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diff --git a/395-0.txt b/395-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..f63111c --- /dev/null +++ b/395-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,9533 @@ +The Project Gutenberg eBook, The Holy War made by Shaddai upon Diabolus, +by John Bunyan + + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + + + + +Title: The Holy War made by Shaddai upon Diabolus + + +Author: John Bunyan + + + +Release Date: February 9, 2013 [eBook #395] +[This file was first posted on December 7, 1995] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: UTF-8 + + +***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE HOLY WAR MADE BY SHADDAI UPON +DIABOLUS*** + + +Transcribed from the 1907 Religious Tract Society edition by David Price, +email ccx074@pglaf.org + + + + + + THE HOLY WAR MADE + BY SHADDI UPON + DIABOLUS FOR THE + REGAINING OF THE METROPOLIS + OF THE WORLD OR THE LOSING + AND TAKING AGAIN OF THE TOWN + OF MANSOUL. BY JOHN BUNYAN + + + * * * * * + + WITH THREE + COLOURED ILLUSTRATIONS + BY VICTOR PROUT {0} + + * * * * * + + “I have used similitudes.” Hosea xii. 10 + + * * * * * + + [Picture: Decorative design] + + London + THE RELIGIOUS TRACT SOCIETY + 4 Bouverie Street and 65 St Paul’s Churchyard + 1907 + + * * * * * + + PRINTED BY + HAZELL, WATSON AND VINEY, LD. + LONDON AND AYLESBURY. + + + + +PREFACE. + + +_IN the year 1682 there was published by Dorman Newman_, ‘_at the King’s +Arms in the Poultry_,’_ and Benjamin Alsop_, ‘_at the Angel and Bible in +the Poultry_,’_ a volume entitled_ ‘_The Holy War_, _made by Shaddai upon +Diabolus for the regaining of the Metropolis of the World; or the Losing +and Taking again of the Town of Mansoul_.’_ It was the work of John +Bunyan_, _who_, _sixteen years before_, _had published the story of his +own spiritual struggle under the title of_ ‘_Grace abounding to the Chief +of Sinners_’;_ and_, _but four years before_, _had produced_ ‘_The +Pilgrim’s Progress_’ (_Part I_). _Bunyan had speedily followed the issue +of the_ ‘_Pilgrim’s Progress_’ _with the_ ‘_Life and Death of Mr. +Badman_,’_ picture of English life and character as he had seen it_, +_grimly faithful to fact_. _In_ ‘_The Holy War_’_ Bunyan returned to +allegory_. _As a piece of literature the book is in no way inferior to +the_ ‘_Pilgrim’s Progress_.’_ If Bunyan had written nothing else_, ‘_The +Holy War_’ _would have sufficed to establish his claim to a place amongst +the masters of English prose_. _As an appeal to the conscience it is not +a whit less effective than the_ ‘_Pilgrim’s Progress_’; _but in the power +of seizing and retaining the reader’s attention it is scarcely so +successful_. _Nevertheless Macaulay held that_ ‘_if there had been no_ +“_Pilgrim’s Progress_” “_The Holy War_” _would have been the first of +religious allegories_.’ + +_In working out the details of_ ‘_The Holy War_’ _Bunyan seems to have +kept in mind his own experience_. _The fortifications of the city_, _the +movements of the opposing forces_, _the changes in the municipal offices +of Mansoul were reproductions of scenes and events that had but recently +gone on under Bunyan’s eyes_. _He adapted them with extraordinary +success to the presentation both of the doctrines of grace and of the +temptations which attend the Christian life_. _The characters and the +incidents are_, _in effect_, _the characters and incidents of every age_. +_It is this which gives to the story of Mansoul its undying freshness_, +_and suits it to the needs of men in all climes_. ‘_The Holy War_’ _has +been translated into many languages_, _including some of those with the +scantiest of literature_. _Indeed_, _as this edition is being prepared +for the press_, _assistance is being rendered by the Religious Tract +Society in the printing of_ ‘_The Holy War_’ _in Kongo_. + + _A. R. BUCKLAND_. + + + + +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 eater.’ + +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 cords +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.’ + + + + +FOOTNOTES + + +{0} Unfortunately the illustrations are still in copyright in the UK +(where I live), and so have not been included. They will be included +when they come out of copyright in the UK.—DP. + + + + +***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE HOLY WAR MADE BY SHADDAI UPON +DIABOLUS*** + + +******* This file should be named 395-0.txt or 395-0.zip ******* + + +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: +http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/3/9/395 + + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. 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