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The Holy War

by John Bunyan

January, 1996 [Etext #395]

**The Project Gutenberg Etext of The Holy War, by John Bunyan**
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The Holy War by John Bunyan.
Scanned and proofed by David Price, email
ccx074@coventry.ac.uk

THE HOLY WAR

TO THE READER.

‘Tis strange to me, that they 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 divers sorts,
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 they play’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’s cries,
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.

JOHN BUNYAN.

AN ADVERTISEMENT TO THE READER.

SOME say 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, thine eye 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.’

JOHN BUNYAN.

A RELATION OF THE HOLY WAR.

IN my travels, as I walked through many regions and
countries, it was my chance to happen into that famous
continent of Universe.  A very large and spacious country it
is: it lieth between the two poles, and just amidst the four
points of the heavens.  It is a place well watered, and
richly adorned with hills and valleys, bravely situate, and
for the most part, at least where I was, very fruitful, also
well peopled, and a very sweet air.

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

In this country, as I said, it was my lot to travel; and
there travel I did, and that so long, even till I learned
much of their mother tongue, together with the customs and
manners of them among whom I was.  And, to speak truth, I was
much delighted to 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 master sent for me home to his house,
there to do business for him, and to oversee business done.

Now there is in this gallant country of Universe a fair and
delicate town, a corporation called Mansoul; a town for its
building so curious, for its situation so commodious, for its
privileges so advantageous, (I mean with reference to its
origin,) that I may say of it, as was said before of the
continent in which it is placed, There is not its equal under
the whole heaven.

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

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

The walls of the town were well built, yea, so fast and firm
were they knit and compact together, that, had it not been
for the townsmen themselves, they could not have been shaken
or broken for ever.  For here lay the excellent wisdom of him
that builded Mansoul, that the walls could never be broken
down nor hurt by the most mighty adverse potentate, unless
the townsmen gave consent thereto.

This famous town of Mansoul had five gates, in at which to
come, out at which to go; and these were made likewise
answerable to the walls, to wit, impregnable, and such as
could never be opened nor forced but by the will and leave of
those within.  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
demonstration to all, of the glory and strength of the place. 
It had always a sufficiency of provision within its walls; it
had the best, most wholesome, and excellent law that then was
extant in the world.  There was not a rascal, rogue, or
traitorous person then within its walls; they were all true
men, and fast joined together; and this, you know, is a great
matter.  And to all these, it had always (so long as it had
the goodness to keep 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,
and make it his own habitation.  This giant was king of the
blacks, and a most raving prince he was.  We will, if you
please, first discourse of the origin of this Diabolus, and
then of his taking of this famous town of Mansoul.

This Diabolus is indeed a great and mighty prince, and yet
both poor and beggarly.  As to his origin, he was at first
one of the servants of King Shaddai, made, and taken, and put
by him into most high and mighty place; yea, was put into
such principalities as belonged to the best of his
territories and dominions.  This Diabolus was made ‘son of
the morning,’ and a brave place he had of it: it brought him
much glory, and gave him much brightness, an income that
might have 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
he but begins to think with himself how he might be set up as
lord over all, and have the sole power under Shaddai.  (Now
that did the King reserve for his Son, yea, and had already
bestowed it upon him.)  Wherefore he first consults with
himself what had best to be done; and then breaks his mind to
some other of his companions, to the which they also agreed. 
So, in fine, they came to this issue that they should make an
attempt upon the King’s Son to destroy him, that the
inheritance might be theirs.  Well, to be short, the treason,
as I said, was concluded, the time appointed, the word given,
the rebels rendezvoused, and the assault attempted.  Now the
King and his Son being all and always eye, could not but
discern all passages in his dominions; and he, having always
love for his Son as for himself, could not at what he saw but
be greatly provoked and offended: wherefore what does he, but
takes them in the very nick and first trip that they made
towards their design, convicts them of the treason, horrid
rebellion, and conspiracy that they had devised, and now
attempted to put into practice, and casts them altogether out
of all place of trust, benefit, honour, and preferment.  This
done, he banishes them the court, turns them down into the
horrible pits, as fast bound in chains, never more to expect
the least favour from his hands, but to abide the judgment
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 their
prince’s favour for ever, (being banished his court, and cast
down to the horrible pits,) you may he sure they would now
add to their former pride what malice and rage against
Shaddai, and against his Son, they could.  Wherefore, roving
and ranging in much fury from place to place, if, perhaps,
they might find something that was the King’s, by spoiling of
that, to revenge themselves on him; at last they happened
into this spacious country of Universe, and steer their
course towards the town of Mansoul; and considering that that
town was one of the chief works and delights of King Shaddai,
what do they but, after counsel taken, make an assault upon
that.  I say, they knew that Mansoul belonged unto Shaddai;
for they were there when he built it and beautified it for
himself.  So when they had found the place, they shouted
horribly for joy, and roared on it as a lion upon the prey,
saying, ‘Now we have found the prize, and how to be revenged
on King Shaddai for what he hath done to us.’  So they sat
down and called a council of war, and considered with
themselves what ways and methods they had best to engage in
for the winning to themselves this famous town of Mansoul,
and these four things were then propounded to be considered
of.

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

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

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

Fourthly.  Whether they had not best to some of their
companions to give out private orders to take the advantage,
if they see one or more of the principal townsmen, to shoot
them, if thereby they shall judge their cause and design will
the better be promoted.

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

2. And then to the second proposal they came, namely, Whether
they had best go and sit down before Mansoul in their now
ragged and beggarly guise.  To which it was answered also in
the negative, By no means; and that because, though the town
of Mansoul had been made to know, and to have to do, before
now, with things that are invisible, they did never as yet
see any of their fellow-creatures in so sad and rascally
condition as they; and this was the advice of that fierce
Alecto.  Then said Apollyon, ‘The advice is pertinent; for
even one of us appearing to them as we are now, must needs
both beget and multiply such thoughts in them as will both
put them into a consternation of spirit, and necessitate them
to put themselves upon their guard.  And if so,’ said he,
‘then, as my Lord Diabolus said but now, it is in vain for us
to think of taking the town.’  Then said that mighty giant
Beelzebub, ‘The advice that already is given is safe; for
though the men of Mansoul have seen such things as we once
were, yet hitherto they did never behold such things as we
now are; and it is best, in mine opinion, to come upon them
in such a guise as is common to, and most familiar among
them.’  To this, when they had consented, the next thing to
be considered was, in what shape, hue, or guise Diabolus had
best to show himself when he went about to make Mansoul his
own.  Then one said one thing, and another the contrary.  At
last Lucifer answered, that, in his opinion, it was best that
his lordship should assume the body of some of those
creatures that they of the town had dominion over; ‘for,’
quoth he, ‘these are not only familiar to them, but, being
under them, they will never imagine that an attempt should by
them be made upon the town; and, to blind all, let him assume
the body of one of those beasts that Mansoul deems to be
wiser than any of the rest.’  This advice was applauded of
all: so it was determined that the giant Diabolus should
assume the dragon, for that he was in those days as familiar
with the town of Mansoul as now is the bird with the boy; for
nothing that was in its primitive state was at all amazing to
them.  Then they proceeded to the third thing, which was:

3. Whether they had best to show their intentions, or the
design of his coming, to Mansoul, or no.  This also was
answered in the negative, because of the weight that was in
the former reasons, to wit, for that Mansoul were a strong
people, a strong people in a strong town, whose wall and
gates were impregnable, (to say nothing of their castle,) nor
can they by any 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 their king
for aid; and if that be done, I know quickly what time of day
it will be with us.  Therefore let us assault them in all
pretended fairness, covering our intentions with all manner
of lies, flatteries, delusive words; feigning things that
never will be, and promising that to them that they shall
never find.  This is the way to win Mansoul, and to make them
of themselves open their gates to us; yea, and to desire us
too to come in to them.  And the reason why I think that this
project will do is, because the people of Mansoul now are,
every one, simple and innocent, all honest and true; nor do
they as yet know what it is to be assaulted with fraud,
guile, and hypocrisy.  They are strangers to lying and
dissembling lips; wherefore we cannot, if thus we be
disguised, by them at all be discerned; our lies shall go for
true sayings, and our dissimulations for upright dealings. 
What we promise them they will in that believe us, especially
if, in all our lies and feigned words, we pretend great love
to them, and that our design is only their advantage and
honour.’  Now there was not one bit of a reply against this;
this went as current down as doth the water down a steep
descent.  Wherefore they go to consider of the last proposal,
which was:

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

They thus having ended their council of war, rose up, and
essayed to do as they had determined; they marched towards
Mansoul, but all in a manner invisible, save one, only one;
nor did he approach the town in his own likeness, but under
the shade and in the body of the dragon.

So they drew up and sat down before Ear-gate, for that was
the place of hearing for all without the town, as Eye-gate
was the place of perspection.  So, as I said, he came up with
his train to the gate, and laid his ambuscado for Captain
Resistance within bow-shot of the town.  This done, the giant
ascended up close to the gate, and called to the town of
Mansoul for audience.  Nor took he any with him but one Ill-
pause, who was his orator in all difficult matters.  Now, as
I said, he being come up to the gate, (as the manner of those
times was,) sounded his trumpet for audience; at which the
chief of the town of Mansoul, such as my Lord Innocent, my
Lord Willbewill, my Lord Mayor, Mr. Recorder, and Captain
Resistance, came down to the wall to see who was there, and
what was the matter.  And my Lord Willbewill, when he had
looked over and saw who stood at the gate, demanded what he
was, wherefore he was come, and why he roused 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 one
that is bound by the king to do you my homage and what
service I can; wherefore, that I may be faithful to myself
and to you, I have somewhat of concern to impart unto you. 
Wherefore, grant me your audience, and hear me patiently. 
And first, I will assure you, it is not myself, but you – not
mine, but your advantage that I seek by what I now do, as
will full well be made manifest, by that I have opened my
mind unto you.  For, gentlemen, I am (to tell you the truth)
come to show you how you may obtain great and ample
deliverance from a bondage that, unawares to yourselves, you
are captivated and enslaved under.’  At this the town of
Mansoul began to prick up its ears.  And ‘What is it?  Pray
what is it?’ thought they.  And he said, ‘I have somewhat to
say to you concerning your King, concerning his law, and also
touching yourselves.  Touching your King, I know he is great
and potent; but yet all that he hath said to you is neither
true nor yet for your advantage.  1. It is not true, for that
wherewith he hath hitherto awed you, shall not come to pass,
nor be fulfilled, though you do the thing that he hath
forbidden.  But if there was danger, what a slavery is it to
live always in fear of the greatest of punishments, for doing
so small and trivial a thing as eating of a little fruit is. 
2. Touching his laws, this I say further, they are both
unreasonable, intricate, and intolerable.  Unreasonable, as
was hinted before; for that the punishment is not
proportioned to the offence: there is great difference and
disproportion between the life and an apple; yet the one must
go for the other by the law of your Shaddai.  But it is also
intricate, in that he saith, first, you may eat of all; and
yet after forbids the eating of one.  And then, in the last
place, it must needs be intolerable, forasmuch as that fruit
which you are forbidden to 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 yet unknown by you.  This is
manifest by the very name of the tree; it is called the “tree
of knowledge of good and evil;” and have you that knowledge
as yet? No, no; nor can you conceive how good, how pleasant,
and how much to be desired to make one wise it is, so long as
you stand by your King’s commandment.  Why should you be
holden in ignorance and blindness?  Why should you not be
enlarged in knowledge and understanding?  And now, O ye
inhabitants of the famous town of Mansoul, to speak more
particularly to yourselves you are not a 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 it not grievous to think on, that that
very thing which you are forbidden to do might you but do it,
would yield you both wisdom and honour? for then your eyes
will be opened, and you shall be as gods.  Now, since this is
thus,’ quoth he, ‘can you be kept by any prince in more
slavery and in greater bondage than you are under this day? 
You are made underlings, and are wrapped up in
inconveniences, as I have well made appear.  For what bondage
greater than to be kept in blindness?  Will not reason tell
you that it is better to have eyes than to be without them?
and so to be at liberty to be better than to be shut up in a
dark and stinking cave?’

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

‘Gentlemen,’ quoth he, ‘it is my master’s happiness that he
has this day a quiet and teachable auditory; and it is hoped
by us that we shall prevail with you not to cast off good
advice.  My master has a very great love for you; and
although, as he very well knows, that he runs the hazard of
the anger of King Shaddai, yet love to you will make him do
more than that.  Nor doth there need that a word more should
be spoken to confirm for truth what he hath said; there is
not a word but carries with it self-evidence in its bowels;
the very name of the tree may put an end to all controversy
in this matter.  I therefore, at this time, shall only add
this advice to you, under and by the leave of my lord;’ (and
with that he made Diabolus a very low congee;) ‘consider his
words, look on the tree and the promising fruit thereof;
remember also that yet you know but little, and that this is
the way to know more: and if your reasons be not conquered to
accept of such good counsel, you are not the men that 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
to make one wise, they did as old Ill-pause advised; they
took and did eat thereof.  Now this I should have told you
before, that even then, when this Ill-pause was making his
speech to the townsmen, my Lord Innocency (whether by a shot
from the camp of the giant, or from some sinking qualm that
suddenly took him, or whether by the stinking breath of that
treacherous villain old Ill-pause, for so I am most apt to
think) sunk down in the place where he stood, nor could be
brought to life again.  Thus these two brave men died – brave
men, I call them; for they were the beauty and glory of
Mansoul, so long as they lived therein; nor did there now
remain any more a noble spirit in Mansoul; 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, as
afore was hinted, fall to prove the truth of the giant’s
words.  And, first, they did as Ill-pause had taught them;
they looked, they considered they were taken with the
forbidden fruit; they took thereof, and did eat; and having
eaten, they became immediately drunken therewith.  So they
open the gate, both Ear-gate and Eye-gate, and let in
Diabolus with all his bands, quite forgetting their good
Shaddai, his law, and the judgment that he had annexed, with
solemn threatening, to the breach thereof.

Diabolus, having now obtained entrance in at the gates of
the town, marches up to the middle thereof, to make his
conquest as sure as he could; and finding, by this time, the
affections of the people warmly inclining to him, he, as
thinking it was best striking while the iron is hot, made
this further deceivable speech unto them, saying, ‘Alas, my
poor Mansoul!  I have done thee indeed this service, as to
promote thee to honour, and to greaten thy liberty; but,
alas! alas! poor Mansoul, thou wantest now one to defend
thee; for assure thyself that when Shaddai shall hear what is
done, he will come; for sorry will he be that thou hast
broken his bonds, and cast his cords away from thee.  What
wilt thou do?  Wilt thou, after enlargement, 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, ‘Do thou
reign over us.’  So he accepted the motion, and became the
king of the town of Mansoul.  This being done, the next thing
was to give him possession of the castle, and so of the whole
strength of the town.  Wherefore, into the castle he goes; it
was that which Shaddai built in Mansoul for his own delight
and pleasure; this now was become a den and hold for the
giant Diabolus.

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

This done, but not thinking himself yet secure enough, in the
next place he bethinks himself of new modelling the town; and
so he does, setting up one, and putting down another at
pleasure.  Wherefore my Lord Mayor, whose name was my Lord
Understanding, 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, and
one too that had complied with the rest of the town of
Mansoul in admitting the giant into the town, yet Diabolus
thought not fit to let him abide in his former lustre and
glory, because he was a seeing man.  Wherefore he darkened
him, not only by taking from him his office and power, but by
building a high and strong tower, just between the sun’s
reflections and the windows of my lord’s palace; by which
means his house and all, and the whole of his habitation,
were made as dark as darkness itself.  And thus, being
alienated from the light, he became as one that was born
blind.  To this, his house, my lord was confined as to a
prison; nor might he, upon his parole, go farther than within
his own bounds.  And now, had he had a heart to do for
Mansoul, what could he do for it, or wherein could he be
profitable to her?  So then, so long as Mansoul was under the
power and government of Diabolus, (and so long it was under
him, as it was obedient to him, which was even until by a war
it was rescued out of his hand,) so long my Lord Mayor was
rather an impediment in, than an advantage to the famous town
of Mansoul.

As for Mr. Recorder, before the town was taken, he was a man
well read in the laws of his king, and also a man of courage
and faithfulness to speak truth at every occasion; and he had
a tongue as bravely hung as he had a head filled with
judgment.  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,
and devices that he could use, make him wholly his own. 
True, he was much degenerated from his former king, and also
much pleased with many of the giant’s laws and service; but
all this would not do, forasmuch as he was not wholly his. 
He would now and then think upon Shaddai, and have dread of
his law upon him, and then he would speak against Diabolus
with a voice as great as when a lion roareth.  Yea, and would
also at certain times, when his fits were upon him, (for you
must know that sometimes he had terrible fits,) make the
whole town of Mansoul shake with his voice: and therefore the
now king of Mansoul could not abide him.

Diabolus, therefore, feared the Recorder more than any that
was left alive in the town of Mansoul, because, as I said,
his words did shake the whole town; they were like the
rattling thunder, and also like thunder-claps.  Since,
therefore, the giant could not make him wholly his own, what
doth he do but studies all that he could to debauch the old
gentleman, and by debauchery to stupefy his mind, and more
harden his heart in the ways of vanity.  And as he attempted,
so he accomplished his design: he debauched the man, and by
little and little so drew him into sin and wickedness, that
at last he was not only debauched, as at first, and so by
consequence defiled, but was almost (at last, I say) past all
conscience of sin.  And this was the farthest Diabolus could
go.  Wherefore he bethinks him of another project, and that
was, to persuade the men of the town that Mr. Recorder was
mad, and so not to be regarded.  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
doating gentleman.’

Thus, by one means or another, he quickly got Mansoul to
slight, neglect, and despise whatever Mr. Recorder could say. 
For, besides what already you have heard, Diabolus had a way
to make the old gentleman, when he was merry, unsay and deny
what he in his fits had affirmed.  And, indeed, this was the
next way to make himself ridiculous, and to cause that no man
should regard him.  Also now he never spake freely for King
Shaddai, but also by force and constraint.  Besides, he would
at one time be hot against that at which, at another, he
would hold his peace; so uneven was he now in his doings. 
Sometimes he would be as if fast asleep, and again sometimes
as dead, even then when the whole town of Mansoul was in her
career after vanity, and in her dance after the giant’s pipe.

Wherefore, sometimes when Mansoul did use to be frighted with
the thundering voice of the Recorder that was, and when they
did tell Diabolus of it, he would answer, that what the old
gentleman said was neither of love to him nor pity to them,
but of a foolish fondness that he had to be prating; and so
would hush, still, and put all to quiet again.  And that he
might leave no 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 of his high and thundering words, you hear nothing of
Shaddai himself;’ when, liar and deceiver that he was, every
outcry of Mr. Recorder against the sin of Mansoul was the
voice of God in him to them.  But he goes on, and says, ‘You
see that he values not the loss nor rebellion of the town of
Mansoul, nor will he trouble himself with calling his town to
a reckoning for their giving themselves to me.  He knows that
though you were his, now you are lawfully mine; so, leaving
us one to another, he now hath shaken his hands of us.

‘Moreover, O Mansoul!’ quoth he, ‘consider how I have served
you, even to the uttermost of my power; and that with the
best that I have, could get, or procure for you in all the
world: besides, I dare say that the laws and customs that you
now are under, and by which you do homage to me, do yield you
more solace and content than did the paradise that at first
you possessed.  Your liberty also, as yourselves do very well
know, has been greatly widened and enlarged by me; whereas I
found you a penned-up people.  I have not laid any restraint
upon you; you have no law, statute, or judgment of mine to
fright you; I call none of you to account for your doings,
except the madman – you know who I mean; I have granted you
to live, each man like a prince in his own, even with as
little control from 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, and with such cursed orations as these, would set
the whole town in a rage and fury against the old gentleman. 
Yea, the rascal crew at some times would be for destroying
him.  They have often wished, in my hearing, that he had
lived a thousand miles off from them: his company, his words,
yea, the sight of him, and specially when they remembered how
in old times he did use to threaten and condemn them, (for
all he was now so debauched,) did terrify and afflict them
sore.

But all wishes were vain, for I do not know how, unless by
the power of Shaddai, and his wisdom, he was preserved in
being amongst them.  Besides, his house was as strong as a
castle, and stood hard by a stronghold of the town: moreover,
if at any time any of the crew or rabble attempted to make
him away, he could pull up the sluices, and let in such
floods as would drown all 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.  This
Willbewill was as high-born as any man in Mansoul, and was as
much, if not more, a freeholder than many of them were;
besides, if I remember my tale aright, he had some privileges
peculiar to himself in the famous town of Mansoul.  Now,
together with these, 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, or what, (but sure it was through pride
of something,) he scorns now to be a slave in Mansoul; and
therefore resolves to bear office under Diabolus, that he
might (such an one as he was) be a petty ruler and governor
in Mansoul.  And, headstrong man that he was! thus he began
betimes; for this man, when Diabolus did make his oration at
Ear-gate, was one of the first that was for consenting to his
words, and for accepting his counsel at wholesome, and that
was for the opening of the gate, and for letting him into the
town; wherefore Diabolus had a kindness for him, and
therefore he designed for him a place.  And perceiving the
valour and stoutness of the man, he coveted to have him for
one of his great ones, to act and do in matters of the
highest concern.

So he sent for him, and talked with him of that secret matter
that lay in his breast, but there needed not much persuasion
in the case.  For as at first he was willing that Diabolus
should be let into the town, so now he was as willing to
serve him there.  When the tyrant, therefore, perceived the
willingness of my lord to serve him, and that his mind stood
bending that way, he forthwith made him the captain of the
castle, governor of the wall, and keeper of the gates of
Mansoul: yea, there was a clause in his commission, that
nothing without him should be done in all the town of
Mansoul.  So that now, next to Diabolus himself, who but my
Lord Willbewill in all the town of Mansoul! nor could
anything now be done, but at his will and pleasure,
throughout the town of Mansoul.  He had also one Mr. Mind for
his clerk, a man to speak on every way like his master: for
he and his lord were in principle one, and in practice not
far asunder.  And now was Mansoul brought under to purpose,
and made to fulfil the lusts of the will, and of the mind.

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

First, he maligned Mr. Recorder to death; he would neither
endure to see him, nor hear the words of his mouth; he would
shut his eyes when he saw him, and stop his ears when he
heard him speak.  Also he could not endure that so much as a
fragment of the law of Shaddai should be anywhere seen in the
town.  For example, his clerk, Mr. Mind, had some old, rent,
and torn parchments of the law of Shaddai in his house, but
when Willbewill saw them, he cast them behind his back. 
True, Mr. Recorder had some of the laws in his study; but my
lord could by no means come at them.  He also thought and
said, that the windows of my old Lord Mayor’s house were
always too light for the profit of the town of Mansoul.  The
light of a candle he could not endure.  Now nothing at all
pleased Willbewill but what pleased Diabolus his lord.

There was none like him to trumpet about the streets the
brave nature, the wise conduct, and great glory of the king
Diabolus.  He would range and rove throughout all the streets
of Mansoul to cry up his illustrious lord, and would make
himself even as an abject, among the base and rascal crew, to
cry up his valiant prince.  And I say, when and wheresoever
he found these vassals, he would even make himself as one of
them.  In all ill courses he would act without bidding, and
do mischief without commandment.

The Lord Willbewill also had a deputy under him, and his name
was Mr. Affection, one that was also greatly debauched in his
principles, and answerable thereto in his life: he was wholly
given to the flesh, and therefore they called him Vile-
Affection.  Now there was he and one Carnal-Lust, the
daughter of Mr. Mind, (like to like,) that fell in love, and
made a match, and were married; and, as I take it, they had
several children, as Impudent, Blackmouth, and Hate-Reproof. 
These three were black boys.  And besides these they had
three daughters, as Scorn-Truth and Slight-God, and the name
of the youngest was Revenge.  These were all married in the
town, and also begot and yielded many bad brats, too many to
be here inserted.  But to pass by this.

When the giant had thus engarrisoned himself in the town of
Mansoul, and had put down and set up whom he thought good, he
betakes himself to defacing.  Now there was in the market-
place in Mansoul, and also upon the gates of the castle, an
image of the blessed King Shaddai.  This image was so exactly
engraven, (and it was engraven in gold,) that it did the most
resemble Shaddai himself of anything that then was extant in
the world.  This he basely commanded to be defaced, and it
was as basely done by the hand of Mr. No-Truth.  Now you must
know that, as Diabolus had commanded, and that by the hand of
Mr. No-Truth, the image of Shaddai was defaced, he likewise
gave order that the same Mr. No-Truth should set up in its
stead the horrid and formidable image of Diabolus, to the
great contempt of the former King, and debasing of his town
of Mansoul.

Moreover, Diabolus made havoc of all remains of the laws and
statutes of Shaddai that could be found in the town of
Mansoul; to wit, such as contained either the doctrines of
morals, with all civil and natural documents.  Also relative
severities he sought to extinguish.  To be short, there was
nothing of the remains of good in Mansoul which he and
Willbewill sought not to 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, then
further to effect his design, namely, to alienate Mansoul
from Shaddai her King, he commands, and they set up his own
vain edicts, statutes, and commandments, in all places of
resort or concourse in Mansoul, to wit, such as gave liberty
to the lusts of the flesh, the lusts of the eyes, and the
pride of life, which are not of Shaddai, but of the world. 
He encouraged, countenanced, and promoted lasciviousness, and
all ungodliness there.  Yea, much more did Diabolus to
encourage wickedness in the town of Mansoul; he promised them
peace, content, joy, and bliss, in doing his commands, and
that they should never be called to an account for their not
doing the contrary.  And let this serve to give a taste to
them that love to hear tell of what is done beyond their
knowledge afar off in other countries.

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

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

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

The Recorder was one whose name was Forget-Good, and a very
sorry fellow he was.  He could remember nothing but mischief,
and to do it with delight.  He was naturally prone to do
things that were hurtful, even hurtful to the town of
Mansoul, and to all the dwellers there.  These two,
therefore, by their power and practice, examples, and smiles
upon evil, did much more grammar and settle the common people
in hurtful ways.  For who doth not perceive that when those
that sit aloft are vile and corrupt themselves, they corrupt
the whole region and country where they are?

Besides these, Diabolus made several burgesses and aldermen
in Mansoul, such as out of whom the town, when it needed,
might choose them officers, governors, and magistrates.  And
these are 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 in all.  Mr. Incredulity is the eldest, and Mr.
Atheism the youngest of the company.

There was also an election of common councilmen and others,
as bailiffs, sergeants, constables, and others; but all of
them like to those afore-named, being either fathers,
brothers, cousins, or nephews to them, whose names, for
brevity’s sake, I omit to mention.

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

He that Diabolus made governor over the first of these was
one Spite-God, a most blasphemous wretch: he came with the
whole rabble of them that came against Mansoul at first, and
was himself one of themselves.  He that was made the governor
of Midnight Hold was one Love-no-Light; he was also of them
that came first against the town.  And he that was made the
governor of the hold called Sweet-Sin Hold was one whose name
was Love-Flesh: he was also a very lewd fellow, but not of
that country where the other are bound.  This fellow could
find more sweetness when he stood sucking of a lust than he
did in all the paradise of God.

And now Diabolus thought himself safe.  He had taken Mansoul,
he had engarrisoned himself therein; he had put down the old
officers, and had set up new ones; he had defaced the image
of Shaddai, and had set up his own; he had spoiled the old
law books, and had promoted his own vain lies; he had made
him new magistrates, and set up new aldermen; he had builded
him new holds, and had manned them for himself: and all this
he did to make himself secure, in case the good Shaddai, or
his Son, should come to make an incursion upon him.

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

At first, how Diabolus came upon Mansoul (they being a simple
people and innocent) with craft, subtlety, lies, and guile. 
ITEM, that he had treacherously slain the right noble and
valiant captain, their Captain Resistance, as he stood upon
the gate with the rest of the townsmen.  ITEM, how my brave
Lord Innocent fell down dead (with grief, some say, or with
being poisoned with the stinking breath of one Ill-Pause, as
say others) at the hearing of his just lord and rightful
prince, Shaddai, so abused by the mouth of so filthy a
Diabolian as that varlet Ill-Pause was.  The messenger
further told, that after this Ill-Pause had made a short
oration to the townsmen in behalf of Diabolus, his master;
the simple town, believing that what was said was true, with
one consent did open Ear-gate, the chief gate of the
corporation, and did let him, with his crew, into a
possession of the famous town of Mansoul.  He further showed
how Diabolus had served the Lord Mayor and Mr. Recorder, to
wit, that he had put them from all place of power and trust. 
ITEM, he showed also that my Lord Willbewill was 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 the town
over, and teach the wicked ones their ways.  He said,
moreover, that this Willbewill was put into great trust, and
particularly that Diabolus had put into Willbewill’s hand all
the strong places in Mansoul; and that Mr. Affection was made
my Lord Willbewill’s deputy in his most rebellious affairs. 
‘Yea,’ said the messenger, ‘this monster, Lord Willbewill,
has openly disavowed his King Shaddai, and hath horribly
given his faith and plighted his troth to Diabolus.’

‘Also,’ said the messenger, ‘besides all this, the new king,
or rather rebellious tyrant, over the once famous, but now
perishing town of Mansoul, has set up a Lord Mayor and a
Recorder of his own.  For Mayor, he has set up one Mr.
Lustings; and for Recorder, Mr. Forget-Good; two of the
vilest of all the town of Mansoul.’  This faithful messenger
also proceeded, and told what a sort of new burgesses
Diabolus had made; also that he had built several strong
forts, towers, and strongholds in Mansoul.  He told, too, the
which I had almost forgot, how Diabolus had put the town of
Mansoul into arms, the better to capacitate them, on his
behalf, to make resistance against Shaddai their King, should
he come to reduce them to their former obedience.

Now this tidings-teller did not deliver his relation of
things in private, but in open court, the King and his Son,
high lords, chief captains, and nobles, being all there
present to hear.  But by that they had heard the whole of the
story, it would have amazed one to have seen, had he been
there to behold it, what sorrow and grief, and compunction of
spirit, there was among all sorts, to think that famous
Mansoul was now taken: only the King and his Son foresaw all
this long before, yea, and sufficiently provided for the
relief of Mansoul, though they told not everybody thereof. 
Yet because they also would have a share in condoling of the
Misery of Mansoul, therefore they also did, and that at a
rate of the highest degree, bewail the losing of Mansoul. 
The King said plainly that it grieved him at the heart, and
you may be sure that his Son was not a whit behind him.  Thus
gave they conviction to all about them that they had love and
compassion for the famous town of Mansoul.  Well, when the
King and his Son were retired into the privy chamber, there
they again consulted about what they had designed before, to
wit, that as Mansoul should in time be suffered to be lost,
so as certainly it should be recovered again; recovered, I
say, in such a way, as that both the King and his Son would
get themselves eternal fame and glory thereby.  Wherefore,
after this consult, the Son of Shaddai (a sweet and comely
Person, and one that had always great affection for those
that were in affliction, but one that had mortal enmity in
his heart against Diabolus, because he was designed for it,
and because he sought his crown and dignity) – this Son of
Shaddai, I say, having stricken hands with his Father and
promised that he would be his servant to recover his Mansoul
again, stood by his resolution, nor would he repent of the
same.  The purport of which agreement was this: to wit, that
at a certain time, prefixed by both, the King’s Son should
take a journey into the country of Universe, and there, in a
way of justice and equity, by making amends for the follies
of Mansoul, he should lay a foundation of perfect deliverance
from Diabolus and from his tyranny.

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

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

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

These papers, therefore, were published in several places, to
the no little molestation of the tyrant Diabolus; ‘for now,’
thought he, ‘I shall be molested, and my habitation will be
taken from me.’

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

Nor could these lords, high captains, and princes be content
to keep this news at court; yea, before the records thereof
were perfected, themselves came down and told it in Universe. 
At last it came to the ears, as I said, of Diabolus, to his
no little discontent; for you must think it would perplex him
to hear of such a design against him.  Well, but after a few
casts 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 to the knowledge that
Shaddai, their former King, and Emmanuel his Son, are
contriving good for the town of Mansoul, what can be expected
by me, but that Mansoul will make a revolt from under my hand
and government, and return again to him?’

Now, to accomplish this his design, he renews his flattery
with my Lord Willbewill, and also gives him strict charge and
command, that he should keep watch by day and by night at all
the gates of the town, especially Ear-gate and Eye-gate; ‘for
I hear of a design,’ quoth he, ‘a design to make us all
traitors, and that Mansoul must be reduced to its first
bondage again.  I hope they are but flying stories,’ quoth
he; ‘however, let no such news by any means be let into
Mansoul, lest the people be dejected thereat.  I think, my
lord, it can be no welcome news to you; I am sure it is none
to me; and I think that, at this time, it should be all our
wisdom and care to nip the head of all such rumours as shall
tend to trouble our people.  Wherefore I desire, my lord,
that you will in this matter do as I say.  Let there be
strong guards daily kept at every gate of the town.  Stop
also and examine from whence such come that you perceive do
from far come hither to trade, nor let them by any means be
admitted into Mansoul, unless you shall plainly perceive that
they are favourers of our excellent government.  I command,
moreover,’ said Diabolus, ‘that there be spies continually
walking up and down the town of Mansoul, and let them have
power to suppress and destroy any that they shall perceive to
be plotting against us, or that shall prate of what by
Shaddai and Emmanuel is intended.’

This, therefore, was accordingly done; my Lord Willbewill
hearkened to his lord and master, went willingly after the
commandment, and, with all the diligence he could, kept any
that would from going out abroad, or that sought to bring
these tidings to Mansoul, from coming into the town.

Secondly, this done, in the next place, Diabolus, that he
might make Mansoul as sure as he could, frames and imposes a
new oath and horrible covenant upon the townsfolk:- To wit,
that they should never desert him nor his government, nor yet
betray him, 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 from this covenant with death, and agreement
with hell.  Nor did the silly Mansoul stick or boggle at all
at this most monstrous engagement; but, as if it had been a
sprat in the mouth of a whale, they swallowed it without any
chewing.  Were they troubled at all?  Nay, they rather
bragged and boasted of their so brave fidelity to the tyrant,
their pretended king, swearing that they would never be
changelings, nor forsake their old lord for a new.  Thus did
Diabolus tie poor Mansoul fast.

Thirdly.  But jealousy, that never thinks itself strong
enough, put him, in the next place, upon another exploit,
which was, yet more, if possible, to debauch this town of
Mansoul.  Wherefore he caused, by the hand of one Mr. Filth,
an odious, nasty, lascivious piece of beastliness to be drawn
up in writing, and to be set upon the castle gates; whereby
he granted and gave license to all his true and trusty sons
in Mansoul to do whatsoever their lustful appetites prompted
them to do; and that no man was to let, hinder, or control
them, upon pain 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 and
weaker, and so more unable, should tidings come that their
redemption was designed, to believe, hope, or consent to the
truth thereof; for reason says, The bigger the sinner, the
less grounds of hopes of mercy.

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

Fourthly.  To endeavour to possess all hearts in the town of
Mansoul that Shaddai was raising an army, to come to
overthrow and utterly to destroy this town of Mansoul.  And
this he did to forestall any tidings that might come to their
ears of their deliverance: ‘For,’ thought he, ‘if I first
bruit this, the tidings that shall come after will all be
swallowed up of this; for what else will Mansoul say, when
they shall hear that they must be delivered, but that the
true meaning is, Shaddai intends to destroy them?  Wherefore
he summons the whole town into the market-place, and there,
with deceitful tongue, thus he addressed himself unto them:-

‘Gentlemen, and my very good friends, you are all, as you
know, my legal subjects, and men of the famous town of
Mansoul.  You know how, from the first day that I have been
with you until now, I have behaved myself among you, and what
liberty and great privileges you have enjoyed under my
government, I hope to your honour and mine, and also to your
content and delight.  Now, my famous Mansoul, a noise of
trouble there is abroad, of trouble to the town of Mansoul;
sorry I am thereof for your sakes: for I received but now by
the post from my Lord Lucifer, (and he useth to have good
intelligence,) that your old King Shaddai is raising an army
to come against you, to destroy you root and branch; and
this, O Mansoul, is now the cause that at this time I have
called you together, namely, to advise what in this juncture
is best to be done.  For my part, I am but one, and can with
ease shift for myself, did I list to seek my own case, and to
leave my Mansoul in all the danger; but my heart is so firmly
united to you, and so unwilling am 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, O my Mansoul?  Will you now
desert your old friend, or do you think 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 hope for
quarter, for this King knows not how to show it.  True,
perhaps, he, at his first sitting down before us, will talk
of and pretend to mercy, that thereby, with the more ease,
and less trouble, he may again make himself the master of
Mansoul.  Whatever, therefore, he shall say, believe not one
syllable or tittle of it; for all such language is but to
overcome us, and to make us, while we wallow in our blood,
the trophies of his merciless victory.  My mind is,
therefore, that we resolve to the last man to resist him, and
not to believe him upon any terms, for in at that door will
come our danger.  But shall we be flattered out of our lives? 
I hope you know more of the rudiments of politics than to
suffer yourselves so pitifully to be served.

‘But suppose he should, if he get us to yield, save some of
our lives, or the lives of some of them that are underlings
in Mansoul, what help will that be to you that are the chief
of the town, especially you whom I have set up and whose
greatness has been procured by you through your faithful
sticking to me?  And suppose, again, that he should give
quarter to every one of you, be sure he will bring you into
that bondage under which you were captivated before, or a
worse, and then what good will your lives do you?  Shall you
with him live in pleasure as you do now?  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 die valiantly than to live like
pitiful slaves.  But, I say, the life of a slave will be
counted a life too good for Mansoul now.  Blood, blood,
nothing but blood is in every blast of Shaddai’s trumpet
against poor Mansoul now.  Pray, be concerned; I hear he is
coming.  Up, and stand to your arms that now, while you have
any leisure, I may learn you some feats of war.  Armour for
you I have, and by me it is; yea, and it is sufficient for
Mansoul from top to toe; nor can you be hurt by what his
force can do, if you shall keep it well girt and fastened
about you.  Come, therefore, to my castle, and welcome, and
harness yourselves for the war.  There is helmet,
breastplate, sword, and shield, and what not, that will make
you fight like men.

‘1. My helmet, otherwise called an head-piece, is in hope of
doing well at last, what lives soever you live.  This is that
which they had who said, that they should have peace, though
they walked in the wickedness of their heart, to add
drunkenness to thirst.  A piece of approved armour this is,
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 had it forged
in mine own country, and all my soldiers are armed therewith. 
In plain language, it is a hard heart, a heart as hard as
iron, and as much past feeling as a stone; the which if you
get and keep, neither mercy shall win you, nor judgment
fright you.  This therefore, is a piece of armour most
necessary for all to put on that hate Shaddai, and that would
fight 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, his
ways, and people.  Use this; it has been tried a thousand
times twice told.  Whoever hath it, keeps it, and makes that
use of it as I would have him, can never be conquered by mine
enemy.

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

‘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, my Mansoul, sure that you
make use of this.  What! cry for quarter!  Never do that, if
you would be mine.  I know you are stout men, and am sure
that I have clad you with that which is armour of proof. 
Wherefore, to cry to Shaddai for mercy, let that be far from
you.  Besides all this, I have a maul, firebrands, arrows,
and death, all good hand-weapons, and such as will do
execution.’

After he had thus furnished his men with armour and arms, he
addressed himself to them in such like words as these:
‘Remember,’ quoth he, ‘that I am your rightful king, and that
you have taken an oath and entered into covenant to be true
to me and my cause: I say, remember this, and show yourselves
stout and valiant men of Mansoul.  Remember also the kindness
that I have always showed to you, and that without your
petition I have granted to you external things; wherefore the
privileges, grants, immunities, profits, and honours
wherewith I have endowed you do call for, at your hands,
returns of loyalty, my lion-like men of Mansoul: and when so
fit a time to show it as when another shall seek to take my
dominion over you into his own hands?  One word more, and I
have done.  Can we but stand, and overcome this one shock or
brunt, 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 have then!’

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

Now all this time the good King, the King Shaddai, was
preparing to send an army to recover the town of Mansoul
again from under the tyranny of their pretended king
Diabolus; but he thought good, at first, not to send them by
the hand and conduct of brave Emmanuel his Son, but under the
hand of some of his servants, to see first by them the temper
of Mansoul, and whether by them they would be won to the
obedience of their King.  The army consisted of above forty
thousand, all true men, for they came from the King’s own
court, and were those of his own choosing.

They came up to Mansoul under the conduct of four stout
generals, each man being a captain of ten thousand men, and
these are their names and their ensigns.  The name of the
first was Boanerges, the name of the second was Captain
Conviction, the name of the third was Captain Judgment, and
the name of the fourth was Captain Execution.  These were the
captains that Shaddai sent to regain Mansoul.

These four captains, as was said, the King thought fit, in
the first place, to send to Mansoul, to make an attempt upon
it; for indeed generally in all his wars he did use to send
these four captains 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 dint of sword, and their men were like
themselves.

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

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

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

The third captain was Captain Judgment; to him were given ten
thousand men.  His ensign’s name was Mr. Terror; he bare the
red colours, and his scutcheon was a burning fiery furnace.

The fourth captain was Captain Execution; to him were given
ten thousand men.  His ensign was one Mr. Justice; he also
bare 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 under
his 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 under
officers, being had upon a day by Shaddai into the field, and
there called all over by their names, were then and there put
into such harness as became their degree and that service
which now they were going about for their King.

Now, when the King had mustered his forces, (for it is he
that mustereth the host to the battle,) he gave unto the
captains their several commissions, with charge and
commandment in the audience of all the soldiers, that they
should take heed faithfully and courageously to do and
execute the same.  Their commissions were, for the substance
of them, the same in form, though, as to name, title, place
and degree of the captains, there might be some, but very
small variation.  And here let me give you an account of the
matter and sum contained 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 TOWN OF MANSOUL.

‘O, thou Boanerges, one of my stout and thundering captains
over one ten thousand of my valiant and faithful servants, go
thou in my name, with this thy force, to the miserable town
of Mansoul; and when thou comest thither, offer them first
conditions of peace; and command them that, casting off the
yoke and tyranny of the wicked Diabolus, they return to me,
their rightful Prince and Lord.  Command them also that they
cleanse themselves from all that is his in the town of
Mansoul, and look to thyself, that thou hast good
satisfaction touching the truth of their obedience.  Thus
when thou hast commanded them, (if they in truth submit
thereto,) then do thou, to the uttermost of thy power, what
in thee lies to set up for me a garrison in the famous town
of Mansoul; nor do thou hurt the least native that moveth or
breatheth therein, if they will submit themselves to me, but
treat thou such as if they were thy friend or brother; for
all such I love, and they shall be dear unto 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 the
producing of thy authority, resist, stand out against thee,
and rebel, then do I command thee to make use of all thy
cunning, power, might, and force, to bring them under by
strength of hand.  Farewell.’

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

Wherefore they, having received each commander his authority
at the hand of their King, the day being appointed, and the
place of their rendezvous prefixed, each commander appeared
in such gallantry as became his cause and calling.  So, after
a new entertainment from Shaddai, with flying colours they
set forward to march towards the famous town of Mansoul. 
Captain Boanerges led the van, Captain Conviction and Captain
Judgment made up the main body, and Captain Execution brought
up the rear.  They then, having a great way to go, (for the
town of Mansoul was far off from the court of Shaddai,)
marched through the regions and countries of many people, not
hurting or abusing any, but blessing wherever they came. 
They also lived upon the King’s cost in all the way they
went.

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

Well, to be short, the captains came up before the town,
march up to Ear-gate, sit down there (for that was the place
of hearing).  So, when they had pitched their tents and
entrenched themselves, they addressed themselves to make
their assault.

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

‘Gentlemen,’ quoth he, ‘although you are my trusty and well-
beloved friends, yet I cannot but a little chide you for your
late uncircumspect action, in going out to gaze on that great
and mighty force that but yesterday sat down before, and have
now entrenched themselves in order to the maintaining of a
siege against the famous town of Mansoul.  Do you know who
they are, whence they come, and what is their purpose in
sitting down before the town of Mansoul?  They are they of
whom I have told you long ago, that they would come to
destroy this town, and against whom I have been at the cost
to arm you with CAP-A-PIE for your body, besides great
fortifications for your mind.  Wherefore, then, did you not
rather, even at the first appearance of them, cry out, “Fire
the beacons!” and give the whole town an alarm concerning
them, that we might all have been in a posture of defence,
and been ready to have received them with the highest acts of
defiance?  Then had you showed yourselves men to my liking;
whereas, by what you have done, you have made me half afraid
– I say, half afraid – that when they and we shall come to
push a pike, I shall find you want courage to stand it out
any longer.  Wherefore have I commanded a watch, and that you
should double your guards at the gates?  Wherefore have I
endeavoured to make you as hard as iron, and your hearts as a
piece of the nether millstone?  Was it, think you, that you
might show yourselves women, and that you might go out like a
company 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 men in the town of Mansoul.

‘I will leave off now to chide, and will not further rebuke
you; but I charge you, that henceforwards you let me see no
more such actions.  Let not henceforward a man of you,
without order first obtained from me, so much as show his
head over the wall of the town of Mansoul.  You have now
heard me; do as I have commanded, and you shall cause me that
I dwell securely with you, and that I take care, as for
myself, so for your safety and honour also.  Farewell.”

Now were the townsmen strangely altered; they were as men
stricken with a panic fear; they ran to and fro through the
streets of the town of Mansoul, crying out, ‘Help, help! the
men that turn the world upside down are come hither also.’ 
Nor could any of them be quiet after; but still, as men
bereft of wit, they cried out, ‘The destroyers of our peace
and people are come.’  This went down with Diabolus.  ‘Ah,’
quoth he to himself, ‘this I like well: now it is as I would
have it; now you show your obedience to your prince.  Hold
you but here, and then let them take the town if they can.’

Well, before the King’s forces had sat before Mansoul three
days, Captain Boanerges commanded his trumpeter to go down to
Ear-gate, and there, in the name of the great Shaddai, to
summon Mansoul to give audience to the message that he, in
his Master’s name, was to them commanded to deliver.  So the
trumpeter, whose name was Take-heed-what-you-hear, went up,
as he was commanded, to Ear-gate, and there sounded his
trumpet for a hearing; but there was none that appeared that
gave answer or regard, for so had Diabolus commanded.  So the
trumpeter returned to his captain, and told him what he had
done, and also how he had sped; whereat the captain was
grieved, but bid the trumpeter go to his tent.

Again Captain Boanerges sendeth his trumpeter to Ear-gate, to
sound as before for a hearing; but they again kept close,
came not out, nor would they give him an answer, so observant
were they of the command of Diabolus their king.

Then the captains and other field officers called a council
of war, to consider what further was to be done for the
gaining of the town of Mansoul; and, after some close and
thorough debate upon the contents of their commissions, they
concluded yet to give 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, by what means they could, to
compel them by force to the obedience of their King.

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

Then stood up my Lord Willbewill, who was the governor of the
town, (this Willbewill was that apostate of whom mention was
made before,) and the keeper of the gates of Mansoul.  He
therefore, with big and ruffling words, demanded of the
trumpeter who he was, whence he came, and what was the cause
of his making so hideous a noise at the gate, and speaking
such insufferable words against the town of Mansoul.

The trumpeter answered, ‘I am servant to the most noble
captain, Captain Boanerges, general of the forces of the
great King Shaddai, against whom both thyself, with the whole
town of Mansoul, have rebelled, and lift up the heel; and my
master, the captain, hath a special message to this town, and
to thee, as a member 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 words to my
lord, and will know what he will say.’

But the trumpeter soon replied, saying.  ‘Our message is not
to the giant Diabolus, but to the miserable town of Mansoul;
nor shall we at all regard what answer by him is made, nor
yet by any for him.  We are sent to this town to recover it
from under his cruel tyranny, and to persuade it to submit,
as in former times it did, to the most excellent King
Shaddai.’

Then said the Lord Willbewill, ‘I will do your errand to the
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 peaceable manner 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 I now
say, this shall be a sign unto you, – you shall see the black
flag, with its hot, burning thunder-bolts, set upon the mount
to-morrow, as a token of defiance against your prince, and of
our resolutions to reduce you to your Lord and rightful
King.’

So the said Lord Willbewill returned from off the wall, and
the trumpeter came into the camp.  When the trumpeter was
come into the camp, the captains and officers of the mighty
King Shaddai came together to know if he had obtained a
hearing, and what was the effect of his errand.  So the
trumpeter told, saying, ‘When I had sounded my trumpet, and
had called aloud to the town for a hearing, my Lord
Willbewill, the governor of the town, and he that hath charge
of the gates, came up when he heard me sound, and, looking
over the wall, he asked me what I was, whence I came, and
what was the cause of my making this noise.  So I told him my
errand, and by whose authority I brought it.  “Then,” said
he, “I will tell it to the governor and to Mansoul;” and then
I returned to my lords.’

Then said the brave Boanerges, ‘Let us yet for a while lie
still in our trenches, and see what these rebels will do.’

Now when the time drew nigh that audience by Mansoul must be
given to the brave Boanerges and his companions, it was
commanded that all the men of war throughout the whole camp
of Shaddai should as one man stand to their arms, and make
themselves ready, if the town of Mansoul shall hear, to
receive it forthwith to mercy; but if not, to force a
subjection.  So the day being come, the trumpeters sounded,
and that throughout the whole camp, that the men of war might
be in a readiness for that which then should be the work of
the day.  But when they that were in the town of Mansoul
heard the sound of the trumpets throughout the camp of
Shaddai, and thinking no other but that it must be in order
to storm the corporation, they at first were put to great
consternation of spirit; but after they a little were settled
again, they also made what preparation they could for a war,
if they did storm; else, to secure themselves.

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

So he went and sounded, and the townsmen came up, but made
Ear-gate as sure as they could.  Now when they were come up
to the top of the wall, Captain Boanerges desired to see the
Lord Mayor; but my Lord Incredulity was then Lord Mayor, for
he came in the room of my Lord Lustings.  So Incredulity came
up and showed himself over the wall; but when the Captain
Boanerges had set his eyes upon him, he cried out aloud,
‘This is not he: where is my Lord Understanding, the ancient
Lord Mayor of the town of Mansoul? for to him I would deliver
my message.’

Then said the giant (for Diabolus was also come down) to the
captain, ‘Mr.  Captain, you have by your boldness given to
Mansoul 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 what would you be at if you knew yourselves?’

Then Captain Boanerges, whose were the black colours, and
whose scutcheon was the three burning thunderbolts, taking no
notice of the giant or of his speech, thus addressed himself
to the town of Mansoul: ‘Be it known unto you, O unhappy and
rebellious Mansoul, that the most gracious King, the great
King Shaddai, my Master, hath sent me unto you with
commission’ (and so he showed to the town his broad seal) ‘to
reduce you to his obedience; and he hath commanded me, in
case you yield upon my summons, to carry it to you as if you
were my friends or brethren; but he also hath bid, that if,
after summons to submit you still stand out and rebel, we
should endeavour to take you by force.’

Then stood forth Captain Conviction, and said, (his were the
pale colours, and for a scutcheon he had the book of the law
wide open, etc.,) ‘Hear, O Mansoul!  Thou, O Mansoul, wast
once famous for innocency, but now thou art degenerated into
lies and deceit.  Thou hast heard what my brother, the
Captain Boanerges, hath said; and it is your wisdom, and will
be your happiness, to stoop to, and accept of conditions of
peace and mercy when offered, specially when offered by one
against whom thou hast rebelled, and one who is of power to
tear thee in pieces, for so is Shaddai, our King; nor, when
he is angry, can anything stand before him.  If you say you
have not sinned, or acted rebellion against our King, the
whole of your doings since the day that you cast off his
service (and there was the beginning of your sin) will
sufficiently testify against you.  What else means your
hearkening to the tyrant, and your receiving him for your
king?  What means else your rejecting of the laws of Shaddai,
and your obeying of Diabolus?  Yea, what means this your
taking up of arms against, and the shutting of your gates
upon us, the faithful servants of your King?  Be ruled then,
and accept of my brother’s invitation, and overstand not the
time of mercy, but agree with thine adversary quickly.  Ah,
Mansoul! suffer not thyself to be kept from mercy, and to be
run into a thousand miseries, by the flattering wiles of
Diabolus.  Perhaps that piece of deceit may attempt to make
you believe that we seek our own profit in this our service,
but know it is obedience to our King, and love to your
happiness, that is the cause of this undertaking of ours.

‘Again I say to thee, O Mansoul, consider if it be not
amazing grace that Shaddai should so humble himself as he
doth: now he, by us, reasons with you, in a way of entreaty
and sweet persuasions, that you would subject yourselves to
him.  Has he 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, but turn 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 he said, ‘O ye, the inhabitants of the town of
Mansoul, that have lived so long in rebellion and acts of
treason against the King Shaddai, know that we come not to-
day to this place, in this manner, with our message of our
own minds, or to revenge our own quarrel; it is the King, my
Master, that hath sent us to reduce you to your obedience to
him; the which if you refuse in a peaceable way to yield, we
have commission to compel you thereto.  And never think of
yourselves, nor yet suffer the tyrant Diabolus to persuade
you to think, that our King, by his power, is not able to
bring you down, and to lay you under his feet; for he is the
former of all things, and if he touches the mountains, they
smoke.  Nor will the gate of the King’s clemency stand always
open; for the day that shall burn like an oven is before him;
yea, it hasteth greatly, it slumbereth not.

‘O Mansoul, is it little in thine eyes that our King doth
offer thee mercy, and that after so many provocations?  Yea,
he still holdeth out his golden sceptre to thee, and will not
yet suffer his gate to be shut against thee: wilt thou
provoke him to do it?  If so, consider of what I say; to thee
it is opened no more for ever.  If thou sayest thou shalt not
see him, yet judgment is before him; therefore trust thou in
him.  Yea, because there is wrath, beware lest he take thee
away with his stroke; then a great ransom cannot deliver
thee.  Will he esteem thy riches?  No, not gold, nor all the
forces of strength.  He hath prepared his throne for
judgment, for he will come with fire, and with his chariots
like a whirlwind, to render his anger with fury, and his
rebukes with flames of fire.  Therefore, O Mansoul, take heed
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 the
town of Mansoul, it was observed by some that Diabolus
trembled; but he proceeded in his parable and said, ‘O thou
woful town of Mansoul, wilt thou not yet set open thy gate to
receive us, the deputies of thy King, and those that would
rejoice to see thee live?  Can thine heart endure, or can thy
hands be strong, in the day that he shall deal in judgment
with thee?  I say, canst thou endure to be forced to drink,
as one would drink sweet wine, the sea of wrath that our King
has prepared for Diabolus and his angels?  Consider, betimes
consider.’

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

‘Thou, O town of Mansoul, hast hitherto been this fruitless
tree; thou bearest nought but thorns and briars.  Thy evil
fruit bespeaks thee not to be a good tree; thy grapes are
grapes of gall, thy clusters are bitter.  Thou hast rebelled
against thy King; and, lo! we, the power and force of
Shaddai, are the axe that is laid to thy root.  What sayest
thou?  Wilt thou turn?  I say again, tell me, before the
first blow is given, wilt thou turn?  Our axe must first be
laid TO thy root before it be laid AT thy root; it must first
be laid TO thy root in a way of threatening, before it is
laid AT thy root by way of execution; and between these two
is required thy repentance, and this is all the time that
thou hast.  What wilt thou do?  Wilt thou turn, or shall I
smite?  If I fetch my blow, Mansoul, down you go; for I have
commission to lay my axe AT as well as TO thy roots, nor will
anything but yielding to our King prevent doing of execution. 
What art thou fit for, O Mansoul, if mercy preventeth not,
but to be hewn down, and cast into the fire and burned?

‘O Mansoul, patience and forbearance do not act for ever: a
year, or two, or three, they may; but if thou provoke by a
three years’ rebellion, (and thou hast already done more than
this,) then what follows but, ‘Cut it down’? nay, ‘After that
thou shalt cut it down.’  And dost thou think that these are
but threatenings, or that our King has not power to execute
his words?  O Mansoul, thou wilt find that in the words of
our King, when they are by sinners made little or light of,
there is not only threatening, but burning coals of fire.

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

These brave speeches of these four noble captains the town of
Mansoul refused to hear; yet a sound thereof did beat against
Ear-gate, though the force thereof could not break it open. 
In fine, the town desired a time to prepare their answer to
these demands.  The captains then told them, that if they
would throw out to them one Ill-Pause that was in the town,
that they might reward him according to his works, then they
would give them time to consider; but if they would not cast
him to them over the wall of Mansoul, then they would give
them none; ‘for,’ said they, ‘we know that, so long as Ill-
Pause draws breath in Mansoul, all good consideration will be
confounded, and nothing but mischief will come thereon.’

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

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

‘You have also, by the authority aforesaid, summoned this
town to desert her lord, and, for protection, to yield up
herself to the great Shaddai, your King; flatteringly telling
her, that if she will do it, he will pass by and not charge
her with her past offences.

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

‘Now, captains, from whencesoever you come, and though your
designs be ever so right, yet know ye that neither my Lord
Diabolus, nor I, his servant, Incredulity, nor yet our brave
Mansoul, doth regard either your persons, message, or the
King that you say hath sent you.  His power, his greatness,
his vengeance, we fear not; nor will we yield at all to your
summons.

‘As for the war that you threaten to make upon us, we must
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
take you to be some vagabond runagate crew, that having
shaken off all obedience to your King, have gotten together
in tumultuous manner, and are ranging from place to place to
see if, through the flatteries you are skilled to make on the
one side, and threats wherewith you think to fright on the
other, to make some silly town, city, or country, desert
their place, and leave it to you; but Mansoul is none of
them.

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

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

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

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

Diabolus also returned to the castle, and the Lord Mayor and
Recorder to their place; but the Lord Willbewill took special
care that the gates should be secured with double guards,
double bolts, and double locks and bars; and that Ear-gate
especially might the better be looked to, for that was the
gate in at which the King’s forces sought most to enter.  The
Lord Willbewill made one old Mr. Prejudice, an angry and ill-
conditioned fellow, captain of the ward at that gate, and put
under his power sixty men, called deaf men; men advantageous
for that service, forasmuch as they mattered no words of the
captains, nor of the soldiers.

Now when the captains saw the answer of the great ones, and
that they could not get a hearing from the old natives of the
town, and that Mansoul was resolved to give the King’s army
battle, they prepared themselves to receive them, and to try
it out by the power of the arm.  And, first, they made their
force more formidable against Ear-gate; for they knew that,
unless they could penetrate that, no good could be done upon
the town.  This done, they put the rest of their men in their
places; after which, they gave out the word, which was, ‘YE
MUST BE BORN AGAIN.’  Then they sounded the trumpet; then
they in the town made them answer, with shout against shout,
charge against charge, and so the battle began.  Now they in
the town had planted upon the tower over Ear-gate two great
guns, the one called High-mind, and the other Heady.  Unto
these two guns they trusted much; they were cast in the
castle by Diabolus’ founder, whose name was Mr. Puff-up, and
mischievous pieces they were.  But so vigilant and watchful,
when the captains saw them, were they, that though sometimes
their shot would go by their ears with a whiz, yet they did
them no harm.  By these two guns the townsfolk made no
question but greatly to annoy the camp of Shaddai, and well
enough to secure the gate; but they had not much cause to
boast of what execution they did, as by what follows will be
gathered.

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

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

The camp and the town had several skirmishes and brisk
encounters, while the captains with their engines made many
brave attempts to break open or beat down the tower that was
over Ear-gate, and at the said gate to make their entrance;
but Mansoul stood it out so lustily, through the rage of
Diabolus, the valour of the Lord Willbewill, and the conduct
of old Incredulity, the Mayor, and Mr. Forget-Good, the
Recorder, that the charge and expense of that summer’s wars,
on the King’s side, seemed to be almost quite lost, and the
advantage to return to Mansoul.  But when the captains saw
how it was they made a fair retreat, and entrenched
themselves in their winter quarters.  Now, in this war, you
must needs think there was much loss on both sides, of which
be pleased to accept of this brief account following.

The King’s captains, when they marched from the court to come
up against Mansoul to war, as they came crossing over the
country, they happened to light upon three young fellows that
had a mind to go for soldiers: proper men they were, and men
of courage 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 to
Shaddai.  The captains then told them of their design, and
bid them not to be rash in their offers; but the young men
told them they had considered the thing before, and that
hearing they were upon their march for such a design, came
hither on purpose to meet them, that they might be listed
under their excellencies.  Then Captain Boanerges, for that
they were men of courage, listed them into his company, and
so away they went to the war.

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

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

‘Anything, my darling, – The three men that are the bearers
of this letter have a desire to serve me in the war; nor know
I better to whose conduct to commit them than to thine. 
Receive them, therefore, in my name, and, as need shall
require, make use of them against Shaddai and his men. 
Farewell.’

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

They of the camp did also some execution upon the town; for
they did beat down the roof of the Lord Mayor’s house, and so
laid him more open than he was before.  They had almost, with
a sling, slain my Lord Willbewill outright; but he made a
shift to recover again.  But they made a notable slaughter
among the aldermen, for with one only shot they cut off six
of them; 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 tower
over Ear-gate, and laid them flat in the dirt.  I told you
before that the King’s noble captains had drawn off to their
winter quarters, and had there entrenched themselves and
their carriages, so as with the best advantage to their King,
and the greatest annoyance to the enemy, they might give
seasonable and warm alarms to the town of Mansoul.  And this
design of them did so hit, that I may say they did almost
what they would to the molestation of the corporation.  For
now could not Mansoul sleep securely as before, nor could
they now go to their debaucheries with that quietness as in
times past; for they had from the camp of Shaddai such
frequent, warm, and terrifying alarms, yea, alarms upon
alarms, first at one gate and then at another, and again at
all the gates at once, that they were broken as to former
peace.  Yea, they had their alarms so frequently, and that
when the nights were at longest, the weather coldest, and so
consequently the season most unseasonable, that that winter
was to the town of Mansoul a winter by itself.  Sometimes the
trumpets would sound, and sometimes the slings would whirl
the stones into the town.  Sometimes ten thousand of the
King’s soldiers would be running round the walls of Mansoul
at midnight, shouting and lifting up the voice for the
battle.  Sometimes, again, some of them in the town would be
wounded, and their cry and lamentable voice would be heard,
to the great molestation of the now languishing town of
Mansoul.  Yea, so distressed with those that laid siege
against 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 thoughts
that began to run counter one to another, began to possess
the minds of the men of the town of Mansoul.  Some would say,
‘There is no living thus.’  Others would then reply, ‘This
will be over shortly.’  Then would a third stand up and
answer, ‘Let us turn to the King Shaddai, and so put an end
to these troubles.’  And a fourth would come in with a fear,
saying, ‘I doubt he will not receive us.’  The old gentleman,
too, the Recorder, that was so before Diabolus took Mansoul,
he also began to talk aloud, and his words were now to the
town of Mansoul as if they were great claps of thunder.  No
noise now so terrible to Mansoul as was his, with the noise
of the soldiers and shoutings of the captains.

Also things began to grow scarce in Mansoul; now the things
that her soul lusted after were departing from her.  Upon all
her pleasant things there was a blast, and burning instead of
beauty.  Wrinkles now, and some shows of the shadow of death,
were upon the inhabitants of Mansoul.  And now, O how glad
would Mansoul have been to have enjoyed quietness and
satisfaction of mind, though joined with the meanest
condition in the world!

The captains also, in the deep of this winter, did send by
the mouth of Boanerges’ trumpeter a summons to Mansoul to
yield up herself to the King, the great King Shaddai.  They
sent it once, and twice, and thrice; not knowing but that at
some times there might be in Mansoul some willingness to
surrender up themselves unto them, might they but have the
colour of an invitation to do it under.  Yea, so far as I
could gather, the town had been surrendered up to them before
now, had it not been for the opposition of old Incredulity,
and the fickleness of the thoughts of my Lord Willbewill. 
Diabolus also began to rave; wherefore Mansoul, as to
yielding, was not yet all of one mind; therefore they still
lay distressed under these perplexing fears.

I told you but now that they of the King’s army had this
winter 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 of Mansoul, and were troubled to see them so much to
stand in the way of their own deliverance.  He said,
moreover, that the captains bid him tell them, that if now
poor Mansoul would humble herself and turn, her former
rebellions and most notorious treasons should by their
merciful King be forgiven them, yea, and forgotten too.  And
having bid them beware that they stood not in their own way,
that they opposed not themselves, nor made themselves their
own losers, he returned again into the camp.

The second time the trumpeter went, he did treat them a
little more roughly; for, after sound of trumpet, he told
them that their continuing in their rebellion did but chafe
and heat the spirit of the captains, and that they were
resolved to make a conquest of Mansoul, or to lay their bones
before the town walls.

He went again the third time, and dealt with them yet more
roughly; telling them that now, since they had been so
horribly profane, he did not know, not certainly know,
whether the captains were inclining to mercy or judgment. 
‘Only,’ said he, ‘they commanded me to give you a summons to
open the gates unto them.’  So he returned, and went into the
camp.

These three summonses, and especially the last two, did so
distress the town that they presently call a consultation,
the result of which was this – That my Lord Willbewill should
go up to Ear-gate, and there, with sound of trumpet, call to
the captains of the camp for a parley.  Well, the Lord
Willbewill sounded upon the wall; so the captains came up in
their harness, with their ten thousands at their feet.  The
townsmen then told the captains that they had heard and
considered their summons, and would come to an agreement with
them, and with their King Shaddai, upon such certain terms,
articles, and propositions as, with and by the order of their
prince, they to them were appointed to propound; to wit, they
would agree upon these grounds to be one people with them.

1. If that those of their own company, as the now Lord Mayor
and 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 great
giant Diabolus be by Shaddai cast out of house, harbour, or
the freedom that he hath hitherto enjoyed in the famous town
of Mansoul.

3. That it shall be granted them, that they of the town of
Mansoul shall enjoy certain of their rights and privileges;
to wit, such as have formerly been granted them, and that
they have long lived in the enjoyment of, under the reign of
their king Diabolus, that now is, and long has been, their
only lord and great defender.

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

‘These be our propositions, or conditions of peace; and upon
these terms,’ said they, ‘we will submit to your King.’

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

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

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

‘But, O Mansoul, if you will give yourselves into our hands,
or rather into the hands of our King, and will trust him to
make such terms with and for you as shall seem good in his
eyes, (and I dare say they shall be such as you shall find to
be most profitable to you,) then we will receive you, and be
at peace with you; but if you like not to trust yourselves in
the arms of Shaddai our King, then things are but where they
were before, 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 ye see
we are now, will be so foolish as to put the staff out of
their own hands into the hands of they know not who?  I, for
my part, will never yield to so unlimited a proposition.  Do
we know the manner and temper of their King?  It is said by
some that he will be angry with his subjects if but the
breadth of 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 good heed what thou dost in this matter; for if you once
yield, you give up yourselves to another, and so you are no
more your own.  Wherefore, to give up yourselves to an
unlimited power, is the greatest folly in the world; for now
you indeed may repent, but can never justly complain.  But do
you indeed know, when you are his, which of you he will kill,
and which of you he will save alive; or whether he will not
cut off every one of us, and send out of his own country
another new people, and cause them to inhabit this town?’

This speech of the Lord Mayor undid all, and threw flat to
the ground their hopes of an accord.  Wherefore the captains
returned to their trenches, to their tents, and to their men,
as they were; and the Mayor to the castle and to his King.

Now Diabolus had waited for his return, for he had heard that
they had been at their points.  So, when he was come into the
chamber of state, Diabolus saluted him with – ‘Welcome, my
lord.  How went matters betwixt you to-day?’  So the Lord
Incredulity, with a low congee, told him the whole of the
matter, saying, ‘Thus and thus said the captains of Shaddai,
and thus and thus said I.’  The which when it was told to
Diabolus, he was very glad to hear it, and said, ‘My Lord
Mayor, my faithful Incredulity, I have proved thy fidelity
above ten times already, but never yet found thee false.  I
do promise thee, if we rub over this brunt, to prefer thee to
a place of honour, a place far better than to be Lord Mayor
of Mansoul.  I will make thee my universal deputy, and thou
shalt, next to me, have all nations under thy hand; yea, and
thou shalt lay bands upon them, that they may not resist
thee; nor shall any of our vassals walk more at liberty, but
those that shall be content to walk in thy fetters.’

Now came the Lord Mayor out from Diabolus, as if he had
obtained a favour indeed.  Wherefore to his habitation he
goes in great state, and thinks to feed himself well enough
with hopes, until the time came that his greatness should be
enlarged.

But now, though the Lord Mayor and Diabolus did thus well
agree, yet this repulse to the brave captains put Mansoul
into a mutiny.  For while old Incredulity went into the
castle to congratulate his lord with what had passed, the old
Lord Mayor, that was so before Diabolus came to the town, to
wit, my Lord Understanding, and the old Recorder, Mr.
Conscience, getting intelligence of what had passed at Ear-
gate, (for you must know that they might not be suffered to
be at that debate, lest they should then have mutinied for
the captains; but, I say, they got intelligence of what had
passed there, and were much concerned therewith,) wherefore
they, getting some of the town together, began to possess
them with the reasonableness of the noble captains’ demands,
and with the bad consequences that would follow upon the
speech of old Incredulity, the Lord Mayor; to wit how little
reverence he showed therein either to the captains or to
their King; also how he implicitly charged them with
unfaithfulness and treachery.  ‘For what less,’ quoth they,
‘could be made of his words, when he said he would not yield
to their proposition; and added, moreover, a supposition that
he would destroy us, when before he had sent us word that he
would show us mercy!’  The multitude, being now possessed
with the conviction of the evil that old Incredulity had
done, began to run together by companies in all places, and
in every corner of the streets of Mansoul; and first they
began to mutter, then to talk openly, and after that they run
to and fro, and cried as they run, ‘Oh the brave captains of
Shaddai! would we were under the government of the captains,
and of Shaddai their King!’  When the Lord Mayor had
intelligence that Mansoul was in an uproar, down he comes to
appease the people, and thought to have quashed their heat
with the bigness and the show of his countenance; but when
they saw him, they came running upon him, and had doubtless
done him a mischief, had he not betaken himself to house. 
However, they strongly assaulted the house where he was, to
have pulled it down about his ears; but the place was too
strong, so they failed of that.  So he, taking some courage,
addressed himself, out at a window, to the people in this
manner:

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

Then answered my Lord Understanding, ‘It is even because that
thou and thy master have carried it not rightly, and as you
should, to the captains of Shaddai; for in three things you
are faulty.  First, in that you would not let Mr. Conscience
and myself be at the hearing of your discourse.  Secondly, in
that you propounded such terms of peace to the captains that
by no means could be granted, unless they had intended that
their Shaddai should have been only a titular prince, and
that Mansoul should still have had power by law to have lived
in all lewdness and vanity before him, and so by consequence
Diabolus should still here be king in power, and the other
only king in name.  Thirdly, for that thou didst thyself,
after the captains had showed us upon what conditions they
would have received 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 meaning you
please; but I am sure that the captains of such an high lord
as theirs is, deserved a better treatment at your hands.

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

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

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

UND. – Sir, your prince and you are both foreigners to
Mansoul, and not the natives thereof; and who can tell but
that, when you have brought us into greater straits, (when
you also shall see that yourselves can be safe by no other
means than by flight,) you may leave us and shift for
yourselves, or set us on fire, and go away in the smoke, or
by the light of our burning, and so leave us in our ruins?

INCRED. – Sir, you forget that you are under a governor, and
that you ought to demean yourself like a subject; and know
ye, when my lord the king shall hear of this day’s work, 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 Lord
Willbewill, Mr. Prejudice, old Ill-Pause, and several of the
new-made aldermen and burgesses, and they asked the reason of
the hubbub and tumult; and with that every man began to tell
his own tale, so that nothing could be heard distinctly. 
Then was a silence commanded, and the old fox Incredulity
began to speak.  ‘My lord,’ quoth he, ‘here are a couple of
peevish gentlemen, that have, as a fruit of their bad
dispositions, and, as I fear, through the advice of one Mr.
Discontent, tumultuously gathered this company against me
this day, and also attempted to run the town into acts of
rebellion against our prince.’

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

Now when they that took part with my Lord Understanding and
with Mr. Conscience perceived that they were like to come to
the worst, for that force and power was on the other side,
they came in for their help and relief; so a great company
was on both sides.  Then they on Incredulity’s side would
have had the two old gentlemen presently away to prison; but
they on the other side said they should not.  Then they began
to cry up parties again: the Diabolonians cried up old
Incredulity, Forget-Good, the new aldermen, and their great
one Diabolus; and the other party, they as fast cried up
Shaddai, the captains, his laws, their mercifulness, and
applauded their conditions and ways.  Thus the bickerment
went awhile; at last they passed from words to blows, and now
there were knocks on both sides.  The good old gentleman, Mr.
Conscience, was knocked down twice by one of the
Diabolonians, whose name was Mr. Benumbing; and my Lord
Understanding had like to have been slain with an arquebuse,
but that he that shot did not take his aim aright.  Nor did
the other side wholly escape; for there was one Mr. Rashhead,
a Diabolonian, that had his brains beaten out by Mr. Mind,
the Lord Willbewill’s servant; and it made me laugh to see
how old Mr. Prejudice was kicked and tumbled about in the
dirt; for though, a while since, he was made captain of a
company of the Diabolonians, to the hurt and damage of the
town, yet now they had got him under their feet, and, I’ll
assure you, he had, by some of the Lord Understanding’s
party, his crown cracked to boot.  Mr. Anything also, he
became a brisk man in the broil; but both sides were against
him, because he was true to none.  Yet he had, for his
malapertness, one of his legs broken, and he that did it
wished it had been his neck.  Much more harm was done on both
sides, but this must not be forgotten; it was now a wonder to
see my Lord Willbewill so indifferent as he was: he did not
seem to take one side more than another, only it was
perceived that he smiled to see how old Prejudice was tumbled
up and down in the dirt.  Also, when Captain Anything came
halting up before him, he seemed to take but little notice of
him.

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

But let us return again to our story.  The captains, when
they were gone back from the gate, and were come into the
camp again, called a council of war, to consult what was
further for them to do.  Now, some said, ‘Let us go up
presently, and fall upon the town;’ but the greatest part
thought rather better it would be to give them another
summons to yield; and the reason why they thought this to be
best was, because that, so far as could be perceived, the
town of Mansoul now was more inclinable than heretofore. 
‘And if,’ said they, ‘while some of them are in a way of
inclination, we should by ruggedness give them distaste, we
may set them further from closing with our summons than we
would be willing they should.’  Wherefore to this advice they
agreed, and called a trumpeter, put words into his mouth, set
him his time, and bid him God speed.  Well, many hours were
not expired before the trumpeter addressed himself to his
journey.  Wherefore, coming up to the wall of the town, he
steereth his course 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 long wilt
thou love thy sinful, sinful simplicity, and, ye fools,
delight in your scorning?  As yet despise you the offers of
peace and deliverance?  As yet will ye refuse the golden
offers of Shaddai, and trust to the lies and falsehoods of
Diabolus?  Think you, when Shaddai shall have conquered you,
that the remembrance of these your carriages towards him will
yield you peace and comfort, or that by ruffling language you
can make him afraid as a grasshopper?  Doth he entreat you
for fear of you?  Do you think that you are stronger than he? 
Look to the heavens, and behold and consider the stars, how
high are they?  Can you stop the sun from running his course,
and hinder the moon from giving her light?  Can you count the
number of the stars, or stay the bottles of heaven?  Can you
call for the waters of the sea, and cause them to cover the
face of the ground?  Can you behold every one that is proud,
and abase him, and bind their faces in secret?  Yet these are
some of the works of our King, in whose name this day we come
up unto you, that you may be brought under his authority.  In
his name, therefore, I summon you again to yield up
yourselves to his captains.’

At this summons the Mansoulians seemed to be at a stand, and
knew not what answer to make.  Wherefore Diabolus forthwith
appeared, 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 faithful subjects, if it is
true that this summoner hath said concerning the greatness of
their King, by his terror you will always be kept in bondage,
and so be made to sneak.  Yea, how can you now, though he is
at a distance, endure to think of such a mighty one?  And if
not to think of him while at a distance, how can you endure
to be in his presence?  I, your prince, am familiar with you,
and you may play with me as you would with a grasshopper. 
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, how comes
it to pass that the subjects of Shaddai are so enslaved in
all places where they come?  None in the universe so unhappy
as they, none so trampled upon as they.

‘Consider, my Mansoul: would thou wert as loath to leave me
as I am loath to leave thee.  But consider, I say, the ball
is yet at thy foot; liberty you have, if you know how to use
it; yea, a king you have too, if you can tell how to love and
obey him.’

Upon this speech, the town of Mansoul did again harden their
hearts yet more against the captains of Shaddai.  The
thoughts of his greatness did quite quash them, and the
thoughts of his holiness sunk them in despair.  Wherefore,
after a short consult, they (of the Diabolonian party they
were) sent back this word by the trumpeter, That, for their
parts, they were resolved to stick to their king, but never
to yield to Shaddai; so it was but in vain to give them any
further summons, for they had rather die upon the place than
yield.  And now things seemed to be gone quite back, and
Mansoul to be out of reach or call, yet the captains who knew
what their Lord could do, would not yet be beat out of heart;
they therefore sent them another summons, more sharp and
severe than the last; but the oftener they were sent to, to
reconcile to Shaddai, the further off they were.  ‘As they
called them, so they went from them – yea, though they called
them to the Most High.’

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

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

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

To this speech of the noble Captain Conviction they as one
man consented, and agreed that a petition should forthwith be
drawn up, and sent by a fit man away to Shaddai with speed. 
The contents of the petition were thus:-

‘Most gracious and glorious King, the Lord of the best world,
and the builder of the town of Mansoul, we have, dread
Sovereign, at thy commandment, put our lives in jeopardy, and
at thy 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, great King, set light by our counsel, and would none of
our reproof.  They were for shutting their gates, and for
keeping us out of the town.  They also mounted their guns,
they sallied out upon us, and have done us what damage they
could; but we pursued them with alarm upon alarm, requiting
them with such retribution as was meet, and have done some
execution upon the town.

‘Diabolus, Incredulity, and Willbewill are the great doers
against us: now we are in our winter quarters, but so as that
we do yet with an high hand molest and distress the town.

‘Once, as we think, had we had but one substantial friend in
the town, such as would but have seconded the sound of our
summons as they ought, the people might have yielded
themselves; but there were none but enemies there, nor any to
speak in behalf of our Lord to the town.  Wherefore, though
we have done as we could, yet Mansoul abides in a state of
rebellion against thee.

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

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

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

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

Now the King, at the sight of the petition, was glad; but how
much more, think you, when it was seconded by his Son!  It
pleased him also to hear that his servants who camped against
Mansoul were so hearty in the work, and so steadfast in their
resolves, and that they had already got some ground upon the
famous 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 of Mansoul, and
what we have purposed, and what thou hast done to redeem it. 
Come now, therefore, my Son, and prepare thyself for the war,
for thou shalt go to my camp at Mansoul.  Thou shalt also
there prosper and prevail, and conquer the town of Mansoul.’

Then said the King’s Son, ‘Thy law is within my heart: I
delight to do thy will.  This is the day that I have longed
for, and the work that I have waited for all this while. 
Grant me, therefore, what force thou shalt in thy wisdom
think meet; and I will go and will deliver from Diabolus, and
from his power, thy perishing town of Mansoul.  My heart has
been often pained within me for the miserable town of
Mansoul; 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 for
Mansoul: the day of vengeance is in mine heart for thee, my
Mansoul: and glad am I that thou, my Father, hast made me the
Captain of their salvation.  And I will now begin to plague
all those that have been a plague to my town of Mansoul, and
will deliver it from their hand.’

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

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

For you must know, that though the town of Mansoul itself was
not much, if at all concerned with the project, (for, alas
for them! they were wofully besotted, for they chiefly
regarded their pleasure and their lusts,) yet Diabolus their
governor was; for he had his spies continually abroad, who
brought him intelligence of all things, and they told him
what was doing at court against him, and that Emmanuel would
shortly certainly come with a power to invade him.  Nor was
there any man at court, nor peer of the kingdom, that
Diabolus so feared as he feared this Prince; for, if you
remember, I showed you before that Diabolus had felt the
weight of his hand already; so that, since it was he that was
to come, this made him the more afraid.

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

1. The first was that famous captain, the noble Captain
Credence.  His were the red colours, and Mr. Promise bare
them; 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 Captain Good-Hope. 
His were the blue colours; his standard-bearer was Mr.
Expectation, and for his scutcheon he had the three golden
anchors; and he had ten thousand men at his feet.

3. The third was that valiant captain, the Captain Charity. 
His standard-bearer was Mr. Pitiful: his were the green
colours, and for his scutcheon he had three naked orphans
embraced in the bosom; and he had ten thousand men at his
feet.

4. The fourth was that gallant commander, the Captain
Innocent.  His standard-bearer was Mr. Harmless: his were the
white colours, and for his scutcheon he had the three golden
doves.

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

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

But when they set out for their march, oh, how the trumpets
sounded, their armour glittered, and how the colours waved in
the wind!  The Prince’s armour was all of gold, and it shone
like the sun in the firmament; the captains’ armour was of
proof, and was in appearance like the glittering stars. 
There were also some from the court that rode reformades for
the love that they had to the King Shaddai, and for the happy
deliverance of the town of Mansoul.

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

So they marched till they came within less than a league of
the town; there they lay till the first four captains came
thither to acquaint them with matters.  Then they took their
journey 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 had new forces to join with, they again gave such a
shout before the walls of the town of Mansoul, that it put
Diabolus into another fright.  So they sat down before the
town, not now as the other four captains did, to wit, against
the gates of Mansoul only; but they environed it round on
every side, and beset it behind and before; so that now, let
Mansoul look which way it will, it saw force and power lie in
siege against it.  Besides, there were mounts cast up against
it.  The Mount Gracious was on the one side, and Mount
Justice was on the other.  Further, there were several small
banks and advance-grounds, as Plain-Truth Hill and No-Sin
Banks, where many of the slings were placed against the town. 
Upon Mount Gracious were planted four, and upon Mount Justice
were placed as many, and the rest were conveniently placed in
several parts round about the town.  Five of the best
battering-rams, that is, of the biggest of them, were placed
upon Mount Hearken, a mount cast up hard by Ear-gate, with
intent to break that open.

Now when the men of the town saw the multitude of the
soldiers that were come up against the place, and the rams
and slings, and the mounts on which they were planted,
together with the glittering of the armour and the waving of
their colours, they were forced to shift, and shift, and
again to shift their thoughts; but they hardly changed for
thoughts more stout, but rather for thoughts more faint; for
though before they thought themselves sufficiently guarded,
yet now they began to think that no man knew what would be
their hap or lot.

When the good Prince Emmanuel had thus beleaguered Mansoul,
in the first place he hangs out the white flag, which he
caused to be set up among the golden slings that were planted
upon Mount Gracious.  And this he did for two reasons: 1. To
give notice to Mansoul that he could and would yet be
gracious if they turned to him.  2. And that he might leave
them the more without excuse, should he destroy them, they
continuing in their rebellion.

So the white flag, with the three golden doves in it, was
hung out for two days together, to give them time and space
to consider; but they, as was hinted before, as if they were
unconcerned, made no reply to the favourable signal of the
Prince.

Then he commanded, and they set the red flag upon that mount
called Mount Justice.  It was the red flag of Captain
Judgment, whose scutcheon was the burning fiery furnace; and
this also stood waving before them in the wind for several
days together.  But look how they carried it under the white
flag, when that was hung out, so did they also when the red
one was; and yet he took no advantage of them.

Then he commanded again that his servants should hang out the
black flag of defiance against them, whose scutcheon was the
three burning thunderbolts; but as unconcerned was Mansoul at
this as at those that went before.  But when the Prince saw
that neither mercy nor judgment, nor execution of judgment,
would or could come near the heart of Mansoul, he was touched
with much compunction, and said, ‘Surely this strange
carriage of the town of Mansoul doth rather arise from
ignorance of the manner and feats of war, than from a secret
defiance of us, and abhorrence of their own lives; or if they
know the manner of the war of their own, yet not the rites
and ceremonies of the wars in which we are concerned, when I
make wars upon mine enemy Diabolus.’

Therefore he sent to the town of Mansoul, to let them know
what he meant by those signs and ceremonies of the flag; and
also to know of them which of the things they would choose,
whether grace and mercy, or judgment and the execution of
judgment.  All this while they kept their gates shut with
locks, bolts, and bars, as fast as they could.  Their guards
also were doubled, and their watch made as strong as they
could.  Diabolus also did pluck up what heart he could, to
encourage the town 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, you have
signified to us, whether we will accept of your mercy, or
fall by your justice, we are bound by the law and custom of
this place, and can give you no positive answer; for it is
against the law, government, and the prerogative royal of our
king, to make either peace or war without him.  But this we
will do, – we will petition that our prince will come down to
the wall, and there give you such treatment as he shall think
fit and profitable for us.’

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

But to return again to our purpose.  After the town had
carried this news to Diabolus, and had told him, moreover,
that the Prince, that lay in the leaguer without the wall,
waited upon them 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, and give
him such an answer as I think fit.’  So he went down to
Mouth-gate, and there addressed himself to speak to Emmanuel,
(but in such language as the town understood not,) the
contents whereof were as follows:-

‘O thou great Emmanuel, Lord of all the world, I know thee,
that thou art the Son of the great Shaddai!  Wherefore art
thou come to torment me, and to cast me out of my possession? 
This town of Mansoul, as thou very well knowest, is mine, and
that by a twofold right. 1. It is mine by right of conquest;
I won it in the open field; and shall the prey be taken from
the mighty, or the lawful captive be delivered?  2. This town
of Mansoul is mine also by their subjection.  They have
opened the gates of their town unto me; they have sworn
fidelity to me, and have openly chosen me to be 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 is
thine, behind their back, and have accepted and set up in
their room 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 and thine.  Now, thou art the Just One and the
Holy, and shouldest do no iniquity.  Depart, then, I pray
thee, therefore, from me, and leave me to my just inheritance
peaceably.’

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

Wherefore the town of Mansoul (poor hearts!) understood him
not; nor did they see how he crouched and cringed while he
stood before Emmanuel, their Prince.

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

Well, when this pretended king had made an end of what he
would say, Emmanuel, the golden Prince, stood up and spake;
the contents of whose words follow:-

‘Thou deceiving one,’ said he, ‘I have, in my Father’s name,
in mine own name, and on the behalf and for the good of this
wretched town of Mansoul, somewhat to say unto thee.  Thou
pretendest a right, a lawful right, to the deplorable town of
Mansoul, when it is most apparent to all my Father’s court
that the entrance which thou hast obtained in at the gates of
Mansoul was through thy lie and falsehood; thou beliedst my
Father, thou beliedst his law, and so deceivedst the people
of Mansoul.  Thou pretendest that the people have accepted
thee for their king, their captain, and right liege lord; but
that also was by the exercise of deceit and guile.  Now, if
lying, wiliness, sinful craft, and all manner of horrible
hypocrisy, will go in my Father’s court (in which court thou
must be tried) for equity and right, then will I confess unto
thee that thou hast made a lawful conquest.  But, alas! what
thief, what tyrant, what devil is there that may not conquer
after this sort?  But I can make it appear, O Diabolus, that
thou, in all thy pretences to a conquest of Mansoul, hast
nothing of truth to say.  Thinkest thou this to be right,
that that didst put the lie upon my Father, and madest him
(to Mansoul) the greatest deluder in the world?  And what
sayest thou to thy perverting knowingly the right purport and
intent of the law?  Was it good also that thou madest a prey
of the innocency and simplicity of the now miserable town of
Mansoul?  Yea, thou didst overcome Mansoul by promising to
them happiness in their transgressions against my Father’s
law, when thou knewest, and couldest not but know, hadst thou
consulted nothing but thine own experience, that that was the
way to undo them.  Thou hast also thyself, O thou master of
enmity, of spite defaced my Father’s image in Mansoul, and
set up thy own in its place, to the great contempt of my
Father, the heightening of thy sin, and to the intolerable
damage of the perishing town of Mansoul.

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

‘As for myself, O Diabolus, I am come against thee by lawful
power, and to take, by strength of hand, this town of Mansoul
out of thy burning fingers; for this town of Mansoul is mine,
O Diabolus, and that by undoubted right, as all shall see
that will diligently search the most ancient and most
authentic records, and I will plead my title to it, to the
confusion of thy face.

‘First, for the town of Mansoul, my Father built and did
fashion it with his hand.  The palace also that is in the
midst of that town, he built it for his own delight.  This
town of Mansoul, therefore, is my Father’s, and that by the
best of titles, and he that gainsays the truth of this must
lie against his soul.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

‘And now,’ said the golden-headed Prince, ‘I have a word to
the town of Mansoul.’  But so soon as mention was made that
he had a word to speak to the besotted town of Mansoul, the
gates were double-guarded, and all men commanded not to give
him audience.  So he proceeded and said, ‘O unhappy town of
Mansoul, I cannot but be touched with pity and compassion for
thee.  Thou hast accepted of Diabolus for thy king, and art
become a nurse and minister of Diabolonians against thy
sovereign Lord.  Thy gates thou hast opened to him, but hast
shut them fast against me; thou hast given him an hearing,
but hast stopped thine ears at my cry.  He brought to thee
thy destruction, and thou didst receive both him and it: I am
come to thee bringing salvation, but thou regardest me not. 
Besides, thou hast, as with sacrilegious hands, taken
thyself, with all that was mine in thee, and hast given all
to my foe, and to the greatest enemy my Father has.  You have
bowed and subjected yourselves to him, you have vowed and
sworn yourselves to be his.  Poor Mansoul! what shall I do
unto thee?  Shall I save thee? – shall I destroy thee?  What
shall I do unto thee?  Shall I fall upon thee, and grind thee
to powder, or make thee a monument of the richest grace? 
What shall I do unto 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 thy gates.

‘O Mansoul, neither is my commission nor inclination at all
to do thee hurt.  Why fliest thou so fast from thy friend,
and stickest so close to thine enemy?  Indeed, I would 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
thy obedience.

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

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

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

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

So when Emmanuel saw that Mansoul was thus involved in sin,
he calls his army together, (since now also his words were
despised,) and gave out a commandment throughout all his host
to be ready against the time appointed.  Now, forasmuch as
there was no way lawfully to take the town of Mansoul but to
get in by the gates, and at Ear-gate as the chief, therefore
he commanded his captains and commanders to bring their rams,
their slings and their men, and place them at Eye-gate and
Ear-gate, in order to his taking the town.

When Emmanuel had put all things in a readiness to give
Diabolus battle, he sent again to know of the town of
Mansoul, if in peaceable manner they would yield themselves,
or whether they were yet resolved to put him to try the
utmost extremity?  They then, together with Diabolus their
king, called a council of war, and resolved upon certain
propositions that should be offered 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 a great doer for
Diabolus; him, therefore, they sent, and put into his mouth
what he should say.  So he went and came to the camp to
Emmanuel, and when he was come, a time was appointed to give
him audience.  So at the time he came, and after a
Diabolonian ceremony or two, he thus began and said, ‘Great
sir, that it may be known unto all men how good-natured a
prince my master is, he has sent me to tell your lordship
that he is very willing, rather than go to war, to deliver up
into your hands one half of the town of Mansoul.  I am
therefore to know if your Mightiness will accept of this
proposition.’

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

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

Then Emmanuel answered, ‘The whole is mine really, not in
name and word only; wherefore I will be the sole lord and
possessor of all, or of none at all, of Mansoul.’

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

Then said the golden Prince, ‘All that the Father giveth me
shall come to me; and of all that he giveth me I will lose
nothing – no, not a hoof nor a hair.  I will not, therefore,
grant him, no, not the least corner of Mansoul to dwell in; I
will have all to myself.’

Then Loth-to-stoop said again, ‘But, sir, suppose that my
Lord should resign the whole town to you, only with this
proviso, that he sometimes, when he comes into this country,
may, for old acquaintance’ sake, be entertained as a
wayfaring man for two days, or ten days or a month, or so. 
May not this small matter be granted?’

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

Then said Mr. Loth-to-stoop, ‘Sir, you seem to be very hard. 
Suppose my master should yield to all that your lordship hath
said, provided that his friends and kindred in Mansoul may
have liberty to trade in the town, and to enjoy their present
dwellings.  May not that be granted, sir?’

Then said Emmanuel, ‘No; that is contrary to my Father’s
will; for all, and all manner of Diabolonians that now are,
or that at any time shall be found in Mansoul, shall not only
lose their lands and liberties, but also their lives.’

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

Emmanuel answered, ‘No, by no means; forasmuch as any such
fellowship, friendship, intimacy, or acquaintance, in what
way, sort, or mode soever maintained, will tend to the
corrupting of Mansoul, the alienating of their affections
from me, and the endangering of their peace with my Father.’

Mr. Loth-to-stoop yet added further, saying, ‘But, great sir,
since my master hath many friends, and those that are dear to
him, in Mansoul, may he not, if he shall depart from them,
even of his bounty and good-nature, bestow upon them, as he
sees fit, some tokens of his love and kindness that he had
for them, to the end that Mansoul, when he is gone, may look
upon such tokens of kindness once received from their old
friend, and remember him who was once their king, and the
merry times that they sometimes enjoyed one with another,
while he and they lived in 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 least
scrap, shred, or dust of Diabolus left behind, as tokens of
gifts bestowed upon any in Mansoul, thereby to call to
remembrance the horrible communion that was betwixt them and
him.’

‘Well, sir,’ said Mr. Loth-to-stoop, ‘I have one thing more
to propound, and then I am got to the end of my commission. 
Suppose that, when my master is gone from Mansoul, any that
shall yet live in the town should have such business of high
concerns to do, that if they be neglected the party shall be
undone; and suppose, sir, that nobody can help in that case
so well as my master and lord, may not now my master be sent
for upon so urgent an occasion as this?  Or if he may not be
admitted into the town, may not he and the person concerned
meet in some of the villages near Mansoul, and there lay
their heads together, and there consult of matters?’

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

When Mr. Loth-to-stoop had heard this answer, he took his
leave of Emmanuel, and departed, saying that he would carry
word to his master concerning this whole affair.  So he
departed, and came to Diabolus to Mansoul, and told him the
whole of the matter, and how Emmanuel would not admit, no,
not by any means, that he, when he was once gone out, should
for ever have anything more to do either in, or with any that
are of the town of Mansoul.  When Mansoul and Diabolus had
heard this relation of things, they with one consent
concluded to use their best endeavour to keep Emmanuel out of
Mansoul, and sent old Ill-Pause, of whom you have heard
before, to tell the Prince and his captains so.  So the old
gentleman came up to the top of Ear-gate, and called to the
camp for a hearing, who when they gave audience, he said, ‘I
have in commandment from my high lord to bid you tell it to
your Prince Emmanuel, that Mansoul and their king are
resolved to stand and fall together; and that it is in vain
for your Prince to think of ever having Mansoul in his hand,
unless he can take it by force.’  So some went and told to
Emmanuel what old Ill-Pause, a Diabolonian in Mansoul, had
said.  Then said the Prince, ‘I must try the power of my
sword, for I will not (for all the rebellions and repulses
that Mansoul has made against me) raise my siege and depart,
but will assuredly take my Mansoul, and deliver it from the
hand of her enemy.’  And with that he gave out a commandment
that Captain Boanerges, Captain Conviction, Captain Judgment,
and Captain Execution should forthwith march up to Ear-gate
with trumpets sounding, colours flying, and with shouting for
the battle.  Also he would that Captain Credence should join
himself with them.  Emmanuel, moreover, gave order that
Captain Good-Hope and Captain Charity should draw themselves
up before Eye-gate.  He bid also that the rest of his
captains and their men should place themselves for the best
of their advantage against the enemy round about the town;
and all was done as he had commanded.

Then he bid that the word should be given forth, and the word
was at that time, ‘EMMANUEL.’  Then was an alarm sounded, and
the battering-rams were played, and the slings did whirl
stones into the town amain, and thus the battle began.  Now
Diabolus himself did manage the townsmen in the war, and that
at every gate; wherefore their resistance was the more
forcible, hellish, and offensive to Emmanuel.  Thus was the
good Prince engaged and entertained by Diabolus and Mansoul
for several days together; and a sight worth seeing it was to
behold how the captains of Shaddai behaved themselves in this
war.

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

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

Nor did Captain Good-Hope nor Captain Charity come behind in
this most desperate fight, for they so well did behave
themselves at Eye-gate, that they had almost broken it quite
open.  These also had a reward from their Prince, as also had
the rest of the captains, because they did valiantly round
about the town.

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

Besides these there was one Captain Bragman, a very desperate
fellow, and he was captain over a band of those that threw
firebrands, arrows, and death: he also received, by the hand
of Captain 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.  He
received a wound in the eye by the hand of one of Boanerges’
soldiers, and had by the captain himself been slain, but that
he made a sudden retreat.

But I never saw Willbewill so daunted in all my life; he was
not able to do as he was wont, and some say that he also
received a wound in the leg, and that some of the men in the
Prince’s army have certainly seen him limp as he afterwards
walked on the wall.

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

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

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

Now, when the battle was over, the Prince commanded that yet
once more the white flag should be set upon Mount Gracious in
sight of the town of Mansoul, to show that yet Emmanuel had
grace for the wretched town of Mansoul.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Then said Emmanuel to him, ‘O full of deceit, how movable are
thy ways!  How often hast thou changed and rechanged, if so
be thou mightest still keep possession of my Mansoul, though,
as has been plainly declared before, I am the right heir
thereof!  Often hast thou made thy proposals already, nor is
this last a whit better than they.  And failing to deceive
when thou showedst thyself in thy black, thou hast 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 be regarded
that thou canst propound, for nothing is done by thee but to
deceive.  Thou neither hast conscience to God, nor love to
the town of Mansoul; whence, then, should these thy sayings
arise but from sinful craft and deceit?  He that can of list
and will propound what he pleases, and that wherewith he may
destroy them that believe him, is to be abandoned, with all
that he shall say.  But if righteousness be such a beauty-
spot in thine eyes now, how is it that wickedness was so
closely stuck to by thee before?  But this is by-the-bye.

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

‘Besides, I am not come to put Mansoul upon works to live
thereby; should I do so, I should be like unto thee: but I am
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 they
have provoked him to anger, and though by the law they cannot
obtain mercy.

‘Thou talkest of subjecting of this town to good, when none
desireth it at thy hands.  I am sent by my Father to possess
it myself, and to guide it by the skilfulness of my hands
into such a conformity to him as shall be pleasing in his
sight.  I will therefore possess it myself; I will dispossess
and cast thee out; I will set up mine own standard in the
midst of them; I will also govern them by new laws, new
officers, new motives, and new ways; yea, I will pull down
this town, and build it again; and it shall be as though it
had not been, and it shall then be the glory of the whole
universe.’

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

Diabolus, therefore, having withdrawn himself from the wall
to his force that was in the heart of the town of Mansoul,
Emmanuel also returned to the camp; and both of them, after
their divers ways, put themselves into a posture fit to give
battle one to another.

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

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

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

But after three or four notable charges by the Prince and his
noble captains, Ear-gate was broken open, and the bars and
bolts wherewith it was used to be fast shut up against the
Prince, were broken into a thousand pieces.  Then did the
Prince’s trumpets sound, the captains shout, the town shake,
and Diabolus retreat to his hold.  Well, when the Prince’s
forces had broken open the gate, himself came up and did set
his throne in it; also he set his standard thereby, upon a
mount that before by his men was cast up to place the mighty
slings thereon.  The mount was called Mount Hear-well. 
There, therefore, the Prince abode, to wit, hard by the going
in at the gate.  He commanded also that the golden slings
should yet be played upon the town, especially against the
castle, because for shelter thither was Diabolus retreated. 
Now, from Ear-gate the street was straight even to the house
of Mr. Recorder that so was before Diabolus took the town;
and hard by his house stood the castle, which Diabolus for a
long time had made his irksome den.  The captains, therefore,
did quickly clear that street by the use of their slings, so
that way was made up to the heart of the town.  Then did the
Prince command that Captain Boanerges, Captain Conviction,
and Captain Judgment, should forthwith march up the town to
the old gentleman’s gate.  Then did the captains in the most
warlike manner enter into the town of Mansoul, and marching
in with flying colours, they came up to the Recorder’s house,
and that was almost as strong as was the castle.  Battering-
rams they took 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 knowing as yet fully their design, kept his gates shut
all the time of this fight.  Wherefore Boanerges demanded
entrance at his gates; and no man making answer, he gave it
one stroke with the head of a ram, and this made the old
gentleman shake, and his house to tremble and totter.  Then
came Mr. Recorder down to the gates, and, as he could, with
quivering lips he asked who was there?  Boanerges answered,
‘We are the captains and commanders of the great Shaddai and
of the blessed Emmanuel, his Son, and we demand possession of
your house for the use of our noble Prince.’  And with that
the battering-ram gave the gate another shake.  This made the
old gentleman tremble the more, yet durst he not but open the
gate: then the King’s forces marched in, namely, the three
brave captains mentioned before.  Now, the Recorder’s house
was a place of much convenience for Emmanuel, not only
because it was near to the castle and strong, but also
because it was large, and fronted the castle, the den where
now Diabolus was, for he was now afraid to come out of his
hold.  As for Mr. Recorder, the captains carried it very
reservedly to him; as yet he knew nothing of the great
designs of Emmanuel, so that he did not know what judgment to
make, nor what would be the end of such thundering
beginnings.  It was also presently noised in the town how the
Recorder’s house was possessed, his rooms taken up, and his
palace made the seat of the war; and no sooner was it noised
abroad, but they took the alarm as warmly, and gave it out to
others of his friends, and you know, as a snowball loses
nothing by rolling, so in little time the whole town was
possessed that they must expect nothing from the Prince but
destruction; and the ground of the business was this, the
Recorder was afraid, the Recorder trembled, and the captains
carried it strangely to the Recorder.  So many came to see,
but when they with their own eyes did behold the captains in
the palace, and their battering-rams ever playing at the
castle gates to beat them down, they were riveted in their
fears, and it made them all in amaze.  And, as I said, the
man of the house would increase all this; for whoever came to
him, or discoursed with him, nothing would he talk of, tell
them, or hear, but that death and destruction now attended
Mansoul.

‘For,’ quoth the old gentleman, ‘you are all of you sensible
that we all have been traitors to that once despised, but now
famously victorious and glorious Prince Emmanuel; for he now,
as you see, doth not only lie in close siege about us, but
hath forced his entrance in at our gates.  Moreover, Diabolus
flees before him; and he hath, as you behold, made of my
house a garrison against the castle where he is.  I, for my
part, have transgressed greatly, and he that is clean, it is
well for him.  But I say I have transgressed greatly in
keeping silence when I should have spoken, and in perverting
justice when I should have executed the same.  True, I have
suffered something at the hand of Diabolus for taking part
with the laws of King Shaddai; but that, alas! what will that
do? Will that make compensation for the rebellions and
treasons that I have done, and have suffered without
gainsaying to be committed in the town of Mansoul? Oh! I
tremble to think what will be the end of this so dreadful and
so ireful a beginning!’

Now, while these brave captains were thus busy in the house
of the old Recorder, Captain Execution was as busy in other
parts of the town, in securing the back streets and the
walls.  He also hunted the Lord Willbewill sorely; he
suffered him not to rest in any corner; he pursued him so
hard that he drove his men from him, and made him glad to
thrust his head into a hole.  Also this mighty warrior did
cut three of the Lord Willbewill’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, and fell by the hand of Captain
Execution.  There was also one Mr. Backward-to-all-but-
naught, and he also was one of Lord Willbewill’s officers,
and was the captain of the two guns that once were mounted on
the top of Ear-gate; he also was cut down to the ground by
the hands of Captain Execution.  Besides these two there was
another, a third, and his name was Captain Treacherous; a
vile man this was, but one that Willbewill did put a great
deal of confidence in; but him also did this Captain
Execution cut down to the ground with the rest.

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

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

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

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

Now, the old Recorder and my Lord Understanding, with some
others of the chief of the town, to wit, such as knew they
must stand and fall with the famous town of Mansoul, came
together upon a day, and after consultation had, did jointly
agree to draw up a petition, and to send it to Emmanuel, now
while he sat in the gate of Mansoul.  So they drew up their
petition to Emmanuel, the contents whereof were these: That
they, the old inhabitants of the now deplorable town of
Mansoul, confessed their sin, and were sorry that they had
offended his princely Majesty, and prayed that he would spare
their lives.

Unto this petition he gave no answer at all, and that did
trouble them yet so much the more.  Now, all this while the
captains that were in the Recorder’s house were playing with
the battering-rams at the gates of the castle, to beat them
down.  So after some time, labour, and travail, the gate of
the castle that was called Impregnable was beaten open, and
broken into several splinters, and so a way made to go up to
the hold in which Diabolus had hid himself.  Then were
tidings sent down to Ear-gate, for Emmanuel still abode
there, to let him know that a way was made in at the gates of
the castle of Mansoul.  But, oh! how the trumpets at the
tidings sounded throughout the Prince’s camp, for that now
the war was so near an end, and Mansoul itself of being set
free.

Then the Prince arose from the place where he was, and took
with him such of his men of war as were fittest for that
expedition, and marched up the street of Mansoul to the old
Recorder’s house.

Now, the Prince himself was clad all in armour of gold, and
so he marched up the town with his standard borne before him;
but he kept his countenance much reserved all the way as he
went, so that the people could not tell how to gather to
themselves love or hatred by his looks.  Now, as he marched
up the street, the townsfolk came out at every door to see,
and could not but be taken with his person and the glory
thereof, but wondered at the reservedness of his countenance;
for as yet he spake more to them by his actions and works
than he did by words or smiles.  But also poor Mansoul, (as
in such cases all are apt to do,) they interpreted the
carriage of Emmanuel to them as did Joseph’s brethren his to
them, even all the quite contrary way.  ‘For,’ thought they,
‘if Emmanuel loved us, he would show it to us by word of
carriage; but none of these he doth, therefore Emmanuel hates
us.  Now, if Emmanuel hates us, then Mansoul shall be slain,
then Mansoul shall become a dunghill.’  They knew that they
had transgressed his Father’s law, and that against him they
had been in with Diabolus, his enemy.  They also knew that
the Prince Emmanuel knew all this; for they were convinced
that he was an angel of God, to know all things that are done
in the earth; and this made them think that their condition
was miserable, and that the good Prince would make them
desolate.

‘And,’ thought they, ‘what time so fit to do this in as now,
when he has the bridle of Mansoul in his hand?’  And this I
took special notice of, that the inhabitants, notwithstanding
all this, could not – no, they could 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 their Prince and Captain, and
would become their protection.  They would also one to
another talk of the comeliness of his person, and how much
for glory and valour he outstripped the great ones of the
world.  But, poor hearts, as to themselves, their thoughts
would chance, and go upon all manner of extremes.  Yea,
through the working of them backward and forward, Mansoul
became as a ball tossed, and as a rolling thing before the
whirlwind.

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

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

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

Thus having made Diabolus naked in the eyes of Mansoul, and
before the commanders of the Prince, in the next place, he
commands that Diabolus should be bound with chains to his
chariot wheels.  Then leaving some of his forces, to wit,
Captain Boanerges and Captain Conviction, as a guard for the
castle-gates, that resistance might be made on his behalf,
(if any that heretofore followed Diabolus should make an
attempt to possess it,) he did ride in triumph over him quite
through the town of Mansoul, and so out at and before the
gate called Eye-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 the
tyrant bound by the hand of their noble Prince, and tied to
his chariot wheels!

And they said, ‘He hath led captivity captive, he hath
spoiled principalities and powers.  Diabolus is subjected to
the power of his sword, and made the object of all derision.’

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

The townsmen also, so many of them as saw this sight, were,
as it were, while they looked, betwixt the earth and the
heavens.  True, they could not tell what would be the issue
of things as to them; but all things were done in such
excellent methods, and I cannot tell how, but things in the
management of them seemed to cast a smile towards the town,
so that their eyes, their heads, their hearts, and their
minds, and all that they had, were taken and held while they
observed Emmanuel’s order.

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

Now, Captain Boanerges and Captain Conviction were, both of
them, men of very great majesty; their faces were like the
faces of lions, and their words like the roaring of the sea;
and they still quartered in Mr. Conscience’s house, of whom
mention was made before.  When, therefore, the high and
mighty Prince had thus far finished his triumph over
Diabolus, the townsmen had more leisure to view and to behold
the actions of these noble captains.  But the captains
carried it with that terror and dread in all that they did,
(and you may be sure that they had private instructions so to
do,) that they kept the town under continual heart-aching,
and caused (in their apprehension) the well-being of Mansoul
for the future to hang in doubt before them, so that for some
considerable time they neither knew what rest, or ease, or
peace, or hope meant.

Nor did the Prince himself as yet abide in the town of
Mansoul, but in his royal pavilion in the camp, and in the
midst of his Father’s forces.  So, at a time convenient, he
sent special orders to Captain Boanerges to summons Mansoul,
the whole 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
put them all three in ward, and that they should set a strong
guard upon them there, until his pleasure concerning them was
further known: the which orders, when the captains had put
them in execution, made no small addition to the fears of the
town of Mansoul; for now, to their thinking, were their
former fears of the ruin of Mansoul confirmed.  Now, what
death they should die, and how long they should be in dying,
was that which most perplexed their heads and hearts; yea,
they were afraid that Emmanuel would command them all into
the deep, the place that the prince Diabolus was afraid of,
for they knew that they had deserved it.  Also to die by the
sword in the face of the town, and in the open way of
disgrace, from the hand of so good and so holy a prince,
that, too, troubled them sore.  The town was also greatly
troubled for the men that were committed to ward, for that
they were their stay and their guide, and for that they
believed that, if those men were cut off, their execution
would be but the beginning of the ruin of the town of
Mansoul.  Wherefore, what do they, but, together with the men
in prison, draw up a petition to the Prince, and sent it to
Emmanuel by the hand of Mr. Would-live.  So he went, and came
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 miserable
inhabitants of that most woful corporation, do humbly beg
that we may find favour in thy sight, and remember not
against us former transgressions, nor yet the sins of the
chief of our town: but spare us according to the greatness of
thy mercy, and let us not die, but live in thy sight.  So
shall we be willing to be thy servants, and, if thou shalt
think fit, to gather our meat under thy table.  Amen.’

So the petitioner went, as was said, with his petition to the
Prince; and the Prince took it at his hand, but sent him away
with silence.  This still afflicted the town of Mansoul; but
yet, considering that now they must either petition or die,
for now they could not do anything else, therefore they
consulted again, and sent another petition; and this petition
was much after the form and method of the former.

But when the petition was drawn up, By whom should they send
it? was the next question; for they would not send this by
him by whom they sent the first, for they thought that the
Prince had taken some offence at the manner of his deportment
before him: so they attempted to make Captain Conviction
their messenger with it; but he said that he neither durst
nor would petition Emmanuel for traitors, nor be to the
Prince an advocate for rebels.  ‘Yet withal,’ said he, ‘our
Prince is good, and you may adventure to send it by the hand
of one of your town, provided he went with a rope about his
head, and pleaded nothing but mercy.’

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

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

Now, you may think that they of Mansoul that had sent him,
what with guilt, and what with fear lest their petition
should be rejected, could not but look with many a long look,
and that, too, with strange workings of heart, to see what
would become of their petition.  At last they saw their
messenger coming back.  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 the prison 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 a
multitude flocked after, to hear what the messenger said. 
So, when he was come, and had shown himself at the gate of
the prison, my Lord Mayor himself looked as white as a clout;
the Recorder also did quake.  But they asked and said, ‘Come,
good sir, what did the great Prince say to you?’  Then said
Mr. Desires-awake, ‘When I came to my Lord’s pavilion, I
called, and he came forth.  So I fell prostrate at his feet,
and delivered to him my petition; for the greatness of his
person, and the glory of his countenance, would not suffer me
to stand upon my legs.  Now, as he received the petition, I
cried, “Oh that Mansoul might live before thee!”  So, when
for a while he had looked thereon, he turned him about, and
said to his servant, “Go thy way to thy place again, and I
will consider of thy requests.”‘  The messenger added,
moreover, and said, ‘The Prince to whom you sent me is such a
one for beauty and glory, that whoso sees him must both love
and fear him.  I, for my part, can do no less; but I know not
what will 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 upon what the Prince had said.  Now, when the prison was
cleared of the throng, the prisoners among themselves began
to comment upon Emmanuel’s words.  My Lord Mayor said, that
the answer did not look with a rugged face; but Willbewill
said that it betokened evil; and the Recorder, that it was a
messenger of death.  Now, they that were left, and that stood
behind, and so could not so well hear what the prisoners
said, some of them catched hold of one piece of a sentence,
and some on a bit of another; some took hold of what the
messenger said, and some of the prisoners’ judgment thereon;
so none had the right understanding of things.  But you
cannot imagine what work these people made, and what a
confusion there was in Mansoul now.

For presently they that had heard what was said flew about
the town, one crying one thing, and another the quite
contrary; and both were sure enough they told true; for they
did hear, they said, with their ears what was said, and
therefore could not be deceived.  One would say, ‘We must all
be killed;’ another would say, ‘We must all be saved;’ and a
third would say that the Prince would not be concerned with
Mansoul; and a fourth, that the prisoners must be suddenly
put to death.  And, as I said, every one stood to it that he
told his tale the rightest, and that all others but he were
out.  Wherefore Mansoul had now molestation upon molestation,
nor could any man know on what to rest the sole of his foot;
for one would go by now, and as he went, if he heard his
neighbour tell his tale, to be sure he would tell the quite
contrary, and both would stand in it that he told the truth. 
Nay, some of them had got this story by the end, that the
Prince did intend to put Mansoul to the sword.  And now it
began to be dark, wherefore poor Mansoul was in sad
perplexity all that night until the morning.

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

And now did they begin to feel what were the effects of
stubborn rebellion, and unlawful resistance against their
Prince.  I say, they now began to feel the effects thereof by
guilt and fear, that now had swallowed them up; and who more
involved 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 to themselves some heart, and think to petition the
Prince for life again.  So they did draw up a third petition,
the contents whereof were these:-

‘Prince Emmanuel the Great, Lord of all worlds, and Master of
mercy, we, thy poor, wretched, miserable, dying town of
Mansoul, do confess unto thy great and glorious Majesty that
we have sinned against thy Father and thee, and are no more
worthy to be called thy Mansoul, but rather to be cast into
the pit.  If thou wilt slay us, we have deserved it.  If thou
wilt condemn us to the deep, we cannot but say thou art
righteous.  We cannot complain whatever thou dost, or however
thou carriest it towards us.  But, oh! let mercy reign, and
let it be extended to us!  Oh! let mercy take hold upon us,
and free us from our transgressions, and we will sing of thy
mercy and of thy judgment.  Amen.’

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

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

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

Now Mr. Desires-awake, when he saw that he must go on this
errand, besought that they would grant that Mr. Wet-Eyes
might go with 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 could speak well to a petition; so they
granted that he should go with him.  Wherefore, they address
themselves to their business: Mr. Desires put a rope upon his
head, and Mr. Wet-Eyes went with his hands wringing together. 
Thus they went to the Prince’s pavilion.

Now, when they went to petition this third time, they were
not without thoughts that, by often coming, they might be a
burden to the Prince.  Wherefore, when they were come to the
door of his pavilion, they first made their apology for
themselves, and for their coming to trouble Emmanuel so
often; and they said, that they came not hither to-day for
that they delighted in being troublesome, 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 of their transgressions
against Shaddai and against Emmanuel, his Son.  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 this apology, Mr.
Desires-awake cast himself prostrate upon the ground, 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, having read the petition, turned
aside awhile as before, and coming again to the place where
the petitioner lay on the ground, he demanded what his name
was, and of what esteem in the account of Mansoul, for that
he, above all the multitude in Mansoul, should be sent to him
upon such an errand.  Then said the man to the Prince, ‘Oh
let not my Lord be angry; and why inquirest thou after the
name of such a dead do – as I am?  Pass by, I pray thee, and
take not notice of who I am, because there is, as thou very
well knowest, so great a disproportion between me and thee. 
Why the townsmen chose to send me on this errand to my Lord
is best known to themselves, but it could not be for that
they thought that I had favour with my Lord.  For my part, I
am out of charity with myself; who, then, should be in love
with me?  Yet live I would, and so would I that my townsmen
should; and because both they and myself are guilty of great
transgressions, therefore they have sent me, and I am come in
their names to beg of my Lord for mercy.  Let it please thee,
therefore, to incline to mercy; but ask not what thy servants
are.’

Then said the Prince, ‘And what is he that is become thy
companion in this so weighty a matter?’  So Mr. Desires told
Emmanuel that he was a poor neighbour of his, and one of his
most intimate associates.  ‘And his name,’ said he, ‘may it
please your most excellent Majesty, is Wet-Eyes, of the town
of Mansoul, I know that there are many of that name that are
naught; but I hope it will be no offence to my Lord that I
have brought my poor neighbour with me.’

Then Mr. Wet-Eyes fell on his face to the ground, and made
this apology for his coming with his neighbour to his Lord:-

‘O, my Lord,’ quoth he, ‘what I am I know not myself, nor
whether my name be feigned or true, especially when I begin
to think what some have said, namely, That this name was
given me because Mr. Repentance was my father.  Good men have
bad children, and the sincere do oftentimes beget hypocrites. 
My mother also called me by this name from the cradle; but
whether because of the moistness of my brain, or because of
the softness of my heart, I cannot tell.  I see dirt in mine
own tears, and filthiness in the bottom of my prayers.  But I
pray thee (and all this while the gentleman wept) that thou
wouldest not remember against us our transgressions, nor take
offence at the unqualifiedness of thy servants, but
mercifully pass by the sin of Mansoul, and refrain from the
glorifying of thy grace no longer.’

So at his bidding they arose, and both stood trembling before
him, and he spake to them to this purpose:-

“The town of Mansoul hath grievously rebelled against my
Father, in that they have rejected him from being their King,
and did choose to themselves for their captain a liar, a
murderer, and a runagate slave.  For this Diabolus, your
pretended prince, though once so highly accounted of by you,
made rebellion against my Father and me, even in our palace
and highest court there, thinking to become a prince and
king.  But being there timely discovered and apprehended, and
for his wickedness bound in chains, and separated to the pit
with those that were his companions, he offered himself to
you, and you have received him.

‘Now this is, and for a long time hath been, a high affront
to my Father; wherefore my Father sent to you a powerful army
to reduce you to your obedience.  But you know how these men,
their captains and their counsels, were esteemed of you, and
what they received at your hand.  You rebelled against them,
you shut your gates upon them, you bid them battle, you
fought them, and fought for Diabolus against them.  So they
sent to my Father for more power, and I, with my men, are
come to subdue you.  But as you treated the servants, so you
treated their Lord.  You stood up in hostile manner against
me, you shut up your gates against me, you turned the deaf
ear to me, and resisted as long as you could; but now I have
made a conquest of you.  Did you cry me mercy so long as you
had hopes that you might prevail against me?  But now I have
taken the town, you cry; but why did you not cry before, when
the white flag of my mercy, the red flag of justice, and the
black flag that threatened execution, were set up to cite you
to it?  Now I have conquered your Diabolus, you come to me
for favour; but why did you not help me against the mighty? 
Yet I will consider your petition, and will answer it so as
will be for my glory.

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

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

But they came at length to the gates of the town, (now the
townsmen with earnestness were waiting for their return,)
where many met them, to know what answer was made to the
petition.  Then they cried out to those that were sent, ‘What
news from the Prince? and what hath Emmanuel said?’  But they
said that they must, as afore, go up to the prison, and there
deliver their message.  So away they went to the prison, with
a multitude at their heels.  Now, when they were come to the
gates of the prison, they told the first part of Emmanuel’s
speech to the prisoners, to wit, how he reflected upon their
disloyalty to his Father and himself, and how they had chosen
and closed with Diabolus, had fought for him, hearkened to
him, and been ruled by him; but had despised him and his men. 
This made the prisoners look pale; but the messengers
proceeded and said, ‘He, the Prince, said, moreover, that yet
he would consider your petition, and give such answer thereto
as would stand with his glory.’  And as these words were
spoken, Mr. Wet-Eyes gave a great sigh.  At this they were
all of them struck into their dumps, and could not tell what
to say: fear also possessed them in a marvellous manner, and
death seemed to sit upon some of their eyebrows.  Now, there
was in the company a notable, sharp-witted fellow, a mean man
of estate, and his name was old Inquisitive.  This man asked
the petitioners if they had told out every whit of what
Emmanuel said, and they answered, ‘Verily, no.’  Then said
Inquisitive, ‘I thought so, indeed.  Pray, what was it more
that he said unto you?’  Then they paused awhile; but at last
they brought out all, saying, ‘The Prince bade us bid Captain
Boanerges and Captain Conviction bring the prisoners down to
him to-morrow; and that Captain Judgment and Captain
Execution should take charge of the castle and town till they
should hear further from him.  They said also that when the
Prince had commanded them thus to do, he immediately turned
his back upon them, and went into his royal pavilion.

But, oh! how this return, and specially this last clause of
it, that the prisoners must go out to the Prince into the
camp, brake all their loins in pieces!  Wherefore, with one
voice they set up a cry that reached up to the heavens.  This
done, each of the three prepared himself to die; (and the
Recorder said unto them, ‘This was the thing that I feared;’)
for they concluded that to-morrow, by that the sun went down,
they should be tumbled out of the world.  The whole town also
counted of no other, but that, in their time and order, they
must all drink of the same cup.  Wherefore the town of
Mansoul spent that night in mourning, and sackcloth and
ashes.  The prisoners also, when the time was come for them
to go down before the Prince, dressed themselves in mourning
attire, with ropes upon their heads.  The whole town of
Mansoul also showed themselves upon the wall, all clad in
mourning weeds, if, perhaps, the Prince with the sight
thereof might be moved with compassion.  But, oh! how the
busy-bodies that were in the town of Mansoul did now concern
themselves!  They did run here and there through the streets
of the town by companies, crying out as they ran in
tumultuous wise, one after one manner, and another the quite
contrary, to the almost utter distraction of Mansoul.

Well, the time is come that the prisoners must go down to the
camp, and appear before the Prince.  And thus was the manner
of their going down: Captain Boanerges went with a guard
before them, and Captain Conviction came behind, and the
prisoners went down, bound in chains, in the midst.  So I
say, the prisoners went in the midst, and the guard went with
flying colours behind and before, but the prisoners went with
drooping spirits.

Or, more particularly, thus: The prisoners went down all in
mourning: they put ropes upon themselves; they went on,
smiting themselves on the breasts, but durst not lift up
their eyes to heaven.  Thus they went out at the gate of
Mansoul, till they came into the midst of the Prince’s army,
the sight and glory of which did greatly heighten their
affliction.  Nor could they now longer forbear, but cry out
aloud, ‘O unhappy men!  O wretched men of Mansoul!’  Their
chains, still mixing their dolorous notes with the cries of
the prisoners, made the noise more lamentable.

So, when they were come to the door of the Prince’s pavilion,
they cast themselves prostrate upon the place; then one went
in and told his Lord that the prisoners were come down.  The
Prince then ascended a throne of state, and sent for the
prisoners in; who, when they came, did tremble before him,
also they covered their faces with shame.  Now, as they drew
near to the place where he sat, they threw themselves down
before him.  Then said the Prince to the Captain Boanerges,
‘Bid the prisoners stand upon their feet.’  Then they stood
trembling before him, and he said, ‘Are you the men that
heretofore were the servants of Shaddai?’  And they said,
‘Yes, Lord, yes.’  Then said the Prince again, ‘Are you the
men that did suffer yourselves to be corrupted and defiled by
that abominable one, Diabolus?’  And they said, ‘We did more
than suffer it, Lord; for we chose it of our own mind.’  The
Prince asked further, saying, ‘Could you have been content
that your slavery should have continued under his tyranny as
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 better state.’ – ‘And did you,’ said he,
‘when I came up against this town of Mansoul, heartily wish
that I might not have the victory over you?’ – ‘Yes, Lord,
yes,’ said they.  Then said the Prince, ‘And what punishment
is it, think you, that you deserve at my hand, for these and
other your high and mighty sins?’ – And they said, ‘Both
death and the deep, Lord; for we have deserved no less.’  He
asked again if they had aught to say for themselves why the
sentence, that they confessed that they had deserved, should
not be passed upon them?  And they said, ‘We can say nothing,
Lord: thou art just, for we have sinned.’  Then said the
Prince, ‘And for what are those ropes on your heads?’  The
prisoners answered, ‘These ropes are to bind us withal to the
place of execution, if mercy be not pleasing in thy sight.’ 
So he further asked if all the men in the town of Mansoul
were in this confession, as they?  And they answered, ‘All
the natives, Lord; but for the Diabolonians that came into
our town when the tyrant got possession of us, we can say
nothing for them.’

Then the Prince commanded that a herald should be called, and
that he should, in the midst and throughout the camp of
Emmanuel, proclaim, and that with sound of trumpet, that the
Prince, the Son of Shaddai, had, in his Father’s name, and
for his Father’s glory, gotten a perfect conquest and victory
over Mansoul; and that the prisoners should follow him, and
say Amen.  So, this was done as he had commanded.  And
presently the music that was in the upper region sounded
melodiously, the captains that were in the camp shouted, and
the soldiers did sing songs of triumph to the Prince; the
colours waved in the wind, and great joy was everywhere, only
it was wanting as yet in the hearts of the men of Mansoul.

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

Moreover, the Prince stripped the prisoners of their mourning
weeds, and gave them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for
mourning, and the garment of praise for the spirit of
heaviness.

Then he gave to each of the three jewels of gold and precious
stones, and took away their ropes, and put chains of gold
about their necks, and ear-rings in their ears.  Now, the
prisoners, when they did hear the gracious words of Prince
Emmanuel, and had beheld all that was done unto them, fainted
almost quite away; for the grace, the benefit, the pardon,
was sudden, glorious, and so big, that they were not able,
without staggering, to stand up under it.  Yea, my Lord
Willbewill swooned outright; but the Prince stepped to him,
put his everlasting arms under him, embraced him, kissed him,
and bid him be of good cheer, for all should be performed
according to his word.  He also did kiss, and embrace, and
smile upon the other two that were Willbewill’s companions,
saying, ‘Take these as further tokens of my love, favour, and
compassions to you; and I charge you that you, Mr. Recorder,
tell in 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 under
them.  Then they fell down at the feet of the Prince, and
kissed his feet, and wetted them with tears: also they cried
out with a mighty strong voice, saying, ‘Blessed be the glory
of the Lord from this place.’  So they were bid rise up, and
go to the town, and tell to Mansoul what the Prince had done. 
He commanded also that one with a pipe and tabor should go
and play before them all the way into the town of Mansoul. 
Then was fulfilled what they never looked for, and they were
made to possess that which they never dreamed of.

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

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

Well, I told you before how the prisoners were entertained by
the noble Prince Emmanuel, and how they behaved themselves
before him, and how he sent them away to their home with pipe
and tabor going before them.  And now you must think that
those of the town that had all this while waited to hear of
their death, could not but be exercised with sadness of mind,
and with thoughts that pricked like thorns.  Nor could their
thoughts be kept to any one point; the wind blew with them
all this while at great uncertainties; yea, their hearts were
like a balance that had been disquieted with a shaking hand. 
But at last, as they with many a long look looked over the
wall of Mansoul, they thought that they saw some returning to
the town; and thought again, Who should they be, too?  Who
should they be?  At last they discerned that they were the
prisoners: but can you imagine how their hearts were
surprised with wonder, specially when they perceived also in
what equipage and with what honour they were sent home.  They
went down to the camp in black, but they came back to the
town in white; they went down to the camp in ropes, they came
back in chains of gold; they went down to the camp with their
feet in fetters, but came back with their steps enlarged
under them; they went also to the camp looking for death, but
they came back from thence with assurance of life; they went
down to the camp with heavy hearts, but came back again with
pipe and tabor playing before them.  So as soon as they were
come to Eye-gate, the poor and tottering town of Mansoul
adventured to give a shout; and they gave such a shout as
made the captains in the Prince’s army leap at the sound
thereof.  Alas! for them, poor hearts! who could blame them?
since their dead friends were come to life again; for it was
to them as life from the dead to see the ancients of the town
of Mansoul shine in such splendour.  They looked for nothing
but the axe and the block; but, behold, joy and gladness,
comfort and consolation, and such melodious notes attending
them that was sufficient to make a sick man well.

So, when they came up, they saluted each other with,
‘Welcome, welcome! and blessed be he that has spared you!’ 
They added also, ‘We see it is well with you; but how must it
go with the town of Mansoul?  And will it go well with the
town of Mansoul?’ said they.  Then answered them the Recorder
and my Lord Mayor, ‘Oh! tidings! glad tidings! good tidings
of good, and of great joy to poor Mansoul!’  Then they gave
another shout, that made the earth to ring again.  After
this, they inquired yet more particularly how things went in
the camp, and what message they had from Emmanuel to the
town.  So they told them all passages that had happened to
them at the camp, and everything that the Prince did to them. 
This made Mansoul wonder at the wisdom and grace of the
Prince Emmanuel.  Then they told them what they had received
at his hands for the whole town of Mansoul, and the Recorder
delivered it in these words: ‘ PARDON, PARDON, PARDON for
Mansoul! and this shall Mansoul know to-morrow!’  Then he
commanded, and they went and summoned Mansoul to meet
together in the market-place to-morrow, then to hear their
general pardon read.

But who can think what a turn, what a change, what an
alteration this hint of things did make in the countenance of
the town of Mansoul!  No man of Mansoul could sleep that
night for joy; in every house there was joy and music,
singing and making merry: telling and hearing of Mansoul’s
happiness was then all that Mansoul had to do; and this was
the burden of all their song: ‘Oh! more of this at the rising
of the sun! more of this to-morrow!’  ‘Who thought
yesterday,’ would one say, ‘that this day would have been
such a day to us?  And who thought, that saw our prisoners go
down in irons, that they would have returned in chains of
gold?  Yea, they that judged themselves as they went 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 common custom of
princes? Do they use to show such kind of favours to
traitors?  No; this is only peculiar to Shaddai, and unto
Emmanuel, his Son!’

Now morning drew on apace; wherefore the Lord Mayor, the Lord
Willbewill, and Mr. Recorder came down to the market-place at
the time that the Prince had appointed, where the townsfolk
were waiting for them: and when they came, they came in that
attire, and in that glory that the Prince had put them into
the day before, and the street was lightened with their
glory.  So the Mayor, Recorder, and my Lord Willbewill drew
down to Mouth-gate, which was at the lower end of the market-
place, because that of old time was the place where they used
to read public matters.  Thither, therefore, they came in
their robes, and their tabrets went before them.  Now, the
eagerness of the people to know the full of the matter was
great.

Then the Recorder stood up upon his feet, and, first
beckoning with his hand for silence, he read out with a loud
voice the pardon.  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 and blasphemy shall be forgiven,’ etc., they could not
forbear leaping for joy.  For this you must know, that there
was conjoined herewith every man’s name in Mansoul; also the
seals of the pardon made a brave show.

When the Recorder had made an end of reading the pardon, the
townsmen ran up upon the walls of the town, and leaped and
skipped thereon for joy, and bowed themselves seven times
with their faces toward Emmanuel’s pavilion, and shouted out
aloud for joy, and said, ‘Let Emmanuel live for ever!’  Then
order was given to the young men in Mansoul that they should
ring the bells for joy.  So the bells did ring, and the
people sing, and the music go in every house in Mansoul.

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

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

Now, when the Prince had completed these, the outward
ceremonies of his joy, he again commanded that his captains
and soldiers should show unto Mansoul some feats of war: so
they presently addressed themselves to this work.  But oh!
with what agility, nimbleness, dexterity, and bravery did
these military men discover their skill in feats of war to
the now gazing town of Mansoul!

They marched, they counter-marched; they opened to the right
and 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 as the were again, that they took – yea,
ravished, the hearts that were in Mansoul to behold it.  But
add to this, the handling 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 out
as one man to the Prince in the camp to thank him, and praise
him for his abundant favour, and to beg that it would please
his grace to come unto Mansoul with his men, and there to
take up their 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
came nigh, and touched with the hand the top of his golden
sceptre; and they said, ‘Oh! that the Prince Emmanuel, with
his captains and men of war, would dwell in Mansoul for ever;
and that his battering-rams and slings might be lodged in her
for the use and service of the Prince, and for the help and
strength of Mansoul.  For,’ said they, ‘we have room for
thee, we have room for thy men, we have also room for thy
weapons of war, and a place to make a magazine for thy
carriages.  Do it, Emmanuel, and thou shalt be King and
Captain in Mansoul for ever.  Yea, govern thou also according
to all the desire of thy soul, and make thou governors and
princes under thee of thy captains and men of war, and we
will become thy servants, and thy laws shall be our
direction.’

They added, moreover, and prayed his Majesty to consider
thereof; ‘for,’ said they, ‘if now, after all this grace
bestowed upon us, thy miserable town of Mansoul, thou
shouldest withdraw, thou and thy captains, from us, the town
of Mansoul will die.  Yea,’ said they, ‘our blessed Emmanuel,
if thou shouldest depart from us now, now thou hast done so
much good for us, and showed so much mercy unto us, what will
follow but that our joy will be as if it had not been, and
our enemies will a second time come upon us with more rage
than at the first?  Wherefore, we beseech thee, O thou, the
desire of our eyes, and the strength and life of our poor
town, accept of this motion that now we have made unto our
Lord, and come and dwell in the midst of us, and let us be
thy people.  Besides, Lord, we do not know but that to this
day many Diabolonians may be yet lurking in the town of
Mansoul, and they will betray us, when thou shalt leave us,
into the hand of Diabolus again; and who knows what designs,
plots, or contrivances have passed betwixt them about these
things already?  Loath we are to fall again into his horrible
hands.  Wherefore, let it please thee to accept of our palace
for thy place of residence, and of the houses of the best men
in our town for the reception of thy soldiers and their
furniture.’

Then said the Prince, ‘If I come to your town, will you
suffer me further to prosecute that which is in mine heart
against mine enemies and yours? – yea, will you help me in
such undertakings?’

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

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

Then said the Prince to the town of Mansoul again, ‘Go,
return to your houses in peace.  I will willingly in this
comply with your desires; I will remove my royal pavilion, I
will draw up my forces before Eye-gate to-morrow, and so will
march forwards into the town of Mansoul.  I will possess
myself of your castle of Mansoul, and will set my soldiers
over you: yea, I will yet do things in Mansoul that cannot be
paralleled in any nation, country, or kingdom under heaven.’ 
Then did the men of Mansoul give a shout, and returned unto
their houses in peace; they also told to their kindred and
friends the good that Emmanuel had promised to Mansoul.  ‘And
to-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 with
haste to the green trees and to the meadows, to gather boughs
and flowers, therewith to strew the streets against their
Prince, the Son of Shaddai, should come; they also made
garlands and other fine works to betoken how joyful they
were, and should be to receive their Emmanuel into Mansoul;
yea, they strewed the street quite from Eye-gate to the
castle-gate, the place where the Prince should be.  They also
prepared for his coming what music the town of Mansoul would
afford, that they might play before 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
and elders of Mansoul met him to salute him with a thousand
welcomes.  Then he arose and entered Mansoul, he and all his
servants.  The elders of Mansoul did also go dancing before
him till he came to the castle gates.  And this was the
manner of his going up thither:- He was clad in his golden
armour, he rode in his royal chariot, the trumpets sounded
about him, the colours were displayed, his ten thousands went
up at his feet, and the elders of Mansoul danced before him. 
And now were the walls of the famous town of Mansoul filled
with the tramplings of the inhabitants thereof, who went up
thither to view 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 how their town was to be filled with good.

Now, when he was come so far into the town as to the
Recorder’s house, he commanded that one should go to Captain
Credence, to know whether the castle of Mansoul was prepared
to entertain his royal presence (for the preparation of that
was left to that captain), and word was brought that it was. 
Then was Captain Credence commanded also to come forth with
his power to meet the Prince, the which was, as he had
commanded, done; and he conducted him into the castle.  This
done, the Prince that night did lodge in the castle with his
mighty captains and men of war, to the joy of the town of
Mansoul.

Now, the next care of the townsfolk was, how the captains and
soldiers of the Prince’s army should be quartered among them;
and the care was not how they should shut their hands of
them, but how they should fill their houses with them; for
every man in Mansoul now had that esteem of Emmanuel and his
men that nothing grieved them more than because they were not
enlarged enough, every one of them to receive the whole army
of the Prince; 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 Lord Willbewill’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 Lord Mayor’s. 
Now, for the house of the Recorder, himself desired, because
his house was next to the castle, and because from him it was
ordered by the Prince that, if need be, the alarm should be
given to Mansoul, – it was, I say, desired by him that
Captain Boanerges and Captain Conviction should take up their
quarters with him, even they and all their men.

5. As for Captain Judgment and Captain Execution, my Lord
Willbewill took them and their men to him, because he was to
rule under the Prince for the good of the town of Mansoul
now, as he had before under the tyrant Diabolus for the hurt
and damage thereof.

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

Now, the ancients and elders of the town of Mansoul thought
that they never should have enough of the Prince Emmanuel;
his person, 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 that he would often visit the streets, houses, and
people of Mansoul.  ‘For,’ said they, ‘dread Sovereign, thy
presence, thy looks, thy smiles, thy words, are the life, and
strength, and sinews of the town of Mansoul.’

Besides this, they craved that they might have, without
difficulty or interruption, continual access unto him, (so
for that very purpose he commanded that the gates should
stand open,) that they might there see the manner of his
doings, the fortifications of the place, and the royal
mansion-house of the Prince.

When he spake, they all stopped their mouths and gave
audience; and when he walked, it was their delight to imitate
him in his goings.

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

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

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

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

And thus he dismissed the town of Mansoul.  But can you
imagine how the people of the corporation were taken with
this entertainment!  Oh! they were transported with joy, they
were drowned with wonderment, while they saw and understood,
and considered what their Emmanuel entertained them withal,
and what mysteries he opened to them.  And when they were at
home in their houses, and in their most retired places, they
could not but sing of him and of his actions.  Yea, so taken
were the townsmen now with their Prince, that they would sing
of him in their sleep.

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

Wherefore he first of all commanded that the great slings
that were brought from his Father’s court, when he came to
the war of Mansoul, should be mounted, some upon the
battlements of the castle, some upon the towers; for there
were towers in the town of Mansoul, towers, new-built by
Emmanuel since he came hither.  There was also an instrument,
invented by Emmanuel, that was to throw stones from the
castle of Mansoul, out at Mouth-gate; an instrument that
could not be resisted, nor that would miss of execution. 
Wherefore, for the wonderful exploits that it did when used,
it went without a name; and it was committed to the care of,
and to be managed by the brave captain, the Captain Credence,
in case of war.

This done, Emmanuel called the Lord Willbewill to him, and
gave him in commandment to take care of the gates, the wall,
and towers in Mansoul; also the Prince gave him the militia
into his hand, and a special charge to withstand all
insurrections and tumults that might be made in Mansoul
against the peace of our Lord the King, and the peace and
tranquillity of the town of Mansoul.  He also gave him in
commission, that if he found any of the Diabolonians lurking
in any corner of the famous town of Mansoul, he should
forthwith apprehend them, and stay them, or commit them to
safe custody, that they may be proceeded against according to
law.

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

He also made Mr. Knowledge the Recorder, not of contempt to
old Mr. Conscience, who had been Recorder before, but for
that it was in his princely mind to confer upon Mr.
Conscience another employ, of which he told the old gentleman
he should know more hereafter.

Then he commanded that the image of Diabolus should be taken
down from the place where it was set up, and that they should
destroy it utterly, beating it into powder, and casting it
into the wind without the town wall; and that the image of
Shaddai, his Father, should be set up again, with his own,
upon the castle gates; and that it should be more fairly
drawn than ever, forasmuch as both his Father and himself
were come to Mansoul in more grace and mercy than heretofore. 
He would also that his 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 of the town of Mansoul.

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

And these were their names: Alderman Atheism, Alderman Hard-
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’s name was Mr.
True-Man.  This True-Man was one of those that Emmanuel
brought with him from his Father’s court when at the first he
made a war upon Diabolus in the town or Mansoul.

After this, the Prince gave a charge that the three
strongholds that, at the command of Diabolus, the
Diabolonians built in Mansoul, should be demolished and
utterly pulled down; of which holds and their names, with
their captains and governors, you read a little before.  But
this was long in doing, because of the largeness of the
places, and because the stones, the timber, the iron, and all
rubbish, was to be carried without the town.

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

Now, when the time was come, and the court set, commandment
was sent to Mr. True-Man, the gaoler, to bring the prisoners
down to the bar.  Then were the prisoners brought down,
pinioned and chained together, as the custom of the town of
Mansoul was.  So, when they were presented before the Lord
Mayor, the Recorder, and the rest of the honourable bench,
first, the jury was empannelled, and then the witnesses
sworn.  The names 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, if
need were.

So the prisoners were set to the bar.  Then said Mr. Do-
Right, (for he was the Town-Clerk,) ‘Set Atheism to the bar,
gaoler.’  So he was set to the bar.  Then said the Clerk,
‘Atheism, hold up thy hand.  Thou art here indicted by the
name of Atheism, (an intruder upon the town of Mansoul,) for
that thou hast perniciously and doltishly taught and
maintained that there is no God, and so no heed to be taken
to religion.  This thou hast done against the being, honour,
and glory of the King, and against the peace and safety of
the town of Mansoul.  What sayest thou?  Art thou guilty of
this 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; his name
is Atheism; he has been a very pestilent fellow for many
years in the miserable town of Mansoul.’

CLERK.  You are sure you know him?

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

CLERK.  Well said.  He standeth here indicted by the name of
Atheism, etc., and is charged that he hath maintained and
taught that there is no God, and so no heed need be taken to
any religion.  What say you, the King’s witnesses, to this? 
Is he guilty or not?

KNOW.  My lord, I and he were once in Villain’s Lane
together, and he at that time did briskly talk 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 as religious too, if the company I
am in, and the circumstances of other things,’ said he,
‘shall put me upon it.’

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 the
King’s judges touching the prisoner at the bar?’

TELL.  My lord, I formerly was a great companion of his, for
the which I now repent me, and I have often heard him say,
and that with very great stomachfulness, that he believed
there was neither God, angel, nor spirit.

CLERK.  Where did you hear him say so?

TELL.  In Blackmouth Lane and in Blasphemer’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 of a
Diabolonian, and a horrible man to deny a Deity.  His
father’s name was Never-be-good, and he had more children
than this Atheism.  I have no more to say,

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

HATE.  My lord, this Atheism is one of the vilest wretches
that ever I came near, or had to do with in my life.  I have
heard him say that there is no God; I have heard him say that
there is no world to come, no sin, nor punishment hereafter,
and, moreover, I have heard him say that it was as good to go
to a whore-house as to go to hear a sermon.

CLERK.  Where did you hear him say these things?

HATE.  In Drunkard’s Row, just at Rascal-Lane’s End, at a
house in which Mr. Impiety lived.

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

Then said Mr. Lustings, ‘My lord, I am a man of high birth,
and have been used to pleasures and pastimes of greatness.  I
have not been wont to be snubbed for my doings, but have been
left to follow my will as if it were law.  And it seems
strange to me that I should this day be called into question
for that, that not only I, but almost all men, do either
secretly or openly countenance, love, and approve of.’

CLERK.  Sir, we concern not ourselves with your greatness;
(though the higher, the better you should have been;) but we
are concerned, and so are you now, about an indictment
preferred against you.  How say you?  Are you guilty of it,
or not?

LUST.  Not guilty.

CLERK.  Crier, call upon the witnesses to stand forth and
give their evidence.

CRIER.  Gentlemen, you, the witnesses for the King, come in
and give in your evidence for our Lord the King against the
prisoner at the bar.

CLERK.  Come, Mr. Know-All, look upon the prisoner at 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 one Beastly,
and his mother bare him in Flesh Street: she was one Evil-
Concupiscence’s daughter.  I knew all the generation of them.

CLERK.  Well said.  You have heard his indictment; what say
you to it?  Is he guilty of the things charged against him,
or not?

KNOW.  My lord, he has, as he saith, been a great man indeed,
and greater in wickedness than by pedigree more than a
thousandfold.

CLERK.  But what do you know of his particular actions, and
especially with reference to his indictment?

KNOW.  I know him to be a swearer, a liar, a Sabbath-breaker;
I know him to be a fornicator and an unclean person; I know
him to be guilty of abundance of evils.  He has been, to my
knowledge, a very filthy man.

CLERK.  But where did he use to commit his wickedness? in
some private corners, or more open and shamelessly?

KNOW.  All the town over, my lord.

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

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

CLERK.  Mr. Lustings, do you hear what these gentlemen say?

LUST.  I was ever of opinion that the happiest life that a
man could live on earth was to keep himself back from nothing
that he desired in the world; nor have I been false at any
time to this opinion of mine, but have lived in the love of
my notions all my days.  Nor was I ever so churlish, having
found such sweetness in them myself, as to keep the
commendations of them from others.

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

Incredulity set to the bar.

CLERK.  Mr. Incredulity, thou art here indicted by the name
of Incredulity, (an intruder upon the town of Mansoul,) for
that thou hast feloniously and wickedly, and that when thou
wert an officer in the town of Mansoul, made head against the
captains of the great King Shaddai when they came and
demanded possession of Mansoul; yea, thou didst bid defiance
to the name, forces, and cause of the King, and didst also,
as did Diabolus thy captain, stir up and encourage the town
of Mansoul to make head against and resist the said force of
the King.  What sayest thou to this indictment?  Art thou
guilty of it, or not?

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

Then said the Court, ‘The man, as you see, is incorrigible;
he is for maintaining his villainies by stoutness of words,
and his rebellion with impudent confidence; and therefore set
him by, gaoler, and set Mr. Forget-Good to the bar.

Forget-Good set to the bar.

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

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

Then said the Court, ‘Forget-Good, Forget-Good, thy
forgetfulness of good was not simply of frailty, but of
purpose, and for that thou didst loathe to keep virtuous
things in thy mind.  What was bad thou couldst retain, but
what was good thou couldst not abide to think of; thy age,
therefore, and thy pretended craziness, thou makest use of to
blind the court withal, and as a cloak to cover thy knavery. 
But let us hear what the witnesses have to say for the King
against the prisoner at the bar.  Is he guilty of this
indictment, or not?’

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

CLERK.  Where did you hear him say so?

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

CLERK.  Mr. Know-All, what can you say for our Lord the King
against the prisoner at the bar?

KNOW.  My lord, I know this man well.  He is a Diabolonian,
the son of a Diabolonian: his father’s name was Love-Naught;
and for him, I have often heard him say, that he counted the
very thoughts of goodness the most burdensome thing in the
world.

CLERK.  Where have you heard him say these words?

KNOW.  In Flesh Lane, right opposite to the church.

Then said the Clerk, ‘Come, Mr. Tell-True, give in your
evidence concerning the prisoner at the bar, about that for
which he stands here, as you see, indicted by this honourable
Court.’

TELL.  My lord, I have heard him often say he had rather
think of the vilest thing than of what is contained in the
Holy Scriptures.

CLERK.  Where did you hear him say such grievous words?

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 the Descent
into the Pit.

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

He is set to the bar.

CLERK.  Mr. Hard-Heart, thou art here indicted by the name of
Hard-Heart, (an intruder upon the town of Mansoul,) for that
thou didst most desperately and wickedly possess the town of
Mansoul with impenitency and obdurateness; and didst keep
them from remorse and sorrow for their evils, all the time of
their apostacy from and rebellion against the blessed King
Shaddai.  What sayest thou to this indictment?  Art thou
guilty, or not guilty?

HARD.  My lord, I never knew what remorse or sorrow meant in
all my life.  I am impenetrable.  I care for no man; nor can
I be pierced with men’s griefs; their groans will not enter
into my heart.  Whomsoever I mischief, whomsoever I wrong, to
me it is music, when to others mourning.

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 of
False-Peace, (an intruder upon the town of Mansoul,) for that
thou didst most wickedly and satanically bring, hold, and
keep the town of Mansoul, both in her apostacy and in her
hellish rebellion, in a false, groundless, and dangerous
peace, and damnable security, to the dishonour of the King,
the transgression of his law, and the great damage of the
town of Mansoul.  What sayest thou?  Art thou guilty of this
indictment, or not?

Then said Mr. False-Peace: ‘Gentlemen, and you now appointed
to be my judges, I acknowledge that my name is Mr. Peace; but
that my name is False-Peace I utterly deny.  If your honours
shall please to send for any that do intimately know me, or
for the midwife that laid my mother of me, or for the gossips
that were at my christening, they will, any or all of them,
prove that my name is not False-Peace, but Peace.  Wherefore
I cannot plead to this indictment, forasmuch as my name is
not inserted therein; and as is my true name, so are also my
conditions.  I was always a man that loved to live at quiet,
and what I loved myself, that I thought others might love
also.  Wherefore, when I saw any of my neighbours to labour
under 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 did decline
the ways of Shaddai, they, some of them, afterwards began to
have disquieting reflections upon themselves for what they
had done; but I, as one troubled to see them disquieted,
presently sought out means to get them quiet again.

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

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

Then said the clerk, ‘Crier, make a proclamation.’

CRIER.  Oyes!  Forasmuch as the prisoner at the bar hath
denied his name to be that which is mentioned in the
indictment, the Court requireth that if there be any in this
place that can give information to the Court of the original
and right name of the prisoner, they would come forth and
give in their evidence; for the prisoner stands upon his own
innocency.

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

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 man from 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 without
this son; and when he was born, they called his name False-
Peace.  I was his play-fellow, only I was somewhat older than
he; and when his mother did use to call him home from his
play, she used to say, ‘False-Peace, False-Peace, come home
quick, or I’ll fetch you.’  Yea, I knew him when he sucked;
and though I was then but little, yet I can remember that
when his mother did use to sit at the door with him, or did
play with him in her arms, she would call him, twenty times
together, ‘My little False-Peace! my pretty False-Peace!’
and, ‘Oh! my sweet rogue, False-Peace!’ and again, ‘Oh! my
little bird, False-Peace!’ and ‘How do I love my child!’  The
gossips also know it is thus, though he has had the face to
deny it in open court.

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

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

COURT.  Gentlemen, you have heard what these two men have
sworn against the prisoner at the bar.  And now, Mr. False-
Peace, to you: you have denied your name to be False-Peace,
yet you see that these honest men have sworn that that is
your name.  As to your plea, in that you are quite besides
the matter of your indictment, you are not by it charged for
evil-doing because you are a man of peace, or a peace-maker
among your neighbours; but for that you did wickedly and
satanically bring, keep, and hold the town of Mansoul, both
under its apostasy from, and in its rebellion against its
King, in a false, lying, and damnable peace, contrary to the
law of Shaddai, and to the hazard of the destruction of the
then miserable town of Mansoul.  All that you have pleaded
for yourself is, that you have denied your name, etc.; but
here, you see, we have witnesses to prove that you are the
man.  For the peace that you so much boast of making among
your neighbours, know that peace that is not a companion of
truth and holiness, but that which is without this
foundation, is grounded upon a lie, and is both deceitful and
damnable, as also the great Shaddai hath said.  Thy plea,
therefore, has not delivered thee from what by the indictment
thou art charged with, but rather it doth fasten all upon
thee.  But thou shalt have very fair play.  Let us call the
witnesses that are to testify as to matter of fact, and see
what they have to say for our Lord the King against the
prisoner at the bar.

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

KNOW.  My lord, this man hath of a long time made it, to my
knowledge, his business to keep the town of Mansoul in a
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, and let us be for a quiet and
peaceable life, though it wanteth a good foundation.

CLERK.  Come, Mr. Hate-Lies, what have you to say?

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

CLERK.  Where did you hear him say this?

HATE.  I heard him say it in Folly-yard, at the house of one
Mr. Simple, next door to the sign of the Self-deceiver.  Yea,
he hath said this to my knowledge twenty times in that place.

CLERK.  We may spare further witness; this evidence is plain
and full.  Set him by, gaoler, and set Mr. No-Truth to the
bar.  Mr. No-Truth, thou art here indicted by the name of No-
Truth, (an intruder upon the town of Mansoul,) for that thou
hast always, to the dishonour of Shaddai, and the endangering
of the utter ruin of the famous town of Mansoul, set thyself
to deface, and utterly to spoil, all the remainders of the
law and image of Shaddai that have been found in Mansoul
after her deep apostasy from her king to Diabolus, the
envious tyrant.  What sayest thou, art thou guilty of this
indictment, or not?

NO.  Not guilty, my lord.

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

KNOW.  My lord, this man was at the pulling down of the image
of Shaddai; yea, this is he that did it with his own hands. 
I myself stood by and saw him do it, and he did it at the
commandment of Diabolus.  Yea, this Mr. No-Truth did more
than this, he did also set up the horned image of the beast
Diabolus in the same place.  This also is he that, at the
bidding of Diabolus, did rend and tear, and cause to be
consumed, all that he could of the remainders of the law of
the King, even whatever 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 more besides; for this
was not done by stealth, or in a corner, but in the 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 face to plead
not guilty, when you were so manifestly the doer of all this
wickedness?

NO.  Sir, I thought I must say something, and as my name is,
so I speak.  I have been advantaged thereby before now, and
did not know but by speaking no truth, I might have reaped
the same benefit now.

CLERK.  Set him by, gaoler, and set Mr. Pitiless to the bar. 
Mr. Pitiless, thou art here indicted by the name of Pitiless,
(an intruder upon the town of Mansoul,) for that thou didst
most traitorously and wickedly shut up all bowels of
compassion, and wouldest not suffer poor Mansoul to condole
her own misery when she had apostatised from her rightful
King, but didst evade, and at all times turn her mind awry
from those thoughts that had in them a tendency to lead her
to repentance.  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 to
melancholy.’

CLERK.  How! do you deny your name, and say it is not
Pitiless, but Cheer-up? Call for the witnesses.  What say
you, the witnesses, to this plea?

KNOW.  My lord, his name is Pitiless; so he hath written
himself in all papers of concern wherein he has had to do. 
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 have known him from
a child, and he hath done all that wickedness whereof he
stands charged in the indictment; but there is a company of
them that are not acquainted with the danger of damning,
therefore they call all those melancholy that have serious
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, (an intruder
upon the town of Mansoul,) for that thou didst most
traitorously and devilishly teach the town of Mansoul to
carry it loftily and stoutly against the summons that was
given them by the captains of the King Shaddai.  Thou didst
also teach the town of Mansoul to speak contemptuously and
vilifyingly of their great King Shaddai; and didst moreover
encourage, both by words and examples, Mansoul, to take up
arms both against the King and his son Emmanuel.  How sayest
thou, art thou guilty of this indictment, or not?

HAUGHTY.  Gentlemen, I have always been a man of courage and
valour, and have not used, when under the greatest clouds, to
sneak or hang down the head like a bulrush; nor did it at all
at any time please me to see men veil their bonnets to those
that have opposed them; yea, though their adversaries seemed
to have ten times the advantage of them.  I did not use to
consider who was my foe, nor what the cause was in which I
was 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 for that you
have been a valiant man, nor for your courage and stoutness
in times of distress, but for that you have made use of this
your pretended valour to draw the town of Mansoul into acts
of rebellion both against the great King, and Emmanuel his
Son.  This is the crime and the thing wherewith thou art
charged in and by the indictment.

But he made no answer to that.

Now when the Court had thus far proceeded against the
prisoners at the bar, then they put them over to the verdict
of their jury, to whom they did apply themselves after this
manner:

‘Gentlemen of the jury, you have been here, and have seen
these men; you have heard their indictments, their pleas, and
what the witnesses have testified against them: now what
remains, is, that you do forthwith withdraw yourselves to
some place, where without confusion you may consider of what
verdict, in a way of truth and righteousness, you ought to
bring in for the 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
to their work.  Now when they were shut up by themselves,
they fell to discourse among themselves in order to the
drawing up of their verdict.

And thus Mr. Belief (for he was the foreman) began:
‘Gentlemen,’ quoth he, ‘for the men, the prisoners at the
bar, for my part I believe that they all deserve death.’ 
‘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 of the joyfullest days that ever I saw
in my life.’  Then said 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 as these are
cast out of Mansoul, what a goodly town will it be then!’ 
‘Then,’ said Mr. Moderate, ‘it is not my manner to pass my
judgment with rashness; but for these their crimes are so
notorious, and the witness so palpable, that that man must be
wilfully blind who saith the prisoners ought not to die.’ 
‘Blessed be God,’ said Mr. Thankful, ‘that the traitors are
in safe custody.’  ‘And I join with you in this upon my bare
knees,’ said Mr. Humble.  ‘I am glad also,’ said Mr. Good-
Work.  Then said the warm man, and true-hearted Mr. Zeal-for-
God, ‘Cut them off; they have been the plague, and have
sought the destruction of Mansoul.’

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

CLERK.  Gentlemen of the jury, answer all to your names: 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, being empannelled for
our Lord the King, to serve here in a matter of life and
death, have heard the trials of each of these men, the
prisoners at the bar: what say you? are they guilty of that,
and those crimes for which they stand here indicted, or are
they not guilty?

FOREMAN.  Guilty, my lord.

CLERK.  Look to your prisoners, gaoler.

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

The gaoler, therefore, having received such a charge, put
them all in the inward prison, to preserve them there till
the day of execution, 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
the time of execution, brake prison and made his escape, and
gets him away quite out of the town of Mansoul, and lay
lurking in such places and holes as he might, until he should
again have opportunity to do the town of Mansoul a mischief
for their thus handling of him as they did.

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

All that could be gathered was, that he had lurked a while
about the outside of the town, and that here and there one or
other had a glimpse of him as he did make his escape out of
Mansoul; one or two also did affirm that they saw him without
the town, going apace quite over the plain.  Now when he was
quite gone, it was affirmed by one Mr. Did-see, that he
ranged all over dry places, till he met with Diabolus, his
friend, and where should they meet one another but just upon
Hell-gate hill.

But oh! what a lamentable story did the old gentleman tell to
Diabolus concerning what sad alteration Emmanuel had made in
Mansoul!

As, first, how Mansoul had, after some delays, received a
general pardon at the hands of Emmanuel, and that they had
invited him into the town, and that they had given him the
castle for his possession.  He said, moreover, that they had
called his soldiers into the town, coveted who should quarter
the most of them; they also entertained him with the timbrel,
song, and dance.  ‘But that,’ said Incredulity, ‘which is the
sorest vexation to me is, that he hath pulled down, O father,
thy image, and set up his own; pulled down thy officers and
set up his own.  Yea, and Willbewill, that rebel, who, one
would have thought, should never have turned from us, he is
now in as great favour with Emmanuel as ever he was with
thee.  But, besides all this, this Willbewill has received a
special commission from his master to search for, to
apprehend, and to put to death all, and all manner of
Diabolonians that he shall find in Mansoul: yea, and this
Willbewill has taken and committed to prison already eight of
my Lord’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.  I
told my Lord of eight, and myself was the ninth, who should
assuredly 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 and
snuffed up the wind like a dragon, and made the sky to look
dark with his roaring; he also sware that he would try to be
revenged on Mansoul for this.  So they, both he and his old
friend Incredulity, concluded to enter into great
consultation, how they might get the town of Mansoul again.

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

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

Now, when this good work was done, the Prince came down to
see, to visit, and to speak comfortably to the men of
Mansoul, and to strengthen their hands in such work.  And he
said to them that, by this act of theirs he had proved them,
and found them to be lovers of his person, observers of his
laws, and such as had also respect to his honour.  He said,
moreover, (to show them that they by this should not be
losers, nor their town weakened by the loss of them,) that he
would make them another captain, and that of one of
themselves.  And that this captain should be the ruler of a
thousand, for the good and benefit 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 for one
Mr. Experience, that waiteth upon that noble captain, the
Captain Credence, and bid him come hither to me.’  So the
messenger that waited upon the good Prince Emmanuel went and
said as he was commanded.  Now the young gentleman was
waiting to see the captain train and muster his men in the
castle yard.  Then said Mr. Waiting to him, ‘Sir, the Prince
would that you should come down to his highness forthwith.’ 
So he brought him down to Emmanuel, and he came and made
obeisance before him.  Now the men of the town knew Mr.
Experience well, for he was born and bred in Mansoul; 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
joy when they saw that the Prince himself was so taken with
Mr. Experience, that he would needs make him a captain over a
band of men.

So with one consent they bowed the knee before Emmanuel, and
with a shout said, ‘Let Emmanuel live for ever!’  Then said
the Prince to the young gentleman, whose name was Mr.
Experience, ‘I have thought good to confer upon thee a place
of trust and honour in this my town of Mansoul.’  Then the
young man bowed his head and worshipped.  ‘It is,’ said
Emmanuel, ‘that thou shouldest be a captain, a captain over a
thousand men in my beloved town of Mansoul.’  Then said the
captain, ‘Let the King live!’  So the Prince gave out orders
forthwith to the King’s secretary, that he should draw up for
Mr. Experience a commission to make him a captain over a
thousand men.  ‘And let it be brought to me,’ said he, ‘that
I may set to my seal.’  So it was done as it was commanded. 
The commission was drawn up, brought to Emmanuel, and he set
his seal thereto.  Then, by the hand of Mr. Waiting, he sent
it away to the captain.

Now as soon as the captain had received his commission, he
sounded his trumpet for volunteers, and young men came to him
apace; yea, the greatest and chief men in the town sent their
sons, to be listed under his command.  Thus Captain
Experience came under command to Emmanuel, for the good of
the town of Mansoul.  He had for his lieutenant one Mr.
Skilful, and for his cornet one Mr. Memory.  His under
officers I need not name.  His colours were the white colours
for the town of Mansoul; and his scutcheon was the dead lion
and dead bear.  So the Prince returned to his royal palace
again.

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

Emmanuel also at this time appointed them a day wherein he
would renew their charter, yea, wherein he would renew and
enlarge it, mending several faults therein, that Mansoul’s
yoke might be yet more easy.  And this he did without any
desire 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
ready to vanish away.’  He said, moreover, ‘The town of
Mansoul shall have another, a better, a new one, more steady
and firm by far.’  An epitome hereof take as follows:-

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

‘First.  Free, full, and everlasting forgiveness of all
wrongs, injuries, and offences done by them against my
Father, me, their neighbour, or themselves.

‘Second.  I do give them the holy law and my testament, with
all that therein is contained, for their everlasting comfort
and consolation.

‘Third.  I do also give them a portion of the self-same grace
and goodness that dwells in my Father’s heart and mine.

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

‘Fifth.  I do give and grant them leave, and free access to
me in my palace at all seasons – to my palace above or below
– there to make known their wants to me, and I give them,
moreover, a promise that I will hear and redress all their
grievances.

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

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

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

So when the town of Mansoul had received at the hand of
Emmanuel their gracious charter, (which in itself is
infinitely more large than by this lean epitome is set before
you,) they carried it to audience, that is, to the market
place, and there Mr. Recorder read it in the presence of all
the people.  This being done, it was had back to the castle
gates, and there fairly engraven upon the doors thereof, and
laid in letters of gold, to the end that the town of Mansoul,
with all the people thereof, might have it always in their
view, or might go where they might see what a blessed freedom
their Prince had bestowed upon them, that their joy might be
increased in themselves, and their love renewed to their
great and good Emmanuel.

But what joy, what comfort, what consolation, think you, did
now possess the hearts of the men of Mansoul!  The bells
rung, the minstrels played, the people danced, the captains
shouted, the colours waved in the wind, and the silver
trumpets sounded; 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 of
the town of Mansoul, and communed with them about a ministry
that he intended to establish among them; such a ministry
that might open unto them, and that might instruct them in
the things that did concern their present and future state.

‘For,’ said he, ‘you, of yourselves, unless you have teachers
and guides, will not be able to know, and, if not to know, to
be sure not to do the will of my Father.’

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

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

‘And this is he,’ said the Prince, ‘that must be your chief
teacher; for it is he, and he only, that can teach you
clearly in all high and supernatural things.  He, and he
only, it is that knows the ways and methods of my Father at
court, nor can any like him show how the heart of my Father
is at 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 man which is in him, so the things of my Father
knows no man but this his high and mighty Secretary.  Nor can
any, as he, tell Mansoul how and what they shall do to keep
themselves in the love of my Father.  He also it is that can
bring lost things to your 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 the great dexterity that he
hath to help you to make and draw up petitions to my Father
for your help, and to his pleasing, must lay obligations upon
you to love him, fear him, and to take heed that 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 can make
seers of you, and can make you tell what shall be hereafter. 
By this person you must frame all your petitions to my Father
and me; and without his advice and counsel first obtained,
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 be
moved by you to set himself against you in battle array, that
will distress you more than if twelve legions should from my
Father’s court be sent to make war upon you.

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

Then did the Prince call unto him the old gentleman, who
before had been the Recorder of Mansoul, Mr. Conscience by
name, and told him, That, forasmuch as he was well skilled in
the law and government of the town of Mansoul, and was also
well-spoken, and could pertinently deliver to them his
Master’s will in all terrene and domestic matters, therefore
he would also make him a minister for, in, and to the goodly
town of Mansoul, in all the laws, statutes, and judgments of
the famous town of Mansoul.  ‘And thou must,’ said the
Prince, ‘confine thyself to the teaching of moral virtues, to
civil and natural duties; but thou must not attempt to
presume to be a revealer of those high and supernatural
mysteries that are kept close in the bosom of Shaddai, my
Father: for those things knows no man, nor can any reveal
them but my Father’s Secretary only.

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

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

‘Thou must therefore, in all high and supernatural things, go
to him for information and knowledge; for though there be a
spirit in man, this person’s inspiration must give him
understanding.  Wherefore, O thou Mr. Recorder, keep low and
be humble, and remember that the Diabolonians that kept not
their first charge, but left their own standing, are now made
prisoners in 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 them
with whips and chastisements, if they shall not willingly
hearken to do thy commandments.

‘And, Mr. Recorder, because thou art old, and through many
abuses made feeble; therefore I give thee leave and license
to go when thou wilt to my fountain, my conduit, and there to
drink freely of the blood of my grape, for my conduit doth
always run wine.  Thus doing, thou shalt drive from thine
heart and stomach all foul, gross, and hurtful humours.  It
will also lighten thine eyes, and will strengthen thy memory
for the reception and keeping of all that the King’s most
noble Secretary 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
man had thankfully accepted thereof, then did Emmanuel
address himself in a particular speech to the townsmen
themselves.

‘Behold,’ said the Prince to Mansoul, ‘my love and care
towards you; I have added to all that is past, this mercy, to
appoint you preachers; the most noble Secretary to teach you
in all high and sublime mysteries; and this gentleman,’
pointing to Mr. Conscience, ‘is to teach you in all things
human and domestic, for therein lieth his work.  He is not,
by what I have said, debarred of telling to Mansoul anything
that he hath heard and received at the mouth of the lord high
Secretary; only he shall not attempt to presume to pretend to
be a revealer of those high mysteries himself; for the
breaking of them up, and the discovery of them to Mansoul
lieth only in the power, authority, and skill of the lord
high Secretary himself.  Talk of them he may, and so may the
rest of the town of Mansoul; yea, and may, as occasion gives
them opportunity, press them upon each other for the benefit
of the whole.  These things, therefore, I would have you
observe and do, for it is for your life, and the lengthening
of your days.

‘And one thing more to my beloved Mr. Recorder, and to all
the town of Mansoul: You must not dwell in, nor stay upon,
anything of that which he hath in commission to teach you, as
to your trust and expectation of the next world; (of the next
world, I say, for I purpose to give another to Mansoul, when
this with them is worn out;) but for that you must wholly and
solely have recourse to, and make stay upon his doctrine that
is your Teacher after the first order.  Yea, Mr. Recorder
himself must not look for life from that which he himself
revealeth; his dependence for that must be founded in the
doctrine of the other preacher.  Let Mr. Recorder also take
heed that he receive not any doctrine, or point of doctrine,
that is not communicated to him by his Superior Teacher, nor
yet within the precincts of his own formal knowledge.’

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

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

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

‘Besides, if they be weak, the town of Mansoul cannot be
strong; if they be strong, then Mansoul cannot be weak; your
safety, therefore, doth lie in their health, and in your
countenancing 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 your
welfare and your honour: observe, therefore, O my Mansoul, to
be punctual in all things that I have given in charge unto
you, and that not only as a town corporate, and so to your
officers and guard, and guides in chief, but to you as you
are a people whose well-being, as single persons, depends on
the observation of the orders 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
among you, you have need to be warned about: wherefore
hearken diligently unto me.  I am now sure, and you will know
hereafter, that there are yet of the Diabolonians remaining
in the town of Mansoul, Diabolonians that are sturdy and
implacable, and that do already while I am with you, and that
will yet more when I am from you, study, plot, contrive,
invent, and jointly attempt to bring you to desolation, and
so to a state far worse than that of the Egyptian bondage;
they are the avowed friends of Diabolus, therefore look about
you.  They used heretofore to lodge with their Prince in the
Castle, when Incredulity was the Lord Mayor of this town; but
since my coming hither, they lie more in the outsides and
walls, and have made themselves dens, and caves, and holes,
and strongholds therein.  Wherefore, O Mansoul! thy work, as
to this, will be so much the more difficult and hard; that
is, to take, mortify, and put them to death according to the
will of my Father.  Nor can you utterly rid yourselves of
them, unless you should pull down the walls of your town, the
which I am by no means willing you should.  Do you ask me,
What shall we do then?  Why, be you diligent, and quit you
like men; observe their holes; find out their haunts; assault
them, and make no peace with them.  Wherever they haunt,
lurk, or abide, and what terms of peace soever they offer
you, abhor, and all shall be well betwixt you and me.  And
that you may the better know them from those that are the
natives of Mansoul, I will give you this brief schedule of
the names of the chief of them; and they are these that
follow:- The Lord Fornication, 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, and Mr. Heresy.  These
are some of the chief, O Mansoul! of those that will seek to
overthrow thee for ever.  These, I say, are the skulkers in
Mansoul; but look thou well into the law of thy King, and
there thou shalt find their physiognomy, and such other
characteristical notes of them, by which they certainly may
be known.

‘These, O my Mansoul, (and I would gladly that you should
certainly know it,) if they be suffered to run and range
about the town as they would, will quickly, like vipers, eat
out your bowels; yea, poison your captains, cut the sinews of
your soldiers, break the bars and bolts of your gates, and
turn your now most flourishing Mansoul into a barren and
desolate wilderness, and ruinous heap.  Wherefore, that you
may take courage to yourselves to apprehend these villains
wherever you find them, I give to you, my Lord Mayor, my Lord
Willbewill, and Mr. Recorder, with all the inhabitants of the
town of Mansoul, full power and commission to seek out, to
take, and to cause to be put to death by the cross, all, and
all manner of Diabolonians, when and wherever you shall find
them to lurk within, or to range without the walls of the
town of Mansoul.

‘I told you before that I had placed a standing ministry
among you; not that you have but these with you, for my first
four captains who came against the master and lord of the
Diabolonians that was in Mansoul, they can, and if need be,
and if they be required, will not only privately inform, but
publicly preach to the corporation both good and wholesome
doctrine, and such as shall lead you in the way.  Yea, they
will set up a weekly, yea, if need be, a daily lecture in
thee, O Mansoul! and will instruct thee in such profitable
lessons, that, if heeded, will do thee good at the end.  And
take good heed that you spare not the men that you have a
commission to take and crucify.

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

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

When the Prince had thus far new modelled the town of
Mansoul, and had instructed them in such matters as were
profitable for them to know, then he appointed another day in
which he intended, when the townsfolk came together, to
bestow a further badge of honour upon the town of Mansoul, –
a badge that should distinguish them from all the people,
kindreds, and tongues that dwell in the kingdom of Universe. 
Now it was not long before the day appointed was come, and
the Prince and his people met in the King’s palace, where
first Emmanuel made a short speech unto them, and then did
for them as he had said, and unto them as he had promised.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

‘Second.  Keep them always white; for if they be soiled, 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, lest you walk
naked, and they see your shame.

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

And now was Mansoul, and the inhabitants of it, as the signet
upon Emmanuel’s right hand.  Where was there now a town, a
city, a corporation, that could compare with Mansoul! a town
redeemed from the hand, and from the power of Diabolus! a
town that the King Shaddai loved, and that he sent Emmanuel
to regain from the Prince of the infernal cave; yea, a town
that Emmanuel loved to dwell in, and that he chose for his
royal habitation; a town that he fortified for himself, and
made strong by the force of his army.  What shall I say,
Mansoul has now a most excellent Prince, golden captains and
men of war, weapons proved, and garments as white as snow. 
Nor are these benefits to be counted little, but great; can
the town of Mansoul esteem them so, and improve them to that
end and purpose for which 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
and took pleasure in the good that he had wrought for the
famous and flourishing Mansoul, he commanded, and they set
his standard upon the battlements of the castle.  And then,

First.  He gave them frequent visits; not a day now but the
elders of Mansoul must come to him, or he to them, into his
palace.  Now they must walk and talk together of all the
great things that he had done, and yet further promised to
do, for the town of Mansoul.  Thus would he often do with the
Lord Mayor, my Lord Willbewill, and the honest subordinate
preacher Mr. Conscience, and Mr. Recorder.  But oh, how
graciously, how lovingly, how courteously, and tenderly did
this blessed Prince now carry it towards the town of Mansoul! 
In all the streets, gardens, orchards, and other places where
he came, to be sure the poor should have his blessing and
benediction; yea, he would kiss them, and if they were ill he
would lay hands on them, and make them well.  The captains,
also, he would daily, yea, sometimes hourly, encourage with
his presence and goodly words.  For you must know that a
smile from him upon them would put more vigour, more life,
and stoutness into them, than would anything else under
heaven.

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

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

Third.  If Mansoul did not frequently visit him as he desired
they should, he would walk out to them, knock at their doors,
and desire entrance, that amity might be maintained betwixt
them and him; if they did hear and open to him, as commonly
they would, if they were at home, then would he renew his
former love, and confirm it too with some new tokens, and
signs of continued favour.

And was it not now amazing to behold, that in that very place
where sometimes Diabolus had his abode, and entertained his
Diabolonians to the almost utter destruction of Mansoul, the
Prince of princes should sit eating and drinking with them,
while all his mighty captains, men of war, trumpeters, with
the singing-men and singing-women of his Father, stood round
about to wait upon them!  Now did Mansoul’s cup run over, now
did her conduits run sweet wine, now did she eat the finest
of the wheat, and drink milk and honey out of the rock!  Now,
she said, How great is his goodness! for since I found favour
in his 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
the natives of the town of Mansoul.  Himself was not a native
of it, but came with the Prince Emmanuel from the court.  He
was a great acquaintance of Captain Credence and Captain
Good-Hope; some say they were kin, and I am of that opinion
too.  This man, as I said, was made governor of the town in
general, especially over the castle, and Captain Credence was
to help him there.  And I made great observation of it, that
so long as all things went in Mansoul as this sweet-natured
gentleman would, the town was in most happy condition.  Now
there were no jars, no chiding, no interferings, no
unfaithful doings in all the town of Mansoul; every man in
Mansoul kept close to his own employment.  The gentry, the
officers, the soldiers, and all in place observed their
order.  And as for the women and children of the town, they
followed their business joyfully; they would work and sing,
work and sing, from morning till night: so that quite through
the town of Mansoul now nothing was 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 was
Mr. Carnal-Security; this man did, after all this mercy
bestowed on this corporation, bring the town of Mansoul into
great and grievous slavery and bondage.  A brief account of
him and of his 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 one whose 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, sent him upon many desperate designs, the
which he managed better, and more to the pleasing of his
lord, than most that came with him from the dens could do. 
Wherefore, finding him so fit for his purpose, he preferred
him, and made him next to the great Lord Willbewill, of whom
we have written so much before.  Now the Lord Willbewill
being in those days very well pleased with him, and with his
achievements, gave him his daughter, the Lady 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 Mansoul those strange kinds of
mixtures, it was hard for them, in some cases, to find out
who were natives, who not, for Mr. Carnal-Security sprang
from my Lord Willbewill by mother’s side, though he had for
his father a Diabolonian by nature.

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

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

And having got some little smattering of Emmanuel’s things by
the end, being bold, he ventures himself into the company of
the townsmen, any attempts also to chat among them.  Now he
knew that the power and strength of the town of Mansoul was
great, and that it could not but be pleasing to the people,
if he cried up their might and their glory.  Wherefore he
beginneth his tale with the power and strength of Mansoul,
and affirmed that it was impregnable; now magnifying their
captains and their slings, and their rams; then crying up
their fortifications and strongholds; and, lastly, the
assurances that they had from their Prince, that Mansoul
should be happy for ever.  But when he saw that some of the
men of the town were tickled and taken with his discourse, he
makes it his business, and walking from street to street,
house to house, and man to man, he at last brought Mansoul to
dance after his pipe, and to grow almost as carnally secure
as himself; so from talking they went to feasting, and from
feasting to sporting; and so to some other matters.  Now
Emmanuel was yet in the town of Mansoul, and he wisely
observed their doings.  My Lord Mayor, my Lord Willbewill,
and Mr. Recorder were also all taken with the words of this
tattling Diabolonian gentleman, forgetting that their Prince
had given them warning before to take heed that they were not
beguiled with any Diabolonian sleight; he had further told
them that the security of the now flourishing town of Mansoul
did not so much lie in her present fortifications and force,
as in her so using of what she had, as might oblige her
Emmanuel to abide within her castle.  For the right doctrine
of Emmanuel was, that the town of Mansoul should take heed
that they forgot not his Father’s love and his; also, that
they should so demean themselves as to continue to keep
themselves therein.  Now this was not the way to do it,
namely, to fall in love with one of the Diabolonians, and
with such an one too as Mr. Carnal-Security was, and to be
led up and down by the nose by him; 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’s prescribing: 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
and abated in their practical love to him,

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

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

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

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

‘4. They waited not for his counsels, but began to be
headstrong and confident in themselves, concluding that now
they were strong and invincible, and that Mansoul was secure,
and beyond all reach of the foe, and that her state must
needs be unalterable for ever.’

Now, as was said, Emmanuel perceiving that by the craft of
Mr. Carnal-Security, the town of Mansoul was taken off from
their dependence upon him, and upon his Father by him, and
set upon what by them was bestowed upon it; he first, as I
said, bemoaned their state, then he used means to make them
understand that the way that they went on in was dangerous:
for he sent my Lord High Secretary to them, to forbid them
such ways; but twice when he came to them, he found them at
dinner in Mr. Carnal-Security’s parlour; and perceiving also
that they were not willing to reason about matters concerning
their good, he took grief and went his way; the which when he
had told to the Prince Emmanuel, he took offence, and was
grieved also, and so made 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 kept
himself 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, from his
table, those dainty bits which he was wont to do.

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

But thus Emmanuel carried it now, and by this his carriage he
sought 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
the true remembrance of former favours.  Wherefore what does
he but 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 earnestly seek his face.  Mr. God’s-Peace also laid
down his commission, and would for the present act no longer
in the town of Mansoul.

Thus they walked contrary to him, and he again, by way of
retaliation, walked contrary to them.  But, alas! by this
time they were so hardened in their way, and had so drunk in
the doctrine of Mr. Carnal-Security, that the departing of
their Prince 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, one
now but little set by, though formerly one of great request. 
This man, old Carnal-Security, had a mind, if possible, to
gull, and debauch, and abuse, as he did the rest, and
therefore he now bids him to the feast with his neighbours. 
So the day being come, they prepare, and he goes and appears
with the rest of the guests; and being all set at the table,
they did eat and drink, and were merry, even all but this one
man: for Mr. Godly-Fear sat like a stranger, and did neither
eat nor was merry.  The which, when Mr. Carnal-Security
perceived, he presently addressed himself in a speech thus to
him:-

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

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

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

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

Then said Mr. Carnal-Security, ‘Why?’

GODLY.  Nay, pray interrupt me not.  It is true the town of
Mansoul was strong, and, with a PROVISO, impregnable; but
you, the townsmen, have weakened it, and it now lies
obnoxious to its foes.  Nor is it a time to flatter, or be
silent; it is you, Mr. Carnal-Security, that have wilily
stripped Mansoul, and driven her glory from her; you have
pulled down her towers, you have broken down her gates, you
have spoiled her locks and bars.

And now, to explain myself: from that time that my lords of
Mansoul, and you, sir, grew so great, from that time the
Strength of Mansoul has been offended, and now he is arisen
and is gone.  If any shall question the truth of my words, I
will answer him by this, and suchlike questions.  ‘Where is
the Prince Emmanuel?  When did a man or woman in Mansoul see
him?  When did you hear from him, or taste any of his dainty
bits?’  You are now a feasting with this Diabolonian monster,
but he is not your Prince.  I say, therefore, though enemies
from without, had you taken heed, could not have made a prey
of you, yet since you have sinned against your Prince, 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 your TIMOROUSNESS?  Are you
afraid of being sparrow-blasted?  Who hath hurt you?  Behold,
I am on your side; only you are for doubting, and I am for
being confident.  Besides, is this a time to be sad in?  A
feast is made for mirth; why, then, do you now, to your
shame, and our trouble, break out into such passionate
melancholy language, when you should eat and drink, and be
merry?’

Then said Mr. Godly-Fear again, ‘I may well be sad, for
Emmanuel is gone from Mansoul.  I say again, he is gone, and
you, sir, are the man that has driven him away; yea, he is
gone without so much as acquainting the nobles of Mansoul
with his going; and if that is not a sign of his anger, I am
not acquainted with the methods of godliness.

‘And now, my lords and gentlemen, for my speech is still to
you, your gradual declining from him did provoke him
gradually to depart from you, the which he did for some time,
if perhaps you would have been made sensible thereby, and
have been renewed by humbling yourselves; but when he saw
that none would regard, nor lay these fearful beginnings of
his anger and judgment to heart, he went away from this
place; and this I saw with mine eye.  Wherefore now, while
you boast, your strength is gone; you are like the man that
had lost his locks that before did wave about his shoulders. 
You may, with this lord of your feast, shake yourselves, and
conclude to do as at other times; but since without him you
can do nothing, and he is departed from you, turn your feast
into a sigh, and your mirth into lamentation.’

Then the subordinate preacher, old Mr. Conscience by name, he
that of old was Recorder of Mansoul, being startled at what
was said, began to second it thus:-

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

GODLY.  Nay, I know that you shall not find him in Mansoul,
for he is departed and gone; yea, and gone for the faults of
the elders, and for that they rewarded his grace with
unsufferable unkindness.

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

And, with that, that saying of their Prince came very hot
into their minds, which he had bidden them do to such as were
false prophets 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 a Diabolonian by nature.

So when this was passed and over, they bespeed themselves to
look for Emmanuel their Prince; and they sought him, but they
found him not.  Then were they more confirmed in the truth of
Mr. Godly-Fear’s sayings, and began also severely to reflect
upon themselves for their so vile and ungodly doings; for
they concluded now that it was through them that their Prince
had left them.

Then they agreed and went to my Lord Secretary, (him whom
before they refused to hear – him whom they had grieved with
their doings,) to know of him, for he was a seer, and could
tell where Emmanuel was, and how they might direct a petition
to him.  But the Lord Secretary would not admit them to a
conference about this matter, nor would admit them to his
royal place of abode, nor come out to them to show them his
face or intelligence.

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

Well, when the Sabbath day was come, they went to hear their
subordinate preacher; but oh, how he did thunder and lighten
this day!  His text was that in the prophet Jonah: ‘They that
observe lying vanities forsake their own mercy.’  But there
was then such power and authority in that sermon, and such 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,
or to betake themselves to their employs the week after; they
were so sermon-smitten, and also so sermon-sick by being
smitten, that they knew not what to do.

He did not only show to Mansoul their sin, but did tremble
before them, under the sense of his own, still crying out of
himself, 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, should myself
live senseless and sottishly here, and be one of the first
found in transgression!  This transgression also fell within
my precincts; I should have cried out against the wickedness;
but I let Mansoul lie wallowing in it, until it had driven
Emmanuel from its borders!’  With these things he also
charged all the lords and gentry of Mansoul, to the almost
distracting of them.

About this time, also, there was a great sickness in the town
of Mansoul, and most of the inhabitants were greatly
afflicted.  Yea, the captains also, and men of war, were
brought thereby to a languishing condition, and that for a
long time together; so that in case of an invasion, nothing
could to purpose now have been done, either by the townsmen
or field officers.  Oh, how many pale faces, weak hands,
feeble knees, and staggering men were now seen to walk the
streets of Mansoul!  Here were groans, there pants, and
yonder lay those that were ready to faint.

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

After some time spent in this sad and desolate condition, the
subordinate preacher called for a day of fasting, and to
humble themselves for being so wicked against the great
Shaddai and his Son.  And he desired that Captain Boanerges
would preach.  So he consented to do it; and the day being
come, and his text was this, ‘Cut it down, why cumbereth it
the ground?’  And a very smart sermon he made upon the place. 
First, he showed what was the occasion of the words, namely,
because the fig-tree was barren; then he showed what was
contained in the sentence, namely, repentance, or utter
desolation.  He then showed, also, by whose authority this
sentence was pronounced, and that was by Shaddai himself. 
And, lastly, he showed the reasons of the point, and then
concluded his sermon.  But he was very pertinent in the
application, insomuch that he made poor Mansoul tremble.  For
this sermon, as well as the former, wrought much upon the
hearts of the men of Mansoul; yea, it greatly helped to keep
awake those that were roused by the preaching that went
before.  So that now throughout the whole town, there was
little or nothing to be heard or seen but sorrow, and
mourning, and woe.

Now, after sermon, they got together and consulted what was
best to be done.  ‘But,’ said the subordinate preacher, ‘I
will do nothing of mine own head, without advising with my
neighbour Mr. Godly-Fear.  For if he had aforehand understood
more of the mind of our Prince than we, I do not know but he
also may have it now, even now we are turning again to
virtue.’

So they called and sent for Mr. Godly-Fear, and he forthwith
appeared.  Then they desired that he would further show his
opinion about what they had best to do. Then said the old
gentleman as followeth: ‘It is my opinion that this town of
Mansoul should, in this day of her distress, draw up and send
an humble petition to their offended Prince Emmanuel, that
he, in his favour and grace, will turn again unto you, and
not keep anger for ever.’

When the townsmen had heard this speech, they did, with one
consent, agree to his advice; so they did presently draw up
their request, and the next was, But who shall carry it?  At
last they did all agree to send it by my Lord Mayor.  So he
accepted of the service, and addressed himself to his
journey; and went and came to the court of Shaddai, whither
Emmanuel the Prince of Mansoul was gone.  But the gate was
shut, and a strict watch kept thereat; so that the petitioner
was forced to stand without for a great while together.  Then
he desired that some would go into the Prince and tell him
who stood at the gate, and what his business was.  So one
went and told to Shaddai, and to Emmanuel his Son, that the
Lord Mayor of the town of Mansoul stood without at the gate
of the King’s court, desiring to be admitted into the
presence of the Prince, the King’s Son.  He also told what
was the Lord Mayor’s errand, both to the King and his Son
Emmanuel.  But the Prince would not come down, nor admit that
the gate should be opened to him, but sent him an answer to
this effect: ‘They have turned their back unto me, and not
their 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,
and make him their leader, their lord, and their protection
now in their trouble; why now in their trouble do they visit
me, since in their prosperity they went astray?’

The answer made my Lord Mayor look black in the face; it
troubled, it perplexed, it rent him sore.  And now he began
again to see what it was to be familiar with Diabolonians,
such as Mr. Carnal-Security was.  When he saw that at court,
as yet, there was little help to be expected, either for
himself or friends in Mansoul, he smote upon his breast, and
returned weeping, and all the way bewailing the lamentable
state of Mansoul.

Well, when he was come within sight of the town, the elders
and chief of the people of Mansoul went out at the gate to
meet him, 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 all cried out, and mourned, and wept.  Wherefore
they threw ashes and dust upon their heads, and put sackcloth
upon their loins, and went crying out through the town of
Mansoul; the which, when the rest of the townsfolk saw, they
all mourned and wept.  This, therefore, was a day of rebuke
and trouble, and of anguish to the town of Mansoul, and also
of great distress.

After some time, when they had somewhat refrained themselves,
they came together to consult again what by them was yet to
be done; and they asked advice, as they did before, of that
reverend Mr. Godly-Fear, who told them that there was no way
better than to do as they had done, nor would he that they
should be discouraged at all with that they had met with at
court; yea, though several of their petitions should be
answered with nought but silence or rebuke: ‘For,’ said he,
‘it is the way of the wise Shaddai to make men wait and to
exercise patience, and it should be the way of them in want,
to be willing to 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
went over Mansoul’s head, wherein a man might not have met
upon the road one or other riding post, sounding the horn
from Mansoul to the court of the King Shaddai; and all with
letters petitionary in behalf of, and for the Prince’s return
to Mansoul.  The road, I say, was now full of messengers,
going and returning, and meeting one another; some from the
court, and some from Mansoul; and this was the work of the
miserable town of Mansoul, all that long, that sharp, that
cold and tedious winter.

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

Against these the good Prince did grant a commission to the
Lord Willbewill and others, yea, to the whole town of
Mansoul, to seek, take, secure, and destroy any or all that
they could lay hands of, for that they were Diabolonians by
nature, enemies to the Prince, and those that sought to ruin
the blessed town of Mansoul.  But the town of Mansoul did not
pursue this warrant, but neglected to look after, to
apprehend, to secure, and to destroy these Diabolonians. 
Wherefore what do these villains 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 familiar with some of them, to the
sorrow of the corporation, as you yet will hear more of in
time and place.

Well, when the Diabolonian lords that were left perceived
that Mansoul had, through sinning, offended Emmanuel their
Prince, and that he had withdrawn himself and was gone, what
do they but plot the ruin of the town of Mansoul.  So upon a
time they met together at the hold of one Mr. Mischief, who
was also a Diabolonian, and there consulted how they might
deliver up Mansoul into the hands of Diabolus again.  Now
some advised one way, and some another, every man according
to his own liking.  At last my Lord Lasciviousness
propounded, whether it might not be best, in the first place,
for some of those that were Diabolonians in Mansoul, to
adventure to offer themselves for servants to some of the
natives of the town; ‘for,’ said he, ‘if they so do, and
Mansoul shall accept of them, they may for us, and for
Diabolus our Lord, make the taking of the town of Mansoul
more easy than otherwise it will be.’  But then stood up the
Lord Murder, and said, ‘This may not be done at this time;
for Mansoul is now in a kind of a rage, because by our
friend, Mr. Carnal-Security, she hath been once ensnared
already, and made to offend against her Prince; and how shall
she reconcile herself unto her lord again, but by the heads
of these men?  Besides, we know that they have in commission
to take and slay us wherever 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, we may.’  Thus, when they had
tossed the matter to and fro, they jointly agreed that a
letter should forthwith be sent away to Diabolus in their
name, by which the state of the town of Mansoul should be
showed him, and how much it is under the frowns of their
Prince.  ‘We may also,’ said some, ‘let him know our
intentions, and ask of him his advice in the case.’

So a letter was presently framed, the contents of which were
these:-

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

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

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

‘There has been also of late, and is yet remaining, a very
great sickness and fainting among them; and that not only
upon the poorer sort of the town, but upon the lords,
captains, and chief gentry of the place, (we only who are of
the Diabolonians by nature remain well, lively, and strong,)
so that through their great transgression on the one hand,
and their dangerous sickness on the other, we judge they lie
open to thy hand and power.  If, therefore, it shall stand
with thy horrible cunning, and with the cunning of the rest
of the princes with thee, to come and make an attempt to take
Mansoul again, send us word, and we shall to our utmost power
be ready to deliver it into thy hand.  Or if what we have
said shall not by thy fatherhood be thought best and most
meet to be done, send us thy mind in a few words, and we are
all ready to follow thy counsel 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 yet is
alive and hath his place in our desirable town of Mansoul.’

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

Then came together from all places of the den Beelzebub,
Lucifer, Apollyon, with the rest of the rabblement there, to
hear what news from Mansoul.  So the letter was broken up and
read, and Cerberus he stood by.  When the letter was openly
read, and the contents thereof spread into all the corners of
the den, command was given that, without let or stop, dead-
man’s bell should be rung for joy.  So the bell was rung, and
the princes rejoiced that Mansoul was likely to come to ruin. 
Now, the clapper of the bell went, ‘The town of Mansoul is
coming to dwell with us: make room for the town 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
their friends in Mansoul; and some advised one thing, and
some another: but at length, because the business required
haste, they left the whole business to the prince Diabolus,
judging him the most proper lord of the place.  So he drew up
a letter as he thought fit, in answer to what Mr. Profane had
brought, and sent it to the Diabolonians that did dwell in
Mansoul, by the same hand that had brought theirs to him; and
these were the contents thereof:-

‘To our offspring, the high and mighty Diabolonians that yet
dwell in the town of Mansoul, Diabolus, the great prince of
Mansoul, wisheth a prosperous issue and conclusion of those
many brave enterprises, conspiracies, and designs, that you,
of your love and respect to our honour, have in your hearts
to attempt to do against Mansoul.  Beloved children and
disciples, my Lord Fornication, Adultery, and the rest, we
have here, in our desolate den, received, to our highest joy
and content, your welcome letter, by the hand of our trusty
Mr. Profane; and to show how acceptable your tidings were, we
rang out our bell for gladness; for we rejoiced as much as we
could, when we perceived that yet we had friends in Mansoul,
and such as sought our honour and revenge in the ruin of the
town of Mansoul.  We also rejoiced to hear that they are in a
degenerated condition, and that 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 horribly beloved, could we get this town
into our clutches again.  Nor will we be sparing of spending
our wit, our cunning, our craft, and hellish inventions to
bring to a wished conclusion this your brave beginning in
order thereto.

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

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

‘Given at the pit’s mouth, by the joint consent of all the
princes of darkness, to be sent, to the force and power that
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 the
Diabolonians that yet remained there, and that yet inhabited
the wall, from the dark dungeon of Diabolus, by the hand of
Mr. Profane, by whom they also in Mansoul sent theirs to the
pit.  Now, when this Mr. Profane had made his return, and was
come to Mansoul again, he went and came as he was wont to the
house of Mr. Mischief, for there was the conclave, and the
place where the contrivers were met.  Now, when they saw that
their messenger was returned safe and sound, they were
greatly gladded thereat.  Then he presented them with his
letter which he had brought from Diabolus for them; the
which, when they had read and considered, did much augment
their gladness.  They asked him after the welfare of their
friends, as how their Lord Diabolus, Lucifer, and Beelzebub
did, with the rest of those of the den.  To which this
Profane made answer, ‘Well, well, my lords; they are well,
even as well as can be in their place.  They also,’ said he,
‘did ring for joy at the reading of your letter, as you well
perceived by this when you read it.’

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

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

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

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

‘Now, I think, if we shall tempt them to pride, that may do
something; and if we tempt them to wantonness, that may help. 
But, in my mind, if we could drive them into desperation,
that would knock the nail on the head; for then we should
have them, in the first place, question the truth of the love
of the heart of their Prince towards them, and that will
disgust him much.  This, if it works well, will make them
leave off quickly their way of sending petitions to him; then
farewell earnest solicitations for help and supply; for then
this conclusion lies naturally before them, “As good do
nothing, as do to no purpose.”‘  So to Mr. Deceit they
unanimously did consent.

Then the next question was, But how shall we do to bring this
our project to pass? and it was answered by the same
gentleman – that this might be the best way to do it: ‘Even
let,’ quoth he, ‘so many of our friends as are willing to
venture themselves for the promoting of their prince’s cause,
disguise themselves with apparel, change their names, and go
into the market like far country-men, and proffer to let
themselves for servants to the famous town of Mansoul, and
let them pretend to do for their masters as beneficially as
may be; for by so doing they may, if Mansoul shall hire them,
in little time so corrupt and defile the corporation, that
her now Prince shall be not only further offended with them,
but in conclusion shall spue them out of his mouth.  And when
this is done, our prince Diabolus shall prey upon them with
ease: yea, of themselves they shall fall into the mouth of
the cater.’

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

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

Mr. Mind hired Prudent-Thrifty, and Mr. Godly-Fear hired
Good-Zeal.  True, this fellow Harmless-Mirth did hang a
little in hand, and could not so soon get him a master as the
others did, because the town of Mansoul was now in Lent, but
after a while, because Lent was almost out, the Lord
Willbewill hired 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 the
men of Mansoul, quickly began to do great mischief therein;
for, being filthy, arch, and sly, they quickly corrupted the
families where they were; yea, they tainted their masters
much, especially this Prudent-Thrifty, and him they call
Harmless-Mirth.  True, he that went under the visor of Good-
Zeal, was not so well liked of his master; for he quickly
found that he was but a counterfeit rascal; the which when
the fellow perceived, with speed he made his escape from the
house, or I doubt not but his master had hanged him.

Well, when these vagabonds had thus far carried on their
design, and had corrupted the town as much as they could, in
the next place they considered with themselves at what time
their prince Diabolus without, and themselves within the
town, should make an attempt to seize upon Mansoul; and they
all agreed upon this, that a market-day would be best for
that work; for why?  Then will the townsfolk be busy in their
ways: and always take this for a rule, when people are most
busy in the world, they least fear a surprise.  ‘We also
then,’ said they, ‘shall be able with less suspicion to
gather ourselves together for the work of our friends and
lords; yea, and in such a day, if we shall attempt our work,
and miss it, we may, when they shall give us the rout, the
better hide ourselves in the crowd, and escape.’

These things being thus far agreed upon by them, they wrote
another 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 high Diabolus
from our dens, caves, holes, and strongholds, in and about
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 your fatherhood’s readiness
to comply with us, and help forward our design in our
attempts to ruin Mansoul, none can tell but those who, as we
do, set themselves against all appearance of good, when and
wheresoever we find it.

‘Touching the encouragement that your greatness is pleased to
give us to continue to devise, contrive, and study the utter
desolation of Mansoul, that we are not solicitous about: for
we know right well that it cannot but be pleasing and
profitable to us to see our enemies, and them that seek our
lives, die at our feet, or fly before us.  We therefore are
still contriving, and that to the best of our cunning, to
make this 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 in your last; and have concluded, that though to blow them
up with the gunpowder of pride would do well, and to do it by
tempting them to be loose and vain will help on, yet to
contrive to bring them into the gulf of desperation, we think
will do best of all.  Now we, who are at your beck, have
thought or two ways to do this: first we, for our parts, will
make them as vile as we can, and then you with us, at a time
appointed, shall be ready to fall upon them with the utmost
force.  And of all the nations that are at your whistle, we
think that an army of doubters may be the most likely to
attack and overcome the town of Mansoul.  Thus shall we
overcome these enemies, else the pit shall open her mouth
upon them, and desperation shall thrust them down into it. 
We have also, to effect this so much by us desired design,
sent already three of our trusty Diabolonians among them;
they are disguised in garb, they have changed their names,
and are now accepted of them; namely, Covetousness,
Lasciviousness, and Anger.  The name of Covetousness is
changed to Prudent-Thrifty, and him Mr. Mind has hired, and
is almost become as bad as our friend.  Lasciviousness has
changed his name to Harmless-Mirth, and he is got to be the
Lord Willbewill’s lackey; but he has made his master very
wanton.  Anger changed his name into Good-Zeal, and was
entertained by Mr. Godly-Fear; but the peevish old gentleman
took pepper in the nose, and turned our companion out of his
house.  Nay, he has informed us since that he ran away from
him, or else his old master had hanged him up for his labour.

‘Now these have much helped forward our work and design upon
Mansoul; for notwithstanding the spite and quarrelsome temper
of the old gentleman last mentioned, the other two ply their
business well, and are likely to ripen the work apace.

‘Our next project is, that it be concluded that you come upon
the town upon a market-day, and that when they are upon the
heat of their business; for then, to be sure, they will be
most secure, and least think that an assault will be made
upon them.  They will also at such a time be less able to
defend themselves, and to offend you in the prosecution of
our design.  And we your trusty (and we are sure your
beloved) ones shall, when you shall make your furious assault
without, be ready to second the business within.  So shall
we, in all likelihood, be able to put Mansoul to utter
confusion, and to swallow them up before they can come to
themselves.  If your serpentine heads, most subtile dragons,
and our highly esteemed lords can find out a better way than
this, let us quickly know your minds.

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

Now all the while that the raging runagates and hellish
Diabolonians were thus contriving the ruin of the town of
Mansoul, they (namely, the poor town itself) was in a sad and
woeful case; partly because they had so grievously offended
Shaddai and his Son, and partly because that the enemies
thereby got strength within them afresh; and also because,
though they had by many petitions made suit to the Prince
Emmanuel, and to his Father Shaddai by him, for their pardon
and favour, yet hitherto obtained they not one smile; but
contrariwise, through the craft and subtilty of the domestic
Diabolonians, their cloud was made to grow blacker and
blacker, and their Emmanuel to stand at further distance.

The sickness also did still greatly rage in Mansoul, both
among the captains and the inhabitants of the town; and their
enemies only were now lively and strong, and likely to become
the head, whilst Mansoul was made the tail.

By this time the letter last mentioned, that was written by
the Diabolonians that yet lurked in the town of Mansoul, was
conveyed 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 were
presently as great as beggars, and thus they fell into
discourse about Mansoul, and about the project against her.

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

PROF.  Yes, my lord, I am come again about the concerns of
the town of Mansoul.

CERB.  Prithee, tell me what condition is that town of
Mansoul in at present?

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

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

PROF.  The contrivance is almost finished, the lords in
Mansoul that are Diabolonians are at it day and night, and
the other are like silly doves; they want heart to be
concerned with their state and to consider that ruin is at
hand.  Besides you may, yea, must think, when you put all
things together, that there are many reasons that prevail
with Diabolus to make what haste he can.

CERB.  Thou hast said as it is; I am glad things are at this
pass.  Go in, my brave Profane, to my lords, they will give
thee for thy welcome as good a CORANTO as the whole of this
kingdom will afford.  I have sent thy letter in already.

Then Mr. Profane went into the den, and his lord Diabolus met
him, and saluted him with, ‘Welcome, my trusty servant: I
have been made glad with thy letter.’  The rest of the lords
of the pit gave him also their salutations.  Then Profane,
after obeisance made to them all, said, ‘Let Mansoul be given
to my lord Diabolus, and let him be her king for ever.’  And
with that, the hollow belly and yawning gorge of hell gave so
loud and hideous a groan, (for that is the music 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, they
consulted what answer to return; and the first that did speak
to it was Lucifer.

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

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

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 the question, and he made
his answer as follows:-

PROF.  My lords, so far as I can gather, this is at present
the condition of the town of Mansoul: they are decayed in
their faith and love; Emmanuel, their Prince, has given them
the back; they send often by petition to fetch him again, but
he maketh not haste to answer their request, nor is there
much reformation among them.

DIAB.  I am glad that they are backward in a reformation, but
yet I am afraid of their petitioning.  However, their
looseness of life is a sign that there is not much heart in
what they do, and without the heart things are little worth. 
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 what day we
assault it; not their prayers, nor their power will do them
much service.

When Beelzebub had ended his oration, then Apollyon did
begin.  ‘My opinion,’ said he, ‘concerning this matter, is,
that we go on fair and softly, not doing things in a hurry. 
Let our friends in Mansoul go on still to pollute and defile
it, by seeking to draw it yet more into sin (for there is
nothing like sin to devour Mansoul).  If this be done, and it
takes effect, Mansoul, of itself, will leave off to watch, to
petition, or anything else that should tend to her security
and safety; for she will forget her Emmanuel, she will not
desire his company, and can she be gotten thus to live, her
Prince will not come to her in haste.  Our trusty friend, Mr.
Carnal-Security, with one of his tricks did drive him out of
the town; and why may not my Lord Covetousness, and my Lord
Lasciviousness, by what they may do, keep him out of the
town?  And this I will tell you, (not because you know it
not,) that two or three Diabolonians, if entertained and
countenanced by the town of Mansoul, will do more to the
keeping of Emmanuel from them, and towards making the town of
Mansoul your own, than can an army of a legion that should be
sent out from us to withstand him.  Let, therefore, this
first project that our friends in Mansoul have set on foot,
be strongly and diligently carried on, with all cunning and
craft imaginable; and let them send continually, under one
guise or another, more and other of their men to play with
the people of Mansoul; and then, perhaps, we shall not need
to be at the charge of making a war upon them; or if that
must of necessity be done, yet the more sinful they are, the
more unable, to be sure, they will be to resist 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 same means, or the
like, drive him from them once more?  Yea, why may he not, by
their lapse into that sin again, be driven from them for
ever, for the sake of which he was at the first driven from
them for a season?  And if this should happen, then away go
with him his rams, his slings, his captains, his soldiers,
and he leaveth Mansoul naked and bare.  Yea, will not this
town, when she sees herself utterly forsaken of her Prince,
of her own accord open her gates again unto you, and make of
you as in the days of old?  But this must be done by time, a
few days will not effect so great a work as this.’

So soon as Apollyon had made an end of speaking, Diabolus
began to blow out his own malice, and to plead his own cause;
and he said, ‘My lords, and powers of the cave, my true and
trusty friends, I have with much impatience, as becomes me,
given ear to your long and tedious orations.  But my furious
gorge, and empty paunch, so lusteth after a repossession of
my famous town of Mansoul, that whatever comes out, I can
wait no longer to see the events of lingering projects.  I
must, and that without further delay, seek, by all means I
can, to fill my insatiable gulf with the soul and body of the
town of Mansoul.  Therefore lend me your heads, your hearts,
and your help, now I am going to recover my town of Mansoul.’

When the lords and princes of the pit saw the flaming desire
that was in Diabolus to devour the miserable town of Mansoul,
they left off to raise any more objections, but consented to
lend him what strength they could, though had Apollyon’s
advice been taken, they had far more fearfully distressed the
town of Mansoul.  But, I say, they were willing to lend him
what strength they could, not knowing what need they might
have of him, 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 whom Diabolus should go against the town of
Mansoul to take it; and after some debate, it was concluded,
according as in the letter the Diabolonians had suggested,
that none were more fit for that expedition than an army of
terrible doubters.  They therefore concluded to send against
Mansoul an army of sturdy doubters.  The number thought fit
to be employed in that service was between twenty and thirty
thousand.  So then the result of that great council of those
high and mighty lords was – That Diabolus should even now,
out of hand, beat up his drum for men in the land of
Doubting, which land lieth upon the confines of the place
called Hell-Gate Hill, for men that might be employed by him
against the miserable town of Mansoul.  It was also
concluded, that these lords themselves should help him in the
war, and that they would to that end head and manage his men. 
So they drew up a letter, and sent back to the Diabolonians
that lurked in Mansoul, and that waited for the back-coming
of Mr. Profane, to signify to them into what method and
forwardness they at present had put their design.  The
contents whereof now follow:-

‘From the dark and horrible dungeon of hell, Diabolus with
all the society of the princes of darkness, sends to our
trusty ones, in and about the walls of the town of Mansoul,
now impatiently waiting for our most devilish answer to their
venomous and most poisonous design against the town of
Mansoul.

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

‘We could also do no less than admire your faithfulness to
us, with the greatness of that subtilty that now hath showed
itself to be in your heads to serve us against the town of
Mansoul.  For you have invented for us so excellent a method
for our proceeding against that rebellious people, a more
effectual cannot be thought of by all the wits of hell.  The
proposals, therefore, which now, at last, you have sent us,
since we saw them, we have done little else but highly
approved and admired them.

‘Nay, we shall, to encourage you in the profundity of your
craft, let you know, that, at a full assembly and conclave of
our princes and principalities of this place, your project
was discoursed and tossed from one side of our cave to the
other by their mightinesses; but a better, and as was by
themselves judged, a more fit and proper way by all their
wits, could not be invented, to surprise, take, and make our
own, the rebellious town of Mansoul.

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

‘We therefore give you to understand that our stout, furious,
and unmerciful Diabolus is raising, for your relief, and the
ruin of the rebellious town of Mansoul, more than twenty
thousand doubters to come against that people.  They are all
stout and sturdy men, and men that of old have been
accustomed to war, and that can therefore well endure the
drum.  I say, he is doing this work of his with all the
possible speed he can; for his heart and spirit is engaged in
it.  We desire, therefore, that, as you have hitherto stuck
to us, and given us both advice and encouragement thus far,
you still will prosecute our design; nor shall you lose, but
be gainers thereby; yea, we intend 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 Mansoul
would still use all your power, cunning, and skill, with
delusive persuasions, yet to draw the town of Mansoul into
more sin and wickedness, even that sin may be finished and
bring forth death.

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

‘As to the time of our coming upon Mansoul, we, as yet, have
not fully resolved upon that, though at present some of us
think as you, that a market-day, or a market-day at night,
will certainly be the best.  However, do you be ready, and
when you shall hear our roaring drum without, do you be as
busy to make the most horrible confusion within.  So shall
Mansoul certainly be distressed before and behind, and shall
not know which way to betake herself for help.  My Lord
Lucifer, my Lord 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 fruit and success for their doing as we
ourselves at present enjoy for ours.

‘From our dreadful confines in the most fearful pit, we
salute you, and so do those many legions here with us,
wishing you may be as hellishly prosperous as we desire to be
ourselves.  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
that dwelt in that town.  So he came up the stairs from the
deep to the mouth of the cave where Cerberus was.  Now when
Cerberus saw him, he asked how did matters go below, about
and against the town of Mansoul.

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

CERB.  But does he intend to go against them himself?

PROF.  Does he!  Ay! and he will take along with him more
than twenty thousand, all sturdy Doubters, and men of war,
picked men from the land of Doubting, to serve him in the
expedition.

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

PROF.  Your wish may come to pass; you look like one that has
mettle enough, and my lord will have with him those that are
valiant and stout.  But my business requires haste.

CERB.  Ay, so it does.  Speed thee to the town of Mansoul,
with all the deepest mischiefs that this place can afford
thee.  And when thou shalt come to the house of Mr. Mischief,
the place where the Diabolonians meet to plot, tell them that
Cerberus doth wish them his service, and that if he may, he
will with the army come up against the famous town of
Mansoul.

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

So after a few more such kind of compliments, Mr. Profane
took his leave of his friend Cerberus; and Cerberus again,
with a thousand of their pit-wishes, bid him haste, with all
speed, to his masters.  The which when he had heard, he made
obeisance, 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
found the Diabolonians assembled, and waiting for his return. 
Now when he was come, and had presented himself, he also
delivered to them his letter, and adjoined this compliment to
them therewith: ‘My lords, from the confines of the pit, the
high and mighty principalities and powers of the den salute
you here, the true Diabolonians of the town of Mansoul. 
Wishing you always the most proper of their benedictions, for
the great service, high attempts, and brave achievements that
you have put yourselves upon, for the restoring to our prince
Diabolus the famous town of Mansoul.’

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

True, the town of Mansoul was somewhat made sensible of her
sin, but the Diabolonians were gotten into her bowels; she
cried, but Emmanuel was gone, and her cries did not fetch him
as yet again.  Besides, she knew not now whether, ever or
never, he would return and come to his Mansoul again; nor did
they know the power and industry of the enemy, nor how
forward they were to put in execution that plot of hell that
they had devised against her.

They did, indeed, still send petition after petition to the
Prince, but he answered all with silence.  They did neglect
reformation, and that was as Diabolus would have it; for he
knew, if they regarded iniquity in their heart, their King
would not hear their prayer; they therefore did still grow
weaker and weaker, and were as a rolling thing before the
whirlwind.  They cried to their King for help, and laid
Diabolonians in their bosoms: what therefore should a King do
to them?  Yea, there seemed now to be a mixture in Mansoul;
the Diabolonians and the Mansoulians would walk the streets
together.  Yea, they began to seek their peace; for they
thought that, since the sickness had been so mortal in
Mansoul, it was in vain to go to handygripes with them. 
Besides, the weakness of Mansoul was the strength of their
enemies; and the sins of Mansoul, the advantage of the
Diabolonians.  The foes of Mansoul did also now begin to
promise themselves the town for a possession: there was no
great difference now betwixt Mansoulians and Diabolonians:
both seemed to be masters of Mansoul.  Yea, the Diabolonians
increased and grew, but the town of Mansoul diminished
greatly.  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 name
was Mr. Prywell, a great lover of the people of Mansoul.  And
he, as his manner was, did go listening up and down in
Mansoul to see, and to hear, if at any time he might, whether
there was any design against it or no.  For he was always a
jealous man, and feared some mischief sometime would befal
it, either from the Diabolonians within, or from some power
without.  Now upon a time it so happened, as Mr. Prywell went
listening here and there, that he lighted upon a place called
Vilehill, in Mansoul, where Diabolonians used to meet; so
hearing a muttering, (you must know that it was in the
night,) he softly drew near to hear; nor had he stood long
under the house-end, (for there stood a house there,) but he
heard one confidently affirm, that it was not, or would not
be long before Diabolus should possess himself again of
Mansoul; and that then the Diabolonians did intend to put all
Mansoulians to the sword, and would kill and destroy the
King’s captains, and drive all his soldiers out of the town. 
He said, moreover, that he knew there were above twenty
thousand fighting men prepared by Diabolus for the
accomplishing of this design, and that it would not be months
before they all should see it.

When Mr. Prywell had heard this story, he did quickly believe
it was true: wherefore he went forthwith to my Lord Mayor’s
house, and acquainted him therewith; who, sending for the
subordinate preacher, brake the business to him; and he as
soon gave the alarm to the town; for he was now the chief
preacher in Mansoul, because, as yet, my Lord Secretary was
ill at ease.  And this was the way that the subordinate
preacher did take to alarm the town therewith.  The same hour
he caused the lecture bell to be rung; so the people came
together: he gave them then a short exhortation to
watchfulness, and made Mr. Prywell’s news the argument
thereof.  ‘For,’ said he, ‘an horrible plot is contrived
against Mansoul, even to massacre us all in a day, nor is
this story to be slighted; for Mr. Prywell is the author
thereof.  Mr. Prywell was always a lover of Mansoul, a sober
and judicious man, a man that is no tattler, nor raiser of
false reports, but one that loves to look into the very
bottom of matters, and talks nothing of news, but by very
solid arguments.

‘I will call him, and you shall hear him your own selves;’ so
he called him, and he came and told his tale so punctually,
and affirmed its truth with such ample grounds, that Mansoul
fell presently under a conviction of the truth of what he
said.  The preacher did also back him, saying, ‘Sirs, it is
not irrational for us to believe it, for we have provoked
Shaddai to anger, and have sinned Emmanuel out of the town;
we have had too much correspondence with Diabolonians, and
have forsaken our former mercies: no marvel then, if the
enemy both within and without should design and plot our
ruin; and what time like this to do it?  The sickness is now
in the town, and we have been made weak thereby.  Many a good
meaning man is dead, and the Diabolonians of late grow
stronger and stronger.

‘Besides,’ quoth the subordinate preacher, ‘I have received
from this good truth-teller this one inkling further, that he
understood by those that he overheard, that several letters
have lately passed between the furies and the Diabolonians in
order to our destruction.’  When Mansoul heard all this, and
not being able to gainsay it, they lift up their voice and
wept.  Mr. Prywell did also, in the presence of the townsmen,
confirm all that their subordinate preacher had said. 
Wherefore they now set afresh to bewail their folly, and to a
doubling of petitions to Shaddai and his Son.  They also
brake the business to the captains, high commanders, and men
of war in the town of Mansoul, entreating them to use the
means to be strong, and to take good courage; and that they
would look after their harness, and make themselves ready to
give Diabolus battle by night and by day, shall he come, as
they are informed he will, to beleaguer the town of Mansoul.

When the captains heard this, they being always true lovers
of the town of Mansoul, what do they but like so many Samsons
they shake themselves, and come together to consult and
contrive how to defeat those bold and hellish contrivances
that were upon the wheel by the means of Diabolus and his
friends against the now sickly, weakly, and much impoverished
town of Mansoul; and they agreed upon these following
particulars:-

1. That the gates of Mansoul should be kept shut, and made
fast with bars and locks, and that all persons that went out,
or came in, should be very strictly examined by the captains
of the guards, ‘to the end,’ said they, ‘that those that are
managers of the plot amongst us, may, either coming or going,
be taken; and that we may also find out who are the great
contrivers, amongst us, of our ruin.’

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

3. It was further concluded upon, that wheresoever or with
whomsoever any of the Diabolonians were found, that even
those of the town of Mansoul that had given them house and
harbour, should to their shame, and the warning of others,
take penance in the open place.

4. It was, moreover, resolved by the famous town of Mansoul,
that a public fast, and a day of humiliation, should be kept
throughout the whole corporation, to the justifying of their
Prince, the abasing of themselves before him for their
transgressions against him, and against Shaddai, his Father. 
It was further resolved, that all such in Mansoul as did not
on that day endeavour to keep that fast, and to humble
themselves for their faults, but that should mind their
worldly employs, or be found wandering up and down the
streets, should be taken for Diabolonians, and should suffer
as Diabolonians for such their wicked doings.

5. It was further concluded then, that with what speed, and
with what warmth of mind they could, they would renew their
humiliation 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 the
town of Mansoul to Mr. Prywell, for his diligent seeking of
the welfare of their town: and further, that forasmuch as he
was so naturally inclined to seek their good, and also to
undermine their 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 made for Diabolonians strict search, they made
those with whom any were found to take penance in the open
place: they kept their fast, and renewed their petitions to
their Prince, and Mr. Prywell managed his charge and the
trust that Mansoul had put in his hands, with great
conscience and good fidelity; for he gave himself wholly up
to his employ, and that not only within the town, but he went
out to pry, to see, and to hear.

And not many days after he provided for his journey, and went
towards Hell-Gate Hill, into the country where the Doubters
were, where he heard of all that had been talked of in
Mansoul, and he perceived also that Diabolus was almost ready
for his march, etc.  So he came back with speed, and, calling
the captains and elders of Mansoul together, he told them
where he had been, what he had heard, and what he had seen. 
Particularly, he told them that Diabolus was almost ready for
his march, and that he had made old Mr. Incredulity, that
once brake prison in Mansoul, the, general of his army; that
his army consisted all of Doubters, and that their number was
above twenty thousand.  He told, moreover, that Diabolus did
intend to bring with him the chief princes of the infernal
pit, and that he would make them chief 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 to the obedience of
Diabolus, their prince.

He said, moreover, that he understood by the Doubters, among
whom he had been, that the reason why old Incredulity was
made general of the whole army, was because none truer than
he to the tyrant; and because he had an implacable spite
against the welfare of the town of Mansoul.  Besides, said
he, he remembers the affronts that Mansoul has given him, and
he is resolved to be revenged of them.

But the black princes shall be made high commanders, only
Incredulity shall be over them all; because, which I had
almost forgot, he can more easily, and more dexterously,
beleaguer the town of Mansoul, than can any of the princes
besides.

Now, when the captains of Mansoul, with the elders of the
town, had heard the tidings that Mr. Prywell did bring, they
thought it expedient, without further delay, to put into
execution the laws that against the Diabolonians their Prince
had made for them, and given them in commandment to manage
against them.  Wherefore, forthwith a diligent and impartial
search was made in all houses in Mansoul, for all and all
manner of Diabolonians.  Now, in the house of Mr. Mind, and
in the house of the great Lord Willbewill, were two
Diabolonians found.  In Mr. Mind’s house was one Lord
Covetousness found; but he had changed his name to Prudent-
Thrifty.  In my Lord Willbewill’s house, one Lasciviousness
was found; but he had changed his name to Harmless-Mirth. 
These two the captains and elders of the town of Mansoul
took, and committed them to custody under the hand of Mr.
Trueman, the gaoler; and this man handled them so severely,
and loaded them so well with irons, that in time they both
fell into a very deep consumption, and died in the prison-
house; their masters also, according to the agreement of the
captains and elders, were brought to take penance in the open
place to their shame, and for a warning to the rest of the
town of Mansoul.

Now, this was the manner of penance in those days: the
persons offending being made sensible of the evil of their
doings, were enjoined open confession of their faults, and a
strict amendment of their lives.

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

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

By this time, Diabolus had finished his army which he
intended to bring with him for the ruin of Mansoul; and had
set over them captains, and other field officers, such as
liked his furious stomach best: himself was lord paramount,
Incredulity was general of 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 over
the election doubters, his were the red colours; his
standard-bearer was Mr. Destructive, and the great red dragon
he had for his scutcheon.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

These were his captains, and these were their forces, these
were their standards, these were their colours, and these
were their scutcheons.  Now, over these did the great
Diabolus make 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 the Lord Belial; these seven he set over the
captains, and Incredulity was lord-general, and, Diabolus was
king.  The reformades also, such as were like themselves,
were made some of them captains of hundreds, and some of them
captains of more.  And thus was the army of Incredulity
completed.

So they set out at Hell-Gate Hill, for there they had their
rendezvous, from whence they came with a straight course upon
their march toward the town of Mansoul.  Now, as was hinted
before, the town had, as Shaddai would have it, received from
the mouth of Mr. Prywell the alarm of their coming before. 
Wherefore they set a strong watch at the gates, and had also
doubled their guards: they also mounted their slings in good
places, where they might conveniently cast out their great
stones to the annoyance of their furious enemy.

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

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

Now having entrenched himself, he did cast up four mounts
against the town: the first he called Mount Diabolus, putting
his own name thereon, the more to affright the town of
Mansoul; the other three he called thus – Mount Alecto, Mount
Megara, and Mount Tisiphone; for these are the names of the
dreadful furies of hell.  Thus he began to play his game with
Mansoul, and to serve it as doth the lion his prey, even to
make it fall before his terror.  But, as I said, the captains
and soldiers resisted so stoutly, and did do such execution
with their stones, that they made him, though against
stomach, to retreat, wherefore Mansoul began to take courage.

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

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

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

When this drummer had beaten for a parley, he made this
speech to Mansoul: ‘My master has bid me tell you, that if
you will willingly submit, you shall have the good of the
earth; but if you shall be stubborn, he is resolved to take
you by force.’  But by that the fugitive had done beating his
drum, the people of Mansoul had betaken themselves to the
captains that were in the castle, so that there was none to
regard, nor to give this drummer an answer; so he proceeded
no further that night, but returned again to his master to
the camp.

When Diabolus saw that by drumming he could not work out
Mansoul to his will, the next night he sendeth his drummer
without his drum, still to let the townsmen know that he had
a mind to parley with them.  But when all came to all, his
parley was turned into a summons to the town to deliver up
themselves: but they gave him neither heed nor hearing: for
they remembered what at first it cost them to hear him a few
words.

The next night he sends again, and then who should be his
messenger to Mansoul but the terrible Captain Sepulchre; so
Captain Sepulchre came up to the walls of Mansoul, and made
this oration to the town:-

‘O ye inhabitants of the rebellious town of Mansoul!  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 still rebel,
when we have taken to us the town by force, we will swallow
you up as the grave; wherefore if you will hearken to my
summons, 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, as you yourselves
have formerly owned.  Nor shall that assault that was given
to my lord, when Emmanuel dealt so dishonourably by him,
prevail with him to lose his right, and to forbear to attempt
to recover his own.  Consider, then, O Mansoul, with thyself,
wilt thou show thyself peaceable, or no?  If thou shalt
quietly yield up thyself, then our old friendship shall be
renewed; but if thou shalt yet refuse and rebel, then expect
nothing but fire and sword.’

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

But, after some consultation among themselves, as also with
some of their captains, they applied themselves afresh to the
Lord Secretary for counsel and advice from him; for this Lord
Secretary was their chief preacher, (as also is mentioned
some pages before,) only now he was ill at ease; and of him
they begged favour in these two or three things –

1. That he would look comfortably upon them, and not keep
himself so much retired from them as formerly.  Also, that he
would be prevailed with to give them a hearing, while they
should make known their miserable condition to him.  But to
this he told them as before, that ‘as yet he was but ill at
ease, and therefore could not do as he had formerly done.’

2. The second thing that they desired was, that he would be
pleased to give them his advice about their now so important
affairs, for that Diabolus was come and set down before the
town with no less than twenty thousand doubters.  They said,
moreover, that both he and his captains were cruel men, and
that they were afraid of them.  But to this he said, ‘You
must look to the law of the Prince, and there see what is
laid upon you to do.’

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

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

This answer of the Lord Secretary fell like a millstone upon
them; yea, it crushed them so that they could not tell what
to do; yet they durst not comply with the demands of
Diabolus, nor with the demands of his captain.  So then here
were the straits that the town of Mansoul was betwixt, when
the enemy came upon her: her foes were ready to swallow her
up, and her friends did forbear to help her.

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

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
High Secretary had said; who, when they had heard it, were
all of the same opinion as was my Lord Mayor himself.  The
captains, therefore, began to take some courage unto them,
and to prepare to make some brave attempt upon the camp of
the enemy, and to destroy all that were Diabolonians, with
the roving doubters that the tyrant had brought with him to
destroy the poor town of Mansoul.

So all betook themselves forthwith to their places – the
Captains to theirs, the Lord Mayor to his, the subordinate
preacher to his, and my Lord Willbewill to his.  The captains
longed to be at some work for their prince; for they
delighted 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
with slings; and so they did at the rising of the sun on the
morrow; for Diabolus had adventured to come nearer again, but
the sling-stones were to him and his like hornets.  For as
there is nothing to the town of Mansoul so terrible as the
roaring of Diabolus’s drum, so there is nothing to Diabolus
so terrible as the well playing of Emmanuel’s slings. 
Wherefore Diabolus was forced to make another retreat, yet
further off from the famous town of Mansoul.  Then did the
Lord Mayor of Mansoul cause the bells to be rung, ‘and that
thanks should be sent to the Lord High Secretary by the mouth
of the subordinate preacher; for that by his words the
captains and elders of Mansoul had been strengthened against
Diabolus.’

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

Wherefore, after a while, he came down again to the wall, not
now with his drum, nor with Captain Sepulchre; but having all
besugared his lips, he seemed to be a very sweet-mouthed,
peaceable prince, designing nothing for humour’s sake, nor to
be revenged on Mansoul for injuries by them done to him; but
the welfare, and good, and advantage of the town and people
therein was now, as he said, his only design.  Wherefore,
after he had called for audience, and desired that the
townsfolk would give it to him, he proceeded in his oration,
and said:-

‘Oh, the desire of my heart, the famous town of Mansoul! how
many nights have I watched, and how many weary steps have I
taken, if perhaps I might do thee good!  Far be it, far be it
from me to desire to make a war upon you; if ye will but
willingly and quietly deliver up yourselves unto me.  You
know that you were mine of old.  Remember also, that so long
as you enjoyed me for your lord, and that I enjoyed you for
my subjects, you wanted for nothing of all the delights of
the earth, that I, your lord and prince, could get for you,
or that I could invent to make you bonny and blithe withal. 
Consider, you never had so many hard, dark, troublesome, and
heart-afflicting hours, while you were mine, as you have had
since you revolted from me; nor shall you ever have peace
again, until you and I become one as before.  But, be but
prevailed with to embrace me again, and I will grant, yea,
enlarge your old charter with abundance of privileges; so
that your license and liberty shall be to take, hold, enjoy,
and make your own all that is pleasant from the east to the
west.  Nor shall any of those incivilities, wherewith you
have offended me, be ever charged upon you by me, so long as
the sun and moon endure.  Nor shall any of those dear friends
of mine that now, for the fear of you, lie lurking in dens,
and holes, and caves in Mansoul, be hurtful to you any more;
yea, they shall be your servants, and shall minister unto you
of their substance, and of whatever shall come to hand.  I
need speak no more; you know them, and have sometime since
been much delighted in their company.  Why, then, should we
abide at such odds?  Let us renew our old acquaintance and
friendship again.

‘Bear with your friend; I take the liberty at this time to
speak thus freely unto you.  The love that I have to you
presses me to do it, as also does the zeal of my heart for my
friends with you: put me not therefore to further trouble,
nor yourselves to further fears and frights.  Have you I
will, in a way of peace or war; nor do you flatter yourselves
with the power and force of your captains, or that your
Emmanuel will shortly come in to your help; for such strength
will do you no pleasure.

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

Diabolus having thus handed his flattering, fawning,
deceitful, and lying speech to the famous town of Mansoul,
the Lord Mayor replied to him as follows: ‘O Diabolus, prince
of darkness, and master of all deceit; thy lying flatteries
we have had and made sufficient probation of, and have tasted
too deeply of that destructive cup already.  Should we
therefore again hearken unto thee, and so break the
commandments of our great Shaddai, to join in affinity with
thee, would not our Prince reject us, and cast us off for
ever?  And, being cast off by him, can the place that he has
prepared for thee be a place of rest for us?  Besides, O thou
that art empty and void of all truth, we are rather ready to
die by thy hand, than to fall in with thy flattering and
lying deceits.’

When the tyrant saw that there was little to be got by
parleying with my Lord Mayor, he fell into an hellish rage,
and resolved that again, with his army of doubters, he would
another time assault the town of Mansoul.

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

Now Captain Insatiable, he was to look to the carriages of
Diabolus, and was also appointed to take into custody that,
or those persons and things, that should at any time as prey
be taken from the enemy.

Now Mouth-gate the inhabitants of Mansoul kept for a sally-
port; wherefore that they kept strong; for that it was it by
and out at which the townsfolk did send their petitions to
Emmanuel their Prince.  That also was the gate from the top
of which the captains did play their slings at the enemies;
for that gate stood somewhat ascending, so that the placing
of them there, and the letting of them fly from that place,
did much execution against the tyrant’s army.  Wherefore, for
these causes, with others, Diabolus sought, if possible, to
land up Mouth-gate with dirt.

Now, as Diabolus was busy and industrious in preparing to
make his assault upon the town of Mansoul, without, so the
captains and soldiers in the corporation were as busy in
preparing within; they mounted their slings, they set up
their banners, they sounded their trumpets, and put
themselves in such order as was judged most for the annoyance
of the enemy, and for the advantage of Mansoul, and gave to
their soldiers orders to be ready at the sound of the trumpet
for war.  The Lord Willbewill also, he took the charge of
watching against the rebels within, and to do what he could
to take them while without, or to stifle them within their
caves, dens, and holes in the town-wall of Mansoul.  And, to
speak the truth of him, ever since he took penance for his
fault, he has showed as much honesty and bravery of spirit as
any he in Mansoul; for he took one Jolly, and his brother
Griggish, the two sons of his servant Harmless-Mirth, (for to
that day, though the father was committed to ward, the sons
had a dwelling in the house of my lord,) – I say, he took
them, and with his own hands put them to the cross.  And this
was the reason why he hanged them up: after their father was
put into the hands of Mr. True-Man the gaoler, they, his
sons, began to play his pranks, and to be ticking and toying
with the daughters of their lord; nay, it was jealoused that
they were too familiar with them, the which was brought to
his lordship’s ear.  Now his lordship being unwilling
unadvisedly to put any man to death, did not suddenly fall
upon them, but set watch and spies to see if the thing was
true; of the which he was soon informed, for his two
servants, whose names were Find-Out and Tell-All, catched
them together in uncivil manner more than once or twice, and
went and told their lord.  So when my Lord Willbewill had
sufficient ground to believe 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, just in the face of Diabolus, and
of his army, and there he hanged the young villains, in
defiance to Captain Past-Hope, and of the horrible standard
of the tyrant.

Now this Christian act of the brave Lord Willbewill did
greatly abash Captain Past-Hope, discouraged the army of
Diabolus, put fear into the Diabolonian runagates in Mansoul,
and put strength and courage into the captains that belonged
to Emmanuel, the Prince; for they without did gather, and
that by this very act of my Lord, that Mansoul was resolved
to fight, and that the Diabolonians within the town could not
do such things as Diabolus had hopes they would.  Nor was
this the only proof of the brave Lord Willbewill’s honesty to
the town, nor of his 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
also committed to prison, and their names were Gripe and
Rake-All; these he begat of Mr. Mind’s bastard daughter,
whose name was Mrs. Hold-fast-Bad;) – I say, when his
children perceived how the Lord Willbewill had served them
that dwelt with him, what do they but, lest they should drink
of the same cup, endeavour to make their escape.  But Mr.
Mind, being wary of it, took them and put them in hold in his
house till morning; (for this was done over night;) and
remembering that by the law of Mansoul all Diabolonians were
to die, (and to be sure they were at least by father’s side
such, and some say by mother’s side too,) what does he but
takes them and puts them in chains, and carries them to the
selfsame place where my lord hanged his two before, 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
these Diabolonian troublers of Mansoul; but at that time the
rest lay so squat and close, that they could not be
apprehended; so they set against them a diligent watch, and
went every man to his place.

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

So Diabolus commanded that his drummer should beat a charge
against the town; and the captains also that were in the town
sounded a charge against them, but they had no drum: they
were trumpets of silver with which they sounded against them. 
Then they which were of the camp of Diabolus came down to the
town to take it, and the captains in the castle, with the
slingers at Mouth-gate, played upon them amain.  And now
there was nothing heard in the camp of Diabolus but horrible
rage and blasphemy; but in the town good words, prayer, and
singing of psalms.  The enemy replied with horrible
objections, and the terribleness of their drum; but the town
made answer with the slapping of their slings, and the
melodious noise of their trumpets.  And thus the fight lasted
for several days together, only now and then they had some
small intermission, in the which the townsmen refreshed
themselves, and the captains made ready for another assault.

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

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

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

Many also of the doubters were slain outright, though enough
of them were left alive to make Mansoul shake and totter. 
Now the victory that day being turned to Mansoul, did put
great valour into the townsmen and captains, and did cover
Diabolus’s camp with a cloud, but withal it made them far
more furious.  So the next day Mansoul rested, and commanded
that the bells should be rung; the trumpets also joyfully
sounded, and the captains shouted round the town.

My Lord Willbewill also was not idle, but did notable service
within against the domestics, or the Diabolonians that were
in the town, not only by keeping them in awe, for he lighted
on one at last whose name was Mr. Anything, a fellow of whom
mention was made before; for it was he, if you remember, that
brought the three fellows to Diabolus, whom the Diabolonians
took out of Captain Boanerges’s companies, and that persuaded
them to list themselves under the tyrant, to fight against
the army of Shaddai.  My Lord Willbewill did also take a
notable Diabolonian, whose name was Loose-Foot: this Loose-
Foot was a scout to the vagabonds in Mansoul, and that did
use to carry tidings out of Mansoul to the camp, and out of
the camp to those of the enemies in Mansoul.  Both these my
lord sent away safe to Mr. True-Man, the gaoler, with a
commandment to keep them in irons; for he intended then to
have them out to be crucified, when it would be for the best
to the corporation, and most for the discouragement of the
camp of the enemies.

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

Mr. Conscience, the preacher, he also did his utmost to keep
all his good documents alive upon the hearts of the people of
Mansoul.

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

So the night appointed being come, the Prince’s brave
captains cast lots who should lead the van in this new and
desperate expedition against Diabolus, and against his
Diabolonian army; and the lot fell to Captain Credence, to
Captain Experience, and to Captain Good-Hope, to lead the
forlorn hope.  (This Captain Experience the Prince created
such when himself did reside in the town of Mansoul.)  So, as
I said, they made their sally out upon the army that lay in
the siege against them; and their hap was to fall in with the
main body of their enemies.  Now Diabolus and his men being
expertly accustomed to night-work, took the alarm presently,
and were as ready to give them battle, as if they had sent
them word of their coming.  Wherefore to it they went amain,
and blows were hard on every side; the hell drum also was
beat most furiously, while the trumpets of the Prince most
sweetly sounded.  And thus the battle was joined; and Captain
Insatiable looked to the enemy’s carriages, and waited when
he should receive some prey.

The Prince’s captains fought it stoutly, beyond what indeed
could be expected they should; they wounded many; they made
the whole army of Diabolus to make a retreat.  But I cannot
tell how, but the brave Captain Credence, Captain Good-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
so great a hurt, that he could not rise till Captain
Experience did help him up, at which their men were put in
disorder.  The captain also was so full of pain, that he
could not forbear but aloud 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 to fight.  Now Diabolus being
very observing, though at this time as yet he was put to the
worst, perceiving that a halt was made among the men that
were the pursuers, what does he but, taking it for granted
that the captains were either wounded or dead, he therefore
makes at first a stand, then faces about, and so comes up
upon the Prince’s army with as much of his fury as hell could
help him to; and his hap was to fall in just among the three
captains, Captain Credence, Captain Good-Hope, and Captain
Experience, and did cut, wound, and pierce them so
dreadfully, that what through discouragement, what through
disorder, and what through the wounds that they had received,
and also the loss of much blood, they scarce were able,
though they had for their power the three best hands in
Mansoul, to get safe into the hold again.

Now, when the body of the Prince’s army saw how these three
captains were put to the worst, they thought it their wisdom
to make as safe and good a retreat as they could, and so
returned by the sally-port again; and so there was an end of
this present action.  But Diabolus was so flushed with this
night’s work, that he promised himself, in few days, an easy
and complete conquest over the town of Mansoul; wherefore, on
the day following, he comes up to the sides thereof with
great boldness, and demands entrance, and that forthwith they
deliver themselves up to his government.  The Diabolonians,
too, that were within, they began to be somewhat brisk, as we
shall show afterward.

But the valiant Lord Mayor replied, that what he got he must
get by force; for as long as Emmanuel, their Prince, was
alive, (though he at present was not so with them as they
wished,) they should 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 is
good, we poor inhabitants of the town of Mansoul are too well
acquainted with thy rule and government, and with the end of
those things that for certain will follow submitting to thee,
to do it.  Wherefore though while we were without knowledge
we suffered thee to take us, (as the bird that saw not the
snare fell into the hands of the fowler,) yet since we have
been turned from darkness to light, we have also been turned
from the power of Satan to God.  And though through thy
subtlety, and also the subtlety of the Diabolonians within,
we have sustained much loss, and also plunged ourselves into
much perplexity, yet give up ourselves, lay down our arms,
and yield to so horrid a tyrant as thou, we shall not; die
upon the place we choose rather to do.  Besides, we have
hopes that in time deliverance will come from court unto us,
and therefore we yet will maintain a war against thee.’

This brave speech of the Lord Willbewill, with that also of
the Lord Mayor, did somewhat abate the boldness of Diabolus,
though it kindled the fury of his rage.  It also succoured
the townsmen and captains; yea, it was as a plaster to the
brave Captain Credence’s wound; for you must know that a
brave speech now (when the captains of the town with their
men of war came home routed, and when the enemy took courage
and boldness at the success that he had obtained to draw up
to the walls, and demand entrance, as he did) was in season,
and also advantageous.

The Lord Willbewill also did play the man within; for while
the captains and soldiers were in the field, he was in arms
in the town, and wherever by him there was a Diabolonian
found, they were forced to feel the weight of his heavy hand,
and also the edge of his penetrating sword: many therefore of
the Diabolonians he wounded, as the Lord Cavil, the Lord
Brisk, the Lord Pragmatic, and the Lord Murmur; several also
of the meaner sort he did sorely maim; though there cannot at
this time an account be given you of any that he slew
outright.  The cause, or rather the advantage that my Lord
Willbewill had at this time to do thus, was for that the
captains were gone out to fight the enemy in the field.  ‘For
now,’ thought the Diabolonians within, ‘is our time to stir
and make an uproar in the town.’  What do they therefore but
quickly get themselves into a body, and fall forthwith to
hurricaning in Mansoul, as if now nothing but whirlwind and
tempest should be there.  Wherefore, as I said, he takes this
opportunity to fall in among them with his men, cutting and
slashing with courage that was undaunted; at which the
Diabolonians 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 done
by Diabolus to the captains, and also did let them know that
Mansoul was not to be parted with for the loss of a victory
or two; wherefore the wing of the tyrant was clipped again,
as to boasting, – I mean in comparison of what he would have
done, if the Diabolonians had put the town to the same plight
to which he had put the captains.

Well, Diabolus yet resolves to have the other bout with
Mansoul.  ‘For,’ thought he, ‘since I beat them once, I may
beat them twice.’  Wherefore he commanded his men to be ready
at such an hour of the night, to make a fresh assault upon
the town; and he gave it out in special that they should bend
all their force against Feel-gate, and attempt to break into
the town through that.  The word that then he did give to his
officers and soldiers was Hell-fire.  ‘And,’ said he, ‘if we
break in upon them, as I wish we do, either with some, or
with all our force, let them that break in look to it, that
they forget not the word.  And let nothing be heard in the
town of Mansoul but, “Hell-fire!  Hell-fire! Hell-fire!”‘ 
The drummer was also to beat without ceasing, and the
standard-bearers were to display their colours; the soldiers,
too, were to put on what courage they could, and to see that
they played manfully their parts against the town.

So when night was come, and all things by the tyrant made
ready for the work, he suddenly makes his assault upon Feel-
gate, and after he had awhile struggled there, he throws the
gate wide open: for the truth is, those gates were but weak,
and so most easily made to yield.  When Diabolus had thus far
made his attempt, he placed his captains (namely, Torment and
No-Ease) there; so he attempted to press forward, but the
Prince’s captains came down upon him, and made his entrance
more difficult than he desired.  And, to speak truth, they
made what resistance they could; but the three of their best
and most valiant captains being wounded, and by their wounds
made much incapable of doing the town that service they
would, (and all the rest having more than their hands full of
the doubters, and their captains that did follow Diabolus,)
they were overpowered with force, nor could they keep them
out of the town.  Wherefore the Prince’s men and their
captains betook themselves to the castle, as to the
stronghold of the town: and this they did partly for their
own security, partly for the security of the town, and
partly, or rather chiefly, to preserve to Emmanuel the
prerogative-royal of Mansoul; for so was the castle of
Mansoul.

The captains therefore being fled into the castle, the enemy,
without much resistance, possess themselves of the rest of
the town, and spreading themselves as they went into every
corner, they cried out as they marched, according to the
command of the tyrant, ‘Hell-fire! Hell-fire! Hell-fire!’ so
that nothing for a while throughout the town of Mansoul could
be heard but the direful noise of ‘Hell-fire!’ together with
the roaring of Diabolus’s drum.  And now did the clouds hang
black over Mansoul, nor to reason did anything but ruin seem
to attend it.  Diabolus also quartered his soldiers in the
houses of the inhabitants of the town of Mansoul.  Yea, the
subordinate preacher’s house was as full of these outlandish
doubters as ever it could hold, and so was my Lord Mayor’s,
and my Lord Willbewill’s also.  Yea, where was there a
corner, a cottage, a barn, or a hogstye, that now was not
full of these vermin?  Yea, they turned the men of the town
out of their houses, and would lie in their beds, and sit at
their tables themselves.  Ah, poor Mansoul! now thou feelest
the fruits of sin, yea, what venom was in the flattering
words of Mr. Carnal-Security!  They made great havoc of
whatever they laid their hands on; yea, they fired the town
in several places; many young children also were by them
dashed in pieces; and those that were yet unborn they
destroyed in their mothers’ wombs: for you must needs think
that it could not now be otherwise; for what conscience, what
pity, what bowels of compassion can any expect at the hands
of outlandish doubters?  Many in Mansoul that were women,
both young and old, they forced, ravished, and beastlike
abused, so that they swooned, miscarried, and many of them
died, and so lay at the top of 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 did
Mansoul lie almost like the barren wilderness; nothing but
nettles, briars, thorns, weeds, and stinking things seemed
now to cover the face of Mansoul.  I told you before, how
that these Diabolonian doubters turned the men of Mansoul out
of their beds, and now I will add, they wounded them, they
mauled them, yea, and almost brained many of them.  Many did
I say, yea most, if not all of them.  Mr. Conscience they so
wounded, yea, and his wounds so festered, that he could have
no ease day nor night, but lay as if continually upon a rack;
but that Shaddai 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 intended to have chopped him all to pieces; for
they did look upon him, as his heart now stood, to be one of
the very worst that was in Mansoul against Diabolus and his
crew.  And indeed he hath shown himself a man, and more of
his exploits you will hear of afterwards.

Now, a man might have walked for days together in Mansoul,
and scarcely have seen one in the town that looked like a
religious man.  Oh, the fearful state of Mansoul now! now
every corner swarmed with outlandish doubters; red-coats and
black-coats walked the town by clusters, and filled up all
the houses with hideous noises, vain songs, lying stories,
and blasphemous language against Shaddai and his Son.  Now
also those Diabolonians that lurked in the walls and dens and
holes that were in the town of Mansoul, came forth and showed
themselves; yea, walked with open face in company with the
doubters that were in Mansoul.  Yea, they had more boldness
now to walk the streets, to haunt the houses, and to show
themselves abroad, than had any of the honest inhabitants of
the now woful town of Mansoul.

But Diabolus and his outlandish men were not at peace in
Mansoul; for they were not there entertained as were the
captains and forces of Emmanuel: the townsmen did browbeat
them what they could; nor did they partake or make stroy of
any of the necessaries of Mansoul, but that which they seized
on against the townsmen’s will: what they could, they hid
from them, and what they could not, they had with an ill-
will.  They, poor hearts! had rather have had their room than
their company; but they were at present their captives, and
their captives for the present they were forced to be.  But,
I say, they discountenanced them as much as they were able,
and showed them all the dislike that they could.

The captains also from the castle did hold them in continual
play with their slings, to the chafing and fretting of the
minds of the enemies.  True, Diabolus made a great many
attempts to have broken open the gates of the castle, but Mr.
Godly-Fear was 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 lasted within him, to think to do that work,
though mostly desired; wherefore all the attempts that
Diabolus made against him were fruitless.  I have wished
sometimes that that man had had the whole rule of the town of
Mansoul.

Well, this was the condition of the town of Mansoul for about
two 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 of Mansoul was laid in the dust.  What rest, then,
could be to the inhabitants, what peace could Mansoul have,
and what sun could shine upon it?  Had the enemy lain so long
without in the plain against the town, it had been enough to
have famished them: but now, when they shall be within, when
the town shall be their tent, their trench and fort against
the castle that was in the town; when the town shall be
against the town, and shall serve to be a defence to the
enemies of her strength and life: I say, when they shall make
use of the forts and town-holds to secure themselves in, even
till they shall take, spoil, and demolish the castle, – this
was terrible! and yet this was now the state of the town of
Mansoul.

After the town of Mansoul had been in this sad and lamentable
condition, for so long a time as I have told you, and no
petitions that they presented their Prince with, all this
while, could prevail, the inhabitants of the town, namely,
the elders and chief of Mansoul, gathered together, and,
after some time spent in condoling their miserable state and
this miserable judgment coming upon them, they agreed
together to draw up yet another petition, and to send it away
to Emmanuel for relief.  But Mr. Godly-Fear stood up and
answered, that he knew that his Lord the Prince never did nor
ever would receive a petition for these matters, from the
hand of any whoever, unless the Lord Secretary’s hand was to
it; ‘and this,’ quoth he, ‘is the reason that you prevailed
not all this while.’  Then they said they would draw up one,
and get the Lord Secretary’s hand unto it.  But Mr. Godly-
Fear answered again, that he knew also that the Lord
Secretary would not set his hand to any petition that himself
had not an hand in composing and drawing up.  ‘And besides,’
said he, ‘the Prince doth know my 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 to lend you his aid.’  (Now he
did yet abide in the castle, where all the captains and men-
at-arms were.)

So they heartily thanked Mr. Godly-Fear, took his counsel,
and did as he had bidden them.  So they went and came to my
Lord, and made known the cause of their coming to him;
namely, that since Mansoul was in so deplorable a condition,
his Highness would be pleased to undertake to draw up a
petition for them to Emmanuel, the Son of the mighty Shaddai,
and to their King and his Father by him.

Then said the Secretary to them, ‘What petition is it that
you would have me draw up for you?’  But they said, ‘Our Lord
knows best the state and condition of the town of Mansoul;
and how we are backslidden and degenerated from the 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 have
suffered at their hands; and how our homebred Diabolonians do
walk now with more boldness than dare the townsmen in the
streets of Mansoul.  Let our Lord therefore, according to the
wisdom of God that is in him, draw up a petition for his poor
servants to our Prince Emmanuel.’  ‘Well,’ said the Lord
Secretary, ‘I will draw up a petition for you, and will also
set my hand thereto.’  Then said they, ‘But when shall we
call for it at the hands of our Lord?’  But he answered,
‘Yourselves must be present at the doing of it; yea, you must
put your desires to it.  True, the hand and pen shall be
mine, but the ink and paper must be yours; else how can you
say it is your petition?  Nor have I need to petition for
myself, because I have not offended.’ He also added as
followeth: ‘No petition goes from me in my name to the
Prince, and so to his Father by him, but when the people that
are chiefly concerned therein do join in heart and soul in
the matter, for that must be inserted therein.’

So they did heartily agree with the sentence of the Lord, and
a petition was forthwith drawn up for them.  But now, who
should carry it? that was next.  But the Secretary advised
that Captain Credence should carry it; for he was a well-
spoken man.  They therefore called for him, and propounded to
him the business.  ‘Well,’ said the captain, ‘I gladly accept
of the motion; and though I am lame, I will do this business
for you with as much speed, and as well as I 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 to
thee belong mercy and forgiveness, though we have rebelled
against thee.  We, who are no more worthy to be called thy
Mansoul, nor yet fit to partake of common benefits, do
beseech thee, and thy Father by thee, to do away our
transgressions.  We confess that thou mightest cast us away
for them; but do it not for thy name’s sake: let the Lord
rather take an opportunity, at our miserable condition, to
let out his bowels and compassions to us.  We are compassed
on every side, Lord; our own backslidings reprove us; our
Diabolonians within our town fright us; and the army of the
angel of the bottomless pit distresses us.  Thy grace can be
our salvation, and whither to go but to thee we know not.

‘Furthermore, O gracious Prince, we have weakened our
captains, and they are discouraged, sick, and, of late, some
of them grievously worsted and beaten out of the field by the
power and force of the tyrant.  Yea, even those of our
captains, in whose valour we did formerly use to put most of
our confidence, they are as wounded men.  Besides, Lord, our
enemies are lively, and they are strong; they vaunt and boast
themselves, and do threaten to part us among themselves for a
booty.  They are fallen also upon us, Lord, with many
thousand doubters, such as with whom we cannot tell what to
do; they are all grim-looked and unmerciful ones, and they
bid defiance to us and thee.

‘Our wisdom is gone, our power is gone, because thou art
departed from us; nor have we what we may call ours but sin,
shame, and confusion of face for sin.  Take pity upon us, O
Lord, take pity upon us, thy miserable town of Mansoul, and
save us out of the hands of our enemies.  Amen.’

This petition, as was touched afore, was handed by the Lord
Secretary, and carried to the court by the brave and most
stout Captain Credence.  Now he carried it out at Mouth-gate,
(for that, as I said, was the sally-port of the town,) and he
went and came to Emmanuel with it.  Now how it came out, I do
not know; but for certain it did, and that so far as to reach
the ears of Diabolus.  Thus I conclude, because that the
tyrant had it presently by the end, and charged the town of
Mansoul with it, saying, ‘Thou rebellious and stubborn-
hearted Mansoul, I will make thee to leave off petitioning. 
Art thou yet for petitioning?  I will make thee to leave.’ 
Yea, he also knew who the messenger was that carried the
petition to the Prince, and it made him both to fear and
rage.

Wherefore he commanded that his drum should be beat again, a
thing that Mansoul could not abide to hear: but when Diabolus
will have his drum beat, Mansoul must abide the noise.  Well,
the drum was beat, and the Diabolonians were gathered
together.

Then said Diabolus, ‘O ye stout Diabolonians, be it known
unto you, that there is treachery hatched against us in the
rebellious town of Mansoul; for albeit the town is in our
possession, as you see, yet these miserable Mansoulians have
attempted to dare, and have been so hardy as yet to send to
the court to Emmanuel for help.  This I give you to
understand, that ye may yet know how to carry it to the
wretched town of Mansoul.  Wherefore, O my trusty
Diabolonians, I command that yet more and more ye distress
this town of Mansoul, and vex it with your wiles, ravish
their women, deflower their virgins, slay their children,
brain their ancients, fire their town, and what other
mischief you can; and let this be the reward of the
Mansoulians from me, for their desperate rebellions against
me.’

This, you see, was the charge; but something stepped in
betwixt that and execution, for as yet there was but little
more done than to rage.

Moreover, when Diabolus had done thus, he went the next way
up to the castle gates, and demanded that, upon pain of
death, the gates should be opened to him, and that entrance
should be given him and his men that followed after.  To whom
Mr. Godly-Fear replied, (for he it was that had the charge of
that gate,) that the gate should not be opened unto him, nor
to the men that followed after him.  He said, moreover, that
Mansoul, when she had suffered awhile, should be made
perfect, strengthened, settled.

Then said Diabolus, ‘Deliver me, then, the men that have
petitioned against me, especially Captain Credence, that
carried it to your Prince; deliver that varlet into my hands,
and I will depart from the town.’

Then up starts a Diabolonian, whose name was Mr. Fooling, and
said, ‘My lord offereth you fair: it is better for you that
one man perish, than that your whole Mansoul should be
undone.’

But Mr. Godly-Fear made him this replication, ‘How long will
Mansoul be kept out of the dungeon, when she hath given up
her faith to Diabolus!  As good lose the town, as lose
Captain Credence; for if one be gone the other must follow.’ 
But to that Mr. Fooling said nothing.

Then did my Lord Mayor reply, and said, ‘O thou devouring
tyrant, be it known unto thee, we shall hearken to none of
thy words; we are resolved to resist thee as long as a
captain, a man, a sling, and a stone to throw at thee shall
be found in the town of Mansoul.’  But Diabolus answered, ‘Do
you hope, do you wait, do you look for help and deliverance? 
You have sent to Emmanuel, but your wickedness sticks too
close in your skirts, to let innocent prayers come out of
your lips.  Think you that you shall be prevailers and
prosper in this design?  You will fail in your wish, you will
fail in your attempts; for it is not only I, but your
Emmanuel is against you: yea, it is he that hath sent me
against you to subdue you.  For what, then, do you hope? or
by what means will you escape?’

Then said the Lord Mayor, ‘We have sinned indeed; but that
shall be no help to thee, for our Emmanuel hath said it, and
that in great faithfulness, “and him that cometh to me I will
in no wise cast out.”  He hath also told us, O our enemy,
that “all manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven” to
the sons of men.  Therefore we dare not despair, but will
look for, wait for, and hope for deliverance still.’

Now, by this time, Captain Credence was returned and come
from the court from Emmanuel to the castle of Mansoul, and he
returned to them with a packet.  So my Lord Mayor, hearing
that Captain Credence was come, withdrew himself from the
noise of the roaring of the tyrant, and left him to yell at
the wall of the town, or against the gates of the castle.  So
he came up to the captain’s lodgings, and saluting him, he
asked him of his welfare, and what was the best news at
court.  But when he asked Captain Credence that, the water
stood in his eyes.  Then said the captain, ‘Cheer up, my
lord, for all will be well in time.’  And with that he first
produced his packet, and laid it by; but that the Lord Mayor,
and the rest of the captains, took for sign of good tidings. 
Now a season of grace being come, he sent for all the
captains and elders of the town, that were here and there in
their lodgings in the castle and upon their guard, to let
them know that Captain Credence was returned from the court,
and that he had something in general, and something in
special, to communicate to them.  So they all came up to him,
and saluted him, and asked him concerning his journey, and
what was the best news at the court.  And he answered them as
he had done the Lord Mayor before, that all would be well at
last.  Now, when the captain had thus saluted them, he opened
his packet, and thence did draw out his several notes for
those that he had sent for.

And the first note was for my Lord Mayor, wherein was
signified:- That the Prince Emmanuel had taken it well that
my Lord Mayor had been so true and trusty in his office, and
the great concerns that lay upon him for the town and people
of Mansoul.  Also, he bid him to know, that he took it well
that he had been so bold for his Prince Emmanuel, and had
engaged so faithfully in his cause against Diabolus.  He also
signified, at the close of his letter, that he should shortly
receive his reward.

The second note that came out, was for the noble Lord
Willbewill, wherein there was signified:- That his Prince
Emmanuel did well understand how valiant and courageous he
had been for the honour of his Lord, now in his absence, and
when his name was under contempt by Diabolus.  There was
signified also, that his Prince had taken it well that he had
been so faithful to the town of Mansoul, in his keeping of so
strict a hand and eye over and so strict a rein upon the neck
of the Diabolonians, that did still lie lurking in their
several holes in the famous town of Mansoul.  He signified,
moreover, how that he understood that my Lord had, with his
own hand, done great execution upon some of the chief of the
rebels there, to the great discouragement of the adverse
party and to the good example of the whole town of Mansoul;
and that shortly his lordship should have his reward.

The third note came out for the subordinate preacher, wherein
was signified:- That his Prince took it well from him, that
he had so honestly and so faithfully performed his office,
and executed the trust committed to him by his Lord, while he
exhorted, rebuked, and forewarned Mansoul according to the
laws of the town.  He signified, moreover, that he took it
well at his hand that he called to fasting, to sackcloth, and
ashes, when Mansoul was under her revolt.  Also, that he
called for the 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 Lord
thus signified:- That his Lordship observed, that he was the
first of all the men in Mansoul that detected Mr. Carnal-
Security as the only one that, through his subtlety and
cunning, had obtained for Diabolus a defection and decay of
goodness in the blessed town of Mansoul.  Moreover, his Lord
gave him to understand, that he still remembered his tears
and mourning for the state of Mansoul.  It was also observed,
by the same note, that his Lord took notice of his detecting
of this Mr. Carnal-Security, at his own table among his
guests, in his own house, and that in the midst of his
jolliness, even while he was seeking to perfect his villanies
against the town of Mansoul.  Emmanuel also took notice that
this reverend person, Mr. Godly-Fear, stood stoutly to it, at
the gates of the castle, against all the threats and attempts
of the tyrant; and that he had put the townsmen in a way to
make their petition to their Prince, so as that he might
accept thereof, and as they might obtain an answer of peace;
and that therefore shortly he should receive his reward.

After all this, there was yet produced a note which was
written to the whole town of Mansoul, whereby they perceived
– That their Lord took notice of their so often repeating of
petitions to him; and that they should see more of the fruits
of such their doings in time to come.  Their Prince did also
therein tell them, that he took it well, that their heart and
mind, now at last, abode fixed upon him and his ways, though
Diabolus had made such inroads upon them; and that neither
flatteries on the one hand, nor hardships on the other, could
make them yield to serve his cruel designs.  There was also
inserted at the bottom of this note – That his Lordship had
left the town of Mansoul in the hands of the Lord Secretary,
and under the conduct of Captain Credence, saying, ‘Beware
that you yet yield yourselves unto their governance; and in
due time you shall receive your reward.’

So, after the brave Captain Credence had delivered his notes
to those to whom they belonged, he retired himself to my Lord
Secretary’s lodgings, and there spends time in conversing
with him; for they too were very great one with another, and
did indeed know more how things would go with Mansoul than
did all the townsmen besides.  The Lord Secretary also loved
the Captain Credence dearly; yea, many a good bit was sent
him from my Lord’s table; also, he might have a show of
countenance, when the rest of Mansoul lay under the clouds:
so, after some time for converse was spent, the captain
betook himself to his chambers to rest.  But it was not long
after when my Lord did send for the captain again; so the
captain came to him, and they greeted one another with usual
salutations.  Then said the captain to the Lord Secretary,
‘What hath my Lord to say to his servant?’  So the Lord
Secretary took him and had him aside, and after a sign or two
of more favour, he said, ‘I have made thee the Lord’s
lieutenant over all the forces in Mansoul; so that, from this
day forward, all men in Mansoul shall be at thy word; and
thou shalt be he that shall lead in, and that shall lead out
Mansoul.  Thou shalt therefore manage, according to thy
place, the war for thy Prince, and for the town of Mansoul,
against the force and power of Diabolus; and at thy command
shall the rest of the captains be.’

Now the townsmen began to perceive what interest the captain
had, both with the court, and also with the Lord Secretary in
Mansoul; for no man before could speed when sent, nor bring
such good news from Emmanuel as he.  Wherefore what do they,
after some lamentation that they made no more use of him in
their distresses, but send by their subordinate preacher to
the Lord Secretary, to desire him that all that ever they
were and had might be put under the government, care,
custody, and conduct of Captain Credence.

So their preacher went and did his errand, and received this
answer from the mouth of his Lord: that Captain Credence
should be the great doer in all the King’s army, against the
King’s enemies, and also for the welfare of Mansoul.  So he
bowed to the ground, and thanked his Lordship, and returned
and told his news to the townsfolk.  But all this was done
with all imaginable secrecy, because the foes had yet great
strength in the town.  But to return to our story again.

When Diabolus saw himself thus boldly confronted by the Lord
Mayor, and perceived the stoutness of Mr. Godly-Fear, he fell
into a rage, and forthwith called a council of war, that he
might be revenged on Mansoul.  So all the princes of the pit
came together, and old Incredulity at the head of them, with
all the captains of his army.  So they consult what to do. 
Now the effect and conclusion of the council that day was how
they might take the castle, because they could not conclude
themselves masters of the town so long as that was in the
possession of their enemies.

So one advised this way, and another advised that; but when
they could not agree in their verdict, Apollyon, that
president of the council, stood up, and thus he began: ‘My
brotherhood,’ quoth he, ‘I have two things to propound unto
you; and my first is this.  Let us withdraw ourselves from
the town into the plain again, for our presence here will do
us no good, because the castle is yet in our enemies’ hands;
nor is it possible that we should take that, so long as so
many brave captains are in it, and that this bold fellow,
Godly-Fear, is made the keeper of the gates of it.  Now, when
we have withdrawn ourselves into the plain, they, of their
own accord, will be glad of some little ease; and it may be,
of their own accord, they again may begin to be remiss, and
even their so being will give them a bigger blow than we can
possibly give them ourselves.  But if that should fail, our
going forth of the town may draw the captains out after us;
and you know what it cost them when we fought them in the
field before.  Besides, can we but draw them out into the
field, we may lay an ambush behind the town, which shall,
when they are come forth abroad, rush in and take possession
of the castle.’

But Beelzebub stood up, and replied, saying: ‘It is
impossible to draw them all off from the castle; some, you
may be sure, will lie there to keep that; wherefore it will
be but in vain thus to attempt, unless we were sure that they
will all come out.’  He therefore concluded that what was
done must be done by some other means.  And the most likely
means that the greatest of their heads could invent, was that
which Apollyon had advised to before, namely, to get the
townsmen again to sin.  ‘For,’ said he, ‘it is not our being
in the town, nor in the field, nor our fighting, nor our
killing of their men, that can make us the masters of
Mansoul; for so long 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, for my part,’ quoth he, ‘there is, in
my judgment, no way to bring them into bondage to us, like
inventing a way to make them sin.  Had we,’ said he, ‘left
all our doubters at home, we had done as well as we have done
now, unless we could have made them the masters and governors
of the castle; for doubters at a distance are but like
objections refelled with arguments.  Indeed, can we but get
them into the hold, and make them possessors of that, the day
will be our own.  Let us, therefore, withdraw ourselves into
the plain, (not expecting that 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 our trusty Diabolonians that are
yet in their holds of Mansoul, and set them to work to betray
the town to us; for they indeed must do it, or it will be
left undone for ever.’  By these sayings of Beelzebub, (for I
think it was he that gave this counsel,) the whole conclave
was forced to be of his opinion, namely, that the way to get
the castle was to get the town to sin.  Then they fell to
inventing by what means they might do this thing.

Then Lucifer stood up, and said: ‘The counsel of Beelzebub is
pertinent.  Now, the way to bring this to pass, in mine
opinion, is this: let us withdraw our force from the town of
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
field at a distance, and be as if we regarded them not; for
frights, I see, do but awaken them, and make them more stand
to their arms.  I have also another stratagem in my head: you
know Mansoul is a market-town, and a town that delights in
commerce; what, therefore, if some of our Diabolonians shall
feign themselves far-country men, and shall go out and bring
to the market of Mansoul some of our wares to sell; and what
matter at what rates they sell their wares, though it be but
for half the worth?  Now, let those that thus shall trade in
their market be those that are witty and true to us, and I
will lay my crown to pawn it will do.  There are two that are
come to my thoughts already, that I think will be arch at
this work, and they are Mr. Penny-wise-pound-foolish, and Mr.
Get-i’the-hundred-and-lose-i’the-shire; nor is this man 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 and
helpers.  Let these, with as many more, engage in this
business for us, and let Mansoul be taken up in much
business, and let them grow full and rich, and this is the
way to get ground of them.  Remember ye not that thus we
prevailed upon Laodicea, 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 fall asleep, and so be got to neglect their
town watch, their castle watch, as well as their watch at the
gates.

‘Yea, may we not, by this means, so cumber Mansoul with
abundance, that they shall be forced to make of their castle
a warehouse, instead of a garrison fortified against us, and
a receptacle for men of war.  Thus, if we get our goods and
commodities thither, I reckon that the castle is more than
half ours.  Besides, could we so order it that it shall be
filled with such kind of wares, then if we made a sudden
assault upon them, it would be hard for the captains to take
shelter there.  Do you not know that of the parable, “The
deceitfulness of riches choke the word”? and again, “When the
heart is over-charged with surfeiting and drunkenness, and
the cares of this life,” all mischief comes upon them at
unawares?

‘Furthermore, my lords,’ quoth he, ‘you very well know that
it is not easy for a people to be filled with our things, and
not to have some of our Diabolonians as retainers to their
houses and services.  Where is a Mansoulian that is full of
this world, that has not for his servants and waiting-men,
Mr. Profuse, or Mr. Prodigality, or some other of our
Diabolonian gang, as Mr. Voluptuous, Mr. Pragmatical, Mr.
Ostentation, or the like?  Now these can take the castle of
Mansoul, or blow it up, or make it unfit for a garrison for
Emmanuel, and any of these will do.  Yea, these, for aught I
know, may do it for us sooner than an army of twenty thousand
men.  Wherefore, to end as I began, my advice is, that we
quietly withdraw ourselves, not offering any further force,
or forcible attempts, upon the castle, at least at this time;
and let us set on foot our new project, and let us see if
that will not make them destroy themselves.’

This advice was highly applauded by them all, and was
accounted the very masterpiece of hell, namely, to choke
Mansoul with a fulness of this world, and to surfeit her
heart with the good things thereof.  But see how things meet
together!  Just as this Diabolonian council was broken up,
Captain Credence received a letter from Emmanuel, the
contents of which were these: That upon the third day he
would meet him in the field in the plains about Mansoul. 
‘Meet me in the field!’ quoth the Captain; ‘what meaneth my
lord by this?  I know not what he meaneth by meeting me in
the field.’  So he took the note in his hand, and did carry
it to my Lord Secretary, to ask his thoughts thereupon; for
my Lord was a seer in all matters concerning the King, and
also for the good and comfort of the town of Mansoul.  So he
showed my Lord the note, and desired his opinion thereof. 
‘For my part,’ quoth Captain Credence, ‘I know not the
meaning thereof.’  So my lord did take and read it and, after
a little pause, he said, ‘The Diabolonians have had against
Mansoul a great consultation to-day; they have, I say, this
day been contriving the utter ruin of the town; and the
result of their council is, to set Mansoul into such a way
which, if taken, will surely make her destroy herself.  And,
to this end, they are making ready for their own departure
out of the town, intending to betake themselves to the field
again,’ and there to lie till they shall see whether this
their project will take or no.  But be thou ready with the
men of thy Lord, (for on the third day they will be in the
plain,) there to fall upon the Diabolonians; for the Prince
will by that time be in the field; yea, by that it is break
of day, sun-rising, or before, and that with a mighty force
against them.  So he shall be before them, and thou shalt be
behind them, and betwixt you both their army shall be
destroyed.’

When Captain Credence heard this, away goes he to the rest of
the captains, and tells them what a note he had a while since
received from the hand of Emmanuel.  ‘And,’ said he, ‘that
which was dark therein hath my lord the Lord Secretary
expounded unto me.’  He told them, moreover, what by himself
and by them must be done to answer the mind of their Lord. 
Then were the captains glad; and Captain Credence commanded
that all the King’s trumpeters should ascend to the
battlements of the castle, and there, in the audience of
Diabolus and of the whole town of Mansoul, make the best
music that heart could invent.  The trumpeters then did as
they were commanded.  They got themselves up to the top of
the castle, and thus they began to sound.  Then did Diabolus
start, and said, ‘What can be the meaning of this? they
neither sound Boot-and-saddle, nor Horse-and-away, nor a
charge.  What do these madmen mean that yet they should be so
merry and glad?’  Then answered one of themselves and said,
‘This is for joy that their Prince Emmanuel is coming to
relieve the town of Mansoul; and to this end he is at the
head of an army, and that this relief is near.’

The men of Mansoul also were greatly concerned at this
melodious charm of the trumpets; they said, yea, they
answered one another, saying, ‘This can be no harm to us;
surely this can be no harm to us.’  Then said the
Diabolonians, ‘What had we best to do?’ and it was answered,
‘It was best to quit the town;’ and ‘that,’ said one, ‘ye may
do in pursuance of your last counsel, and by so doing also be
better able to give the enemy battle, should an army from
without come upon us.  So, on the second day, they withdrew
themselves from Mansoul, and abode in the plains without; but
they encamped themselves before Eye-gate, in what terrene and
terrible manner they could.  The reason why they would not
abide in the town (besides the reasons that were debated in
their late conclave) was, for that they were not possessed of
the stronghold, and ‘because,’ said they, ‘we shall have more
convenience to fight, and also to fly, if need be, when we
are encamped in the open plains.’  Besides, the town would
have been a pit for them rather than a place of defence, had
the Prince come up and inclosed them fast therein.  Therefore
they betook themselves to the field, that they might also be
out of the reach of the slings, by which they were much
annoyed all the while that they were in the town.

Well, the time that the captains were to fall upon the
Diabolonians being come, they eagerly prepared themselves for
action; 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 engaging the enemy; for ‘You shall see the Prince in the
field to-morrow’ was like oil to a flaming fire, for of a
long time they had been at a distance: they therefore were
for this the more earnest and desirous of the work.  So, as I
said, the hour being come, Captain Credence, with the rest of
the men of war, drew out their forces before it was day by
the sally-port of the town.  And, being all ready, Captain
Credence went up to the head of the army, and gave to the
rest of the captains the word, and so they to their under-
officers and soldiers: the word was ‘The sword of the Prince
Emmanuel, and the shield of Captain Credence;’ which is, in
the Mansoulian tongue, ‘The word of God and faith.’  Then the
captains fell on, and began roundly to front, and flank, and
rear Diabolus’s camp.

Now, they left Captain Experience in the town, because he was
yet ill of his wounds, which the Diabolonians had given him
in the last fight.  But when he perceived that the captains
were at it, what does he but, calling for his crutches with
haste, gets up, and away he goes to the battle, saying,
‘Shall I lie here, when my brethren are in the fight, and
when Emmanuel, the Prince, will show himself in the field to
his servants?’  But when the enemy saw the man come with his
crutches, they were daunted yet the more; ‘for,’ thought
they, ‘what spirit has possessed these Mansoulians, that they
fight us upon their crutches?’  Well, the captains, as I
said, fell on, and did bravely handle their weapons, still
crying out and shouting, as they laid on blows, ‘The sword of
the Prince Emmanuel, and the shield of Captain Credence!’

Now, when Diabolus saw that the captains were come out, and
that so valiantly they surrounded his men, he concluded that,
for the 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 with all
his deadly force: so the battle was joined.  Now who was it
that at first Diabolus met with in the fight, but Captain
Credence on the one hand, and the Lord Willbewill on the
other: now Willbewill’s blows were like the blows of a giant,
for that man had a strong arm, and he fell in upon the
election doubters, for they were the life-guard of Diabolus,
and he kept them in play a good while, cutting and battering
shrewdly.  Now when Captain Credence saw my lord engaged, he
did stoutly fall on, on the other hand, upon the same company
also; so they put them to great disorder.  Now Captain Good-
Hope had engaged the vocation doubters, and they were sturdy
men; but the captain was a valiant man: Captain Experience
did also send him some aid; so he made the vocation doubters
to retreat.  The rest of the armies were hotly engaged, and
that on every side, and the Diabolonians did fight stoutly. 
Then did my Lord Secretary command that the slings from the
castle should be played; and his men could throw stones at an
hair’s breadth.  But, after a while, those that were made to
fly before the captains of the Prince, did begin to rally
again, and they 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 Prince by-
and-by, they took courage, and a very fierce battle was
fought.  Then shouted the captains, saying, ‘The sword of the
Prince Emmanuel, and the shield of Captain Credence!’ and
with that Diabolus gave back, thinking that more aid had been
come.  But no Emmanuel as yet appeared.  Moreover, the battle
did hang in doubt; and they made a little retreat on both
sides.  Now, in the time of respite, Captain Credence bravely
encouraged his men to stand to it; and Diabolus did the like,
as well as he could.  But Captain Credence made a brave
speech to his soldiers, the contents whereof here follow:-

‘Gentlemen soldiers, and my brethren in this design, it
rejoiceth me much to see in the field for our Prince, this
day, so stout and so valiant an army, and such faithful
lovers of Mansoul.  You have hitherto, as hath become you,
shown yourselves men of truth and courage against the
Diabolonian forces; so that, for all their boast, they have
not yet much cause to boast of their gettings.  Now take to
yourselves your wonted courage, and show yourselves men even
this once only; for in a few minutes after the next
engagement, this time, you shall see your Prince show himself
in the field; for we must make this second assault upon this
tyrant Diabolus, and then Emmanuel comes.’

No sooner had the captain made this speech to his soldiers,
but one Mr. Speedy came post to the captain from the Prince,
to tell him that Emmanuel was at hand.  This news when the
captain had received, he communicated to the other field-
officers, and they again to their soldiers and men of war. 
Wherefore, like men raised from the dead, so the captains and
their men arose, made up to the enemy, and cried as before,
‘The sword of the Prince Emmanuel, and the shield of Captain
Credence!’

The Diabolonians also bestirred themselves, and made
resistance as well as they could; but in this last engagement
the Diabolonians lost their courage, and many of the doubters
fell down dead to the ground.  Now, when they had been in
heat of battle about an hour or more, Captain Credence lift
up his eyes and saw, and, behold, Emmanuel came; and he came
with colours flying, trumpets sounding, and the feet of his
men scarce touched the ground, they hasted with that celerity
towards the captains that were engaged.  Then did Credence
wind with his men to the townward, and gave to Diabolus the
field: so Emmanuel came upon him on the one side, and the
enemies’ place was betwixt them both.  Then again they fell
to it afresh; and now it was but a little while more but
Emmanuel and Captain Credence met, still trampling down the
slain as they came.

But when the captains saw that the Prince was come, and that
he fell upon the Diabolonians on the other side, and that
Captain Credence and his Highness had got them up betwixt
them, they shouted, (they so shouted that the ground rent
again,) saying, ‘The sword of Emmanuel, and the shield of
Captain Credence!’  Now, when Diabolus saw that he and his
forces were so hard beset by the Prince and his princely
army, what does he, and the lords of the pit that were with
him, but make their escape, and forsake their army, and leave
them to fall by the hand of Emmanuel, and of his noble
Captain Credence: so they fell all down slain before them,
before the Prince, and before his royal army; there was not
left so much as one doubter alive; they lay spread upon the
ground dead men, as one would spread dung upon the land.

When the battle was over, all things came into order in the
camp.  Then the captains and elders of Mansoul came together
to salute Emmanuel, while without the corporation: so they
saluted him, and welcomed him, and that with a thousand
welcomes, for that he was come to the borders of Mansoul
again.  So he smiled upon them, and said, ‘Peace be to you.’ 
Then they addressed themselves to go to the town; they went
then to go up to Mansoul, they, the Prince, with all the new
forces that now he had brought with him to the war.  Also all
the gates of the town were set open for his reception, so
glad were they of his blessed return.  And this was the
manner and order of this going of his into Mansoul:

First.  As I said, all the gates of the town were set open,
yea, the gates of the castle also; the elders, too, of the
town of Mansoul placed themselves at the gates of the town,
to salute him at his entrance thither: and so they did; for,
as he drew near, and approached towards the gates, they said,
‘Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye
everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in.’  And
they answered again, ‘Who is the King of glory?’ and they
made return to themselves, ‘The Lord, strong and mighty; the
Lord mighty in battle.  Lift up your heads, O ye gates; even
lift them up, ye everlasting doors,’ etc.

Secondly.  It was ordered also, by those of Mansoul, that all
the way from the town gates to those of the castle, his
blessed Majesty should be entertained with the song, by them
that had the best skill in music in all the town of Mansoul:
then did the elders, and the rest of the men of Mansoul,
answer one another as Emmanuel entered the town, till he came
at the castle gates, with songs and sound of trumpets,
saying, ‘They have seen thy goings, O God; even the goings of
my God, my King, in the sanctuary.  So the singers went
before, the players on instruments followed after, and among
them were the damsels playing on timbrels.’

Thirdly.  Then the captains, (for I would speak a word of
them,) they in their order waited on the Prince, as he
entered into the gates of Mansoul.  Captain Credence went
before, and Captain Good-Hope with him; Captain Charity came
behind with other of his companions, and Captain Patience
followed after all; and the rest of the captains, some on the
right hand, and some on the left, accompanied Emmanuel into
Mansoul.  And all the while the colours were displayed, the
trumpets sounded, and continual shoutings were among the
soldiers.  The Prince himself rode into the town in his
armour, which was all of beaten gold, and in his chariot –
the pillars of it were of silver, the bottom thereof of gold,
the covering of it was of purple, the midst thereof being
paved with love for the daughters of the town of Mansoul.

Fourthly.  When the Prince was come to the entrance of
Mansoul, he found all the streets strewed with lilies and
flowers, curiously decked with boughs and branches from the
green trees that stood round about the town.  Every door also
was filled with persons, who had adorned every one their
fore-part against their house with something of variety and
singular excellency, to entertain him withal as he passed in
the streets: they also themselves, as Emmanuel passed by, did
welcome him with shouts and acclamations of joy, saying,
‘Blessed be the Prince 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 subordinate
preacher, Mr. Knowledge, and Mr. Mind, with other of the
gentry of the place, saluted Emmanuel again.  They bowed
before him, they kissed the dust of his feet, they thanked,
they blessed, and praised his Highness for not taking
advantage against them for their sins, but rather had pity
upon them in their misery, and returned to them with mercies,
and to build up their Mansoul for ever.  Thus was he had up
straightway to the castle; for that was the royal palace, and
the place where his honour was to dwell; the which was ready
prepared for his Highness by the presence of the Lord
Secretary, and the work of Captain Credence.  So he entered
in.

Sixthly.  Then the people and commonalty of the town of
Mansoul came to him into the castle to mourn, and to weep,
and to lament for their wickedness, by which they had forced
him out of the town.  So when they were come, bowed
themselves to the ground seven times; they also wept, they
wept aloud, and asked forgiveness of the Prince, and prayed
that he would again, as of old, confirm his love to Mansoul.

To the which the great Prince replied, ‘Weep not, but go your
way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions to
them for whom nought is prepared; for the joy of your Lord is
your strength.  I am returned to Mansoul with mercies, and my
name shall be set up, exalted, and magnified by it.’  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 town
officer, a chain of gold and a signet.  He also sent to their
wives earrings and jewels, and bracelets, and other things. 
He also bestowed upon the true-born children of Mansoul many
precious things.

When Emmanuel, the Prince, had done all these things for the
famous town of Mansoul, then he said unto them, first, ‘Wash
your garments, then put on your ornaments, and then come to
me into the castle of Mansoul.’  So they went to the fountain
that was set open for Judah and Jerusalem to wash in; and
there they washed, and there they made their ‘garments
white,’ and came again to the Prince into the castle, and
thus they stood before him.

And now there was music and dancing throughout the whole town
of Mansoul, and that because their Prince had again granted
to them his presence and the light of his countenance; the
bells also did ring, and the sun shone comfortably upon them
for a great while together.

The town of Mansoul did also now more thoroughly seek the
destruction and ruin of all remaining Diabolonians that abode
in the walls, and the dens that they had in the town of
Mansoul; for there was of them that had, to this day, escaped
with life and limb from the hand of their suppressors in the
famous town of Mansoul.

But my Lord Willbewill was a greater terror to them now than
ever he had been before; forasmuch as his heart was yet more
fully bent to seek, contrive, and pursue them to the death;
he pursued them night and day, and did put them now to sore
distress, as will afterwards appear.

After things were thus far put into order in the famous town
of Mansoul, care was taken, and order given by the blessed
Prince Emmanuel, that the townsmen should, without further
delay, appoint some to go forth into the plain to bury the
dead that were there, – the dead that fell by the sword of
Emmanuel, and by the shield of the Captain Credence, – lest
the fumes and ill savours that would arise from them might
infect the air, and so annoy the famous town of Mansoul. 
This also was a reason of this order, namely, that, as much
as in Mansoul lay, they might cut off the name, and being,
and remembrance of those enemies from the thought of the
famous town of Mansoul and its inhabitants.

So order was given out by the Lord Mayor, that wise and
trusty friend of the town of Mansoul, that persons should be
employed about this necessary business; and Mr. Godly-Fear,
and one Mr. Upright, were to be overseers about this matter:
so persons were put under them to work in the fields, and to
bury the slain that lay dead in the plains.  And these were
their places of employment: some were to make the graves,
some to bury the dead, and some were to go to and fro in the
plains, and also round about the borders of Mansoul, to see
if a skull, or a bone, or a piece of a bone of a doubter, was
yet to be found above ground anywhere near the corporation;
and if any were found, it was ordered, that the searchers
that searched should set up a mark thereby, and a sign, that
those that were appointed to bury them might find it, and
bury it out of sight, that the name and remembrance of a
Diabolonian doubter might be blotted out from under heaven;
and that the children, and they that were to be born in
Mansoul, might not know, if possible, what a skull, what a
bone, or a piece of a bone of a doubter was.  So the buriers,
and those that were appointed for that purpose, did as they
were commanded: they buried the doubters, and all the skulls
and bones, and pieces of bones of doubters, wherever they
found them; and so they cleansed the plains.  Now also Mr.
God’s-Peace took up his commission, and acted again as in
former days.

Thus they buried in the plains about Mansoul the election
doubters, the vocation doubters, the grace doubters, the
perseverance doubters, the resurrection doubters, the
salvation doubters, and the glory doubters; whose captains
were Captain Rage, Captain Cruel, Captain Damnation, Captain
Insatiable, Captain Brimstone, Captain Torment, Captain No-
Ease, Captain Sepulchre, and Captain Past-Hope; and old
Incredulity was, under Diabolus, their general.  There were
also the seven heads of their army; and they were the Lord
Beelzebub, the Lord Lucifer, the Lord Legion, the Lord
Apollyon, the Lord Python, the Lord Cerberus, and the Lord
Belial.  But the princes and the captains, with old
Incredulity, their general, did all of them make their
escape: so their men fell down slain by the power of the
Prince’s forces, and by the hands of the men of the town of
Mansoul.  They also were buried as is afore related, to the
exceeding great joy of the now famous town of Mansoul.  They
that buried them buried also with them their arms, which were
cruel instruments of death: (their weapons were arrows,
darts, mauls, firebrands, and the like).  They buried also
their armour, their colours, banners, with the standard of
Diabolus, and what else soever they could find that did but
smell of a Diabolonian doubter.

Now when the tyrant had arrived at Hell-Gate Hill, with his
old friend Incredulity, they immediately descended the den,
and having there with their fellows for a while condoled
their misfortune and great loss that they sustained against
the town of Mansoul, they fell at length into a passion, and
revenged they would be for the loss that they sustained
before the town of Mansoul.  Wherefore they presently call a
council to contrive yet further what was to be done against
the famous town of Mansoul; for their yawning paunches could
not wait to see the result of their Lord Lucifer’s and their
Lord Apollyon’s counsel that they had given before; for their
raging gorge thought every day, even as long as a short for
ever, until they were filled with the body and soul, with the
flesh and bones, and with all the delicates of Mansoul.  They
therefore resolve to make another attempt upon the town of
Mansoul, and that by an army mixed and made up partly of
doubters, and partly of blood-men.  A more particular account
now take of both.

The doubters are such as have their name from their nature,
as well as from the land and kingdom where they are born:
their nature is to put a question upon every one of the
truths of Emmanuel; and their country is called the land of
Doubting, and that land lieth off, and farthest remote to the
north, between the land of Darkness and that called the
‘valley of the shadow 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 the land of Doubting points in, and lieth
between them.  This is the land of Doubting; and these that
came with Diabolus to ruin the town of Mansoul are the
natives of that country.

The blood-men are a people that have their name derived from
the malignity of their nature, and from the fury that is in
them to execute it upon the town of Mansoul: their land lieth
under the dog-star, and by that they are governed as to their
intellectuals.  The name of their country is the province of
Loath-good: the remote parts of it are far distant from the
land of Doubting, yet they do both butt and bound upon the
hill called Hell-Gate Hill.  These people are always in
league with the doubters, for they jointly do make question
of the faith and fidelity of the men of the town of Mansoul,
and so are both alike qualified for the service of their
prince.

Now of these two countries did Diabolus, by the beating of
his drum, raise another army against the town of Mansoul, of
five-and-twenty thousand strong.  There were ten thousand
doubters, and fifteen thousand blood-men, and they were put
under several captains for the war; and old Incredulity was
again made general of the army.

As for the doubters, their captains were five of the seven
that were heads of the last Diabolonian army, and these are
their names: Captain Beelzebub, Captain Lucifer, Captain
Apollyon, Captain Legion, and Captain Cerberus; and the
captains that they had before were some of them made
lieutenants, and some ensigns of the army.

But Diabolus did not count that, in this expedition of his,
these doubters would prove his principal men, for their
manhood had been tried before; also the Mansoulians had put
them to the worst: only he did bring them to multiply a
number, and to help, if need was, at a pinch.  But his trust
he put in his blood-men, for that they were all rugged
villains, and he knew that they had done feats heretofore.

As for the blood-men, they also were under command and the
names 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 and
the 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, the
tyrannical and encroaching blood-men: his standard-bearer
bare the red colours, and his scutcheon was the great
bloodhound.

3. Captain Ishmael was captain over two bands, namely, the
mocking and scorning blood-men: his standard-bearer bare the
red colours, and his scutcheon was one mocking at Abraham’s
Isaac.

4. Captain Esau was captain over two bands, namely, the
blood-men that grudged that another should have the blessing;
also over the blood-men that are for executing their private
revenge 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, the
groundlessly jealous and the devilishly furious blood-men:
his standard-bearer bare the red colours, and his scutcheon
was three bloody darts cast at harmless David.

6. Captain Absalom was captain over two bands, namely, over
the blood-men that will kill a father or a friend for the
glory of this world; also over those blood-men that will hold
one fair in hand with words, till they shall have pierced him
with their swords: his standard-bearer did bear the red
colours, and his scutcheon was the son pursuing the father’s
blood.

7. Captain Judas was over two bands, namely, the blood-men
that will sell a man’s life for money, and those also that
will betray their friend with a kiss: his standard-bearer
bare the red colours, and his scutcheon was thirty pieces of
silver and the halter.

8. Captain Pope was captain over one band, for all these
spirits are joined in one under him: his standard-bearer bare
the red colours, and his scutcheon was the stake, the flame,
and the good 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
put mighty confidence in this army of blood-men; for he put a
great deal of more trust in them than he did before in his
army of doubters; though they had also often done great
service for him in the strengthening of him in his kingdom. 
But these blood-men, he had proved them often, and their
sword did seldom return 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.  And that which encouraged him the more was, for
that they once did force Emmanuel out of the kingdom of
Universe; ‘And why,’ thought he, ‘may they not also drive him
from the town of Mansoul?’

So this army of five-and-twenty thousand strong was, by their
general, the great Lord Incredulity, led up against the town
of Mansoul.  Now Mr. Prywell, the scoutmaster-general, did
himself go out to spy, and he did bring Mansoul tidings of
their coming.  Wherefore they shut up their gates, and put
themselves in a posture of defence against these new
Diabolonians that came up against the town.

So Diabolus brought up his army, and beleaguered the town of
Mansoul; the doubters were placed about Feel-gate, and the
blood-men set down before Eye-gate and Ear-gate.

Now when this army had thus encamped themselves, Incredulity
did, in the name of Diabolus, his own name, and in the name
of the blood-men and the rest that were with him, send a
summons as hot as a red-hot iron to Mansoul, to yield to
their demands; threatening, that if they still stood it out
against them, they would presently burn down Mansoul with
fire.  For you must know that, as for the blood-men, they
were not so much that Mansoul should be surrendered, as that
Mansoul should be destroyed, and cut off out of the land of
the living.  True, they send to them to surrender; but should
they so do, that would not stench or quench the thirsts of
these men.  They must have blood, the blood of Mansoul, else
they die; and it is from hence that they have their name. 
Wherefore these blood-men he reserved while now that they
might, when all his engines proved ineffectual, as his last
and sure card be played against the town of Mansoul.

Now, when the townsmen had received this red-hot summons, it
begat in them at present some changing and interchanging
thoughts; but they jointly agreed, in less than half an hour,
to carry the summons to the Prince, the which they did when
they had writ at the bottom of it, ‘Lord, save Mansoul from
bloody men!’

So he took it, and looked upon it, and considered it, and
took notice also of that short petition that the men of
Mansoul had written at the bottom of it, and called to him
the noble Captain Credence, and bid him go and take Captain
Patience with him, and go and take care of that side of
Mansoul that was beleaguered by the blood-men.  So they went
and did as they were commanded: the Captain Credence went and
took Captain Patience, and they both secured that side of
Mansoul that was besieged by the blood-men.

Then he commanded that Captain Good-hope and Captain Charity,
and my Lord Willbewill, should take charge of the other side
of the town.  ‘And I,’ said the Prince, ‘will set my standard
upon the battlements of your castle, and do you three watch
against the doubters.’  This done, he again commanded that
the brave captain, the Captain Experience, should draw up his
men in the market-place, and that there he should exercise
them day by day before the people of the town of Mansoul. 
Now this siege was long, and many a fierce attempt did the
enemy, especially those called the blood-men, make upon the
town of Mansoul; and many a shrewd brush did some of the
townsmen meet with from them, especially Captain Self-Denial,
who, I should have told you before, was commanded to take the
care of Ear-gate and Eye-gate now against the blood-men. 
This Captain Self-Denial was a young man, but stout, and a
townsman in Mansoul, as Captain Experience also was.  And
Emmanuel, at his second return to Mansoul, made him a captain
over a thousand of the Mansoulians, for the good of the
corporation.  This captain, therefore, being an hardy man,
and a man of great courage, and willing to venture himself
for the good of the town of Mansoul, would now and then sally
out upon the blood-men, and give them many notable alarms,
and entered several brisk skirmishes with them, and also did
some execution upon them; but you must think that this could
not easily be done, but he must meet with brushes himself,
for he carried several of their marks in his face; yea, and
some in some other parts of his body.

So, after some time spent for the trial of the faith, and
hope, and love of the town of Mansoul, the Prince Emmanuel
upon a day calls his captains and men of war together, and
divides them into two companies; this done, he commands them
at a time appointed, and that in the morning very early, to
sally out upon the enemy, saying: ‘Let half of you fall upon
the doubters, and half of you fall upon the blood-men.  Those
of you that go out against the doubters, kill and slay, and
cause to perish so many of them as by any means you can lay
hands on; but for you that go out against the blood-men, slay
them not, but take them alive.’

So, at the time appointed, betimes in the morning, the
captains went out as they were commanded, against the
enemies.  Captain Good-Hope, Captain Charity, and those that
were joined with them, as Captain Innocent and Captain
Experience, went out against the doubters; and Captain
Credence, and Captain Patience, with Captain Self-Denial, and
the rest that were to join with them, went out against the
blood-men.

Now, those that went out against the doubters drew up into a
body 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’s men; wherefore they pursued them, and in their
pursuit slew many, but they could not catch them all.  Now
those that escaped went some of them home; and the rest by
fives, nines, and seventeens, like wanderers, went straggling
up and down the country, where they upon the barbarous people
showed and exercised many of their Diabolonian actions: nor
did these people rise up in arms against them, but suffered
themselves to be enslaved by them.  They would also after
this show themselves in companies before the town of Mansoul,
but never to abide in it; for if Captain Credence, Captain
Good-Hope, or Captain Experience did but show themselves,
they fled.

Those that went out against the blood-men did as they were
commanded: they forbore to slay any, but sought to compass
them about.  But the blood-men, when they saw that no
Emmanuel was in the field, concluded also that no Emmanuel
was in Mansoul; wherefore they, looking upon what the
captains did to be, as they called it, a fruit of the
extravagancy of their wild and foolish fancies, rather
despised them than feared them.  But the captains, minding
their business, at last did compass them round; they also
that had routed the doubters came in amain to their aid: so,
in fine, after some little struggling, (for the blood-men
also would have run for it, only now it was too late; for
though they are mischievous and cruel, where they can
overcome, yet all blood-men are chicken-hearted men, when
they once come to see themselves matched and equalled,) – so
the captains 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 all came out of one land.

1. One sort of them came out of Blind-man-shire, and they
were such as did ignorantly what they did.

2. Another sort of them came out of Blind-zeal-shire, and
they did superstitiously what they did.

3. The third sort of them came out of the town of Malice, in
the county of Envy, and they did what they did out of spite
and implacableness.

For the first of these, namely, they that came out of Blind-
man-shire, when they saw where they were, and against whom
they had fought, they trembled and cried, as they stood
before him; and as many of these as asked him mercy, he
touched their lips with his golden sceptre.

They that came out of Blind-zeal-shire, they did not as their
fellows did; for they pleaded that they had a right to do
what they did, because Mansoul was a town whose laws and
customs were diverse from all that dwelt thereabouts.  Very
few of these could be brought to see their evil; but those
that did, and asked mercy, they also obtained favour.

Now, they that came out of the town of Malice, that is in the
county of Envy, they neither wept, nor disputed, nor
repented, but stood gnawing their tongues before him for
anguish and madness, because they could not have their will
upon Mansoul.  Now these last, with all those of the other
two sorts that did not unfeignedly ask pardon for their
faults, – those he made to enter into sufficient bond to
answer for what they had done against Mansoul, and against
her King, at the great and general assizes to be holden for
our Lord the King, where he himself should appoint for the
country and kingdom of Universe.  So they became bound each
man for himself, to come in, when called upon, to answer
before our Lord the King for what they had done as before.

And thus much concerning this second army that was sent by
Diabolus to overthrow Mansoul.

But there were three of those that came from the land of
Doubting, who, after they had wandered and ranged the country
a while, and perceived that they had escaped, were so hardy
as to thrust themselves, knowing that yet there were in the
town Diabolonians, – I say, they were so hardy as to thrust
themselves into Mansoul among them.  (Three, did I say?  I
think there were four.)  Now, to whose house should these
Diabolonian doubters go, but to the house of an old
Diabolonian in Mansoul, whose name was Evil-Questioning, a
very great enemy he was to Mansoul, and a great doer among
the Diabolonians there.  Well, to this Evil-Questioning’s
house, as was said, did these Diabolonians come (you may be
sure that they had directions how to find the way thither),
so he made them welcome, pitied their misfortune, and
succoured them with the best that he had in his house.  Now,
after a little acquaintance (and it was not long before they
had that), this old Evil-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,’
said another, ‘am a vocation doubter:’ then said the third,
‘I am a salvation doubter:’ and the fourth said he was a
grace doubter.  ‘Well,’ quoth the old gentleman, ‘be of what
shire you will, I am persuaded that you are down, boys: you
have the very length of my foot, are one with my heart, and
shall be welcome to me.’  So they thanked him, and were glad
that they had found themselves an harbour in Mansoul.

Then said Evil-Questioning to them: ‘How many of your company
might there be that came with you to the siege of Mansoul?’
and they answered: ‘There were but ten thousand doubters in
all, for the rest of the army consisted of fifteen thousand
blood-men.  These blood-men,’ quoth they, ‘border upon our
country; but, poor men! as we hear, they were every one taken
by Emmanuel’s forces.’  ‘Ten thousand!’ quoth the old
gentleman; ‘I will promise you, that is a round company.  But
how came it to pass, since you were so mighty a number, that
you fainted, and durst not fight your foes?’  ‘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 Lord Mayor of Mansoul,’ said they: ‘but pray
call him not a cowardly general; for whether any from the
east to the west has done more service for our prince
Diabolus, than has my Lord Incredulity, will be a hard
question for you to answer.  But had they catched him, they
would for certain have hanged him; and we promise you,
hanging is but a bad business.’  Then said the old gentleman,
‘I would that all the ten thousand doubters were now well
armed in Mansoul, and myself at the head of them; I would see
what I could do.’  ‘Ay,’ said they, ‘that would be well if we
could see that; but wishes, alas! what are they?’ and these
words were spoken aloud.  ‘Well,’ said old Evil-Questioning,
‘take heed that you talk not too loud; you must be quat and
close, and must take care of yourselves while you are here,
or, I will assure you, you will be snapped.’  ‘Why?’ quoth
the doubters.  ‘Why!’ quoth the old gentleman; ‘why! because
both the Prince and Lord Secretary, and their captains and
soldiers, are all at present in town; yea, the town is as
full of them as ever it can hold.  And besides, there is one
whose name is Willbewill, a most cruel enemy of ours, and him
the Prince has made keeper of the gates, and has commanded
him that, with all the diligence he can, he should look for,
search out, and destroy all, and all manner of Diabolonians. 
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 Lord Willbewill’s
faithful soldiers, whose name was Mr. Diligence, stood all
this while listening under old Evil-Questioning’s eaves, and
heard all the talk that had been betwixt him and the doubters
that he entertained under his roof.

The soldier was a man that my lord had much confidence in,
and that he loved dearly; and that both because he was a man
of courage, and also a man that was unwearied in seeking
after Diabolonians to apprehend them.

Now this man, as I told you, heard all the talk that was
between old Evil-Questioning and these Diabolonians;
wherefore what does he but goes to his lord, and tells him
what he had heard.  ‘And sayest thou so, my trusty?’ quoth my
lord.  ‘Ay,’ quoth Diligence, ‘that I do; and if your
lordship will be pleased to go with me, you shall find it as
I have said.’  ‘And are they there?’ quoth my lord.  ‘I know
Evil-Questioning well, for he and I were great in the time of
our apostasy: but I know not now where he dwells.’  ‘But I
do,’ said his man, ‘and if your lordship will go, I will lead
you the way to his den.’  ‘Go!’ quoth my lord, ‘that I will. 
Come, my Diligence, let us go find them out.’

So my lord and his man went together the direct way to his
house.  Now his man went before to show him his way, and they
went till they came even under old Mr. Evil-Questioning’s
wall.  Then said Diligence, ‘Hark! my lord, do you know the
old gentleman’s tongue when you hear it?’  ‘Yes,’ said my
lord, ‘I know it well, but I have not seen him many a day. 
This I know, he is cunning; I wish he doth not give us the
slip.’  ‘Let me alone for that,’ said his servant Diligence. 
‘But how shall we find the door?’ quoth my lord.  ‘Let me
alone for that, too,’ said his man.  So he had my Lord
Willbewill about, and showed him the way to the door.  Then
my lord, without more ado, broke open the door, rushed into
the house, and caught them all five together, even as
Diligence his man had told him.  So my lord apprehended them,
and led them away, and committed them to the hand of Mr.
Trueman, the gaoler, and commanded, and he did put them in
ward.  This done, my Lord Mayor was acquainted in the morning
with what my Lord Willbewill had done over night, and his
lordship rejoiced much at the news, not only because there
were doubters apprehended, but because that old Evil-
Questioning was taken; for he had been a very great trouble
to Mansoul, and much affliction to my Lord Mayor himself.  He
had also been sought for often, but no hand could ever be
laid upon him till now.

Well, the next thing was to make preparation to try these
five that by my lord had been apprehended, and that were in
the hands of Mr. Trueman, the gaoler.  So the day was set,
and the court called and come together, and the prisoners
brought to the bar.  My Lord Willbewill had power to have
slain them when at first he took them, and that without any
more ado; but he thought it at this time more for the honour
of the Prince, the comfort of Mansoul, and the discouragement
of the enemy, to bring them forth to public judgment.

But, I say, Mr. Trueman brought them in chains to the bar; to
the town-hall, for that was the place of judgment.  So, to be
short, the jury was panelled, the witnesses sworn, and the
prisoners tried for their lives: the jury was the same that
tried Mr. No-Truth, Pitiless, Haughty, and the rest of their
companions.

And, first, old Questioning himself was set to the bar for he
was the receiver, the entertainer, and comforter of these
doubters, that by nation were outlandish men: then he was bid
to hearken to his charge, and was told that he had liberty to
object, if he had ought to say for himself.  So his
indictment was read: the manner and form here follows.

‘Mr. Questioning, Thou art here indicted by the name of Evil-
Questioning, an intruder upon the town of Mansoul, for that
thou art a Diabolonian by nature, and also a hater of the
Prince Emmanuel, and one that hast studied the ruin of the
town of Mansoul.  Thou art also here indicted for
countenancing the King’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. In receiving, in entertaining, and
encouraging of her enemies, that came from their army unto
thee.  What sayest thou to this indictment? art thou guilty
or not guilty?’

‘My lord,’ quoth he, ‘I know not the meaning of this
indictment, forasmuch as I am not the man concerned in it;
the man that standeth by this charge accused before this
bench is called by the name of Evil-Questioning, which name I
deny to be mine, mine being Honest-Inquiry.  The one indeed
sounds like the other; but, I trow, your lordships know that
between these two there is a wide difference; for I hope that
a man, even in the worst of times, and that, too, amongst the
worst of men, may make an honest inquiry after things,
without running the danger of death.’

Then spake my Lord Willbewill, for he was one of the
witnesses: ‘My lord, and you the honourable bench and
magistrates of the town of Mansoul, you all have heard with
your ears that the prisoner at the bar has denied his name,
and so thinks to shift from the charge of the indictment. 
But I know him to be the man concerned, and that his proper
name is Evil-Questioning.  I have known him, my lord, above
these thirty years, for he and I (a shame it is for me to
speak it) were great acquaintance, when Diabolus, that
tyrant, had the government of Mansoul; and I testify that he
is a Diabolonian by nature, an enemy to our Prince, and a
hater of the blessed town of Mansoul.  He has, in times of
rebellion, been at and lain in 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 and his doubters have
talked of late: true, I have not seen him many a day.  I
suppose that the coming of Emmanuel to Mansoul has made him
change his lodgings, as this indictment has driven him to
change his name; but this is the man, my lord.’

Then said the court unto him, ‘Hast thou any more to say?’

‘Yes,’ quoth the old gentleman, ‘that I have; for all that as
yet has been said against me, is but by the mouth of one
witness; and it is not lawful for the famous town of Mansoul,
at the mouth of one witness, to put any man to death.’

Then stood forth Mr. Diligence, and said, ‘My lord, as I was
upon my watch such a night at the head of Bad Street, in this
town, I chanced to hear a muttering within this gentleman’s
house.  Then, thought I, what is to do here?  So I went up
close, but very softly, to the side of the house to listen,
thinking, as indeed it fell out, that there I might light
upon some Diabolonian conventicle.  So, as I said, I drew
nearer and nearer; and when I was got up close to the wall,
it was but a while before I perceived that there were
outlandish men in the house; but I did well understand their
speech, for I have been a traveller myself.  Now, hearing
such language in such a tottering cottage as this old
gentleman dwelt in, I clapped mine ear to a hole in the
window, and there heard them talk as followeth.  This old Mr.
Questioning asked these doubters what they were, whence they
came, and what was their business in these parts; and they
told him to all these questions, yet he did entertain them. 
He also asked what numbers there were of them; and they told
him ten thousand men.  He then asked them, why they made no
more manly assault upon Mansoul; and they told him: so he
called their general coward, for marching off when he should
have fought for his prince.  Further, this old Evil-
Questioning wished, and I heard him wish, would all the ten
thousand doubters were now in Mansoul, and himself at the
head of them.  He bid them also to take heed and lie quat;
for if they were taken they must die, although they had heads
of gold.’  Then said the court: ‘Mr. Evil-Questioning, here
is now another witness against you, and his testimony is
full: 1. He swears that you did receive these men into your
house, and that you did nourish them there, though you knew
that they were Diabolonians, and the King’s enemies.  2. He
swears that you did wish ten thousand of them in Mansoul.  3.
He swears that you did give them advice to be quat and close,
lest they were taken by the King’s servants.  All which
manifesteth that thou art a Diabolonian; but hadst thou been
a friend to the King, thou wouldst have apprehended them.’

Then said Evil-Questioning: ‘To the first of these I answer,
The men that came into mine house were strangers, and I took
them in; and is it now become a crime in Mansoul for a man to
entertain strangers?  That I did also nourish them is true;
and why should my charity be blamed?  As for the reason why I
wished ten thousand of them in Mansoul, I never told it to
the witnesses, nor to themselves.  I might wish them to be
taken, and so my wish might mean well to Mansoul, for aught
that any yet knows.  I did also bid them take heed that they
fell not into the captains’ hands; but that might be because
I am unwilling that any man should be slain, and not because
I would have the King’s enemies as such escape.’

My Lord Mayor then replied: ‘That though it was a virtue to
entertain strangers, yet it was treason to entertain the
King’s enemies.  And for what else thou hast said, thou dost
by words but labour to evade and defer the execution of
judgment.  But could there be no more proved against thee but
that thou art a Diabolonian, thou must for that die the death
by the law; but to be a receiver, a nourisher, a
countenancer, and a harbourer of others of them, yea, of
outlandish Diabolonians, yea, of them that came from far on
purpose to cut off and destroy our Mansoul – this must not be
borne.’

Then said Evil-Questioning: ‘I see how the game will go: I
must die for my name, and for my charity.’  And so he held
his peace.

Then they called the outlandish doubters to the bar, and the
first 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
Emmanuel the Prince, a hater of the town of Mansoul, and an
opposer of her most wholesome doctrine.’

Then the judge asked him if he would plead? but he said only
this – That he confessed that he was an election doubter, and
that that was the religion that he had ever been brought up
in.  And said, moreover, ‘If I must die for my religion, I
trow, I shall die a martyr, and so I care the less.’

JUDGE.  Then it was replied: ‘To question election, is to
overthrow a great doctrine of the gospel, namely, the
omnisciency, and power, and will of God; to take away the
liberty of God with his creature, to stumble the faith of the
town of Mansoul, and to make salvation to depend upon works,
and not upon grace.  It also belied the word, and disquieted
the minds of the men of Mansoul; therefore by the best of
laws he must die.’

Then was the vocation doubter called, and set to the bar; and
his indictment for substance was the same with the other,
only he was 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 was any
such thing as a distinct and powerful call of God to Mansoul;
otherwise than by the general voice of the word, nor by that
neither, otherwise than as it exhorted them to forbear evil,
and to do that which is good, and in so doing a promise of
happiness is annexed.’

Then said the judge: ‘Thou art a Diabolonian, and hast denied
a great part of one of the most experimental truths of the
Prince of the town of Mansoul; for he has called, and she has
heard a most distinct and powerful call of her Emmanuel, by
which she has been quickened, awakened, and possessed with
heavenly grace to desire to have communion with her Prince,
to serve him, and to do his will, and to look for her
happiness merely of his good pleasure.  And for thine
abhorrence of this good doctrine, thou must die the death.’

Then the grace doubter was called, and his indictment was
read and he replied thereto: ‘That though he was of the land
of doubting, his father was the offspring of a Pharisee, and
lived in good fashion among his neighbours, and that he
taught him to believe, and believe it I do, and will, that
Mansoul shall never be saved freely by grace.’

Then said the judge: ‘Why, the law of the Prince is plain: 1.
Negatively, “not of works:” 2. Positively, “by grace you are
saved.”  And thy religion settleth in and upon the works of
the flesh; for the works of the law are the works of the
flesh.  Besides, in saying as thou hast done, thou hast
robbed God of His glory, and given it to a sinful man; thou
hast robbed Christ of the necessity of His undertaking, and
the sufficiency thereof, and hast given both these to the
works of the flesh.  Thou hast despised the work of the Holy
Ghost, and hast magnified the will of the flesh, and of the
legal mind.  Thou art a Diabolonian, the son of a
Diabolonian; and for thy Diabolonian principles thou must
die.’

The court then, having proceeded thus far with them, sent out
the jury, who forthwith brought them in guilty of death. 
Then stood up the Recorder, and addressed himself to the
prisoners: ‘You, the prisoners at the bar, you have been here
indicted, and proved guilty of high crimes against Emmanuel
our Prince, and against the welfare of the famous town of
Mansoul, crimes for which you must be put to death, and die
ye accordingly.’  So they were sentenced to the death of the
cross.  The place assigned them for execution, was that where
Diabolus drew up his last army against Mansoul; save only
that 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 their
enemies, and of the troublers of their peace, in the next
place a strict commandment was given out, that yet my Lord
Willbewill should, with Diligence his man, search for, and do
his best to apprehend what town Diabolonians were yet left
alive in Mansoul.  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 he should apprehend Mr. Evil-Questioning’s
children, that he left behind him, and that they should
demolish his house.  The children that he left behind him
were these: Mr. Doubt, and he 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 old Incredulity, for he was her uncle; and when
her father, old Dark, was dead, he took her and brought her
up, and when she was marriageable, he gave her to this old
Evil-Questioning to wife.

Now the Lord Willbewill did put into execution his
commission, with great Diligence, his man.  He took Fooling
in the streets, and hanged him up in Want-wit-Alley, over
against his own house.  This Fooling was he that would have
had the town of Mansoul deliver up Captain Credence into the
hands of Diabolus, provided that then he would have withdrawn
his force out of the town.  He also took Mr. Let-Good-Slip
one day as he was busy in the market, and executed him
according to law.  Now there was an honest poor man in
Mansoul, and his name was Mr. Meditation, one of no great
account in the days of apostasy, but now of repute with the
best of the town.  This man, 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 of the Prince: this, therefore, was
now given to Mr. Meditation, to improve for the common good,
and after him to his son, Mr. Think-Well; this Think-Well he
had by Mrs. Piety his wife, and she was the daughter of Mr.
Recorder.

After this, my lord apprehended Clip-Promise: now because he
was a notorious villain, for by his doings much of the King’s
coin was abused, therefore he was made a public example.  He
was arraigned and judged to be first set in the pillory, then
to be whipped by all the children and servants in Mansoul,
and then to be hanged till he was dead.  Some may wonder at
the severity of this man’s punishment; but those that are
honest traders in Mansoul, are sensible of the great abuse
that one clipper of promises in little time may do to the
town of Mansoul.  And truly my judgment is, that all those of
his name and life should be served even as he.

He also apprehended Carnal-Sense, and put him in hold; but
how it came about, I cannot tell, but he brake prison, and
made his escape: yea, and the bold villain will not yet quit
the town, but lurks in the Diabolonian dens a days, and
haunts like a ghost honest men’s houses a nights.  Wherefore,
there was a proclamation set up in the market-place in
Mansoul, signifying that whosoever could discover Carnal-
Sense, and apprehend him and slay 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 and slay him they could not,
though often he was discovered.

But my lord took Mr. Wrong-Thoughts-of-Christ, and put him in
prison, and he died there; though it was long first, for he
died of a lingering consumption.

Self-Love was also taken and committed to custody; but there
were many that were allied to him in Mansoul, so his judgment
was deferred.  But at last Mr. Self-Denial stood up, and
said: ‘If such villains as these may be winked at in Mansoul,
I will lay down my commission.’  He also took him from the
crowd, and had him among his soldiers, and there he was
brained.  But some in Mansoul muttered at it, though none
durst speak plainly, because Emmanuel was in town.  But this
brave act of Captain Self-Denial came to the Prince’s ears;
so he sent for him, and made him a lord in Mansoul.  My Lord
Willbewill also obtained great commendations of Emmanuel, for
what he had done for the town of Mansoul.

Then my Lord Self-Denial took courage, and set to the
pursuing of the Diabolonians, with my Lord Willbewill; and
they took Live-by-Feeling, and they took Legal-Life, and put
them in hold till they died.  But Mr. Unbelief was a nimble
Jack: him they could never lay hold of, though they attempted
to do it often.  He therefore, and some few more of the
subtlest of the Diabolonian tribe, did yet remain in Mansoul,
to the time that Mansoul left off to dwell any longer in the
kingdom of Universe.  But they kept them to their dens and
holes: if one of them did appear, or happen to be seen in any
of the streets of the town of Mansoul, the whole town would
be up in arms after them; yea, the very children in Mansoul
would cry out after them as after a thief, and would wish
that they might stone them to death with stones.  And now did
Mansoul arrive to some good degree of peace and quiet; her
Prince also did abide within her borders; her captains, also,
and her soldiers did their duties; and Mansoul minded her
trade that she had with the country that was afar off; also
she was busy in her manufacture.

When the town of Mansoul had thus far rid themselves of so
many of their enemies, and the troublers of their peace, the
Prince sent to them, and appointed a day wherein he would, at
the market-place, meet the whole people, and there give them
in charge concerning some further matters, that, if observed,
would tend to their further safety and comfort, and to the
condemnation and destruction of their home-bred Diabolonians. 
So the day appointed was come, and the townsmen met together;
Emmanuel also came down in his chariot, and all his captains
in their state attending him, on the right hand and on the
left.  Then was an oyes made for silence, and, after some
mutual carriages of love, the Prince began, and thus
proceeded:-

‘You, my Mansoul, and the beloved of mine heart, many and
great are the privileges that I have bestowed upon you; I
have singled you out from others, and have chosen you to
myself, not for your worthiness, but for mine own sake.  I
have also redeemed you, not only from the dread of my
Father’s law, but from the hand of Diabolus.  This I have
done because I loved you, and because I have set my heart
upon you to do you good.  I have also, that all things, that
might hinder thy way to the pleasures of paradise might be
taken out of the way, laid down for thee for thy soul a
plenary satisfaction, and have bought thee to myself; a price
not of corruptible things, as of silver and gold, but a price
of blood, mine own blood, which I have freely spilled upon
the ground to make thee mine.  So I have reconciled thee, O
my Mansoul, to my Father, and entrusted thee in the mansion
houses that are with my Father in the royal city, where
things are, O my Mansoul, that eye hath not seen, nor hath
entered into the heart of man to conceive.

‘Besides, O my Mansoul, thou seest what I have done, and how
I have taken thee out of the hands of thine enemies: unto
whom thou hadst deeply revolted from my Father, and by whom
thou wast content to be possessed, and also to be destroyed. 
I came 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
thou rebelledst against my Father and me; yet I left thee not
as thou seest this day, but came to thee, have borne thy
manners, have waited upon thee, and, after all, accepted of
thee, even of my mere grace and favour; and would not suffer
thee to be lost, as thou most willingly wouldst have been.  I
also compassed thee about, and afflicted thee on every side,
that I might make thee weary of thy ways, and bring down thy
heart with molestation to a willingness to close with thy
good and happiness.  And when I had gotten a complete
conquest over thee, I turned it to thy advantage.

‘Thou seest, also, what a company of my Father’s host I have
lodged within thy borders: captains and rulers, soldiers and
men of war, engines and excellent devices to subdue and bring
down thy foes; thou knowest my meaning, O Mansoul.  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 make thee 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 by thy
backslidings, and have healed thee.  Indeed I was angry with
thee, but I have turned mine anger away from thee, because I
loved thee still, and mine anger and mine indignation is
ceased in the destruction of thine enemies, O Mansoul.  Nor
did thy goodness fetch me again unto thee, after that I for
thy transgressions have hid my face, and withdrawn my
presence from thee.  The way of backsliding was thine, but
the way and means of thy recovery was mine.  I invented the
means of thy return; it was I that made an hedge and a wall,
when thou wast beginning to turn to things in which I
delighted not.  It was I that made thy sweet bitter, thy day
night, thy smooth way thorny, and that also confounded all
that sought thy destruction.  It was I that set Mr. Godly-
Fear to work in Mansoul.  It was I that stirred up thy
conscience and understanding, thy will and thy affections,
after thy great and woful decay.  It was I that put life into
thee, O Mansoul, to seek me, that thou mightest find me, and
in thy finding find thine own health, happiness, and
salvation.  It was I that fetched the second time the
Diabolonians out of Mansoul; and it was I that overcame them,
and that destroyed them before thy face.

‘And now, my Mansoul, I am returned to thee in peace, and thy
transgressions against me are as if they had not been.  Nor
shall it be with thee as in former days, but I will do better
for thee than at thy beginning.

For yet a little while, O my Mansoul, even after a few more
times are gone over thy head, I will (but be not thou
troubled at what I say) take down this famous town of
Mansoul, stick and stone, to the ground.  And I will carry
the stones thereof, and the timber thereof, and the walls
thereof, and the dust thereof, and the inhabitants thereof,
into mine own country, even into a kingdom of my Father; and
will there set it up in such strength and glory, as it never
did see in the kingdom where now it is placed.  I will even
there set it up for my Father’s habitation; for for that
purpose it was at first erected in the kingdom of Universe;
and there will I make it a spectacle of wonder, a monument of
mercy, and the admirer of its own mercy.  There shall the
natives of Mansoul see all that, of which they have seen
nothing here: there shall they be equal to those unto whom
they have been inferior here.  And there shalt thou, O my
Mansoul, have such communion with me, with my Father, and
with your Lord Secretary, as it is not possible here to be
enjoyed, nor ever could be, shouldest thou live in Universe
the space of a thousand years.

‘And there, O my Mansoul, thou shalt be afraid of murderers
no more; of Diabolonians, and their threats, no more.  There,
there shall be no more plots, nor contrivances, nor designs
against thee, O my Mansoul.  There thou shalt no more hear
the evil-tidings, or the noise of the Diabolonian drum. 
There thou shalt not see the Diabolonian standard-bearers,
nor yet behold Diabolus’s standard.  No Diabolonian mount
shall be cast up against thee there; nor shall there the
Diabolonian standard be set up to make thee afraid.  There
thou shalt not need captains, engines, soldiers, and men of
war.  There thou shalt meet with no sorrow, nor grief, nor
shall it be possible that any Diabolonian should again, for
ever, be able to creep into thy skirts, burrow in thy walls,
or be seen again within thy borders all the days of eternity. 
Life shall there last longer than here you are able to desire
it should; and yet it shall always be sweet and new, nor
shall any impediment attend it for ever.

‘There, O Mansoul, thou shalt meet with many of those that
have been like thee, and that have been partakers of thy
sorrows; even such as I have chosen, and redeemed, and set
apart, as thou, for my Father’s court and city-royal.  All
they will be glad in thee, and thou, when thou seest them,
shalt be glad in thine heart.

‘There are things, O Mansoul, even things of my Father’s
providing, and mine, that never were seen since the beginning
of the world; and they are laid up with my Father, and sealed
up among his treasures for thee, till thou shalt come thither
to enjoy them.  I told you before, that I would remove my
Mansoul, and set it up elsewhere; and where I will set it,
there are those that love thee, and those that rejoice in
thee now; but how much more, when they shall see thee exalted
to honour!  My Father will then send them for you to fetch
you; and their bosoms are chariots to put you in.  And you, O
my Mansoul, shall ride upon the wings of the wind.  They will
come to convey, conduct, and bring you to that, when your
eyes see more, that will be your desired haven.

‘And thus, O my Mansoul, I have showed unto thee what shall
be done to thee hereafter, if thou canst hear, if thou canst
understand; and now I will tell thee what at present must be
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 more
white and clean the liveries which I gave thee before my last
withdrawing from thee.  Do it, I say, for this will be thy
wisdom.  They are in themselves fine linen, but thou must
keep them white and clean.  This will be your wisdom, your
honour, and will be greatly for my glory.  When your garments
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 of
lightning, that those that are present must take notice of;
also their eyes will be made to dazzle thereat.  Deck
thyself, therefore, according to my bidding, and make thyself
by my law straight steps for thy feet; so shall thy King
greatly desire thy beauty, 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 to
wash thy garments in.  Look, therefore, that thou wash often
in my fountain, and go not in defiled garments; for as it is
to my 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, be defiled or spotted by the flesh.  Keep thy
garments always white, and let thy head lack no ointment.

‘My Mansoul, I have ofttimes delivered thee from the designs,
plots, attempts, and conspiracies of Diabolus; and for all
this I ask thee nothing, but that thou render not to me evil
for my good; but that thou bear in mind my love, and the
continuation of my kindness to my beloved Mansoul, so as to
provoke thee to walk in thy measure according to the benefit
bestowed on thee.  Of old, the sacrifices were bound with
coords to the horns of the altar.  Consider what is said to
thee, O my blessed Mansoul.

‘O my Mansoul, I have lived, I have died, I live, and will
die no more for thee.  I live, that thou mayest not die. 
Because I live, thou shalt live also.  I reconciled thee to
my Father by the blood of my cross; and being reconciled,
thou shalt live through me.  I will pray for thee; I will
fight for thee; I will yet do thee good.

‘Nothing can hurt thee but sin; nothing can grieve me but
sin; nothing can make thee base before thy foes but sin: take
heed of sin, my Mansoul.

‘And dost thou know why I at first, and do still, suffer
Diabolonians to dwell in thy walls, O Mansoul?  It is to keep
thee wakening, to try thy love, to make thee watchful, and to
cause thee yet to prize my noble captains, their soldiers,
and my mercy.

‘It is also, that yet thou mayest be made to remember what 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 there be
without, that would bring thee into bondage; for were all
these within cut off, those without would find thee sleeping;
and then, as in a moment, they would swallow up my Mansoul. 
I therefore left them in thee, not to do thee hurt (the which
they yet will, if thou hearken to them, and serve them,) but
to do thee good, the which they must, if thou watch and fight
against them.  Know, therefore, that whatever they shall
tempt thee to, my design is, that they should drive thee, not
further off, but nearer to my father, to learn thee war, to
make petitioning desirable to thee, and to make thee little
in thine own eyes.  Hearken diligently to this, my Mansoul.

‘Show me, then, thy love, my Mansoul, and let not those that
are within thy walls, take thy affections off from him that
hath redeemed thy soul.  Yea, let the sight of a Diabolonian
heighten thy love to me.  I came once, and twice, and thrice,
to save thee from the poison of those arrows that would have
wrought thy death: stand for me, thy Friend, my Mansoul,
against the Diabolonians, and I will stand for thee before my
Father, and all his court.  Love me against temptation, and I
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 for thee,
they have suffered by thee, they have borne much at thy hands
to do thee good, O Mansoul.  Hadst thou not had them to 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, and sick, and
weak.  Make not my captains sick, O Mansoul; for if they be
sick, thou canst not be well; if they be weak, thou canst not
be strong; if they be faint, thou canst not be stout and
valiant for thy King, O Mansoul.  Nor must thou think always
to live by sense: thou must live upon my word.  Thou must
believe, O my Mansoul, when I am from thee, that yet I love
thee, and bear thee upon mine heart for ever.

‘Remember, therefore, O my Mansoul, that thou art beloved of
me: as I have, therefore, taught thee to watch, to fight, to
pray, and to make war against my foes; so now I command thee
to believe that my love is constant to thee.  O my Mansoul,
how have I set my heart, my love upon thee!  Watch.  Behold,
I lay none other burden upon thee, than what thou hast
already.  Hold fast, till I come.’

End of The Project Gutenberg Etext of The Holy War, by John Bunyan