow any heart to resist.  But this was as the devil wouldhave it.  Then stood forth he, Mr. Ill-pause, that Diabolusbrought with him, who was his orator; and he addressed himself tospeak to the town of Mansoul; the tenour of whose speech herefollows:—

‘Gentlemen,’ quoth he, ‘it is mymaster’s happiness that he has this day a quiet andteachable auditory; and it is hoped by us that we shall prevailwith you not to cast off good advice.  My master has a verygreat love for you; and although, as he very well knows, that heruns the hazard of the anger of King Shaddai, yet love to youwill make him do more than that.  Nor doth there need that aword more should be spoken to confirm for truth what he hathsaid; there is not a word but carries with it self-evidence inits bowels; the very name of the tree may put an end to allcontroversy in this matter.  I therefore, at this time,shall only add this advice to you, under and by the leave of mylord;’ (and with that he made Diabolus a very low congee;)‘consider his words, look on the tree and the promisingfruit thereof; remember also that yet you know but little, andthat this is the way to know more: and if your reasons be notconquered to accept of such good counsel, you are not the menthat I took you to be.’

But when the townsfolk saw that the tree was good for food,and that it was pleasant to the eye, and a tree to be desired tomake one wise, they did as old Ill-pause advised; they took anddid eat thereof.  Now this I should have told you before,that even then, when this Ill-pause was making his speech to thetownsmen, my Lord Innocency (whether by a shot from the camp ofthe giant, or from some sinking qualm that suddenly took him, orwhether by the stinking breath of that treacherous villain oldIll-pause, for so I am most apt to think) sunk down in the placewhere he stood, nor could be brought to life again.  Thusthese two brave men died—brave men, I call them; for theywere the beauty and glory of Mansoul, so long as they livedtherein; nor did there now remain any more a noble spirit inMansoul; they all fell down and yielded obedience to Diabolus;and became his slaves and vassals, as you shall hear.

Now these being dead, what do the rest of the townsfolk, but,as men that had found a fool’s paradise, they presently, asafore was hinted, fall to prove the truth of the giant’swords.  And, first, they did as Ill-pause had taught them;they looked, they considered they were taken with the forbiddenfruit; they took thereof, and did eat; and having eaten, theybecame immediately drunken therewith.  So they open thegate, both Ear-gate and Eye-gate, and let in Diabolus with allhis bands, quite forgetting their good Shaddai, his law, and thejudgment that he had annexed, with solemn threatening, to thebreach thereof.

Diabolus, having now obtained entrance in at the gates of thetown, marches up to the middle thereof, to make his conquest assure as he could; and finding, by this time, the affections ofthe people warmly inclining to him, he, as thinking it was beststriking while the iron is hot, made this further deceivablespeech unto them, saying, ‘Alas, my poor Mansoul!  Ihave done thee indeed this service, as to promote thee to honour,and to greaten thy liberty; but, alas! alas! poor Mansoul, thouwantest now one to defend thee; for assure thyself that whenShaddai shall hear what is done, he will come; for sorry will hebe that thou hast broken his bonds, and cast his cords away fromthee.  What wilt thou do?  Wilt thou, afterenlargement, suffer thy privileges to be invaded and taken away,or what wilt resolve with thyself?’

Then they all with one consent said to this bramble, ‘Dothou reign over us.’  So he accepted the motion, andbecame the king of the town of Mansoul.  This being done,the next thing was to give him possession of the castle, and soof the whole strength of the town.  Wherefore, into thecastle he goes; it was that which Shaddai built in Mansoul forhis own delight and pleasure; this now was become a den and holdfor the giant Diabolus.

Now, having got possession of this stately palace or castle,what doth he but makes it a garrison for himself, and strengthensand fortifies it with all sorts of provision, against the KingShaddai, or those that should endeavour the regaining of it tohim and his obedience again.

This done, but not thinking himself yet secure enough, in thenext place he bethinks himself of new modelling the town; and sohe does, setting up one, and putting down another atpleasure.  Wherefore my Lord Mayor, whose name was my LordUnderstanding, and Mr. Recorder, whose name was Mr. Conscience,these he put out of place and power.

As for my Lord Mayor, though he was an understanding man, andone too that had complied with the rest of the town of Mansoul inadmitting the giant into the town, yet Diabolus thought not fitto let him abide in his former lustre and glory, because he was aseeing man.  Wherefore he darkened him, not only by takingfrom him his office and power, but by building a high and strongtower, just between the sun’s reflections and the windowsof my lord’s palace; by which means his house and all, andthe whole of his habitation, were made as dark as darknessitself.  And thus, being alienated from the light, he becameas one that was born blind.  To this, his house, my lord wasconfined as to a prison; nor might he, upon his parole, gofarther than within his own bounds.  And now, had he had aheart to do for Mansoul, what could he do for it, or whereincould he be profitable to her?  So then, so long as Mansoulwas under the power and government of Diabolus, (and so long itwas under him, as it was obedient to him, which was even until bya war it was rescued out of his hand,) so long my Lord Mayor wasrather an impediment in, than an advantage to the famous town ofMansoul.

As for Mr. Recorder, before the town was taken, he was a manwell read in the laws of his king, and also a man of courage andfaithfulness to speak truth at every occasion; and he had atongue as bravely hung as he had a head filled withjudgment.  Now, this man Diabolus could by no means abide,because, though he gave his consent to his coming into the town,yet he could not, by all the wiles, trials, stratagems, anddevices that he could use, make him wholly his own.  True,he was much degenerated from his former king, and also muchpleased with many of the giant’s laws and service; but allthis would not do, forasmuch as he was not wholly his.  Hewould now and then think upon Shaddai, and have dread of his lawupon him, and then he would speak against Diabolus with a voiceas great as when a lion roareth.  Yea, and would also atcertain times, when his fits were upon him, (for you must knowthat sometimes he had terrible fits,) make the whole town ofMansoul shake with his voice: and therefore the now king ofMansoul could not abide him.

Diabolus, therefore, feared the Recorder more than any thatwas left alive in the town of Mansoul, because, as I said, hiswords did shake the whole town; they were like the rattlingthunder, and also like thunder-claps.  Since, therefore, thegiant could not make him wholly his own, what doth he do butstudies all that he could to debauch the old gentleman, and bydebauchery to stupefy his mind, and more harden his heart in theways of vanity.  And as he attempted, so he accomplished hisdesign: he debauched the man, and by little and little so drewhim into sin and wickedness, that at last he was not onlydebauched, as at first, and so by consequence defiled, but wasalmost (at last, I say) past all conscience of sin.  Andthis was the farthest Diabolus could go.  Wherefore hebethinks him of another project, and that was, to persuade themen of the town that Mr. Recorder was mad, and so not to beregarded.  And for this he urged his fits, and said,‘If he be himself, why doth he not do thus always? But,’ quoth he, ‘as all mad folks have their fits,and in them their raving language, so hath this old and doatinggentleman.’

Thus, by one means or another, he quickly got Mansoul toslight, neglect, and despise whatever Mr. Recorder couldsay.  For, besides what already you have heard, Diabolus hada way to make the old gentleman, when he was merry, unsay anddeny what he in his fits had affirmed.  And, indeed, thiswas the next way to make himself ridiculous, and to cause that noman should regard him.  Also now he never spake freely forKing Shaddai, but also by force and constraint.  Besides, hewould at one time be hot against that at which, at another, hewould hold his peace; so uneven was he now in his doings. Sometimes he would be as if fast asleep, and again sometimes asdead, even then when the whole town of Mansoul was in her careerafter vanity, and in her dance after the giant’s pipe.

Wherefore, sometimes when Mansoul did use to be frighted withthe thundering voice of the Recorder that was, and when they didtell Diabolus of it, he would answer, that what the old gentlemansaid was neither of love to him nor pity to them, but of afoolish fondness that he had to be prating; and so would hush,still, and put all to quiet again.  And that he might leaveno argument unurged that might tend to make them secure, he said,and said it often, ‘O Mansoul! consider that,notwithstanding the old gentleman’s rage, and the rattle ofhis high and thundering words, you hear nothing of Shaddaihimself;’ when, liar and deceiver that he was, every outcryof Mr. Recorder against the sin of Mansoul was the voice of Godin him to them.  But he goes on, and says, ‘You seethat he values not the loss nor rebellion of the town of Mansoul,nor will he trouble himself with calling his town to a reckoningfor their giving themselves to me.  He knows that though youwere his, now you are lawfully mine; so, leaving us one toanother, he now hath shaken his hands of us.

‘Moreover, O Mansoul!’ quoth he, ‘considerhow I have served you, even to the uttermost of my power; andthat with the best that I have, could get, or procure for you inall the world: besides, I dare say that the laws and customs thatyou now are under, and by which you do homage to me, do yield youmore solace and content than did the paradise that at first youpossessed.  Your liberty also, as yourselves do very wellknow, has been greatly widened and enlarged by me; whereas Ifound you a penned-up people.  I have not laid any restraintupon you; you have no law, statute, or judgment of mine to frightyou; I call none of you to account for your doings, except themadman—you know who I mean; I have granted you to live,each man like a prince in his own, even with as little controlfrom me as I myself have from you.’

And thus would Diabolus hush up and quiet the town of Mansoul,when the Recorder that was, did at times molest them: yea, andwith such cursed orations as these, would set the whole town in arage and fury against the old gentleman.  Yea, the rascalcrew at some times would be for destroying him.  They haveoften wished, in my hearing, that he had lived a thousand milesoff from them: his company, his words, yea, the sight of him, andspecially when they remembered how in old times he did use tothreaten and condemn them, (for all he was now so debauched,) didterrify and afflict them sore.

But all wishes were vain, for I do not know how, unless by thepower of Shaddai, and his wisdom, he was preserved in beingamongst them.  Besides, his house was as strong as a castle,and stood hard by a stronghold of the town: moreover, if at anytime any of the crew or rabble attempted to make him away, hecould pull up the sluices, and let in such floods as would drownall round about him.

But to leave Mr. Recorder, and to come to my Lord Willbewill,another of the gentry of the famous town of Mansoul.  ThisWillbewill was as high-born as any man in Mansoul, and was asmuch, if not more, a freeholder than many of them were; besides,if I remember my tale aright, he had some privileges peculiar tohimself in the famous town of Mansoul.  Now, together withthese, he was a man of great strength, resolution, and courage,nor in his occasion could any turn him away.  But I say,whether he was proud of his estate, privileges, strength, orwhat, (but sure it was through pride of something,) he scorns nowto be a slave in Mansoul; and therefore resolves to bear officeunder Diabolus, that he might (such an one as he was) be a pettyruler and governor in Mansoul.  And, headstrong man that hewas! thus he began betimes; for this man, when Diabolus did makehis oration at Ear-gate, was one of the first that was forconsenting to his words, and for accepting his counsel atwholesome, and that was for the opening of the gate, and forletting him into the town; wherefore Diabolus had a kindness forhim, and therefore he designed for him a place.  Andperceiving the valour and stoutness of the man, he coveted tohave him for one of his great ones, to act and do in matters ofthe highest concern.

So he sent for him, and talked with him of that secret matterthat lay in his breast, but there needed not much persuasion inthe case.  For as at first he was willing that Diabolusshould be let into the town, so now he was as willing to servehim there.  When the tyrant, therefore, perceived thewillingness of my lord to serve him, and that his mind stoodbending that way, he forthwith made him the captain of thecastle, governor of the wall, and keeper of the gates of Mansoul:yea, there was a clause in his commission, that nothing withouthim should be done in all the town of Mansoul.  So that now,next to Diabolus himself, who but my Lord Willbewill in all thetown of Mansoul! nor could anything now be done, but at his willand pleasure, throughout the town of Mansoul.  He had alsoone Mr. Mind for his clerk, a man to speak on every way like hismaster: for he and his lord were in principle one, and inpractice not far asunder.  And now was Mansoul brought underto purpose, and made to fulfil the lusts of the will, and of themind.

But it will not out of my thoughts what a desperate one thisWillbewill was when power was put into his hand.  First, heflatly denied that he owed any suit or service to his formerprince and liege lord.  This done, in the next place he tookan oath, and swore fidelity to his great master Diabolus, andthen, being stated and settled in his places, offices,advancements, and preferments, oh! you cannot think, unless youhad seen it, the strange work that this workman made in the townof Mansoul.

First, he maligned Mr. Recorder to death; he would neitherendure to see him, nor hear the words of his mouth; he would shuthis eyes when he saw him, and stop his ears when he heard himspeak.  Also he could not endure that so much as a fragmentof the law of Shaddai should be anywhere seen in the town. For example, his clerk, Mr. Mind, had some old, rent, and tornparchments of the law of Shaddai in his house, but whenWillbewill saw them, he cast them behind his back.  True,Mr. Recorder had some of the laws in his study; but my lord couldby no means come at them.  He also thought and said, thatthe windows of my old Lord Mayor’s house were always toolight for the profit of the town of Mansoul.  The light of acandle he could not endure.  Now nothing at all pleasedWillbewill but what pleased Diabolus his lord.

There was none like him to trumpet about the streets the bravenature, the wise conduct, and great glory of the kingDiabolus.  He would range and rove throughout all thestreets of Mansoul to cry up his illustrious lord, and would makehimself even as an abject, among the base and rascal crew, to cryup his valiant prince.  And I say, when and wheresoever hefound these vassals, he would even make himself as one ofthem.  In all ill courses he would act without bidding, anddo mischief without commandment.

The Lord Willbewill also had a deputy under him, and his namewas Mr. Affection, one that was also greatly debauched in hisprinciples, and answerable thereto in his life: he was whollygiven to the flesh, and therefore they called himVile-Affection.  Now there was he and one Carnal-Lust, thedaughter of Mr. Mind, (like to like,) that fell in love, and madea match, and were married; and, as I take it, they had severalchildren, as Impudent, Blackmouth, and Hate-Reproof.  Thesethree were black boys.  And besides these they had threedaughters, as Scorn-Truth and Slight-God, and the name of theyoungest was Revenge.  These were all married in the town,and also begot and yielded many bad brats, too many to be hereinserted.  But to pass by this.

When the giant had thus engarrisoned himself in the town ofMansoul, and had put down and set up whom he thought good, hebetakes himself to defacing.  Now there was in themarket-place in Mansoul, and also upon the gates of the castle,an image of the blessed King Shaddai.  This image was soexactly engraven, (and it was engraven in gold,) that it did themost resemble Shaddai himself of anything that then was extant inthe world.  This he basely commanded to be defaced, and itwas as basely done by the hand of Mr. No-Truth.  Now youmust know that, as Diabolus had commanded, and that by the handof Mr. No-Truth, the image of Shaddai was defaced, he likewisegave order that the same Mr. No-Truth should set up in its steadthe horrid and formidable image of Diabolus, to the greatcontempt of the former King, and debasing of his town ofMansoul.

Moreover, Diabolus made havoc of all remains of the laws andstatutes of Shaddai that could be found in the town of Mansoul;to wit, such as contained either the doctrines of morals, withall civil and natural documents.  Also relative severitieshe sought to extinguish.  To be short, there was nothing ofthe remains of good in Mansoul which he and Willbewill sought notto destroy; for their design was to turn Mansoul into a brute,and to make it like to the sensual sow, by the hand of Mr.No-Truth.

When he had destroyed what law and good orders he could, thenfurther to effect his design, namely, to alienate Mansoul fromShaddai her King, he commands, and they set up his own vainedicts, statutes, and commandments, in all places of resort orconcourse in Mansoul, to wit, such as gave liberty to the lustsof the flesh, the lusts of the eyes, and the pride of life, whichare not of Shaddai, but of the world.  He encouraged,countenanced, and promoted lasciviousness, and all ungodlinessthere.  Yea, much more did Diabolus to encourage wickednessin the town of Mansoul; he promised them peace, content, joy, andbliss, in doing his commands, and that they should never becalled to an account for their not doing the contrary.  Andlet this serve to give a taste to them that love to hear tell ofwhat is done beyond their knowledge afar off in othercountries.

Now Mansoul being wholly at his beck, and brought wholly tohis bow, nothing was heard or seen therein but that which tendedto set up him.

But now he, having disabled the Lord Mayor and Mr. Recorderfrom bearing of office in Mansoul, and seeing that the town,before he came to it, was the most ancient of corporations in theworld, and fearing, if he did not maintain greatness, they at anytime should object that he had done them an injury; therefore, Isay, (that they might see that he did not intend to lessen theirgrandeur, or to take from them any of their advantageous things,)he did choose for them a Lord Mayor and a Recorder himself, andsuch as contented them at the heart, and such also as pleased himwondrous well.

The name of the Mayor that was of Diabolus’ making wasthe Lord Lustings, a man that had neither eyes nor ears. All that he did, whether as a man or an officer, he did itnaturally, as doth the beast.  And that which made him yetthe more ignoble, though not to Mansoul, yet to them that beheldand were grieved for its ruin, was, that he never could favourgood, but evil.

The Recorder was one whose name was Forget-Good, and a verysorry fellow he was.  He could remember nothing butmischief, and to do it with delight.  He was naturally proneto do things that were hurtful, even hurtful to the town ofMansoul, and to all the dwellers there.  These two,therefore, by their power and practice, examples, and smiles uponevil, did much more grammar and settle the common people inhurtful ways.  For who doth not perceive that when thosethat sit aloft are vile and corrupt themselves, they corrupt thewhole region and country where they are?

Besides these, Diabolus made several burgesses and aldermen inMansoul, such as out of whom the town, when it needed, mightchoose them officers, governors, and magistrates.  And theseare the names of the chief of them: Mr. Incredulity, Mr. Haughty,Mr. Swearing, Mr. Whoring, Mr. Hard-Heart, Mr. Pitiless, Mr.Fury, Mr. No-Truth, Mr. Stand-to-Lies, Mr. False-Peace, Mr.Drunkenness, Mr. Cheating, Mr. Atheism—thirteen inall.  Mr. Incredulity is the eldest, and Mr. Atheism theyoungest of the company.

There was also an election of common councilmen and others, asbailiffs, sergeants, constables, and others; but all of them liketo those afore-named, being either fathers, brothers, cousins, ornephews to them, whose names, for brevity’s sake, I omit tomention.

When the giant had thus far proceeded in his work, in the nextplace, he betook him to build some strongholds in the town, andhe built three that seemed to be impregnable.  The first hecalled the Hold of Defiance, because it was made to command thewhole town, and to keep it from the knowledge of its ancientKing.  The second he called Midnight Hold, because it wasbuilt on purpose to keep Mansoul from the true knowledge ofitself.  The third was called Sweet-Sin Hold, because bythat he fortified Mansoul against all desires of good.  Thefirst of these holds stood close by Eye-gate, that, as much mightbe, light might be darkened there; the second was built hard bythe old castle, to the end that that might be made more blind, ifpossible; and the third stood in the market-place.

He that Diabolus made governor over the first of these was oneSpite-God, a most blasphemous wretch: he came with the wholerabble of them that came against Mansoul at first, and washimself one of themselves.  He that was made the governor ofMidnight Hold was one Love-no-Light; he was also of them thatcame first against the town.  And he that was made thegovernor of the hold called Sweet-Sin Hold was one whose name wasLove-Flesh: he was also a very lewd fellow, but not of thatcountry where the other are bound.  This fellow could findmore sweetness when he stood sucking of a lust than he did in allthe paradise of God.

And now Diabolus thought himself safe.  He had takenMansoul, he had engarrisoned himself therein; he had put down theold officers, and had set up new ones; he had defaced the imageof Shaddai, and had set up his own; he had spoiled the old lawbooks, and had promoted his own vain lies; he had made him newmagistrates, and set up new aldermen; he had builded him newholds, and had manned them for himself: and all this he did tomake himself secure, in case the good Shaddai, or his Son, shouldcome to make an incursion upon him.

Now you may well think, that long before this time, word, bysome one or other, could not but be carried to the good KingShaddai, how his Mansoul, in the continent of Universe, was lost;and that the runagate giant Diabolus, once one of hisMajesty’s servants, had, in rebellion against the King,made sure thereof for himself.  Yea, tidings were carriedand brought to the King thereof, and that to a verycircumstance.

At first, how Diabolus came upon Mansoul (they being a simplepeople and innocent) with craft, subtlety, lies, and guile. Item, that he had treacherously slain the right noble andvaliant captain, their Captain Resistance, as he stood upon thegate with the rest of the townsmen.  Item, how mybrave Lord Innocent fell down dead (with grief, some say, or withbeing poisoned with the stinking breath of one Ill-Pause, as sayothers) at the hearing of his just lord and rightful prince,Shaddai, so abused by the mouth of so filthy a Diabolian as thatvarlet Ill-Pause was.  The messenger further told, thatafter this Ill-Pause had made a short oration to the townsmen inbehalf of Diabolus, his master; the simple town, believing thatwhat was said was true, with one consent did open Ear-gate, thechief gate of the corporation, and did let him, with his crew,into a possession of the famous town of Mansoul.  He furthershowed how Diabolus had served the Lord Mayor and Mr. Recorder,to wit, that he had put them from all place of power andtrust.  Item, he showed also that my Lord Willbewillwas turned a very rebel, and runagate, and that so was one Mr.Mind, his clerk; and that they two did range and revel it all thetown over, and teach the wicked ones their ways.  He said,moreover, that this Willbewill was put into great trust, andparticularly that Diabolus had put into Willbewill’s handall the strong places in Mansoul; and that Mr. Affection was mademy Lord Willbewill’s deputy in his most rebelliousaffairs.  ‘Yea,’ said the messenger, ‘thismonster, Lord Willbewill, has openly disavowed his King Shaddai,and hath horribly given his faith and plighted his troth toDiabolus.’

‘Also,’ said the messenger, ‘besides allthis, the new king, or rather rebellious tyrant, over the oncefamous, but now perishing town of Mansoul, has set up a LordMayor and a Recorder of his own.  For Mayor, he has set upone Mr. Lustings; and for Recorder, Mr. Forget-Good; two of thevilest of all the town of Mansoul.’  This faithfulmessenger also proceeded, and told what a sort of new burgessesDiabolus had made; also that he had built several strong forts,towers, and strongholds in Mansoul.  He told, too, the whichI had almost forgot, how Diabolus had put the town of Mansoulinto arms, the better to capacitate them, on his behalf, to makeresistance against Shaddai their King, should he come to reducethem to their former obedience.

Now this tidings-teller did not deliver his relation of thingsin private, but in open court, the King and his Son, high lords,chief captains, and nobles, being all there present tohear.  But by that they had heard the whole of the story, itwould have amazed one to have seen, had he been there to beholdit, what sorrow and grief, and compunction of spirit, there wasamong all sorts, to think that famous Mansoul was now taken: onlythe King and his Son foresaw all this long before, yea, andsufficiently provided for the relief of Mansoul, though they toldnot everybody thereof.  Yet because they also would have ashare in condoling of the Misery of Mansoul, therefore they alsodid, and that at a rate of the highest degree, bewail the losingof Mansoul.  The King said plainly that it grieved him atthe heart, and you may be sure that his Son was not a whit behindhim.  Thus gave they conviction to all about them that theyhad love and compassion for the famous town of Mansoul. Well, when the King and his Son were retired into the privychamber, there they again consulted about what they had designedbefore, to wit, that as Mansoul should in time be suffered to belost, so as certainly it should be recovered again; recovered, Isay, in such a way, as that both the King and his Son would getthemselves eternal fame and glory thereby.  Wherefore, afterthis consult, the Son of Shaddai (a sweet and comely Person, andone that had always great affection for those that were inaffliction, but one that had mortal enmity in his heart againstDiabolus, because he was designed for it, and because he soughthis crown and dignity)—this Son of Shaddai, I say, havingstricken hands with his Father and promised that he would be hisservant to recover his Mansoul again, stood by his resolution,nor would he repent of the same.  The purport of whichagreement was this: to wit, that at a certain time, prefixed byboth, the King’s Son should take a journey into the countryof Universe, and there, in a way of justice and equity, by makingamends for the follies of Mansoul, he should lay a foundation ofperfect deliverance from Diabolus and from his tyranny.

Moreover Emmanuel resolved to make, at a time convenient, awar upon the giant Diabolus, even while he was possessed of thetown of Mansoul; and that he would fairly by strength of handdrive him out of his hold, his nest, and take it to himself to behis habitation.

This now being resolved upon, order was given to the LordChief Secretary to draw up a fair record of what was determined,and to cause that it should be published in all the corners ofthe kingdom of Universe.  A short breviate of the contentsthereof you may, if you please, take here as follows:

‘Let all men know who are concerned, that the Son ofShaddai, the great King, is engaged by covenant to his Father tobring his Mansoul to him again; yea, and to put Mansoul, too,through the power of his matchless love, into a far better andmore happy condition than it was in before it was taken byDiabolus.’

These papers, therefore, were published in several places, tothe no little molestation of the tyrant Diabolus; ‘fornow,’ thought he, ‘I shall be molested, and myhabitation will be taken from me.’

But when this matter, I mean this purpose of the King and hisSon, did at first take air at court, who can tell how the highlords, chief captains, and noble princes that were there, weretaken with the business!  First, they whispered it one toanother, and after that it began to ring out through theKing’s palace, all wondering at the glorious design thatbetween the King and his Son was on foot for the miserable townof Mansoul.  Yea, the courtiers could scarce do anythingeither for the King or kingdom, but they would mix, with thedoing thereof, a noise of the love of the King and his Son, thatthey had for the town of Mansoul.

Nor could these lords, high captains, and princes be contentto keep this news at court; yea, before the records thereof wereperfected, themselves came down and told it in Universe.  Atlast it came to the ears, as I said, of Diabolus, to his nolittle discontent; for you must think it would perplex him tohear of such a design against him.  Well, but after a fewcasts in his mind, he concluded upon these four things.

First, that this news, these good tidings, (if possible,)should be kept from the ears of the town of Mansoul;‘for,’ said he, ‘if they should once come tothe knowledge that Shaddai, their former King, and Emmanuel hisSon, are contriving good for the town of Mansoul, what can beexpected by me, but that Mansoul will make a revolt from under myhand and government, and return again to him?’

Now, to accomplish this his design, he renews his flatterywith my Lord Willbewill, and also gives him strict charge andcommand, that he should keep watch by day and by night at all thegates of the town, especially Ear-gate and Eye-gate; ‘for Ihear of a design,’ quoth he, ‘a design to make us alltraitors, and that Mansoul must be reduced to its first bondageagain.  I hope they are but flying stories,’ quoth he;‘however, let no such news by any means be let intoMansoul, lest the people be dejected thereat.  I think, mylord, it can be no welcome news to you; I am sure it is none tome; and I think that, at this time, it should be all our wisdomand care to nip the head of all such rumours as shall tend totrouble our people.  Wherefore I desire, my lord, that youwill in this matter do as I say.  Let there be strong guardsdaily kept at every gate of the town.  Stop also and examinefrom whence such come that you perceive do from far come hitherto trade, nor let them by any means be admitted into Mansoul,unless you shall plainly perceive that they are favourers of ourexcellent government.  I command, moreover,’ saidDiabolus, ‘that there be spies continually walking up anddown the town of Mansoul, and let them have power to suppress anddestroy any that they shall perceive to be plotting against us,or that shall prate of what by Shaddai and Emmanuel isintended.’

This, therefore, was accordingly done; my Lord Willbewillhearkened to his lord and master, went willingly after thecommandment, and, with all the diligence he could, kept any thatwould from going out abroad, or that sought to bring thesetidings to Mansoul, from coming into the town.

Secondly, this done, in the next place, Diabolus, that hemight make Mansoul as sure as he could, frames and imposes a newoath and horrible covenant upon the townsfolk:—To wit, thatthey should never desert him nor his government, nor yet betrayhim, nor seek to alter his laws; but that they should own,confess, stand by, and acknowledge him for their rightful king,in defiance to any that do or hereafter shall, by any pretence,law, or title whatever, lay claim to the town of Mansoul;thinking, belike, that Shaddai had not power to absolve them fromthis covenant with death, and agreement with hell.  Nor didthe silly Mansoul stick or boggle at all at this most monstrousengagement; but, as if it had been a sprat in the mouth of awhale, they swallowed it without any chewing.  Were theytroubled at all?  Nay, they rather bragged and boasted oftheir so brave fidelity to the tyrant, their pretended king,swearing that they would never be changelings, nor forsake theirold lord for a new.  Thus did Diabolus tie poor Mansoulfast.

Thirdly.  But jealousy, that never thinks itself strongenough, put him, in the next place, upon another exploit, whichwas, yet more, if possible, to debauch this town ofMansoul.  Wherefore he caused, by the hand of one Mr. Filth,an odious, nasty, lascivious piece of beastliness to be drawn upin writing, and to be set upon the castle gates; whereby hegranted and gave license to all his true and trusty sons inMansoul to do whatsoever their lustful appetites prompted them todo; and that no man was to let, hinder, or control them, uponpain of incurring the displeasure of their prince.

Now this he did for these reasons:—

1. That the town of Mansoul might be yet made weaker andweaker, and so more unable, should tidings come that theirredemption was designed, to believe, hope, or consent to thetruth thereof; for reason says, The bigger the sinner, the lessgrounds of hopes of mercy.

2. The second reason was, if perhaps Emmanuel, the Son ofShaddai their King, by seeing the horrible and profane doings ofthe town of Mansoul, might repent, though entered into a covenantof redeeming them, of pursuing that covenant of their redemption;for he knew that Shaddai was holy, and that his Son Emmanuel washoly; yea, he knew it by woeful experience, for for his iniquityand sin was Diabolus cast from the highest orbs.  Whereforewhat more rational than for him to conclude that thus, for sin,it might fare with Mansoul?  But fearing also lest this knotshould break, he bethinks himself of another, to wit:—

Fourthly.  To endeavour to possess all hearts in the townof Mansoul that Shaddai was raising an army, to come to overthrowand utterly to destroy this town of Mansoul.  And this hedid to forestall any tidings that might come to their ears oftheir deliverance: ‘For,’ thought he, ‘if Ifirst bruit this, the tidings that shall come after will all beswallowed up of this; for what else will Mansoul say, when theyshall hear that they must be delivered, but that the true meaningis, Shaddai intends to destroy them?  Wherefore he summonsthe whole town into the market-place, and there, with deceitfultongue, thus he addressed himself unto them:—

‘Gentlemen, and my very good friends, you are all, asyou know, my legal subjects, and men of the famous town ofMansoul.  You know how, from the first day that I have beenwith you until now, I have behaved myself among you, and whatliberty and great privileges you have enjoyed under mygovernment, I hope to your honour and mine, and also to yourcontent and delight.  Now, my famous Mansoul, a noise oftrouble there is abroad, of trouble to the town of Mansoul; sorryI am thereof for your sakes: for I received but now by the postfrom my Lord Lucifer, (and he useth to have good intelligence,)that your old King Shaddai is raising an army to come againstyou, to destroy you root and branch; and this, O Mansoul, is nowthe cause that at this time I have called you together, namely,to advise what in this juncture is best to be done.  For mypart, I am but one, and can with ease shift for myself, did Ilist to seek my own case, and to leave my Mansoul in all thedanger; but my heart is so firmly united to you, and so unwillingam I to leave you, that I am willing to stand and fall with you,to the utmost hazard that shall befall me.  What say you, Omy Mansoul?  Will you now desert your old friend, or do youthink of standing by me?’

Then, as one man, with one mouth, they cried out together,‘Let him die the death that will not.’

Then said Diabolus again, ‘It is in vain for us to hopefor quarter, for this King knows not how to show it.  True,perhaps, he, at his first sitting down before us, will talk ofand pretend to mercy, that thereby, with the more ease, and lesstrouble, he may again make himself the master of Mansoul. Whatever, therefore, he shall say, believe not one syllable ortittle of it; for all such language is but to overcome us, and tomake us, while we wallow in our blood, the trophies of hismerciless victory.  My mind is, therefore, that we resolveto the last man to resist him, and not to believe him upon anyterms, for in at that door will come our danger.  But shallwe be flattered out of our lives?  I hope you know more ofthe rudiments of politics than to suffer yourselves so pitifullyto be served.

‘But suppose he should, if he get us to yield, save someof our lives, or the lives of some of them that are underlings inMansoul, what help will that be to you that are the chief of thetown, especially you whom I have set up and whose greatness hasbeen procured by you through your faithful sticking to me? And suppose, again, that he should give quarter to every one ofyou, be sure he will bring you into that bondage under which youwere captivated before, or a worse, and then what good will yourlives do you?  Shall you with him live in pleasure as you donow?  No, no; you must be bound by laws that will pinch you,and be made to do that which at present is hateful to you. I am for you, if you are for me; and it is better to dievaliantly than to live like pitiful slaves.  But, I say, thelife of a slave will be counted a life too good for Mansoulnow.  Blood, blood, nothing but blood is in every blast ofShaddai’s trumpet against poor Mansoul now.  Pray, beconcerned; I hear he is coming.  Up, and stand to your armsthat now, while you have any leisure, I may learn you some featsof war.  Armour for you I have, and by me it is; yea, and itis sufficient for Mansoul from top to toe; nor can you be hurt bywhat his force can do, if you shall keep it well girt andfastened about you.  Come, therefore, to my castle, andwelcome, and harness yourselves for the war.  There ishelmet, breastplate, sword, and shield, and what not, that willmake you fight like men.

‘1. My helmet, otherwise called an head-piece, is inhope of doing well at last, what lives soever you live. This is that which they had who said, that they should havepeace, though they walked in the wickedness of their heart, toadd drunkenness to thirst.  A piece of approved armour thisis, and whoever has it, and can hold it, so long no arrow, dart,sword, or shield can hurt him.  This, therefore, keep on,and thou wilt keep off many a blow, my Mansoul.

‘2. My breastplate is a breastplate of iron.  I hadit forged in mine own country, and all my soldiers are armedtherewith.  In plain language, it is a hard heart, a heartas hard as iron, and as much past feeling as a stone; the whichif you get and keep, neither mercy shall win you, nor judgmentfright you.  This therefore, is a piece of armour mostnecessary for all to put on that hate Shaddai, and that wouldfight against him under my banner.

‘3. My sword is a tongue that is set on fire of hell,and that can bend itself to speak evil of Shaddai, his Son, hisways, and people.  Use this; it has been tried a thousandtimes twice told.  Whoever hath it, keeps it, and makes thatuse of it as I would have him, can never be conquered by mineenemy.

‘4. My, shield is unbelief, or calling into question thetruth of the word, or all the sayings that speak of the judgmentthat Shaddai has appointed for wicked men.  Use this shield;many attempts he has made upon it, and sometimes, it is true, ithas been bruised; but they that have writ of the wars of Emmanuelagainst my servants, have testified that he could do no mightywork there because of their unbelief.  Now, to handle thisweapon of mine aright, it is not to believe things because theyare true, of what sort or by whomsoever asserted.  If hespeaks of judgment, care not for it; if he speaks of mercy, carenot for it; if he promises, if he swears that he would do toMansoul, if it turns, no hurt, but good, regard not what is said,question the truth of all, for it is to wield the shield ofunbelief aright, and as my servants ought and do; and he thatdoth otherwise loves me not, nor do I count him but an enemy tome.

‘5. Another part or piece,’ said Diabolus,‘of mine excellent armour is a dumb and prayerless spirit,a spirit that scorns to cry for mercy: wherefore be you, myMansoul, sure that you make use of this.  What! cry forquarter!  Never do that, if you would be mine.  I knowyou are stout men, and am sure that I have clad you with thatwhich is armour of proof.  Wherefore, to cry to Shaddai formercy, let that be far from you.  Besides all this, I have amaul, firebrands, arrows, and death, all good hand-weapons, andsuch as will do execution.’

After he had thus furnished his men with armour and arms, headdressed himself to them in such like words as these:‘Remember,’ quoth he, ‘that I am your rightfulking, and that you have taken an oath and entered into covenantto be true to me and my cause: I say, remember this, and showyourselves stout and valiant men of Mansoul.  Remember alsothe kindness that I have always showed to you, and that withoutyour petition I have granted to you external things; whereforethe privileges, grants, immunities, profits, and honourswherewith I have endowed you do call for, at your hands, returnsof loyalty, my lion-like men of Mansoul: and when so fit a timeto show it as when another shall seek to take my dominion overyou into his own hands?  One word more, and I havedone.  Can we but stand, and overcome this one shock orbrunt, I doubt not but in little time all the world will be ours;and when that day comes, my true hearts, I will make you kings,princes, and captains, and what brave days shall we havethen!’

Diabolus having thus armed and forearmed his servants andvassals in Mansoul against their good and lawful King Shaddai, inthe next place, he doubleth his guards at the gates of the town,and he takes himself to the castle, which was hisstronghold.  His vassals also, to show their wills, andsupposed (but ignoble) gallantry, exercise themselves in theirarms every day, and teach one another feats of war; they alsodefied their enemies, and sang up the praises of their tyrant;they threatened also what men they would be if ever things shouldrise so high as a war between Shaddai and their king.

Now all this time the good King, the King Shaddai, waspreparing to send an army to recover the town of Mansoul againfrom under the tyranny of their pretended king Diabolus; but hethought good, at first, not to send them by the hand and conductof brave Emmanuel his Son, but under the hand of some of hisservants, to see first by them the temper of Mansoul, and whetherby them they would be won to the obedience of their King. The army consisted of above forty thousand, all true men, forthey came from the King’s own court, and were those of hisown choosing.

They came up to Mansoul under the conduct of four stoutgenerals, each man being a captain of ten thousand men, and theseare their names and their ensigns.  The name of the firstwas Boanerges, the name of the second was Captain Conviction, thename of the third was Captain Judgment, and the name of thefourth was Captain Execution.  These were the captains thatShaddai sent to regain Mansoul.

These four captains, as was said, the King thought fit, in thefirst place, to send to Mansoul, to make an attempt upon it; forindeed generally in all his wars he did use to send these fourcaptains in the van, for they were very stout and rough-hewn men,men that were fit to break the ice, and to make their way by dintof sword, and their men were like themselves.

To each of these captains the King gave a banner, that itmight be displayed, because of the goodness of his cause, andbecause of the right that he had to Mansoul.

First, to Captain Boanerges, for he was the chief, to him, Isay, were given ten thousand men.  His ensign was Mr.Thunder; he bare the black colours, and his scutcheon was thethree burning thunderbolts.

The second captain was Captain Conviction; to him also weregiven ten thousand men.  His ensign’s name was Mr.Sorrow; he did bear the pale colours, and his scutcheon was thebook of the law wide open, from whence issued a flame offire.

The third captain was Captain Judgment; to him were given tenthousand men.  His ensign’s name was Mr. Terror; hebare the red colours, and his scutcheon was a burning fieryfurnace.

The fourth captain was Captain Execution; to him were giventen thousand men.  His ensign was one Mr. Justice; he alsobare the red colours, and his scutcheon was a fruitless tree,with an axe lying at the root thereof.

These four captains, as I said, had every one of them underhis command ten thousand men, all of good fidelity to the King,and stout at their military actions.

Well, the captains and their forces, their men and underofficers, being had upon a day by Shaddai into the field, andthere called all over by their names, were then and there putinto such harness as became their degree and that service whichnow they were going about for their King.

Now, when the King had mustered his forces, (for it is he thatmustereth the host to the battle,) he gave unto the captainstheir several commissions, with charge and commandment in theaudience of all the soldiers, that they should take heedfaithfully and courageously to do and execute the same. Their commissions were, for the substance of them, the same inform, though, as to name, title, place and degree of thecaptains, there might be some, but very small variation. And here let me give you an account of the matter and sumcontained in their commission.

A Commission from the great Shaddai,King of Mansoul, to his trusty and noble Captain,the Captain Boanerges, for his making War upon the townof Mansoul.

‘O, thou Boanerges, one of my stout and thunderingcaptains over one ten thousand of my valiant and faithfulservants, go thou in my name, with this thy force, to themiserable town of Mansoul; and when thou comest thither, offerthem first conditions of peace; and command them that, castingoff the yoke and tyranny of the wicked Diabolus, they return tome, their rightful Prince and Lord.  Command them also thatthey cleanse themselves from all that is his in the town ofMansoul, and look to thyself, that thou hast good satisfactiontouching the truth of their obedience.  Thus when thou hastcommanded them, (if they in truth submit thereto,) then do thou,to the uttermost of thy power, what in thee lies to set up for mea garrison in the famous town of Mansoul; nor do thou hurt theleast native that moveth or breatheth therein, if they willsubmit themselves to me, but treat thou such as if they were thyfriend or brother; for all such I love, and they shall be dearunto me, and tell them that I will take a time to come unto them,and to let them know that I am merciful.

‘But if they shall, notwithstanding thy summons and theproducing of thy authority, resist, stand out against thee, andrebel, then do I command thee to make use of all thy cunning,power, might, and force, to bring them under by strength ofhand.  Farewell.’

Thus you see the sum of their commissions; for, as I saidbefore, for the substance of them, they were the same that therest of the noble captains had.

Wherefore they, having received each commander his authorityat the hand of their King, the day being appointed, and the placeof their rendezvous prefixed, each commander appeared in suchgallantry as became his cause and calling.  So, after a newentertainment from Shaddai, with flying colours they set forwardto march towards the famous town of Mansoul.  CaptainBoanerges led the van, Captain Conviction and Captain Judgmentmade up the main body, and Captain Execution brought up therear.  They then, having a great way to go, (for the town ofMansoul was far off from the court of Shaddai,) marched throughthe regions and countries of many people, not hurting or abusingany, but blessing wherever they came.  They also lived uponthe King’s cost in all the way they went.

Having travelled thus for many days, at last they came withinsight of Mansoul; the which when they saw, the captains could fortheir hearts do no less than for a while bewail the condition ofthe town; for they quickly saw how that it was prostrate to thewill of Diabolus, and to his ways and designs.

Well, to be short, the captains came up before the town, marchup to Ear-gate, sit down there (for that was the place ofhearing).  So, when they had pitched their tents andentrenched themselves, they addressed themselves to make theirassault.

Now the townsfolk at first, beholding so gallant a company, sobravely accoutred, and so excellently disciplined, having ontheir glittering armour, and displaying of their flying colours,could not but come out of their houses and gaze.  But thecunning fox Diabolus, fearing that the people, after this sight,should, on a sudden summons, open the gates to the captains, camedown with all haste from the castle, and made them retire intothe body of the town, who, when he had them there, made thislying and deceivable speech unto them:

‘Gentlemen,’ quoth he, ‘although you are mytrusty and well-beloved friends, yet I cannot but a little chideyou for your late uncircumspect action, in going out to gaze onthat great and mighty force that but yesterday sat down before,and have now entrenched themselves in order to the maintaining ofa siege against the famous town of Mansoul.  Do you know whothey are, whence they come, and what is their purpose in sittingdown before the town of Mansoul?  They are they of whom Ihave told you long ago, that they would come to destroy thistown, and against whom I have been at the cost to arm you withcap-a-piefor your body, besides great fortifications foryour mind.  Wherefore, then, did you not rather, even at thefirst appearance of them, cry out, “Fire thebeacons!” and give the whole town an alarm concerning them,that we might all have been in a posture of defence, and beenready to have received them with the highest acts ofdefiance?  Then had you showed yourselves men to my liking;whereas, by what you have done, you have made me halfafraid—I say, half afraid—that when they and we shallcome to push a pike, I shall find you want courage to stand itout any longer.  Wherefore have I commanded a watch, andthat you should double your guards at the gates?  Whereforehave I endeavoured to make you as hard as iron, and your heartsas a piece of the nether millstone?  Was it, think you, thatyou might show yourselves women, and that you might go out like acompany of innocents to gaze on your mortal foes?  Fie, fie!put yourselves into a posture of defence, beat up the drum,gather together in warlike manner, that our foes may know that,before they shall conquer this corporation, there are valiant menin the town of Mansoul.

‘I will leave off now to chide, and will not furtherrebuke you; but I charge you, that henceforwards you let me seeno more such actions.  Let not henceforward a man of you,without order first obtained from me, so much as show his headover the wall of the town of Mansoul.  You have now heardme; do as I have commanded, and you shall cause me that I dwellsecurely with you, and that I take care, as for myself, so foryour safety and honour also.  Farewell.’

Now were the townsmen strangely altered; they were as menstricken with a panic fear; they ran to and fro through thestreets of the town of Mansoul, crying out, ‘Help, help!the men that turn the world upside down are come hitheralso.’  Nor could any of them be quiet after; butstill, as men bereft of wit, they cried out, ‘Thedestroyers of our peace and people are come.’  Thiswent down with Diabolus.  ‘Ah,’ quoth he tohimself, ‘this I like well: now it is as I would have it;now you show your obedience to your prince.  Hold you buthere, and then let them take the town if they can.’

Well, before the King’s forces had sat before Mansoulthree days, Captain Boanerges commanded his trumpeter to go downto Ear-gate, and there, in the name of the great Shaddai, tosummon Mansoul to give audience to the message that he, in hisMaster’s name, was to them commanded to deliver.  Sothe trumpeter, whose name was Take-heed-what-you-hear, went up,as he was commanded, to Ear-gate, and there sounded his trumpetfor a hearing; but there was none that appeared that gave answeror regard, for so had Diabolus commanded.  So the trumpeterreturned to his captain, and told him what he had done, and alsohow he had sped; whereat the captain was grieved, but bid thetrumpeter go to his tent.

Again Captain Boanerges sendeth his trumpeter to Ear-gate, tosound as before for a hearing; but they again kept close, camenot out, nor would they give him an answer, so observant werethey of the command of Diabolus their king.

Then the captains and other field officers called a council ofwar, to consider what further was to be done for the gaining ofthe town of Mansoul; and, after some close and thorough debateupon the contents of their commissions, they concluded yet togive to the town, by the hand of the fore-named trumpeter,another summons to hear; but if that shall be refused, said they,and that the town shall stand it out still, then they determined,and bid the trumpeter tell them so, that they would endeavour, bywhat means they could, to compel them by force to the obedienceof their King.

So Captain Boanerges commanded his trumpeter to go up toEar-gate again, and, in the name of the great King Shaddai, togive it a very loud summons to come down without delay toEar-gate, there to give audience to the King’s most noblecaptains.  So the trumpeter went, and did as he wascommanded: he went up to Ear-gate, and sounded his trumpet, andgave a third summons to Mansoul.  He said, moreover, that ifthis they should still refuse to do, the captains of his princewould with might come down upon them, and endeavour to reducethem to their obedience by force.

Then stood up my Lord Willbewill, who was the governor of thetown, (this Willbewill was that apostate of whom mention was madebefore,) and the keeper of the gates of Mansoul.  Hetherefore, with big and ruffling words, demanded of the trumpeterwho he was, whence he came, and what was the cause of his makingso hideous a noise at the gate, and speaking such insufferablewords against the town of Mansoul.

The trumpeter answered, ‘I am servant to the most noblecaptain, Captain Boanerges, general of the forces of the greatKing Shaddai, against whom both thyself, with the whole town ofMansoul, have rebelled, and lift up the heel; and my master, thecaptain, hath a special message to this town, and to thee, as amember thereof; the which if you of Mansoul shall peaceably hear,so; and if not, you must take what follows.’

Then said the Lord Willbewill, ‘I will carry thy wordsto my lord, and will know what he will say.’

But the trumpeter soon replied, saying.  ‘Ourmessage is not to the giant Diabolus, but to the miserable townof Mansoul; nor shall we at all regard what answer by him ismade, nor yet by any for him.  We are sent to this town torecover it from under his cruel tyranny, and to persuade it tosubmit, as in former times it did, to the most excellent KingShaddai.’

Then said the Lord Willbewill, ‘I will do your errand tothe town.’

The trumpeter then replied, ‘Sir, do not deceive us,lest, in so doing, you deceive yourselves much more.’ He added, moreover, ‘For we are resolved, if in peaceablemanner you do not submit yourselves, then to make a war upon you,and to bring you under by force.  And of the truth of what Inow say, this shall be a sign unto you,—you shall see theblack flag, with its hot, burning thunder-bolts, set upon themount to-morrow, as a token of defiance against your prince, andof our resolutions to reduce you to your Lord and rightfulKing.’

So the said Lord Willbewill returned from off the wall, andthe trumpeter came into the camp.  When the trumpeter wascome into the camp, the captains and officers of the mighty KingShaddai came together to know if he had obtained a hearing, andwhat was the effect of his errand.  So the trumpeter told,saying, ‘When I had sounded my trumpet, and had calledaloud to the town for a hearing, my Lord Willbewill, the governorof the town, and he that hath charge of the gates, came up whenhe heard me sound, and, looking over the wall, he asked me what Iwas, whence I came, and what was the cause of my making thisnoise.  So I told him my errand, and by whose authority Ibrought it.  “Then,” said he, “I will tellit to the governor and to Mansoul;” and then I returned tomy lords.’

Then said the brave Boanerges, ‘Let us yet for a whilelie still in our trenches, and see what these rebels willdo.’

Now when the time drew nigh that audience by Mansoul must begiven to the brave Boanerges and his companions, it was commandedthat all the men of war throughout the whole camp of Shaddaishould as one man stand to their arms, and make themselves ready,if the town of Mansoul shall hear, to receive it forthwith tomercy; but if not, to force a subjection.  So the day beingcome, the trumpeters sounded, and that throughout the whole camp,that the men of war might be in a readiness for that which thenshould be the work of the day.  But when they that were inthe town of Mansoul heard the sound of the trumpets throughoutthe camp of Shaddai, and thinking no other but that it must be inorder to storm the corporation, they at first were put to greatconsternation of spirit; but after they a little were settledagain, they also made what preparation they could for a war, ifthey did storm; else, to secure themselves.

Well, when the utmost time was come, Boanerges was resolved tohear their answer; wherefore he sent out his trumpeter again tosummon Mansoul to a hearing of the message that they had broughtfrom Shaddai.

So he went and sounded, and the townsmen came up, but madeEar-gate as sure as they could.  Now when they were come upto the top of the wall, Captain Boanerges desired to see the LordMayor; but my Lord Incredulity was then Lord Mayor, for he camein the room of my Lord Lustings.  So Incredulity came up andshowed himself over the wall; but when the Captain Boanerges hadset his eyes upon him, he cried out aloud, ‘This is not he:where is my Lord Understanding, the ancient Lord Mayor of thetown of Mansoul? for to him I would deliver mymessage.’

Then said the giant (for Diabolus was also come down) to thecaptain, ‘Mr. Captain, you have by your boldness given toMansoul at least four summonses to subject herself to your King,by whose authority I know not, nor will I dispute that now. I ask, therefore, what is the reason of all this ado, or whatwould you be at if you knew yourselves?’

Then Captain Boanerges, whose were the black colours, andwhose scutcheon was the three burning thunderbolts, taking nonotice of the giant or of his speech, thus addressed himself tothe town of Mansoul: ‘Be it known unto you, O unhappy andrebellious Mansoul, that the most gracious King, the great KingShaddai, my Master, hath sent me unto you with commission’(and so he showed to the town his broad seal) ‘to reduceyou to his obedience; and he hath commanded me, in case you yieldupon my summons, to carry it to you as if you were my friends orbrethren; but he also hath bid, that if, after summons to submityou still stand out and rebel, we should endeavour to take you byforce.’

Then stood forth Captain Conviction, and said, (his were thepale colours, and for a scutcheon he had the book of the law wideopen, etc.,) ‘Hear, O Mansoul!  Thou, O Mansoul, wastonce famous for innocency, but now thou art degenerated into liesand deceit.  Thou hast heard what my brother, the CaptainBoanerges, hath said; and it is your wisdom, and will be yourhappiness, to stoop to, and accept of conditions of peace andmercy when offered, specially when offered by one against whomthou hast rebelled, and one who is of power to tear thee inpieces, for so is Shaddai, our King; nor, when he is angry, cananything stand before him.  If you say you have not sinned,or acted rebellion against our King, the whole of your doingssince the day that you cast off his service (and there was thebeginning of your sin) will sufficiently testify againstyou.  What else means your hearkening to the tyrant, andyour receiving him for your king?  What means else yourrejecting of the laws of Shaddai, and your obeying ofDiabolus?  Yea, what means this your taking up of armsagainst, and the shutting of your gates upon us, the faithfulservants of your King?  Be ruled then, and accept of mybrother’s invitation, and overstand not the time of mercy,but agree with thine adversary quickly.  Ah, Mansoul! suffernot thyself to be kept from mercy, and to be run into a thousandmiseries, by the flattering wiles of Diabolus.  Perhaps thatpiece of deceit may attempt to make you believe that we seek ourown profit in this our service, but know it is obedience to ourKing, and love to your happiness, that is the cause of thisundertaking of ours.

‘Again I say to thee, O Mansoul, consider if it be notamazing grace that Shaddai should so humble himself as he doth:now he, by us, reasons with you, in a way of entreaty and sweetpersuasions, that you would subject yourselves to him.  Hashe that need of you that we are sure you have of him?  No,no; but he is merciful, and will not that Mansoul should die, butturn to him and live.’

Then stood forth Captain Judgment, whose were the red colours,and for a scutcheon he had the burning fiery furnace, and hesaid, ‘O ye, the inhabitants of the town of Mansoul, thathave lived so long in rebellion and acts of treason against theKing Shaddai, know that we come not to-day to this place, in thismanner, with our message of our own minds, or to revenge our ownquarrel; it is the King, my Master, that hath sent us to reduceyou to your obedience to him; the which if you refuse in apeaceable way to yield, we have commission to compel youthereto.  And never think of yourselves, nor yet suffer thetyrant Diabolus to persuade you to think, that our King, by hispower, is not able to bring you down, and to lay you under hisfeet; for he is the former of all things, and if he touches themountains, they smoke.  Nor will the gate of theKing’s clemency stand always open; for the day that shallburn like an oven is before him; yea, it hasteth greatly, itslumbereth not.

‘O Mansoul, is it little in thine eyes that our Kingdoth offer thee mercy, and that after so many provocations? Yea, he still holdeth out his golden sceptre to thee, and willnot yet suffer his gate to be shut against thee: wilt thouprovoke him to do it?  If so, consider of what I say; tothee it is opened no more for ever.  If thou sayest thoushalt not see him, yet judgment is before him; therefore trustthou in him.  Yea, because there is wrath, beware lest hetake thee away with his stroke; then a great ransom cannotdeliver thee.  Will he esteem thy riches?  No, notgold, nor all the forces of strength.  He hath prepared histhrone for judgment, for he will come with fire, and with hischariots like a whirlwind, to render his anger with fury, and hisrebukes with flames of fire.  Therefore, O Mansoul, takeheed lest, after thou hast fulfilled the judgment of the wicked,justice and judgment should take hold of thee.’

Now while the Captain Judgment was making this oration to thetown of Mansoul, it was observed by some that Diabolus trembled;but he proceeded in his parable and said, ‘O thou wofultown of Mansoul, wilt thou not yet set open thy gate to receiveus, the deputies of thy King, and those that would rejoice to seethee live?  Can thine heart endure, or can thy hands bestrong, in the day that he shall deal in judgment withthee?  I say, canst thou endure to be forced to drink, asone would drink sweet wine, the sea of wrath that our King hasprepared for Diabolus and his angels?  Consider, betimesconsider.’

Then stood forth the fourth captain, the noble CaptainExecution, and said, ‘O town of Mansoul, once famous, butnow like the fruitless bough, once the delight of the high ones,but now a den for Diabolus, hearken also to me, and to the wordsthat I shall speak to thee in the name of the greatShaddai.  Behold, the axe is laid to the root of the trees:every tree, therefore, that bringeth not forth good fruit, ishewn down and cast into the fire.

‘Thou, O town of Mansoul, hast hitherto been thisfruitless tree; thou bearest nought but thorns and briars. Thy evil fruit bespeaks thee not to be a good tree; thy grapesare grapes of gall, thy clusters are bitter.  Thou hastrebelled against thy King; and, lo! we, the power and force ofShaddai, are the axe that is laid to thy root.  What sayestthou?  Wilt thou turn?  I say again, tell me, beforethe first blow is given, wilt thou turn?  Our axe must firstbe laid tothy root before it be laid atthy root;it must first be laid tothy root in a way of threatening,before it is laid atthy root by way of execution; andbetween these two is required thy repentance, and this is all thetime that thou hast.  What wilt thou do?  Wilt thouturn, or shall I smite?  If I fetch my blow, Mansoul, downyou go; for I have commission to lay my axe atas well astothy roots, nor will anything but yielding to our Kingprevent doing of execution.  What art thou fit for, OMansoul, if mercy preventeth not, but to be hewn down, and castinto the fire and burned?

‘O Mansoul, patience and forbearance do not act forever: a year, or two, or three, they may; but if thou provoke bya three years’ rebellion, (and thou hast already done morethan this,) then what follows but, ‘Cut it down’?nay, ‘After that thou shalt cut it down.’  Anddost thou think that these are but threatenings, or that our Kinghas not power to execute his words?  O Mansoul, thou wiltfind that in the words of our King, when they are by sinners madelittle or light of, there is not only threatening, but burningcoals of fire.

‘Thou hast been a cumber-ground long already, and wiltthou continue so still?  Thy sin has brought this army tothy walls, and shall it bring it in judgment to do execution intothy town?  Thou hast heard what the captains have said, butas yet thou shuttest thy gates.  Speak out, Mansoul; wiltthou do so still, or wilt thou accept of conditions ofpeace?’

These brave speeches of these four noble captains the town ofMansoul refused to hear; yet a sound thereof did beat againstEar-gate, though the force thereof could not break it open. In fine, the town desired a time to prepare their answer to thesedemands.  The captains then told them, that if they wouldthrow out to them one Ill-Pause that was in the town, that theymight reward him according to his works, then they would givethem time to consider; but if they would not cast him to themover the wall of Mansoul, then they would give them none;‘for,’ said they, ‘we know that, so long asIll-Pause draws breath in Mansoul, all good consideration will beconfounded, and nothing but mischief will comethereon.’

Then Diabolus, who was there present, being loath to lose hisIll-Pause, because he was his orator, (and yet be sure he had,could the captains have laid their fingers on him,) was resolvedat this instant to give them answer by himself; but then changinghis mind, he commanded the then Lord Mayor, the Lord Incredulity,to do it, saying, ‘My lord, do you give these runagates ananswer, and speak out, that Mansoul may hear and understandyou.’

So Incredulity, at Diabolus’ command, began, and said,‘Gentlemen, you have here, as we do behold, to thedisturbance of our prince and the molestation of the town ofMansoul, camped against it: but from whence you come, we will notknow; and what you are, we will not believe.  Indeed, youtell us in your terrible speech that you have this authority fromShaddai, but by what right he commands you to do it, of that weshall yet be ignorant.

‘You have also, by the authority aforesaid, summonedthis town to desert her lord, and, for protection, to yield upherself to the great Shaddai, your King; flatteringly tellingher, that if she will do it, he will pass by and not charge herwith her past offences.

‘Further, you have also, to the terror of the town ofMansoul, threatened with great and sore destructions to punishthis corporation, if she consents not to do as your wills wouldhave her.

‘Now, captains, from whencesoever you come, and thoughyour designs be ever so right, yet know ye that neither my LordDiabolus, nor I, his servant, Incredulity, nor yet our braveMansoul, doth regard either your persons, message, or the Kingthat you say hath sent you.  His power, his greatness, hisvengeance, we fear not; nor will we yield at all to yoursummons.

‘As for the war that you threaten to make upon us, wemust therein defend ourselves as well as we can; and know ye,that we are not without wherewithal to bid defiance to you; and,in short, (for I will not be tedious,) I tell you, that we takeyou to be some vagabond runagate crew, that having shaken off allobedience to your King, have gotten together in tumultuousmanner, and are ranging from place to place to see if, throughthe flatteries you are skilled to make on the one side, andthreats wherewith you think to fright on the other, to make somesilly town, city, or country, desert their place, and leave it toyou; but Mansoul is none of them.

‘To conclude: we dread you not, we fear you not, norwill we obey your summons.  Our gates we will shut upon you,our place we will keep you out of.  Nor will we long thussuffer you to sit down before us: our people must live in quiet:your appearance doth disturb them.  Wherefore arise with bagand baggage, and begone, or we will let fly from the wallsagainst you.’

This oration, made by old Incredulity, was seconded bydesperate Willbewill, in words to this effect: ‘Gentlemen,we have heard your demands, and the noise of your threats, andhave heard the sound of your summons; but we fear not your force,we regard not your threats, but will still abide as you foundus.  And we command you, that in three days’ time youcease to appear in these parts, or you shall know what it is onceto dare offer to rouse the lion Diabolus when asleep in his townof Mansoul.’

The Recorder, whose name was Forget-Good, he also added asfolloweth: ‘Gentlemen, my lords, as you see, have with mildand gentle words answered your rough and angry speeches: theyhave, moreover, in my hearing, given you leave quietly to departas you came; wherefore, take their kindness and be gone.  Wemight have come out with force upon you, and have caused you tofeel the dint of our swords; but as we love ease and quietourselves, so we love not to hurt or molest others.’

Then did the town of Mansoul shout for joy, as if by Diabolusand his crew some great advantage had been gotten of thecaptains.  They also rang the bells, and made merry, anddanced upon the walls.

Diabolus also returned to the castle, and the Lord Mayor andRecorder to their place; but the Lord Willbewill took specialcare that the gates should be secured with double guards, doublebolts, and double locks and bars; and that Ear-gate especiallymight the better be looked to, for that was the gate in at whichthe King’s forces sought most to enter.  The LordWillbewill made one old Mr. Prejudice, an angry andill-conditioned fellow, captain of the ward at that gate, and putunder his power sixty men, called deaf men; men advantageous forthat service, forasmuch as they mattered no words of thecaptains, nor of the soldiers.

Now when the captains saw the answer of the great ones, andthat they could not get a hearing from the old natives of thetown, and that Mansoul was resolved to give the King’s armybattle, they prepared themselves to receive them, and to try itout by the power of the arm.  And, first, they made theirforce more formidable against Ear-gate; for they knew that,unless they could penetrate that, no good could be done upon thetown.  This done, they put the rest of their men in theirplaces; after which, they gave out the word, which was,‘Ye must be bornagain.’  Then they sounded the trumpet; thenthey in the town made them answer, with shout against shout,charge against charge, and so the battle began.  Now they inthe town had planted upon the tower over Ear-gate two great guns,the one called High-mind, and the other Heady.  Unto thesetwo guns they trusted much; they were cast in the castle byDiabolus’ founder, whose name was Mr. Puff-up, andmischievous pieces they were.  But so vigilant and watchful,when the captains saw them, were they, that though sometimestheir shot would go by their ears with a whiz, yet they did themno harm.  By these two guns the townsfolk made no questionbut greatly to annoy the camp of Shaddai, and well enough tosecure the gate; but they had not much cause to boast of whatexecution they did, as by what follows will be gathered.

The famous Mansoul had also some other small pieces in it, ofthe which they made use against the camp of Shaddai.

They from the camp also did as stoutly, and with as much ofthat as may in truth be called valour, let fly as fast at thetown and at Ear-gate; for they saw that, unless they could breakopen Ear-gate, it would be but in vain to batter the wall. Now the King’s captains had brought with them severalslings, and two or three battering-rams; with their slings,therefore, they battered the houses and people of the town, andwith their rams they sought to break Ear-gate open.

The camp and the town had several skirmishes and briskencounters, while the captains with their engines made many braveattempts to break open or beat down the tower that was overEar-gate, and at the said gate to make their entrance; butMansoul stood it out so lustily, through the rage of Diabolus,the valour of the Lord Willbewill, and the conduct of oldIncredulity, the Mayor, and Mr. Forget-Good, the Recorder, thatthe charge and expense of that summer’s wars, on theKing’s side, seemed to be almost quite lost, and theadvantage to return to Mansoul.  But when the captains sawhow it was they made a fair retreat, and entrenched themselves intheir winter quarters.  Now, in this war, you must needsthink there was much loss on both sides, of which be pleased toaccept of this brief account following.

The King’s captains, when they marched from the court tocome up against Mansoul to war, as they came crossing over thecountry, they happened to light upon three young fellows that hada mind to go for soldiers: proper men they were, and men ofcourage and skill, to appearance.  Their names were Mr.Tradition, Mr. Human-Wisdom, and Mr. Man’s-Invention. So they came up to the captains, and proffered their service toShaddai.  The captains then told them of their design, andbid them not to be rash in their offers; but the young men toldthem they had considered the thing before, and that hearing theywere upon their march for such a design, came hither on purposeto meet them, that they might be listed under theirexcellencies.  Then Captain Boanerges, for that they weremen of courage, listed them into his company, and so away theywent to the war.

Now, when the war was begun, in one of the briskestskirmishes, so it was, that a company of the LordWillbewill’s men sallied out at the sallyport or postern ofthe town, and fell in upon the rear of Captain Boanerges’men, where these three fellows happened to be; so they took themprisoners, and away they carried them into the town, where theyhad not lain long in durance, but it began to be noised about thestreets of the town what three notable prisoners the LordWillbewill’s men had taken, and brought in prisoners out ofthe camp of Shaddai.  At length tidings thereof were carriedto Diabolus to the castle, to wit what my Lord Willbewill’smen had done, and whom they had taken prisoners.

Then Diabolus called for Willbewill, to know the certainty ofthis matter.  So he asked him, and he told him.  Thendid the giant send for the prisoners, and, when they were come,demanded of them who they were, whence they came, and what theydid in the camp of Shaddai; and they told him.  Then he sentthem to ward again.  Not many days after, he sent for themto him again, and then asked them if they would be willing toserve him against their former captains.  They then told himthat they did not so much live by religion as by the fates offortune; and that since his lordship was willing to entertainthem, they should be willing to serve him.  Now while thingswere thus in hand, there was one Captain Anything, a great doer,in the town of Mansoul; and to this Captain Anything did Diabolussend these men, and a note under his hand, to receive them intohis company, the contents of which letter were thus:

‘Anything, my darling,—The three men that are thebearers of this letter have a desire to serve me in the war; norknow I better to whose conduct to commit them than tothine.  Receive them, therefore, in my name, and, as needshall require, make use of them against Shaddai and hismen.  Farewell.’

So they came, and he received them; and he made of two of themsergeants; but he made Mr. Man’s-Invention hisancient-bearer.  But thus much for this, and now to returnto the camp.

They of the camp did also some execution upon the town; forthey did beat down the roof of the Lord Mayor’s house, andso laid him more open than he was before.  They had almost,with a sling, slain my Lord Willbewill outright; but he made ashift to recover again.  But they made a notable slaughteramong the aldermen, for with one only shot they cut off six ofthem; to wit, Mr. Swearing, Mr. Whoring, Mr. Fury, Mr.Stand-to-Lies, Mr. Drunkenness, and Mr. Cheating.

They also dismounted the two guns that stood upon the towerover Ear-gate, and laid them flat in the dirt.  I told youbefore that the King’s noble captains had drawn off totheir winter quarters, and had there entrenched themselves andtheir carriages, so as with the best advantage to their King, andthe greatest annoyance to the enemy, they might give seasonableand warm alarms to the town of Mansoul.  And this design ofthem did so hit, that I may say they did almost what they wouldto the molestation of the corporation.  For now could notMansoul sleep securely as before, nor could they now go to theirdebaucheries with that quietness as in times past; for they hadfrom the camp of Shaddai such frequent, warm, and terrifyingalarms, yea, alarms upon alarms, first at one gate and then atanother, and again at all the gates at once, that they werebroken as to former peace.  Yea, they had their alarms sofrequently, and that when the nights were at longest, the weathercoldest, and so consequently the season most unseasonable, thatthat winter was to the town of Mansoul a winter by itself. Sometimes the trumpets would sound, and sometimes the slingswould whirl the stones into the town.  Sometimes tenthousand of the King’s soldiers would be running round thewalls of Mansoul at midnight, shouting and lifting up the voicefor the battle.  Sometimes, again, some of them in the townwould be wounded, and their cry and lamentable voice would beheard, to the great molestation of the now languishing town ofMansoul.  Yea, so distressed with those that laid siegeagainst them were they, that, I dare say, Diabolus, their king,had in these days his rest much broken.

In these days, as I was informed, new thoughts, and thoughtsthat began to run counter one to another, began to possess theminds of the men of the town of Mansoul.  Some would say,‘There is no living thus.’  Others would thenreply, ‘This will be over shortly.’  Then woulda third stand up and answer, ‘Let us turn to the KingShaddai, and so put an end to these troubles.’  And afourth would come in with a fear, saying, ‘I doubt he willnot receive us.’  The old gentleman, too, theRecorder, that was so before Diabolus took Mansoul, he also beganto talk aloud, and his words were now to the town of Mansoul asif they were great claps of thunder.  No noise now soterrible to Mansoul as was his, with the noise of the soldiersand shoutings of the captains.

Also things began to grow scarce in Mansoul; now the thingsthat her soul lusted after were departing from her.  Uponall her pleasant things there was a blast, and burning instead ofbeauty.  Wrinkles now, and some shows of the shadow ofdeath, were upon the inhabitants of Mansoul.  And now, O howglad would Mansoul have been to have enjoyed quietness andsatisfaction of mind, though joined with the meanest condition inthe world!

The captains also, in the deep of this winter, did send by themouth of Boanerges’ trumpeter a summons to Mansoul to yieldup herself to the King, the great King Shaddai.  They sentit once, and twice, and thrice; not knowing but that at sometimes there might be in Mansoul some willingness to surrender upthemselves unto them, might they but have the colour of aninvitation to do it under.  Yea, so far as I could gather,the town had been surrendered up to them before now, had it notbeen for the opposition of old Incredulity, and the fickleness ofthe thoughts of my Lord Willbewill.  Diabolus also began torave; wherefore Mansoul, as to yielding, was not yet all of onemind; therefore they still lay distressed under these perplexingfears.

I told you but now that they of the King’s army had thiswinter sent three times to Mansoul to submit herself.

The first time the trumpeter went he went with words of peace,telling them that the captains, the noble captains of Shaddai,did pity and bewail the misery of the now perishing town ofMansoul, and were troubled to see them so much to stand in theway of their own deliverance.  He said, moreover, that thecaptains bid him tell them, that if now poor Mansoul would humbleherself and turn, her former rebellions and most notorioustreasons should by their merciful King be forgiven them, yea, andforgotten too.  And having bid them beware that they stoodnot in their own way, that they opposed not themselves, nor madethemselves their own losers, he returned again into the camp.

The second time the trumpeter went, he did treat them a littlemore roughly; for, after sound of trumpet, he told them thattheir continuing in their rebellion did but chafe and heat thespirit of the captains, and that they were resolved to make aconquest of Mansoul, or to lay their bones before the townwalls.

He went again the third time, and dealt with them yet moreroughly; telling them that now, since they had been so horriblyprofane, he did not know, not certainly know, whether thecaptains were inclining to mercy or judgment. ‘Only,’ said he, ‘they commanded me to give youa summons to open the gates unto them.’  So hereturned, and went into the camp.

These three summonses, and especially the last two, did sodistress the town that they presently call a consultation, theresult of which was this—That my Lord Willbewill should goup to Ear-gate, and there, with sound of trumpet, call to thecaptains of the camp for a parley.  Well, the LordWillbewill sounded upon the wall; so the captains came up intheir harness, with their ten thousands at their feet.  Thetownsmen then told the captains that they had heard andconsidered their summons, and would come to an agreement withthem, and with their King Shaddai, upon such certain terms,articles, and propositions as, with and by the order of theirprince, they to them were appointed to propound; to wit, theywould agree upon these grounds to be one people with them.

1. If that those of their own company, as the now Lord Mayorand their Mr. Forget-Good, with then brave Lord Willbewill,might, under Shaddai, be still the governors of the town, castle,and gates of Mansoul.

2. Provided that no man that now serveth under their greatgiant Diabolus be by Shaddai cast out of house, harbour, or thefreedom that he hath hitherto enjoyed in the famous town ofMansoul.

3. That it shall be granted them, that they of the town ofMansoul shall enjoy certain of their rights and privileges; towit, such as have formerly been granted them, and that they havelong lived in the enjoyment of, under the reign of their kingDiabolus, that now is, and long has been, their only lord andgreat defender.

4. That no new law, officer, or executioner of law or office,shall have any power over them, without their own choice andconsent.

‘These be our propositions, or conditions of peace; andupon these terms,’ said they, ‘we will submit to yourKing.’

But when the captains had heard this weak and feeble offer ofthe town of Mansoul, and their high and bold demands, they madeto them again, by their noble captain, the Captain Boanerges,this speech following:

‘O ye inhabitants of the town of Mansoul, when I heardyour trumpet sound for a parley with us, I can truly say I wasglad; but when you said you were willing to submit yourselves toour King and Lord, then I was yet more glad; but when, by yoursilly provisos and foolish cavils, you laid the stumbling-blockof your iniquity before your own faces, then was my gladnessturned into sorrows, and my hopeful beginnings of your return,into languishing fainting fears.

‘I count that old Ill-Pause, the ancient enemy ofMansoul, did draw up those proposals that now you present us withas terms of an agreement; but they deserve not to be admitted tosound in the ear of any man that pretends to have service forShaddai.  We do therefore jointly, and that with the highestdisdain, refuse and reject such things, as the greatest ofiniquities.

‘But, O Mansoul, if you will give yourselves into ourhands, or rather into the hands of our King, and will trust himto make such terms with and for you as shall seem good in hiseyes, (and I dare say they shall be such as you shall find to bemost profitable to you,) then we will receive you, and be atpeace with you; but if you like not to trust yourselves in thearms of Shaddai our King, then things are but where they werebefore, and we know also what we have to do.’

Then cried out old Incredulity, the Lord Mayor, and said,‘And who, being out of the hands of their enemies, as yesee we are now, will be so foolish as to put the staff out oftheir own hands into the hands of they know not who?  I, formy part, will never yield to so unlimited a proposition.  Dowe know the manner and temper of their King?  It is said bysome that he will be angry with his subjects if but the breadthof an hair they chance to step out of the way; and by others,that he requireth of them much more than they can perform. Wherefore, it seems, O Mansoul, to be thy wisdom to take goodheed what thou dost in this matter; for if you once yield, yougive up yourselves to another, and so you are no more yourown.  Wherefore, to give up yourselves to an unlimitedpower, is the greatest folly in the world; for now you indeed mayrepent, but can never justly complain.  But do you indeedknow, when you are his, which of you he will kill, and which ofyou he will save alive; or whether he will not cut off every oneof us, and send out of his own country another new people, andcause them to inhabit this town?’

This speech of the Lord Mayor undid all, and threw flat to theground their hopes of an accord.  Wherefore the captainsreturned to their trenches, to their tents, and to their men, asthey were; and the Mayor to the castle and to his King.

Now Diabolus had waited for his return, for he had heard thatthey had been at their points.  So, when he was come intothe chamber of state, Diabolus saluted himwith—‘Welcome, my lord.  How went mattersbetwixt you to-day?’  So the Lord Incredulity, with alow congee, told him the whole of the matter, saying, ‘Thusand thus said the captains of Shaddai, and thus and thus saidI.’  The which when it was told to Diabolus, he wasvery glad to hear it, and said, ‘My Lord Mayor, my faithfulIncredulity, I have proved thy fidelity above ten times already,but never yet found thee false.  I do promise thee, if werub over this brunt, to prefer thee to a place of honour, a placefar better than to be Lord Mayor of Mansoul.  I will makethee my universal deputy, and thou shalt, next to me, have allnations under thy hand; yea, and thou shalt lay bands upon them,that they may not resist thee; nor shall any of our vassals walkmore at liberty, but those that shall be content to walk in thyfetters.’

Now came the Lord Mayor out from Diabolus, as if he hadobtained a favour indeed.  Wherefore to his habitation hegoes in great state, and thinks to feed himself well enough withhopes, until the time came that his greatness should beenlarged.

But now, though the Lord Mayor and Diabolus did thus wellagree, yet this repulse to the brave captains put Mansoul into amutiny.  For while old Incredulity went into the castle tocongratulate his lord with what had passed, the old Lord Mayor,that was so before Diabolus came to the town, to wit, my LordUnderstanding, and the old Recorder, Mr. Conscience, gettingintelligence of what had passed at Ear-gate, (for you must knowthat they might not be suffered to be at that debate, lest theyshould then have mutinied for the captains; but, I say, they gotintelligence of what had passed there, and were much concernedtherewith,) wherefore they, getting some of the town together,began to possess them with the reasonableness of the noblecaptains’ demands, and with the bad consequences that wouldfollow upon the speech of old Incredulity, the Lord Mayor; to withow little reverence he showed therein either to the captains orto their King; also how he implicitly charged them withunfaithfulness and treachery.  ‘For what less,’quoth they, ‘could be made of his words, when he said hewould not yield to their proposition; and added, moreover, asupposition that he would destroy us, when before he had sent usword that he would show us mercy!’  The multitude,being now possessed with the conviction of the evil that oldIncredulity had done, began to run together by companies in allplaces, and in every corner of the streets of Mansoul; and firstthey began to mutter, then to talk openly, and after that theyrun to and fro, and cried as they run, ‘Oh the bravecaptains of Shaddai! would we were under the government of thecaptains, and of Shaddai their King!’  When the LordMayor had intelligence that Mansoul was in an uproar, down hecomes to appease the people, and thought to have quashed theirheat with the bigness and the show of his countenance; but whenthey saw him, they came running upon him, and had doubtless donehim a mischief, had he not betaken himself to house. However, they strongly assaulted the house where he was, to havepulled it down about his ears; but the place was too strong, sothey failed of that.  So he, taking some courage, addressedhimself, out at a window, to the people in this manner:

‘Gentlemen, what is the reason that there is here suchan uproar to-day?’

Then answered my Lord Understanding, ‘It is even becausethat thou and thy master have carried it not rightly, and as youshould, to the captains of Shaddai; for in three things you arefaulty.  First, in that you would not let Mr. Conscience andmyself be at the hearing of your discourse.  Secondly, inthat you propounded such terms of peace to the captains that byno means could be granted, unless they had intended that theirShaddai should have been only a titular prince, and that Mansoulshould still have had power by law to have lived in all lewdnessand vanity before him, and so by consequence Diabolus shouldstill here be king in power, and the other only king inname.  Thirdly, for that thou didst thyself, after thecaptains had showed us upon what conditions they would havereceived us to mercy, even undo all again with thy unsavoury,unseasonable, and ungodly speech.’

When old Incredulity had heard this speech, he cried out,‘Treason! treason!  To your arms! to your arms! O ye, the trusty friends of Diabolus in Mansoul.’

Und.—Sir, you may put upon my words what meaningyou please; but I am sure that the captains of such an high lordas theirs is, deserved a better treatment at your hands.

Then said old Incredulity, ‘This is but littlebetter.  But, Sir,’ quoth he, ‘what I spake Ispake for my prince, for his government, and the quieting of thepeople, whom by your unlawful actions you have this day set tomutiny against us.’

Then replied the old Recorder, whose name was Mr. Conscience,and said, ‘Sir, you ought not thus to retort upon what myLord Understanding hath said.  It is evident enough that hehath spoken the truth, and that you are an enemy toMansoul.  Be convinced, then, of the evil of your saucy andmalapert language, and of the grief that you have put thecaptains to; yea, and of the damages that you have done toMansoul thereby.  Had you accepted of the conditions, thesound of the trumpet and the alarm of war had now ceased aboutthe town of Mansoul; but that dreadful sound abides, and yourwant of wisdom in your speech has been the cause ofit.’

Then said old Incredulity, ‘Sir, if I live, I will doyour errand to Diabolus, and there you shall have an answer toyour words.  Meanwhile we will seek the good of the town,and not ask counsel of you.’

Und.—Sir, your prince and you are both foreignersto Mansoul, and not the natives thereof; and who can tell butthat, when you have brought us into greater straits, (when youalso shall see that yourselves can be safe by no other means thanby flight,) you may leave us and shift for yourselves, or set uson fire, and go away in the smoke, or by the light of ourburning, and so leave us in our ruins?

Incred.—Sir, you forget that you are under agovernor, and that you ought to demean yourself like a subject;and know ye, when my lord the king shall hear of this day’swork, he will give you but little thanks for your labour.

Now while these gentlemen were thus in their chiding words,down come from the walls and gates of the town the LordWillbewill, Mr. Prejudice, old Ill-Pause, and several of thenew-made aldermen and burgesses, and they asked the reason of thehubbub and tumult; and with that every man began to tell his owntale, so that nothing could be heard distinctly.  Then was asilence commanded, and the old fox Incredulity began tospeak.  ‘My lord,’ quoth he, ‘here are acouple of peevish gentlemen, that have, as a fruit of their baddispositions, and, as I fear, through the advice of one Mr.Discontent, tumultuously gathered this company against me thisday, and also attempted to run the town into acts of rebellionagainst our prince.’

Then stood up all the Diabolonians that were present, andaffirmed these things to be true.

Now when they that took part with my Lord Understanding andwith Mr. Conscience perceived that they were like to come to theworst, for that force and power was on the other side, they camein for their help and relief; so a great company was on bothsides.  Then they on Incredulity’s side would have hadthe two old gentlemen presently away to prison; but they on theother side said they should not.  Then they began to cry upparties again: the Diabolonians cried up old Incredulity,Forget-Good, the new aldermen, and their great one Diabolus; andthe other party, they as fast cried up Shaddai, the captains, hislaws, their mercifulness, and applauded their conditions andways.  Thus the bickerment went awhile; at last they passedfrom words to blows, and now there were knocks on bothsides.  The good old gentleman, Mr. Conscience, was knockeddown twice by one of the Diabolonians, whose name was Mr.Benumbing; and my Lord Understanding had like to have been slainwith an arquebuse, but that he that shot did not take his aimaright.  Nor did the other side wholly escape; for there wasone Mr. Rashhead, a Diabolonian, that had his brains beaten outby Mr. Mind, the Lord Willbewill’s servant; and it made melaugh to see how old Mr. Prejudice was kicked and tumbled aboutin the dirt; for though, a while since, he was made captain of acompany of the Diabolonians, to the hurt and damage of the town,yet now they had got him under their feet, and, I’ll assureyou, he had, by some of the Lord Understanding’s party, hiscrown cracked to boot.  Mr. Anything also, he became a briskman in the broil; but both sides were against him, because he wastrue to none.  Yet he had, for his malapertness, one of hislegs broken, and he that did it wished it had been hisneck.  Much more harm was done on both sides, but this mustnot be forgotten; it was now a wonder to see my Lord Willbewillso indifferent as he was: he did not seem to take one side morethan another, only it was perceived that he smiled to see how oldPrejudice was tumbled up and down in the dirt.  Also, whenCaptain Anything came halting up before him, he seemed to takebut little notice of him.

Now, when the uproar was over, Diabolus sends for my LordUnderstanding and Mr. Conscience, and claps them both up inprison as the ringleaders and managers of this most heavy,riotous rout in Mansoul.  So now the town began to be quietagain, and the prisoners were used hardly; yea, he thought tohave made them away, but that the present juncture did not servefor that purpose, for that war was in all their gates.

But let us return again to our story.  The captains, whenthey were gone back from the gate, and were come into the campagain, called a council of war, to consult what was further forthem to do.  Now, some said, ‘Let us go up presently,and fall upon the town;’ but the greatest part thoughtrather better it would be to give them another summons to yield;and the reason why they thought this to be best was, becausethat, so far as could be perceived, the town of Mansoul now wasmore inclinable than heretofore.  ‘And if,’ saidthey, ‘while some of them are in a way of inclination, weshould by ruggedness give them distaste, we may set them furtherfrom closing with our summons than we would be willing theyshould.’  Wherefore to this advice they agreed, andcalled a trumpeter, put words into his mouth, set him his time,and bid him God speed.  Well, many hours were not expiredbefore the trumpeter addressed himself to his journey. Wherefore, coming up to the wall of the town, he steereth hiscourse to Ear-gate, and there sounded, as he was commanded. They then that were within came out to see what was the matter,and the trumpeter made them this speech following:

‘O hard-hearted and deplorable town of Mansoul, how longwilt thou love thy sinful, sinful simplicity, and, ye fools,delight in your scorning?  As yet despise you the offers ofpeace and deliverance?  As yet will ye refuse the goldenoffers of Shaddai, and trust to the lies and falsehoods ofDiabolus?  Think you, when Shaddai shall have conquered you,that the remembrance of these your carriages towards him willyield you peace and comfort, or that by ruffling language you canmake him afraid as a grasshopper?  Doth he entreat you forfear of you?  Do you think that you are stronger thanhe?  Look to the heavens, and behold and consider the stars,how high are they?  Can you stop the sun from running hiscourse, and hinder the moon from giving her light?  Can youcount the number of the stars, or stay the bottles ofheaven?  Can you call for the waters of the sea, and causethem to cover the face of the ground?  Can you behold everyone that is proud, and abase him, and bind their faces insecret?  Yet these are some of the works of our King, inwhose name this day we come up unto you, that you may be broughtunder his authority.  In his name, therefore, I summon youagain to yield up yourselves to his captains.’

At this summons the Mansoulians seemed to be at a stand, andknew not what answer to make.  Wherefore Diabolus forthwithappeared, and took upon him to do it himself; and thus he begins,but turns his speech to them of Mansoul.

‘Gentlemen,’ quoth he, ‘and my faithfulsubjects, if it is true that this summoner hath said concerningthe greatness of their King, by his terror you will always bekept in bondage, and so be made to sneak.  Yea, how can younow, though he is at a distance, endure to think of such a mightyone?  And if not to think of him while at a distance, howcan you endure to be in his presence?  I, your prince, amfamiliar with you, and you may play with me as you would with agrasshopper.  Consider, therefore, what is for your profit,and remember the immunities that I have granted you.

‘Farther, if all be true that this man hath said, howcomes it to pass that the subjects of Shaddai are so enslaved inall places where they come?  None in the universe so unhappyas they, none so trampled upon as they.

‘Consider, my Mansoul: would thou wert as loath to leaveme as I am loath to leave thee.  But consider, I say, theball is yet at thy foot; liberty you have, if you know how to useit; yea, a king you have too, if you can tell how to love andobey him.’

Upon this speech, the town of Mansoul did again harden theirhearts yet more against the captains of Shaddai.  Thethoughts of his greatness did quite quash them, and the thoughtsof his holiness sunk them in despair.  Wherefore, after ashort consult, they (of the Diabolonian party they were) sentback this word by the trumpeter, That, for their parts, they wereresolved to stick to their king, but never to yield to Shaddai;so it was but in vain to give them any further summons, for theyhad rather die upon the place than yield.  And now thingsseemed to be gone quite back, and Mansoul to be out of reach orcall, yet the captains who knew what their Lord could do, wouldnot yet be beat out of heart; they therefore sent them anothersummons, more sharp and severe than the last; but the oftenerthey were sent to, to reconcile to Shaddai, the further off theywere.  ‘As they called them, so they went fromthem—yea, though they called them to the MostHigh.’

So they ceased that way to deal with them any more, andinclined to think of another way.  The captains, therefore,did gather themselves together, to have free conference amongthemselves, to know what was yet to be done to gain the town, andto deliver it from the tyranny of Diabolus; and one said afterthis manner, and another after that.  Then stood up theright noble the Captain Conviction, and said, ‘My brethren,mine opinion is this:

‘First, that we continually play our slings into thetown, and keep it in a continual alarm, molesting them day andnight.  By thus doing, we shall stop the growth of theirrampant spirit; for a lion may be tamed by continualmolestation.

‘Secondly, this done, I advise that, in the next place,we with one consent draw up a petition to our Lord Shaddai, bywhich, after we have showed our King the condition of Mansoul andof affairs here, and have begged his pardon for our no bettersuccess, we will earnestly implore his Majesty’s help, andthat he will please to send us more force and power, and somegallant and well-spoken commander to head them, that so hisMajesty may not lose the benefit of these his good beginnings,but may complete his conquest upon the town ofMansoul.’

To this speech of the noble Captain Conviction they as one manconsented, and agreed that a petition should forthwith be drawnup, and sent by a fit man away to Shaddai with speed.  Thecontents of the petition were thus:—

‘Most gracious and glorious King, the Lord of the bestworld, and the builder of the town of Mansoul, we have, dreadSovereign, at thy commandment, put our lives in jeopardy, and atthy bidding made a war upon the famous town of Mansoul. When we went up against it, we did, according to our commission,first offer conditions of peace unto it.  But they, greatKing, set light by our counsel, and would none of ourreproof.  They were for shutting their gates, and forkeeping us out of the town.  They also mounted their guns,they sallied out upon us, and have done us what damage theycould; but we pursued them with alarm upon alarm, requiting themwith such retribution as was meet, and have done some executionupon the town.

‘Diabolus, Incredulity, and Willbewill are the greatdoers against us: now we are in our winter quarters, but so asthat we do yet with an high hand molest and distress thetown.

‘Once, as we think, had we had but one substantialfriend in the town, such as would but have seconded the sound ofour summons as they ought, the people might have yieldedthemselves; but there were none but enemies there, nor any tospeak in behalf of our Lord to the town.  Wherefore, thoughwe have done as we could, yet Mansoul abides in a state ofrebellion against thee.

‘Now, King of kings, let it please thee to pardon theunsuccessfulness of thy servants, who have been no moreadvantageous in so desirable a work as the conquering of Mansoulis.  And send, Lord, as we now desire, more forces toMansoul, that it may be subdued; and a man to head them, that thetown may both love and fear.

‘We do not thus speak because we are willing torelinquish the wars, (for we are for laying of our bones againstthe place,) but that the town of Mansoul may be won for thyMajesty.  We also pray thy Majesty, for expedition in thismatter, that, after their conquest, we may be at liberty to besent about other thy gracious designs.  Amen.’

The petition, thus drawn up, was sent away with haste to theKing by the hand of that good man, Mr. Love-to-Mansoul.

When this petition was come to the palace of the King, whoshould it be delivered to but to the King’s Son?  Sohe took it and read it, and because the contents of it pleasedhim well, he mended, and also in some things added to thepetition himself.  So, after he had made such amendments andadditions as he thought convenient, with his own hand, he carriedit in to the King; to whom, when he had with obeisance deliveredit, he put on authority, and spake to it himself.

Now the King, at the sight of the petition, was glad; but howmuch more, think you, when it was seconded by his Son!  Itpleased him also to hear that his servants who camped againstMansoul were so hearty in the work, and so steadfast in theirresolves, and that they had already got some ground upon thefamous town of Mansoul.

Wherefore the King called to him Emmanuel, his Son, who said,‘Here am I, my Father.’  Then said the King,‘Thou knowest, as I do myself, the condition of the town ofMansoul, and what we have purposed, and what thou hast done toredeem it.  Come now, therefore, my Son, and prepare thyselffor the war, for thou shalt go to my camp at Mansoul.  Thoushalt also there prosper and prevail, and conquer the town ofMansoul.’

Then said the King’s Son, ‘Thy law is within myheart: I delight to do thy will.  This is the day that Ihave longed for, and the work that I have waited for all thiswhile.  Grant me, therefore, what force thou shalt in thywisdom think meet; and I will go and will deliver from Diabolus,and from his power, thy perishing town of Mansoul.  My hearthas been often pained within me for the miserable town ofMansoul; but now it is rejoiced, but now it is glad.’

And with that he leaped over the mountains for joy, saying,‘I have not, in my heart, thought anything too dear forMansoul: the day of vengeance is in mine heart for thee, myMansoul: and glad am I that thou, my Father, hast made me theCaptain of their salvation.  And I will now begin to plagueall those that have been a plague to my town of Mansoul, and willdeliver it from their hand.’

When the King’s Son had said thus to his Father, itpresently flew like lightning round about at court; yea, it therebecame the only talk what Emmanuel was to go to do for the famoustown of Mansoul.  But you cannot think how the courtiers,too, were taken with this design of the Prince; yea, so affectedwere they with this work, and with the justness of the war, thatthe highest lord and greatest peer of the kingdom did covet tohave commissions under Emmanuel, to go to help to recover againto Shaddai the miserable town of Mansoul.

Then was it concluded that some should go and carry tidings tothe camp, that Emmanuel was to come to recover Mansoul, and thathe would bring along with him so mighty, so impregnable a force,that he could not be resisted.  But, oh! how ready were thehigh ones at court to run like lackeys to carry these tidings tothe camp that was at Mansoul.  Now, when the captainsperceived that the King would send Emmanuel his Son, and that italso delighted the Son to be sent on this errand by the greatShaddai his Father, they also, to show how they were pleased atthe thoughts of his coming gave a shout that made the earth rendat the sound thereof.  Yea, the mountains did answer againby echo, and Diabolus himself did totter and shake.

For you must know, that though the town of Mansoul itself wasnot much, if at all concerned with the project, (for, alas forthem! they were wofully besotted, for they chiefly regarded theirpleasure and their lusts,) yet Diabolus their governor was; forhe had his spies continually abroad, who brought him intelligenceof all things, and they told him what was doing at court againsthim, and that Emmanuel would shortly certainly come with a powerto invade him.  Nor was there any man at court, nor peer ofthe kingdom, that Diabolus so feared as he feared this Prince;for, if you remember, I showed you before that Diabolus had feltthe weight of his hand already; so that, since it was he that wasto come, this made him the more afraid.

Well, you see how I have told you that the King’s Sonwas engaged to come from the court to save Mansoul, and that hisFather had made him the Captain of the forces.  The time,therefore, of his setting forth being now expired, he addressedhimself for his march, and taketh with him, for his power, fivenoble captains and their forces.

1. The first was that famous captain, the noble CaptainCredence.  His were the red colours, and Mr. Promise barethem; and for a scutcheon he had the holy lamb and golden shield;and he had ten thousand men at his feet.

2. The second was that famous captain, the CaptainGood-Hope.  His were the blue colours; his standard-bearerwas Mr. Expectation, and for his scutcheon he had the threegolden anchors; and he had ten thousand men at his feet.

3. The third was that valiant captain, the CaptainCharity.  His standard-bearer was Mr. Pitiful: his were thegreen colours, and for his scutcheon he had three naked orphansembraced in the bosom; and he had ten thousand men at hisfeet.

4. The fourth was that gallant commander, the CaptainInnocent.  His standard-bearer was Mr. Harmless: his werethe white colours, and for his scutcheon he had the three goldendoves.

5. The fifth was the truly loyal and well-beloved captain, theCaptain Patience.  His standard-bearer was Mr. Suffer-Long:his were the black colours, and for a scutcheon he had threearrows through the golden heart.

These were Emmanuel’s captains; these theirstandard-bearers, their colours, and their scutcheons; and thesethe men under their command.  So, as was said, the bravePrince took his march to go to the town of Mansoul.  CaptainCredence led the van, and Captain Patience brought up the rear;so the other three, with their men, made up the main body, thePrince himself riding in his chariot at the head of them.

But when they set out for their march, oh, how the trumpetssounded, their armour glittered, and how the colours waved in thewind!  The Prince’s armour was all of gold, and itshone like the sun in the firmament; the captains’ armourwas of proof, and was in appearance like the glitteringstars.  There were also some from the court that rodereformades for the love that they had to the King Shaddai, andfor the happy deliverance of the town of Mansoul.

Emmanuel also, when he had thus set forwards to go to recoverthe town of Mansoul, took with him, at the commandment of hisFather, fifty-four battering-rams, and twelve slings to whirlstones withal.  Every one of these was made of pure gold,and these they carried with them, in the heart and body of theirarmy, all along as they went to Mansoul.

So they marched till they came within less than a league ofthe town; there they lay till the first four captains camethither to acquaint them with matters.  Then they took theirjourney to go to the town of Mansoul, and unto Mansoul they came;but when the old soldiers that were in the camp saw that they hadnew forces to join with, they again gave such a shout before thewalls of the town of Mansoul, that it put Diabolus into anotherfright.  So they sat down before the town, not now as theother four captains did, to wit, against the gates of Mansoulonly; but they environed it round on every side, and beset itbehind and before; so that now, let Mansoul look which way itwill, it saw force and power lie in siege against it. Besides, there were mounts cast up against it.  The MountGracious was on the one side, and Mount Justice was on theother.  Further, there were several small banks andadvance-grounds, as Plain-Truth Hill and No-Sin Banks, where manyof the slings were placed against the town.  Upon MountGracious were planted four, and upon Mount Justice were placed asmany, and the rest were conveniently placed in several partsround about the town.  Five of the best battering-rams, thatis, of the biggest of them, were placed upon Mount Hearken, amount cast up hard by Ear-gate, with intent to break thatopen.

Now when the men of the town saw the multitude of the soldiersthat were come up against the place, and the rams and slings, andthe mounts on which they were planted, together with theglittering of the armour and the waving of their colours, theywere forced to shift, and shift, and again to shift theirthoughts; but they hardly changed for thoughts more stout, butrather for thoughts more faint; for though before they thoughtthemselves sufficiently guarded, yet now they began to think thatno man knew what would be their hap or lot.

When the good Prince Emmanuel had thus beleaguered Mansoul, inthe first place he hangs out the white flag, which he caused tobe set up among the golden slings that were planted upon MountGracious.  And this he did for two reasons: 1. To givenotice to Mansoul that he could and would yet be gracious if theyturned to him.  2. And that he might leave them the morewithout excuse, should he destroy them, they continuing in theirrebellion.

So the white flag, with the three golden doves in it, was hungout for two days together, to give them time and space toconsider; but they, as was hinted before, as if they wereunconcerned, made no reply to the favourable signal of thePrince.

Then he commanded, and they set the red flag upon that mountcalled Mount Justice.  It was the red flag of CaptainJudgment, whose scutcheon was the burning fiery furnace; and thisalso stood waving before them in the wind for several daystogether.  But look how they carried it under the whiteflag, when that was hung out, so did they also when the red onewas; and yet he took no advantage of them.

Then he commanded again that his servants should hang out theblack flag of defiance against them, whose scutcheon was thethree burning thunderbolts; but as unconcerned was Mansoul atthis as at those that went before.  But when the Prince sawthat neither mercy nor judgment, nor execution of judgment, wouldor could come near the heart of Mansoul, he was touched with muchcompunction, and said, ‘Surely this strange carriage of thetown of Mansoul doth rather arise from ignorance of the mannerand feats of war, than from a secret defiance of us, andabhorrence of their own lives; or if they know the manner of thewar of their own, yet not the rites and ceremonies of the wars inwhich we are concerned, when I make wars upon mine enemyDiabolus.’

Therefore he sent to the town of Mansoul, to let them knowwhat he meant by those signs and ceremonies of the flag; and alsoto know of them which of the things they would choose, whethergrace and mercy, or judgment and the execution of judgment. All this while they kept their gates shut with locks, bolts, andbars, as fast as they could.  Their guards also weredoubled, and their watch made as strong as they could. Diabolus also did pluck up what heart he could, to encourage thetown to make resistance.

The townsmen also made answer to the Prince’s messenger,in substance according to that which follows:—

‘Great Sir,—As to what, by your messenger, youhave signified to us, whether we will accept of your mercy, orfall by your justice, we are bound by the law and custom of thisplace, and can give you no positive answer; for it is against thelaw, government, and the prerogative royal of our king, to makeeither peace or war without him.  But this we willdo,—we will petition that our prince will come down to thewall, and there give you such treatment as he shall think fit andprofitable for us.’

When the good Prince Emmanuel heard this answer, and saw theslavery and bondage of the people, and how much content they wereto abide in the chains of the tyrant Diabolus, it grieved him atthe heart; and, indeed, when at any time he perceived that anywere contented under the slavery of the giant, he would beaffected with it.

But to return again to our purpose.  After the town hadcarried this news to Diabolus, and had told him, moreover, thatthe Prince, that lay in the leaguer without the wall, waited uponthem for an answer, he refused, and huffed as well as he could;but in heart he was afraid.

Then said he, ‘I will go down to the gates myself, andgive him such an answer as I think fit.’  So he wentdown to Mouth-gate, and there addressed himself to speak toEmmanuel, (but in such language as the town understood not,) thecontents whereof were as follows:—

‘O thou great Emmanuel, Lord of all the world, I knowthee, that thou art the Son of the great Shaddai!  Whereforeart thou come to torment me, and to cast me out of mypossession?  This town of Mansoul, as thou very wellknowest, is mine, and that by a twofold right. 1. It is mine byright of conquest; I won it in the open field; and shall the preybe taken from the mighty, or the lawful captive bedelivered?  2. This town of Mansoul is mine also by theirsubjection.  They have opened the gates of their town untome; they have sworn fidelity to me, and have openly chosen me tobe their king; they have also given their castle into my hands;yea, they have put the whole strength of Mansoul under me.

‘Moreover, this town of Mansoul hath disavowed thee,yea, they have cast thy law, thy name, thy image, and all that isthine, behind their back, and have accepted and set up in theirroom my law, my name, my image, and all that ever is mine. Ask else thy captains, and they will tell thee that Mansoul hath,in answer to all their summonses, shown love and loyalty to me,but always disdain, despite, contempt, and scorn to thee andthine.  Now, thou art the Just One and the Holy, andshouldest do no iniquity.  Depart, then, I pray thee,therefore, from me, and leave me to my just inheritancepeaceably.’

This oration was made in the language of Diabolus himself; foralthough he can, to every man, speak in their own language, (elsehe could not tempt them all as he does,) yet he has a languageproper to himself, and it is the language of the infernal cave,or black pit.

Wherefore the town of Mansoul (poor hearts!) understood himnot; nor did they see how he crouched and cringed while he stoodbefore Emmanuel, their Prince.

Yea, they all this while took him to be one of that power andforce that by no means could be resisted.  Wherefore, whilehe was thus entreating that he might have yet his residencethere, and that Emmanuel would not take it from him by force, theinhabitants boasted even of his valour, saying, ‘Who isable to make war with him?’

Well, when this pretended king had made an end of what hewould say, Emmanuel, the golden Prince, stood up and spake; thecontents of whose words follow:—

‘Thou deceiving one,’ said he, ‘I have, inmy Father’s name, in mine own name, and on the behalf andfor the good of this wretched town of Mansoul, somewhat to sayunto thee.  Thou pretendest a right, a lawful right, to thedeplorable town of Mansoul, when it is most apparent to all myFather’s court that the entrance which thou hast obtainedin at the gates of Mansoul was through thy lie and falsehood;thou beliedst my Father, thou beliedst his law, and so deceivedstthe people of Mansoul.  Thou pretendest that the people haveaccepted thee for their king, their captain, and right liegelord; but that also was by the exercise of deceit andguile.  Now, if lying, wiliness, sinful craft, and allmanner of horrible hypocrisy, will go in my Father’s court(in which court thou must be tried) for equity and right, thenwill I confess unto thee that thou hast made a lawfulconquest.  But, alas! what thief, what tyrant, what devil isthere that may not conquer after this sort?  But I can makeit appear, O Diabolus, that thou, in all thy pretences to aconquest of Mansoul, hast nothing of truth to say.  Thinkestthou this to be right, that that didst put the lie upon myFather, and madest him (to Mansoul) the greatest deluder in theworld?  And what sayest thou to thy perverting knowingly theright purport and intent of the law?  Was it good also thatthou madest a prey of the innocency and simplicity of the nowmiserable town of Mansoul?  Yea, thou didst overcome Mansoulby promising to them happiness in their transgressions against myFather’s law, when thou knewest, and couldest not but know,hadst thou consulted nothing but thine own experience, that thatwas the way to undo them.  Thou hast also thyself, O thoumaster of enmity, of spite defaced my Father’s image inMansoul, and set up thy own in its place, to the great contemptof my Father, the heightening of thy sin, and to the intolerabledamage of the perishing town of Mansoul.

‘Thou hast, moreover, (as if all these were but littlethings with thee,) not only deluded and undone this place, but,by thy lies and fradulent carriage, hast set them against theirown deliverance.  How hast thou stirred them up against myFather’s captains, and made them to fight against thosethat were sent of him to deliver them from their bondage! All these things, and very many more, thou hast done against thylight, and in contempt of my Father and of his law, yea, and withdesign to bring under his displeasure for ever the miserable townof Mansoul.  I am therefore come to avenge the wrong thatthou hast done to my Father, and to deal with thee for theblasphemies wherewith thou hast made poor Mansoul blaspheme hisname.  Yea, upon thy head, thou prince of the infernal cave,will I requite it.

‘As for myself, O Diabolus, I am come against thee bylawful power, and to take, by strength of hand, this town ofMansoul out of thy burning fingers; for this town of Mansoul ismine, O Diabolus, and that by undoubted right, as all shall seethat will diligently search the most ancient and most authenticrecords, and I will plead my title to it, to the confusion of thyface.

‘First, for the town of Mansoul, my Father built and didfashion it with his hand.  The palace also that is in themidst of that town, he built it for his own delight.  Thistown of Mansoul, therefore, is my Father’s, and that by thebest of titles, and he that gainsays the truth of this must lieagainst his soul.

‘Secondly, O thou master of the lie, this town ofMansoul is mine.

‘1. For that I am my Father’s heir, his firstborn,and the only delight of his heart.  I am therefore come upagainst thee in mine own right, even to recover mine owninheritance out of thine hand.

‘2. But further, as I have a right and title to Mansoulby being my Father’s heir, so I have also by myFather’s donation.  His it was, and he gave it me; norhave I at any time offended my Father, that he should take itfrom me, and give it to thee.  Nor have I been forced, byplaying the bankrupt, to sell or set to sale to thee my belovedtown of Mansoul.  Mansoul is my desire, my delight, and thejoy of my heart.  But,

‘3. Mansoul is mine by right of purchase.  I havebought it, O Diabolus, I have bought it to myself.  Now,since it was my Father’s and mine, as I was his heir, andsince also I have made it mine by virtue of a great purchase, itfolloweth that, by all lawful right, the town of Mansoul is mine,and that thou art an usurper, a tyrant, and traitor, in thyholding possession thereof.  Now, the cause of my purchasingof it was this: Mansoul had trespassed against my Father; now myFather had said, that in the day that they broke his law theyshould die.  Now, it is more possible for heaven and earthto pass away than for my Father to break his word. Wherefore when Mansoul had sinned indeed by hearkening to thylie, I put in and became a surety to my Father, body for body,and soul for soul, that I would make amends for Mansoul’stransgressions, and my Father did accept thereof.  So, whenthe time appointed was come, I gave body for body, soul for soul,life for life, blood for blood, and so redeemed my belovedMansoul.

‘4. Nor did I do this by halves: my Father’s lawand justice, that were both concerned in the threatening upontransgression, are both now satisfied, and very well content thatMansoul should be delivered.

‘5. Nor am I come out this day against thee, but bycommandment of my Father; it was he that said unto me, “Godown and deliver Mansoul.”

‘Wherefore be it known unto thee, O thou fountain ofdeceit, and be it also known to the foolish town of Mansoul, thatI am not come against thee this day without my Father.

‘And now,’ said the golden-headed Prince, ‘Ihave a word to the town of Mansoul.’  But so soon asmention was made that he had a word to speak to the besotted townof Mansoul, the gates were double-guarded, and all men commandednot to give him audience.  So he proceeded and said,‘O unhappy town of Mansoul, I cannot but be touched withpity and compassion for thee.  Thou hast accepted ofDiabolus for thy king, and art become a nurse and minister ofDiabolonians against thy sovereign Lord.  Thy gates thouhast opened to him, but hast shut them fast against me; thou hastgiven him an hearing, but hast stopped thine ears at mycry.  He brought to thee thy destruction, and thou didstreceive both him and it: I am come to thee bringing salvation,but thou regardest me not.  Besides, thou hast, as withsacrilegious hands, taken thyself, with all that was mine inthee, and hast given all to my foe, and to the greatest enemy myFather has.  You have bowed and subjected yourselves to him,you have vowed and sworn yourselves to be his.  PoorMansoul! what shall I do unto thee?  Shall I savethee?—shall I destroy thee?  What shall I do untothee?  Shall I fall upon thee, and grind thee to powder, ormake thee a monument of the richest grace?  What shall I dounto thee?  Hearken, therefore, thou town of Mansoul,hearken to my word, and thou shalt live.  I am merciful,Mansoul, and thou shalt find me so: shut me not out of thygates.

‘O Mansoul, neither is my commission nor inclination atall to do thee hurt.  Why fliest thou so fast from thyfriend, and stickest so close to thine enemy?  Indeed, Iwould have thee, because it becomes thee to be sorry for thy sin,but do not despair of life; this great force is not to hurt thee,but to deliver thee from thy bondage, and to reduce thee to thyobedience.

‘My commission, indeed, is to make a war upon Diabolusthy king, and upon all Diabolonians with him; for he is thestrong man armed that keeps the house, and I will have him out:his spoils I must divide, his armour I must take from him, hishold I must cast him out of, and must make it a habitation formyself.  And this, O Mansoul, shall Diabolus know when heshall be made to follow me in chains, and when Mansoul shallrejoice to see it so.

‘I could, would I now put forth my might, cause thatforthwith he should leave you and depart; but I have it in myheart so to deal with him, as that the justice of the war that Ishall make upon him may be seen and acknowledged by all.  Hehath taken Mansoul by fraud, and keeps it by violence and deceit,and I will make him bare and naked in the eyes of allobservers.

‘All my words are true.  I am mighty to save, andwill deliver my Mansoul out of his hand.’

This speech was intended chiefly for Mansoul, but Mansoulwould not have the hearing of it.  They shut up Ear-gate,they barricaded it up, they kept it locked and bolted, they set aguard thereat, and commanded that no Mansoulonian should go outto him, nor that any from the camp should be admitted into thetown.  All this they did, so horribly had Diabolus enchantedthem to do, and seek to do for him, against their rightful Lordand Prince; wherefore no man, nor voice, nor sound of man thatbelonged to the glorious host, was to come into the town.

So when Emmanuel saw that Mansoul was thus involved in sin, hecalls his army together, (since now also his words weredespised,) and gave out a commandment throughout all his host tobe ready against the time appointed.  Now, forasmuch asthere was no way lawfully to take the town of Mansoul but to getin by the gates, and at Ear-gate as the chief, therefore hecommanded his captains and commanders to bring their rams, theirslings and their men, and place them at Eye-gate and Ear-gate, inorder to his taking the town.

When Emmanuel had put all things in a readiness to giveDiabolus battle, he sent again to know of the town of Mansoul, ifin peaceable manner they would yield themselves, or whether theywere yet resolved to put him to try the utmost extremity? They then, together with Diabolus their king, called a council ofwar, and resolved upon certain propositions that should beoffered to Emmanuel, if he will accept thereof, so they agreed;and then the next was, who should be sent on this errand. Now, there was in the town of Mansoul an old man, a Diabolonian,and his name was Mr. Loth-to-stoop, a stiff man in his way, and agreat doer for Diabolus; him, therefore, they sent, and put intohis mouth what he should say.  So he went and came to thecamp to Emmanuel, and when he was come, a time was appointed togive him audience.  So at the time he came, and after aDiabolonian ceremony or two, he thus began and said, ‘Greatsir, that it may be known unto all men how good-natured a princemy master is, he has sent me to tell your lordship that he isvery willing, rather than go to war, to deliver up into yourhands one half of the town of Mansoul.  I am therefore toknow if your Mightiness will accept of thisproposition.’

Then said Emmanuel, ‘The whole is mine by gift andpurchase, wherefore I will never lose one half.’

Then said Mr. Loth-to-stoop, ‘Sir, my master hath saidthat he will be content that you shall be the nominal and titularLord of all, if he may possess but a part.’

Then Emmanuel answered, ‘The whole is mine really, notin name and word only; wherefore I will be the sole lord andpossessor of all, or of none at all, of Mansoul.’

Then Mr. Loth-to-stoop said again, ‘Sir, behold thecondescension of my master!  He says, that he will becontent, if he may but have assigned to him some place in Mansoulas a place to live privately in, and you shall be Lord of all therest.’

Then said the golden Prince, ‘All that the Father givethme shall come to me; and of all that he giveth me I will losenothing—no, not a hoof nor a hair.  I will not,therefore, grant him, no, not the least corner of Mansoul todwell in; I will have all to myself.’

Then Loth-to-stoop said again, ‘But, sir, suppose thatmy Lord should resign the whole town to you, only with thisproviso, that he sometimes, when he comes into this country, may,for old acquaintance’ sake, be entertained as a wayfaringman for two days, or ten days or a month, or so.  May notthis small matter be granted?’

Then said Emmanuel, ‘No.  He came as a wayfaringman to David, nor did he stay long with him, and yet it had liketo have cost David his soul.  I will not consent that heever should have any harbour more there.’

Then said Mr. Loth-to-stoop, ‘Sir, you seem to be veryhard.  Suppose my master should yield to all that yourlordship hath said, provided that his friends and kindred inMansoul may have liberty to trade in the town, and to enjoy theirpresent dwellings.  May not that be granted, sir?’

Then said Emmanuel, ‘No; that is contrary to myFather’s will; for all, and all manner of Diabolonians thatnow are, or that at any time shall be found in Mansoul, shall notonly lose their lands and liberties, but also theirlives.’

Then said Mr. Loth-to-stoop again, ‘But, sir, may not mymaster and great lord, by letters, by passengers, by accidentalopportunities, and the like, maintain, if he shall deliver up allunto thee, some kind of old friendship with Mansoul?’

Emmanuel answered, ‘No, by no means; forasmuch as anysuch fellowship, friendship, intimacy, or acquaintance, in whatway, sort, or mode soever maintained, will tend to the corruptingof Mansoul, the alienating of their affections from me, and theendangering of their peace with my Father.’

Mr. Loth-to-stoop yet added further, saying, ‘But, greatsir, since my master hath many friends, and those that are dearto him, in Mansoul, may he not, if he shall depart from them,even of his bounty and good-nature, bestow upon them, as he seesfit, some tokens of his love and kindness that he had for them,to the end that Mansoul, when he is gone, may look upon suchtokens of kindness once received from their old friend, andremember him who was once their king, and the merry times thatthey sometimes enjoyed one with another, while he and they livedin peace together?’

Then said Emmanuel, ‘No; for if Mansoul come to be mine,I shall not admit of nor consent that there should be the leastscrap, shred, or dust of Diabolus left behind, as tokens of giftsbestowed upon any in Mansoul, thereby to call to remembrance thehorrible communion that was betwixt them and him.’

‘Well, sir,’ said Mr. Loth-to-stoop, ‘I haveone thing more to propound, and then I am got to the end of mycommission.  Suppose that, when my master is gone fromMansoul, any that shall yet live in the town should have suchbusiness of high concerns to do, that if they be neglected theparty shall be undone; and suppose, sir, that nobody can help inthat case so well as my master and lord, may not now my master besent for upon so urgent an occasion as this?  Or if he maynot be admitted into the town, may not he and the personconcerned meet in some of the villages near Mansoul, and therelay their heads together, and there consult ofmatters?’

This was the last of those ensnaring propositions that Mr.Loth-to-stoop had to propound to Emmanuel on behalf of his masterDiabolus; but Emmanuel would not grant it; for he said,‘There can be no case, or thing, or matter fall out inMansoul, when thy master shall be gone, that may not be solved bymy Father; besides, it will be a great disparagement to myFather’s wisdom and skill to admit any from Mansoul to goout to Diabolus for advice, when they are bid before, ineverything, by prayer and supplication to let their requests bemade known to my Father.  Further, this, should it begranted, would be to grant that a door should be set open forDiabolus, and the Diabolonians in Mansoul, to hatch, and plot,and bring to pass treasonable designs, to the grief of my Fatherand me, and to the utter destruction of Mansoul.’

When Mr. Loth-to-stoop had heard this answer, he took hisleave of Emmanuel, and departed, saying that he would carry wordto his master concerning this whole affair.  So he departed,and came to Diabolus to Mansoul, and told him the whole of thematter, and how Emmanuel would not admit, no, not by any means,that he, when he was once gone out, should for ever have anythingmore to do either in, or with any that are of the town ofMansoul.  When Mansoul and Diabolus had heard this relationof things, they with one consent concluded to use their bestendeavour to keep Emmanuel out of Mansoul, and sent oldIll-Pause, of whom you have heard before, to tell the Prince andhis captains so.  So the old gentleman came up to the top ofEar-gate, and called to the camp for a hearing, who when theygave audience, he said, ‘I have in commandment from my highlord to bid you tell it to your Prince Emmanuel, that Mansoul andtheir king are resolved to stand and fall together; and that itis in vain for your Prince to think of ever having Mansoul in hishand, unless he can take it by force.’  So some wentand told to Emmanuel what old Ill-Pause, a Diabolonian inMansoul, had said.  Then said the Prince, ‘I must trythe power of my sword, for I will not (for all the rebellions andrepulses that Mansoul has made against me) raise my siege anddepart, but will assuredly take my Mansoul, and deliver it fromthe hand of her enemy.’  And with that he gave out acommandment that Captain Boanerges, Captain Conviction, CaptainJudgment, and Captain Execution should forthwith march up toEar-gate with trumpets sounding, colours flying, and withshouting for the battle.  Also he would that CaptainCredence should join himself with them.  Emmanuel, moreover,gave order that Captain Good-Hope and Captain Charity should drawthemselves up before Eye-gate.  He bid also that the rest ofhis captains and their men should place themselves for the bestof their advantage against the enemy round about the town; andall was done as he had commanded.

Then he bid that the word should be given forth, and the wordwas at that time, ‘Emmanuel.’  Then was an alarmsounded, and the battering-rams were played, and the slings didwhirl stones into the town amain, and thus the battlebegan.  Now Diabolus himself did manage the townsmen in thewar, and that at every gate; wherefore their resistance was themore forcible, hellish, and offensive to Emmanuel.  Thus wasthe good Prince engaged and entertained by Diabolus and Mansoulfor several days together; and a sight worth seeing it was tobehold how the captains of Shaddai behaved themselves in thiswar.

And first for Captain Boanerges, (not to under-value therest,) he made three most fierce assaults, one after another,upon Ear-gate, to the shaking of the posts thereof.  CaptainConviction, he also made up as fast with Boanerges as possibly hecould, and both discerning that the gate began to yield, theycommanded that the rams should still be played against it. Now, Captain Conviction, going up very near to the gate, was withgreat force driven back, and received three wounds in themouth.  And those that rode reformades, they went about toencourage the captains.

For the valour of the two captains, made mention of before,the Prince sent for them to his pavilion, and commanded that awhile they should rest themselves, and that with somewhat theyshould be refreshed.  Care also was taken for CaptainConviction, that he should be healed of his wounds.  ThePrince also gave to each of them a chain of gold, and bid themyet be of good courage.

Nor did Captain Good-Hope nor Captain Charity come behind inthis most desperate fight, for they so well did behave themselvesat Eye-gate, that they had almost broken it quite open. These also had a reward from their Prince, as also had the restof the captains, because they did valiantly round about thetown.

In this engagement several of the officers of Diabolus wereslain, and some of the townsmen wounded.  For the officers,there was one Captain Boasting slain.  This Boasting thoughtthat nobody could have shaken the posts of Ear-gate, nor haveshaken the heart of Diabolus.  Next to him there was oneCaptain Secure slain: this Secure used to say that the blind andlame in Mansoul were able to keep the gates of the town againstEmmanuel’s army.  This Captain Secure did CaptainConviction cleave down the head with a two-handed sword, when hereceived himself three wounds in his mouth.

Besides these there was one Captain Bragman, a very desperatefellow, and he was captain over a band of those that threwfirebrands, arrows, and death: he also received, by the hand ofCaptain Good-Hope at Eye-gate, a mortal wound in the breast.

There was, moreover, one Mr. Feeling; but he was no captain,but a great stickler to encourage Mansoul to rebellion.  Hereceived a wound in the eye by the hand of one ofBoanerges’ soldiers, and had by the captain himself beenslain, but that he made a sudden retreat.

But I never saw Willbewill so daunted in all my life; he wasnot able to do as he was wont, and some say that he also receiveda wound in the leg, and that some of the men in thePrince’s army have certainly seen him limp as he afterwardswalked on the wall.

I shall not give you a particular account of the names of thesoldiers that were slain in the town, for many were maimed, andwounded, and slain; for when they saw that the posts of Ear-gatedid shake, and Eye-gate was well-nigh broken quite open, and alsothat their captains were slain, this took away the hearts of manyof the Diabolonians; they fell also by the force of the shot thatwere sent by the golden slings into the midst of the town ofMansoul.

Of the townsmen, there was one Love-no-Good; he was atownsman, but a Diabolonian; he also received his mortal wound inMansoul, but he died not very soon.

Mr. Ill-Pause also, who was the man that came along withDiabolus when at first he attempted the taking of Mansoul, healso received a grievous wound in the head; some say that hisbrain-pan was cracked.  This I have taken notice of, that hewas never after this able to do that mischief to Mansoul as hehad done in times past.  Also old Prejudice and Mr. Anythingfled.

Now, when the battle was over, the Prince commanded that yetonce more the white flag should be set upon Mount Gracious insight of the town of Mansoul, to show that yet Emmanuel had gracefor the wretched town of Mansoul.

When Diabolus saw the white flag hung out again, and knowingthat it was not for him, but Mansoul, he cast in his mind to playanother prank, to wit, to see if Emmanuel would raise his siegeand begone, upon promise of reformation.  So he comes downto the gate one evening, a good while after the sun was gonedown, and calls to speak with Emmanuel, who presently came downto the gate, and Diabolus saith unto him:

‘Forasmuch as thou makest it appear by thy white flagthat thou art wholly given to peace and quiet, I thought meet toacquaint thee that we are ready to accept thereof upon termswhich thou mayest admit.

‘I know that thou art given to devotion, and thatholiness pleaseth thee; yea, that thy great end in making a warupon Mansoul is, that it may be a holy habitation.  Well,draw off thy forces from the town, and I will bend Mansoul to thybow.

‘First, I will lay down all acts of hostility againstthee, and will be willing to become thy deputy, and will, as Ihave formerly been against thee, now serve thee in the town ofMansoul.  And more particularly,

‘1. I will persuade Mansoul to receive thee for theirLord; and I know that they will do it the sooner when they shallunderstand that I am thy deputy.

‘2. I will show them wherein they have erred, and thattransgression stands in the way to life.

‘3. I will show them the holy law unto which they mustconform, even that which they have broken.

‘4. I will press upon them the necessity of areformation according to thy law.

‘5. And, moreover, that none of these things may fail, Imyself, at my own proper cost and charge, will set up andmaintain a sufficient ministry, besides lectures, in Mansoul.

‘6. Thou shalt receive, as a token of our subjection tothee, year by year, what thou shalt think fit to lay and levyupon us in token of our subjection to thee.’

Then said Emmanuel to him, ‘O full of deceit, howmovable are thy ways!  How often hast thou changed andrechanged, if so be thou mightest still keep possession of myMansoul, though, as has been plainly declared before, I am theright heir thereof!  Often hast thou made thy proposalsalready, nor is this last a whit better than they.  Andfailing to deceive when thou showedst thyself in thy black, thouhast now transformed thyself into an angel of light, and wouldst,to deceive, be now as a minister of righteousness.

‘But know thou, O Diabolus, that nothing must beregarded that thou canst propound, for nothing is done by theebut to deceive.  Thou neither hast conscience to God, norlove to the town of Mansoul; whence, then, should these thysayings arise but from sinful craft and deceit?  He that canof list and will propound what he pleases, and that wherewith hemay destroy them that believe him, is to be abandoned, with allthat he shall say.  But if righteousness be such abeauty-spot in thine eyes now, how is it that wickedness was soclosely stuck to by thee before?  But this isby-the-bye.

‘Thou talkest now of a reformation in Mansoul, and thatthou thyself, if I will please, wilt be at the head of thatreformation; all the while knowing that the greatest proficiencythat man can make in the law, and the righteousness thereof, willamount to no more, for the taking away of the curse from Mansoul,than just nothing at all; for a law being broken by Mansoul, thathad before, upon a supposition of the breach thereof, a cursepronounced against him for it of God, can never, by his obeyingof the law, deliver himself therefrom (to say nothing of what areformation is like to be set up in Mansoul when the devil isbecome corrector of vice).  Thou knowest that all that thouhast now said in this matter is nothing but guile and deceit; andis, as it was the first, so is it the last card that thou hast toplay.  Many there be that do soon discern thee when thoushowest them thy cloven foot; but in thy white, thy light, and inthy transformation, thou art seen but of a few.  But thoushalt not do thus with my Mansoul, O Diabolus; for I do stilllove my Mansoul.

‘Besides, I am not come to put Mansoul upon works tolive thereby; should I do so, I should be like unto thee: but Iam come that by me, and by what I have and shall do for Mansoul,they may to my Father be reconciled, though by their sin theyhave provoked him to anger, and though by the law they cannotobtain mercy.

‘Thou talkest of subjecting of this town to good, whennone desireth it at thy hands.  I am sent by my Father topossess it myself, and to guide it by the skilfulness of my handsinto such a conformity to him as shall be pleasing in hissight.  I will therefore possess it myself; I willdispossess and cast thee out; I will set up mine own standard inthe midst of them; I will also govern them by new laws, newofficers, new motives, and new ways; yea, I will pull down thistown, and build it again; and it shall be as though it had notbeen, and it shall then be the glory of the wholeuniverse.’

When Diabolus heard this, and perceived that he was discoveredin all his deceits, he was confounded, and utterly put to anonplus; but having in himself the fountain of iniquity, rage,and malice against both Shaddai and his Son, and the beloved townof Mansoul, what doth he but strengthen himself what he could togive fresh battle to the noble Prince Emmanuel?  So, then,now we must have another fight before the town of Mansoul istaken.  Come up, then, to the mountains, you that love tosee military actions, and behold by both sides how the fatal blowis given, while one seeks to hold, and the other seeks to makehimself master of the famous town of Mansoul.

Diabolus, therefore, having withdrawn himself from the wall tohis force that was in the heart of the town of Mansoul, Emmanuelalso returned to the camp; and both of them, after their diversways, put themselves into a posture fit to give battle one toanother.

Diabolus, as filled with despair of retaining in his hands thefamous town of Mansoul, resolved to do what mischief he could(if, indeed, he could do any) to the army of the Prince and tothe famous town of Mansoul; for, alas! it was not the happinessof the silly town of Mansoul that was designed by Diabolus, butthe utter ruin and overthrow thereof, as now is enough inview.  Wherefore, he commands his officers that they shouldthen, when they see that they could hold the town no longer, doit what harm and mischief they could, rendering and tearing men,women, and children.  ‘For,’ said he, ‘wehad better quite demolish the place, and leave it like a ruinousheap, than so leave it that it may be an habitation forEmmanuel.’

Emmanuel again, knowing that the next battle would issue inhis being made master of the place, gave out a royal commandmentto all his officers, high captains, and men of war, to be sure toshow themselves men of war against Diabolus and all Diabolonians;but favourable, merciful, and meek to the old inhabitants ofMansoul.  ‘Bend, therefore,’ said the noblePrince, ‘the hottest front of the battle against Diabolusand his men.’

So the day being come, the command was given, and thePrince’s men did bravely stand to their arms, and did, asbefore, bend their main force against Ear-gate andEye-gate.  The word was then, ‘Mansoul is won!’so they made their assault upon the town.  Diabolus also, asfast as he could, with the main of his power, made resistancefrom within; and his high lords and chief captains for a timefought very cruelly against the Prince’s army.

But after three or four notable charges by the Prince and hisnoble captains, Ear-gate was broken open, and the bars and boltswherewith it was used to be fast shut up against the Prince, werebroken into a thousand pieces.  Then did the Prince’strumpets sound, the captains shout, the town shake, and Diabolusretreat to his hold.  Well, when the Prince’s forceshad broken open the gate, himself came up and did set his thronein it; also he set his standard thereby, upon a mount that beforeby his men was cast up to place the mighty slings thereon. The mount was called Mount Hear-well.  There, therefore, thePrince abode, to wit, hard by the going in at the gate.  Hecommanded also that the golden slings should yet be played uponthe town, especially against the castle, because for shelterthither was Diabolus retreated.  Now, from Ear-gate thestreet was straight even to the house of Mr. Recorder that so wasbefore Diabolus took the town; and hard by his house stood thecastle, which Diabolus for a long time had made his irksomeden.  The captains, therefore, did quickly clear that streetby the use of their slings, so that way was made up to the heartof the town.  Then did the Prince command that CaptainBoanerges, Captain Conviction, and Captain Judgment, shouldforthwith march up the town to the old gentleman’sgate.  Then did the captains in the most warlike mannerenter into the town of Mansoul, and marching in with flyingcolours, they came up to the Recorder’s house, and that wasalmost as strong as was the castle.  Battering-rams theytook also with them, to plant against the castle gates. When they were come to the house of Mr. Conscience, they knocked,and demanded entrance.  Now, the old gentleman, not knowingas yet fully their design, kept his gates shut all the time ofthis fight.  Wherefore Boanerges demanded entrance at hisgates; and no man making answer, he gave it one stroke with thehead of a ram, and this made the old gentleman shake, and hishouse to tremble and totter.  Then came Mr. Recorder down tothe gates, and, as he could, with quivering lips he asked who wasthere?  Boanerges answered, ‘We are the captains andcommanders of the great Shaddai and of the blessed Emmanuel, hisSon, and we demand possession of your house for the use of ournoble Prince.’  And with that the battering-ram gavethe gate another shake.  This made the old gentleman tremblethe more, yet durst he not but open the gate: then theKing’s forces marched in, namely, the three brave captainsmentioned before.  Now, the Recorder’s house was aplace of much convenience for Emmanuel, not only because it wasnear to the castle and strong, but also because it was large, andfronted the castle, the den where now Diabolus was, for he wasnow afraid to come out of his hold.  As for Mr. Recorder,the captains carried it very reservedly to him; as yet he knewnothing of the great designs of Emmanuel, so that he did not knowwhat judgment to make, nor what would be the end of suchthundering beginnings.  It was also presently noised in thetown how the Recorder’s house was possessed, his roomstaken up, and his palace made the seat of the war; and no soonerwas it noised abroad, but they took the alarm as warmly, and gaveit out to others of his friends, and you know, as a snowballloses nothing by rolling, so in little time the whole town waspossessed that they must expect nothing from the Prince butdestruction; and the ground of the business was this, theRecorder was afraid, the Recorder trembled, and the captainscarried it strangely to the Recorder.  So many came to see,but when they with their own eyes did behold the captains in thepalace, and their battering-rams ever playing at the castle gatesto beat them down, they were riveted in their fears, and it madethem all in amaze.  And, as I said, the man of the housewould increase all this; for whoever came to him, or discoursedwith him, nothing would he talk of, tell them, or hear, but thatdeath and destruction now attended Mansoul.

‘For,’ quoth the old gentleman, ‘you are allof you sensible that we all have been traitors to that oncedespised, but now famously victorious and glorious PrinceEmmanuel; for he now, as you see, doth not only lie in closesiege about us, but hath forced his entrance in at ourgates.  Moreover, Diabolus flees before him; and he hath, asyou behold, made of my house a garrison against the castle wherehe is.  I, for my part, have transgressed greatly, and hethat is clean, it is well for him.  But I say I havetransgressed greatly in keeping silence when I should havespoken, and in perverting justice when I should have executed thesame.  True, I have suffered something at the hand ofDiabolus for taking part with the laws of King Shaddai; but that,alas! what will that do? Will that make compensation for therebellions and treasons that I have done, and have sufferedwithout gainsaying to be committed in the town of Mansoul? Oh! Itremble to think what will be the end of this so dreadful and soireful a beginning!’

Now, while these brave captains were thus busy in the house ofthe old Recorder, Captain Execution was as busy in other parts ofthe town, in securing the back streets and the walls.  Healso hunted the Lord Willbewill sorely; he suffered him not torest in any corner; he pursued him so hard that he drove his menfrom him, and made him glad to thrust his head into a hole. Also this mighty warrior did cut three of the LordWillbewill’s officers down to the ground: one was old Mr.Prejudice, he that had his crown cracked in the mutiny. This man was made by Lord Willbewill keeper of the Ear-gate, andfell by the hand of Captain Execution.  There was also oneMr. Backward-to-all-but-naught, and he also was one of LordWillbewill’s officers, and was the captain of the two gunsthat once were mounted on the top of Ear-gate; he also was cutdown to the ground by the hands of Captain Execution. Besides these two there was another, a third, and his name wasCaptain Treacherous; a vile man this was, but one that Willbewilldid put a great deal of confidence in; but him also did thisCaptain Execution cut down to the ground with the rest.

He also made a very great slaughter among my LordWillbewill’s soldiers, killing many that were stout andsturdy, and wounding many that for Diabolus were nimble andactive.  But all these were Diabolonians; there was not aman, a native of Mansoul, hurt.

Other feats of war were also likewise performed by other ofthe captains, as at Eye-gate, where Captain Good-Hope and CaptainCharity had a charge, was great execution done; for the CaptainGood-Hope, with his own hands, slew one Captain Blindfold, thekeeper of that gate.  This Blindfold was captain of athousand men, and they were they that fought with mauls; he alsopursued his men, slew many, and wounded more, and made the resthide their heads in corners.

There was also at that gate Mr. Ill-Pause, of whom you haveheard before.  He was an old man, and had a beard thatreached down to his girdle: the same was he that was orator toDiabolus: he did much mischief in the town of Mansoul, and fellby the hand of Captain Good-Hope.

What shall I say?  The Diabolonians in these days laydead in every corner, though too many yet were alive inMansoul.

Now, the old Recorder and my Lord Understanding, with someothers of the chief of the town, to wit, such as knew they muststand and fall with the famous town of Mansoul, came togetherupon a day, and after consultation had, did jointly agree to drawup a petition, and to send it to Emmanuel, now while he sat inthe gate of Mansoul.  So they drew up their petition toEmmanuel, the contents whereof were these: That they, the oldinhabitants of the now deplorable town of Mansoul, confessedtheir sin, and were sorry that they had offended his princelyMajesty, and prayed that he would spare their lives.

Unto this petition he gave no answer at all, and that didtrouble them yet so much the more.  Now, all this while thecaptains that were in the Recorder’s house were playingwith the battering-rams at the gates of the castle, to beat themdown.  So after some time, labour, and travail, the gate ofthe castle that was called Impregnable was beaten open, andbroken into several splinters, and so a way made to go up to thehold in which Diabolus had hid himself.  Then were tidingssent down to Ear-gate, for Emmanuel still abode there, to let himknow that a way was made in at the gates of the castle ofMansoul.  But, oh! how the trumpets at the tidings soundedthroughout the Prince’s camp, for that now the war was sonear an end, and Mansoul itself of being set free.

Then the Prince arose from the place where he was, and tookwith him such of his men of war as were fittest for thatexpedition, and marched up the street of Mansoul to the oldRecorder’s house.

Now, the Prince himself was clad all in armour of gold, and sohe marched up the town with his standard borne before him; but hekept his countenance much reserved all the way as he went, sothat the people could not tell how to gather to themselves loveor hatred by his looks.  Now, as he marched up the street,the townsfolk came out at every door to see, and could not but betaken with his person and the glory thereof, but wondered at thereservedness of his countenance; for as yet he spake more to themby his actions and works than he did by words or smiles. But also poor Mansoul, (as in such cases all are apt to do,) theyinterpreted the carriage of Emmanuel to them as didJoseph’s brethren his to them, even all the quite contraryway.  ‘For,’ thought they, ‘if Emmanuelloved us, he would show it to us by word of carriage; but none ofthese he doth, therefore Emmanuel hates us.  Now, ifEmmanuel hates us, then Mansoul shall be slain, then Mansoulshall become a dunghill.’  They knew that they hadtransgressed his Father’s law, and that against him theyhad been in with Diabolus, his enemy.  They also knew thatthe Prince Emmanuel knew all this; for they were convinced thathe was an angel of God, to know all things that are done in theearth; and this made them think that their condition wasmiserable, and that the good Prince would make them desolate.

‘And,’ thought they, ‘what time so fit to dothis in as now, when he has the bridle of Mansoul in hishand?’  And this I took special notice of, that theinhabitants, notwithstanding all this, could not—no, theycould not, when they see him march through the town, but cringe,bow, bend, and were ready to lick the dust of his feet. They also wished a thousand times over that he would become theirPrince and Captain, and would become their protection.  Theywould also one to another talk of the comeliness of his person,and how much for glory and valour he outstripped the great onesof the world.  But, poor hearts, as to themselves, theirthoughts would chance, and go upon all manner of extremes. Yea, through the working of them backward and forward, Mansoulbecame as a ball tossed, and as a rolling thing before thewhirlwind.

Now, when he was come to the castle gates, he commandedDiabolus to appear, and to surrender himself into hishands.  But, oh! how loath was the beast to appear! how hestuck at it! how he shrank! how he cringed! yet out he came tothe Prince.  Then Emmanuel commanded, and they took Diabolusand bound him fast in chains, the better to reserve him to thejudgment that he had appointed for him.  But Diabolus stoodup to entreat for himself that Emmanuel would not send him intothe deep, but suffer him to depart out of Mansoul in peace.

When Emmanuel had taken him and bound him in chains, he ledhim into the marketplace, and there, before Mansoul, stripped himof his armour in which he boasted so much before.  This nowwas one of the acts of triumph of Emmanuel over his enemy; andall the while that the giant was stripping, the trumpets of thegolden Prince did sound amain; the captains also shouted, and thesoldiers did sing for joy.

Then was Mansoul called upon to behold the beginning ofEmmanuel’s triumph over him in whom they so much hadtrusted, and of whom they so much had boasted in the days when heflattered them.

Thus having made Diabolus naked in the eyes of Mansoul, andbefore the commanders of the Prince, in the next place, hecommands that Diabolus should be bound with chains to his chariotwheels.  Then leaving some of his forces, to wit, CaptainBoanerges and Captain Conviction, as a guard for thecastle-gates, that resistance might be made on his behalf, (ifany that heretofore followed Diabolus should make an attempt topossess it,) he did ride in triumph over him quite through thetown of Mansoul, and so out at and before the gate calledEye-gate, to the plain where his camp did lie.

But you cannot think, unless you had been there, as I was,what a shout there was in Emmanuel’s camp when they saw thetyrant bound by the hand of their noble Prince, and tied to hischariot wheels!

And they said, ‘He hath led captivity captive, he hathspoiled principalities and powers.  Diabolus is subjected tothe power of his sword, and made the object of allderision.’

Those also that rode reformades, and that came down to see thebattle, they shouted with that greatness of voice, and sung withsuch melodious notes, that they caused them that dwell in thehighest orbs to open their windows, put out their heads, and lookto see the cause of that glory.

The townsmen also, so many of them as saw this sight, were, asit were, while they looked, betwixt the earth and theheavens.  True, they could not tell what would be the issueof things as to them; but all things were done in such excellentmethods, and I cannot tell how, but things in the management ofthem seemed to cast a smile towards the town, so that their eyes,their heads, their hearts, and their minds, and all that theyhad, were taken and held while they observed Emmanuel’sorder.

So, when the brave Prince had finished this part of histriumph over Diabolus his foe, he turned him up in the midst ofhis contempt and shame, having given him a charge no more to be apossessor of Mansoul.  Then went he from Emmanuel, and outof the midst of his camp, to inherit the parched places in a saltland, seeking rest, but finding none.

Now, Captain Boanerges and Captain Conviction were, both ofthem, men of very great majesty; their faces were like the facesof lions, and their words like the roaring of the sea; and theystill quartered in Mr. Conscience’s house, of whom mentionwas made before.  When, therefore, the high and mightyPrince had thus far finished his triumph over Diabolus, thetownsmen had more leisure to view and to behold the actions ofthese noble captains.  But the captains carried it with thatterror and dread in all that they did, (and you may be sure thatthey had private instructions so to do,) that they kept the townunder continual heart-aching, and caused (in their apprehension)the well-being of Mansoul for the future to hang in doubt beforethem, so that for some considerable time they neither knew whatrest, or ease, or peace, or hope meant.

Nor did the Prince himself as yet abide in the town ofMansoul, but in his royal pavilion in the camp, and in the midstof his Father’s forces.  So, at a time convenient, hesent special orders to Captain Boanerges to summons Mansoul, thewhole of the townsmen, into the castle-yard, and then and there,before their faces, to take my Lord Understanding, Mr.Conscience, and that notable one, the Lord Willbewill, and putthem all three in ward, and that they should set a strong guardupon them there, until his pleasure concerning them was furtherknown: the which orders, when the captains had put them inexecution, made no small addition to the fears of the town ofMansoul; for now, to their thinking, were their former fears ofthe ruin of Mansoul confirmed.  Now, what death they shoulddie, and how long they should be in dying, was that which mostperplexed their heads and hearts; yea, they were afraid thatEmmanuel would command them all into the deep, the place that theprince Diabolus was afraid of, for they knew that they haddeserved it.  Also to die by the sword in the face of thetown, and in the open way of disgrace, from the hand of so goodand so holy a prince, that, too, troubled them sore.  Thetown was also greatly troubled for the men that were committed toward, for that they were their stay and their guide, and for thatthey believed that, if those men were cut off, their executionwould be but the beginning of the ruin of the town ofMansoul.  Wherefore, what do they, but, together with themen in prison, draw up a petition to the Prince, and sent it toEmmanuel by the hand of Mr. Would-live.  So he went, andcame to the Prince’s quarters, and presented the petition,the sum of which was this:

‘Great and wonderful Potentate, victor over Diabolus,and conqueror of the town of Mansoul, We, the miserableinhabitants of that most woful corporation, do humbly beg that wemay find favour in thy sight, and remember not against us formertransgressions, nor yet the sins of the chief of our town: butspare us according to the greatness of thy mercy, and let us notdie, but live in thy sight.  So shall we be willing to bethy servants, and, if thou shalt think fit, to gather our meatunder thy table.  Amen.’

So the petitioner went, as was said, with his petition to thePrince; and the Prince took it at his hand, but sent him awaywith silence.  This still afflicted the town of Mansoul; butyet, considering that now they must either petition or die, fornow they could not do anything else, therefore they consultedagain, and sent another petition; and this petition was muchafter the form and method of the former.

But when the petition was drawn up, By whom should they sendit? was the next question; for they would not send this by him bywhom they sent the first, for they thought that the Prince hadtaken some offence at the manner of his deportment before him: sothey attempted to make Captain Conviction their messenger withit; but he said that he neither durst nor would petition Emmanuelfor traitors, nor be to the Prince an advocate for rebels. ‘Yet withal,’ said he, ‘our Prince is good, andyou may adventure to send it by the hand of one of your town,provided he went with a rope about his head, and pleaded nothingbut mercy.’

Well, they made, through fear, their delays as long as theycould, and longer than delays were good; but fearing at last thedangerousness of them, they thought, but with many a fainting intheir minds, to send their petition by Mr. Desires-awake; so theysent for Mr. Desires-awake.  Now he dwelt in a very meancottage in Mansoul, and he came at his neighbour’srequest.  So they told him what they had done, and what theywould do, concerning petitioning, and that they did desire of himthat he would go therewith to the Prince.

Then said Mr. Desires-awake, ‘Why should not I do thebest I can to save so famous a town as Mansoul from deserveddestruction?’  They therefore delivered the petitionto him, and told him how he must address himself to the Prince,and wished him ten thousand good speeds.  So he comes to thePrince’s pavilion, as the first, and asked to speak withhis Majesty.  So word was carried to Emmanuel, and thePrince came out to the man.  When Mr. Desires-awake saw thePrince, he fell flat with his face to the ground, and cried out,‘Oh that Mansoul might live before thee!’ and withthat he presented the petition; the which when the Prince hadread, he turned away for a while and wept; but refraininghimself, he turned again to the man, who all this while laycrying at his feet, as at the first, and said to him, ‘Gothy way to thy place, and I will consider of thyrequests.’

Now, you may think that they of Mansoul that had sent him,what with guilt, and what with fear lest their petition should berejected, could not but look with many a long look, and that,too, with strange workings of heart, to see what would become oftheir petition.  At last they saw their messenger comingback.  So, when he was come, they asked him how he fared,what Emmanuel said, and what was become of the petition. But he told them that he would be silent till he came to theprison to my Lord Mayor, my Lord Willbewill, and Mr.Recorder.  So he went forwards towards the prison-house,where the men of Mansoul lay bound.  But, oh! what amultitude flocked after, to hear what the messenger said. So, when he was come, and had shown himself at the gate of theprison, my Lord Mayor himself looked as white as a clout; theRecorder also did quake.  But they asked and said,‘Come, good sir, what did the great Prince say toyou?’  Then said Mr. Desires-awake, ‘When I cameto my Lord’s pavilion, I called, and he came forth. So I fell prostrate at his feet, and delivered to him mypetition; for the greatness of his person, and the glory of hiscountenance, would not suffer me to stand upon my legs. Now, as he received the petition, I cried, “Oh that Mansoulmight live before thee!”  So, when for a while he hadlooked thereon, he turned him about, and said to his servant,“Go thy way to thy place again, and I will consider of thyrequests.”’  The messenger added, moreover, andsaid, ‘The Prince to whom you sent me is such a one forbeauty and glory, that whoso sees him must both love and fearhim.  I, for my part, can do no less; but I know not whatwill be the end of these things.’

At this answer they were all at a stand, both they in prison,and they that followed the messenger thither to hear the news;nor knew they what, or what manner of interpretation to put uponwhat the Prince had said.  Now, when the prison was clearedof the throng, the prisoners among themselves began to commentupon Emmanuel’s words.  My Lord Mayor said, that theanswer did not look with a rugged face; but Willbewill said thatit betokened evil; and the Recorder, that it was a messenger ofdeath.  Now, they that were left, and that stood behind, andso could not so well hear what the prisoners said, some of themcatched hold of one piece of a sentence, and some on a bit ofanother; some took hold of what the messenger said, and some ofthe prisoners’ judgment thereon; so none had the rightunderstanding of things.  But you cannot imagine what workthese people made, and what a confusion there was in Mansoulnow.

For presently they that had heard what was said flew about thetown, one crying one thing, and another the quite contrary; andboth were sure enough they told true; for they did hear, theysaid, with their ears what was said, and therefore could not bedeceived.  One would say, ‘We must all bekilled;’ another would say, ‘We must all besaved;’ and a third would say that the Prince would not beconcerned with Mansoul; and a fourth, that the prisoners must besuddenly put to death.  And, as I said, every one stood toit that he told his tale the rightest, and that all others but hewere out.  Wherefore Mansoul had now molestation uponmolestation, nor could any man know on what to rest the sole ofhis foot; for one would go by now, and as he went, if he heardhis neighbour tell his tale, to be sure he would tell the quitecontrary, and both would stand in it that he told thetruth.  Nay, some of them had got this story by the end,that the Prince did intend to put Mansoul to the sword.  Andnow it began to be dark, wherefore poor Mansoul was in sadperplexity all that night until the morning.

But, so far as I could gather by the best information that Icould get, all this hubbub came through the words that theRecorder said when he told them that, in his judgment, thePrince’s answer was a messenger of death.  It was thisthat fired the town, and that began the fright in Mansoul; forMansoul in former times did use to count that Mr. Recorder was aseer, and that his sentence was equal to the best of orators; andthus was Mansoul a terror to itself.

And now did they begin to feel what were the effects ofstubborn rebellion, and unlawful resistance against theirPrince.  I say, they now began to feel the effects thereofby guilt and fear, that now had swallowed them up; and who moreinvolved in the one but they that were most in the other, to wit,the chief of the town of Mansoul?

To be brief: when the fame of the fright was out of the town,and the prisoners had a little recovered themselves, they take tothemselves some heart, and think to petition the Prince for lifeagain.  So they did draw up a third petition, the contentswhereof were these:—

‘Prince Emmanuel the Great, Lord of all worlds, andMaster of mercy, we, thy poor, wretched, miserable, dying town ofMansoul, do confess unto thy great and glorious Majesty that wehave sinned against thy Father and thee, and are no more worthyto be called thy Mansoul, but rather to be cast into thepit.  If thou wilt slay us, we have deserved it.  Ifthou wilt condemn us to the deep, we cannot but say thou artrighteous.  We cannot complain whatever thou dost, orhowever thou carriest it towards us.  But, oh! let mercyreign, and let it be extended to us!  Oh! let mercy takehold upon us, and free us from our transgressions, and we willsing of thy mercy and of thy judgment.  Amen.’

This petition, when drawn up, was designed to be sent to thePrince as the first.  But who should carry it?—thatwas the question.  Some said, ‘Let him do it that wentwith the first,’ but others thought not good to do that,and that because he sped no better.  Now, there was an oldman in the town, and his name was Mr. Good-Deed; a man that bareonly the name, but had nothing of the nature of the thing. Now, some were for sending him; but the Recorder was by no meansfor that.  ‘For,’ said he, ‘we now standin need of, and are pleading for mercy: wherefore, to send ourpetition by a man of this name, will seem to cross the petitionitself.  Should we make Mr. Good-Deed our messenger, whenour petition cries for mercy?

‘Besides,’ quoth the old gentleman, ‘shouldthe Prince now, as he receives the petition, ask him, and say,“What is thy name?” as nobody knows but he will, andhe should say, “Old Good-Deed,” what, think you,would Emmanuel say but this?  “Ay! is old Good-Deedyet alive in Mansoul? then let old Good-Deed save you from yourdistresses.”  And if he says so, I am sure we arelost; nor can a thousand of old Good-Deeds saveMansoul.’

After the Recorder had given in his reasons why old Good-Deedshould not go with this petition to Emmanuel, the rest of theprisoners and chief of Mansoul opposed it also, and so oldGood-Deed was laid aside, and they agreed to send Mr.Desires-awake again.  So they sent for him, and desired himthat he would a second time go with their petition to the Prince,and he readily told them he would.  But they bid him that inanywise he should take heed that in no word or carriage he gaveoffence to the Prince; ‘For by doing so, for ought we cantell, you may bring Mansoul into utter destruction,’ saidthey.

Now Mr. Desires-awake, when he saw that he must go on thiserrand, besought that they would grant that Mr. Wet-Eyes might gowith him.  Now this Mr. Wet-Eyes was a near neighbour of Mr.Desires, a poor man, a man of a broken spirit, yet one that couldspeak well to a petition; so they granted that he should go withhim.  Wherefore, they address themselves to their business:Mr. Desires put a rope upon his head, and Mr. Wet-Eyes went withhis hands wringing together.  Thus they went to thePrince’s pavilion.

Now, when they went to petition this third time, they were notwithout thoughts that, by often coming, they might be a burden tothe Prince.  Wherefore, when they were come to the door ofhis pavilion, they first made their apology for themselves, andfor their coming to trouble Emmanuel so often; and they said,that they came not hither to-day for that they delighted in beingtroublesome, or for that they delighted to hear themselves talk,but for that necessity caused them to come to his Majesty. They could, they said, have no rest day nor night because oftheir transgressions against Shaddai and against Emmanuel, hisSon.  They also thought that some misbehaviour of Mr.Desires-awake the last time might give distaste to his Highness,and so cause that he returned from so merciful a Prince empty,and without countenance.  So, when they had made thisapology, Mr. Desires-awake cast himself prostrate upon theground, as at the first, at the feet of the mighty Prince,saying, ‘Oh! that Mansoul might live before thee!’and so he delivered his petition.  The Prince then, havingread the petition, turned aside awhile as before, and comingagain to the place where the petitioner lay on the ground, hedemanded what his name was, and of what esteem in the account ofMansoul, for that he, above all the multitude in Mansoul, shouldbe sent to him upon such an errand.  Then said the man tothe Prince, ‘Oh let not my Lord be angry; and why inquirestthou after the name of such a dead do—as I am?  Passby, I pray thee, and take not notice of who I am, because thereis, as thou very well knowest, so great a disproportion betweenme and thee.  Why the townsmen chose to send me on thiserrand to my Lord is best known to themselves, but it could notbe for that they thought that I had favour with my Lord. For my part, I am out of charity with myself; who, then, shouldbe in love with me?  Yet live I would, and so would I thatmy townsmen should; and because both they and myself are guiltyof great transgressions, therefore they have sent me, and I amcome in their names to beg of my Lord for mercy.  Let itplease thee, therefore, to incline to mercy; but ask not what thyservants are.’

Then said the Prince, ‘And what is he that is become thycompanion in this so weighty a matter?’  So Mr.Desires told Emmanuel that he was a poor neighbour of his, andone of his most intimate associates.  ‘And hisname,’ said he, ‘may it please your most excellentMajesty, is Wet-Eyes, of the town of Mansoul, I know that thereare many of that name that are naught; but I hope it will be nooffence to my Lord that I have brought my poor neighbour withme.’

Then Mr. Wet-Eyes fell on his face to the ground, and madethis apology for his coming with his neighbour to hisLord:—

‘O, my Lord,’ quoth he, ‘what I am I knownot myself, nor whether my name be feigned or true, especiallywhen I begin to think what some have said, namely, That this namewas given me because Mr. Repentance was my father.  Good menhave bad children, and the sincere do oftentimes begethypocrites.  My mother also called me by this name from thecradle; but whether because of the moistness of my brain, orbecause of the softness of my heart, I cannot tell.  I seedirt in mine own tears, and filthiness in the bottom of myprayers.  But I pray thee (and all this while the gentlemanwept) that thou wouldest not remember against us ourtransgressions, nor take offence at the unqualifiedness of thyservants, but mercifully pass by the sin of Mansoul, and refrainfrom the glorifying of thy grace no longer.’

So at his bidding they arose, and both stood trembling beforehim, and he spake to them to this purpose:—

‘The town of Mansoul hath grievously rebelled against myFather, in that they have rejected him from being their King, anddid choose to themselves for their captain a liar, a murderer,and a runagate slave.  For this Diabolus, your pretendedprince, though once so highly accounted of by you, made rebellionagainst my Father and me, even in our palace and highest courtthere, thinking to become a prince and king.  But beingthere timely discovered and apprehended, and for his wickednessbound in chains, and separated to the pit with those that werehis companions, he offered himself to you, and you have receivedhim.

‘Now this is, and for a long time hath been, a highaffront to my Father; wherefore my Father sent to you a powerfularmy to reduce you to your obedience.  But you know howthese men, their captains and their counsels, were esteemed ofyou, and what they received at your hand.  You rebelledagainst them, you shut your gates upon them, you bid them battle,you fought them, and fought for Diabolus against them.  Sothey sent to my Father for more power, and I, with my men, arecome to subdue you.  But as you treated the servants, so youtreated their Lord.  You stood up in hostile manner againstme, you shut up your gates against me, you turned the deaf ear tome, and resisted as long as you could; but now I have made aconquest of you.  Did you cry me mercy so long as you hadhopes that you might prevail against me?  But now I havetaken the town, you cry; but why did you not cry before, when thewhite flag of my mercy, the red flag of justice, and the blackflag that threatened execution, were set up to cite you toit?  Now I have conquered your Diabolus, you come to me forfavour; but why did you not help me against the mighty?  YetI will consider your petition, and will answer it so as will befor my glory.

‘Go, bid Captain Boanerges and Captain Conviction bringthe prisoners out to me into the camp to-morrow, and say you toCaptain Judgment and Captain Execution, “Stay you in thecastle, and take good heed to yourselves that you keep all quietin Mansoul until you shall hear further fromme.”’  And with that he turned himself fromthem, and went into his royal pavilion again.

So the petitioners, having received this answer from thePrince, returned, as at the first, to go to their companionsagain.  But they had not gone far, but thoughts began towork in their minds that no mercy as yet was intended by thePrince to Mansoul.  So they went to the place where theprisoners lay bound; but these workings of mind about what wouldbecome of Mansoul had such strong power over them, that by thatthey were come unto them that sent them, they were scarce able todeliver their message.

But they came at length to the gates of the town, (now thetownsmen with earnestness were waiting for their return,) wheremany met them, to know what answer was made to thepetition.  Then they cried out to those that were sent,‘What news from the Prince? and what hath Emmanuelsaid?’  But they said that they must, as afore, go upto the prison, and there deliver their message.  So awaythey went to the prison, with a multitude at their heels. Now, when they were come to the gates of the prison, they toldthe first part of Emmanuel’s speech to the prisoners, towit, how he reflected upon their disloyalty to his Father andhimself, and how they had chosen and closed with Diabolus, hadfought for him, hearkened to him, and been ruled by him; but haddespised him and his men.  This made the prisoners lookpale; but the messengers proceeded and said, ‘He, thePrince, said, moreover, that yet he would consider your petition,and give such answer thereto as would stand with hisglory.’  And as these words were spoken, Mr. Wet-Eyesgave a great sigh.  At this they were all of them struckinto their dumps, and could not tell what to say: fear alsopossessed them in a marvellous manner, and death seemed to situpon some of their eyebrows.  Now, there was in the companya notable, sharp-witted fellow, a mean man of estate, and hisname was old Inquisitive.  This man asked the petitioners ifthey had told out every whit of what Emmanuel said, and theyanswered, ‘Verily, no.’  Then said Inquisitive,‘I thought so, indeed.  Pray, what was it more that hesaid unto you?’  Then they paused awhile; but at lastthey brought out all, saying, ‘The Prince bade us bidCaptain Boanerges and Captain Conviction bring the prisoners downto him to-morrow; and that Captain Judgment and Captain Executionshould take charge of the castle and town till they should hearfurther from him.  They said also that when the Prince hadcommanded them thus to do, he immediately turned his back uponthem, and went into his royal pavilion.

But, oh! how this return, and specially this last clause ofit, that the prisoners must go out to the Prince into the camp,brake all their loins in pieces!  Wherefore, with one voicethey set up a cry that reached up to the heavens.  Thisdone, each of the three prepared himself to die; (and theRecorder said unto them, ‘This was the thing that Ifeared;’) for they concluded that to-morrow, by that thesun went down, they should be tumbled out of the world.  Thewhole town also counted of no other, but that, in their time andorder, they must all drink of the same cup.  Wherefore thetown of Mansoul spent that night in mourning, and sackcloth andashes.  The prisoners also, when the time was come for themto go down before the Prince, dressed themselves in mourningattire, with ropes upon their heads.  The whole town ofMansoul also showed themselves upon the wall, all clad inmourning weeds, if, perhaps, the Prince with the sight thereofmight be moved with compassion.  But, oh! how thebusy-bodies that were in the town of Mansoul did now concernthemselves!  They did run here and there through the streetsof the town by companies, crying out as they ran in tumultuouswise, one after one manner, and another the quite contrary, tothe almost utter distraction of Mansoul.

Well, the time is come that the prisoners must go down to thecamp, and appear before the Prince.  And thus was the mannerof their going down: Captain Boanerges went with a guard beforethem, and Captain Conviction came behind, and the prisoners wentdown, bound in chains, in the midst.  So I say, theprisoners went in the midst, and the guard went with flyingcolours behind and before, but the prisoners went with droopingspirits.

Or, more particularly, thus: The prisoners went down all inmourning: they put ropes upon themselves; they went on, smitingthemselves on the breasts, but durst not lift up their eyes toheaven.  Thus they went out at the gate of Mansoul, tillthey came into the midst of the Prince’s army, the sightand glory of which did greatly heighten their affliction. Nor could they now longer forbear, but cry out aloud, ‘Ounhappy men!  O wretched men of Mansoul!’  Theirchains, still mixing their dolorous notes with the cries of theprisoners, made the noise more lamentable.

So, when they were come to the door of the Prince’spavilion, they cast themselves prostrate upon the place; then onewent in and told his Lord that the prisoners were comedown.  The Prince then ascended a throne of state, and sentfor the prisoners in; who, when they came, did tremble beforehim, also they covered their faces with shame.  Now, as theydrew near to the place where he sat, they threw themselves downbefore him.  Then said the Prince to the Captain Boanerges,‘Bid the prisoners stand upon their feet.’  Thenthey stood trembling before him, and he said, ‘Are you themen that heretofore were the servants of Shaddai?’ And they said, ‘Yes, Lord, yes.’  Then said thePrince again, ‘Are you the men that did suffer yourselvesto be corrupted and defiled by that abominable one,Diabolus?’  And they said, ‘We did more thansuffer it, Lord; for we chose it of our own mind.’ The Prince asked further, saying, ‘Could you have beencontent that your slavery should have continued under his tyrannyas long as you had lived?’  Then said the prisoners,‘Yes, Lord, yes; for his ways were pleasing to our flesh,and we were grown aliens to a betterstate.’—‘And did you,’ said he,‘when I came up against this town of Mansoul, heartily wishthat I might not have the victory overyou?’—‘Yes, Lord, yes,’ said they. Then said the Prince, ‘And what punishment is it, thinkyou, that you deserve at my hand, for these and other your highand mighty sins?’—And they said, ‘Both deathand the deep, Lord; for we have deserved no less.’  Heasked again if they had aught to say for themselves why thesentence, that they confessed that they had deserved, should notbe passed upon them?  And they said, ‘We can saynothing, Lord: thou art just, for we have sinned.’ Then said the Prince, ‘And for what are those ropes on yourheads?’  The prisoners answered, ‘These ropesare to bind us withal to the place of execution, if mercy be notpleasing in thy sight.’  So he further asked if allthe men in the town of Mansoul were in this confession, asthey?  And they answered, ‘All the natives, Lord; butfor the Diabolonians that came into our town when the tyrant gotpossession of us, we can say nothing for them.’

Then the Prince commanded that a herald should be called, andthat he should, in the midst and throughout the camp of Emmanuel,proclaim, and that with sound of trumpet, that the Prince, theSon of Shaddai, had, in his Father’s name, and for hisFather’s glory, gotten a perfect conquest and victory overMansoul; and that the prisoners should follow him, and sayAmen.  So, this was done as he had commanded.  Andpresently the music that was in the upper region soundedmelodiously, the captains that were in the camp shouted, and thesoldiers did sing songs of triumph to the Prince; the colourswaved in the wind, and great joy was everywhere, only it waswanting as yet in the hearts of the men of Mansoul.

Then the Prince called for the prisoners to come and to standagain before him, and they came and stood trembling.  And hesaid unto them, ‘The sins, trespasses, iniquities, thatyou, with the whole town of Mansoul, have from time to timecommitted against my Father and me, I have power and commandmentfrom my Father to forgive to the town of Mansoul, and do forgiveyou accordingly.’  And having so said, he gave them,written in parchment, and sealed with seven seals, a large andgeneral pardon, commanding my Lord Mayor, my Lord Willbewill, andMr. Recorder, to proclaim and cause it to be proclaimedto-morrow, by that the sun is up, throughout the whole town ofMansoul.

Moreover, the Prince stripped the prisoners of their mourningweeds, and gave them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy formourning, and the garment of praise for the spirit ofheaviness.

Then he gave to each of the three jewels of gold and preciousstones, and took away their ropes, and put chains of gold abouttheir necks, and ear-rings in their ears.  Now, theprisoners, when they did hear the gracious words of PrinceEmmanuel, and had beheld all that was done unto them, faintedalmost quite away; for the grace, the benefit, the pardon, wassudden, glorious, and so big, that they were not able, withoutstaggering, to stand up under it.  Yea, my Lord Willbewillswooned outright; but the Prince stepped to him, put hiseverlasting arms under him, embraced him, kissed him, and bid himbe of good cheer, for all should be performed according to hisword.  He also did kiss, and embrace, and smile upon theother two that were Willbewill’s companions, saying,‘Take these as further tokens of my love, favour, andcompassions to you; and I charge you that you, Mr. Recorder, tellin the town of Mansoul what you have heard and seen.’

Then were their fetters broken to pieces before their faces,and cast into the air, and their steps were enlarged underthem.  Then they fell down at the feet of the Prince, andkissed his feet, and wetted them with tears: also they cried outwith a mighty strong voice, saying, ‘Blessed be the gloryof the Lord from this place.’  So they were bid riseup, and go to the town, and tell to Mansoul what the Prince haddone.  He commanded also that one with a pipe and taborshould go and play before them all the way into the town ofMansoul.  Then was fulfilled what they never looked for, andthey were made to possess that which they never dreamed of.

The Prince also called for the noble Captain Credence, andcommanded that he and some of his officers should march beforethe noble men of Mansoul with flying colours into the town. He gave also unto Captain Credence a charge, that about that timethat the Recorder did read the general pardon in the town ofMansoul, that at that very time he should with flying coloursmarch in at Eye-gate with his ten thousands at his feet and thathe should so go until he came by the high street of the town, upto the castle gates, and that himself should take possessionthereof against his Lord came thither.  He commanded,moreover, that he should bid Captain Judgment and CaptainExecution to leave the stronghold to him, and to withdraw fromMansoul, and to return into the camp with speed unto thePrince.

And now was the town of Mansoul also delivered from the terrorof the first four captains and their men.

Well, I told you before how the prisoners were entertained bythe noble Prince Emmanuel, and how they behaved themselves beforehim, and how he sent them away to their home with pipe and taborgoing before them.  And now you must think that those of thetown that had all this while waited to hear of their death, couldnot but be exercised with sadness of mind, and with thoughts thatpricked like thorns.  Nor could their thoughts be kept toany one point; the wind blew with them all this while at greatuncertainties; yea, their hearts were like a balance that hadbeen disquieted with a shaking hand.  But at last, as theywith many a long look looked over the wall of Mansoul, theythought that they saw some returning to the town; and thoughtagain, Who should they be, too?  Who should they be? At last they discerned that they were the prisoners: but can youimagine how their hearts were surprised with wonder, speciallywhen they perceived also in what equipage and with what honourthey were sent home.  They went down to the camp in black,but they came back to the town in white; they went down to thecamp in ropes, they came back in chains of gold; they went downto the camp with their feet in fetters, but came back with theirsteps enlarged under them; they went also to the camp looking fordeath, but they came back from thence with assurance of life;they went down to the camp with heavy hearts, but came back againwith pipe and tabor playing before them.  So as soon as theywere come to Eye-gate, the poor and tottering town of Mansouladventured to give a shout; and they gave such a shout as madethe captains in the Prince’s army leap at the soundthereof.  Alas! for them, poor hearts! who could blame them?since their dead friends were come to life again; for it was tothem as life from the dead to see the ancients of the town ofMansoul shine in such splendour.  They looked for nothingbut the axe and the block; but, behold, joy and gladness, comfortand consolation, and such melodious notes attending them that wassufficient to make a sick man well.

So, when they came up, they saluted each other with,‘Welcome, welcome! and blessed be he that has sparedyou!’  They added also, ‘We see it is well withyou; but how must it go with the town of Mansoul?  And willit go well with the town of Mansoul?’ said they.  Thenanswered them the Recorder and my Lord Mayor, ‘Oh! tidings!glad tidings! good tidings of good, and of great joy to poorMansoul!’  Then they gave another shout, that made theearth to ring again.  After this, they inquired yet moreparticularly how things went in the camp, and what message theyhad from Emmanuel to the town.  So they told them allpassages that had happened to them at the camp, and everythingthat the Prince did to them.  This made Mansoul wonder atthe wisdom and grace of the Prince Emmanuel.  Then they toldthem what they had received at his hands for the whole town ofMansoul, and the Recorder delivered it in these words:‘Pardon, Pardon, Pardonfor Mansoul! and this shall Mansoul know to-morrow!’ Then he commanded, and they went and summoned Mansoul to meettogether in the market-place to-morrow, then to hear theirgeneral pardon read.

But who can think what a turn, what a change, what analteration this hint of things did make in the countenance of thetown of Mansoul!  No man of Mansoul could sleep that nightfor joy; in every house there was joy and music, singing andmaking merry: telling and hearing of Mansoul’s happinesswas then all that Mansoul had to do; and this was the burden ofall their song: ‘Oh! more of this at the rising of the sun!more of this to-morrow!’  ‘Who thoughtyesterday,’ would one say, ‘that this day would havebeen such a day to us?  And who thought, that saw ourprisoners go down in irons, that they would have returned inchains of gold?  Yea, they that judged themselves as theywent to be judged of their judge, were by his mouth acquitted,not for that they were innocent, but of the Prince’s mercy,and sent home with pipe and tabor.  But is this the commoncustom of princes? Do they use to show such kind of favours totraitors?  No; this is only peculiar to Shaddai, and untoEmmanuel, his Son!’

Now morning drew on apace; wherefore the Lord Mayor, the LordWillbewill, and Mr. Recorder came down to the market-place at thetime that the Prince had appointed, where the townsfolk werewaiting for them: and when they came, they came in that attire,and in that glory that the Prince had put them into the daybefore, and the street was lightened with their glory.  Sothe Mayor, Recorder, and my Lord Willbewill drew down toMouth-gate, which was at the lower end of the market-place,because that of old time was the place where they used to readpublic matters.  Thither, therefore, they came in theirrobes, and their tabrets went before them.  Now, theeagerness of the people to know the full of the matter wasgreat.

Then the Recorder stood up upon his feet, and, first beckoningwith his hand for silence, he read out with a loud voice thepardon.  But when he came to these words: ‘The Lord,the Lord God, merciful and gracious, pardoning iniquity,transgressions, and sins, and to them all manner of sin andblasphemy shall be forgiven,’ etc., they could not forbearleaping for joy.  For this you must know, that there wasconjoined herewith every man’s name in Mansoul; also theseals of the pardon made a brave show.

When the Recorder had made an end of reading the pardon, thetownsmen ran up upon the walls of the town, and leaped andskipped thereon for joy, and bowed themselves seven times withtheir faces toward Emmanuel’s pavilion, and shouted outaloud for joy, and said, ‘Let Emmanuel live forever!’  Then order was given to the young men inMansoul that they should ring the bells for joy.  So thebells did ring, and the people sing, and the music go in everyhouse in Mansoul.

When the Prince had sent home the three prisoners of Mansoulwith joy, and pipe and tabor, he commanded his captains, with allthe field officers and soldiers throughout his army, to be readyin that morning, that the Recorder should read the pardon inMansoul, to do his further pleasure.  So the morning, as Ihave showed, being come, just as the Recorder had made an end ofreading the pardon, Emmanuel commanded that all the trumpets inthe camp should sound, that the colours should be displayed, halfof them upon Mount Gracious, and half of them upon MountJustice.  He commanded also that all the captains shouldshow themselves in all their harness, and that the soldiersshould shout for joy.  Nor was Captain Credence, though inthe castle, silent in such a day; but he, from the top of thehold, showed himself with sound of trumpet to Mansoul and to thePrince’s camp.

Thus have I showed you the manner and way that Emmanuel tookto recover the town of Mansoul from under the hand and power ofthe tyrant Diabolus.

Now, when the Prince had completed these, the outwardceremonies of his joy, he again commanded that his captains andsoldiers should show unto Mansoul some feats of war: so theypresently addressed themselves to this work.  But oh! withwhat agility, nimbleness, dexterity, and bravery did thesemilitary men discover their skill in feats of war to the nowgazing town of Mansoul!

They marched, they counter-marched; they opened to the rightand left; they divided and subdivided; they closed, they wheeled,made good their front and rear with their right and left wings,and twenty things more, with that aptness, and then were all asthe were again, that they took—yea, ravished, the heartsthat were in Mansoul to behold it.  But add to this, thehandling of their arms, the managing of their weapons of war,were marvellously taking to Mansoul and me.

When this action was over, the whole town of Mansoul came outas one man to the Prince in the camp to thank him, and praise himfor his abundant favour, and to beg that it would please hisgrace to come unto Mansoul with his men, and there to take uptheir quarters for ever: and this they did in most humble manner,bowing themselves seven times to the ground before him. Then said he, ‘All peace be to you.’ So the town camenigh, and touched with the hand the top of his golden sceptre;and they said, ‘Oh! that the Prince Emmanuel, with hiscaptains and men of war, would dwell in Mansoul for ever; andthat his battering-rams and slings might be lodged in her for theuse and service of the Prince, and for the help and strength ofMansoul.  For,’ said they, ‘we have room forthee, we have room for thy men, we have also room for thy weaponsof war, and a place to make a magazine for thy carriages. Do it, Emmanuel, and thou shalt be King and Captain in Mansoulfor ever.  Yea, govern thou also according to all the desireof thy soul, and make thou governors and princes under thee ofthy captains and men of war, and we will become thy servants, andthy laws shall be our direction.’

They added, moreover, and prayed his Majesty to considerthereof; ‘for,’ said they, ‘if now, after allthis grace bestowed upon us, thy miserable town of Mansoul, thoushouldest withdraw, thou and thy captains, from us, the town ofMansoul will die.  Yea,’ said they, ‘our blessedEmmanuel, if thou shouldest depart from us now, now thou hastdone so much good for us, and showed so much mercy unto us, whatwill follow but that our joy will be as if it had not been, andour enemies will a second time come upon us with more rage thanat the first?  Wherefore, we beseech thee, O thou, thedesire of our eyes, and the strength and life of our poor town,accept of this motion that now we have made unto our Lord, andcome and dwell in the midst of us, and let us be thypeople.  Besides, Lord, we do not know but that to this daymany Diabolonians may be yet lurking in the town of Mansoul, andthey will betray us, when thou shalt leave us, into the hand ofDiabolus again; and who knows what designs, plots, orcontrivances have passed betwixt them about these thingsalready?  Loath we are to fall again into his horriblehands.  Wherefore, let it please thee to accept of ourpalace for thy place of residence, and of the houses of the bestmen in our town for the reception of thy soldiers and theirfurniture.’

Then said the Prince, ‘If I come to your town, will yousuffer me further to prosecute that which is in mine heartagainst mine enemies and yours?—yea, will you help me insuch undertakings?’

They answered, ‘We know not what we shall do; we did notthink once that we should have been such traitors to Shaddai aswe have proved to be.  What, then, shall we say to ourLord?  Let him put no trust in his saints; let the Princedwell in our castle, and make of our town a garrison; let him sethis noble captains and his warlike soldiers over us; yea, let himconquer us with his love, and overcome us with his grace, andthen surely shall he be but with us, and help us, as he was anddid that morning that our pardon was read unto us.  We shallcomply with this our Lord, and with his ways, and fall in withhis word against the mighty.

‘One word more, and thy servants have done, and in thiswill trouble our Lord no more.  We know not the depth of thewisdom of thee, our Prince.  Who could have thought, thathad been ruled by his reason, that so much sweet as we do nowenjoy should have come out of those bitter trials wherewith wewere tried at the first!  But, Lord, let light go before,and let love come after: yea, take us by the hand, and lead us bythy counsels, and let this always abide upon us, that all thingsshall be the best for thy servants, and come to our Mansoul, anddo as it pleaseth thee.  Or, Lord, come to our Mansoul, dowhat thou wilt, so thou keepest us from sinning, and makest usserviceable to thy Majesty.’

Then said the Prince to the town of Mansoul again, ‘Go,return to your houses in peace.  I will willingly in thiscomply with your desires; I will remove my royal pavilion, I willdraw up my forces before Eye-gate to-morrow, and so will marchforwards into the town of Mansoul.  I will possess myself ofyour castle of Mansoul, and will set my soldiers over you: yea, Iwill yet do things in Mansoul that cannot be paralleled in anynation, country, or kingdom under heaven.’  Then didthe men of Mansoul give a shout, and returned unto their housesin peace; they also told to their kindred and friends the goodthat Emmanuel had promised to Mansoul.  ‘Andto-morrow,’ said they, ‘he will march into our town,and take up his dwelling, he and his men, in Mansoul.’

Then went out the inhabitants of the town of Mansoul withhaste to the green trees and to the meadows, to gather boughs andflowers, therewith to strew the streets against their Prince, theSon of Shaddai, should come; they also made garlands and otherfine works to betoken how joyful they were, and should be toreceive their Emmanuel into Mansoul; yea, they strewed the streetquite from Eye-gate to the castle-gate, the place where thePrince should be.  They also prepared for his coming whatmusic the town of Mansoul would afford, that they might playbefore him to the palace, his habitation.

So, at the time appointed he makes his approach to Mansoul,and the gates were set open for him; there also the ancients andelders of Mansoul met him to salute him with a thousandwelcomes.  Then he arose and entered Mansoul, he and all hisservants.  The elders of Mansoul did also go dancing beforehim till he came to the castle gates.  And this was themanner of his going up thither:—He was clad in his goldenarmour, he rode in his royal chariot, the trumpets sounded abouthim, the colours were displayed, his ten thousands went up at hisfeet, and the elders of Mansoul danced before him.  And nowwere the walls of the famous town of Mansoul filled with thetramplings of the inhabitants thereof, who went up thither toview the approach of the blessed Prince and his royal army. Also the casements, windows, balconies, and tops of the houses,were all now filled with persons of all sorts, to behold howtheir town was to be filled with good.

Now, when he was come so far into the town as to theRecorder’s house, he commanded that one should go toCaptain Credence, to know whether the castle of Mansoul wasprepared to entertain his royal presence (for the preparation ofthat was left to that captain), and word was brought that itwas.  Then was Captain Credence commanded also to come forthwith his power to meet the Prince, the which was, as he hadcommanded, done; and he conducted him into the castle.  Thisdone, the Prince that night did lodge in the castle with hismighty captains and men of war, to the joy of the town ofMansoul.

Now, the next care of the townsfolk was, how the captains andsoldiers of the Prince’s army should be quartered amongthem; and the care was not how they should shut their hands ofthem, but how they should fill their houses with them; for everyman in Mansoul now had that esteem of Emmanuel and his men thatnothing grieved them more than because they were not enlargedenough, every one of them to receive the whole army of thePrince; yea, they counted it their glory to be waiting upon them,and would, in those days, run at their bidding like lackeys.

At last they came to this result:—

1. That Captain Innocency should quarter at Mr.Reason’s.

2. That Captain Patience should quarter at Mr.Mind’s.  This Mr. Mind was formerly the LordWillbewill’s clerk in time of the late rebellion.

3. It was ordered that Captain Charity should quarter at Mr.Affection’s house.

4. That Captain Good-Hope should quarter at my LordMayor’s.  Now, for the house of the Recorder, himselfdesired, because his house was next to the castle, and becausefrom him it was ordered by the Prince that, if need be, the alarmshould be given to Mansoul,—it was, I say, desired by himthat Captain Boanerges and Captain Conviction should take uptheir quarters with him, even they and all their men.

5. As for Captain Judgment and Captain Execution, my LordWillbewill took them and their men to him, because he was to ruleunder the Prince for the good of the town of Mansoul now, as hehad before under the tyrant Diabolus for the hurt and damagethereof.

6. And throughout the rest of the town were quarteredEmmanuel’s forces; but Captain Credence, with his men,abode still in the castle.  So the Prince, his captains, andhis soldiers, were lodged in the town of Mansoul.

Now, the ancients and elders of the town of Mansoul thoughtthat they never should have enough of the Prince Emmanuel; hisperson, his actions, his words, and behaviour, were so pleasing,so taking, so desirable to them.  Wherefore they prayed him,that though the castle of Mansoul was his place of residence,(and they desired that he might dwell there for ever,) yet thathe would often visit the streets, houses, and people ofMansoul.  ‘For,’ said they, ‘dreadSovereign, thy presence, thy looks, thy smiles, thy words, arethe life, and strength, and sinews of the town ofMansoul.’

Besides this, they craved that they might have, withoutdifficulty or interruption, continual access unto him, (so forthat very purpose he commanded that the gates should stand open,)that they might there see the manner of his doings, thefortifications of the place, and the royal mansion-house of thePrince.

When he spake, they all stopped their mouths and gaveaudience; and when he walked, it was their delight to imitate himin his goings.

Now, upon a time, Emmanuel made a feast for the town ofMansoul; and upon the feasting-day the townsfolk were come to thecastle to partake of his banquet; and he feasted them with allmanner of outlandish food;—food that grew not in the fieldsof Mansoul; nor in all the whole Kingdom of Universe; it was foodthat came from his Father’s court.  And so there wasdish after dish set before them, and they were commanded freelyto eat.  But still, when a fresh dish was set before them,they would whisperingly say to each other, ‘What isit?’ for they wist not what to call it.  They drankalso of the water that was made wine, and were very merry withhim.  There was music also all the while at the table; andman did eat angels’ food, and had honey given him out ofthe rock.  So Mansoul did eat the food that was peculiar tothe court; yea, they had now thereof to the full.

I must not forget to tell you, that as at this table therewere musicians, so they were not those of the country, nor yet ofthe town of Mansoul; but they were the masters of the songs thatwere sung at the court of Shaddai.

Now, after the feast was over, Emmanuel was for entertainingthe town of Mansoul with some curious riddles of secrets drawn upby his Father’s secretary, by the skill and wisdom ofShaddai; the like to these there is not in any kingdom. These riddles were made upon the King Shaddai himself, and uponEmmanuel his Son, and upon his wars and doings with Mansoul.

Emmanuel also expounded unto them some of those riddleshimself; but, oh! how they were lightened!  They saw whatthey never saw; they could not have thought that such raritiescould have been couched in so few and such ordinary words. I told you before, whom these riddles did concern; and as theywere opened, the people did evidently see it was so.  Yea,they did gather that the things themselves were a kind of aportraiture, and that of Emmanuel himself; for when they read inthe scheme where the riddles were writ, and looked in the face ofthe Prince, things looked so like the one to the other, thatMansoul could not forbear but say, ‘This is the lamb! thisis the sacrifice! this is the rock! this is the red cow! this isthe door! and this is the way!’ with a great many otherthings more.

And thus he dismissed the town of Mansoul.  But can youimagine how the people of the corporation were taken with thisentertainment!  Oh! they were transported with joy, theywere drowned with wonderment, while they saw and understood, andconsidered what their Emmanuel entertained them withal, and whatmysteries he opened to them.  And when they were at home intheir houses, and in their most retired places, they could notbut sing of him and of his actions.  Yea, so taken were thetownsmen now with their Prince, that they would sing of him intheir sleep.

Now, it was in the heart of the Prince Emmanuel to new-modelthe town of Mansoul, and to put it into such a condition as mightbe most pleasing to him, and that might best stand with theprofit and security of the now flourishing town of Mansoul. He provided also against insurrections at home, and invasionsfrom abroad, such love had he for the famous town of Mansoul.

Wherefore he first of all commanded that the great slings thatwere brought from his Father’s court, when he came to thewar of Mansoul, should be mounted, some upon the battlements ofthe castle, some upon the towers; for there were towers in thetown of Mansoul, towers, new-built by Emmanuel since he camehither.  There was also an instrument, invented by Emmanuel,that was to throw stones from the castle of Mansoul, out atMouth-gate; an instrument that could not be resisted, nor thatwould miss of execution.  Wherefore, for the wonderfulexploits that it did when used, it went without a name; and itwas committed to the care of, and to be managed by the bravecaptain, the Captain Credence, in case of war.

This done, Emmanuel called the Lord Willbewill to him, andgave him in commandment to take care of the gates, the wall, andtowers in Mansoul; also the Prince gave him the militia into hishand, and a special charge to withstand all insurrections andtumults that might be made in Mansoul against the peace of ourLord the King, and the peace and tranquillity of the town ofMansoul.  He also gave him in commission, that if he foundany of the Diabolonians lurking in any corner of the famous townof Mansoul, he should forthwith apprehend them, and stay them, orcommit them to safe custody, that they may be proceeded againstaccording to law.

Then he called unto him the Lord Understanding, who was theold Lord Mayor, he that was put out of place when Diabolus tookthe town, and put him into his former office again, and it becamehis place for his lifetime.  He bid him also that he shouldbuild him a palace near Eye-gate; and that he should build it infashion like a tower for defence.  He bid him also that heshould read in the Revelation of Mysteries all the days of hislife, that he might know how to perform his office aright.

He also made Mr. Knowledge the Recorder, not of contempt toold Mr. Conscience, who had been Recorder before, but for that itwas in his princely mind to confer upon Mr. Conscience anotheremploy, of which he told the old gentleman he should know morehereafter.

Then he commanded that the image of Diabolus should be takendown from the place where it was set up, and that they shoulddestroy it utterly, beating it into powder, and casting it intothe wind without the town wall; and that the image of Shaddai,his Father, should be set up again, with his own, upon the castlegates; and that it should be more fairly drawn than ever,forasmuch as both his Father and himself were come to Mansoul inmore grace and mercy than heretofore.  He would also thathis name should be fairly engraven upon the front of the town,and that it should be done in the best of gold, for the honour ofthe town of Mansoul.

After this was done, Emmanuel gave out a commandment thatthose three great Diabolonians should be apprehended, namely, thetwo late Lord Mayors, to wit, Mr. Incredulity, Mr. Lustings, andMr. Forget-Good, the Recorder.  Besides these, there weresome of them that Diabolus made burgesses and aldermen inMansoul, that were committed to ward by the hand of the nowvaliant and now right noble, the brave Lord Willbewill.

And these were their names: Alderman Atheism, AldermanHard-Heart, and Alderman False-Peace.  The burgesses were,Mr. No-Truth, Mr. Pitiless, Mr. Haughty, with the like. These were committed to close custody, and the gaoler’sname was Mr. True-Man.  This True-Man was one of those thatEmmanuel brought with him from his Father’s court when atthe first he made a war upon Diabolus in the town or Mansoul.

After this, the Prince gave a charge that the threestrongholds that, at the command of Diabolus, the Diaboloniansbuilt in Mansoul, should be demolished and utterly pulled down;of which holds and their names, with their captains andgovernors, you read a little before.  But this was long indoing, because of the largeness of the places, and because thestones, the timber, the iron, and all rubbish, was to be carriedwithout the town.

When this was done, the Prince gave order that the Lord Mayorand aldermen of Mansoul should call a court of judicature for thetrial and execution of the Diabolonians in the corporation nowunder the charge of Mr. True-Man, the gaoler.

Now, when the time was come, and the court set, commandmentwas sent to Mr. True-Man, the gaoler, to bring the prisoners downto the bar.  Then were the prisoners brought down, pinionedand chained together, as the custom of the town of Mansoulwas.  So, when they were presented before the Lord Mayor,the Recorder, and the rest of the honourable bench, first, thejury was empannelled, and then the witnesses sworn.  Thenames of the jury were these: Mr. Belief, Mr. True-Heart, Mr.Upright, Mr. Hate-Bad, Mr. Love-God, Mr. See-Truth, Mr.Heavenly-Mind, Mr. Moderate, Mr. Thankful, Mr. Good-Work, Mr.Zeal-for-God, and Mr. Humble.

The names of the witnesses were—Mr. Know-All, Mr.Tell-True, Mr. Hate-Lies, with my Lord Willbewill and his man, ifneed were.

So the prisoners were set to the bar.  Then said Mr.Do-Right, (for he was the Town-Clerk,) ‘Set Atheism to thebar, gaoler.’  So he was set to the bar.  Thensaid the Clerk, ‘Atheism, hold up thy hand.  Thou arthere indicted by the name of Atheism, (an intruder upon the townof Mansoul,) for that thou hast perniciously and doltishly taughtand maintained that there is no God, and so no heed to be takento religion.  This thou hast done against the being, honour,and glory of the King, and against the peace and safety of thetown of Mansoul.  What sayest thou?  Art thou guilty ofthis indictment, or not?

Atheism.  Not guilty.

Crier.  Call Mr. Know-All, Mr. Tell-True, and Mr.Hate-Lies into the court.

So they were called, and they appeared.

Then said the Clerk, ‘You, the witnesses for the King,look upon the prisoner at the bar; do you know him?’

Then said Mr. Know-All, ‘Yes, my lord, we know him; hisname is Atheism; he has been a very pestilent fellow for manyyears in the miserable town of Mansoul.’

Clerk.  You are sure you know him?

Know.  Know him!  Yes my lord; I haveheretofore too often been in his company to be at this timeignorant of him.  He is a Diabolonian, the son of aDiabolonian: I knew his grandfather and his father.

Clerk.  Well said.  He standeth here indictedby the name of Atheism, etc., and is charged that he hathmaintained and taught that there is no God, and so no heed needbe taken to any religion.  What say you, the King’switnesses, to this?  Is he guilty or not?

Know.  My lord, I and he were once inVillain’s Lane together, and he at that time did brisklytalk of divers opinions; and then and there I heard him say,that, for his part, he did believe that there was no God. ‘But,’ said he, ‘I can profess one, and be asreligious too, if the company I am in, and the circumstances ofother things,’ said he, ‘shall put me uponit.’

Clerk.  You are sure you heard him say thus?

Know.  Upon mine oath, I heard him say thus.

Then said the Clerk, ‘Mr. Tell-True, what say you to theKing’s judges touching the prisoner at the bar?’

Tell.  My lord, I formerly was a great companionof his, for the which I now repent me, and I have often heard himsay, and that with very great stomachfulness, that he believedthere was neither God, angel, nor spirit.

Clerk.  Where did you hear him say so?

Tell.  In Blackmouth Lane and inBlasphemer’s Row, and in many other places besides.

Clerk.  Have you much knowledge of him?

Tell.  I know him to be a Diabolonian, the son ofa Diabolonian, and a horrible man to deny a Deity.  Hisfather’s name was Never-be-good, and he had more childrenthan this Atheism.  I have no more to say.

Clerk.  Mr. Hate-Lies, look upon the prisoner atthe bar; do you know him?

Hate.  My lord, this Atheism is one of the vilestwretches that ever I came near, or had to do with in mylife.  I have heard him say that there is no God; I haveheard him say that there is no world to come, no sin, norpunishment hereafter, and, moreover, I have heard him say that itwas as good to go to a whore-house as to go to hear a sermon.

Clerk.  Where did you hear him say thesethings?

Hate.  In Drunkard’s Row, just atRascal-Lane’s End, at a house in which Mr. Impietylived.

Clerk.  Set him by, gaoler, and set Mr. Lustingsto the bar.  Mr. Lustings, thou art here indicted by thename of Lustings, (an intruder upon the town of Mansoul,) forthat thou hast devilishly and traitorously taught, by practiceand filthy words, that it is lawful and profitable to man to giveway to his carnal desires; and that thou, for thy part, hast not,nor never wilt, deny thyself of any sinful delight as long as thyname is Lustings.  How sayest thou?  Art thou guilty ofthis indictment, or not?

Then said Mr. Lustings, ‘My lord, I am a man of highbirth, and have been used to pleasures and pastimes ofgreatness.  I have not been wont to be snubbed for mydoings, but have been left to follow my will as if it werelaw.  And it seems strange to me that I should this day becalled into question for that, that not only I, but almost allmen, do either secretly or openly countenance, love, and approveof.’

Clerk.  Sir, we concern not ourselves with yourgreatness; (though the higher, the better you should have been;)but we are concerned, and so are you now, about an indictmentpreferred against you.  How say you?  Are you guilty ofit, or not?

Lust.  Not guilty.

Clerk.  Crier, call upon the witnesses to standforth and give their evidence.

Crier.  Gentlemen, you, the witnesses for theKing, come in and give in your evidence for our Lord the Kingagainst the prisoner at the bar.

Clerk.  Come, Mr. Know-All, look upon the prisonerat the bar; do you know him?

Know.  Yes, my lord, I know him.

Clerk.  What is his name?

Know.  His name is Lustings; he was the son of oneBeastly, and his mother bare him in Flesh Street: she was oneEvil-Concupiscence’s daughter.  I knew all thegeneration of them.

Clerk.  Well said.  You have heard hisindictment; what say you to it?  Is he guilty of the thingscharged against him, or not?

Know.  My lord, he has, as he saith, been a greatman indeed, and greater in wickedness than by pedigree more thana thousandfold.

Clerk.  But what do you know of his particularactions, and especially with reference to his indictment?

Know.  I know him to be a swearer, a liar, aSabbath-breaker; I know him to be a fornicator and an uncleanperson; I know him to be guilty of abundance of evils.  Hehas been, to my knowledge, a very filthy man.

Clerk.  But where did he use to commit hiswickedness? in some private corners, or more open andshamelessly?

Know.  All the town over, my lord.

Clerk.  Come, Mr. Tell-True, what have you to sayfor our Lord the King against the prisoner at the bar?

Tell.  My lord, all that the first witness hassaid I know to be true, and a great deal more besides.

Clerk.  Mr. Lustings, do you hear what thesegentlemen say?

Lust.  I was ever of opinion that the happiestlife that a man could live on earth was to keep himself back fromnothing that he desired in the world; nor have I been false atany time to this opinion of mine, but have lived in the love ofmy notions all my days.  Nor was I ever so churlish, havingfound such sweetness in them myself, as to keep the commendationsof them from others.

Then said the Court, ‘There hath proceeded enough fromhis own mouth to lay him open to condemnation; wherefore, set himby, gaoler, and set Mr. Incredulity to the bar.’

Incredulity set to the bar.

Clerk.  Mr. Incredulity, thou art here indicted bythe name of Incredulity, (an intruder upon the town of Mansoul,)for that thou hast feloniously and wickedly, and that when thouwert an officer in the town of Mansoul, made head against thecaptains of the great King Shaddai when they came and demandedpossession of Mansoul; yea, thou didst bid defiance to the name,forces, and cause of the King, and didst also, as did Diabolusthy captain, stir up and encourage the town of Mansoul to makehead against and resist the said force of the King.  Whatsayest thou to this indictment?  Art thou guilty of it, ornot?

Then said Incredulity, ‘I know not Shaddai; I love myold prince; I thought it my duty to be true to my trust, and todo what I could to possess the minds of the men of Mansoul to dotheir utmost to resist strangers and foreigners, and with mightto fight against them.  Nor have I, nor shall I, change mineopinion for fear of trouble, though you at present are possessedof place and power.’

Then said the Court, ‘The man, as you see, isincorrigible; he is for maintaining his villainies by stoutnessof words, and his rebellion with impudent confidence; andtherefore set him by, gaoler, and set Mr. Forget-Good to thebar.

Forget-Good set to the bar.

Clerk.  Mr. Forget-Good, thou art here indicted bythe name of Forget-Good, (an intruder upon the town of Mansoul,)for that thou, when the whole affairs of the town of Mansoul werein thy hand, didst utterly forget to serve them in what was good,and didst fall in with the tyrant Diabolus against Shaddai theKing, against his captains, and all his host, to the dishonour ofShaddai, the breach of his law, and the endangering of thedestruction of the famous town of Mansoul.  What sayest thouto this indictment?  Art thou guilty or not guilty?

Then said Forget-Good: ‘Gentlemen, and at this time myjudges, as to the indictment by which I stand of several crimesaccused before you, pray attribute my forgetfulness to mine age,and not to my wilfulness; to the craziness of my brain, and notto the carelessness of my mind; and then I hope I may be by yourcharity excused from great punishment, though I beguilty.’

Then said the Court, ‘Forget-Good, Forget-Good, thyforgetfulness of good was not simply of frailty, but of purpose,and for that thou didst loathe to keep virtuous things in thymind.  What was bad thou couldst retain, but what was goodthou couldst not abide to think of; thy age, therefore, and thypretended craziness, thou makest use of to blind the courtwithal, and as a cloak to cover thy knavery.  But let ushear what the witnesses have to say for the King against theprisoner at the bar.  Is he guilty of this indictment, ornot?’

Hate.  My lord, I have heard this Forget-Good say,that he could never abide to think of goodness, no, not for aquarter of an hour.

Clerk.  Where did you hear him say so?

Hate.  In All-base Lane, at a house next door tothe sign of the Conscience seared with a hot iron.

Clerk.  Mr. Know-All, what can you say for ourLord the King against the prisoner at the bar?

Know.  My lord, I know this man well.  He isa Diabolonian, the son of a Diabolonian: his father’s namewas Love-Naught; and for him, I have often heard him say, that hecounted the very thoughts of goodness the most burdensome thingin the world.

Clerk.  Where have you heard him say thesewords?

Know.  In Flesh Lane, right opposite to thechurch.

Then said the Clerk, ‘Come, Mr. Tell-True, give in yourevidence concerning the prisoner at the bar, about that for whichhe stands here, as you see, indicted by this honourableCourt.’

Tell.  My lord, I have heard him often say he hadrather think of the vilest thing than of what is contained in theHoly Scriptures.

Clerk.  Where did you hear him say such grievouswords?

Tell.  Where?—in a great many places,particularly in Nauseous Street, in the house of one Shameless,and in Filth Lane, at the sign of the Reprobate, next door to theDescent into the Pit.

Court.  Gentlemen, you have heard the indictment,his plea, and the testimony of the witnesses.  Gaoler, setMr. Hard-Heart to the bar.

He is set to the bar.

Clerk.  Mr. Hard-Heart, thou art here indicted bythe name of Hard-Heart, (an intruder upon the town of Mansoul,)for that thou didst most desperately and wickedly possess thetown of Mansoul with impenitency and obdurateness; and didst keepthem from remorse and sorrow for their evils, all the time oftheir apostacy from and rebellion against the blessed KingShaddai.  What sayest thou to this indictment?  Artthou guilty, or not guilty?

Hard.  My lord, I never knew what remorse orsorrow meant in all my life.  I am impenetrable.  Icare for no man; nor can I be pierced with men’s griefs;their groans will not enter into my heart.  Whomsoever Imischief, whomsoever I wrong, to me it is music, when to othersmourning.

Court.  You see the man is a right Diabolonian,and has convicted himself.  Set him by, gaoler, and set Mr.False-Peace to the bar.

False-Peace set to the bar.

‘Mr. False-Peace, thou art here indicted by the name ofFalse-Peace, (an intruder upon the town of Mansoul,) for thatthou didst most wickedly and satanically bring, hold, and keepthe town of Mansoul, both in her apostacy and in her hellishrebellion, in a false, groundless, and dangerous peace, anddamnable security, to the dishonour of the King, thetransgression of his law, and the great damage of the town ofMansoul.  What sayest thou?  Art thou guilty of thisindictment, or not?

Then said Mr. False-Peace: ‘Gentlemen, and you nowappointed to be my judges, I acknowledge that my name is Mr.Peace; but that my name is False-Peace I utterly deny.  Ifyour honours shall please to send for any that do intimately knowme, or for the midwife that laid my mother of me, or for thegossips that were at my christening, they will, any or all ofthem, prove that my name is not False-Peace, but Peace. Wherefore I cannot plead to this indictment, forasmuch as my nameis not inserted therein; and as is my true name, so are also myconditions.  I was always a man that loved to live at quiet,and what I loved myself, that I thought others might lovealso.  Wherefore, when I saw any of my neighbours to labourunder a disquieted mind, I endeavoured to help them what I could;and instances of this good temper of mine many I could give;as,

‘1. When, at the beginning, our town of Mansoul diddecline the ways of Shaddai, they, some of them, afterwards beganto have disquieting reflections upon themselves for what they haddone; but I, as one troubled to see them disquieted, presentlysought out means to get them quiet again.

‘2. When the ways of the old world, and of Sodom, werein fashion, if anything happened to molest those that were forthe customs of the present times, I laboured to make them quietagain, and to cause them to act without molestation.

‘3. To come nearer home: when the wars fell out betweenShaddai and Diabolus, if at any time I saw any of the town ofMansoul afraid of destruction, I often used, by some way, device,invention, or other, to labour to bring them to peaceagain.  Wherefore, since I have been always a man of sovirtuous a temper as some say a peace-maker is, and if apeace-maker be so deserving a man as some have been bold toattest he is, then let me, gentlemen, be accounted by you, whohave a great name for justice and equity in Mansoul, for a manthat deserveth not this inhuman way of treatment, but liberty,and also a license to seek damage of those that have been myaccusers.’

Then said the clerk, ‘Crier, make aproclamation.’

Crier.  Oyes!  Forasmuch as the prisoner atthe bar hath denied his name to be that which is mentioned in theindictment, the Court requireth that if there be any in thisplace that can give information to the Court of the original andright name of the prisoner, they would come forth and give intheir evidence; for the prisoner stands upon his owninnocency.

Then came two into the court, and desired that they might haveleave to speak what they knew concerning the prisoner at the bar:the name of the one was Search-Truth, and the name of the otherVouch-Truth.  So the Court demanded of these men if theyknew the prisoner, and what they could say concerning him,‘for he stands,’ said they, ‘upon his ownvindication.’

Then said Mr. Search-Truth, ‘My Lord,I—’

Court.  Hold! give him his oath.

Then they sware him.  So he proceeded.

Search.  My lord, I know and have known this manfrom a child, and can attest that his name is False-Peace. I know his father; his name was Mr. Flatter: and his mother,before she was married, was called by the name of Mrs. Sooth-Up:and these two, when they came together, lived not long withoutthis son; and when he was born, they called his nameFalse-Peace.  I was his play-fellow, only I was somewhatolder than he; and when his mother did use to call him home fromhis play, she used to say, ‘False-Peace, False-Peace, comehome quick, or I’ll fetch you.’  Yea, I knew himwhen he sucked; and though I was then but little, yet I canremember that when his mother did use to sit at the door withhim, or did play with him in her arms, she would call him, twentytimes together, ‘My little False-Peace! my prettyFalse-Peace!’ and, ‘Oh! my sweet rogue,False-Peace!’ and again, ‘Oh! my little bird,False-Peace!’ and ‘How do I love mychild!’  The gossips also know it is thus, though hehas had the face to deny it in open court.

Then Mr. Vouch-Truth was called upon to speak what he knew ofhim.  So they sware him.

Then said Mr. Vouch-Truth, ‘My lord, all that the formerwitness hath said is true.  His name is False-Peace, the sonof Mr. Flatter, and of Mrs. Sooth-Up, his mother: and I have informer times seen him angry with those that have called himanything else but False-Peace, for he would say that all such didmock and nickname him; but this was in the time when Mr.False-Peace was a great man, and when the Diabolonians were thebrave men in Mansoul.

Court.  Gentlemen, you have heard what these twomen have sworn against the prisoner at the bar.  And now,Mr. False-Peace, to you: you have denied your name to beFalse-Peace, yet you see that these honest men have sworn thatthat is your name.  As to your plea, in that you are quitebesides the matter of your indictment, you are not by it chargedfor evil-doing because you are a man of peace, or a peace-makeramong your neighbours; but for that you did wickedly andsatanically bring, keep, and hold the town of Mansoul, both underits apostasy from, and in its rebellion against its King, in afalse, lying, and damnable peace, contrary to the law of Shaddai,and to the hazard of the destruction of the then miserable townof Mansoul.  All that you have pleaded for yourself is, thatyou have denied your name, etc.; but here, you see, we havewitnesses to prove that you are the man.  For the peace thatyou so much boast of making among your neighbours, know thatpeace that is not a companion of truth and holiness, but thatwhich is without this foundation, is grounded upon a lie, and isboth deceitful and damnable, as also the great Shaddai hathsaid.  Thy plea, therefore, has not delivered thee from whatby the indictment thou art charged with, but rather it dothfasten all upon thee.  But thou shalt have very fairplay.  Let us call the witnesses that are to testify as tomatter of fact, and see what they have to say for our Lord theKing against the prisoner at the bar.

Clerk.  Mr. Know-All, what say you for our Lordthe King against the prisoner at the bar?

Know.  My lord, this man hath of a long time madeit, to my knowledge, his business to keep the town of Mansoul ina sinful quietness in the midst of all her lewdness, filthiness,and turmoils, and hath said, and that in my hearing, Come, come,let us fly from all trouble, on what ground soever it comes, andlet us be for a quiet and peaceable life, though it wanteth agood foundation.

Clerk.  Come, Mr. Hate-Lies, what have you tosay?

Hate.  My lord, I have heard him say, that peace,though in a way of unrighteousness, is better than trouble withtruth.

Clerk.  Where did you hear him say this?

Hate.  I heard him say it in Folly-yard, at thehouse of one Mr. Simple, next door to the sign of theSelf-deceiver.  Yea, he hath said this to my knowledgetwenty times in that place.

Clerk.  We may spare further witness; thisevidence is plain and full.  Set him by, gaoler, and set Mr.No-Truth to the bar.  Mr. No-Truth, thou art here indictedby the name of No-Truth, (an intruder upon the town of Mansoul,)for that thou hast always, to the dishonour of Shaddai, and theendangering of the utter ruin of the famous town of Mansoul, setthyself to deface, and utterly to spoil, all the remainders ofthe law and image of Shaddai that have been found in Mansoulafter her deep apostasy from her king to Diabolus, the envioustyrant.  What sayest thou, art thou guilty of thisindictment, or not?

No.  Not guilty, my lord.

Then the witnesses were called, and Mr. Know-All did firstgive in his evidence against him.

Know.  My lord, this man was at the pulling downof the image of Shaddai; yea, this is he that did it with his ownhands.  I myself stood by and saw him do it, and he did itat the commandment of Diabolus.  Yea, this Mr. No-Truth didmore than this, he did also set up the horned image of the beastDiabolus in the same place.  This also is he that, at thebidding of Diabolus, did rend and tear, and cause to be consumed,all that he could of the remainders of the law of the King, evenwhatever he could lay his hands on in Mansoul.

Clerk.  Who saw him do this besides yourself?

Hate.  I did, my lord, and so did many morebesides; for this was not done by stealth, or in a corner, but inthe open view of all; yea, he chose himself to do it publicly,for he delighted in the doing of it.

Clerk.  Mr. No-Truth, how could you have the faceto plead not guilty, when you were so manifestly the doer of allthis wickedness?

No.  Sir, I thought I must say something, and asmy name is, so I speak.  I have been advantaged therebybefore now, and did not know but by speaking no truth, I mighthave reaped the same benefit now.

Clerk.  Set him by, gaoler, and set Mr. Pitilessto the bar.  Mr. Pitiless, thou art here indicted by thename of Pitiless, (an intruder upon the town of Mansoul,) forthat thou didst most traitorously and wickedly shut up all bowelsof compassion, and wouldest not suffer poor Mansoul to condoleher own misery when she had apostatised from her rightful King,but didst evade, and at all times turn her mind awry from thosethoughts that had in them a tendency to lead her torepentance.  What sayest thou to this indictment? Guilty or not guilty?

‘Not guilty of pitilessness: all I did was to cheer up,according to my name, for my name is not Pitiless, but Cheer-up;and I could not abide to see Mansoul inclined tomelancholy.’

Clerk.  How! do you deny your name, and say it isnot Pitiless, but Cheer-up? Call for the witnesses.  Whatsay you, the witnesses, to this plea?

Know.  My lord, his name is Pitiless; so he hathwritten himself in all papers of concern wherein he has had todo.  But these Diabolonians love to counterfeit their names:Mr. Covetousness covers himself with the name of Good-Husbandry,or the like; Mr. Pride can, when need is, call himself Mr. Neat,Mr. Handsome, or the like; and so of all the rest of them.

Clerk.  Mr. Tell-True, what say you?

Tell.  His name is Pitiless, my lord.  I haveknown him from a child, and he hath done all that wickednesswhereof he stands charged in the indictment; but there is acompany of them that are not acquainted with the danger ofdamning, therefore they call all those melancholy that haveserious thoughts how that state should be shunned by them.

Clerk.  Set Mr. Haughty to the bar, gaoler. Mr. Haughty, thou art here indicted by the name of Haughty, (anintruder upon the town of Mansoul,) for that thou didst mosttraitorously and devilishly teach the town of Mansoul to carry itloftily and stoutly against the summons that was given them bythe captains of the King Shaddai.  Thou didst also teach thetown of Mansoul to speak contemptuously and vilifyingly of theirgreat King Shaddai; and didst moreover encourage, both by wordsand examples, Mansoul, to take up arms both against the King andhis son Emmanuel.  How sayest thou, art thou guilty of thisindictment, or not?

Haughty.  Gentlemen, I have always been a man ofcourage and valour, and have not used, when under the greatestclouds, to sneak or hang down the head like a bulrush; nor did itat all at any time please me to see men veil their bonnets tothose that have opposed them; yea, though their adversariesseemed to have ten times the advantage of them.  I did notuse to consider who was my foe, nor what the cause was in which Iwas engaged.  It was enough to me if I carried it bravely,fought like a man, and came off a victor.

Court.  Mr. Haughty, you are not here indicted forthat you have been a valiant man, nor for your courage andstoutness in times of distress, but for that you have made use ofthis your pretended valour to draw the town of Mansoul into actsof rebellion both against the great King, and Emmanuel hisSon.  This is the crime and the thing wherewith thou artcharged in and by the indictment.

But he made no answer to that.

Now when the Court had thus far proceeded against theprisoners at the bar, then they put them over to the verdict oftheir jury, to whom they did apply themselves after thismanner:

‘Gentlemen of the jury, you have been here, and haveseen these men; you have heard their indictments, their pleas,and what the witnesses have testified against them: now whatremains, is, that you do forthwith withdraw yourselves to someplace, where without confusion you may consider of what verdict,in a way of truth and righteousness, you ought to bring in forthe King against them, and so bring it in accordingly.’

Then the jury, to wit, Mr. Belief, Mr. True-Heart, Mr.Upright, Mr. Hate-bad, Mr. Love-God, Mr. See-Truth, Mr.Heavenly-Mind, Mr. Moderate, Mr. Thankful, Mr. Humble, Mr.Good-Work, and Mr. Zeal-for-God, withdrew themselves in order totheir work.  Now when they were shut up by themselves, theyfell to discourse among themselves in order to the drawing up oftheir verdict.

And thus Mr. Belief (for he was the foreman) began:‘Gentlemen,’ quoth he, ‘for the men, theprisoners at the bar, for my part I believe that they all deservedeath.’  ‘Very right,’ said Mr.True-Heart; ‘I am wholly of your opinion.’ ‘Oh what a mercy is it,’ said Mr. Hate-Bad,‘that such villains as these are apprehended!’ ‘Ay! ay!’ said Mr. Love-God, ‘this is one ofthe joyfullest days that ever I saw in my life.’  Thensaid Mr. See-Truth, ‘I know that if we judge them to death,our verdict shall stand before Shaddai himself’ ‘Nor do I at all question it,’ said Mr.Heavenly-Mind; he said, moreover, ‘When all such beasts asthese are cast out of Mansoul, what a goodly town will it bethen!’  ‘Then,’ said Mr. Moderate,‘it is not my manner to pass my judgment with rashness; butfor these their crimes are so notorious, and the witness sopalpable, that that man must be wilfully blind who saith theprisoners ought not to die.’  ‘Blessed beGod,’ said Mr. Thankful, ‘that the traitors are insafe custody.’  ‘And I join with you in thisupon my bare knees,’ said Mr. Humble.  ‘I amglad also,’ said Mr. Good-Work.  Then said the warmman, and true-hearted Mr. Zeal-for-God, ‘Cut them off; theyhave been the plague, and have sought the destruction ofMansoul.’

Thus, therefore, being all agreed in their verdict, they comeinstantly into the Court.

Clerk.  Gentlemen of the jury, answer all to yournames: Mr. Belief, one; Mr. True-Heart, two; Mr. Upright, three;Mr. Hate-Bad, four; Mr. Love-God, five; Mr. See-Truth, six; Mr.Heavenly-mind, seven; Mr. Moderate, eight; Mr. Thankful, nine;Mr. Humble, ten; Mr. Good-Work, eleven; and Mr. Zeal-for-God,twelve.  Good men and true, stand together in your verdict:are you all agreed?

Jury.  Yes, my lord.

Clerk.  Who shall speak for you?

Jury.  Our foreman.

Clerk.  You, the gentlemen of the jury, beingempannelled for our Lord the King, to serve here in a matter oflife and death, have heard the trials of each of these men, theprisoners at the bar: what say you? are they guilty of that, andthose crimes for which they stand here indicted, or are they notguilty?

Foreman.  Guilty, my lord.

Clerk.  Look to your prisoners, gaoler.

This was done in the morning, and in the afternoon theyreceived the sentence of death according to the law.

The gaoler, therefore, having received such a charge, put themall in the inward prison, to preserve them there till the day ofexecution, which was to be the next day in the morning.

But now to see how it happened, one of the prisoners,Incredulity by name, in the interim betwixt the sentence and thetime of execution, brake prison and made his escape, and gets himaway quite out of the town of Mansoul, and lay lurking in suchplaces and holes as he might, until he should again haveopportunity to do the town of Mansoul a mischief for their thushandling of him as they did.

Now when Mr. Trueman, the gaoler, perceived that he had losthis prisoner, he was in a heavy taking, because that prisonerwas, to speak on, the very worst of all the gang: wherefore firsthe goes and acquaints my Lord Mayor, Mr. Recorder, and my LordWillbewill, with the matter, and to get of them an order to makesearch for him throughout the town of Mansoul.  So an orderhe got, and search was made, but no such man could now be foundin all the town of Mansoul.

All that could be gathered was, that he had lurked a whileabout the outside of the town, and that here and there one orother had a glimpse of him as he did make his escape out ofMansoul; one or two also did affirm that they saw him without thetown, going apace quite over the plain.  Now when he wasquite gone, it was affirmed by one Mr. Did-see, that he rangedall over dry places, till he met with Diabolus, his friend, andwhere should they meet one another but just upon Hell-gatehill.

But oh! what a lamentable story did the old gentleman tell toDiabolus concerning what sad alteration Emmanuel had made inMansoul!

As, first, how Mansoul had, after some delays, received ageneral pardon at the hands of Emmanuel, and that they hadinvited him into the town, and that they had given him the castlefor his possession.  He said, moreover, that they had calledhis soldiers into the town, coveted who should quarter the mostof them; they also entertained him with the timbrel, song, anddance.  ‘But that,’ said Incredulity,‘which is the sorest vexation to me is, that he hath pulleddown, O father, thy image, and set up his own; pulled down thyofficers and set up his own.  Yea, and Willbewill, thatrebel, who, one would have thought, should never have turned fromus, he is now in as great favour with Emmanuel as ever he waswith thee.  But, besides all this, this Willbewill hasreceived a special commission from his master to search for, toapprehend, and to put to death all, and all manner ofDiabolonians that he shall find in Mansoul: yea, and thisWillbewill has taken and committed to prison already eight of myLord’s most trusty friends in Mansoul.  Nay, further,my Lord, with grief I speak it, they have been all arraigned,condemned, and, I doubt, before this executed in Mansoul.  Itold my Lord of eight, and myself was the ninth, who shouldassuredly have drunk of the same cup, but that through craft, I,as thou seest, have made mine escape from them.’

When Diabolus had heard this lamentable story, he yelled andsnuffed up the wind like a dragon, and made the sky to look darkwith his roaring; he also sware that he would try to be revengedon Mansoul for this.  So they, both he and his old friendIncredulity, concluded to enter into great consultation, how theymight get the town of Mansoul again.

Now, before this time, the day was come in which the prisonersin Mansoul were to be executed.  So they were brought to thecross, and that by Mansoul, in most solemn manner; for the Princesaid that this should be done by the hand of the town of Mansoul,‘that I may see,’ said he, ‘the forwardness ofmy now redeemed Mansoul to keep my word, and to do mycommandments; and that I may bless Mansoul in doing thisdeed.  Proof of sincerity pleases me well; let Mansoultherefore first lay their hands upon these Diabolonians todestroy them.’

So the town of Mansoul slew them, according to the word oftheir Prince; but when the prisoners were brought to the cross todie, you can hardly believe what troublesome work Mansoul had ofit to put the Diabolonians to death; for the men, knowing thatthey must die, and every of them having implacable enmity intheir hearts to Mansoul, what did they but took courage at thecross, and there resisted the men of the town of Mansoul? Wherefore the men of Mansoul were forced to cry out for help tothe captains and men of war.  Now the great Shaddai had asecretary in the town, and he was a great lover of the men ofMansoul, and he was at the place of execution also; so he,hearing the men of Mansoul cry out against the strugglings andunruliness of the prisoners, rose up from his place, and came andput his hands upon the hands of the men of Mansoul.  So theycrucified the Diabolonians that had been a plague, a grief, andan offence to the town of Mansoul.

Now, when this good work was done, the Prince came down tosee, to visit, and to speak comfortably to the men of Mansoul,and to strengthen their hands in such work.  And he said tothem that, by this act of theirs he had proved them, and foundthem to be lovers of his person, observers of his laws, and suchas had also respect to his honour.  He said, moreover, (toshow them that they by this should not be losers, nor their townweakened by the loss of them,) that he would make them anothercaptain, and that of one of themselves.  And that thiscaptain should be the ruler of a thousand, for the good andbenefit of the now flourishing town of Mansoul.

So he called one to him whose name was Waiting, and bid him,‘Go quickly up to the castle gate, and inquire there forone Mr. Experience, that waiteth upon that noble captain, theCaptain Credence, and bid him come hither to me.’  Sothe messenger that waited upon the good Prince Emmanuel went andsaid as he was commanded.  Now the young gentleman waswaiting to see the captain train and muster his men in the castleyard.  Then said Mr. Waiting to him, ‘Sir, the Princewould that you should come down to his highnessforthwith.’  So he brought him down to Emmanuel, andhe came and made obeisance before him.  Now the men of thetown knew Mr. Experience well, for he was born and bred inMansoul; they also knew him to be a man of conduct, of valour,and a person prudent in matters; he was also a comely person,well-spoken, and very successful in his undertakings.

Wherefore the hearts of the townsmen were transported with joywhen they saw that the Prince himself was so taken with Mr.Experience, that he would needs make him a captain over a band ofmen.

So with one consent they bowed the knee before Emmanuel, andwith a shout said, ‘Let Emmanuel live forever!’  Then said the Prince to the young gentleman,whose name was Mr. Experience, ‘I have thought good toconfer upon thee a place of trust and honour in this my town ofMansoul.’  Then the young man bowed his head andworshipped.  ‘It is,’ said Emmanuel, ‘thatthou shouldest be a captain, a captain over a thousand men in mybeloved town of Mansoul.’  Then said the captain,‘Let the King live!’  So the Prince gave outorders forthwith to the King’s secretary, that he shoulddraw up for Mr. Experience a commission to make him a captainover a thousand men.  ‘And let it be brought tome,’ said he, ‘that I may set to myseal.’  So it was done as it was commanded.  Thecommission was drawn up, brought to Emmanuel, and he set his sealthereto.  Then, by the hand of Mr. Waiting, he sent it awayto the captain.

Now as soon as the captain had received his commission, hesounded his trumpet for volunteers, and young men came to himapace; yea, the greatest and chief men in the town sent theirsons, to be listed under his command.  Thus CaptainExperience came under command to Emmanuel, for the good of thetown of Mansoul.  He had for his lieutenant one Mr. Skilful,and for his cornet one Mr. Memory.  His under officers Ineed not name.  His colours were the white colours for thetown of Mansoul; and his scutcheon was the dead lion and deadbear.  So the Prince returned to his royal palace again.

Now when he was returned thither, the elders of the town ofMansoul, to wit, the Lord Mayor, the Recorder, and the LordWillbewill, went to congratulate him, and in special way to thankhim for his love, care, and the tender compassion which he showedto his ever-obliged town of Mansoul.  So after a while, andsome sweet communion between them, the townsmen having solemnlyended their ceremony, returned to their place again.

Emmanuel also at this time appointed them a day wherein hewould renew their charter, yea, wherein he would renew andenlarge it, mending several faults therein, that Mansoul’syoke might be yet more easy.  And this he did without anydesire of theirs, even of his own frankness and noble mind. So when he had sent for and seen their old one, he laid it by,and said, ‘Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is readyto vanish away.’  He said, moreover, ‘The townof Mansoul shall have another, a better, a new one, more steadyand firm by far.’  An epitome hereof take asfollows:—

‘Emmanuel, Prince of Peace, and a great lover of thetown of Mansoul, I do in the name of my Father, and of mine ownclemency, give, grant, and bequeath to my beloved town ofMansoul.

‘First.  Free, full, and everlasting forgiveness ofall wrongs, injuries, and offences done by them against myFather, me, their neighbour, or themselves.

‘Second.  I do give them the holy law and mytestament, with all that therein is contained, for theireverlasting comfort and consolation.

‘Third.  I do also give them a portion of theself-same grace and goodness that dwells in my Father’sheart and mine.

‘Fourth.  I do give, grant, and bestow upon themfreely, the world and what is therein, for their good; and theyshall have that power over them, as shall stand with the honourof my Father, my glory, and their comfort: yea, I grant them thebenefits of life and death, and of things present, and things tocome.  This privilege no other city, town, or corporation,shall have, but my Mansoul only.

‘Fifth.  I do give and grant them leave, and freeaccess to me in my palace at all seasons—to my palace aboveor below—there to make known their wants to me, and I givethem, moreover, a promise that I will hear and redress all theirgrievances.

‘Sixth.  I do give, grant to, and invest the townof Mansoul with full power and authority to seek out, take,enslave, and destroy all, and all manner of Diabolonians that atany time, from whencesoever, shall be found straggling in orabout the town of Mansoul.

‘Seventh.  I do further grant to my beloved town ofMansoul, that they shall have authority not to suffer anyforeigner, or stranger, or their seed, to be free in, and of theblessed town of Mansoul, nor to share in the excellent privilegesthereof.  But that all the grants, privileges, andimmunities that I bestow upon the famous town of Mansoul, shallbe for those the old natives, and true inhabitants thereof; tothem, I say, and to their right seed after them.

‘But all Diabolonians, of what sort, birth, country, orkingdom soever, shall be debarred a share therein.’

So when the town of Mansoul had received at the hand ofEmmanuel their gracious charter, (which in itself is infinitelymore large than by this lean epitome is set before you,) theycarried it to audience, that is, to the market place, and thereMr. Recorder read it in the presence of all the people. This being done, it was had back to the castle gates, and therefairly engraven upon the doors thereof, and laid in letters ofgold, to the end that the town of Mansoul, with all the peoplethereof, might have it always in their view, or might go wherethey might see what a blessed freedom their Prince had bestowedupon them, that their joy might be increased in themselves, andtheir love renewed to their great and good Emmanuel.

But what joy, what comfort, what consolation, think you, didnow possess the hearts of the men of Mansoul!  The bellsrung, the minstrels played, the people danced, the captainsshouted, the colours waved in the wind, and the silver trumpetssounded; and the Diabolonians now were glad to hide their heads,for they looked like them that had been long dead.

When this was over, the Prince sent again for the elders ofthe town of Mansoul, and communed with them about a ministry thathe intended to establish among them; such a ministry that mightopen unto them, and that might instruct them in the things thatdid concern their present and future state.

‘For,’ said he, ‘you, of yourselves, unlessyou have teachers and guides, will not be able to know, and, ifnot to know, to be sure not to do the will of myFather.’

At this news, when the elders of Mansoul brought it to thepeople, the whole town came running together, (for it pleasedthem well, as whatever the Prince now did pleased the people,)and all with one consent implored his Majesty that he wouldforthwith establish such a ministry among them as might teachthem both law and judgment, statute and commandment; that theymight be documented in all good and wholesome things.  So hetold them that he would grant them their requests, and wouldestablish two among them; one that was of his Father’scourt, and one that was a native of Mansoul.

‘He that is from the court,’ said he, ‘is aperson of no less quality and dignity than my Father and I; andhe is the Lord Chief Secretary of my Father’s house: for heis, and always has been, the chief dictator of all myFather’s laws, a person altogether well skilled in allmysteries, and knowledge of mysteries, as is my Father, or asmyself is.  Indeed he is one with us in nature, and also asto loving of, and being faithful to, and in the eternal concernsof the town of Mansoul.

‘And this is he,’ said the Prince, ‘thatmust be your chief teacher; for it is he, and he only, that canteach you clearly in all high and supernatural things.  He,and he only, it is that knows the ways and methods of my Fatherat court, nor can any like him show how the heart of my Father isat all times, in all things, upon all occasions, towards Mansoul;for as no man knows the things of a man but that spirit of a manwhich is in him, so the things of my Father knows no man but thishis high and mighty Secretary.  Nor can any, as he, tellMansoul how and what they shall do to keep themselves in the loveof my Father.  He also it is that can bring lost things toyour remembrance, and that can tell you things to come. This teacher, therefore, must of necessity have the pre-eminence,both in your affections and judgment, before your other teacher;his personal dignity, the excellency of his teaching, also thegreat dexterity that he hath to help you to make and draw uppetitions to my Father for your help, and to his pleasing, mustlay obligations upon you to love him, fear him, and to take heedthat you grieve him not.

‘This person can put life and vigour into all he says;yea, and can also put it into your heart.  This person canmake seers of you, and can make you tell what shall behereafter.  By this person you must frame all your petitionsto my Father and me; and without his advice and counsel firstobtained, let nothing enter into the town or castle of Mansoul,for that may disgust and grieve this noble person.

‘Take heed, I say, that you do not grieve this minister;for if you do, he may fight against you; and should he once bemoved by you to set himself against you in battle array, thatwill distress you more than if twelve legions should from myFather’s court be sent to make war upon you.

‘But, as I said, if you shall hearken unto him, andshall love him; if you shall devote yourselves to his teaching,and shall seek to have converse, and to maintain communion withhim, you shall find him ten times better than is the whole worldto any; yea, he will shed abroad the love of my Father in yourhearts, and Mansoul will be the wisest, and most blessed of allpeople.’

Then did the Prince call unto him the old gentleman, whobefore had been the Recorder of Mansoul, Mr. Conscience by name,and told him, That, forasmuch as he was well skilled in the lawand government of the town of Mansoul, and was also well-spoken,and could pertinently deliver to them his Master’s will inall terrene and domestic matters, therefore he would also makehim a minister for, in, and to the goodly town of Mansoul, in allthe laws, statutes, and judgments of the famous town ofMansoul.  ‘And thou must,’ said the Prince,‘confine thyself to the teaching of moral virtues, to civiland natural duties; but thou must not attempt to presume to be arevealer of those high and supernatural mysteries that are keptclose in the bosom of Shaddai, my Father: for those things knowsno man, nor can any reveal them but my Father’s Secretaryonly.

‘Thou art a native of the town of Mansoul, but the LordSecretary is a native with my Father; wherefore, as thou hastknowledge of the laws and customs of the corporation, so he ofthe things and will of my Father.

‘Wherefore, O Mr. Conscience, although I have made theea minister and a preacher to the town of Mansoul, yet as to thethings which the Lord Secretary knoweth, and shall teach to thispeople, there thou must be his scholar and a learner, even as therest of Mansoul are.

‘Thou must therefore, in all high and supernaturalthings, go to him for information and knowledge; for though therebe a spirit in man, this person’s inspiration must give himunderstanding.  Wherefore, O thou Mr. Recorder, keep low andbe humble, and remember that the Diabolonians that kept not theirfirst charge, but left their own standing, are now made prisonersin the pit.  Be therefore content with thy station.

‘I have made thee my Father’s vicegerent on earth,in such things of which I have made mention before: and thou,take thou power to teach them to Mansoul, yea, and to impose themwith whips and chastisements, if they shall not willingly hearkento do thy commandments.

‘And, Mr. Recorder, because thou art old, and throughmany abuses made feeble; therefore I give thee leave and licenseto go when thou wilt to my fountain, my conduit, and there todrink freely of the blood of my grape, for my conduit doth alwaysrun wine.  Thus doing, thou shalt drive from thine heart andstomach all foul, gross, and hurtful humours.  It will alsolighten thine eyes, and will strengthen thy memory for thereception and keeping of all that the King’s most nobleSecretary teacheth.’

When the Prince had thus put Mr. Recorder (that once so was)into the place and office of a minister to Mansoul, and the manhad thankfully accepted thereof, then did Emmanuel addresshimself in a particular speech to the townsmen themselves.

‘Behold,’ said the Prince to Mansoul, ‘mylove and care towards you; I have added to all that is past, thismercy, to appoint you preachers; the most noble Secretary toteach you in all high and sublime mysteries; and thisgentleman,’ pointing to Mr. Conscience, ‘is to teachyou in all things human and domestic, for therein lieth hiswork.  He is not, by what I have said, debarred of tellingto Mansoul anything that he hath heard and received at the mouthof the lord high Secretary; only he shall not attempt to presumeto pretend to be a revealer of those high mysteries himself; forthe breaking of them up, and the discovery of them to Mansoullieth only in the power, authority, and skill of the lord highSecretary himself.  Talk of them he may, and so may the restof the town of Mansoul; yea, and may, as occasion gives themopportunity, press them upon each other for the benefit of thewhole.  These things, therefore, I would have you observeand do, for it is for your life, and the lengthening of yourdays.

‘And one thing more to my beloved Mr. Recorder, and toall the town of Mansoul: You must not dwell in, nor stay upon,anything of that which he hath in commission to teach you, as toyour trust and expectation of the next world; (of the next world,I say, for I purpose to give another to Mansoul, when this withthem is worn out;) but for that you must wholly and solely haverecourse to, and make stay upon his doctrine that is your Teacherafter the first order.  Yea, Mr. Recorder himself must notlook for life from that which he himself revealeth; hisdependence for that must be founded in the doctrine of the otherpreacher.  Let Mr. Recorder also take heed that he receivenot any doctrine, or point of doctrine, that is not communicatedto him by his Superior Teacher, nor yet within the precincts ofhis own formal knowledge.’

Now, after the Prince had thus settled things in the famoustown of Mansoul, he proceeded to give to the elders of thecorporation a necessary caution, to wit, how they should carry itto the high and noble captains that he had, from hisFather’s court, sent or brought with him, to the famoustown of Mansoul.

‘These captains,’ said he, ‘do love the townof Mansoul, and they are picked men, picked out of abundance, asmen that best suit, and that will most faithfully serve in thewars of Shaddai against the Diabolonians, for the preservation ofthe town of Mansoul.  ‘I charge you therefore,’said he, ‘O ye inhabitants of the now flourishing town ofMansoul, that you carry it not ruggedly or untowardly to mycaptains, or their men; since, as I said, they are picked andchoice men—men chosen out of many for the good of the townof Mansoul.  I say, I charge you, that you carry it notuntowardly to them: for though they have the hearts and faces oflions, when at any time they shall be called forth to engage andfight with the King’s foes, and the enemies of the town ofMansoul; yet a little discountenance cast upon them from the townof Mansoul will deject and cast down their faces, will weaken andtake away their courage.  Do not, therefore, O my beloved,carry it unkindly to my valiant captains and courageous men ofwar, but love them, nourish them, succour them, and lay them inyour bosoms; and they will not only fight for you, but cause tofly from you all those the Diabolonians that seek, and will, ifpossible, be, your utter destruction.

‘If, therefore, any of them should at any time be sickor weak, and so not able to perform that office of love, which,with all their hearts, they are willing to do (and will do alsowhen well and in health), slight them not, nor despise them, butrather strengthen them and encourage them, though weak and readyto die, for they are your fence, and your guard, your wall, yourgates, your locks, and your bars.  And although, when theyare weak, they can do but little, but rather need to be helped byyou, than that you should then expect great things from them,yet, when well, you know what exploits, what feats and warlikeachievements they are able to do, and will perform for you.

‘Besides, if they be weak, the town of Mansoul cannot bestrong; if they be strong, then Mansoul cannot be weak; yoursafety, therefore, doth lie in their health, and in yourcountenancing them.  Remember, also, that if they be sick,they catch that disease of the town of Mansoul itself.

‘These things I have said unto you because I love yourwelfare and your honour: observe, therefore, O my Mansoul, to bepunctual in all things that I have given in charge unto you, andthat not only as a town corporate, and so to your officers andguard, and guides in chief, but to you as you are a people whosewell-being, as single persons, depends on the observation of theorders and commandments of their Lord.

‘Next, O my Mansoul, I do warn you of that, of which,notwithstanding that reformation that at present is wrought amongyou, you have need to be warned about: wherefore hearkendiligently unto me.  I am now sure, and you will knowhereafter, that there are yet of the Diabolonians remaining inthe town of Mansoul, Diabolonians that are sturdy and implacable,and that do already while I am with you, and that will yet morewhen I am from you, study, plot, contrive, invent, and jointlyattempt to bring you to desolation, and so to a state far worsethan that of the Egyptian bondage; they are the avowed friends ofDiabolus, therefore look about you.  They used heretofore tolodge with their Prince in the Castle, when Incredulity was theLord Mayor of this town; but since my coming hither, they liemore in the outsides and walls, and have made themselves dens,and caves, and holes, and strongholds therein.  Wherefore, OMansoul! thy work, as to this, will be so much the more difficultand hard; that is, to take, mortify, and put them to deathaccording to the will of my Father.  Nor can you utterly ridyourselves of them, unless you should pull down the walls of yourtown, the which I am by no means willing you should.  Do youask me, What shall we do then?  Why, be you diligent, andquit you like men; observe their holes; find out their haunts;assault them, and make no peace with them.  Wherever theyhaunt, lurk, or abide, and what terms of peace soever they offeryou, abhor, and all shall be well betwixt you and me.  Andthat you may the better know them from those that are the nativesof Mansoul, I will give you this brief schedule of the names ofthe chief of them; and they are these that follow:—The LordFornication, the Lord Adultery, the Lord Murder, the Lord Anger,the Lord Lasciviousness, the Lord Deceit, the Lord Evil-Eye, Mr.Drunkenness, Mr. Revelling, Mr. Idolatry, Mr. Witch-craft, Mr.Variance, Mr. Emulation, Mr. Wrath, Mr. Strife, Mr. Sedition, andMr. Heresy.  These are some of the chief, O Mansoul! ofthose that will seek to overthrow thee for ever.  These, Isay, are the skulkers in Mansoul; but look thou well into the lawof thy King, and there thou shalt find their physiognomy, andsuch other characteristical notes of them, by which theycertainly may be known.

‘These, O my Mansoul, (and I would gladly that youshould certainly know it,) if they be suffered to run and rangeabout the town as they would, will quickly, like vipers, eat outyour bowels; yea, poison your captains, cut the sinews of yoursoldiers, break the bars and bolts of your gates, and turn yournow most flourishing Mansoul into a barren and desolatewilderness, and ruinous heap.  Wherefore, that you may takecourage to yourselves to apprehend these villains wherever youfind them, I give to you, my Lord Mayor, my Lord Willbewill, andMr. Recorder, with all the inhabitants of the town of Mansoul,full power and commission to seek out, to take, and to cause tobe put to death by the cross, all, and all manner ofDiabolonians, when and wherever you shall find them to lurkwithin, or to range without the walls of the town of Mansoul.

‘I told you before that I had placed a standing ministryamong you; not that you have but these with you, for my firstfour captains who came against the master and lord of theDiabolonians that was in Mansoul, they can, and if need be, andif they be required, will not only privately inform, but publiclypreach to the corporation both good and wholesome doctrine, andsuch as shall lead you in the way.  Yea, they will set up aweekly, yea, if need be, a daily lecture in thee, O Mansoul! andwill instruct thee in such profitable lessons, that, if heeded,will do thee good at the end.  And take good heed that youspare not the men that you have a commission to take andcrucify.

‘Now, as I have set before your eyes the vagrants andrunagates by name, so I will tell you, that among yourselves,some of them shall creep in to beguile you, even such as wouldseem, and that in appearance are, very rife and hot forreligion.  And they, if you watch not, will do you amischief, such an one as at present you cannot think of.

‘These, as I said, will show themselves to you inanother hue than those under description before.  Wherefore,Mansoul, watch and be sober, and suffer not thyself to bebetrayed.’

When the Prince had thus far new modelled the town of Mansoul,and had instructed them in such matters as were profitable forthem to know, then he appointed another day in which he intended,when the townsfolk came together, to bestow a further badge ofhonour upon the town of Mansoul,—a badge that shoulddistinguish them from all the people, kindreds, and tongues thatdwell in the kingdom of Universe.  Now it was not longbefore the day appointed was come, and the Prince and his peoplemet in the King’s palace, where first Emmanuel made a shortspeech unto them, and then did for them as he had said, and untothem as he had promised.

‘My Mansoul,’ said he, ‘that which I now amabout to do, is to make you known to the world to be mine, and todistinguish you also in your own eyes, from all false traitorsthat may creep in among you.’

Then he commanded that those that waited upon him should goand bring forth out of his treasury those white and glisteningrobes ‘that I,’ said he, ‘have provided andlaid up in store for my Mansoul.’  So the whitegarments were fetched out of his treasury, and laid forth to theeyes of the people.  Moreover, it was granted to them thatthey should take them and put them on, ‘according,’said he, ‘to your size and stature.’  So thepeople were put into white, into fine linen, white and clean.

Then said the Prince unto them, ‘This, O Mansoul, is mylivery, and the badge by which mine are known from the servantsof others.  Yea, it is that which I grant to all that aremine, and without which no man is permitted to see my face. Wear them, therefore, for my sake, who gave them unto you; andalso if you would be known by the world to be mine.’

But now! can you think how Mansoul shone?  It was fair asthe sun, clear as the moon, and terrible as an army withbanners.

The Prince added further, and said, ‘No prince,potentate, or mighty one of Universe, giveth this livery butmyself: behold, therefore, as I said before, you shall be knownby it to be mine.

‘And now,’ said he, ‘I have given you mylivery, let me give you also in commandment concerning them; andbe sure that you take good heed to my words.

‘First.  Wear them daily, day by day, lest youshould at sometimes appear to others as if you were none ofmine.

‘Second.  Keep them always white; for if they besoiled, it is dishonour to me.

‘Third.  Wherefore gird them up from the ground,and let them not lag with dust and dirt.

‘Fourth.  Take heed that you lose them not, lestyou walk naked, and they see your shame.

‘Fifth.  But if you should sully them, if youshould defile them, the which I am greatly unwilling you should,and the prince Diabolus will be glad if you would, then speed youto do that which is written in my law, that yet you may stand,and befall before me, and before my throne.  Also, this isthe way to cause that I may not leave you, nor forsake you whilehere, but may dwell in this town of Mansoul for ever.’

And now was Mansoul, and the inhabitants of it, as the signetupon Emmanuel’s right hand.  Where was there now atown, a city, a corporation, that could compare with Mansoul! atown redeemed from the hand, and from the power of Diabolus! atown that the King Shaddai loved, and that he sent Emmanuel toregain from the Prince of the infernal cave; yea, a town thatEmmanuel loved to dwell in, and that he chose for his royalhabitation; a town that he fortified for himself, and made strongby the force of his army.  What shall I say, Mansoul has nowa most excellent Prince, golden captains and men of war, weaponsproved, and garments as white as snow.  Nor are thesebenefits to be counted little, but great; can the town of Mansoulesteem them so, and improve them to that end and purpose forwhich they are bestowed upon them?

When the Prince had thus completed the modelling of the town,to show that he had great delight in the work of his hands andtook pleasure in the good that he had wrought for the famous andflourishing Mansoul, he commanded, and they set his standard uponthe battlements of the castle.  And then,

First.  He gave them frequent visits; not a day now butthe elders of Mansoul must come to him, or he to them, into hispalace.  Now they must walk and talk together of all thegreat things that he had done, and yet further promised to do,for the town of Mansoul.  Thus would he often do with theLord Mayor, my Lord Willbewill, and the honest subordinatepreacher Mr. Conscience, and Mr. Recorder.  But oh, howgraciously, how lovingly, how courteously, and tenderly did thisblessed Prince now carry it towards the town of Mansoul!  Inall the streets, gardens, orchards, and other places where hecame, to be sure the poor should have his blessing andbenediction; yea, he would kiss them, and if they were ill hewould lay hands on them, and make them well.  The captains,also, he would daily, yea, sometimes hourly, encourage with hispresence and goodly words.  For you must know that a smilefrom him upon them would put more vigour, more life, andstoutness into them, than would anything else under heaven.

The Prince would now also feast them, and be with themcontinually: hardly a week would pass but a banquet must be hadbetwixt him and them.  You may remember that, some pagesbefore, we make mention of one feast that they had together; butnow to feast them was a thing more common: every day with Mansoulwas a feast-day now.  Nor did he, when they returned totheir places, send them empty away, either they must have a ring,a gold chain, a bracelet, a white stone, or something; so dearwas Mansoul to him now; so lovely was Mansoul in his eyes.

Second.  When the elders and townsmen did not come tohim, he would send in much plenty of provision unto them; meatthat came from court, wine and bread that were prepared for hisFather’s table; yea, such delicates would he send untothem, and therewith would so cover their table, that whoever sawit confessed that the like could not be seen in any kingdom.

Third.  If Mansoul did not frequently visit him as hedesired they should, he would walk out to them, knock at theirdoors, and desire entrance, that amity might be maintainedbetwixt them and him; if they did hear and open to him, ascommonly they would, if they were at home, then would he renewhis former love, and confirm it too with some new tokens, andsigns of continued favour.

And was it not now amazing to behold, that in that very placewhere sometimes Diabolus had his abode, and entertained hisDiabolonians to the almost utter destruction of Mansoul, thePrince of princes should sit eating and drinking with them, whileall his mighty captains, men of war, trumpeters, with thesinging-men and singing-women of his Father, stood round about towait upon them!  Now did Mansoul’s cup run over, nowdid her conduits run sweet wine, now did she eat the finest ofthe wheat, and drink milk and honey out of the rock!  Now,she said, How great is his goodness! for since I found favour inhis eyes, how honourable have I been!

The blessed Prince did also ordain a new officer in the town,and a goodly person he was; his name was Mr. God’s-Peace:this man was set over my Lord Willbewill, my Lord Mayor, Mr.Recorder, the subordinate preacher, Mr. Mind, and over all thenatives of the town of Mansoul.  Himself was not a native ofit, but came with the Prince Emmanuel from the court.  Hewas a great acquaintance of Captain Credence and CaptainGood-Hope; some say they were kin, and I am of that opiniontoo.  This man, as I said, was made governor of the town ingeneral, especially over the castle, and Captain Credence was tohelp him there.  And I made great observation of it, that solong as all things went in Mansoul as this sweet-naturedgentleman would, the town was in most happy condition.  Nowthere were no jars, no chiding, no interferings, no unfaithfuldoings in all the town of Mansoul; every man in Mansoul keptclose to his own employment.  The gentry, the officers, thesoldiers, and all in place observed their order.  And as forthe women and children of the town, they followed their businessjoyfully; they would work and sing, work and sing, from morningtill night: so that quite through the town of Mansoul now nothingwas to be found but harmony, quietness, joy, and health. And this lasted all that summer.

But there was a man in the town of Mansoul, and his name wasMr. Carnal-Security; this man did, after all this mercy bestowedon this corporation, bring the town of Mansoul into great andgrievous slavery and bondage.  A brief account of him and ofhis doings take as followeth:—

When Diabolus at first took possession of the town of Mansoul,he brought thither, with himself, a great number of Diabolonians,men of his own conditions.  Now among these there was onewhose name was Mr. Self-Conceit, and a notable brisk man he was,as any that in those days did possess the town of Mansoul. Diabolus, then, perceiving this man to be active and bold, senthim upon many desperate designs, the which he managed better, andmore to the pleasing of his lord, than most that came with himfrom the dens could do.  Wherefore, finding him so fit forhis purpose, he preferred him, and made him next to the greatLord Willbewill, of whom we have written so much before. Now the Lord Willbewill being in those days very well pleasedwith him, and with his achievements, gave him his daughter, theLady Fear-Nothing, to wife.  Now, of my Lady Fear-nothing,did this Mr. Self-Conceit beget this gentleman, Mr.Carnal-Security.  Wherefore, there being then in Mansoulthose strange kinds of mixtures, it was hard for them, in somecases, to find out who were natives, who not, for Mr.Carnal-Security sprang from my Lord Willbewill by mother’sside, though he had for his father a Diabolonian by nature.

Well, this Carnal-Security took much after his father andmother; he was self-conceited, he feared nothing, he was also avery busy man: nothing of news, nothing of doctrine, nothing ofalteration, or talk of alteration, could at any time be on footin Mansoul, but be sure Mr. Carnal-Security would be at the heador tail of it: but, to be sure, he would decline those that hedeemed the weakest, and stood always with them in his way ofstanding, that he supposed was the strongest side.

Now, when Shaddai the mighty, and Emmanuel his Son, made warupon Mansoul, to take it, this Mr. Carnal-Security was then intown, and was a great doer among the people, encouraging them intheir rebellion, putting them upon hardening themselves in theirresisting the King’s forces: but when he saw that the townof Mansoul was taken, and converted to the use of the gloriousPrince Emmanuel; and when he also saw what was become ofDiabolus, and how he was unroosted, and made to quit the castlein the greatest contempt and scorn; and that the town of Mansoulwas well lined with captains, engines of war, and men, and alsoprovision; what doth he but slyly wheel about also; and as he hadserved Diabolus against the good Prince, so he feigned that hewould serve the Prince against his foes.

And having got some little smattering of Emmanuel’sthings by the end, being bold, he ventures himself into thecompany of the townsmen, any attempts also to chat amongthem.  Now he knew that the power and strength of the townof Mansoul was great, and that it could not but be pleasing tothe people, if he cried up their might and their glory. Wherefore he beginneth his tale with the power and strength ofMansoul, and affirmed that it was impregnable; now magnifyingtheir captains and their slings, and their rams; then crying uptheir fortifications and strongholds; and, lastly, the assurancesthat they had from their Prince, that Mansoul should be happy forever.  But when he saw that some of the men of the town weretickled and taken with his discourse, he makes it his business,and walking from street to street, house to house, and man toman, he at last brought Mansoul to dance after his pipe, and togrow almost as carnally secure as himself; so from talking theywent to feasting, and from feasting to sporting; and so to someother matters.  Now Emmanuel was yet in the town of Mansoul,and he wisely observed their doings.  My Lord Mayor, my LordWillbewill, and Mr. Recorder were also all taken with the wordsof this tattling Diabolonian gentleman, forgetting that theirPrince had given them warning before to take heed that they werenot beguiled with any Diabolonian sleight; he had further toldthem that the security of the now flourishing town of Mansoul didnot so much lie in her present fortifications and force, as inher so using of what she had, as might oblige her Emmanuel toabide within her castle.  For the right doctrine of Emmanuelwas, that the town of Mansoul should take heed that they forgotnot his Father’s love and his; also, that they should sodemean themselves as to continue to keep themselvestherein.  Now this was not the way to do it, namely, to fallin love with one of the Diabolonians, and with such an one too asMr. Carnal-Security was, and to be led up and down by the nose byhim; they should have heard their Prince, feared their Prince,loved their Prince, and have stoned this naughty pack to death,and took care to have walked in the ways of their Prince’sprescribing: for then should their peace have been as a river,when their righteousness had been like the waves of the sea.

Now when Emmanuel perceived that through the policy of Mr.Carnal-Security the hearts of the men of Mansoul were chilled andabated in their practical love to him,

First.  He bemoans them, and, condoles their state withthe Secretary, saying, ‘Oh that my people had hearkenedunto me, and that Mansoul had walked in my ways!  I wouldhave fed them with the finest of the wheat; and with honey out ofthe rock would I have sustained them.’  This done, hesaid in his heart, ‘I will return to the court, and go tomy place, till Mansoul shall consider and acknowledge theiroffence.’  And he did so, and the cause and manner ofhis going away from them was, that Mansoul declined him, as ismanifest in these particulars.

‘1. They left off their former way of visiting him, theycame not to his royal palace as afore.

‘2. They did not regard, nor yet take notice, that hecame or came not to visit them.

‘3. The love-feasts that had wont to be between theirPrince and them, though he made them still, and called them tothem, yet they neglected to come to them, or to be delighted withthem.

‘4. They waited not for his counsels, but began to beheadstrong and confident in themselves, concluding that now theywere strong and invincible, and that Mansoul was secure, andbeyond all reach of the foe, and that her state must needs beunalterable for ever.’

Now, as was said, Emmanuel perceiving that by the craft of Mr.Carnal-Security, the town of Mansoul was taken off from theirdependence upon him, and upon his Father by him, and set uponwhat by them was bestowed upon it; he first, as I said, bemoanedtheir state, then he used means to make them understand that theway that they went on in was dangerous: for he sent my Lord HighSecretary to them, to forbid them such ways; but twice when hecame to them, he found them at dinner in Mr.Carnal-Security’s parlour; and perceiving also that theywere not willing to reason about matters concerning their good,he took grief and went his way; the which when he had told to thePrince Emmanuel, he took offence, and was grieved also, and somade provision to return to his Father’s court.

Now, the methods of his withdrawing, as I was saying before,were thus:—

‘1. Even while he was yet with them in Mansoul, he kepthimself close, and more retired than formerly.

‘2. His speech was not now, if he came in their company,so pleasant and familiar as formerly.

‘3. Nor did he, as in times past, send to Mansoul, fromhis table, those dainty bits which he was wont to do.

‘4. Nor when they came to visit him, as now and thenthey would, would he be so easily spoken with as they found himto be in times past.  They might now knock once, yea, twice,but he would seem not at all to regard them; whereas formerly atthe sound of their feet he would up and run, and meet themhalfway, and take them too, and lay them in his bosom.’

But thus Emmanuel carried it now, and by this his carriage hesought to make them bethink themselves, and return to him. But, alas! they did not consider, they did not know his ways,they regarded not, they were not touched with these, nor with thetrue remembrance of former favours.  Wherefore what does hebut in private manner withdraw himself, first from his palace,then to the gate of the town, and so away from Mansoul he goes,till they should acknowledge their offence, and more earnestlyseek his face.  Mr. God’s-Peace also laid down hiscommission, and would for the present act no longer in the townof Mansoul.

Thus they walked contrary to him, and he again, by way ofretaliation, walked contrary to them.  But, alas! by thistime they were so hardened in their way, and had so drunk in thedoctrine of Mr. Carnal-Security, that the departing of theirPrince touched them not, nor was he remembered by them when gone;and so, of consequence, his absence not condoled by them.

Now, there was a day wherein this old gentleman, Mr.Carnal-Security, did again make a feast for the town of Mansoul;and there was at that time in the town one Mr. Godly-Fear, onenow but little set by, though formerly one of greatrequest.  This man, old Carnal-Security, had a mind, ifpossible, to gull, and debauch, and abuse, as he did the rest,and therefore he now bids him to the feast with hisneighbours.  So the day being come, they prepare, and hegoes and appears with the rest of the guests; and being all setat the table, they did eat and drink, and were merry, even allbut this one man: for Mr. Godly-Fear sat like a stranger, and didneither eat nor was merry.  The which, when Mr.Carnal-Security perceived, he presently addressed himself in aspeech thus to him:—

‘Mr. Godly-Fear, are you not well?  You seem to beill of body or mind, or both.  I have a cordial of Mr.Forget-Good’s making, the which, sir, if you will take adram of, I hope it may make you bonny and blithe, and so make youmore fit for us, feasting companions.’

Unto whom the good old gentleman discreetly replied,‘Sir, I thank you for all things courteous and civil; butfor your cordial I have no list thereto.  But a word to thenatives of Mansoul: You, the elders and chief of Mansoul, to meit is strange to see you so jocund and merry, when the town ofMansoul is in such woeful case.’

Then said Mr. Carnal-Security, ‘You want sleep, goodair, I doubt.  If you please, lie down, and take a nap, andwe meanwhile will be merry.’

Then said the good man as follows: ‘Sir, if you were notdestitute of an honest heart, you could not do as you have doneand do.’

Then said Mr. Carnal-Security, ‘Why?’

Godly.  Nay, pray interrupt me not.  It istrue the town of Mansoul was strong, and, with a proviso,impregnable; but you, the townsmen, have weakened it, and it nowlies obnoxious to its foes.  Nor is it a time to flatter, orbe silent; it is you, Mr. Carnal-Security, that have wililystripped Mansoul, and driven her glory from her; you have pulleddown her towers, you have broken down her gates, you have spoiledher locks and bars.

And now, to explain myself: from that time that my lords ofMansoul, and you, sir, grew so great, from that time the Strengthof Mansoul has been offended, and now he is arisen and isgone.  If any shall question the truth of my words, I willanswer him by this, and suchlike questions.  ‘Where isthe Prince Emmanuel?  When did a man or woman in Mansoul seehim?  When did you hear from him, or taste any of his daintybits?’  You are now a feasting with this Diabolonianmonster, but he is not your Prince.  I say, therefore,though enemies from without, had you taken heed, could not havemade a prey of you, yet since you have sinned against yourPrince, your enemies within have been too hard for you.

Then said Mr. Carnal-Security, ‘Fie! fie!  Mr.Godly-Fear, fie!—will you never shake off yourtimorousness?  Are you afraid of beingsparrow-blasted?  Who hath hurt you?  Behold, I am onyour side; only you are for doubting, and I am for beingconfident.  Besides, is this a time to be sad in?  Afeast is made for mirth; why, then, do you now, to your shame,and our trouble, break out into such passionate melancholylanguage, when you should eat and drink, and be merry?’

Then said Mr. Godly-Fear again, ‘I may well be sad, forEmmanuel is gone from Mansoul.  I say again, he is gone, andyou, sir, are the man that has driven him away; yea, he is gonewithout so much as acquainting the nobles of Mansoul with hisgoing; and if that is not a sign of his anger, I am notacquainted with the methods of godliness.

‘And now, my lords and gentlemen, for my speech is stillto you, your gradual declining from him did provoke him graduallyto depart from you, the which he did for some time, if perhapsyou would have been made sensible thereby, and have been renewedby humbling yourselves; but when he saw that none would regard,nor lay these fearful beginnings of his anger and judgment toheart, he went away from this place; and this I saw with mineeye.  Wherefore now, while you boast, your strength is gone;you are like the man that had lost his locks that before did waveabout his shoulders.  You may, with this lord of your feast,shake yourselves, and conclude to do as at other times; but sincewithout him you can do nothing, and he is departed from you, turnyour feast into a sigh, and your mirth intolamentation.’

Then the subordinate preacher, old Mr. Conscience by name, hethat of old was Recorder of Mansoul, being startled at what wassaid, began to second it thus:—

‘Indeed, my brethren,’ quoth he, ‘I fearthat Mr. Godly-Fear tells us true: I, for my part, have not seenmy Prince a long season.  I cannot remember the day, for mypart; nor can I answer Mr. Godly-Fear’s question.  Idoubt, I am afraid that all is nought with Mansoul.’

Godly.  Nay, I know that you shall not find him inMansoul, for he is departed and gone; yea, and gone for thefaults of the elders, and for that they rewarded his grace withunsufferable unkindness.

Then did the subordinate preacher look as if he would falldown dead at the table; also all there present, except the man ofthe house, began to look pale and wan.  But having a littlerecovered themselves, and jointly agreeing to believe Mr.Godly-Fear and his sayings, they began to consult what was bestto be done, (now Mr. Carnal-Security was gone into hiswithdrawing-room, for he liked not such dumpish doings,) both tothe man of the house for drawing them into evil, and also torecover Emmanuel’s love.

And, with that, that saying of their Prince came very hot intotheir minds, which he had bidden them do to such as were falseprophets that should arise to delude the town of Mansoul. So they took Mr. Carnal-Security (concluding that he must be he)and burned his house upon him with fire; for he also was aDiabolonian by nature.

So when this was passed and over, they bespeed themselves tolook for Emmanuel their Prince; and they sought him, but theyfound him not.  Then were they more confirmed in the truthof Mr. Godly-Fear’s sayings, and began also severely toreflect upon themselves for their so vile and ungodly doings; forthey concluded now that it was through them that their Prince hadleft them.

Then they agreed and went to my Lord Secretary, (him whombefore they refused to hear—him whom they had grieved withtheir doings,) to know of him, for he was a seer, and could tellwhere Emmanuel was, and how they might direct a petition tohim.  But the Lord Secretary would not admit them to aconference about this matter, nor would admit them to his royalplace of abode, nor come out to them to show them his face orintelligence.

And now was it a day gloomy and dark, a day of clouds and ofthick darkness with Mansoul.  Now they saw that they hadbeen foolish, and began to perceive what the company and prattleof Mr. Carnal-Security had done, and what desperate damage hisswaggering words had brought poor Mansoul into.  But whatfurther it was likely to cost them they were ignorant of. Now Mr. Godly-Fear began again to be in repute with the men ofthe town; yea, they were ready to look upon him as a prophet.

Well, when the Sabbath day was come, they went to hear theirsubordinate preacher; but oh, how he did thunder and lighten thisday!  His text was that in the prophet Jonah: ‘Theythat observe lying vanities forsake their own mercy.’ But there was then such power and authority in that sermon, andsuch a dejection seen in the countenances of the people that day,that the like hath seldom been heard or seen.  The people,when sermon was done, were scarce able to go to their homes, orto betake themselves to their employs the week after; they wereso sermon-smitten, and also so sermon-sick by being smitten, thatthey knew not what to do.

He did not only show to Mansoul their sin, but did tremblebefore them, under the sense of his own, still crying out ofhimself, as he preached to them, ‘Unhappy man that I am!that I should do so wicked a thing!  That I, a preacher!whom the Prince did set up to teach to Mansoul his law, shouldmyself live senseless and sottishly here, and be one of the firstfound in transgression!  This transgression also fell withinmy precincts; I should have cried out against the wickedness; butI let Mansoul lie wallowing in it, until it had driven Emmanuelfrom its borders!’  With these things he also chargedall the lords and gentry of Mansoul, to the almost distracting ofthem.

About this time, also, there was a great sickness in the townof Mansoul, and most of the inhabitants were greatlyafflicted.  Yea, the captains also, and men of war, werebrought thereby to a languishing condition, and that for a longtime together; so that in case of an invasion, nothing could topurpose now have been done, either by the townsmen or fieldofficers.  Oh, how many pale faces, weak hands, feebleknees, and staggering men were now seen to walk the streets ofMansoul!  Here were groans, there pants, and yonder laythose that were ready to faint.

The garments, too, which Emmanuel had given them were but in asorry case; some were rent, some were torn, and all in a nastycondition; some also did hang so loosely upon them, that the nextbush they came at was ready to pluck them off.

After some time spent in this sad and desolate condition, thesubordinate preacher called for a day of fasting, and to humblethemselves for being so wicked against the great Shaddai and hisSon.  And he desired that Captain Boanerges wouldpreach.  So he consented to do it; and the day being come,and his text was this, ‘Cut it down, why cumbereth it theground?’  And a very smart sermon he made upon theplace.  First, he showed what was the occasion of the words,namely, because the fig-tree was barren; then he showed what wascontained in the sentence, namely, repentance, or utterdesolation.  He then showed, also, by whose authority thissentence was pronounced, and that was by Shaddai himself. And, lastly, he showed the reasons of the point, and thenconcluded his sermon.  But he was very pertinent in theapplication, insomuch that he made poor Mansoul tremble. For this sermon, as well as the former, wrought much upon thehearts of the men of Mansoul; yea, it greatly helped to keepawake those that were roused by the preaching that wentbefore.  So that now throughout the whole town, there waslittle or nothing to be heard or seen but sorrow, and mourning,and woe.

Now, after sermon, they got together and consulted what wasbest to be done.  ‘But,’ said the subordinatepreacher, ‘I will do nothing of mine own head, withoutadvising with my neighbour Mr. Godly-Fear.  For if he hadaforehand understood more of the mind of our Prince than we, I donot know but he also may have it now, even now we are turningagain to virtue.’

So they called and sent for Mr. Godly-Fear, and he forthwithappeared.  Then they desired that he would further show hisopinion about what they had best to do. Then said the oldgentleman as followeth: ‘It is my opinion that this town ofMansoul should, in this day of her distress, draw up and send anhumble petition to their offended Prince Emmanuel, that he, inhis favour and grace, will turn again unto you, and not keepanger for ever.’

When the townsmen had heard this speech, they did, with oneconsent, agree to his advice; so they did presently draw up theirrequest, and the next was, But who shall carry it?  At lastthey did all agree to send it by my Lord Mayor.  So heaccepted of the service, and addressed himself to his journey;and went and came to the court of Shaddai, whither Emmanuel thePrince of Mansoul was gone.  But the gate was shut, and astrict watch kept thereat; so that the petitioner was forced tostand without for a great while together.  Then he desiredthat some would go into the Prince and tell him who stood at thegate, and what his business was.  So one went and told toShaddai, and to Emmanuel his Son, that the Lord Mayor of the townof Mansoul stood without at the gate of the King’s court,desiring to be admitted into the presence of the Prince, theKing’s Son.  He also told what was the LordMayor’s errand, both to the King and his SonEmmanuel.  But the Prince would not come down, nor admitthat the gate should be opened to him, but sent him an answer tothis effect: ‘They have turned their back unto me, and nottheir face; but now in the time of their trouble they say to me,Arise, and save us.  But can they not now go to Mr.Carnal-Security, to whom they went when they turned from me, andmake him their leader, their lord, and their protection now intheir trouble; why now in their trouble do they visit me, sincein their prosperity they went astray?’

The answer made my Lord Mayor look black in the face; ittroubled, it perplexed, it rent him sore.  And now he beganagain to see what it was to be familiar with Diabolonians, suchas Mr. Carnal-Security was.  When he saw that at court, asyet, there was little help to be expected, either for himself orfriends in Mansoul, he smote upon his breast, and returnedweeping, and all the way bewailing the lamentable state ofMansoul.

Well, when he was come within sight of the town, the eldersand chief of the people of Mansoul went out at the gate to meethim, and to salute him, and to know how he sped at court. But he told them his tale in so doleful a manner, that they allcried out, and mourned, and wept.  Wherefore they threwashes and dust upon their heads, and put sackcloth upon theirloins, and went crying out through the town of Mansoul; thewhich, when the rest of the townsfolk saw, they all mourned andwept.  This, therefore, was a day of rebuke and trouble, andof anguish to the town of Mansoul, and also of greatdistress.

After some time, when they had somewhat refrained themselves,they came together to consult again what by them was yet to bedone; and they asked advice, as they did before, of that reverendMr. Godly-Fear, who told them that there was no way better thanto do as they had done, nor would he that they should bediscouraged at all with that they had met with at court; yea,though several of their petitions should be answered with noughtbut silence or rebuke: ‘For,’ said he, ‘it isthe way of the wise Shaddai to make men wait and to exercisepatience, and it should be the way of them in want, to be willingto stay his leisure.

Then they took courage, and sent again and again, and again,and again; for there was not now one day, nor an hour that wentover Mansoul’s head, wherein a man might not have met uponthe road one or other riding post, sounding the horn from Mansoulto the court of the King Shaddai; and all with letterspetitionary in behalf of, and for the Prince’s return toMansoul.  The road, I say, was now full of messengers, goingand returning, and meeting one another; some from the court, andsome from Mansoul; and this was the work of the miserable town ofMansoul, all that long, that sharp, that cold and tediouswinter.

Now if you have not forgot, you may yet remember that I toldyou before, that after Emmanuel had taken Mansoul, yea, and afterthat he had new modelled the town, there remained in severallurking places of the corporation many of the old Diabolonians,that either came with the tyrant when he invaded and took thetown, or that had there, by reason of unlawful mixtures, theirbirth and breeding, and bringing up.  And their holes, dens,and lurking places were in, under, or about the wall of thetown.  Some of their names are the Lord Fornication, theLord Adultery, the Lord Murder, the Lord Anger, the LordLasciviousness, the Lord Deceit, the Lord Evil-eye, the LordBlasphemy, and that horrible villain, the old and dangerous LordCovetousness.  These, as I told you, with many more, had yettheir abode in the town of Mansoul, and that after that Emmanuelhad driven their prince Diabolus out of the castle.

Against these the good Prince did grant a commission to theLord Willbewill and others, yea, to the whole town of Mansoul, toseek, take, secure, and destroy any or all that they could layhands of, for that they were Diabolonians by nature, enemies tothe Prince, and those that sought to ruin the blessed town ofMansoul.  But the town of Mansoul did not pursue thiswarrant, but neglected to look after, to apprehend, to secure,and to destroy these Diabolonians.  Wherefore what do thesevillains but by degrees take courage to put forth their heads,and to show themselves to the inhabitants of the town.  Yea,and as I was told, some of the men of Mansoul grew too familiarwith some of them, to the sorrow of the corporation, as you yetwill hear more of in time and place.

Well, when the Diabolonian lords that were left perceived thatMansoul had, through sinning, offended Emmanuel their Prince, andthat he had withdrawn himself and was gone, what do they but plotthe ruin of the town of Mansoul.  So upon a time they mettogether at the hold of one Mr. Mischief, who was also aDiabolonian, and there consulted how they might deliver upMansoul into the hands of Diabolus again.  Now some advisedone way, and some another, every man according to his ownliking.  At last my Lord Lasciviousness propounded, whetherit might not be best, in the first place, for some of those thatwere Diabolonians in Mansoul, to adventure to offer themselvesfor servants to some of the natives of the town;‘for,’ said he, ‘if they so do, and Mansoulshall accept of them, they may for us, and for Diabolus our Lord,make the taking of the town of Mansoul more easy than otherwiseit will be.’  But then stood up the Lord Murder, andsaid, ‘This may not be done at this time; for Mansoul isnow in a kind of a rage, because by our friend, Mr.Carnal-Security, she hath been once ensnared already, and made tooffend against her Prince; and how shall she reconcile herselfunto her lord again, but by the heads of these men? Besides, we know that they have in commission to take and slay uswherever they shall find us; let us, therefore, be wise as foxes:when we are dead, we can do them no hurt; but while we live, wemay.’  Thus, when they had tossed the matter to andfro, they jointly agreed that a letter should forthwith be sentaway to Diabolus in their name, by which the state of the town ofMansoul should be showed him, and how much it is under the frownsof their Prince.  ‘We may also,’ said some,‘let him know our intentions, and ask of him his advice inthe case.’

So a letter was presently framed, the contents of which werethese:—

‘To our great lord, the Prince Diabolus, dwelling belowin the infernal cave:

‘O great father, and mighty Prince Diabolus, we, thetrue Diabolonians yet remaining in the rebellious town ofMansoul, having received our beings from thee, and ournourishment at thy hands, cannot with content and quiet endure tobehold, as we do this day, how thou art dispraised, disgraced,and reproached among the inhabitants of this town; nor is thylong absence at all delightful to us, because greatly to ourdetriment.

‘The reason of this our writing unto our lord, is forthat we are not altogether without hope that this town may becomethy habitation again; for it is greatly declined from its PrinceEmmanuel; and he is uprisen, and is departed from them: yea, andthough they send, and send, and send, and send after him toreturn to them, yet can they not prevail, nor get good words fromhim.

‘There has been also of late, and is yet remaining, avery great sickness and fainting among them; and that not onlyupon the poorer sort of the town, but upon the lords, captains,and chief gentry of the place, (we only who are of theDiabolonians by nature remain well, lively, and strong,) so thatthrough their great transgression on the one hand, and theirdangerous sickness on the other, we judge they lie open to thyhand and power.  If, therefore, it shall stand with thyhorrible cunning, and with the cunning of the rest of the princeswith thee, to come and make an attempt to take Mansoul again,send us word, and we shall to our utmost power be ready todeliver it into thy hand.  Or if what we have said shall notby thy fatherhood be thought best and most meet to be done, sendus thy mind in a few words, and we are all ready to follow thycounsel to the hazarding of our lives, and what else we have.

‘Given under our hands the day and date above-written,after a close consultation at the house of Mr. Mischief, who yetis alive and hath his place in our desirable town ofMansoul.’

When Mr. Profane (for he was the carrier) was come with hisletter to Hell-Gate Hill, he knocked at the brazen gates forentrance.  Then did Cerberus, the porter, for he is thekeeper of that gate, open to Mr. Profane, to whom he deliveredhis letter, which he had brought from the Diabolonians inMansoul.  So he carried it in, and presented it to Diabolushis lord, and said, ‘Tidings, my lord, from Mansoul, fromour trusty friends in Mansoul.’

Then came together from all places of the den Beelzebub,Lucifer, Apollyon, with the rest of the rabblement there, to hearwhat news from Mansoul.  So the letter was broken up andread, and Cerberus he stood by.  When the letter was openlyread, and the contents thereof spread into all the corners of theden, command was given that, without let or stop,dead-man’s bell should be rung for joy.  So the bellwas rung, and the princes rejoiced that Mansoul was likely tocome to ruin.  Now, the clapper of the bell went, ‘Thetown of Mansoul is coming to dwell with us: make room for thetown of Mansoul.’  This bell therefore they did ring,because they did hope that they should have Mansoul again.

Now, when they had performed this their horrible ceremony,they got together again to consult what answer to send to theirfriends in Mansoul; and some advised one thing, and some another:but at length, because the business required haste, they left thewhole business to the prince Diabolus, judging him the mostproper lord of the place.  So he drew up a letter as hethought fit, in answer to what Mr. Profane had brought, and sentit to the Diabolonians that did dwell in Mansoul, by the samehand that had brought theirs to him; and these were the contentsthereof:—

‘To our offspring, the high and mighty Diabolonians thatyet dwell in the town of Mansoul, Diabolus, the great prince ofMansoul, wisheth a prosperous issue and conclusion of those manybrave enterprises, conspiracies, and designs, that you, of yourlove and respect to our honour, have in your hearts to attempt todo against Mansoul.  Beloved children and disciples, my LordFornication, Adultery, and the rest, we have here, in ourdesolate den, received, to our highest joy and content, yourwelcome letter, by the hand of our trusty Mr. Profane; and toshow how acceptable your tidings were, we rang out our bell forgladness; for we rejoiced as much as we could, when we perceivedthat yet we had friends in Mansoul, and such as sought our honourand revenge in the ruin of the town of Mansoul.  We alsorejoiced to hear that they are in a degenerated condition, andthat they have offended their Prince, and that he is gone. Their sickness also pleaseth us, as does also your health, might,and strength.  Glad also would we be, right horriblybeloved, could we get this town into our clutches again. Nor will we be sparing of spending our wit, our cunning, ourcraft, and hellish inventions to bring to a wished conclusionthis your brave beginning in order thereto.

‘And take this for your comfort, (our birth, and ouroffspring,) that shall we again surprise it and take it, we willattempt to put all your foes to the sword, and will make you thegreat lords and captains of the place.  Nor need you fear,if ever we get it again, that we after that shall be cast out anymore; for we will come with more strength, and so lay far morefast hold than at the first we did.  Besides, it is the lawof that Prince that now they own, that if we get them a secondtime, they shall be ours for ever.

‘Do you, therefore, our trusty Diabolonians, yet morepry into, and endeavour to spy out the weakness of the town ofMansoul.  We also would that you yourselves do attempt toweaken them more and more.  Send us word also by what meansyou think we had best to attempt the regaining thereof: namely,whether by persuasion to a vain and loose life; or, whether bytempting them to doubt and despair; or, whether by blowing up ofthe town by the gunpowder of pride, and self-conceit.  Doyou also, O ye brave Diabolonians, and true sons of the pit, bealways in a readiness to make a most hideous assault within, whenwe shall be ready to storm it without.  Now speed you inyour project, and we in our desires, to the utmost power of ourgates, which is the wish of your great Diabolus, Mansoul’senemy, and him that trembles when he thinks of judgment tocome.  All the blessings of the pit be upon you, and so weclose up our letter.

‘Given at the pit’s mouth, by the joint consent ofall the princes of darkness, to be sent, to the force and powerthat we have yet remaining in Mansoul, by the hand of Mr.Profane, by me, Diabolus.’

This letter, as was said, was sent to Mansoul, to theDiabolonians that yet remained there, and that yet inhabited thewall, from the dark dungeon of Diabolus, by the hand of Mr.Profane, by whom they also in Mansoul sent theirs to thepit.  Now, when this Mr. Profane had made his return, andwas come to Mansoul again, he went and came as he was wont to thehouse of Mr. Mischief, for there was the conclave, and the placewhere the contrivers were met.  Now, when they saw thattheir messenger was returned safe and sound, they were greatlygladded thereat.  Then he presented them with his letterwhich he had brought from Diabolus for them; the which, when theyhad read and considered, did much augment their gladness. They asked him after the welfare of their friends, as how theirLord Diabolus, Lucifer, and Beelzebub did, with the rest of thoseof the den.  To which this Profane made answer, ‘Well,well, my lords; they are well, even as well as can be in theirplace.  They also,’ said he, ‘did ring for joyat the reading of your letter, as you well perceived by this whenyou read it.’

Now, as was said, when they had read their letter, andperceived that it encouraged them in their work, they fell totheir way of contriving again, namely, how they might completetheir Diabolonian design upon Mansoul.  And the first thingthat they agreed upon was to keep all things from Mansoul asclose as they could.  ‘Let it not be known, let notMansoul be acquainted with what we design againstit.’  The next thing was, how, or by what means, theyshould try to bring to pass the ruin and overthrow of Mansoul;and one said after this manner, and another said afterthat.  Then stood up Mr. Deceit, and said, ‘My rightDiabolonian friends, our lords, and the high ones of the deepdungeon, do propound unto us these three ways.

‘1. Whether we had best to seek its ruin by makingMansoul loose and vain.

‘2. Or whether by driving them to doubt and despair.

‘3. Or whether by endeavouring to blow them up by thegunpowder of pride and self-conceit.

‘Now, I think, if we shall tempt them to pride, that maydo something; and if we tempt them to wantonness, that mayhelp.  But, in my mind, if we could drive them intodesperation, that would knock the nail on the head; for then weshould have them, in the first place, question the truth of thelove of the heart of their Prince towards them, and that willdisgust him much.  This, if it works well, will make themleave off quickly their way of sending petitions to him; thenfarewell earnest solicitations for help and supply; for then thisconclusion lies naturally before them, “As good do nothing,as do to no purpose.”’  So to Mr. Deceit theyunanimously did consent.

Then the next question was, But how shall we do to bring thisour project to pass? and it was answered by the samegentleman—that this might be the best way to do it:‘Even let,’ quoth he, ‘so many of our friendsas are willing to venture themselves for the promoting of theirprince’s cause, disguise themselves with apparel, changetheir names, and go into the market like far country-men, andproffer to let themselves for servants to the famous town ofMansoul, and let them pretend to do for their masters asbeneficially as may be; for by so doing they may, if Mansoulshall hire them, in little time so corrupt and defile thecorporation, that her now Prince shall be not only furtheroffended with them, but in conclusion shall spue them out of hismouth.  And when this is done, our prince Diabolus shallprey upon them with ease: yea, of themselves they shall fall intothe mouth of the eater.’

This project was no sooner propounded, but was as highlyaccepted, and forward were all Diabolonians now to engage in sodelicate an enterprise: but it was not thought fit that allshould do thus; wherefore they pitched upon two or three, namely,the Lord Covetousness, the Lord Lasciviousness, and the LordAnger.  The Lord Covetousness called himself by the name ofPrudent-Thrifty; the Lord Lasciviousness called himself by thename of Harmless-Mirth; and the Lord Anger called himself by thename of Good-Zeal.

So upon a market-day they came into the market-place, threelusty fellows they were to look on, and they were clothed insheep’s russet, which was also now in a manner as white aswere the white robes of the men of Mansoul.  Now the mencould speak the language of Mansoul well.  So when they werecome into the market-place, and had offered to let themselves tothe townsmen, they were presently taken up; for they asked butlittle wages, and promised to do their masters great service.

Mr. Mind hired Prudent-Thrifty, and Mr. Godly-Fear hiredGood-Zeal.  True, this fellow Harmless-Mirth did hang alittle in hand, and could not so soon get him a master as theothers did, because the town of Mansoul was now in Lent, butafter a while, because Lent was almost out, the Lord Willbewillhired Harmless-Mirth to be both his waiting man and his lackey:and thus they got them masters.

These villains now being got thus far into the houses of themen of Mansoul, quickly began to do great mischief therein; for,being filthy, arch, and sly, they quickly corrupted the familieswhere they were; yea, they tainted their masters much, especiallythis Prudent-Thrifty, and him they call Harmless-Mirth. True, he that went under the visor of Good-Zeal, was not so wellliked of his master; for he quickly found that he was but acounterfeit rascal; the which when the fellow perceived, withspeed he made his escape from the house, or I doubt not but hismaster had hanged him.

Well, when these vagabonds had thus far carried on theirdesign, and had corrupted the town as much as they could, in thenext place they considered with themselves at what time theirprince Diabolus without, and themselves within the town, shouldmake an attempt to seize upon Mansoul; and they all agreed uponthis, that a market-day would be best for that work; forwhy?  Then will the townsfolk be busy in their ways: andalways take this for a rule, when people are most busy in theworld, they least fear a surprise.  ‘We alsothen,’ said they, ‘shall be able with less suspicionto gather ourselves together for the work of our friends andlords; yea, and in such a day, if we shall attempt our work, andmiss it, we may, when they shall give us the rout, the betterhide ourselves in the crowd, and escape.’

These things being thus far agreed upon by them, they wroteanother letter to Diabolus, and sent it by the hand to Mr.Profane, the contents of which were these:—

‘The lords of Looseness send to the great and highDiabolus from our dens, caves, holes, and strongholds, in andabout the wall of the town of Mansoul, greeting:

‘Our great lord, and the nourisher of our lives,Diabolus—how glad we were when we heard of yourfatherhood’s readiness to comply with us, and help forwardour design in our attempts to ruin Mansoul, none can tell butthose who, as we do, set themselves against all appearance ofgood, when and wheresoever we find it.

‘Touching the encouragement that your greatness ispleased to give us to continue to devise, contrive, and study theutter desolation of Mansoul, that we are not solicitous about:for we know right well that it cannot but be pleasing andprofitable to us to see our enemies, and them that seek ourlives, die at our feet, or fly before us.  We therefore arestill contriving, and that to the best of our cunning, to makethis work most facile and easy to your lordships, and to us.

‘First, we considered of that most hellishly cunning,compacted, threefold project, that by you was propounded to us inyour last; and have concluded, that though to blow them up withthe gunpowder of pride would do well, and to do it by temptingthem to be loose and vain will help on, yet to contrive to bringthem into the gulf of desperation, we think will do best ofall.  Now we, who are at your beck, have thought or two waysto do this: first we, for our parts, will make them as vile as wecan, and then you with us, at a time appointed, shall be ready tofall upon them with the utmost force.  And of all thenations that are at your whistle, we think that an army ofdoubters may be the most likely to attack and overcome the townof Mansoul.  Thus shall we overcome these enemies, else thepit shall open her mouth upon them, and desperation shall thrustthem down into it.  We have also, to effect this so much byus desired design, sent already three of our trusty Diaboloniansamong them; they are disguised in garb, they have changed theirnames, and are now accepted of them; namely, Covetousness,Lasciviousness, and Anger.  The name of Covetousness ischanged to Prudent-Thrifty, and him Mr. Mind has hired, and isalmost become as bad as our friend.  Lasciviousness haschanged his name to Harmless-Mirth, and he is got to be the LordWillbewill’s lackey; but he has made his master verywanton.  Anger changed his name into Good-Zeal, and wasentertained by Mr. Godly-Fear; but the peevish old gentleman tookpepper in the nose, and turned our companion out of hishouse.  Nay, he has informed us since that he ran away fromhim, or else his old master had hanged him up for his labour.

‘Now these have much helped forward our work and designupon Mansoul; for notwithstanding the spite and quarrelsometemper of the old gentleman last mentioned, the other two plytheir business well, and are likely to ripen the work apace.

‘Our next project is, that it be concluded that you comeupon the town upon a market-day, and that when they are upon theheat of their business; for then, to be sure, they will be mostsecure, and least think that an assault will be made uponthem.  They will also at such a time be less able to defendthemselves, and to offend you in the prosecution of ourdesign.  And we your trusty (and we are sure your beloved)ones shall, when you shall make your furious assault without, beready to second the business within.  So shall we, in alllikelihood, be able to put Mansoul to utter confusion, and toswallow them up before they can come to themselves.  If yourserpentine heads, most subtile dragons, and our highly esteemedlords can find out a better way than this, let us quickly knowyour minds.

‘To the monsters of the infernal cave, from the house ofMr. Mischief in Mansoul, by the hand of Mr. Profane.’

Now all the while that the raging runagates and hellishDiabolonians were thus contriving the ruin of the town ofMansoul, they (namely, the poor town itself) was in a sad andwoeful case; partly because they had so grievously offendedShaddai and his Son, and partly because that the enemies therebygot strength within them afresh; and also because, though theyhad by many petitions made suit to the Prince Emmanuel, and tohis Father Shaddai by him, for their pardon and favour, yethitherto obtained they not one smile; but contrariwise, throughthe craft and subtilty of the domestic Diabolonians, their cloudwas made to grow blacker and blacker, and their Emmanuel to standat further distance.

The sickness also did still greatly rage in Mansoul, bothamong the captains and the inhabitants of the town; and theirenemies only were now lively and strong, and likely to become thehead, whilst Mansoul was made the tail.

By this time the letter last mentioned, that was written bythe Diabolonians that yet lurked in the town of Mansoul, wasconveyed to Diabolus in the black den, by the hand of Mr.Profane.  He carried the letter by Hell-Gate Hill as afore,and conveyed it by Cerberus to his lord.

But when Cerberus and Mr. Profane did meet, they werepresently as great as beggars, and thus they fell into discourseabout Mansoul, and about the project against her.

‘Ah! old friend,’ quoth Cerberus, ‘art thoucome to Hell-Gate Hill again?  By St. Mary, I am glad to seethee!’

Prof.  Yes, my lord, I am come again about theconcerns of the town of Mansoul.

Cerb.  Prithee, tell me what condition is thattown of Mansoul in at present?

Prof.  In a brave condition, my lord, for us, andfor my lords, the lords of this place, I trow for they aregreatly decayed as to godliness, and that is as well as our heartcan wish; their Lord is greatly out with them, and that doth alsoplease us well.  We have already also a foot in their dish,for our Diabolonian friends are laid in their bosoms, and what dowe lack but to be masters of the place!  Besides, our trustyfriends in Mansoul are daily plotting to betray it to the lordsof this town; also the sickness rages bitterly among them; andthat which makes up all, we hope at last to prevail.’

Then said the dog of Hell-Gate, ‘No time like this toassault them.  I wish that the enterprise be followed close,and that the success desired may be soon effected: yea, I wish itfor the poor Diabolonians’ sakes, that live in thecontinual fear of their lives in that traitorous town ofMansoul.’

Prof.  The contrivance is almost finished, thelords in Mansoul that are Diabolonians are at it day and night,and the other are like silly doves; they want heart to beconcerned with their state and to consider that ruin is athand.  Besides you may, yea, must think, when you put allthings together, that there are many reasons that prevail withDiabolus to make what haste he can.

Cerb.  Thou hast said as it is; I am glad thingsare at this pass.  Go in, my brave Profane, to my lords,they will give thee for thy welcome as good a corantoasthe whole of this kingdom will afford.  I have sent thyletter in already.

Then Mr. Profane went into the den, and his lord Diabolus methim, and saluted him with, ‘Welcome, my trusty servant: Ihave been made glad with thy letter.’  The rest of thelords of the pit gave him also their salutations.  ThenProfane, after obeisance made to them all, said, ‘LetMansoul be given to my lord Diabolus, and let him be her king forever.’  And with that, the hollow belly and yawninggorge of hell gave so loud and hideous a groan, (for that is themusic of that place,) that it made the mountains about it totter,as if they would fall in pieces.

Now, after they had read and considered the letter, theyconsulted what answer to return; and the first that did speak toit was Lucifer.

Then said he, ‘The first project of the Diabolonians inMansoul is likely to be lucky, and to take; namely, that theywill, by all the ways and means they can, make Mansoul yet morevile and filthy: no way to destroy a soul like this.  Ourold friend Balaam went this way and prospered many years ago; letthis therefore stand with us for a maxim, and be to Diaboloniansfor a general rule in all ages; for nothing can make this to failbut grace, in which I would hope that this town has noshare.  But whether to fall upon them on a market-day,because of their cumber in business, that I would should be underdebate.  And there is more reason why this head should bedebated, than why some other should; because upon this will turnthe whole of what we shall attempt.  If we time not ourbusiness well, our whole project may fail.  Our friends, theDiabolonians, say that a market-day is best; for then willMansoul be most busy, and have fewest thoughts of asurprise.  But what if also they should double their guardson those days? (and methinks nature and reason should teach themto do it;) and what if they should keep such a watch on thosedays as the necessity of their present case doth require? yea,what if their men should be always in arms on those days? thenyou may, my lords, be disappointed in your attempts, and maybring our friends in the town to utter danger of unavoidableruin.’

Then said the great Beelzebub, ‘There is something inwhat my lord hath said; but his conjecture may, or may not fallout.  Nor hath my lord laid it down as that which must notbe receded from; for I know that he said it only to provoke to awarm debate thereabout.  Therefore we must understand, if wecan, whether the town of Mansoul has such sense and knowledge ofher decayed state, and of the design that we have on foot againsther, as doth provoke her to set watch and ward at her gates, andto double them on market-days.  But if, after inquiry made,it shall be found that they are asleep, then any day will do, buta market-day is best; and this is my judgment in thiscase.’

Then quoth Diabolus, ‘How should we know this?’and it was answered, ‘Inquire about it at the mouth of Mr.Profane.’  So Profane was called in, and asked thequestion, and he made his answer as follows:—

Prof.  My lords, so far as I can gather, this isat present the condition of the town of Mansoul: they are decayedin their faith and love; Emmanuel, their Prince, has given themthe back; they send often by petition to fetch him again, but hemaketh not haste to answer their request, nor is there muchreformation among them.

Diab.  I am glad that they are backward in areformation, but yet I am afraid of their petitioning. However, their looseness of life is a sign that there is not muchheart in what they do, and without the heart things are littleworth.  But go on, my masters; I will divert you, my lords,no longer.

Beel.  If the case be so with Mansoul, as Mr.Profane has described it to be, it will be no great matter whatday we assault it; not their prayers, nor their power will dothem much service.

When Beelzebub had ended his oration, then Apollyon didbegin.  ‘My opinion,’ said he, ‘concerningthis matter, is, that we go on fair and softly, not doing thingsin a hurry.  Let our friends in Mansoul go on still topollute and defile it, by seeking to draw it yet more into sin(for there is nothing like sin to devour Mansoul).  If thisbe done, and it takes effect, Mansoul, of itself, will leave offto watch, to petition, or anything else that should tend to hersecurity and safety; for she will forget her Emmanuel, she willnot desire his company, and can she be gotten thus to live, herPrince will not come to her in haste.  Our trusty friend,Mr. Carnal-Security, with one of his tricks did drive him out ofthe town; and why may not my Lord Covetousness, and my LordLasciviousness, by what they may do, keep him out of thetown?  And this I will tell you, (not because you know itnot,) that two or three Diabolonians, if entertained andcountenanced by the town of Mansoul, will do more to the keepingof Emmanuel from them, and towards making the town of Mansoulyour own, than can an army of a legion that should be sent outfrom us to withstand him.  Let, therefore, this firstproject that our friends in Mansoul have set on foot, be stronglyand diligently carried on, with all cunning and craft imaginable;and let them send continually, under one guise or another, moreand other of their men to play with the people of Mansoul; andthen, perhaps, we shall not need to be at the charge of making awar upon them; or if that must of necessity be done, yet the moresinful they are, the more unable, to be sure, they will be toresist us, and then the more easily we shall overcome them. And besides, suppose (and that is the worst that can be supposed)that Emmanuel should come to them again, why may not the samemeans, or the like, drive him from them once more?  Yea, whymay he not, by their lapse into that sin again, be driven fromthem for ever, for the sake of which he was at the first drivenfrom them for a season?  And if this should happen, thenaway go with him his rams, his slings, his captains, hissoldiers, and he leaveth Mansoul naked and bare.  Yea, willnot this town, when she sees herself utterly forsaken of herPrince, of her own accord open her gates again unto you, and makeof you as in the days of old?  But this must be done bytime, a few days will not effect so great a work asthis.’

So soon as Apollyon had made an end of speaking, Diabolusbegan to blow out his own malice, and to plead his own cause; andhe said, ‘My lords, and powers of the cave, my true andtrusty friends, I have with much impatience, as becomes me, givenear to your long and tedious orations.  But my furiousgorge, and empty paunch, so lusteth after a repossession of myfamous town of Mansoul, that whatever comes out, I can wait nolonger to see the events of lingering projects.  I must, andthat without further delay, seek, by all means I can, to fill myinsatiable gulf with the soul and body of the town ofMansoul.  Therefore lend me your heads, your hearts, andyour help, now I am going to recover my town ofMansoul.’

When the lords and princes of the pit saw the flaming desirethat was in Diabolus to devour the miserable town of Mansoul,they left off to raise any more objections, but consented to lendhim what strength they could, though had Apollyon’s advicebeen taken, they had far more fearfully distressed the town ofMansoul.  But, I say, they were willing to lend him whatstrength they could, not knowing what need they might have ofhim, when they should engage for themselves, as he. Wherefore they fell to advising about the next thing propounded,namely, what soldiers they were, and also how many, with whomDiabolus should go against the town of Mansoul to take it; andafter some debate, it was concluded, according as in the letterthe Diabolonians had suggested, that none were more fit for thatexpedition than an army of terrible doubters.  Theytherefore concluded to send against Mansoul an army of sturdydoubters.  The number thought fit to be employed in thatservice was between twenty and thirty thousand.  So then theresult of that great council of those high and mighty lordswas—That Diabolus should even now, out of hand, beat up hisdrum for men in the land of Doubting, which land lieth upon theconfines of the place called Hell-Gate Hill, for men that mightbe employed by him against the miserable town of Mansoul. It was also concluded, that these lords themselves should helphim in the war, and that they would to that end head and managehis men.  So they drew up a letter, and sent back to theDiabolonians that lurked in Mansoul, and that waited for theback-coming of Mr. Profane, to signify to them into what methodand forwardness they at present had put their design.  Thecontents whereof now follow:—

‘From the dark and horrible dungeon of hell, Diaboluswith all the society of the princes of darkness, sends to ourtrusty ones, in and about the walls of the town of Mansoul, nowimpatiently waiting for our most devilish answer to theirvenomous and most poisonous design against the town ofMansoul.

‘Our native ones, in whom from day to day we boast, andin whose actions all the year long we do greatly delightourselves, we received your welcome, because highly esteemedletter, at the hand of our trusty and greatly beloved, the oldgentleman, Mr. Profane.  And do give you to understand, thatwhen we had broken it up, and had read the contents thereof, toyour amazing memory be it spoken, our yawning hollow-belliedplace, where we are, made so hideous and yelling a noise for joy,that the mountains that stand round about Hell-Gate Hill, hadlike to have been shaken to pieces at the sound thereof.

‘We could also do no less than admire your faithfulnessto us, with the greatness of that subtilty that now hath showeditself to be in your heads to serve us against the town ofMansoul.  For you have invented for us so excellent a methodfor our proceeding against that rebellious people, a moreeffectual cannot be thought of by all the wits of hell.  Theproposals, therefore, which now, at last, you have sent us, sincewe saw them, we have done little else but highly approved andadmired them.

‘Nay, we shall, to encourage you in the profundity ofyour craft, let you know, that, at a full assembly and conclaveof our princes and principalities of this place, your project wasdiscoursed and tossed from one side of our cave to the other bytheir mightinesses; but a better, and as was by themselvesjudged, a more fit and proper way by all their wits, could not beinvented, to surprise, take, and make our own, the rebellioustown of Mansoul.

‘Wherefore, in fine, all that was said that varied fromwhat you had in your letter propounded, fell of itself to theground, and yours only was stuck to by Diabolus, the prince; yea,his gaping gorge and yawning paunch was on fire to put yourinvention into execution.

‘We therefore give you to understand that our stout,furious, and unmerciful Diabolus is raising, for your relief, andthe ruin of the rebellious town of Mansoul, more than twentythousand doubters to come against that people.  They are allstout and sturdy men, and men that of old have been accustomed towar, and that can therefore well endure the drum.  I say, heis doing this work of his with all the possible speed he can; forhis heart and spirit is engaged in it.  We desire,therefore, that, as you have hitherto stuck to us, and given usboth advice and encouragement thus far, you still will prosecuteour design; nor shall you lose, but be gainers thereby; yea, weintend to make you the lords of Mansoul.

‘One thing may not by any means be omitted, that is,those with us do desire that every one of you that are in Mansoulwould still use all your power, cunning, and skill, with delusivepersuasions, yet to draw the town of Mansoul into more sin andwickedness, even that sin may be finished and bring forthdeath.

‘For thus it is concluded with us, that the more vile,sinful, and debauched the town of Mansoul is, more backward willbe their Emmanuel to come to their help, either by presence orother relief; yea, the more sinful, the more weak, and so themore unable will they be to make resistance when we shall makeour assault upon them to swallow them up.  Yea, that maycause that their mighty Shaddai himself may cast them out of hisprotection; yea, and send for his captains and soldiers home,with his slings and rams, and leave them naked and bare; and thenthe town of Mansoul will of itself open to us, and fall as thefig into the mouth of the eater.  Yea, to be sure that wethen with a great deal of ease shall come upon her and overcomeher.

‘As to the time of our coming upon Mansoul, we, as yet,have not fully resolved upon that, though at present some of usthink as you, that a market-day, or a market-day at night, willcertainly be the best.  However, do you be ready, and whenyou shall hear our roaring drum without, do you be as busy tomake the most horrible confusion within.  So shall Mansoulcertainly be distressed before and behind, and shall not knowwhich way to betake herself for help.  My Lord Lucifer, myLord Beelzebub, my Lord Apollyon, my Lord Legion, with the rest,salute you, as does also my Lord Diabolus; and we wish both you,with all that you do, or shall possess, the very self-same fruitand success for their doing as we ourselves at present enjoy forours.

‘From our dreadful confines in the most fearful pit, wesalute you, and so do those many legions here with us, wishingyou may be as hellishly prosperous as we desire to beourselves.  By the letter-carrier, Mr. Profane.’

Then Mr. Profane addressed himself for his return to Mansoul,with his errand from the horrible pit to the Diabolonians thatdwelt in that town.  So he came up the stairs from the deepto the mouth of the cave where Cerberus was.  Now whenCerberus saw him, he asked how did matters go below, about andagainst the town of Mansoul.

Prof.  Things go as well as we can expect. The letter that I carried thither was highly approved, and wellliked by all my lords, and I am returning to tell ourDiabolonians so.  I have an answer to it here in my bosom,that I am sure will make our masters that sent me glad; for thecontents thereof are to encourage them to pursue their design tothe utmost, and to be ready also to fall on within, when theyshall see my Lord Diabolus beleaguering the town of Mansoul.

Cerb.  But does he intend to go against themhimself?

Prof.  Does he!  Ay! and he will take alongwith him more than twenty thousand, all sturdy Doubters, and menof war, picked men from the land of Doubting, to serve him in theexpedition.

Then was Cerberus glad, and said, ‘And is there suchbrave preparations a-making to go against the miserable town ofMansoul?  And would I might be put at the head of a thousandof them, that I might also show my valour against the famous townof Mansoul.’

Prof.  Your wish may come to pass; you look likeone that has mettle enough, and my lord will have with him thosethat are valiant and stout.  But my business requireshaste.

Cerb.  Ay, so it does.  Speed thee to thetown of Mansoul, with all the deepest mischiefs that this placecan afford thee.  And when thou shalt come to the house ofMr. Mischief, the place where the Diabolonians meet to plot, tellthem that Cerberus doth wish them his service, and that if hemay, he will with the army come up against the famous town ofMansoul.

Prof.  That I will.  And I know that my lordsthat are there will be glad to hear it, and to see you also.

So after a few more such kind of compliments, Mr. Profane tookhis leave of his friend Cerberus; and Cerberus again, with athousand of their pit-wishes, bid him haste, with all speed, tohis masters.  The which when he had heard, he madeobeisance, and began to gather up his heels to run.

Thus, therefore, he returned, and went and came to Mansoul;and going, as afore, to the house of Mr. Mischief, there he foundthe Diabolonians assembled, and waiting for his return.  Nowwhen he was come, and had presented himself, he also delivered tothem his letter, and adjoined this compliment to them therewith:‘My lords, from the confines of the pit, the high andmighty principalities and powers of the den salute you here, thetrue Diabolonians of the town of Mansoul.  Wishing youalways the most proper of their benedictions, for the greatservice, high attempts, and brave achievements that you have putyourselves upon, for the restoring to our prince Diabolus thefamous town of Mansoul.’

This was therefore the present state of the miserable town ofMansoul: she had offended her Prince, and he was gone; she hadencouraged the powers of hell, by her foolishness, to comeagainst her to seek her utter destruction.

True, the town of Mansoul was somewhat made sensible of hersin, but the Diabolonians were gotten into her bowels; she cried,but Emmanuel was gone, and her cries did not fetch him as yetagain.  Besides, she knew not now whether, ever or never, hewould return and come to his Mansoul again; nor did they know thepower and industry of the enemy, nor how forward they were to putin execution that plot of hell that they had devised againsther.

They did, indeed, still send petition after petition to thePrince, but he answered all with silence.  They did neglectreformation, and that was as Diabolus would have it; for he knew,if they regarded iniquity in their heart, their King would nothear their prayer; they therefore did still grow weaker andweaker, and were as a rolling thing before the whirlwind. They cried to their King for help, and laid Diabolonians in theirbosoms: what therefore should a King do to them?  Yea, thereseemed now to be a mixture in Mansoul; the Diabolonians and theMansoulians would walk the streets together.  Yea, theybegan to seek their peace; for they thought that, since thesickness had been so mortal in Mansoul, it was in vain to go tohandygripes with them.  Besides, the weakness of Mansoul wasthe strength of their enemies; and the sins of Mansoul, theadvantage of the Diabolonians.  The foes of Mansoul did alsonow begin to promise themselves the town for a possession: therewas no great difference now betwixt Mansoulians and Diabolonians:both seemed to be masters of Mansoul.  Yea, the Diaboloniansincreased and grew, but the town of Mansoul diminishedgreatly.  There were more than eleven thousand men, women,and children that died by the sickness in Mansoul.

But now, as Shaddai would have it, there was one whose namewas Mr. Prywell, a great lover of the people of Mansoul. And he, as his manner was, did go listening up and down inMansoul to see, and to hear, if at any time he might, whetherthere was any design against it or no.  For he was always ajealous man, and feared some mischief sometime would befal it,either from the Diabolonians within, or from some powerwithout.  Now upon a time it so happened, as Mr. Prywellwent listening here and there, that he lighted upon a placecalled Vilehill, in Mansoul, where Diabolonians used to meet; sohearing a muttering, (you must know that it was in the night,) hesoftly drew near to hear; nor had he stood long under thehouse-end, (for there stood a house there,) but he heard oneconfidently affirm, that it was not, or would not be long beforeDiabolus should possess himself again of Mansoul; and that thenthe Diabolonians did intend to put all Mansoulians to the sword,and would kill and destroy the King’s captains, and driveall his soldiers out of the town.  He said, moreover, thathe knew there were above twenty thousand fighting men prepared byDiabolus for the accomplishing of this design, and that it wouldnot be months before they all should see it.

When Mr. Prywell had heard this story, he did quickly believeit was true: wherefore he went forthwith to my Lord Mayor’shouse, and acquainted him therewith; who, sending for thesubordinate preacher, brake the business to him; and he as soongave the alarm to the town; for he was now the chief preacher inMansoul, because, as yet, my Lord Secretary was ill atease.  And this was the way that the subordinate preacherdid take to alarm the town therewith.  The same hour hecaused the lecture bell to be rung; so the people came together:he gave them then a short exhortation to watchfulness, and madeMr. Prywell’s news the argument thereof. ‘For,’ said he, ‘an horrible plot is contrivedagainst Mansoul, even to massacre us all in a day, nor is thisstory to be slighted; for Mr. Prywell is the authorthereof.  Mr. Prywell was always a lover of Mansoul, a soberand judicious man, a man that is no tattler, nor raiser of falsereports, but one that loves to look into the very bottom ofmatters, and talks nothing of news, but by very solidarguments.

‘I will call him, and you shall hear him your ownselves;’ so he called him, and he came and told his tale sopunctually, and affirmed its truth with such ample grounds, thatMansoul fell presently under a conviction of the truth of what hesaid.  The preacher did also back him, saying, ‘Sirs,it is not irrational for us to believe it, for we have provokedShaddai to anger, and have sinned Emmanuel out of the town; wehave had too much correspondence with Diabolonians, and haveforsaken our former mercies: no marvel then, if the enemy bothwithin and without should design and plot our ruin; and what timelike this to do it?  The sickness is now in the town, and wehave been made weak thereby.  Many a good meaning man isdead, and the Diabolonians of late grow stronger andstronger.

‘Besides,’ quoth the subordinate preacher,‘I have received from this good truth-teller this oneinkling further, that he understood by those that he overheard,that several letters have lately passed between the furies andthe Diabolonians in order to our destruction.’  WhenMansoul heard all this, and not being able to gainsay it, theylift up their voice and wept.  Mr. Prywell did also, in thepresence of the townsmen, confirm all that their subordinatepreacher had said.  Wherefore they now set afresh to bewailtheir folly, and to a doubling of petitions to Shaddai and hisSon.  They also brake the business to the captains, highcommanders, and men of war in the town of Mansoul, entreatingthem to use the means to be strong, and to take good courage; andthat they would look after their harness, and make themselvesready to give Diabolus battle by night and by day, shall he come,as they are informed he will, to beleaguer the town ofMansoul.

When the captains heard this, they being always true lovers ofthe town of Mansoul, what do they but like so many Samsons theyshake themselves, and come together to consult and contrive howto defeat those bold and hellish contrivances that were upon thewheel by the means of Diabolus and his friends against the nowsickly, weakly, and much impoverished town of Mansoul; and theyagreed upon these following particulars:—

1. That the gates of Mansoul should be kept shut, and madefast with bars and locks, and that all persons that went out, orcame in, should be very strictly examined by the captains of theguards, ‘to the end,’ said they, ‘that thosethat are managers of the plot amongst us, may, either coming orgoing, be taken; and that we may also find out who are the greatcontrivers, amongst us, of our ruin.’

2. The next thing was, that a strict search should be made forall kind of Diabolonians throughout the whole town of Mansoul;and that every man’s house from top to bottom should belooked into, and that, too, house by house, that if possible afurther discovery might be made of all such among them as had ahand in these designs.

3. It was further concluded upon, that wheresoever or withwhomsoever any of the Diabolonians were found, that even those ofthe town of Mansoul that had given them house and harbour, shouldto their shame, and the warning of others, take penance in theopen place.

4. It was, moreover, resolved by the famous town of Mansoul,that a public fast, and a day of humiliation, should be keptthroughout the whole corporation, to the justifying of theirPrince, the abasing of themselves before him for theirtransgressions against him, and against Shaddai, hisFather.  It was further resolved, that all such in Mansoulas did not on that day endeavour to keep that fast, and to humblethemselves for their faults, but that should mind their worldlyemploys, or be found wandering up and down the streets, should betaken for Diabolonians, and should suffer as Diabolonians forsuch their wicked doings.

5. It was further concluded then, that with what speed, andwith what warmth of mind they could, they would renew theirhumiliation for sin, and their petitions to Shaddai for help;they also resolved, to send tidings to the court of all that Mr.Prywell had told them.

6. It was also determined, that thanks should be given by thetown of Mansoul to Mr. Prywell, for his diligent seeking of thewelfare of their town: and further, that forasmuch as he was sonaturally inclined to seek their good, and also to underminetheir foes, they gave him a commission of scout-master-general,for the good of the town of Mansoul.

When the corporation, with their captains, had thus concluded,they did as they had said; they shut up their gates, they madefor Diabolonians strict search, they made those with whom anywere found to take penance in the open place: they kept theirfast, and renewed their petitions to their Prince, and Mr.Prywell managed his charge and the trust that Mansoul had put inhis hands, with great conscience and good fidelity; for he gavehimself wholly up to his employ, and that not only within thetown, but he went out to pry, to see, and to hear.

And not many days after he provided for his journey, and wenttowards Hell-Gate Hill, into the country where the Doubters were,where he heard of all that had been talked of in Mansoul, and heperceived also that Diabolus was almost ready for his march,etc.  So he came back with speed, and, calling the captainsand elders of Mansoul together, he told them where he had been,what he had heard, and what he had seen.  Particularly, hetold them that Diabolus was almost ready for his march, and thathe had made old Mr. Incredulity, that once brake prison inMansoul, the general of his army; that his army consisted all ofDoubters, and that their number was above twenty thousand. He told, moreover, that Diabolus did intend to bring with him thechief princes of the infernal pit, and that he would make themchief captains over his Doubters.  He told them, moreover,that it was certainly true that several of the black den would,with Diabolus, ride reformades to reduce the town of Mansoul tothe obedience of Diabolus, their prince.

He said, moreover, that he understood by the Doubters, amongwhom he had been, that the reason why old Incredulity was madegeneral of the whole army, was because none truer than he to thetyrant; and because he had an implacable spite against thewelfare of the town of Mansoul.  Besides, said he, heremembers the affronts that Mansoul has given him, and he isresolved to be revenged of them.

But the black princes shall be made high commanders, onlyIncredulity shall be over them all; because, which I had almostforgot, he can more easily, and more dexterously, beleaguer thetown of Mansoul, than can any of the princes besides.

Now, when the captains of Mansoul, with the elders of thetown, had heard the tidings that Mr. Prywell did bring, theythought it expedient, without further delay, to put intoexecution the laws that against the Diabolonians their Prince hadmade for them, and given them in commandment to manage againstthem.  Wherefore, forthwith a diligent and impartial searchwas made in all houses in Mansoul, for all and all manner ofDiabolonians.  Now, in the house of Mr. Mind, and in thehouse of the great Lord Willbewill, were two Diaboloniansfound.  In Mr. Mind’s house was one Lord Covetousnessfound; but he had changed his name to Prudent-Thrifty.  Inmy Lord Willbewill’s house, one Lasciviousness was found;but he had changed his name to Harmless-Mirth.  These twothe captains and elders of the town of Mansoul took, andcommitted them to custody under the hand of Mr. Trueman, thegaoler; and this man handled them so severely, and loaded them sowell with irons, that in time they both fell into a very deepconsumption, and died in the prison-house; their masters also,according to the agreement of the captains and elders, werebrought to take penance in the open place to their shame, and fora warning to the rest of the town of Mansoul.

Now, this was the manner of penance in those days: the personsoffending being made sensible of the evil of their doings, wereenjoined open confession of their faults, and a strict amendmentof their lives.

After this, the captains and elders of Mansoul sought yet tofind out more Diabolonians, wherever they lurked, whether indens, caves, holes, vaults, or where else they could, in or aboutthe wall or town of Mansoul.  But though they could plainlysee their footing, and so follow them by their track and smell totheir holds, even to the mouths of their caves and dens, yet takethem, hold them, and do justice upon them, they could not; theirways were so crooked, their holds so strong, and they so quick totake sanctuary there.

But Mansoul did now with so stiff an hand rule over theDiabolonians that were left, that they were glad to shrink intocorners: time was when they durst walk openly, and in the day;but now they were forced to embrace privacy and the night: timewas when a Mansoulian was their companion; but now they countedthem deadly enemies.  This good change did Mr.Prywell’s intelligence make in the famous town ofMansoul.

By this time, Diabolus had finished his army which he intendedto bring with him for the ruin of Mansoul; and had set over themcaptains, and other field officers, such as liked his furiousstomach best: himself was lord paramount, Incredulity was generalof his army, their highest captains shall be named afterwards;but now for their officers, colours, and scutcheons.

1. Their first captain was Captain Rage: he was captain overthe election doubters, his were the red colours; hisstandard-bearer was Mr. Destructive, and the great red dragon hehad for his scutcheon.

2. The second captain was Captain Fury: he was captain overthe vocation doubters; his standard-bearer was Mr. Darkness, hiscolours were those that were pale, and he had for his scutcheonthe fiery flying serpent.

3. The third captain was Captain Damnation: he was captainover the grace doubters; his were the red colours, Mr. No-Lifebare them, and he had for his scutcheon the black den.

4. The fourth captain was Captain Insatiable; he was captainover the faith doubters: his were the red colours, Mr. Devourerbare them, and he had for a scutcheon the yawning jaws.

5. The fifth captain was Captain Brimstone: he was captainover the perseverance doubters; his also were the red colours,Mr. Burning bare them, and his scutcheon was the blue andstinking flame.

6. The sixth captain was Captain Torment: he was captain overthe resurrection doubters; his colours were those that were pale;Mr. Gnaw was his standard-bearer, and he had the black worm forhis scutcheon.

7. The seventh captain was Captain No-Ease; he was captainover the salvation doubters; his were the red colours, Mr.Restless bare them, and his scutcheon was the ghastly picture ofdeath.

8. The eighth captain was the Captain Sepulchre: he wascaptain over the glory doubters; his also were the pale colours,Mr. Corruption was his standard-bearer, and he had for hisscutcheon a skull, and dead men’s bones.

9. The ninth captain was Captain Past-Hope; he was captain ofthose that are called the felicity doubters; his standard-bearerwas Mr. Despair; his also were the red colours, and his scutcheonwas a hot iron and the hard heart.

These were his captains, and these were their forces, thesewere their standards, these were their colours, and these weretheir scutcheons.  Now, over these did the great Diabolusmake superior captains, and they were in number seven: as,namely, the Lord Beelzebub, the Lord Lucifer, the Lord Legion,the Lord Apollyon, the Lord Python, the Lord Cerberus, and theLord Belial; these seven he set over the captains, andIncredulity was lord-general, and, Diabolus was king.  Thereformades also, such as were like themselves, were made some ofthem captains of hundreds, and some of them captains ofmore.  And thus was the army of Incredulity completed.

So they set out at Hell-Gate Hill, for there they had theirrendezvous, from whence they came with a straight course upontheir march toward the town of Mansoul.  Now, as was hintedbefore, the town had, as Shaddai would have it, received from themouth of Mr. Prywell the alarm of their coming before. Wherefore they set a strong watch at the gates, and had alsodoubled their guards: they also mounted their slings in goodplaces, where they might conveniently cast out their great stonesto the annoyance of their furious enemy.

Nor could those Diabolonians that were in the town do thathurt as was designed they should; for Mansoul was nowawake.  But alas! poor people, they were sorely affrightedat the first appearance of their foes, and at their sitting downbefore the town, especially when they heard the roaring of theirdrum.  This, to speak truth, was amazingly hideous to hear;it frighted all men seven miles round, if they were but awake andheard it.  The streaming of their colours was also terribleand dejecting to behold.

When Diabolus was come up against the town, first he made hisapproach to Ear-gate, and gave it a furious assault, supposing,as it seems, that his friends in Mansoul had been ready to do thework within; but care was taken of that before, by the vigilanceof the captains.  Wherefore, missing of the help that heexpected from them, and finding his army warmly attended with thestones that the slingers did sling, (for that I will say for thecaptains, that considering the weakness that yet was upon them byreason of the long sickness that had annoyed the town of Mansoul,they did gallantly behave themselves,) he was forced to make someretreat from Mansoul, and to entrench himself and his men in thefield without the reach of the slings of the town.

Now having entrenched himself, he did cast up four mountsagainst the town: the first he called Mount Diabolus, putting hisown name thereon, the more to affright the town of Mansoul; theother three he called thus—Mount Alecto, Mount Megara, andMount Tisiphone; for these are the names of the dreadful furiesof hell.  Thus he began to play his game with Mansoul, andto serve it as doth the lion his prey, even to make it fallbefore his terror.  But, as I said, the captains andsoldiers resisted so stoutly, and did do such execution withtheir stones, that they made him, though against stomach, toretreat, wherefore Mansoul began to take courage.

Now upon Mount Diabolus, which was raised on the north side ofthe town, there did the tyrant set up his standard, and a fearfulthing it was to behold; for he had wrought in it by devilish art,after the manner of a scutcheon, a flaming flame fearful tobehold, and the picture of Mansoul burning in it.

When Diabolus had thus done, he commanded that his drummershould every night approach the walls of the town of Mansoul, andso to beat a parley; the command was to do it at nights, for inthe daytime they annoyed him with their slings; for the tyrantsaid, that he had a mind to parley with the now trembling town ofMansoul, and he commanded that the drums should beat every night,that through weariness they might at last, if possible, (at thefirst they were unwilling yet,) be forced to do it.

So this drummer did as commanded: he arose, and did beat hisdrum.  But when his drum did go, if one looked toward thetown of Mansoul, ‘Behold darkness and sorrow, and the lightwas darkened in the heaven thereof.’  No noise wasever heard upon earth more terrible, except the voice of Shaddaiwhen he speaketh.  But how did Mansoul tremble! it nowlooked for nothing but forthwith to be swallowed up.

When this drummer had beaten for a parley, he made this speechto Mansoul: ‘My master has bid me tell you, that if youwill willingly submit, you shall have the good of the earth; butif you shall be stubborn, he is resolved to take you byforce.’  But by that the fugitive had done beating hisdrum, the people of Mansoul had betaken themselves to thecaptains that were in the castle, so that there was none toregard, nor to give this drummer an answer; so he proceeded nofurther that night, but returned again to his master to thecamp.

When Diabolus saw that by drumming he could not work outMansoul to his will, the next night he sendeth his drummerwithout his drum, still to let the townsmen know that he had amind to parley with them.  But when all came to all, hisparley was turned into a summons to the town to deliver upthemselves: but they gave him neither heed nor hearing: for theyremembered what at first it cost them to hear him a fewwords.

The next night he sends again, and then who should be hismessenger to Mansoul but the terrible Captain Sepulchre; soCaptain Sepulchre came up to the walls of Mansoul, and made thisoration to the town:—

‘O ye inhabitants of the rebellious town ofMansoul!  I summon you in the name of the Prince Diabolus,that, without any more ado, you set open the gates of your town,and admit the great lord to come in.  But if you shall stillrebel, when we have taken to us the town by force, we willswallow you up as the grave; wherefore if you will hearken to mysummons, say so, and if not then let me know.

‘The reason of this my summons,’ quoth he,‘is, for that my lord is your undoubted prince and lord, asyou yourselves have formerly owned.  Nor shall that assaultthat was given to my lord, when Emmanuel dealt so dishonourablyby him, prevail with him to lose his right, and to forbear toattempt to recover his own.  Consider, then, O Mansoul, withthyself, wilt thou show thyself peaceable, or no?  If thoushalt quietly yield up thyself, then our old friendship shall berenewed; but if thou shalt yet refuse and rebel, then expectnothing but fire and sword.’

When the languishing town of Mansoul had heard this summonerand his summons, they were yet more put to their dumps, but madeto the captain no answer at all; so away he went as he came.

But, after some consultation among themselves, as also withsome of their captains, they applied themselves afresh to theLord Secretary for counsel and advice from him; for this LordSecretary was their chief preacher, (as also is mentioned somepages before,) only now he was ill at ease; and of him theybegged favour in these two or three things—

1. That he would look comfortably upon them, and not keephimself so much retired from them as formerly.  Also, thathe would be prevailed with to give them a hearing, while theyshould make known their miserable condition to him.  But tothis he told them as before, that ‘as yet he was but ill atease, and therefore could not do as he had formerlydone.’

2. The second thing that they desired was, that he would bepleased to give them his advice about their now so importantaffairs, for that Diabolus was come and set down before the townwith no less than twenty thousand doubters.  They said,moreover, that both he and his captains were cruel men, and thatthey were afraid of them.  But to this he said, ‘Youmust look to the law of the Prince, and there see what is laidupon you to do.’

3. Then they desired that his highness would help them toframe a petition to Shaddai, and unto Emmanuel his Son, and thathe would set his own hand thereto as a token that he was one withthem in it: ‘For,’ said they, ‘my Lord, many aone have we sent, but can get no answer of peace; but now,surely, one with thy hand unto it may obtain good forMansoul.’

But all the answer that he gave to this was, ‘that theyhad offended their Emmanuel, and had also grieved himself, andthat therefore they must as yet partake of their owndevices.’

This answer of the Lord Secretary fell like a millstone uponthem; yea, it crushed them so that they could not tell what todo; yet they durst not comply with the demands of Diabolus, norwith the demands of his captain.  So then here were thestraits that the town of Mansoul was betwixt, when the enemy cameupon her: her foes were ready to swallow her up, and her friendsdid forbear to help her.

Then stood up my Lord Mayor, whose name was my LordUnderstanding, and he began to pick and pick, until he had pickedcomfort out of that seemingly bitter saying of the LordSecretary; for thus he descanted upon it: ‘First,’said he, ‘this unavoidably follows upon the saying of myLord, “that we must yet suffer for our sins.” Secondly, But,’ quoth he, ‘the words yet sound as ifat last we should be saved from our enemies, and that after a fewmore sorrows, Emmanuel will come and be our help.’ Now the Lord Mayor was the more critical in his dealing with theSecretary’s words, because my lord was more than a prophet,and because none of his words were such, but that at all timesthey were most exactly significant; and the townsmen were allowedto pry into them, and to expound them to their bestadvantage.

So they took their leaves of my lord, and returned, and went,and came to the captains, to whom they did tell what my Lord HighSecretary had said; who, when they had heard it, were all of thesame opinion as was my Lord Mayor himself.  The captains,therefore, began to take some courage unto them, and to prepareto make some brave attempt upon the camp of the enemy, and todestroy all that were Diabolonians, with the roving doubters thatthe tyrant had brought with him to destroy the poor town ofMansoul.

So all betook themselves forthwith to their places—theCaptains to theirs, the Lord Mayor to his, the subordinatepreacher to his, and my Lord Willbewill to his.  Thecaptains longed to be at some work for their prince; for theydelighted in warlike achievements.  The next day, therefore,they came together and consulted; and after consultation had,they resolved to give an answer to the captain of Diabolus withslings; and so they did at the rising of the sun on the morrow;for Diabolus had adventured to come nearer again, but thesling-stones were to him and his like hornets.  For as thereis nothing to the town of Mansoul so terrible as the roaring ofDiabolus’s drum, so there is nothing to Diabolus soterrible as the well playing of Emmanuel’s slings. Wherefore Diabolus was forced to make another retreat, yetfurther off from the famous town of Mansoul.  Then did theLord Mayor of Mansoul cause the bells to be rung, ‘and thatthanks should be sent to the Lord High Secretary by the mouth ofthe subordinate preacher; for that by his words the captains andelders of Mansoul had been strengthened againstDiabolus.’

When Diabolus saw that his captains and soldiers, high lordsand renowned, were frightened, and beaten down by the stones thatcame from the golden slings of the Prince of the town of Mansoul,he bethought himself, and said, ‘I will try to catch themby fawning, I will try to flatter them into my net.’

Wherefore, after a while, he came down again to the wall, notnow with his drum, nor with Captain Sepulchre; but having allbesugared his lips, he seemed to be a very sweet-mouthed,peaceable prince, designing nothing for humour’s sake, norto be revenged on Mansoul for injuries by them done to him; butthe welfare, and good, and advantage of the town and peopletherein was now, as he said, his only design.  Wherefore,after he had called for audience, and desired that the townsfolkwould give it to him, he proceeded in his oration, andsaid:—

‘Oh, the desire of my heart, the famous town of Mansoul!how many nights have I watched, and how many weary steps have Itaken, if perhaps I might do thee good!  Far be it, far beit from me to desire to make a war upon you; if ye will butwillingly and quietly deliver up yourselves unto me.  Youknow that you were mine of old.  Remember also, that so longas you enjoyed me for your lord, and that I enjoyed you for mysubjects, you wanted for nothing of all the delights of theearth, that I, your lord and prince, could get for you, or that Icould invent to make you bonny and blithe withal.  Consider,you never had so many hard, dark, troublesome, andheart-afflicting hours, while you were mine, as you have hadsince you revolted from me; nor shall you ever have peace again,until you and I become one as before.  But, be but prevailedwith to embrace me again, and I will grant, yea, enlarge your oldcharter with abundance of privileges; so that your license andliberty shall be to take, hold, enjoy, and make your own all thatis pleasant from the east to the west.  Nor shall any ofthose incivilities, wherewith you have offended me, be evercharged upon you by me, so long as the sun and moon endure. Nor shall any of those dear friends of mine that now, for thefear of you, lie lurking in dens, and holes, and caves inMansoul, be hurtful to you any more; yea, they shall be yourservants, and shall minister unto you of their substance, and ofwhatever shall come to hand.  I need speak no more; you knowthem, and have sometime since been much delighted in theircompany.  Why, then, should we abide at such odds?  Letus renew our old acquaintance and friendship again.

‘Bear with your friend; I take the liberty at this timeto speak thus freely unto you.  The love that I have to youpresses me to do it, as also does the zeal of my heart for myfriends with you: put me not therefore to further trouble, noryourselves to further fears and frights.  Have you I will,in a way of peace or war; nor do you flatter yourselves with thepower and force of your captains, or that your Emmanuel willshortly come in to your help; for such strength will do you nopleasure.

‘I am come against you with a stout and valiant army,and all the chief princes of the den are even at the head ofit.  Besides, my captains are swifter than eagles, strongerthan lions, and more greedy of prey than are the eveningwolves.  What is Og of Bashan! what is Goliath of Gath! andwhat are an hundred more of them, to one of the least of mycaptains!  How, then, shall Mansoul think to escape my handand force?’

Diabolus having thus handed his flattering, fawning,deceitful, and lying speech to the famous town of Mansoul, theLord Mayor replied to him as follows: ‘O Diabolus, princeof darkness, and master of all deceit; thy lying flatteries wehave had and made sufficient probation of, and have tasted toodeeply of that destructive cup already.  Should we thereforeagain hearken unto thee, and so break the commandments of ourgreat Shaddai, to join in affinity with thee, would not ourPrince reject us, and cast us off for ever?  And, being castoff by him, can the place that he has prepared for thee be aplace of rest for us?  Besides, O thou that art empty andvoid of all truth, we are rather ready to die by thy hand, thanto fall in with thy flattering and lying deceits.’

When the tyrant saw that there was little to be got byparleying with my Lord Mayor, he fell into an hellish rage, andresolved that again, with his army of doubters, he would anothertime assault the town of Mansoul.

So he called for his drummer, who beat up for his men (andwhile he did beat, Mansoul did shake) to be in a readiness togive battle to the corporation: then Diabolus drew near with hisarmy, and thus disposed of his men.  Captain Cruel andCaptain Torment, these he drew up and placed against Feel-gate,and commanded them to sit down there for the war.  And healso appointed that, if need were, Captain No-Ease should come into their relief.  At Nose-gate he placed the CaptainBrimstone and Captain Sepulchre, and bid them look well to theirward, on that side of the town of Mansoul.  But at Eye-gatehe placed that grim-faced one, the Captain Past-Hope, and therealso now he did set up his terrible standard.

Now Captain Insatiable, he was to look to the carriages ofDiabolus, and was also appointed to take into custody that, orthose persons and things, that should at any time as prey betaken from the enemy.

Now Mouth-gate the inhabitants of Mansoul kept for asally-port; wherefore that they kept strong; for that it was itby and out at which the townsfolk did send their petitions toEmmanuel their Prince.  That also was the gate from the topof which the captains did play their slings at the enemies; forthat gate stood somewhat ascending, so that the placing of themthere, and the letting of them fly from that place, did muchexecution against the tyrant’s army.  Wherefore, forthese causes, with others, Diabolus sought, if possible, to landup Mouth-gate with dirt.

Now, as Diabolus was busy and industrious in preparing to makehis assault upon the town of Mansoul, without, so the captainsand soldiers in the corporation were as busy in preparing within;they mounted their slings, they set up their banners, theysounded their trumpets, and put themselves in such order as wasjudged most for the annoyance of the enemy, and for the advantageof Mansoul, and gave to their soldiers orders to be ready at thesound of the trumpet for war.  The Lord Willbewill also, hetook the charge of watching against the rebels within, and to dowhat he could to take them while without, or to stifle themwithin their caves, dens, and holes in the town-wall ofMansoul.  And, to speak the truth of him, ever since he tookpenance for his fault, he has showed as much honesty and braveryof spirit as any he in Mansoul; for he took one Jolly, and hisbrother Griggish, the two sons of his servant Harmless-Mirth,(for to that day, though the father was committed to ward, thesons had a dwelling in the house of my lord,)—I say, hetook them, and with his own hands put them to the cross. And this was the reason why he hanged them up: after their fatherwas put into the hands of Mr. True-Man the gaoler, they, hissons, began to play his pranks, and to be ticking and toying withthe daughters of their lord; nay, it was jealoused that they weretoo familiar with them, the which was brought to hislordship’s ear.  Now his lordship being unwillingunadvisedly to put any man to death, did not suddenly fall uponthem, but set watch and spies to see if the thing was true; ofthe which he was soon informed, for his two servants, whose nameswere Find-Out and Tell-All, catched them together in uncivilmanner more than once or twice, and went and told theirlord.  So when my Lord Willbewill had sufficient ground tobelieve the thing was true, he takes the two young Diabolonians,(for such they were, for their father was a Diabolonian born,)and has them to Eye-gate, where he raised a very high cross, justin the face of Diabolus, and of his army, and there he hanged theyoung villains, in defiance to Captain Past-Hope, and of thehorrible standard of the tyrant.

Now this Christian act of the brave Lord Willbewill didgreatly abash Captain Past-Hope, discouraged the army ofDiabolus, put fear into the Diabolonian runagates in Mansoul, andput strength and courage into the captains that belonged toEmmanuel, the Prince; for they without did gather, and that bythis very act of my Lord, that Mansoul was resolved to fight, andthat the Diabolonians within the town could not do such things asDiabolus had hopes they would.  Nor was this the only proofof the brave Lord Willbewill’s honesty to the town, nor ofhis loyalty to his Prince, as will afterwards appear.

Now, when the children of Prudent-Thrifty, who dwelt with Mr.Mind, (for Thrift left children with Mr. Mind, when he was alsocommitted to prison, and their names were Gripe and Rake-All;these he begat of Mr. Mind’s bastard daughter, whose namewas Mrs. Hold-fast-Bad;)—I say, when his children perceivedhow the Lord Willbewill had served them that dwelt with him, whatdo they but, lest they should drink of the same cup, endeavour tomake their escape.  But Mr. Mind, being wary of it, tookthem and put them in hold in his house till morning; (for thiswas done over night;) and remembering that by the law of Mansoulall Diabolonians were to die, (and to be sure they were at leastby father’s side such, and some say by mother’s sidetoo,) what does he but takes them and puts them in chains, andcarries them to the selfsame place where my lord hanged his twobefore, and there he hanged them.

The townsmen also took great encouragement at this act of Mr.Mind, and did what they could to have taken some more of theseDiabolonian troublers of Mansoul; but at that time the rest layso squat and close, that they could not be apprehended; so theyset against them a diligent watch, and went every man to hisplace.

I told you a little before, that Diabolus and his army weresomewhat abashed and discouraged at the sight of what my LordWillbewill did, when he hanged up those two young Diabolonians;but his discouragement quickly turned itself into furious madnessand rage against the town of Mansoul, and fight it hewould.  Also the townsmen and captains within, they hadtheir hopes and their expectations heightened, believing at lastthe day would be theirs; so they feared them the less. Their subordinate preacher, too, made a sermon about it; and hetook that theme for his text, ‘Gad, a troop shall overcomehim: but he shall overcome at the last.’  Whence heshowed, that though Mansoul should be sorely put to it at thefirst, yet the victory should most certainly be Mansoul’sat the last.

So Diabolus commanded that his drummer should beat a chargeagainst the town; and the captains also that were in the townsounded a charge against them, but they had no drum: they weretrumpets of silver with which they sounded against them. Then they which were of the camp of Diabolus came down to thetown to take it, and the captains in the castle, with theslingers at Mouth-gate, played upon them amain.  And nowthere was nothing heard in the camp of Diabolus but horrible rageand blasphemy; but in the town good words, prayer, and singing ofpsalms.  The enemy replied with horrible objections, and theterribleness of their drum; but the town made answer with theslapping of their slings, and the melodious noise of theirtrumpets.  And thus the fight lasted for several daystogether, only now and then they had some small intermission, inthe which the townsmen refreshed themselves, and the captainsmade ready for another assault.

The captains of Emmanuel were clad in silver armour, and thesoldiers in that which was of proof; the soldiers of Diaboluswere clad in iron which was made to give place toEmmanuel’s engine-shot.  In the town, some were hurt,and some were greatly wounded.  Now, the worst of it was, achirurgeon was scarce in Mansoul, for that Emmanuel at presentwas absent.  Howbeit, with the leaves of a tree the woundedwere kept from dying; yet their wounds did greatly putrefy, andsome did grievously stink.  Of the townsmen, these werewounded, namely, my Lord Reason; he was wounded in thehead.  Another that was wounded was the brave Lord Mayor; hewas wounded in the eye.  Another that was wounded was Mr.Mind; he received his wound about the stomach.  The honestsubordinate preacher also, he received a shot not far off theheart but none of these were mortal.

Many also of the inferior sort were not only wounded but slainoutright.

Now, in the camp of Diabolus were wounded and slain aconsiderable number; for instance, Captain Rage, he was wounded,and so was Captain Cruel.  Captain Damnation was made toretreat, and to intrench himself further off of Mansoul. The standard also of Diabolus was beaten down, and hisstandard-bearer, Captain Much-Hurt, had his brains beat out witha sling-stone, to the no little grief and shame of his princeDiabolus.

Many also of the doubters were slain outright, though enoughof them were left alive to make Mansoul shake and totter. Now the victory that day being turned to Mansoul, did put greatvalour into the townsmen and captains, and did coverDiabolus’s camp with a cloud, but withal it made them farmore furious.  So the next day Mansoul rested, and commandedthat the bells should be rung; the trumpets also joyfullysounded, and the captains shouted round the town.

My Lord Willbewill also was not idle, but did notable servicewithin against the domestics, or the Diabolonians that were inthe town, not only by keeping them in awe, for he lighted on oneat last whose name was Mr. Anything, a fellow of whom mention wasmade before; for it was he, if you remember, that brought thethree fellows to Diabolus, whom the Diabolonians took out ofCaptain Boanerges’s companies, and that persuaded them tolist themselves under the tyrant, to fight against the army ofShaddai.  My Lord Willbewill did also take a notableDiabolonian, whose name was Loose-Foot: this Loose-Foot was ascout to the vagabonds in Mansoul, and that did use to carrytidings out of Mansoul to the camp, and out of the camp to thoseof the enemies in Mansoul.  Both these my lord sent awaysafe to Mr. True-Man, the gaoler, with a commandment to keep themin irons; for he intended then to have them out to be crucified,when it would be for the best to the corporation, and most forthe discouragement of the camp of the enemies.

My Lord Mayor also, though he could not stir about so much asformerly, because of the wound that he lately received, yet gavehe out orders to all that were the natives of Mansoul, to look totheir watch, and stand upon their guard, and, as occasion shouldoffer, to prove themselves men.

Mr. Conscience, the preacher, he also did his utmost to keepall his good documents alive upon the hearts of the people ofMansoul.

Well, awhile after, the captains and stout ones of the town ofMansoul agreed and resolved upon a time to make a sally out uponthe camp of Diabolus, and this must be done in the night; andthere was the folly of Mansoul, (for the night is always the bestfor the enemy, but the worst for Mansoul to fight in,) but yetthey would do it, their courage was so high; their last victoryalso still stuck in their memories.

So the night appointed being come, the Prince’s bravecaptains cast lots who should lead the van in this new anddesperate expedition against Diabolus, and against hisDiabolonian army; and the lot fell to Captain Credence, toCaptain Experience, and to Captain Good-Hope, to lead the forlornhope.  (This Captain Experience the Prince created such whenhimself did reside in the town of Mansoul.)  So, as I said,they made their sally out upon the army that lay in the siegeagainst them; and their hap was to fall in with the main body oftheir enemies.  Now Diabolus and his men being expertlyaccustomed to night-work, took the alarm presently, and were asready to give them battle, as if they had sent them word of theircoming.  Wherefore to it they went amain, and blows werehard on every side; the hell drum also was beat most furiously,while the trumpets of the Prince most sweetly sounded.  Andthus the battle was joined; and Captain Insatiable looked to theenemy’s carriages, and waited when he should receive someprey.

The Prince’s captains fought it stoutly, beyond whatindeed could be expected they should; they wounded many; theymade the whole army of Diabolus to make a retreat.  But Icannot tell how, but the brave Captain Credence, CaptainGood-Hope, and Captain Experience, as they were upon the pursuit,cutting down, and following hard after the enemy in the rear,Captain Credence stumbled and fell, by which fall he caught sogreat a hurt, that he could not rise till Captain Experience didhelp him up, at which their men were put in disorder.  Thecaptain also was so full of pain, that he could not forbear butaloud to cry out: at this, the other two captains fainted,supposing that Captain Credence had received his mortal wound;their men also were more disordered, and had no list tofight.  Now Diabolus being very observing, though at thistime as yet he was put to the worst, perceiving that a halt wasmade among the men that were the pursuers, what does he but,taking it for granted that the captains were either wounded ordead, he therefore makes at first a stand, then faces about, andso comes up upon the Prince’s army with as much of his furyas hell could help him to; and his hap was to fall in just amongthe three captains, Captain Credence, Captain Good-Hope, andCaptain Experience, and did cut, wound, and pierce them sodreadfully, that what through discouragement, what throughdisorder, and what through the wounds that they had received, andalso the loss of much blood, they scarce were able, though theyhad for their power the three best hands in Mansoul, to get safeinto the hold again.

Now, when the body of the Prince’s army saw how thesethree captains were put to the worst, they thought it theirwisdom to make as safe and good a retreat as they could, and soreturned by the sally-port again; and so there was an end of thispresent action.  But Diabolus was so flushed with thisnight’s work, that he promised himself, in few days, aneasy and complete conquest over the town of Mansoul; wherefore,on the day following, he comes up to the sides thereof with greatboldness, and demands entrance, and that forthwith they deliverthemselves up to his government.  The Diabolonians, too,that were within, they began to be somewhat brisk, as we shallshow afterward.

But the valiant Lord Mayor replied, that what he got he mustget by force; for as long as Emmanuel, their Prince, was alive,(though he at present was not so with them as they wished,) theyshould never consent to yield Mansoul up to another.

And with that the Lord Willbewill stood up, and said,‘Diabolus, thou master of the den, and enemy to all that isgood, we poor inhabitants of the town of Mansoul are too wellacquainted with thy rule and government, and with the end ofthose things that for certain will follow submitting to thee, todo it.  Wherefore though while we were without knowledge wesuffered thee to take us, (as the bird that saw not the snarefell into the hands of the fowler,) yet since we have been turnedfrom darkness to light, we have also been turned from the powerof Satan to God.  And though through thy subtlety, and alsothe subtlety of the Diabolonians within, we have sustained muchloss, and also plunged ourselves into much perplexity, yet giveup ourselves, lay down our arms, and yield to so horrid a tyrantas thou, we shall not; die upon the place we choose rather todo.  Besides, we have hopes that in time deliverance willcome from court unto us, and therefore we yet will maintain a waragainst thee.’

This brave speech of the Lord Willbewill, with that also ofthe Lord Mayor, did somewhat abate the boldness of Diabolus,though it kindled the fury of his rage.  It also succouredthe townsmen and captains; yea, it was as a plaster to the braveCaptain Credence’s wound; for you must know that a bravespeech now (when the captains of the town with their men of warcame home routed, and when the enemy took courage and boldness atthe success that he had obtained to draw up to the walls, anddemand entrance, as he did) was in season, and alsoadvantageous.

The Lord Willbewill also did play the man within; for whilethe captains and soldiers were in the field, he was in arms inthe town, and wherever by him there was a Diabolonian found, theywere forced to feel the weight of his heavy hand, and also theedge of his penetrating sword: many therefore of the Diabolonianshe wounded, as the Lord Cavil, the Lord Brisk, the LordPragmatic, and the Lord Murmur; several also of the meaner sorthe did sorely maim; though there cannot at this time an accountbe given you of any that he slew outright.  The cause, orrather the advantage that my Lord Willbewill had at this time todo thus, was for that the captains were gone out to fight theenemy in the field.  ‘For now,’ thought theDiabolonians within, ‘is our time to stir and make anuproar in the town.’  What do they therefore butquickly get themselves into a body, and fall forthwith tohurricaning in Mansoul, as if now nothing but whirlwind andtempest should be there.  Wherefore, as I said, he takesthis opportunity to fall in among them with his men, cutting andslashing with courage that was undaunted; at which theDiabolonians with all haste dispersed themselves to their holds,and my lord to his place as before.

This brave act of my lord did somewhat revenge the wrong doneby Diabolus to the captains, and also did let them know thatMansoul was not to be parted with for the loss of a victory ortwo; wherefore the wing of the tyrant was clipped again, as toboasting,—I mean in comparison of what he would have done,if the Diabolonians had put the town to the same plight to whichhe had put the captains.

Well, Diabolus yet resolves to have the other bout withMansoul.  ‘For,’ thought he, ‘since I beatthem once, I may beat them twice.’  Wherefore hecommanded his men to be ready at such an hour of the night, tomake a fresh assault upon the town; and he gave it out in specialthat they should bend all their force against Feel-gate, andattempt to break into the town through that.  The word thatthen he did give to his officers and soldiers wasHell-fire.  ‘And,’ said he, ‘if we breakin upon them, as I wish we do, either with some, or with all ourforce, let them that break in look to it, that they forget notthe word.  And let nothing be heard in the town of Mansoulbut, “Hell-fire!  Hell-fire!Hell-fire!”’  The drummer was also to beatwithout ceasing, and the standard-bearers were to display theircolours; the soldiers, too, were to put on what courage theycould, and to see that they played manfully their parts againstthe town.

So when night was come, and all things by the tyrant madeready for the work, he suddenly makes his assault upon Feel-gate,and after he had awhile struggled there, he throws the gate wideopen: for the truth is, those gates were but weak, and so mosteasily made to yield.  When Diabolus had thus far made hisattempt, he placed his captains (namely, Torment and No-Ease)there; so he attempted to press forward, but the Prince’scaptains came down upon him, and made his entrance more difficultthan he desired.  And, to speak truth, they made whatresistance they could; but the three of their best and mostvaliant captains being wounded, and by their wounds made muchincapable of doing the town that service they would, (and all therest having more than their hands full of the doubters, and theircaptains that did follow Diabolus,) they were overpowered withforce, nor could they keep them out of the town.  Whereforethe Prince’s men and their captains betook themselves tothe castle, as to the stronghold of the town: and this they didpartly for their own security, partly for the security of thetown, and partly, or rather chiefly, to preserve to Emmanuel theprerogative-royal of Mansoul; for so was the castle ofMansoul.

The captains therefore being fled into the castle, the enemy,without much resistance, possess themselves of the rest of thetown, and spreading themselves as they went into every corner,they cried out as they marched, according to the command of thetyrant, ‘Hell-fire! Hell-fire! Hell-fire!’ so thatnothing for a while throughout the town of Mansoul could be heardbut the direful noise of ‘Hell-fire!’ together withthe roaring of Diabolus’s drum.  And now did theclouds hang black over Mansoul, nor to reason did anything butruin seem to attend it.  Diabolus also quartered hissoldiers in the houses of the inhabitants of the town ofMansoul.  Yea, the subordinate preacher’s house was asfull of these outlandish doubters as ever it could hold, and sowas my Lord Mayor’s, and my Lord Willbewill’salso.  Yea, where was there a corner, a cottage, a barn, ora hogstye, that now was not full of these vermin?  Yea, theyturned the men of the town out of their houses, and would lie intheir beds, and sit at their tables themselves.  Ah, poorMansoul! now thou feelest the fruits of sin, yea, what venom wasin the flattering words of Mr. Carnal-Security!  They madegreat havoc of whatever they laid their hands on; yea, they firedthe town in several places; many young children also were by themdashed in pieces; and those that were yet unborn they destroyedin their mothers’ wombs: for you must needs think that itcould not now be otherwise; for what conscience, what pity, whatbowels of compassion can any expect at the hands of outlandishdoubters?  Many in Mansoul that were women, both young andold, they forced, ravished, and beastlike abused, so that theyswooned, miscarried, and many of them died, and so lay at the topof every street, and in all by-places of the town.

And now did Mansoul seem to be nothing but a den of dragons,an emblem of hell, and a place of total darkness.  Now didMansoul lie almost like the barren wilderness; nothing butnettles, briars, thorns, weeds, and stinking things seemed now tocover the face of Mansoul.  I told you before, how thatthese Diabolonian doubters turned the men of Mansoul out of theirbeds, and now I will add, they wounded them, they mauled them,yea, and almost brained many of them.  Many did I say, yeamost, if not all of them.  Mr. Conscience they so wounded,yea, and his wounds so festered, that he could have no ease daynor night, but lay as if continually upon a rack; but thatShaddai rules all, certainly they had slain him outright. Mr. Lord Mayor they so abused that they almost put out his eyes;and had not my Lord Willbewill got into the castle, they intendedto have chopped him all to pieces; for they did look upon him, ashis heart now stood, to be one of the very worst that was inMansoul against Diabolus and his crew.  And indeed he hathshown himself a man, and more of his exploits you will hear ofafterwards.

Now, a man might have walked for days together in Mansoul, andscarcely have seen one in the town that looked like a religiousman.  Oh, the fearful state of Mansoul now! now every cornerswarmed with outlandish doubters; red-coats and black-coatswalked the town by clusters, and filled up all the houses withhideous noises, vain songs, lying stories, and blasphemouslanguage against Shaddai and his Son.  Now also thoseDiabolonians that lurked in the walls and dens and holes thatwere in the town of Mansoul, came forth and showed themselves;yea, walked with open face in company with the doubters that werein Mansoul.  Yea, they had more boldness now to walk thestreets, to haunt the houses, and to show themselves abroad, thanhad any of the honest inhabitants of the now woful town ofMansoul.

But Diabolus and his outlandish men were not at peace inMansoul; for they were not there entertained as were the captainsand forces of Emmanuel: the townsmen did browbeat them what theycould; nor did they partake or make stroy of any of thenecessaries of Mansoul, but that which they seized on against thetownsmen’s will: what they could, they hid from them, andwhat they could not, they had with an ill-will.  They, poorhearts! had rather have had their room than their company; butthey were at present their captives, and their captives for thepresent they were forced to be.  But, I say, theydiscountenanced them as much as they were able, and showed themall the dislike that they could.

The captains also from the castle did hold them in continualplay with their slings, to the chafing and fretting of the mindsof the enemies.  True, Diabolus made a great many attemptsto have broken open the gates of the castle, but Mr. Godly-Fearwas made the keeper of that; and he was a man of that courage,conduct, and valour, that it was in vain, as long as life lastedwithin him, to think to do that work, though mostly desired;wherefore all the attempts that Diabolus made against him werefruitless.  I have wished sometimes that that man had hadthe whole rule of the town of Mansoul.

Well, this was the condition of the town of Mansoul for abouttwo years and a half: the body of the town was the seat of war,the people of the town were driven into holes, and the glory ofMansoul was laid in the dust.  What rest, then, could be tothe inhabitants, what peace could Mansoul have, and what suncould shine upon it?  Had the enemy lain so long without inthe plain against the town, it had been enough to have famishedthem: but now, when they shall be within, when the town shall betheir tent, their trench and fort against the castle that was inthe town; when the town shall be against the town, and shallserve to be a defence to the enemies of her strength and life: Isay, when they shall make use of the forts and town-holds tosecure themselves in, even till they shall take, spoil, anddemolish the castle,—this was terrible! and yet this wasnow the state of the town of Mansoul.

After the town of Mansoul had been in this sad and lamentablecondition, for so long a time as I have told you, and nopetitions that they presented their Prince with, all this while,could prevail, the inhabitants of the town, namely, the eldersand chief of Mansoul, gathered together, and, after some timespent in condoling their miserable state and this miserablejudgment coming upon them, they agreed together to draw up yetanother petition, and to send it away to Emmanuel forrelief.  But Mr. Godly-Fear stood up and answered, that heknew that his Lord the Prince never did nor ever would receive apetition for these matters, from the hand of any whoever, unlessthe Lord Secretary’s hand was to it; ‘andthis,’ quoth he, ‘is the reason that you prevailednot all this while.’  Then they said they would drawup one, and get the Lord Secretary’s hand unto it. But Mr. Godly-Fear answered again, that he knew also that theLord Secretary would not set his hand to any petition thathimself had not an hand in composing and drawing up. ‘And besides,’ said he, ‘the Prince doth knowmy Lord Secretary’s hand from all the hands in the world;wherefore he cannot be deceived by any pretence whatever. Wherefore my advice is that you go to my Lord, and implore him tolend you his aid.’  (Now he did yet abide in thecastle, where all the captains and men-at-arms were.)

So they heartily thanked Mr. Godly-Fear, took his counsel, anddid as he had bidden them.  So they went and came to myLord, and made known the cause of their coming to him; namely,that since Mansoul was in so deplorable a condition, his Highnesswould be pleased to undertake to draw up a petition for them toEmmanuel, the Son of the mighty Shaddai, and to their King andhis Father by him.

Then said the Secretary to them, ‘What petition is itthat you would have me draw up for you?’  But theysaid, ‘Our Lord knows best the state and condition of thetown of Mansoul; and how we are backslidden and degenerated fromthe Prince: thou also knowest who is come up to war against us,and how Mansoul is now the seat of war.  My Lord knows,moreover, what barbarous usages our men, women, and children havesuffered at their hands; and how our homebred Diabolonians dowalk now with more boldness than dare the townsmen in the streetsof Mansoul.  Let our Lord therefore, according to the wisdomof God that is in him, draw up a petition for his poor servantsto our Prince Emmanuel.’  ‘Well,’ said theLord Secretary, ‘I will draw up a petition for you, andwill also set my hand thereto.’  Then said they,‘But when shall we call for it at the hands of ourLord?’  But he answered, ‘Yourselves must bepresent at the doing of it; yea, you must put your desires toit.  True, the hand and pen shall be mine, but the ink andpaper must be yours; else how can you say it is yourpetition?  Nor have I need to petition for myself, because Ihave not offended.’ He also added as followeth: ‘Nopetition goes from me in my name to the Prince, and so to hisFather by him, but when the people that are chiefly concernedtherein do join in heart and soul in the matter, for that must beinserted therein.’

So they did heartily agree with the sentence of the Lord, anda petition was forthwith drawn up for them.  But now, whoshould carry it? that was next.  But the Secretary advisedthat Captain Credence should carry it; for he was a well-spokenman.  They therefore called for him, and propounded to himthe business.  ‘Well,’ said the captain,‘I gladly accept of the motion; and though I am lame, Iwill do this business for you with as much speed, and as well asI can.’

The contents of the petition were to this purpose

‘O our Lord, and Sovereign Prince Emmanuel, the potent,the long-suffering Prince! grace is poured into thy lips, and tothee belong mercy and forgiveness, though we have rebelledagainst thee.  We, who are no more worthy to be called thyMansoul, nor yet fit to partake of common benefits, do beseechthee, and thy Father by thee, to do away ourtransgressions.  We confess that thou mightest cast us awayfor them; but do it not for thy name’s sake: let the Lordrather take an opportunity, at our miserable condition, to letout his bowels and compassions to us.  We are compassed onevery side, Lord; our own backslidings reprove us; ourDiabolonians within our town fright us; and the army of the angelof the bottomless pit distresses us.  Thy grace can be oursalvation, and whither to go but to thee we know not.

‘Furthermore, O gracious Prince, we have weakened ourcaptains, and they are discouraged, sick, and, of late, some ofthem grievously worsted and beaten out of the field by the powerand force of the tyrant.  Yea, even those of our captains,in whose valour we did formerly use to put most of ourconfidence, they are as wounded men.  Besides, Lord, ourenemies are lively, and they are strong; they vaunt and boastthemselves, and do threaten to part us among themselves for abooty.  They are fallen also upon us, Lord, with manythousand doubters, such as with whom we cannot tell what to do;they are all grim-looked and unmerciful ones, and they biddefiance to us and thee.

‘Our wisdom is gone, our power is gone, because thou artdeparted from us; nor have we what we may call ours but sin,shame, and confusion of face for sin.  Take pity upon us, OLord, take pity upon us, thy miserable town of Mansoul, and saveus out of the hands of our enemies.  Amen.’

This petition, as was touched afore, was handed by the LordSecretary, and carried to the court by the brave and most stoutCaptain Credence.  Now he carried it out at Mouth-gate, (forthat, as I said, was the sally-port of the town,) and he went andcame to Emmanuel with it.  Now how it came out, I do notknow; but for certain it did, and that so far as to reach theears of Diabolus.  Thus I conclude, because that the tyranthad it presently by the end, and charged the town of Mansoul withit, saying, ‘Thou rebellious and stubborn-hearted Mansoul,I will make thee to leave off petitioning.  Art thou yet forpetitioning?  I will make thee to leave.’  Yea,he also knew who the messenger was that carried the petition tothe Prince, and it made him both to fear and rage.

Wherefore he commanded that his drum should be beat again, athing that Mansoul could not abide to hear: but when Diaboluswill have his drum beat, Mansoul must abide the noise. Well, the drum was beat, and the Diabolonians were gatheredtogether.

Then said Diabolus, ‘O ye stout Diabolonians, be itknown unto you, that there is treachery hatched against us in therebellious town of Mansoul; for albeit the town is in ourpossession, as you see, yet these miserable Mansoulians haveattempted to dare, and have been so hardy as yet to send to thecourt to Emmanuel for help.  This I give you to understand,that ye may yet know how to carry it to the wretched town ofMansoul.  Wherefore, O my trusty Diabolonians, I commandthat yet more and more ye distress this town of Mansoul, and vexit with your wiles, ravish their women, deflower their virgins,slay their children, brain their ancients, fire their town, andwhat other mischief you can; and let this be the reward of theMansoulians from me, for their desperate rebellions againstme.’

This, you see, was the charge; but something stepped inbetwixt that and execution, for as yet there was but little moredone than to rage.

Moreover, when Diabolus had done thus, he went the next way upto the castle gates, and demanded that, upon pain of death, thegates should be opened to him, and that entrance should be givenhim and his men that followed after.  To whom Mr. Godly-Fearreplied, (for he it was that had the charge of that gate,) thatthe gate should not be opened unto him, nor to the men thatfollowed after him.  He said, moreover, that Mansoul, whenshe had suffered awhile, should be made perfect, strengthened,settled.

Then said Diabolus, ‘Deliver me, then, the men that havepetitioned against me, especially Captain Credence, that carriedit to your Prince; deliver that varlet into my hands, and I willdepart from the town.’

Then up starts a Diabolonian, whose name was Mr. Fooling, andsaid, ‘My lord offereth you fair: it is better for you thatone man perish, than that your whole Mansoul should beundone.’

But Mr. Godly-Fear made him this replication, ‘How longwill Mansoul be kept out of the dungeon, when she hath given upher faith to Diabolus!  As good lose the town, as loseCaptain Credence; for if one be gone the other mustfollow.’  But to that Mr. Fooling said nothing.

Then did my Lord Mayor reply, and said, ‘O thoudevouring tyrant, be it known unto thee, we shall hearken to noneof thy words; we are resolved to resist thee as long as acaptain, a man, a sling, and a stone to throw at thee shall befound in the town of Mansoul.’  But Diabolus answered,‘Do you hope, do you wait, do you look for help anddeliverance?  You have sent to Emmanuel, but your wickednesssticks too close in your skirts, to let innocent prayers come outof your lips.  Think you that you shall be prevailers andprosper in this design?  You will fail in your wish, youwill fail in your attempts; for it is not only I, but yourEmmanuel is against you: yea, it is he that hath sent me againstyou to subdue you.  For what, then, do you hope? or by whatmeans will you escape?’

Then said the Lord Mayor, ‘We have sinned indeed; butthat shall be no help to thee, for our Emmanuel hath said it, andthat in great faithfulness, “and him that cometh to me Iwill in no wise cast out.”  He hath also told us, Oour enemy, that “all manner of sin and blasphemy shall beforgiven” to the sons of men.  Therefore we dare notdespair, but will look for, wait for, and hope for deliverancestill.’

Now, by this time, Captain Credence was returned and come fromthe court from Emmanuel to the castle of Mansoul, and he returnedto them with a packet.  So my Lord Mayor, hearing thatCaptain Credence was come, withdrew himself from the noise of theroaring of the tyrant, and left him to yell at the wall of thetown, or against the gates of the castle.  So he came up tothe captain’s lodgings, and saluting him, he asked him ofhis welfare, and what was the best news at court.  But whenhe asked Captain Credence that, the water stood in hiseyes.  Then said the captain, ‘Cheer up, my lord, forall will be well in time.’  And with that he firstproduced his packet, and laid it by; but that the Lord Mayor, andthe rest of the captains, took for sign of good tidings. Now a season of grace being come, he sent for all the captainsand elders of the town, that were here and there in theirlodgings in the castle and upon their guard, to let them knowthat Captain Credence was returned from the court, and that hehad something in general, and something in special, tocommunicate to them.  So they all came up to him, andsaluted him, and asked him concerning his journey, and what wasthe best news at the court.  And he answered them as he haddone the Lord Mayor before, that all would be well at last. Now, when the captain had thus saluted them, he opened hispacket, and thence did draw out his several notes for those thathe had sent for.

And the first note was for my Lord Mayor, wherein wassignified:—That the Prince Emmanuel had taken it well thatmy Lord Mayor had been so true and trusty in his office, and thegreat concerns that lay upon him for the town and people ofMansoul.  Also, he bid him to know, that he took it wellthat he had been so bold for his Prince Emmanuel, and had engagedso faithfully in his cause against Diabolus.  He alsosignified, at the close of his letter, that he should shortlyreceive his reward.

The second note that came out, was for the noble LordWillbewill, wherein there was signified:—That his PrinceEmmanuel did well understand how valiant and courageous he hadbeen for the honour of his Lord, now in his absence, and when hisname was under contempt by Diabolus.  There was signifiedalso, that his Prince had taken it well that he had been sofaithful to the town of Mansoul, in his keeping of so strict ahand and eye over and so strict a rein upon the neck of theDiabolonians, that did still lie lurking in their several holesin the famous town of Mansoul.  He signified, moreover, howthat he understood that my Lord had, with his own hand, donegreat execution upon some of the chief of the rebels there, tothe great discouragement of the adverse party and to the goodexample of the whole town of Mansoul; and that shortly hislordship should have his reward.

The third note came out for the subordinate preacher, whereinwas signified:—That his Prince took it well from him, thathe had so honestly and so faithfully performed his office, andexecuted the trust committed to him by his Lord, while heexhorted, rebuked, and forewarned Mansoul according to the lawsof the town.  He signified, moreover, that he took it wellat his hand that he called to fasting, to sackcloth, and ashes,when Mansoul was under her revolt.  Also, that he called forthe aid of the Captain Boanerges to help in so weighty a work;and that shortly he also should receive his reward.

The fourth note came out for Mr. Godly-Fear, wherein his Lordthus signified:—That his Lordship observed, that he was thefirst of all the men in Mansoul that detected Mr. Carnal-Securityas the only one that, through his subtlety and cunning, hadobtained for Diabolus a defection and decay of goodness in theblessed town of Mansoul.  Moreover, his Lord gave him tounderstand, that he still remembered his tears and mourning forthe state of Mansoul.  It was also observed, by the samenote, that his Lord took notice of his detecting of this Mr.Carnal-Security, at his own table among his guests, in his ownhouse, and that in the midst of his jolliness, even while he wasseeking to perfect his villanies against the town ofMansoul.  Emmanuel also took notice that this reverendperson, Mr. Godly-Fear, stood stoutly to it, at the gates of thecastle, against all the threats and attempts of the tyrant; andthat he had put the townsmen in a way to make their petition totheir Prince, so as that he might accept thereof, and as theymight obtain an answer of peace; and that therefore shortly heshould receive his reward.

After all this, there was yet produced a note which waswritten to the whole town of Mansoul, whereby theyperceived—That their Lord took notice of their so oftenrepeating of petitions to him; and that they should see more ofthe fruits of such their doings in time to come.  TheirPrince did also therein tell them, that he took it well, thattheir heart and mind, now at last, abode fixed upon him and hisways, though Diabolus had made such inroads upon them; and thatneither flatteries on the one hand, nor hardships on the other,could make them yield to serve his cruel designs.  There wasalso inserted at the bottom of this note—That his Lordshiphad left the town of Mansoul in the hands of the Lord Secretary,and under the conduct of Captain Credence, saying, ‘Bewarethat you yet yield yourselves unto their governance; and in duetime you shall receive your reward.’

So, after the brave Captain Credence had delivered his notesto those to whom they belonged, he retired himself to my LordSecretary’s lodgings, and there spends time in conversingwith him; for they too were very great one with another, and didindeed know more how things would go with Mansoul than did allthe townsmen besides.  The Lord Secretary also loved theCaptain Credence dearly; yea, many a good bit was sent him frommy Lord’s table; also, he might have a show of countenance,when the rest of Mansoul lay under the clouds: so, after sometime for converse was spent, the captain betook himself to hischambers to rest.  But it was not long after when my Lorddid send for the captain again; so the captain came to him, andthey greeted one another with usual salutations.  Then saidthe captain to the Lord Secretary, ‘What hath my Lord tosay to his servant?’  So the Lord Secretary took himand had him aside, and after a sign or two of more favour, hesaid, ‘I have made thee the Lord’s lieutenant overall the forces in Mansoul; so that, from this day forward, allmen in Mansoul shall be at thy word; and thou shalt be he thatshall lead in, and that shall lead out Mansoul.  Thou shalttherefore manage, according to thy place, the war for thy Prince,and for the town of Mansoul, against the force and power ofDiabolus; and at thy command shall the rest of the captainsbe.’

Now the townsmen began to perceive what interest the captainhad, both with the court, and also with the Lord Secretary inMansoul; for no man before could speed when sent, nor bring suchgood news from Emmanuel as he.  Wherefore what do they,after some lamentation that they made no more use of him in theirdistresses, but send by their subordinate preacher to the LordSecretary, to desire him that all that ever they were and hadmight be put under the government, care, custody, and conduct ofCaptain Credence.

So their preacher went and did his errand, and received thisanswer from the mouth of his Lord: that Captain Credence shouldbe the great doer in all the King’s army, against theKing’s enemies, and also for the welfare of Mansoul. So he bowed to the ground, and thanked his Lordship, and returnedand told his news to the townsfolk.  But all this was donewith all imaginable secrecy, because the foes had yet greatstrength in the town.  But to return to our story again.

When Diabolus saw himself thus boldly confronted by the LordMayor, and perceived the stoutness of Mr. Godly-Fear, he fellinto a rage, and forthwith called a council of war, that he mightbe revenged on Mansoul.  So all the princes of the pit cametogether, and old Incredulity at the head of them, with all thecaptains of his army.  So they consult what to do.  Nowthe effect and conclusion of the council that day was how theymight take the castle, because they could not conclude themselvesmasters of the town so long as that was in the possession oftheir enemies.

So one advised this way, and another advised that; but whenthey could not agree in their verdict, Apollyon, that presidentof the council, stood up, and thus he began: ‘Mybrotherhood,’ quoth he, ‘I have two things topropound unto you; and my first is this.  Let us withdrawourselves from the town into the plain again, for our presencehere will do us no good, because the castle is yet in ourenemies’ hands; nor is it possible that we should takethat, so long as so many brave captains are in it, and that thisbold fellow, Godly-Fear, is made the keeper of the gates ofit.  Now, when we have withdrawn ourselves into the plain,they, of their own accord, will be glad of some little ease; andit may be, of their own accord, they again may begin to beremiss, and even their so being will give them a bigger blow thanwe can possibly give them ourselves.  But if that shouldfail, our going forth of the town may draw the captains out afterus; and you know what it cost them when we fought them in thefield before.  Besides, can we but draw them out into thefield, we may lay an ambush behind the town, which shall, whenthey are come forth abroad, rush in and take possession of thecastle.’

But Beelzebub stood up, and replied, saying: ‘It isimpossible to draw them all off from the castle; some, you may besure, will lie there to keep that; wherefore it will be but invain thus to attempt, unless we were sure that they will all comeout.’  He therefore concluded that what was done mustbe done by some other means.  And the most likely means thatthe greatest of their heads could invent, was that which Apollyonhad advised to before, namely, to get the townsmen again tosin.  ‘For,’ said he, ‘it is not our beingin the town, nor in the field, nor our fighting, nor our killingof their men, that can make us the masters of Mansoul; for solong as one in the town is able to lift up his finger against us,Emmanuel will take their parts; and if he shall take their parts,we know what time of day it will be with us.  Wherefore, formy part,’ quoth he, ‘there is, in my judgment, no wayto bring them into bondage to us, like inventing a way to makethem sin.  Had we,’ said he, ‘left all ourdoubters at home, we had done as well as we have done now, unlesswe could have made them the masters and governors of the castle;for doubters at a distance are but like objections refelled witharguments.  Indeed, can we but get them into the hold, andmake them possessors of that, the day will be our own.  Letus, therefore, withdraw ourselves into the plain, (not expectingthat the captains in Mansoul should follow us,) but yet, I say,let us do this, and before we so do, let us advise again with ourtrusty Diabolonians that are yet in their holds of Mansoul, andset them to work to betray the town to us; for they indeed mustdo it, or it will be left undone for ever.’  By thesesayings of Beelzebub, (for I think it was he that gave thiscounsel,) the whole conclave was forced to be of his opinion,namely, that the way to get the castle was to get the town tosin.  Then they fell to inventing by what means they mightdo this thing.

Then Lucifer stood up, and said: ‘The counsel ofBeelzebub is pertinent.  Now, the way to bring this to pass,in mine opinion, is this: let us withdraw our force from the townof Mansoul; let us do this, and let us terrify them no more,either with summons, or threats, or with the noise of our drum,or any other awakening means.  Only let us lie in the fieldat a distance, and be as if we regarded them not; for frights, Isee, do but awaken them, and make them more stand to theirarms.  I have also another stratagem in my head: you knowMansoul is a market-town, and a town that delights in commerce;what, therefore, if some of our Diabolonians shall feignthemselves far-country men, and shall go out and bring to themarket of Mansoul some of our wares to sell; and what matter atwhat rates they sell their wares, though it be but for half theworth?  Now, let those that thus shall trade in their marketbe those that are witty and true to us, and I will lay my crownto pawn it will do.  There are two that are come to mythoughts already, that I think will be arch at this work, andthey are Mr. Penny-wise-pound-foolish, and Mr.Get-i’the-hundred-and-lose-i’the-shire; nor is thisman with the long name at all inferior to the other.  What,also, if you join with them Mr. Sweet-world and Mr. Present-good;they are men that are civil and cunning, but our true friends andhelpers.  Let these, with as many more, engage in thisbusiness for us, and let Mansoul be taken up in much business,and let them grow full and rich, and this is the way to getground of them.  Remember ye not that thus we prevailed uponLaodicea, and how many at present do we hold in this snare? Now, when they begin to grow full, they will forget their misery;and if we shall not affright them, they may happen to fallasleep, and so be got to neglect their town watch, their castlewatch, as well as their watch at the gates.

‘Yea, may we not, by this means, so cumber Mansoul withabundance, that they shall be forced to make of their castle awarehouse, instead of a garrison fortified against us, and areceptacle for men of war.  Thus, if we get our goods andcommodities thither, I reckon that the castle is more than halfours.  Besides, could we so order it that it shall be filledwith such kind of wares, then if we made a sudden assault uponthem, it would be hard for the captains to take shelterthere.  Do you not know that of the parable, “Thedeceitfulness of riches choke the word”? and again,“When the heart is over-charged with surfeiting anddrunkenness, and the cares of this life,” all mischiefcomes upon them at unawares?

‘Furthermore, my lords,’ quoth he, ‘you verywell know that it is not easy for a people to be filled with ourthings, and not to have some of our Diabolonians as retainers totheir houses and services.  Where is a Mansoulian that isfull of this world, that has not for his servants andwaiting-men, Mr. Profuse, or Mr. Prodigality, or some other ofour Diabolonian gang, as Mr. Voluptuous, Mr. Pragmatical, Mr.Ostentation, or the like?  Now these can take the castle ofMansoul, or blow it up, or make it unfit for a garrison forEmmanuel, and any of these will do.  Yea, these, for aught Iknow, may do it for us sooner than an army of twenty thousandmen.  Wherefore, to end as I began, my advice is, that wequietly withdraw ourselves, not offering any further force, orforcible attempts, upon the castle, at least at this time; andlet us set on foot our new project, and let us see if that willnot make them destroy themselves.’

This advice was highly applauded by them all, and wasaccounted the very masterpiece of hell, namely, to choke Mansoulwith a fulness of this world, and to surfeit her heart with thegood things thereof.  But see how things meettogether!  Just as this Diabolonian council was broken up,Captain Credence received a letter from Emmanuel, the contents ofwhich were these: That upon the third day he would meet him inthe field in the plains about Mansoul.  ‘Meet me inthe field!’ quoth the Captain; ‘what meaneth my lordby this?  I know not what he meaneth by meeting me in thefield.’  So he took the note in his hand, and didcarry it to my Lord Secretary, to ask his thoughts thereupon; formy Lord was a seer in all matters concerning the King, and alsofor the good and comfort of the town of Mansoul.  So heshowed my Lord the note, and desired his opinion thereof. ‘For my part,’ quoth Captain Credence, ‘I knownot the meaning thereof.’  So my lord did take andread it and, after a little pause, he said, ‘TheDiabolonians have had against Mansoul a great consultationto-day; they have, I say, this day been contriving the utter ruinof the town; and the result of their council is, to set Mansoulinto such a way which, if taken, will surely make her destroyherself.  And, to this end, they are making ready for theirown departure out of the town, intending to betake themselves tothe field again,’ and there to lie till they shall seewhether this their project will take or no.  But be thouready with the men of thy Lord, (for on the third day they willbe in the plain,) there to fall upon the Diabolonians; for thePrince will by that time be in the field; yea, by that it isbreak of day, sun-rising, or before, and that with a mighty forceagainst them.  So he shall be before them, and thou shalt bebehind them, and betwixt you both their army shall bedestroyed.’

When Captain Credence heard this, away goes he to the rest ofthe captains, and tells them what a note he had a while sincereceived from the hand of Emmanuel.  ‘And,’ saidhe, ‘that which was dark therein hath my lord the LordSecretary expounded unto me.’  He told them, moreover,what by himself and by them must be done to answer the mind oftheir Lord.  Then were the captains glad; and CaptainCredence commanded that all the King’s trumpeters shouldascend to the battlements of the castle, and there, in theaudience of Diabolus and of the whole town of Mansoul, make thebest music that heart could invent.  The trumpeters then didas they were commanded.  They got themselves up to the topof the castle, and thus they began to sound.  Then didDiabolus start, and said, ‘What can be the meaning of this?they neither sound Boot-and-saddle, nor Horse-and-away, nor acharge.  What do these madmen mean that yet they should beso merry and glad?’  Then answered one of themselvesand said, ‘This is for joy that their Prince Emmanuel iscoming to relieve the town of Mansoul; and to this end he is atthe head of an army, and that this relief is near.’

The men of Mansoul also were greatly concerned at thismelodious charm of the trumpets; they said, yea, they answeredone another, saying, ‘This can be no harm to us; surelythis can be no harm to us.’  Then said theDiabolonians, ‘What had we best to do?’ and it wasanswered, ‘It was best to quit the town;’ and‘that,’ said one, ‘ye may do in pursuance ofyour last counsel, and by so doing also be better able to givethe enemy battle, should an army from without come upon us. So, on the second day, they withdrew themselves from Mansoul, andabode in the plains without; but they encamped themselves beforeEye-gate, in what terrene and terrible manner they could. The reason why they would not abide in the town (besides thereasons that were debated in their late conclave) was, for thatthey were not possessed of the stronghold, and‘because,’ said they, ‘we shall have moreconvenience to fight, and also to fly, if need be, when we areencamped in the open plains.’  Besides, the town wouldhave been a pit for them rather than a place of defence, had thePrince come up and inclosed them fast therein.  Thereforethey betook themselves to the field, that they might also be outof the reach of the slings, by which they were much annoyed allthe while that they were in the town.

Well, the time that the captains were to fall upon theDiabolonians being come, they eagerly prepared themselves foraction; for Captain Credence had told the captains over night,that they should meet their Prince in the field to-morrow. This, therefore, made them yet far more desirous to be engagingthe enemy; for ‘You shall see the Prince in the fieldto-morrow’ was like oil to a flaming fire, for of a longtime they had been at a distance: they therefore were for thisthe more earnest and desirous of the work.  So, as I said,the hour being come, Captain Credence, with the rest of the menof war, drew out their forces before it was day by the sally-portof the town.  And, being all ready, Captain Credence went upto the head of the army, and gave to the rest of the captains theword, and so they to their under-officers and soldiers: the wordwas ‘The sword of the Prince Emmanuel, and the shield ofCaptain Credence;’ which is, in the Mansoulian tongue,‘The word of God and faith.’  Then the captainsfell on, and began roundly to front, and flank, and rearDiabolus’s camp.

Now, they left Captain Experience in the town, because he wasyet ill of his wounds, which the Diabolonians had given him inthe last fight.  But when he perceived that the captainswere at it, what does he but, calling for his crutches withhaste, gets up, and away he goes to the battle, saying,‘Shall I lie here, when my brethren are in the fight, andwhen Emmanuel, the Prince, will show himself in the field to hisservants?’  But when the enemy saw the man come withhis crutches, they were daunted yet the more; ‘for,’thought they, ‘what spirit has possessed these Mansoulians,that they fight us upon their crutches?’  Well, thecaptains, as I said, fell on, and did bravely handle theirweapons, still crying out and shouting, as they laid on blows,‘The sword of the Prince Emmanuel, and the shield ofCaptain Credence!’

Now, when Diabolus saw that the captains were come out, andthat so valiantly they surrounded his men, he concluded that, forthe present, nothing from them was to be looked for but blows,and the dints of their ‘two-edged sword.’

Wherefore he also falls on upon the Prince’s army withall his deadly force: so the battle was joined.  Now who wasit that at first Diabolus met with in the fight, but CaptainCredence on the one hand, and the Lord Willbewill on the other:now Willbewill’s blows were like the blows of a giant, forthat man had a strong arm, and he fell in upon the electiondoubters, for they were the life-guard of Diabolus, and he keptthem in play a good while, cutting and battering shrewdly. Now when Captain Credence saw my lord engaged, he did stoutlyfall on, on the other hand, upon the same company also; so theyput them to great disorder.  Now Captain Good-Hope hadengaged the vocation doubters, and they were sturdy men; but thecaptain was a valiant man: Captain Experience did also send himsome aid; so he made the vocation doubters to retreat.  Therest of the armies were hotly engaged, and that on every side,and the Diabolonians did fight stoutly.  Then did my LordSecretary command that the slings from the castle should beplayed; and his men could throw stones at an hair’sbreadth.  But, after a while, those that were made to flybefore the captains of the Prince, did begin to rally again, andthey came up stoutly upon the rear of the Prince’s army:wherefore the Prince’s army began to faint; but,remembering that they should see the face of their Princeby-and-by, they took courage, and a very fierce battle wasfought.  Then shouted the captains, saying, ‘The swordof the Prince Emmanuel, and the shield of CaptainCredence!’ and with that Diabolus gave back, thinking thatmore aid had been come.  But no Emmanuel as yetappeared.  Moreover, the battle did hang in doubt; and theymade a little retreat on both sides.  Now, in the time ofrespite, Captain Credence bravely encouraged his men to stand toit; and Diabolus did the like, as well as he could.  ButCaptain Credence made a brave speech to his soldiers, thecontents whereof here follow:—

‘Gentlemen soldiers, and my brethren in this design, itrejoiceth me much to see in the field for our Prince, this day,so stout and so valiant an army, and such faithful lovers ofMansoul.  You have hitherto, as hath become you, shownyourselves men of truth and courage against the Diabolonianforces; so that, for all their boast, they have not yet muchcause to boast of their gettings.  Now take to yourselvesyour wonted courage, and show yourselves men even this once only;for in a few minutes after the next engagement, this time, youshall see your Prince show himself in the field; for we must makethis second assault upon this tyrant Diabolus, and then Emmanuelcomes.’

No sooner had the captain made this speech to his soldiers,but one Mr. Speedy came post to the captain from the Prince, totell him that Emmanuel was at hand.  This news when thecaptain had received, he communicated to the otherfield-officers, and they again to their soldiers and men ofwar.  Wherefore, like men raised from the dead, so thecaptains and their men arose, made up to the enemy, and cried asbefore, ‘The sword of the Prince Emmanuel, and the shieldof Captain Credence!’

The Diabolonians also bestirred themselves, and maderesistance as well as they could; but in this last engagement theDiabolonians lost their courage, and many of the doubters felldown dead to the ground.  Now, when they had been in heat ofbattle about an hour or more, Captain Credence lift up his eyesand saw, and, behold, Emmanuel came; and he came with coloursflying, trumpets sounding, and the feet of his men scarce touchedthe ground, they hasted with that celerity towards the captainsthat were engaged.  Then did Credence wind with his men tothe townward, and gave to Diabolus the field: so Emmanuel cameupon him on the one side, and the enemies’ place wasbetwixt them both.  Then again they fell to it afresh; andnow it was but a little while more but Emmanuel and CaptainCredence met, still trampling down the slain as they came.

But when the captains saw that the Prince was come, and thathe fell upon the Diabolonians on the other side, and that CaptainCredence and his Highness had got them up betwixt them, theyshouted, (they so shouted that the ground rent again,) saying,‘The sword of Emmanuel, and the shield of CaptainCredence!’  Now, when Diabolus saw that he and hisforces were so hard beset by the Prince and his princely army,what does he, and the lords of the pit that were with him, butmake their escape, and forsake their army, and leave them to fallby the hand of Emmanuel, and of his noble Captain Credence: sothey fell all down slain before them, before the Prince, andbefore his royal army; there was not left so much as one doubteralive; they lay spread upon the ground dead men, as one wouldspread dung upon the land.

When the battle was over, all things came into order in thecamp.  Then the captains and elders of Mansoul came togetherto salute Emmanuel, while without the corporation: so theysaluted him, and welcomed him, and that with a thousand welcomes,for that he was come to the borders of Mansoul again.  So hesmiled upon them, and said, ‘Peace be to you.’ Then they addressed themselves to go to the town; they went thento go up to Mansoul, they, the Prince, with all the new forcesthat now he had brought with him to the war.  Also all thegates of the town were set open for his reception, so glad werethey of his blessed return.  And this was the manner andorder of this going of his into Mansoul:

First.  As I said, all the gates of the town were setopen, yea, the gates of the castle also; the elders, too, of thetown of Mansoul placed themselves at the gates of the town, tosalute him at his entrance thither: and so they did; for, as hedrew near, and approached towards the gates, they said,‘Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, yeeverlasting doors; and the King of glory shall comein.’  And they answered again, ‘Who is the Kingof glory?’ and they made return to themselves, ‘TheLord, strong and mighty; the Lord mighty in battle.  Lift upyour heads, O ye gates; even lift them up, ye everlastingdoors,’ etc.

Secondly.  It was ordered also, by those of Mansoul, thatall the way from the town gates to those of the castle, hisblessed Majesty should be entertained with the song, by them thathad the best skill in music in all the town of Mansoul: then didthe elders, and the rest of the men of Mansoul, answer oneanother as Emmanuel entered the town, till he came at the castlegates, with songs and sound of trumpets, saying, ‘They haveseen thy goings, O God; even the goings of my God, my King, inthe sanctuary.  So the singers went before, the players oninstruments followed after, and among them were the damselsplaying on timbrels.’

Thirdly.  Then the captains, (for I would speak a word ofthem,) they in their order waited on the Prince, as he enteredinto the gates of Mansoul.  Captain Credence went before,and Captain Good-Hope with him; Captain Charity came behind withother of his companions, and Captain Patience followed after all;and the rest of the captains, some on the right hand, and some onthe left, accompanied Emmanuel into Mansoul.  And all thewhile the colours were displayed, the trumpets sounded, andcontinual shoutings were among the soldiers.  The Princehimself rode into the town in his armour, which was all of beatengold, and in his chariot—the pillars of it were of silver,the bottom thereof of gold, the covering of it was of purple, themidst thereof being paved with love for the daughters of the townof Mansoul.

Fourthly.  When the Prince was come to the entrance ofMansoul, he found all the streets strewed with lilies andflowers, curiously decked with boughs and branches from the greentrees that stood round about the town.  Every door also wasfilled with persons, who had adorned every one their fore-partagainst their house with something of variety and singularexcellency, to entertain him withal as he passed in the streets:they also themselves, as Emmanuel passed by, did welcome him withshouts and acclamations of joy, saying, ‘Blessed be thePrince that cometh in the name of his Father Shaddai.’

Fifthly.  At the castle gates the elders of Mansoul,namely, the Lord Mayor, the Lord Willbewill, the subordinatepreacher, Mr. Knowledge, and Mr. Mind, with other of the gentryof the place, saluted Emmanuel again.  They bowed beforehim, they kissed the dust of his feet, they thanked, theyblessed, and praised his Highness for not taking advantageagainst them for their sins, but rather had pity upon them intheir misery, and returned to them with mercies, and to build uptheir Mansoul for ever.  Thus was he had up straightway tothe castle; for that was the royal palace, and the place wherehis honour was to dwell; the which was ready prepared for hisHighness by the presence of the Lord Secretary, and the work ofCaptain Credence.  So he entered in.

Sixthly.  Then the people and commonalty of the town ofMansoul came to him into the castle to mourn, and to weep, and tolament for their wickedness, by which they had forced him out ofthe town.  So when they were come, bowed themselves to theground seven times; they also wept, they wept aloud, and askedforgiveness of the Prince, and prayed that he would again, as ofold, confirm his love to Mansoul.

To the which the great Prince replied, ‘Weep not, but goyour way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions tothem for whom nought is prepared; for the joy of your Lord isyour strength.  I am returned to Mansoul with mercies, andmy name shall be set up, exalted, and magnified byit.’  He also took these inhabitants, and kissed them,and laid them in his bosom.

Moreover, he gave to the elders of Mansoul, and to each townofficer, a chain of gold and a signet.  He also sent totheir wives earrings and jewels, and bracelets, and otherthings.  He also bestowed upon the true-born children ofMansoul many precious things.

When Emmanuel, the Prince, had done all these things for thefamous town of Mansoul, then he said unto them, first,‘Wash your garments, then put on your ornaments, and thencome to me into the castle of Mansoul.’  So they wentto the fountain that was set open for Judah and Jerusalem to washin; and there they washed, and there they made their‘garments white,’ and came again to the Prince intothe castle, and thus they stood before him.

And now there was music and dancing throughout the whole townof Mansoul, and that because their Prince had again granted tothem his presence and the light of his countenance; the bellsalso did ring, and the sun shone comfortably upon them for agreat while together.

The town of Mansoul did also now more thoroughly seek thedestruction and ruin of all remaining Diabolonians that abode inthe walls, and the dens that they had in the town of Mansoul; forthere was of them that had, to this day, escaped with life andlimb from the hand of their suppressors in the famous town ofMansoul.

But my Lord Willbewill was a greater terror to them now thanever he had been before; forasmuch as his heart was yet morefully bent to seek, contrive, and pursue them to the death; hepursued them night and day, and did put them now to soredistress, as will afterwards appear.

After things were thus far put into order in the famous townof Mansoul, care was taken, and order given by the blessed PrinceEmmanuel, that the townsmen should, without further delay,appoint some to go forth into the plain to bury the dead thatwere there,—the dead that fell by the sword of Emmanuel,and by the shield of the Captain Credence,—lest the fumesand ill savours that would arise from them might infect the air,and so annoy the famous town of Mansoul.  This also was areason of this order, namely, that, as much as in Mansoul lay,they might cut off the name, and being, and remembrance of thoseenemies from the thought of the famous town of Mansoul and itsinhabitants.

So order was given out by the Lord Mayor, that wise and trustyfriend of the town of Mansoul, that persons should be employedabout this necessary business; and Mr. Godly-Fear, and one Mr.Upright, were to be overseers about this matter: so persons wereput under them to work in the fields, and to bury the slain thatlay dead in the plains.  And these were their places ofemployment: some were to make the graves, some to bury the dead,and some were to go to and fro in the plains, and also roundabout the borders of Mansoul, to see if a skull, or a bone, or apiece of a bone of a doubter, was yet to be found above groundanywhere near the corporation; and if any were found, it wasordered, that the searchers that searched should set up a markthereby, and a sign, that those that were appointed to bury themmight find it, and bury it out of sight, that the name andremembrance of a Diabolonian doubter might be blotted out fromunder heaven; and that the children, and they that were to beborn in Mansoul, might not know, if possible, what a skull, whata bone, or a piece of a bone of a doubter was.  So theburiers, and those that were appointed for that purpose, did asthey were commanded: they buried the doubters, and all the skullsand bones, and pieces of bones of doubters, wherever they foundthem; and so they cleansed the plains.  Now also Mr.God’s-Peace took up his commission, and acted again as informer days.

Thus they buried in the plains about Mansoul the electiondoubters, the vocation doubters, the grace doubters, theperseverance doubters, the resurrection doubters, the salvationdoubters, and the glory doubters; whose captains were CaptainRage, Captain Cruel, Captain Damnation, Captain Insatiable,Captain Brimstone, Captain Torment, Captain No-Ease, CaptainSepulchre, and Captain Past-Hope; and old Incredulity was, underDiabolus, their general.  There were also the seven heads oftheir army; and they were the Lord Beelzebub, the Lord Lucifer,the Lord Legion, the Lord Apollyon, the Lord Python, the LordCerberus, and the Lord Belial.  But the princes and thecaptains, with old Incredulity, their general, did all of themmake their escape: so their men fell down slain by the power ofthe Prince’s forces, and by the hands of the men of thetown of Mansoul.  They also were buried as is afore related,to the exceeding great joy of the now famous town ofMansoul.  They that buried them buried also with them theirarms, which were cruel instruments of death: (their weapons werearrows, darts, mauls, firebrands, and the like).  Theyburied also their armour, their colours, banners, with thestandard of Diabolus, and what else soever they could find thatdid but smell of a Diabolonian doubter.

Now when the tyrant had arrived at Hell-Gate Hill, with hisold friend Incredulity, they immediately descended the den, andhaving there with their fellows for a while condoled theirmisfortune and great loss that they sustained against the town ofMansoul, they fell at length into a passion, and revenged theywould be for the loss that they sustained before the town ofMansoul.  Wherefore they presently call a council tocontrive yet further what was to be done against the famous townof Mansoul; for their yawning paunches could not wait to see theresult of their Lord Lucifer’s and their LordApollyon’s counsel that they had given before; for theirraging gorge thought every day, even as long as a short for ever,until they were filled with the body and soul, with the flesh andbones, and with all the delicates of Mansoul.  Theytherefore resolve to make another attempt upon the town ofMansoul, and that by an army mixed and made up partly ofdoubters, and partly of blood-men.  A more particularaccount now take of both.

The doubters are such as have their name from their nature, aswell as from the land and kingdom where they are born: theirnature is to put a question upon every one of the truths ofEmmanuel; and their country is called the land of Doubting, andthat land lieth off, and farthest remote to the north, betweenthe land of Darkness and that called the ‘valley of theshadow of death.’  For though the land of Darkness,and that called ‘the valley of the shadow of death,’be sometimes called as if they were one and the self-same place,yet indeed they are two, lying but a little way asunder, and theland of Doubting points in, and lieth between them.  This isthe land of Doubting; and these that came with Diabolus to ruinthe town of Mansoul are the natives of that country.

The blood-men are a people that have their name derived fromthe malignity of their nature, and from the fury that is in themto execute it upon the town of Mansoul: their land lieth underthe dog-star, and by that they are governed as to theirintellectuals.  The name of their country is the province ofLoath-good: the remote parts of it are far distant from the landof Doubting, yet they do both butt and bound upon the hill calledHell-Gate Hill.  These people are always in league with thedoubters, for they jointly do make question of the faith andfidelity of the men of the town of Mansoul, and so are both alikequalified for the service of their prince.

Now of these two countries did Diabolus, by the beating of hisdrum, raise another army against the town of Mansoul, offive-and-twenty thousand strong.  There were ten thousanddoubters, and fifteen thousand blood-men, and they were put underseveral captains for the war; and old Incredulity was again madegeneral of the army.

As for the doubters, their captains were five of the seventhat were heads of the last Diabolonian army, and these are theirnames: Captain Beelzebub, Captain Lucifer, Captain Apollyon,Captain Legion, and Captain Cerberus; and the captains that theyhad before were some of them made lieutenants, and some ensignsof the army.

But Diabolus did not count that, in this expedition of his,these doubters would prove his principal men, for their manhoodhad been tried before; also the Mansoulians had put them to theworst: only he did bring them to multiply a number, and to help,if need was, at a pinch.  But his trust he put in hisblood-men, for that they were all rugged villains, and he knewthat they had done feats heretofore.

As for the blood-men, they also were under command and thenames of their captains were, Captain Cain, Captain Nimrod,Captain Ishmael, Captain Esau, Captain Saul, Captain Absalom,Captain Judas, and Captain Pope.

1. Captain Cain was over two bands, namely, the zealous andthe angry blood-men: his standard-bearer bare the red colours,and his scutcheon was the murdering club.

2. Captain Nimrod was captain over two bands, namely, thetyrannical and encroaching blood-men: his standard-bearer barethe red colours, and his scutcheon was the great bloodhound.

3. Captain Ishmael was captain over two bands, namely, themocking and scorning blood-men: his standard-bearer bare the redcolours, and his scutcheon was one mocking at Abraham’sIsaac.

4. Captain Esau was captain over two bands, namely, theblood-men that grudged that another should have the blessing;also over the blood-men that are for executing their privaterevenge upon others: his standard-bearer bare the red colours,and his scutcheon was one privately lurking to murder Jacob.

5. Captain Saul was captain over two bands, namely, thegroundlessly jealous and the devilishly furious blood-men: hisstandard-bearer bare the red colours, and his scutcheon was threebloody darts cast at harmless David.

6. Captain Absalom was captain over two bands, namely, overthe blood-men that will kill a father or a friend for the gloryof this world; also over those blood-men that will hold one fairin hand with words, till they shall have pierced him with theirswords: his standard-bearer did bear the red colours, and hisscutcheon was the son pursuing the father’s blood.

7. Captain Judas was over two bands, namely, the blood-menthat will sell a man’s life for money, and those also thatwill betray their friend with a kiss: his standard-bearer barethe red colours, and his scutcheon was thirty pieces of silverand the halter.

8. Captain Pope was captain over one band, for all thesespirits are joined in one under him: his standard-bearer bare thered colours, and his scutcheon was the stake, the flame, and thegood man in it.

Now, the reason why Diabolus did so soon rally another force,after he had been beaten out of the field, was, for that he putmighty confidence in this army of blood-men; for he put a greatdeal of more trust in them than he did before in his army ofdoubters; though they had also often done great service for himin the strengthening of him in his kingdom.  But theseblood-men, he had proved them often, and their sword did seldomreturn empty.  Besides, he knew that these, like mastiffs,would fasten upon any; upon father, mother, brother, sister,prince, or governor, yea upon the Prince of princes.  Andthat which encouraged him the more was, for that they once didforce Emmanuel out of the kingdom of Universe; ‘Andwhy,’ thought he, ‘may they not also drive him fromthe town of Mansoul?’

So this army of five-and-twenty thousand strong was, by theirgeneral, the great Lord Incredulity, led up against the town ofMansoul.  Now Mr. Prywell, the scoutmaster-general, didhimself go out to spy, and he did bring Mansoul tidings of theircoming.  Wherefore they shut up their gates, and putthemselves in a posture of defence against these new Diaboloniansthat came up against the town.

So Diabolus brought up his army, and beleaguered the town ofMansoul; the doubters were placed about Feel-gate, and theblood-men set down before Eye-gate and Ear-gate.

Now when this army had thus encamped themselves, Incredulitydid, in the name of Diabolus, his own name, and in the name ofthe blood-men and the rest that were with him, send a summons ashot as a red-hot iron to Mansoul, to yield to their demands;threatening, that if they still stood it out against them, theywould presently burn down Mansoul with fire.  For you mustknow that, as for the blood-men, they were not so much thatMansoul should be surrendered, as that Mansoul should bedestroyed, and cut off out of the land of the living.  True,they send to them to surrender; but should they so do, that wouldnot stench or quench the thirsts of these men.  They musthave blood, the blood of Mansoul, else they die; and it is fromhence that they have their name.  Wherefore these blood-menhe reserved while now that they might, when all his enginesproved ineffectual, as his last and sure card be played againstthe town of Mansoul.

Now, when the townsmen had received this red-hot summons, itbegat in them at present some changing and interchangingthoughts; but they jointly agreed, in less than half an hour, tocarry the summons to the Prince, the which they did when they hadwrit at the bottom of it, ‘Lord, save Mansoul from bloodymen!’

So he took it, and looked upon it, and considered it, and tooknotice also of that short petition that the men of Mansoul hadwritten at the bottom of it, and called to him the noble CaptainCredence, and bid him go and take Captain Patience with him, andgo and take care of that side of Mansoul that was beleaguered bythe blood-men.  So they went and did as they were commanded:the Captain Credence went and took Captain Patience, and theyboth secured that side of Mansoul that was besieged by theblood-men.

Then he commanded that Captain Good-hope and Captain Charity,and my Lord Willbewill, should take charge of the other side ofthe town.  ‘And I,’ said the Prince, ‘willset my standard upon the battlements of your castle, and do youthree watch against the doubters.’  This done, heagain commanded that the brave captain, the Captain Experience,should draw up his men in the market-place, and that there heshould exercise them day by day before the people of the town ofMansoul.  Now this siege was long, and many a fierce attemptdid the enemy, especially those called the blood-men, make uponthe town of Mansoul; and many a shrewd brush did some of thetownsmen meet with from them, especially Captain Self-Denial,who, I should have told you before, was commanded to take thecare of Ear-gate and Eye-gate now against the blood-men. This Captain Self-Denial was a young man, but stout, and atownsman in Mansoul, as Captain Experience also was.  AndEmmanuel, at his second return to Mansoul, made him a captainover a thousand of the Mansoulians, for the good of thecorporation.  This captain, therefore, being an hardy man,and a man of great courage, and willing to venture himself forthe good of the town of Mansoul, would now and then sally outupon the blood-men, and give them many notable alarms, andentered several brisk skirmishes with them, and also did someexecution upon them; but you must think that this could noteasily be done, but he must meet with brushes himself, for hecarried several of their marks in his face; yea, and some in someother parts of his body.

So, after some time spent for the trial of the faith, andhope, and love of the town of Mansoul, the Prince Emmanuel upon aday calls his captains and men of war together, and divides theminto two companies; this done, he commands them at a timeappointed, and that in the morning very early, to sally out uponthe enemy, saying: ‘Let half of you fall upon the doubters,and half of you fall upon the blood-men.  Those of you thatgo out against the doubters, kill and slay, and cause to perishso many of them as by any means you can lay hands on; but for youthat go out against the blood-men, slay them not, but take themalive.’

So, at the time appointed, betimes in the morning, thecaptains went out as they were commanded, against theenemies.  Captain Good-Hope, Captain Charity, and those thatwere joined with them, as Captain Innocent and CaptainExperience, went out against the doubters; and Captain Credence,and Captain Patience, with Captain Self-Denial, and the rest thatwere to join with them, went out against the blood-men.

Now, those that went out against the doubters drew up into abody before the plain, and marched on to bid them battle. But the doubters, remembering their last success, made a retreat,not daring to stand the shock, but fled from the Prince’smen; wherefore they pursued them, and in their pursuit slew many,but they could not catch them all.  Now those that escapedwent some of them home; and the rest by fives, nines, andseventeens, like wanderers, went straggling up and down thecountry, where they upon the barbarous people showed andexercised many of their Diabolonian actions: nor did these peoplerise up in arms against them, but suffered themselves to beenslaved by them.  They would also after this showthemselves in companies before the town of Mansoul, but never toabide in it; for if Captain Credence, Captain Good-Hope, orCaptain Experience did but show themselves, they fled.

Those that went out against the blood-men did as they werecommanded: they forbore to slay any, but sought to compass themabout.  But the blood-men, when they saw that no Emmanuelwas in the field, concluded also that no Emmanuel was in Mansoul;wherefore they, looking upon what the captains did to be, as theycalled it, a fruit of the extravagancy of their wild and foolishfancies, rather despised them than feared them.  But thecaptains, minding their business, at last did compass them round;they also that had routed the doubters came in amain to theiraid: so, in fine, after some little struggling, (for theblood-men also would have run for it, only now it was too late;for though they are mischievous and cruel, where they canovercome, yet all blood-men are chicken-hearted men, when theyonce come to see themselves matched and equalled,)—so thecaptains took them, and brought them to the Prince.

Now when they were taken, had before the Prince, and examined,he found them to be of three several counties, though they allcame out of one land.

1. One sort of them came out of Blind-man-shire, and they weresuch as did ignorantly what they did.

2. Another sort of them came out of Blind-zeal-shire, and theydid superstitiously what they did.

3. The third sort of them came out of the town of Malice, inthe county of Envy, and they did what they did out of spite andimplacableness.

For the first of these, namely, they that came out ofBlind-man-shire, when they saw where they were, and against whomthey had fought, they trembled and cried, as they stood beforehim; and as many of these as asked him mercy, he touched theirlips with his golden sceptre.

They that came out of Blind-zeal-shire, they did not as theirfellows did; for they pleaded that they had a right to do whatthey did, because Mansoul was a town whose laws and customs werediverse from all that dwelt thereabouts.  Very few of thesecould be brought to see their evil; but those that did, and askedmercy, they also obtained favour.

Now, they that came out of the town of Malice, that is in thecounty of Envy, they neither wept, nor disputed, nor repented,but stood gnawing their tongues before him for anguish andmadness, because they could not have their will uponMansoul.  Now these last, with all those of the other twosorts that did not unfeignedly ask pardon for theirfaults,—those he made to enter into sufficient bond toanswer for what they had done against Mansoul, and against herKing, at the great and general assizes to be holden for our Lordthe King, where he himself should appoint for the country andkingdom of Universe.  So they became bound each man forhimself, to come in, when called upon, to answer before our Lordthe King for what they had done as before.

And thus much concerning this second army that was sent byDiabolus to overthrow Mansoul.

But there were three of those that came from the land ofDoubting, who, after they had wandered and ranged the country awhile, and perceived that they had escaped, were so hardy as tothrust themselves, knowing that yet there were in the townDiabolonians,—I say, they were so hardy as to thrustthemselves into Mansoul among them.  (Three, did Isay?  I think there were four.)  Now, to whose houseshould these Diabolonian doubters go, but to the house of an oldDiabolonian in Mansoul, whose name was Evil-Questioning, a verygreat enemy he was to Mansoul, and a great doer among theDiabolonians there.  Well, to this Evil-Questioning’shouse, as was said, did these Diabolonians come (you may be surethat they had directions how to find the way thither), so he madethem welcome, pitied their misfortune, and succoured them withthe best that he had in his house.  Now, after a littleacquaintance (and it was not long before they had that), this oldEvil-Questioning asked the doubters if they were all of a town(he knew that they were all of one kingdom), and they answered:‘No, nor not of one shire neither; for I,’ said one,‘am an election doubter:’  ‘I,’ saidanother, ‘am a vocation doubter:’ then said thethird, ‘I am a salvation doubter:’ and the fourthsaid he was a grace doubter.  ‘Well,’ quoth theold gentleman, ‘be of what shire you will, I am persuadedthat you are down, boys: you have the very length of my foot, areone with my heart, and shall be welcome to me.’  Sothey thanked him, and were glad that they had found themselves anharbour in Mansoul.

Then said Evil-Questioning to them: ‘How many of yourcompany might there be that came with you to the siege ofMansoul?’ and they answered: ‘There were but tenthousand doubters in all, for the rest of the army consisted offifteen thousand blood-men.  These blood-men,’ quoththey, ‘border upon our country; but, poor men! as we hear,they were every one taken by Emmanuel’sforces.’  ‘Ten thousand!’ quoth the oldgentleman; ‘I will promise you, that is a roundcompany.  But how came it to pass, since you were so mightya number, that you fainted, and durst not fight yourfoes?’  ‘Our general,’ said they,‘was the first man that did run for it.’ ‘Pray,’ quoth their landlord, ‘who was that,your cowardly general?’  ‘He was once the LordMayor of Mansoul,’ said they: ‘but pray call him nota cowardly general; for whether any from the east to the west hasdone more service for our prince Diabolus, than has my LordIncredulity, will be a hard question for you to answer.  Buthad they catched him, they would for certain have hanged him; andwe promise you, hanging is but a bad business.’  Thensaid the old gentleman, ‘I would that all the ten thousanddoubters were now well armed in Mansoul, and myself at the headof them; I would see what I could do.’ ‘Ay,’ said they, ‘that would be well if wecould see that; but wishes, alas! what are they?’ and thesewords were spoken aloud.  ‘Well,’ said oldEvil-Questioning, ‘take heed that you talk not too loud;you must be quat and close, and must take care of yourselveswhile you are here, or, I will assure you, you will besnapped.’  ‘Why?’ quoth thedoubters.  ‘Why!’ quoth the old gentleman;‘why! because both the Prince and Lord Secretary, and theircaptains and soldiers, are all at present in town; yea, the townis as full of them as ever it can hold.  And besides, thereis one whose name is Willbewill, a most cruel enemy of ours, andhim the Prince has made keeper of the gates, and has commandedhim that, with all the diligence he can, he should look for,search out, and destroy all, and all manner ofDiabolonians.  And if he lighteth upon you, down you go,though your heads were made of gold.’

And now, to see how it happened, one of the LordWillbewill’s faithful soldiers, whose name was Mr.Diligence, stood all this while listening under oldEvil-Questioning’s eaves, and heard all the talk that hadbeen betwixt him and the doubters that he entertained under hisroof.

The soldier was a man that my lord had much confidence in, andthat he loved dearly; and that both because he was a man ofcourage, and also a man that was unwearied in seeking afterDiabolonians to apprehend them.

Now this man, as I told you, heard all the talk that wasbetween old Evil-Questioning and these Diabolonians; whereforewhat does he but goes to his lord, and tells him what he hadheard.  ‘And sayest thou so, my trusty?’ quothmy lord.  ‘Ay,’ quoth Diligence, ‘that Ido; and if your lordship will be pleased to go with me, you shallfind it as I have said.’  ‘And are theythere?’ quoth my lord.  ‘I know Evil-Questioningwell, for he and I were great in the time of our apostasy: but Iknow not now where he dwells.’  ‘But Ido,’ said his man, ‘and if your lordship will go, Iwill lead you the way to his den.’  ‘Go!’quoth my lord, ‘that I will.  Come, my Diligence, letus go find them out.’

So my lord and his man went together the direct way to hishouse.  Now his man went before to show him his way, andthey went till they came even under old Mr.Evil-Questioning’s wall.  Then said Diligence,‘Hark! my lord, do you know the old gentleman’stongue when you hear it?’  ‘Yes,’ said mylord, ‘I know it well, but I have not seen him many aday.  This I know, he is cunning; I wish he doth not give usthe slip.’  ‘Let me alone for that,’ saidhis servant Diligence.  ‘But how shall we find thedoor?’ quoth my lord.  ‘Let me alone for that,too,’ said his man.  So he had my Lord Willbewillabout, and showed him the way to the door.  Then my lord,without more ado, broke open the door, rushed into the house, andcaught them all five together, even as Diligence his man had toldhim.  So my lord apprehended them, and led them away, andcommitted them to the hand of Mr. Trueman, the gaoler, andcommanded, and he did put them in ward.  This done, my LordMayor was acquainted in the morning with what my Lord Willbewillhad done over night, and his lordship rejoiced much at the news,not only because there were doubters apprehended, but becausethat old Evil-Questioning was taken; for he had been a very greattrouble to Mansoul, and much affliction to my Lord Mayorhimself.  He had also been sought for often, but no handcould ever be laid upon him till now.

Well, the next thing was to make preparation to try these fivethat by my lord had been apprehended, and that were in the handsof Mr. Trueman, the gaoler.  So the day was set, and thecourt called and come together, and the prisoners brought to thebar.  My Lord Willbewill had power to have slain them whenat first he took them, and that without any more ado; but hethought it at this time more for the honour of the Prince, thecomfort of Mansoul, and the discouragement of the enemy, to bringthem forth to public judgment.

But, I say, Mr. Trueman brought them in chains to the bar; tothe town-hall, for that was the place of judgment.  So, tobe short, the jury was panelled, the witnesses sworn, and theprisoners tried for their lives: the jury was the same that triedMr. No-Truth, Pitiless, Haughty, and the rest of theircompanions.

And, first, old Questioning himself was set to the bar for hewas the receiver, the entertainer, and comforter of thesedoubters, that by nation were outlandish men: then he was bid tohearken to his charge, and was told that he had liberty toobject, if he had ought to say for himself.  So hisindictment was read: the manner and form here follows.

‘Mr. Questioning, Thou art here indicted by the name ofEvil-Questioning, an intruder upon the town of Mansoul, for thatthou art a Diabolonian by nature, and also a hater of the PrinceEmmanuel, and one that hast studied the ruin of the town ofMansoul.  Thou art also here indicted for countenancing theKing’s enemies, after wholesome laws made to the contrary:for, 1. Thou hast questioned the truth of her doctrine and state:2. In wishing that ten thousand doubters were in her: 3. Inreceiving, in entertaining, and encouraging of her enemies, thatcame from their army unto thee.  What sayest thou to thisindictment? art thou guilty or not guilty?’

‘My lord,’ quoth he, ‘I know not the meaningof this indictment, forasmuch as I am not the man concerned init; the man that standeth by this charge accused before thisbench is called by the name of Evil-Questioning, which name Ideny to be mine, mine being Honest-Inquiry.  The one indeedsounds like the other; but, I trow, your lordships know thatbetween these two there is a wide difference; for I hope that aman, even in the worst of times, and that, too, amongst the worstof men, may make an honest inquiry after things, without runningthe danger of death.’

Then spake my Lord Willbewill, for he was one of thewitnesses: ‘My lord, and you the honourable bench andmagistrates of the town of Mansoul, you all have heard with yourears that the prisoner at the bar has denied his name, and sothinks to shift from the charge of the indictment.  But Iknow him to be the man concerned, and that his proper name isEvil-Questioning.  I have known him, my lord, above thesethirty years, for he and I (a shame it is for me to speak it)were great acquaintance, when Diabolus, that tyrant, had thegovernment of Mansoul; and I testify that he is a Diabolonian bynature, an enemy to our Prince, and a hater of the blessed townof Mansoul.  He has, in times of rebellion, been at and lainin my house, my lord, not so little as twenty nights together,and we did use to talk then, for the substance of talk, as he andhis doubters have talked of late: true, I have not seen him manya day.  I suppose that the coming of Emmanuel to Mansoul hasmade him change his lodgings, as this indictment has driven himto change his name; but this is the man, my lord.’

Then said the court unto him, ‘Hast thou any more tosay?’

‘Yes,’ quoth the old gentleman, ‘that Ihave; for all that as yet has been said against me, is but by themouth of one witness; and it is not lawful for the famous town ofMansoul, at the mouth of one witness, to put any man todeath.’

Then stood forth Mr. Diligence, and said, ‘My lord, as Iwas upon my watch such a night at the head of Bad Street, in thistown, I chanced to hear a muttering within this gentleman’shouse.  Then, thought I, what is to do here?  So I wentup close, but very softly, to the side of the house to listen,thinking, as indeed it fell out, that there I might light uponsome Diabolonian conventicle.  So, as I said, I drew nearerand nearer; and when I was got up close to the wall, it was but awhile before I perceived that there were outlandish men in thehouse; but I did well understand their speech, for I have been atraveller myself.  Now, hearing such language in such atottering cottage as this old gentleman dwelt in, I clapped mineear to a hole in the window, and there heard them talk asfolloweth.  This old Mr. Questioning asked these doubterswhat they were, whence they came, and what was their business inthese parts; and they told him to all these questions, yet he didentertain them.  He also asked what numbers there were ofthem; and they told him ten thousand men.  He then askedthem, why they made no more manly assault upon Mansoul; and theytold him: so he called their general coward, for marching offwhen he should have fought for his prince.  Further, thisold Evil-Questioning wished, and I heard him wish, would all theten thousand doubters were now in Mansoul, and himself at thehead of them.  He bid them also to take heed and lie quat;for if they were taken they must die, although they had heads ofgold.’  Then said the court: ‘Mr.Evil-Questioning, here is now another witness against you, andhis testimony is full: 1. He swears that you did receive thesemen into your house, and that you did nourish them there, thoughyou knew that they were Diabolonians, and the King’senemies.  2. He swears that you did wish ten thousand ofthem in Mansoul.  3. He swears that you did give them adviceto be quat and close, lest they were taken by the King’sservants.  All which manifesteth that thou art aDiabolonian; but hadst thou been a friend to the King, thouwouldst have apprehended them.’

Then said Evil-Questioning: ‘To the first of these Ianswer, The men that came into mine house were strangers, and Itook them in; and is it now become a crime in Mansoul for a manto entertain strangers?  That I did also nourish them istrue; and why should my charity be blamed?  As for thereason why I wished ten thousand of them in Mansoul, I never toldit to the witnesses, nor to themselves.  I might wish themto be taken, and so my wish might mean well to Mansoul, for aughtthat any yet knows.  I did also bid them take heed that theyfell not into the captains’ hands; but that might bebecause I am unwilling that any man should be slain, and notbecause I would have the King’s enemies as suchescape.’

My Lord Mayor then replied: ‘That though it was a virtueto entertain strangers, yet it was treason to entertain theKing’s enemies.  And for what else thou hast said,thou dost by words but labour to evade and defer the execution ofjudgment.  But could there be no more proved against theebut that thou art a Diabolonian, thou must for that die the deathby the law; but to be a receiver, a nourisher, a countenancer,and a harbourer of others of them, yea, of outlandishDiabolonians, yea, of them that came from far on purpose to cutoff and destroy our Mansoul—this must not beborne.’

Then said Evil-Questioning: ‘I see how the game will go:I must die for my name, and for my charity.’  And sohe held his peace.

Then they called the outlandish doubters to the bar, and thefirst of them that was arraigned was the election doubter. So his indictment was read; and because he was an outlandish man,the substance of it was told him by an interpreter; namely,‘That he was there charged with being an enemy of Emmanuelthe Prince, a hater of the town of Mansoul, and an opposer of hermost wholesome doctrine.’

Then the judge asked him if he would plead? but he said onlythis—That he confessed that he was an election doubter, andthat that was the religion that he had ever been brought upin.  And said, moreover, ‘If I must die for myreligion, I trow, I shall die a martyr, and so I care theless.’

Judge.  Then it was replied: ‘To questionelection, is to overthrow a great doctrine of the gospel, namely,the omnisciency, and power, and will of God; to take away theliberty of God with his creature, to stumble the faith of thetown of Mansoul, and to make salvation to depend upon works, andnot upon grace.  It also belied the word, and disquieted theminds of the men of Mansoul; therefore by the best of laws hemust die.’

Then was the vocation doubter called, and set to the bar; andhis indictment for substance was the same with the other, only hewas particularly charged with denying the calling of Mansoul.

The judge asked him also what he had to say for himself?

So he replied: ‘That he never believed that there wasany such thing as a distinct and powerful call of God to Mansoul;otherwise than by the general voice of the word, nor by thatneither, otherwise than as it exhorted them to forbear evil, andto do that which is good, and in so doing a promise of happinessis annexed.’

Then said the judge: ‘Thou art a Diabolonian, and hastdenied a great part of one of the most experimental truths of thePrince of the town of Mansoul; for he has called, and she hasheard a most distinct and powerful call of her Emmanuel, by whichshe has been quickened, awakened, and possessed with heavenlygrace to desire to have communion with her Prince, to serve him,and to do his will, and to look for her happiness merely of hisgood pleasure.  And for thine abhorrence of this gooddoctrine, thou must die the death.’

Then the grace doubter was called, and his indictment was readand he replied thereto: ‘That though he was of the land ofdoubting, his father was the offspring of a Pharisee, and livedin good fashion among his neighbours, and that he taught him tobelieve, and believe it I do, and will, that Mansoul shall neverbe saved freely by grace.’

Then said the judge: ‘Why, the law of the Prince isplain: 1. Negatively, “not of works:” 2. Positively,“by grace you are saved.”  And thy religionsettleth in and upon the works of the flesh; for the works of thelaw are the works of the flesh.  Besides, in saying as thouhast done, thou hast robbed God of His glory, and given it to asinful man; thou hast robbed Christ of the necessity of Hisundertaking, and the sufficiency thereof, and hast given boththese to the works of the flesh.  Thou hast despised thework of the Holy Ghost, and hast magnified the will of the flesh,and of the legal mind.  Thou art a Diabolonian, the son of aDiabolonian; and for thy Diabolonian principles thou mustdie.’

The court then, having proceeded thus far with them, sent outthe jury, who forthwith brought them in guilty of death. Then stood up the Recorder, and addressed himself to theprisoners: ‘You, the prisoners at the bar, you have beenhere indicted, and proved guilty of high crimes against Emmanuelour Prince, and against the welfare of the famous town ofMansoul, crimes for which you must be put to death, and die yeaccordingly.’  So they were sentenced to the death ofthe cross.  The place assigned them for execution, was thatwhere Diabolus drew up his last army against Mansoul; save onlythat old Evil-Questioning was hanged at the top of Bad Street,just over against his own door.

When the town of Mansoul had thus far rid themselves of theirenemies, and of the troublers of their peace, in the next place astrict commandment was given out, that yet my Lord Willbewillshould, with Diligence his man, search for, and do his best toapprehend what town Diabolonians were yet left alive inMansoul.  The names of several of them were, Mr. Fooling,Mr. Let-Good-Slip, Mr. Slavish-Fear, Mr. No-Love, Mr. Mistrust,Mr. Flesh, and Mr. Sloth.  It was also commanded, that heshould apprehend Mr. Evil-Questioning’s children, that heleft behind him, and that they should demolish his house. The children that he left behind him were these: Mr. Doubt, andhe was his eldest son; the next to him was Legal-Life, Unbelief,Wrong-Thoughts-of-Christ, Clip-Promise, Carnal-Sense,Live-by-Feeling, Self-Love.  All these he had by one wife,and her name was No-Hope; she was the kinswoman of oldIncredulity, for he was her uncle; and when her father, old Dark,was dead, he took her and brought her up, and when she wasmarriageable, he gave her to this old Evil-Questioning towife.

Now the Lord Willbewill did put into execution his commission,with great Diligence, his man.  He took Fooling in thestreets, and hanged him up in Want-wit-Alley, over against hisown house.  This Fooling was he that would have had the townof Mansoul deliver up Captain Credence into the hands ofDiabolus, provided that then he would have withdrawn his forceout of the town.  He also took Mr. Let-Good-Slip one day ashe was busy in the market, and executed him according tolaw.  Now there was an honest poor man in Mansoul, and hisname was Mr. Meditation, one of no great account in the days ofapostasy, but now of repute with the best of the town.  Thisman, therefore, they were willing to prefer.  Now Mr.Let-Good-Slip had a great deal of wealth heretofore in Mansoul,and, at Emmanuel’s coming, it was sequestered to the use ofthe Prince: this, therefore, was now given to Mr. Meditation, toimprove for the common good, and after him to his son, Mr.Think-Well; this Think-Well he had by Mrs. Piety his wife, andshe was the daughter of Mr. Recorder.

After this, my lord apprehended Clip-Promise: now because hewas a notorious villain, for by his doings much of theKing’s coin was abused, therefore he was made a publicexample.  He was arraigned and judged to be first set in thepillory, then to be whipped by all the children and servants inMansoul, and then to be hanged till he was dead.  Some maywonder at the severity of this man’s punishment; but thosethat are honest traders in Mansoul, are sensible of the greatabuse that one clipper of promises in little time may do to thetown of Mansoul.  And truly my judgment is, that all thoseof his name and life should be served even as he.

He also apprehended Carnal-Sense, and put him in hold; but howit came about, I cannot tell, but he brake prison, and made hisescape: yea, and the bold villain will not yet quit the town, butlurks in the Diabolonian dens a days, and haunts like a ghosthonest men’s houses a nights.  Wherefore, there was aproclamation set up in the market-place in Mansoul, signifyingthat whosoever could discover Carnal-Sense, and apprehend him andslay him, should be admitted daily to the Prince’s table,and should be made keeper of the treasure of Mansoul.  Many,therefore, did bend themselves to do this thing, but take him andslay him they could not, though often he was discovered.

But my lord took Mr. Wrong-Thoughts-of-Christ, and put him inprison, and he died there; though it was long first, for he diedof a lingering consumption.

Self-Love was also taken and committed to custody; but therewere many that were allied to him in Mansoul, so his judgment wasdeferred.  But at last Mr. Self-Denial stood up, and said:‘If such villains as these may be winked at in Mansoul, Iwill lay down my commission.’  He also took him fromthe crowd, and had him among his soldiers, and there he wasbrained.  But some in Mansoul muttered at it, though nonedurst speak plainly, because Emmanuel was in town.  But thisbrave act of Captain Self-Denial came to the Prince’s ears;so he sent for him, and made him a lord in Mansoul.  My LordWillbewill also obtained great commendations of Emmanuel, forwhat he had done for the town of Mansoul.

Then my Lord Self-Denial took courage, and set to the pursuingof the Diabolonians, with my Lord Willbewill; and they tookLive-by-Feeling, and they took Legal-Life, and put them in holdtill they died.  But Mr. Unbelief was a nimble Jack: himthey could never lay hold of, though they attempted to do itoften.  He therefore, and some few more of the subtlest ofthe Diabolonian tribe, did yet remain in Mansoul, to the timethat Mansoul left off to dwell any longer in the kingdom ofUniverse.  But they kept them to their dens and holes: ifone of them did appear, or happen to be seen in any of thestreets of the town of Mansoul, the whole town would be up inarms after them; yea, the very children in Mansoul would cry outafter them as after a thief, and would wish that they might stonethem to death with stones.  And now did Mansoul arrive tosome good degree of peace and quiet; her Prince also did abidewithin her borders; her captains, also, and her soldiers didtheir duties; and Mansoul minded her trade that she had with thecountry that was afar off; also she was busy in hermanufacture.

When the town of Mansoul had thus far rid themselves of somany of their enemies, and the troublers of their peace, thePrince sent to them, and appointed a day wherein he would, at themarket-place, meet the whole people, and there give them incharge concerning some further matters, that, if observed, wouldtend to their further safety and comfort, and to the condemnationand destruction of their home-bred Diabolonians.  So the dayappointed was come, and the townsmen met together; Emmanuel alsocame down in his chariot, and all his captains in their stateattending him, on the right hand and on the left.  Then wasan oyes made for silence, and, after some mutual carriages oflove, the Prince began, and thus proceeded:—

‘You, my Mansoul, and the beloved of mine heart, manyand great are the privileges that I have bestowed upon you; Ihave singled you out from others, and have chosen you to myself,not for your worthiness, but for mine own sake.  I have alsoredeemed you, not only from the dread of my Father’s law,but from the hand of Diabolus.  This I have done because Iloved you, and because I have set my heart upon you to do yougood.  I have also, that all things, that might hinder thyway to the pleasures of paradise might be taken out of the way,laid down for thee for thy soul a plenary satisfaction, and havebought thee to myself; a price not of corruptible things, as ofsilver and gold, but a price of blood, mine own blood, which Ihave freely spilled upon the ground to make thee mine.  So Ihave reconciled thee, O my Mansoul, to my Father, and entrustedthee in the mansion houses that are with my Father in the royalcity, where things are, O my Mansoul, that eye hath not seen, norhath entered into the heart of man to conceive.

‘Besides, O my Mansoul, thou seest what I have done, andhow I have taken thee out of the hands of thine enemies: untowhom thou hadst deeply revolted from my Father, and by whom thouwast content to be possessed, and also to be destroyed.  Icame to thee first by my law, then by my gospel, to awaken thee,and show thee my glory.  And thou knowest what thou wast,what thou saidst, what thou didst, and how many times thourebelledst against my Father and me; yet I left thee not as thouseest this day, but came to thee, have borne thy manners, havewaited upon thee, and, after all, accepted of thee, even of mymere grace and favour; and would not suffer thee to be lost, asthou most willingly wouldst have been.  I also compassedthee about, and afflicted thee on every side, that I might makethee weary of thy ways, and bring down thy heart with molestationto a willingness to close with thy good and happiness.  Andwhen I had gotten a complete conquest over thee, I turned it tothy advantage.

‘Thou seest, also, what a company of my Father’shost I have lodged within thy borders: captains and rulers,soldiers and men of war, engines and excellent devices to subdueand bring down thy foes; thou knowest my meaning, OMansoul.  And they are my servants, and thine, too,Mansoul.  Yea, my design of possessing of thee with them,and the natural tendency of each of them is to defend, purge,strengthen, and sweeten thee for myself, O Mansoul, and to makethee meet for my Father’s presence, blessing, and glory;for thou, my Mansoul, art created to be prepared unto these.

‘Thou seest, moreover, my Mansoul, how I have passed bythy backslidings, and have healed thee.  Indeed I was angrywith thee, but I have turned mine anger away from thee, because Iloved thee still, and mine anger and mine indignation is ceasedin the destruction of thine enemies, O Mansoul.  Nor did thygoodness fetch me again unto thee, after that I for thytransgressions have hid my face, and withdrawn my presence fromthee.  The way of backsliding was thine, but the way andmeans of thy recovery was mine.  I invented the means of thyreturn; it was I that made an hedge and a wall, when thou wastbeginning to turn to things in which I delighted not.  Itwas I that made thy sweet bitter, thy day night, thy smooth waythorny, and that also confounded all that sought thydestruction.  It was I that set Mr. Godly-Fear to work inMansoul.  It was I that stirred up thy conscience andunderstanding, thy will and thy affections, after thy great andwoful decay.  It was I that put life into thee, O Mansoul,to seek me, that thou mightest find me, and in thy finding findthine own health, happiness, and salvation.  It was I thatfetched the second time the Diabolonians out of Mansoul; and itwas I that overcame them, and that destroyed them before thyface.

‘And now, my Mansoul, I am returned to thee in peace,and thy transgressions against me are as if they had notbeen.  Nor shall it be with thee as in former days, but Iwill do better for thee than at thy beginning.

For yet a little while, O my Mansoul, even after a few moretimes are gone over thy head, I will (but be not thou troubled atwhat I say) take down this famous town of Mansoul, stick andstone, to the ground.  And I will carry the stones thereof,and the timber thereof, and the walls thereof, and the dustthereof, and the inhabitants thereof, into mine own country, eveninto a kingdom of my Father; and will there set it up in suchstrength and glory, as it never did see in the kingdom where nowit is placed.  I will even there set it up for myFather’s habitation; for for that purpose it was at firsterected in the kingdom of Universe; and there will I make it aspectacle of wonder, a monument of mercy, and the admirer of itsown mercy.  There shall the natives of Mansoul see all that,of which they have seen nothing here: there shall they be equalto those unto whom they have been inferior here.  And thereshalt thou, O my Mansoul, have such communion with me, with myFather, and with your Lord Secretary, as it is not possible hereto be enjoyed, nor ever could be, shouldest thou live in Universethe space of a thousand years.

‘And there, O my Mansoul, thou shalt be afraid ofmurderers no more; of Diabolonians, and their threats, nomore.  There, there shall be no more plots, norcontrivances, nor designs against thee, O my Mansoul.  Therethou shalt no more hear the evil-tidings, or the noise of theDiabolonian drum.  There thou shalt not see the Diabolonianstandard-bearers, nor yet behold Diabolus’s standard. No Diabolonian mount shall be cast up against thee there; norshall there the Diabolonian standard be set up to make theeafraid.  There thou shalt not need captains, engines,soldiers, and men of war.  There thou shalt meet with nosorrow, nor grief, nor shall it be possible that any Diabolonianshould again, for ever, be able to creep into thy skirts, burrowin thy walls, or be seen again within thy borders all the days ofeternity.  Life shall there last longer than here you areable to desire it should; and yet it shall always be sweet andnew, nor shall any impediment attend it for ever.

‘There, O Mansoul, thou shalt meet with many of thosethat have been like thee, and that have been partakers of thysorrows; even such as I have chosen, and redeemed, and set apart,as thou, for my Father’s court and city-royal.  Allthey will be glad in thee, and thou, when thou seest them, shaltbe glad in thine heart.

‘There are things, O Mansoul, even things of myFather’s providing, and mine, that never were seen sincethe beginning of the world; and they are laid up with my Father,and sealed up among his treasures for thee, till thou shalt comethither to enjoy them.  I told you before, that I wouldremove my Mansoul, and set it up elsewhere; and where I will setit, there are those that love thee, and those that rejoice inthee now; but how much more, when they shall see thee exalted tohonour!  My Father will then send them for you to fetch you;and their bosoms are chariots to put you in.  And you, O myMansoul, shall ride upon the wings of the wind.  They willcome to convey, conduct, and bring you to that, when your eyessee more, that will be your desired haven.

‘And thus, O my Mansoul, I have showed unto thee whatshall be done to thee hereafter, if thou canst hear, if thoucanst understand; and now I will tell thee what at present mustbe thy duty and practice, until I come and fetch thee to myself,according as is related in the Scriptures of truth.

‘First, I charge thee that thou dost hereafter keep morewhite and clean the liveries which I gave thee before my lastwithdrawing from thee.  Do it, I say, for this will be thywisdom.  They are in themselves fine linen, but thou mustkeep them white and clean.  This will be your wisdom, yourhonour, and will be greatly for my glory.  When yourgarments are white, the world will count you mine.  Also,when your garments are white, then I am delighted in your ways;for then your goings to and fro will be like a flash oflightning, that those that are present must take notice of; alsotheir eyes will be made to dazzle thereat.  Deck thyself,therefore, according to my bidding, and make thyself by my lawstraight steps for thy feet; so shall thy King greatly desire thybeauty, for he is thy Lord, and worship thou him.

‘Now, that thou mayest keep them as I bid thee, I have,as I before did tell thee, provided for thee an open fountain towash thy garments in.  Look, therefore, that thou wash oftenin my fountain, and go not in defiled garments; for as it is tomy dishonour and my disgrace, so it will be to thy discomfort,when you shall walk in filthy garments.  Let not, therefore,my garments, your garments, the garments that I gave thee, bedefiled or spotted by the flesh.  Keep thy garments alwayswhite, and let thy head lack no ointment.

‘My Mansoul, I have ofttimes delivered thee from thedesigns, plots, attempts, and conspiracies of Diabolus; and forall this I ask thee nothing, but that thou render not to me evilfor my good; but that thou bear in mind my love, and thecontinuation of my kindness to my beloved Mansoul, so as toprovoke thee to walk in thy measure according to the benefitbestowed on thee.  Of old, the sacrifices were bound withcords to the horns of the altar.  Consider what is said tothee, O my blessed Mansoul.

‘O my Mansoul, I have lived, I have died, I live, andwill die no more for thee.  I live, that thou mayest notdie.  Because I live, thou shalt live also.  Ireconciled thee to my Father by the blood of my cross; and beingreconciled, thou shalt live through me.  I will pray forthee; I will fight for thee; I will yet do thee good.

‘Nothing can hurt thee but sin; nothing can grieve mebut sin; nothing can make thee base before thy foes but sin: takeheed of sin, my Mansoul.

‘And dost thou know why I at first, and do still, sufferDiabolonians to dwell in thy walls, O Mansoul?  It is tokeep thee wakening, to try thy love, to make thee watchful, andto cause thee yet to prize my noble captains, their soldiers, andmy mercy.

‘It is also, that yet thou mayest be made to rememberwhat a deplorable condition thou once wast in.  I mean when,not some, but all did dwell, not in thy walls, but in thy castle,and in thy stronghold, O Mansoul.

‘O my Mansoul, should I slay all them within, many therebe without, that would bring thee into bondage; for were allthese within cut off, those without would find thee sleeping; andthen, as in a moment, they would swallow up my Mansoul.  Itherefore left them in thee, not to do thee hurt (the which theyyet will, if thou hearken to them, and serve them,) but to dothee good, the which they must, if thou watch and fight againstthem.  Know, therefore, that whatever they shall tempt theeto, my design is, that they should drive thee, not further off,but nearer to my father, to learn thee war, to make petitioningdesirable to thee, and to make thee little in thine owneyes.  Hearken diligently to this, my Mansoul.

‘Show me, then, thy love, my Mansoul, and let not thosethat are within thy walls, take thy affections off from him thathath redeemed thy soul.  Yea, let the sight of a Diabolonianheighten thy love to me.  I came once, and twice, andthrice, to save thee from the poison of those arrows that wouldhave wrought thy death: stand for me, thy Friend, my Mansoul,against the Diabolonians, and I will stand for thee before myFather, and all his court.  Love me against temptation, andI will love thee notwithstanding thine infirmities.

‘O my Mansoul, remember what my captains, my soldiers,and mine engines have done for thee.  They have fought forthee, they have suffered by thee, they have borne much at thyhands to do thee good, O Mansoul.  Hadst thou not had themto help thee, Diabolus had certainly made a hand of thee. Nourish them, therefore, my Mansoul.  When thou dost well,they will be well; when thou dost ill, they will be ill, andsick, and weak.  Make not my captains sick, O Mansoul; forif they be sick, thou canst not be well; if they be weak, thoucanst not be strong; if they be faint, thou canst not be stoutand valiant for thy King, O Mansoul.  Nor must thou thinkalways to live by sense: thou must live upon my word.  Thoumust believe, O my Mansoul, when I am from thee, that yet I lovethee, and bear thee upon mine heart for ever.

‘Remember, therefore, O my Mansoul, that thou artbeloved of me: as I have, therefore, taught thee to watch, tofight, to pray, and to make war against my foes; so now I commandthee to believe that my love is constant to thee.  O myMansoul, how have I set my heart, my love upon thee! Watch.  Behold, I lay none other burden upon thee, than whatthou hast already.  Hold fast, till I come.’

FOOTNOTES

[0]  Unfortunately the illustrationsare still in copyright in the UK (where I live), and so have notbeen included.  They will be included when they come out ofcopyright in the UK.—DP.

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