THE HOLY WAR

TO THE READER. 

'Tis strange to me, that they that love to tellThings done of old, yea, and that do excelTheir equals in historiology, Speak not of Mansoul's wars, but let them lieDead, 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 reportsAre 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 thingsOf 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 anyThat are acquainted with those HistoriesThat 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 opposeHer Lord, and with his enemy did close. For they are true: he that will them denyMust 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 seeDiabolus and Mansoul so agree. Let no men, then, count me a fable-maker, Nor make my name or credit a partakerOf their derision: what is here in view, Of mine own knowledge, I dare say is true. I saw the Prince's armed men come downBy 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'dTo ruin Mansoul, and to make awayHer 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 shadeThe 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'dTo beat open Ear-gate; and I was afraidNot only Ear-gate, but the very townWould 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 goUp 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'dHis town of Mansoul; and how greatly blestA 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 byWhen 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 seeThat 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 divineUnto 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 farThan 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 farThan 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 restWith them, whose greatest earnest is but jest:Or where the blust'ring threat'ning of great warsDo end in parlies, or in wording jars. Mansoul! her mighty wars, they did portendHer weal or woe, and that world without end:Wherefore she must be more concern'd than theyWhose fears begin, and end the selfsame day;Or where none other harm doth come to himThat is engaged, but loss of life or limb, As all must needs confess that now do dwellIn Universe, and can this story tell. Count me not, then, with them that, to amazeThe people, set them on the stars to gaze, Insinuating with much confidence, That each of them is now the residenceOf some brave creatures: yea, a world they willHave in each star, though it be past their skillTo 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 moreOf all sorts of such inward raritiesAs please the mind will, and will feed the eyesWith those, which, if a Christian, thou wilt seeNot 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 knowMy 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 shineIn 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 sufficeTo 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 immediatelyOn paper I did dribble it daintily. Manner and matter, too, was all mine own, Nor was it unto any mortal knownTill I had done it; nor did any thenBy books, by wits, by tongues, or hand, or pen, Add five words to it, or write half a lineThereof: the whole, and every whit is mine. Also for THIS, thine eye is now upon, The matter in this manner came from noneBut 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 II 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, itwas my chance to happen into that famous continent of Universe. Avery large and spacious country it is: it lieth between the twopoles, and just amidst the four points of the heavens. It is aplace well watered, and richly adorned with hills and valleys, bravely situate, and for the most part, at least where I was, veryfruitful, 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 theplanets themselves. Some are right, and some are wrong, even as ithappeneth to be in lesser regions. 

In this country, as I said, it was my lot to travel; and theretravel I did, and that so long, even till I learned much of theirmother tongue, together with the customs and manners of them amongwhom I was. And, to speak truth, I was much delighted to see andhear many things which I saw and heard among them; yea, I had, tobe sure, even lived and died a native among them, (so was I takenwith them and their doings, ) had not my master sent for me home tohis house, there to do business for him, and to oversee businessdone. 

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

As to the situation of this town, it lieth just between the twoworlds; and the first founder and builder of it, so far as by thebest and most authentic records I can gather, was one Shaddai; andhe built it for his own delight. He made it the mirror and gloryof all that he made, even the top-piece, beyond anything else thathe did in that country. Yea, so goodly a town was Mansoul whenfirst built, that it is said by some, the gods, at the setting upthereof, came down to see it, and sang for joy. And as he made itgoodly to behold, so also mighty to have dominion over all thecountry round about. Yea, all were commanded to acknowledgeMansoul for their metropolitan, all were enjoined to do homage toit. Aye, the town itself had positive commission and power fromher King to demand service of all, and also to subdue any thatanyways denied to do it. 

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

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

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 thewalls, to wit, impregnable, and such as could never be opened norforced but by the will and leave of those within. The names of thegates were these: Ear-gate, Eye-gate, Mouth-gate, Nose-gate, andFeel-gate. 

Other things there were that belonged to the town of Mansoul, whichif you adjoin to these, will yet give farther demonstration to all, of the glory and strength of the place. It had always asufficiency of provision within its walls; it had the best, mostwholesome, and excellent law that then was extant in the world. There was not a rascal, rogue, or traitorous person then within itswalls; they were all true men, and fast joined together; and this, you know, is a great matter. And to all these, it had always (solong as it had the goodness to keep true to Shaddai the King) hiscountenance, his protection, and it was his delight, etc. 

Well, upon a time, there was one Diabolus, a mighty giant, made anassault upon this famous town of Mansoul, to take it, and make ithis own habitation. This giant was king of the blacks, and a mostraving prince he was. We will, if you please, first discourse ofthe origin of this Diabolus, and then of his taking of this famoustown of Mansoul. 

This Diabolus is indeed a great and mighty prince, and yet bothpoor and beggarly. As to his origin, he was at first one of theservants of King Shaddai, made, and taken, and put by him into mosthigh and mighty place; yea, was put into such principalities asbelonged to the best of his territories and dominions. ThisDiabolus was made 'son of the morning, ' and a brave place he had ofit: it brought him much glory, and gave him much brightness, anincome that might have contented his Luciferian heart, had it notbeen insatiable, and enlarged as hell itself. 

Well, he seeing himself thus exalted to greatness and honour, andraging in his mind for higher state and degree, what doth he butbegins to think with himself how he might be set up as lord overall, and have the sole power under Shaddai. (Now that did the Kingreserve 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 thewhich they also agreed. So, in fine, they came to this issue thatthey should make an attempt upon the King's Son to destroy him, that the inheritance might be theirs. Well, to be short, thetreason, as I said, was concluded, the time appointed, the wordgiven, the rebels rendezvoused, and the assault attempted. Now theKing and his Son being all and always eye, could not but discernall passages in his dominions; and he, having always love for hisSon as for himself, could not at what he saw but be greatlyprovoked and offended: wherefore what does he, but takes them inthe very nick and first trip that they made towards their design, convicts them of the treason, horrid rebellion, and conspiracy thatthey had devised, and now attempted to put into practice, and caststhem altogether out of all place of trust, benefit, honour, andpreferment. This done, he banishes them the court, turns them downinto the horrible pits, as fast bound in chains, never more toexpect the least favour from his hands, but to abide the judgmentthat he had appointed, and that for ever. 

Now they being thus cast out of all place of trust, profit, andhonour, and also knowing that they had lost their prince's favourfor ever, (being banished his court, and cast down to the horriblepits, ) you may he sure they would now add to their former pridewhat malice and rage against Shaddai, and against his Son, theycould. Wherefore, roving and ranging in much fury from place toplace, if, perhaps, they might find something that was the King's, by spoiling of that, to revenge themselves on him; at last theyhappened into this spacious country of Universe, and steer theircourse towards the town of Mansoul; and considering that that townwas one of the chief works and delights of King Shaddai, what dothey but, after counsel taken, make an assault upon that. I say, they knew that Mansoul belonged unto Shaddai; for they were therewhen he built it and beautified it for himself. So when they hadfound the place, they shouted horribly for joy, and roared on it asa lion upon the prey, saying, 'Now we have found the prize, and howto be revenged on King Shaddai for what he hath done to us. ' Sothey sat down and called a council of war, and considered withthemselves what ways and methods they had best to engage in for thewinning to themselves this famous town of Mansoul, and these fourthings were then propounded to be considered of. 

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

Secondly. Whether they had best to go and sit down against Mansoulin 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 withwords and ways of deceit. 

Fourthly. Whether they had not best to some of their companions togive out private orders to take the advantage, if they see one ormore of the principal townsmen, to shoot them, if thereby theyshall 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 themselvesbefore the town, because the appearance of many of them might alarmand frighten the town; whereas a few or but one of them was not solikely to do it. And to enforce this advice to take place it wasadded further, that if Mansoul was frighted, or did take the alarm, 'It is impossible, ' said Diabolus (for he spake now), 'that weshould take the town: for that none can enter into it without itsown consent. Let, therefore, but few, or but one, assault Mansoul;and in mine opinion, ' said Diabolus, 'let me be he. ' Wherefore tothis they all agreed. 

2. And then to the second proposal they came, namely, Whether theyhad best go and sit down before Mansoul in their now ragged andbeggarly guise. To which it was answered also in the negative, Byno means; and that because, though the town of Mansoul had beenmade to know, and to have to do, before now, with things that areinvisible, they did never as yet see any of their fellow-creaturesin so sad and rascally condition as they; and this was the adviceof that fierce Alecto. Then said Apollyon, 'The advice ispertinent; for even one of us appearing to them as we are now, mustneeds both beget and multiply such thoughts in them as will bothput them into a consternation of spirit, and necessitate them toput themselves upon their guard. And if so, ' said he, 'then, as myLord Diabolus said but now, it is in vain for us to think of takingthe town. ' Then said that mighty giant Beelzebub, 'The advice thatalready is given is safe; for though the men of Mansoul have seensuch things as we once were, yet hitherto they did never beholdsuch things as we now are; and it is best, in mine opinion, to comeupon them in such a guise as is common to, and most familiar amongthem. ' To this, when they had consented, the next thing to beconsidered was, in what shape, hue, or guise Diabolus had best toshow himself when he went about to make Mansoul his own. Then onesaid one thing, and another the contrary. At last Luciferanswered, that, in his opinion, it was best that his lordshipshould assume the body of some of those creatures that they of thetown had dominion over; 'for, ' quoth he, 'these are not onlyfamiliar to them, but, being under them, they will never imaginethat an attempt should by them be made upon the town; and, to blindall, let him assume the body of one of those beasts that Mansouldeems to be wiser than any of the rest. ' This advice was applaudedof all: so it was determined that the giant Diabolus should assumethe dragon, for that he was in those days as familiar with the townof Mansoul as now is the bird with the boy; for nothing that was inits primitive state was at all amazing to them. Then theyproceeded to the third thing, which was:

3. Whether they had best to show their intentions, or the design ofhis coming, to Mansoul, or no. This also was answered in thenegative, because of the weight that was in the former reasons, towit, for that Mansoul were a strong people, a strong people in astrong town, whose wall and gates were impregnable, (to say nothingof their castle, ) nor can they by any means be won but by their ownconsent. 'Besides, ' said Legion, (for he gave answer to this, ) 'adiscovery of our intentions may make them send to their king foraid; and if that be done, I know quickly what time of day it willbe with us. Therefore let us assault them in all pretendedfairness, covering our intentions with all manner of lies, flatteries, delusive words; feigning things that never will be, andpromising that to them that they shall never find. This is the wayto win Mansoul, and to make them of themselves open their gates tous; yea, and to desire us too to come in to them. And the reasonwhy I think that this project will do is, because the people ofMansoul now are, every one, simple and innocent, all honest andtrue; nor do they as yet know what it is to be assaulted withfraud, guile, and hypocrisy. They are strangers to lying anddissembling lips; wherefore we cannot, if thus we be disguised, bythem at all be discerned; our lies shall go for true sayings, andour dissimulations for upright dealings. What we promise them theywill in that believe us, especially if, in all our lies and feignedwords, we pretend great love to them, and that our design is onlytheir advantage and honour. ' Now there was not one bit of a replyagainst this; this went as current down as doth the water down asteep 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 theircompany to shoot some one or more of the principal of the townsmen, if they judge that their cause may be promoted thereby. This wascarried in the affirmative, and the man that was designed by thisstratagem to be destroyed was one Mr. Resistance, otherwise calledCaptain Resistance. And a great man in Mansoul this CaptainResistance was, and a man that the giant Diabolus and his band morefeared than they feared the whole town of Mansoul besides. Now whoshould be the actor to do the murder? That was the next, and theyappointed one Tisiphone, a fury of the lake, to do it. 

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

So they drew up and sat down before Ear-gate, for that was theplace of hearing for all without the town, as Eye-gate was theplace of perspection. So, as I said, he came up with his train tothe gate, and laid his ambuscado for Captain Resistance within bow-shot of the town. This done, the giant ascended up close to thegate, and called to the town of Mansoul for audience. Nor took heany with him but one Ill-pause, who was his orator in all difficultmatters. Now, as I said, he being come up to the gate, (as themanner of those times was, ) sounded his trumpet for audience; atwhich the chief of the town of Mansoul, such as my Lord Innocent, my Lord Willbewill, my Lord Mayor, Mr. Recorder, and CaptainResistance, came down to the wall to see who was there, and whatwas the matter. And my Lord Willbewill, when he had looked overand saw who stood at the gate, demanded what he was, wherefore hewas come, and why he roused the town of Mansoul with so unusual asound. 

Diabolus, then, as if he had been a lamb, began his oration, andsaid: 'Gentlemen of the famous town of Mansoul, I am, as you mayperceive, no far dweller from you, but near, and one that is boundby 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 ofconcern to impart unto you. Wherefore, grant me your audience, andhear 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 mindunto you. For, gentlemen, I am (to tell you the truth) come toshow you how you may obtain great and ample deliverance from abondage that, unawares to yourselves, you are captivated andenslaved under. ' At this the town of Mansoul began to prick up itsears. And 'What is it? Pray what is it?' thought they. And hesaid, 'I have somewhat to say to you concerning your King, concerning his law, and also touching yourselves. Touching yourKing, I know he is great and potent; but yet all that he hath saidto you is neither true nor yet for your advantage. 1. It is nottrue, for that wherewith he hath hitherto awed you, shall not cometo pass, nor be fulfilled, though you do the thing that he hathforbidden. But if there was danger, what a slavery is it to livealways in fear of the greatest of punishments, for doing so smalland trivial a thing as eating of a little fruit is. 2. Touchinghis 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: thereis great difference and disproportion between the life and anapple; yet the one must go for the other by the law of yourShaddai. But it is also intricate, in that he saith, first, youmay eat of all; and yet after forbids the eating of one. And then, in the last place, it must needs be intolerable, forasmuch as thatfruit which you are forbidden to eat of (if you are forbidden any)is that, and that alone, which is able, by your eating, to ministerto you a good as yet unknown by you. This is manifest by the veryname of the tree; it is called the "tree of knowledge of good andevil;" and have you that knowledge as yet? No, no; nor can youconceive how good, how pleasant, and how much to be desired to makeone wise it is, so long as you stand by your King's commandment. Why should you be holden in ignorance and blindness? Why shouldyou not be enlarged in knowledge and understanding? And now, O yeinhabitants of the famous town of Mansoul, to speak moreparticularly to yourselves you are not a free people! You are keptboth in bondage and slavery, and that by a grievous threat; noreason being annexed but, "So I will have it; so it shall be. " Andis it not grievous to think on, that that very thing which you areforbidden to do might you but do it, would yield you both wisdomand honour? for then your eyes will be opened, and you shall be asgods. Now, since this is thus, ' quoth he, 'can you be kept by anyprince in more slavery and in greater bondage than you are underthis day? You are made underlings, and are wrapped up ininconveniences, as I have well made appear. For what bondagegreater than to be kept in blindness? Will not reason tell youthat it is better to have eyes than to be without them? and so tobe at liberty to be better than to be shut up in a dark andstinking 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 amazementof the townsmen, and the encouragement of Diabolus, fell down deadquite over the wall. Now, when Captain Resistance was dead, (andhe was the only man of war in the town, ) poor Mansoul was whollyleft naked of courage, nor had she now any heart to resist. Butthis was as the devil would have it. Then stood forth he, Mr. Ill-pause, that Diabolus brought with him, who was his orator; and headdressed himself to speak to the town of Mansoul; the tenour ofwhose speech here follows:-

'Gentlemen, ' quoth he, 'it is my master's happiness that he hasthis day a quiet and teachable auditory; and it is hoped by us thatwe shall prevail with you not to cast off good advice. My masterhas 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 toyou will make him do more than that. Nor doth there need that aword more should be spoken to confirm for truth what he hath said;there is not a word but carries with it self-evidence in itsbowels; the very name of the tree may put an end to all controversyin this matter. I therefore, at this time, shall only add thisadvice to you, under and by the leave of my lord;' (and with thathe made Diabolus a very low congee;) 'consider his words, look onthe tree and the promising fruit thereof; remember also that yetyou know but little, and that this is the way to know more: and ifyour reasons be not conquered to accept of such good counsel, youare not the men that I took you to be. '

But when the townsfolk saw that the tree was good for food, andthat it was pleasant to the eye, and a tree to be desired to makeone wise, they did as old Ill-pause advised; they took and did eatthereof. Now this I should have told you before, that even then, when this Ill-pause was making his speech to the townsmen, my LordInnocency (whether by a shot from the camp of the giant, or fromsome sinking qualm that suddenly took him, or whether by thestinking breath of that treacherous villain old Ill-pause, for so Iam most apt to think) sunk down in the place where he stood, norcould be brought to life again. Thus these two brave men died--brave men, I call them; for they were the beauty and glory ofMansoul, so long as they lived therein; nor did there now remainany more a noble spirit in Mansoul; they all fell down and yieldedobedience to Diabolus; and became his slaves and vassals, as youshall hear. 

Now these being dead, what do the rest of the townsfolk, but, asmen that had found a fool's paradise, they presently, as afore washinted, fall to prove the truth of the giant's words. And, first, they did as Ill-pause had taught them; they looked, they consideredthey were taken with the forbidden fruit; they took thereof, anddid eat; and having eaten, they became immediately drunkentherewith. So they open the gate, both Ear-gate and Eye-gate, andlet in Diabolus with all his bands, quite forgetting their goodShaddai, his law, and the judgment that he had annexed, with solemnthreatening, to the breach thereof. 

 Diabolus, having now obtained entrance in at the gates of thetown, marches up to the middle thereof, to make his conquest assure as he could; and finding, by this time, the affections of thepeople warmly inclining to him, he, as thinking it was beststriking while the iron is hot, made this further deceivable speechunto them, saying, 'Alas, my poor Mansoul! I have done thee indeedthis service, as to promote thee to honour, and to greaten thyliberty; but, alas! alas! poor Mansoul, thou wantest now one todefend thee; for assure thyself that when Shaddai shall hear whatis done, he will come; for sorry will he be that thou hast brokenhis bonds, and cast his cords away from thee. What wilt thou do?Wilt thou, after enlargement, suffer thy privileges to be invadedand taken away, or what wilt resolve with thyself?'

Then they all with one consent said to this bramble, 'Do thou reignover us. ' So he accepted the motion, and became the king of thetown of Mansoul. This being done, the next thing was to give himpossession of the castle, and so of the whole strength of the town. Wherefore, into the castle he goes; it was that which Shaddai builtin Mansoul for his own delight and pleasure; this now was become aden and hold for the giant Diabolus. 

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

This done, but not thinking himself yet secure enough, in the nextplace he bethinks himself of new modelling the town; and so hedoes, setting up one, and putting down another at pleasure. Wherefore my Lord Mayor, whose name was my Lord Understanding, andMr. Recorder, whose name was Mr. Conscience, these he put out ofplace and power. 

As for my Lord Mayor, though he was an understanding man, and onetoo that had complied with the rest of the town of Mansoul inadmitting the giant into the town, yet Diabolus thought not fit tolet him abide in his former lustre and glory, because he was aseeing man. Wherefore he darkened him, not only by taking from himhis office and power, but by building a high and strong tower, justbetween 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 alienatedfrom the light, he became as one that was born blind. To this, hishouse, my lord was confined as to a prison; nor might he, upon hisparole, go farther than within his own bounds. And now, had he hada heart to do for Mansoul, what could he do for it, or whereincould he be profitable to her? So then, so long as Mansoul wasunder the power and government of Diabolus, (and so long it wasunder him, as it was obedient to him, which was even until by a warit was rescued out of his hand, ) so long my Lord Mayor was ratheran impediment in, than an advantage to the famous town of Mansoul. 

As for Mr. Recorder, before the town was taken, he was a man wellread in the laws of his king, and also a man of courage andfaithfulness to speak truth at every occasion; and he had a tongueas bravely hung as he had a head filled with judgment. Now, thisman Diabolus could by no means abide, because, though he gave hisconsent to his coming into the town, yet he could not, by all thewiles, trials, stratagems, and devices that he could use, make himwholly his own. True, he was much degenerated from his formerking, and also much pleased with many of the giant's laws andservice; but all this would not do, forasmuch as he was not whollyhis. He would now and then think upon Shaddai, and have dread ofhis law upon him, and then he would speak against Diabolus with avoice as great as when a lion roareth. Yea, and would also atcertain times, when his fits were upon him, (for you must know thatsometimes he had terrible fits, ) make the whole town of Mansoulshake with his voice: and therefore the now king of Mansoul couldnot abide him. 

Diabolus, therefore, feared the Recorder more than any that wasleft alive in the town of Mansoul, because, as I said, his wordsdid shake the whole town; they were like the rattling thunder, andalso like thunder-claps. Since, therefore, the giant could notmake him wholly his own, what doth he do but studies all that hecould to debauch the old gentleman, and by debauchery to stupefyhis mind, and more harden his heart in the ways of vanity. And ashe attempted, so he accomplished his design: he debauched the man, and by little and little so drew him into sin and wickedness, thatat last he was not only debauched, as at first, and so byconsequence defiled, but was almost (at last, I say) past allconscience of sin. And this was the farthest Diabolus could go. Wherefore he bethinks him of another project, and that was, topersuade the men of the town that Mr. Recorder was mad, and so notto be regarded. And for this he urged his fits, and said, 'If hebe himself, why doth he not do thus always? But, ' quoth he, 'asall 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, besideswhat already you have heard, Diabolus had a way to make the oldgentleman, when he was merry, unsay and deny what he in his fitshad affirmed. And, indeed, this was the next way to make himselfridiculous, and to cause that no man should regard him. Also nowhe never spake freely for King Shaddai, but also by force andconstraint. Besides, he would at one time be hot against that atwhich, at another, he would hold his peace; so uneven was he now inhis doings. Sometimes he would be as if fast asleep, and againsometimes as dead, even then when the whole town of Mansoul was inher career after vanity, and in her dance after the giant's pipe. 

Wherefore, sometimes when Mansoul did use to be frighted with thethundering voice of the Recorder that was, and when they did tellDiabolus of it, he would answer, that what the old gentleman saidwas neither of love to him nor pity to them, but of a foolishfondness that he had to be prating; and so would hush, still, andput all to quiet again. And that he might leave no argumentunurged that might tend to make them secure, he said, and said itoften, 'O Mansoul! consider that, notwithstanding the oldgentleman's rage, and the rattle of his high and thundering words, you hear nothing of Shaddai himself;' when, liar and deceiver thathe was, every outcry of Mr. Recorder against the sin of Mansoul wasthe voice of God in him to them. But he goes on, and says, 'Yousee that he values not the loss nor rebellion of the town ofMansoul, nor will he trouble himself with calling his town to areckoning for their giving themselves to me. He knows that thoughyou were his, now you are lawfully mine; so, leaving us one toanother, 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 Ihave, could get, or procure for you in all the world: besides, Idare say that the laws and customs that you now are under, and bywhich you do homage to me, do yield you more solace and contentthan did the paradise that at first you possessed. Your libertyalso, as yourselves do very well know, has been greatly widened andenlarged by me; whereas I found you a penned-up people. I have notlaid any restraint upon you; you have no law, statute, or judgmentof mine to fright you; I call none of you to account for yourdoings, except the madman--you know who I mean; I have granted youto live, each man like a prince in his own, even with as littlecontrol from me as I myself have from you. '

And thus would Diabolus hush up and quiet the town of Mansoul, whenthe Recorder that was, did at times molest them: yea, and withsuch cursed orations as these, would set the whole town in a rageand fury against the old gentleman. Yea, the rascal crew at sometimes would be for destroying him. They have often wished, in myhearing, that he had lived a thousand miles off from them: hiscompany, his words, yea, the sight of him, and specially when theyremembered how in old times he did use to threaten and condemnthem, (for all he was now so debauched, ) did terrify and afflictthem sore. 

But all wishes were vain, for I do not know how, unless by thepower of Shaddai, and his wisdom, he was preserved in being amongstthem. Besides, his house was as strong as a castle, and stood hardby a stronghold of the town: moreover, if at any time any of thecrew or rabble attempted to make him away, he could pull up thesluices, 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. ThisWillbewill 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 Iremember my tale aright, he had some privileges peculiar to himselfin the famous town of Mansoul. Now, together with these, he was aman of great strength, resolution, and courage, nor in his occasioncould any turn him away. But I say, whether he was proud of hisestate, privileges, strength, or what, (but sure it was throughpride of something, ) he scorns now to be a slave in Mansoul; andtherefore 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 thisman, when Diabolus did make his oration at Ear-gate, was one of thefirst that was for consenting to his words, and for accepting hiscounsel at wholesome, and that was for the opening of the gate, andfor letting him into the town; wherefore Diabolus had a kindnessfor him, and therefore he designed for him a place. And perceivingthe valour and stoutness of the man, he coveted to have him for oneof 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 thatlay in his breast, but there needed not much persuasion in thecase. For as at first he was willing that Diabolus should be letinto the town, so now he was as willing to serve him there. Whenthe tyrant, therefore, perceived the willingness of my lord toserve him, and that his mind stood bending that way, he forthwithmade him the captain of the castle, governor of the wall, andkeeper of the gates of Mansoul: yea, there was a clause in hiscommission, that nothing without him should be done in all the townof Mansoul. So that now, next to Diabolus himself, who but my LordWillbewill in all the town of Mansoul! nor could anything now bedone, 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 waylike his master: for he and his lord were in principle one, and inpractice not far asunder. And now was Mansoul brought under topurpose, 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 thisWillbewill was when power was put into his hand. First, he flatlydenied that he owed any suit or service to his former prince andliege lord. This done, in the next place he took an oath, andswore fidelity to his great master Diabolus, and then, being statedand settled in his places, offices, advancements, and preferments, oh! you cannot think, unless you had seen it, the strange work thatthis workman made in the town of Mansoul. 

First, he maligned Mr. Recorder to death; he would neither endureto see him, nor hear the words of his mouth; he would shut his eyeswhen he saw him, and stop his ears when he heard him speak. Alsohe could not endure that so much as a fragment of the law ofShaddai should be anywhere seen in the town. For example, hisclerk, Mr. Mind, had some old, rent, and torn parchments of the lawof Shaddai in his house, but when Willbewill saw them, he cast thembehind his back. True, Mr. Recorder had some of the laws in hisstudy; but my lord could by no means come at them. He also thoughtand said, that the windows of my old Lord Mayor's house were alwaystoo light for the profit of the town of Mansoul. The light of acandle he could not endure. Now nothing at all pleased Willbewillbut what pleased Diabolus his lord. 

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

The Lord Willbewill also had a deputy under him, and his name wasMr. Affection, one that was also greatly debauched in hisprinciples, and answerable thereto in his life: he was whollygiven to the flesh, and therefore they called 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 weremarried; and, as I take it, they had several children, as Impudent, Blackmouth, and Hate-Reproof. These three were black boys. Andbesides these they had three daughters, as Scorn-Truth and Slight-God, and the name of the youngest was Revenge. These were allmarried in the town, and also begot and yielded many bad brats, toomany to be here inserted. But to pass by this. 

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

Moreover, Diabolus made havoc of all remains of the laws andstatutes of Shaddai that could be found in the town of Mansoul; towit, such as contained either the doctrines of morals, with allcivil and natural documents. Also relative severities he sought toextinguish. To be short, there was nothing of the remains of goodin Mansoul which he and Willbewill sought not to destroy; for theirdesign was to turn Mansoul into a brute, and to make it like to thesensual sow, by the hand of Mr. No-Truth. 

When he had destroyed what law and good orders he could, thenfurther to effect his design, namely, to alienate Mansoul fromShaddai her King, he commands, and they set up his own vain edicts, statutes, and commandments, in all places of resort or concourse inMansoul, 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 ofShaddai, but of the world. He encouraged, countenanced, andpromoted lasciviousness, and all ungodliness there. Yea, much moredid Diabolus to encourage wickedness in the town of Mansoul; hepromised them peace, content, joy, and bliss, in doing hiscommands, and that they should never be called to an account fortheir not doing the contrary. And let this serve to give a tasteto them that love to hear tell of what is done beyond theirknowledge afar off in other countries. 

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

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

The name of the Mayor that was of Diabolus' making was the LordLustings, 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 thebeast. And that which made him yet the more ignoble, though not toMansoul, 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 sorryfellow he was. He could remember nothing but mischief, and to doit with delight. He was naturally prone to do things that werehurtful, even hurtful to the town of Mansoul, and to all thedwellers there. These two, therefore, by their power and practice, examples, and smiles upon evil, did much more grammar and settlethe common people in hurtful ways. For who doth not perceive thatwhen those that sit aloft are vile and corrupt themselves, theycorrupt the whole region and country where they are?

Besides these, Diabolus made several burgesses and aldermen inMansoul, such as out of whom the town, when it needed, might choosethem officers, governors, and magistrates. And these are the namesof 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, andMr. Atheism the youngest of the company. 

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

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

He that Diabolus made governor over the first of these was oneSpite-God, a most blasphemous wretch: he came with the wholerabble of them that came against Mansoul at first, and was himselfone of themselves. He that was made the governor of Midnight Holdwas one Love-no-Light; he was also of them that came first againstthe town. And he that was made the governor of the hold calledSweet-Sin Hold was one whose name was Love-Flesh: he was also avery lewd fellow, but not of that country where the other arebound. This fellow could find more sweetness when he stood suckingof a lust than he did in all the paradise of God. 

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

Now you may well think, that long before this time, word, by someone or other, could not but be carried to the good King Shaddai, how his Mansoul, in the continent of Universe, was lost; and thatthe 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 thatto a very circumstance. 

At first, how Diabolus came upon Mansoul (they being a simplepeople and innocent) with craft, subtlety, lies, and guile. Item, that he had treacherously slain the right noble and valiantcaptain, their Captain Resistance, as he stood upon the gate withthe rest of the townsmen. Item, how my brave Lord Innocent felldown dead (with grief, some say, or with being poisoned with thestinking breath of one Ill-Pause, as say others) at the hearing ofhis just lord and rightful prince, Shaddai, so abused by the mouthof so filthy a Diabolian as that varlet Ill-Pause was. Themessenger further told, that after this Ill-Pause had made a shortoration to the townsmen in behalf of Diabolus, his master; thesimple town, believing that what was said was true, with oneconsent did open Ear-gate, the chief gate of the corporation, anddid let him, with his crew, into a possession of the famous town ofMansoul. He further showed how Diabolus had served the Lord Mayorand Mr. Recorder, to wit, that he had put them from all place ofpower and trust. Item, he showed also that my Lord Willbewill wasturned 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 townover, and teach the wicked ones their ways. He said, moreover, that this Willbewill was put into great trust, and particularlythat Diabolus had put into Willbewill's hand all the strong placesin Mansoul; and that Mr. Affection was made my Lord Willbewill'sdeputy in his most rebellious affairs. 'Yea, ' said the messenger, 'this monster, Lord Willbewill, has openly disavowed his KingShaddai, and hath horribly given his faith and plighted his trothto Diabolus. '

'Also, ' said the messenger, 'besides all this, the new king, orrather rebellious tyrant, over the once famous, but now perishingtown 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. ' Thisfaithful messenger also proceeded, and told what a sort of newburgesses Diabolus had made; also that he had built several strongforts, towers, and strongholds in Mansoul. He told, too, the whichI had almost forgot, how Diabolus had put the town of Mansoul intoarms, the better to capacitate them, on his behalf, to makeresistance against Shaddai their King, should he come to reducethem to their former obedience. 

Now this tidings-teller did not deliver his relation of things inprivate, but in open court, the King and his Son, high lords, chiefcaptains, and nobles, being all there present to hear. But by thatthey had heard the whole of the story, it would have amazed one tohave seen, had he been there to behold it, what sorrow and grief, and compunction of spirit, there was among all sorts, to think thatfamous Mansoul was now taken: only the King and his Son foresawall this long before, yea, and sufficiently provided for the reliefof Mansoul, though they told not everybody thereof. Yet becausethey 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 itgrieved him at the heart, and you may be sure that his Son was nota whit behind him. Thus gave they conviction to all about themthat they had love and compassion for the famous town of Mansoul. Well, when the King and his Son were retired into the privychamber, there they again consulted about what they had designedbefore, to wit, that as Mansoul should in time be suffered to belost, so as certainly it should be recovered again; recovered, Isay, in such a way, as that both the King and his Son would getthemselves eternal fame and glory thereby. Wherefore, after thisconsult, the Son of Shaddai (a sweet and comely Person, and onethat 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 anddignity)--this Son of Shaddai, I say, having stricken hands withhis Father and promised that he would be his servant to recover hisMansoul again, stood by his resolution, nor would he repent of thesame. The purport of which agreement was this: to wit, that at acertain time, prefixed by both, the King's Son should take ajourney into the country of Universe, and there, in a way ofjustice and equity, by making amends for the follies of Mansoul, heshould lay a foundation of perfect deliverance from Diabolus andfrom his tyranny. 

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

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

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

These papers, therefore, were published in several places, to theno little molestation of the tyrant Diabolus; 'for now, ' thoughthe, '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 withthe business! First, they whispered it one to another, and afterthat it began to ring out through the King's palace, all wonderingat the glorious design that between the King and his Son was onfoot for the miserable town of Mansoul. Yea, the courtiers couldscarce do anything either for the King or kingdom, but they wouldmix, with the doing thereof, a noise of the love of the King andhis Son, that they had for the town of Mansoul. 

Nor could these lords, high captains, and princes be content tokeep this news at court; yea, before the records thereof wereperfected, themselves came down and told it in Universe. At lastit came to the ears, as I said, of Diabolus, to his no littlediscontent; for you must think it would perplex him to hear of sucha design against him. Well, but after a few casts in his mind, heconcluded upon these four things. 

First, that this news, these good tidings, (if possible, ) should bekept from the ears of the town of Mansoul; 'for, ' said he, 'if theyshould 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 revoltfrom under my hand and government, and return again to him?'

Now, to accomplish this his design, he renews his flattery with myLord Willbewill, and also gives him strict charge and command, thathe should keep watch by day and by night at all the gates of thetown, especially Ear-gate and Eye-gate; 'for I hear of a design, 'quoth he, 'a design to make us all traitors, and that Mansoul mustbe reduced to its first bondage again. I hope they are but flyingstories, ' quoth he; 'however, let no such news by any means be letinto Mansoul, lest the people be dejected thereat. I think, mylord, 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 andcare to nip the head of all such rumours as shall tend to troubleour people. Wherefore I desire, my lord, that you will in thismatter do as I say. Let there be strong guards daily kept at everygate of the town. Stop also and examine from whence such come thatyou perceive do from far come hither to trade, nor let them by anymeans be admitted into Mansoul, unless you shall plainly perceivethat they are favourers of our excellent government. I command, moreover, ' said Diabolus, 'that there be spies continually walkingup and down the town of Mansoul, and let them have power tosuppress and destroy any that they shall perceive to be plottingagainst us, or that shall prate of what by Shaddai and Emmanuel isintended. '

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

Secondly, this done, in the next place, Diabolus, that he mightmake Mansoul as sure as he could, frames and imposes a new oath andhorrible covenant upon the townsfolk:- To wit, that they shouldnever desert him nor his government, nor yet betray him, nor seekto alter his laws; but that they should own, confess, stand by, andacknowledge him for their rightful king, in defiance to any that door hereafter shall, by any pretence, law, or title whatever, layclaim to the town of Mansoul; thinking, belike, that Shaddai hadnot power to absolve them from this covenant with death, andagreement with hell. Nor did the silly Mansoul stick or boggle atall at this most monstrous engagement; but, as if it had been asprat in the mouth of a whale, they swallowed it without anychewing. Were they troubled at all? Nay, they rather bragged andboasted of their so brave fidelity to the tyrant, their pretendedking, swearing that they would never be changelings, nor forsaketheir old lord for a new. Thus did Diabolus tie poor Mansoul fast. 

Thirdly. But jealousy, that never thinks itself strong enough, puthim, 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 ofbeastliness to be drawn up in writing, and to be set upon thecastle gates; whereby he granted and gave license to all his trueand trusty sons in Mansoul to do whatsoever their lustful appetitesprompted them to do; and that no man was to let, hinder, or controlthem, 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 wasdesigned, to believe, hope, or consent to the truth thereof; forreason says, The bigger the sinner, the less grounds of hopes ofmercy. 

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

Fourthly. To endeavour to possess all hearts in the town ofMansoul that Shaddai was raising an army, to come to overthrow andutterly to destroy this town of Mansoul. And this he did toforestall any tidings that might come to their ears of theirdeliverance: 'For, ' thought he, 'if I first bruit this, thetidings that shall come after will all be swallowed up of this; forwhat else will Mansoul say, when they shall hear that they must bedelivered, but that the true meaning is, Shaddai intends to destroythem? Wherefore he summons the whole town into the market-place, and there, with deceitful tongue, thus he addressed himself untothem:-

'Gentlemen, and my very good friends, you are all, as you know, mylegal subjects, and men of the famous town of Mansoul. You knowhow, from the first day that I have been with you until now, I havebehaved myself among you, and what liberty and great privileges youhave enjoyed under my government, I hope to your honour and mine, and also to your content and delight. Now, my famous Mansoul, anoise of trouble there is abroad, of trouble to the town ofMansoul; sorry I am thereof for your sakes: for I received but nowby the post from my Lord Lucifer, (and he useth to have goodintelligence, ) that your old King Shaddai is raising an army tocome against you, to destroy you root and branch; and this, OMansoul, is now the cause that at this time I have called youtogether, namely, to advise what in this juncture is best to bedone. For my part, I am but one, and can with ease shift formyself, did I list to seek my own case, and to leave my Mansoul inall the danger; but my heart is so firmly united to you, and sounwilling am I to leave you, that I am willing to stand and fallwith 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 thinkof standing by me?'

Then, as one man, with one mouth, they cried out together, 'Let himdie the death that will not. '

Then said Diabolus again, 'It is in vain for us to hope forquarter, for this King knows not how to show it. True, perhaps, he, at his first sitting down before us, will talk of and pretendto mercy, that thereby, with the more ease, and less trouble, hemay again make himself the master of Mansoul. Whatever, therefore, he shall say, believe not one syllable or tittle of it; for allsuch language is but to overcome us, and to make us, while wewallow in our blood, the trophies of his merciless victory. Mymind 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 willcome our danger. But shall we be flattered out of our lives? Ihope you know more of the rudiments of politics than to sufferyourselves so pitifully to be served. 

'But suppose he should, if he get us to yield, save some of ourlives, 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 beenprocured by you through your faithful sticking to me? And suppose, again, that he should give quarter to every one of you, be sure hewill bring you into that bondage under which you were captivatedbefore, 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; youmust be bound by laws that will pinch you, and be made to do thatwhich at present is hateful to you. I am for you, if you are forme; and it is better to die valiantly than to live like pitifulslaves. But, I say, the life of a slave will be counted a life toogood for Mansoul now. Blood, blood, nothing but blood is in everyblast of Shaddai's trumpet against poor Mansoul now. Pray, beconcerned; I hear he is coming. Up, and stand to your arms thatnow, 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 sufficientfor Mansoul from top to toe; nor can you be hurt by what his forcecan do, if you shall keep it well girt and fastened about you. Come, therefore, to my castle, and welcome, and harness yourselvesfor the war. There is helmet, breastplate, sword, and shield, andwhat not, that will make you fight like men. 

'1. My helmet, otherwise called an head-piece, is in hope of doingwell at last, what lives soever you live. This is that which theyhad who said, that they should have peace, though they walked inthe wickedness of their heart, to add drunkenness to thirst. Apiece of approved armour this is, and whoever has it, and can holdit, 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 inmine own country, and all my soldiers are armed therewith. Inplain language, it is a hard heart, a heart as hard as iron, and asmuch past feeling as a stone; the which if you get and keep, neither mercy shall win you, nor judgment fright you. Thistherefore, is a piece of armour most necessary for all to put onthat hate Shaddai, and that would fight against him under mybanner. 

'3. My sword is a tongue that is set on fire of hell, and that canbend itself to speak evil of Shaddai, his Son, his ways, andpeople. 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 havehim, can never be conquered by mine enemy. 

'4. My, shield is unbelief, or calling into question the truth ofthe word, or all the sayings that speak of the judgment thatShaddai has appointed for wicked men. Use this shield; manyattempts he has made upon it, and sometimes, it is true, it hasbeen bruised; but they that have writ of the wars of Emmanuelagainst my servants, have testified that he could do no mighty workthere because of their unbelief. Now, to handle this weapon ofmine aright, it is not to believe things because they are true, ofwhat sort or by whomsoever asserted. If he speaks of judgment, care not for it; if he speaks of mercy, care not for it; if hepromises, if he swears that he would do to Mansoul, if it turns, nohurt, but good, regard not what is said, question the truth of all, for it is to wield the shield of unbelief aright, and as myservants ought and do; and he that doth otherwise loves me not, nordo I count him but an enemy to me. 

'5. Another part or piece, ' said Diabolus, 'of mine excellentarmour is a dumb and prayerless spirit, a spirit that scorns to cryfor mercy: wherefore be you, my Mansoul, sure that you make use ofthis. 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 withthat which is armour of proof. Wherefore, to cry to Shaddai formercy, let that be far from you. Besides all this, I have a maul, firebrands, arrows, and death, all good hand-weapons, and such aswill do execution. '

After he had thus furnished his men with armour and arms, headdressed himself to them in such like words as these: 'Remember, 'quoth he, 'that I am your rightful king, and that you have taken anoath and entered into covenant to be true to me and my cause: Isay, remember this, and show yourselves stout and valiant men ofMansoul. Remember also the kindness that I have always showed toyou, and that without your petition I have granted to you externalthings; wherefore the privileges, grants, immunities, profits, andhonours wherewith I have endowed you do call for, at your hands, returns of loyalty, my lion-like men of Mansoul: and when so fit atime to show it as when another shall seek to take my dominion overyou into his own hands? One word more, and I have done. Can webut stand, and overcome this one shock or brunt, I doubt not but inlittle time all the world will be ours; and when that day comes, mytrue hearts, I will make you kings, princes, and captains, and whatbrave days shall we have then!'

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

Now all this time the good King, the King Shaddai, was preparing tosend an army to recover the town of Mansoul again from under thetyranny of their pretended king Diabolus; but he thought good, atfirst, not to send them by the hand and conduct of brave Emmanuelhis Son, but under the hand of some of his servants, to see firstby them the temper of Mansoul, and whether by them they would bewon to the obedience of their King. The army consisted of aboveforty thousand, all true men, for they came from the King's owncourt, 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 theirnames and their ensigns. The name of the first was Boanerges, thename of the second was Captain Conviction, the name of the thirdwas Captain Judgment, and the name of the fourth was CaptainExecution. These were the captains that Shaddai sent to regainMansoul. 

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

To each of these captains the King gave a banner, that it might bedisplayed, because of the goodness of his cause, and because of theright 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 barethe black colours, and his scutcheon was the three burningthunderbolts. 

The second captain was Captain Conviction; to him also were giventen thousand men. His ensign's name was Mr. Sorrow; he did bearthe pale colours, and his scutcheon was the book of the law wideopen, from whence issued a flame of fire. 

The third captain was Captain Judgment; to him were given tenthousand men. His ensign's name was Mr. Terror; he bare the redcolours, and his scutcheon was a burning fiery furnace. 

The fourth captain was Captain Execution; to him were given tenthousand men. His ensign was one Mr. Justice; he also bare the redcolours, and his scutcheon was a fruitless tree, with an axe lyingat the root thereof. 

These four captains, as I said, had every one of them under hiscommand ten thousand men, all of good fidelity to the King, andstout 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 calledall over by their names, were then and there put into such harnessas became their degree and that service which now they were goingabout for their King. 

Now, when the King had mustered his forces, (for it is he thatmustereth the host to the battle, ) he gave unto the captains theirseveral commissions, with charge and commandment in the audience ofall the soldiers, that they should take heed faithfully andcourageously 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, butvery small variation. And here let me give you an account of thematter and sum contained in their commission. 

A Commission from the great Shaddai, King of Mansoul, to his trustyand noble Captain, the Captain Boanerges, for his making War uponthe town of Mansoul. 

'O, thou Boanerges, one of my stout and thundering captains overone ten thousand of my valiant and faithful servants, go thou in myname, with this thy force, to the miserable town of Mansoul; andwhen thou comest thither, offer them first conditions of peace; andcommand them that, casting off the yoke and tyranny of the wickedDiabolus, they return to me, their rightful Prince and Lord. Command them also that they cleanse themselves from all that is hisin the town of Mansoul, and look to thyself, that thou hast goodsatisfaction touching the truth of their obedience. Thus when thouhast commanded them, (if they in truth submit thereto, ) then dothou, to the uttermost of thy power, what in thee lies to set upfor me a garrison in the famous town of Mansoul; nor do thou hurtthe least native that moveth or breatheth therein, if they willsubmit themselves to me, but treat thou such as if they were thyfriend or brother; for all such I love, and they shall be dear untome, and tell them that I will take a time to come unto them, and tolet them know that I am merciful. 

'But if they shall, notwithstanding thy summons and the producingof thy authority, resist, stand out against thee, and rebel, thendo I command thee to make use of all thy cunning, power, might, andforce, 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 thenoble captains had. 

Wherefore they, having received each commander his authority at thehand of their King, the day being appointed, and the place of theirrendezvous prefixed, each commander appeared in such gallantry asbecame his cause and calling. So, after a new entertainment fromShaddai, with flying colours they set forward to march towards thefamous town of Mansoul. Captain Boanerges led the van, CaptainConviction and Captain Judgment made up the main body, and CaptainExecution brought up the rear. They then, having a great way togo, (for the town of Mansoul was far off from the court ofShaddai, ) marched through the regions and countries of many people, not hurting or abusing any, but blessing wherever they came. Theyalso lived upon the King's cost in all the way they went. 

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

Well, to be short, the captains came up before the town, march upto 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, sobravely accoutred, and so excellently disciplined, having on theirglittering armour, and displaying of their flying colours, couldnot but come out of their houses and gaze. But the cunning foxDiabolus, fearing that the people, after this sight, should, on asudden summons, open the gates to the captains, came down with allhaste from the castle, and made them retire into the body of thetown, who, when he had them there, made this lying and deceivablespeech unto them:

'Gentlemen, ' quoth he, 'although you are my trusty and well-belovedfriends, yet I cannot but a little chide you for your lateuncircumspect action, in going out to gaze on that great and mightyforce that but yesterday sat down before, and have now entrenchedthemselves in order to the maintaining of a siege against thefamous town of Mansoul. Do you know who they are, whence theycome, and what is their purpose in sitting down before the town ofMansoul? They are they of whom I have told you long ago, that theywould come to destroy this town, and against whom I have been atthe cost to arm you with cap-a-pie for your body, besides greatfortifications 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 allhave been in a posture of defence, and been ready to have receivedthem with the highest acts of defiance? Then had you showedyourselves men to my liking; whereas, by what you have done, youhave made me half afraid--I say, half afraid--that when they and weshall come to push a pike, I shall find you want courage to standit out any longer. Wherefore have I commanded a watch, and thatyou should double your guards at the gates? Wherefore have Iendeavoured to make you as hard as iron, and your hearts as a pieceof the nether millstone? Was it, think you, that you might showyourselves women, and that you might go out like a company ofinnocents to gaze on your mortal foes? Fie, fie! put yourselvesinto a posture of defence, beat up the drum, gather together inwarlike manner, that our foes may know that, before they shallconquer this corporation, there are valiant men in the town ofMansoul. 

'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 suchactions. Let not henceforward a man of you, without order firstobtained from me, so much as show his head over the wall of thetown 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 Itake care, as for myself, so for your safety and honour also. Farewell. "

Now were the townsmen strangely altered; they were as men strickenwith a panic fear; they ran to and fro through the streets of thetown of Mansoul, crying out, 'Help, help! the men that turn theworld upside down are come hither also. ' Nor could any of them bequiet after; but still, as men bereft of wit, they cried out, 'Thedestroyers of our peace and people are come. ' This went down withDiabolus. 'Ah, ' quoth he to himself, 'this I like well: now it isas 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 togive audience to the message that he, in his Master's name, was tothem commanded to deliver. So the trumpeter, whose name was Take-heed-what-you-hear, went up, as he was commanded, to Ear-gate, andthere sounded his trumpet for a hearing; but there was none thatappeared that gave answer or regard, for so had Diabolus commanded. So the trumpeter returned to his captain, and told him what he haddone, 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 soundas before for a hearing; but they again kept close, came not out, nor would they give him an answer, so observant were they of thecommand 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 townof Mansoul; and, after some close and thorough debate upon thecontents of their commissions, they concluded yet to give to thetown, by the hand of the fore-named trumpeter, another summons tohear; but if that shall be refused, said they, and that the townshall stand it out still, then they determined, and bid thetrumpeter tell them so, that they would endeavour, by what meansthey could, to compel them by force to the obedience of their King. 

So Captain Boanerges commanded his trumpeter to go up to Ear-gateagain, and, in the name of the great King Shaddai, to give it avery loud summons to come down without delay to Ear-gate, there togive audience to the King's most noble captains. So the trumpeterwent, and did as he was commanded: he went up to Ear-gate, andsounded his trumpet, and gave a third summons to Mansoul. He said, moreover, that if this they should still refuse to do, the captainsof his prince would with might come down upon them, and endeavourto 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 madebefore, ) 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 anoise at the gate, and speaking such insufferable words against thetown 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, haverebelled, and lift up the heel; and my master, the captain, hath aspecial message to this town, and to thee, as a member thereof; thewhich if you of Mansoul shall peaceably hear, so; and if not, youmust 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 thegiant Diabolus, but to the miserable town of Mansoul; nor shall weat 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 crueltyranny, 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 sodoing, you deceive yourselves much more. ' He added, moreover, 'Forwe are resolved, if in peaceable manner you do not submityourselves, then to make a war upon you, and to bring you under byforce. And of the truth of what I now say, this shall be a signunto you, --you shall see the black flag, with its hot, burningthunder-bolts, set upon the mount to-morrow, as a token of defianceagainst your prince, and of our resolutions to reduce you to yourLord and rightful King. '

So the said Lord Willbewill returned from off the wall, and thetrumpeter came into the camp. When the trumpeter was come into thecamp, the captains and officers of the mighty King Shaddai cametogether to know if he had obtained a hearing, and what was theeffect of his errand. So the trumpeter told, saying, 'When I hadsounded my trumpet, and had called aloud to the town for a hearing, my Lord Willbewill, the governor of the town, and he that hathcharge of the gates, came up when he heard me sound, and, lookingover the wall, he asked me what I was, whence I came, and what wasthe cause of my making this noise. So I told him my errand, and bywhose authority I brought it. "Then, " said he, "I will tell it tothe governor and to Mansoul;" and then I returned to my lords. '

Then said the brave Boanerges, 'Let us yet for a while lie still inour trenches, and see what these rebels will do. '

Now when the time drew nigh that audience by Mansoul must be givento the brave Boanerges and his companions, it was commanded thatall the men of war throughout the whole camp of Shaddai should asone man stand to their arms, and make themselves ready, if the townof Mansoul shall hear, to receive it forthwith to mercy; but ifnot, to force a subjection. So the day being come, the trumpeterssounded, and that throughout the whole camp, that the men of warmight be in a readiness for that which then should be the work ofthe day. But when they that were in the town of Mansoul heard thesound of the trumpets throughout the camp of Shaddai, and thinkingno other but that it must be in order to storm the corporation, they at first were put to great consternation of spirit; but afterthey a little were settled again, they also made what preparationthey could for a war, if they did storm; else, to securethemselves. 

Well, when the utmost time was come, Boanerges was resolved to heartheir answer; wherefore he sent out his trumpeter again to summonMansoul to a hearing of the message that they had brought fromShaddai. 

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

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

Then Captain Boanerges, whose were the black colours, and whosescutcheon was the three burning thunderbolts, taking no notice ofthe giant or of his speech, thus addressed himself to the town ofMansoul: '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 thetown his broad seal) 'to reduce you to his obedience; and he hathcommanded me, in case you yield upon my summons, to carry it to youas if you were my friends or brethren; but he also hath bid, thatif, after summons to submit you still stand out and rebel, weshould endeavour to take you by force. '

Then stood forth Captain Conviction, and said, (his were the palecolours, and for a scutcheon he had the book of the law wide open, etc. , ) 'Hear, O Mansoul! Thou, O Mansoul, wast once famous forinnocency, but now thou art degenerated into lies and deceit. Thouhast heard what my brother, the Captain Boanerges, hath said; andit is your wisdom, and will be your happiness, to stoop to, andaccept of conditions of peace and mercy when offered, speciallywhen offered by one against whom thou hast rebelled, and one who isof 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 youhave not sinned, or acted rebellion against our King, the whole ofyour doings since the day that you cast off his service (and therewas the beginning of your sin) will sufficiently testify againstyou. What else means your hearkening to the tyrant, and yourreceiving him for your king? What means else your rejecting of thelaws of Shaddai, and your obeying of Diabolus? Yea, what meansthis your taking up of arms against, and the shutting of your gatesupon us, the faithful servants of your King? Be ruled then, andaccept of my brother's invitation, and overstand not the time ofmercy, but agree with thine adversary quickly. Ah, Mansoul! suffernot thyself to be kept from mercy, and to be run into a thousandmiseries, by the flattering wiles of Diabolus. Perhaps that pieceof deceit may attempt to make you believe that we seek our ownprofit in this our service, but know it is obedience to our King, and love to your happiness, that is the cause of this undertakingof ours. 

'Again I say to thee, O Mansoul, consider if it be not amazinggrace that Shaddai should so humble himself as he doth: now he, byus, reasons with you, in a way of entreaty and sweet persuasions, that you would subject yourselves to him. Has he that need of youthat we are sure you have of him? No, no; but he is merciful, andwill not that Mansoul should die, but turn to him and live. '

Then stood forth Captain Judgment, whose were the red colours, andfor a scutcheon he had the burning fiery furnace, and he said, 'Oye, the inhabitants of the town of Mansoul, that have lived so longin rebellion and acts of treason against the King Shaddai, knowthat we come not to-day to this place, in this manner, with ourmessage of our own minds, or to revenge our own quarrel; it is theKing, my Master, that hath sent us to reduce you to your obedienceto him; the which if you refuse in a peaceable way to yield, wehave commission to compel you thereto. And never think ofyourselves, nor yet suffer the tyrant Diabolus to persuade you tothink, 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 ofthe King's clemency stand always open; for the day that shall burnlike an oven is before him; yea, it hasteth greatly, it slumberethnot. 

'O Mansoul, is it little in thine eyes that our King doth offerthee mercy, and that after so many provocations? Yea, he stillholdeth out his golden sceptre to thee, and will not yet suffer hisgate to be shut against thee: wilt thou provoke him to do it? Ifso, 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, bewarelest he take thee away with his stroke; then a great ransom cannotdeliver thee. Will he esteem thy riches? No, not gold, nor allthe 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 thejudgment of the wicked, justice and judgment should take hold ofthee. '

Now while the Captain Judgment was making this oration to the townof Mansoul, it was observed by some that Diabolus trembled; but heproceeded in his parable and said, 'O thou woful town of Mansoul, wilt thou not yet set open thy gate to receive us, the deputies ofthy King, and those that would rejoice to see thee live? Can thineheart endure, or can thy hands be strong, in the day that he shalldeal in judgment with thee? I say, canst thou endure to be forcedto drink, as one would drink sweet wine, the sea of wrath that ourKing has prepared for Diabolus and his angels? Consider, betimesconsider. '

Then stood forth the fourth captain, the noble Captain Execution, and said, 'O town of Mansoul, once famous, but now like thefruitless bough, once the delight of the high ones, but now a denfor Diabolus, hearken also to me, and to the words that I shallspeak to thee in the name of the great Shaddai. Behold, the axe islaid to the root of the trees: every tree, therefore, thatbringeth 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 bespeaksthee not to be a good tree; thy grapes are grapes of gall, thyclusters are bitter. Thou hast rebelled against thy King; and, lo!we, the power and force of Shaddai, are the axe that is laid to thyroot. What sayest thou? Wilt thou turn? I say again, tell me, before the first blow is given, wilt thou turn? Our axe must firstbe laid TO thy root before it be laid AT thy root; it must first belaid TO thy root in a way of threatening, before it is laid AT thyroot by way of execution; and between these two is required thyrepentance, and this is all the time that thou hast. What wiltthou 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 aswell as TO thy roots, nor will anything but yielding to our Kingprevent doing of execution. What art thou fit for, O Mansoul, ifmercy preventeth not, but to be hewn down, and cast into the fireand 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 whatfollows but, 'Cut it down'? nay, 'After that thou shalt cut itdown. ' And dost thou think that these are but threatenings, orthat our King has not power to execute his words? O Mansoul, thouwilt find that in the words of our King, when they are by sinnersmade little or light of, there is not only threatening, but burningcoals of fire. 

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

These brave speeches of these four noble captains the town ofMansoul 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 themone Ill-Pause that was in the town, that they might reward himaccording 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, solong as Ill-Pause draws breath in Mansoul, all good considerationwill 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, couldthe captains have laid their fingers on him, ) was resolved at thisinstant 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 speakout, 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 princeand the molestation of the town of Mansoul, camped against it: butfrom whence you come, we will not know; and what you are, we willnot believe. Indeed, you tell us in your terrible speech that youhave this authority from Shaddai, but by what right he commands youto do it, of that we shall yet be ignorant. 

'You have also, by the authority aforesaid, summoned this town todesert her lord, and, for protection, to yield up herself to thegreat Shaddai, your King; flatteringly telling her, that if shewill do it, he will pass by and not charge her with her pastoffences. 

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

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

'As for the war that you threaten to make upon us, we must thereindefend ourselves as well as we can; and know ye, that we are notwithout wherewithal to bid defiance to you; and, in short, (for Iwill not be tedious, ) I tell you, that we take you to be somevagabond runagate crew, that having shaken off all obedience toyour King, have gotten together in tumultuous manner, and areranging from place to place to see if, through the flatteries youare skilled to make on the one side, and threats wherewith youthink to fright on the other, to make some silly town, city, orcountry, desert their place, and leave it to you; but Mansoul isnone of them. 

'To conclude: we dread you not, we fear you not, nor will we obeyyour summons. Our gates we will shut upon you, our place we willkeep you out of. Nor will we long thus suffer you to sit downbefore us: our people must live in quiet: your appearance dothdisturb them. Wherefore arise with bag and baggage, and begone, orwe will let fly from the walls against you. '

This oration, made by old Incredulity, was seconded by desperateWillbewill, in words to this effect: 'Gentlemen, we have heardyour demands, and the noise of your threats, and have heard thesound of your summons; but we fear not your force, we regard notyour threats, but will still abide as you found us. And we commandyou, 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 lionDiabolus when asleep in his town of Mansoul. '

The Recorder, whose name was Forget-Good, he also added asfolloweth: 'Gentlemen, my lords, as you see, have with mild andgentle words answered your rough and angry speeches: they have, moreover, in my hearing, given you leave quietly to depart as youcame; wherefore, take their kindness and be gone. We might havecome out with force upon you, and have caused you to feel the dintof our swords; but as we love ease and quiet ourselves, so we lovenot to hurt or molest others. '

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

Diabolus also returned to the castle, and the Lord Mayor andRecorder to their place; but the Lord Willbewill took special carethat the gates should be secured with double guards, double bolts, and double locks and bars; and that Ear-gate especially might thebetter be looked to, for that was the gate in at which the King'sforces sought most to enter. The Lord Willbewill made one old Mr. Prejudice, an angry and ill-conditioned fellow, captain of the wardat that gate, and put under his power sixty men, called deaf men;men advantageous for that service, forasmuch as they mattered nowords of the captains, nor of the soldiers. 

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

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

They from the camp also did as stoutly, and with as much of that asmay in truth be called valour, let fly as fast at the town and atEar-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'scaptains had brought with them several slings, and two or threebattering-rams; with their slings, therefore, they battered thehouses and people of the town, and with their rams they sought tobreak Ear-gate open. 

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

The King's captains, when they marched from the court to come upagainst Mansoul to war, as they came crossing over the country, they happened to light upon three young fellows that had a mind togo for soldiers: proper men they were, and men of courage andskill, 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 toldthem 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, camehither on purpose to meet them, that they might be listed undertheir excellencies. Then Captain Boanerges, for that they were menof courage, listed them into his company, and so away they went tothe war. 

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

Then Diabolus called for Willbewill, to know the certainty of thismatter. So he asked him, and he told him. Then did the giant sendfor the prisoners, and, when they were come, demanded of them whothey were, whence they came, and what they did in the camp ofShaddai; and they told him. Then he sent them to ward again. Notmany days after, he sent for them to him again, and then asked themif they would be willing to serve him against their formercaptains. They then told him that they did not so much live byreligion as by the fates of fortune; and that since his lordshipwas 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 Anythingdid Diabolus send these men, and a note under his hand, to receivethem into his company, the contents of which letter were thus:

'Anything, my darling, --The three men that are the bearers of thisletter have a desire to serve me in the war; nor know I better towhose conduct to commit them than to thine. Receive them, therefore, in my name, and, as need shall require, make use of themagainst Shaddai and his men. Farewell. '

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

They of the camp did also some execution upon the town; for theydid beat down the roof of the Lord Mayor's house, and so laid himmore open than he was before. They had almost, with a sling, slainmy Lord Willbewill outright; but he made a shift to recover again. But they made a notable slaughter among the aldermen, for with oneonly 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 overEar-gate, and laid them flat in the dirt. I told you before thatthe King's noble captains had drawn off to their winter quarters, and had there entrenched themselves and their carriages, so as withthe best advantage to their King, and the greatest annoyance to theenemy, they might give seasonable and warm alarms to the town ofMansoul. And this design of them did so hit, that I may say theydid almost what they would to the molestation of the corporation. For now could not Mansoul sleep securely as before, nor could theynow go to their debaucheries with that quietness as in times past;for they had from the camp of Shaddai such frequent, warm, andterrifying alarms, yea, alarms upon alarms, first at one gate andthen at another, and again at all the gates at once, that they werebroken as to former peace. Yea, they had their alarms sofrequently, and that when the nights were at longest, the weathercoldest, and so consequently the season most unseasonable, thatthat winter was to the town of Mansoul a winter by itself. Sometimes the trumpets would sound, and sometimes the slings wouldwhirl the stones into the town. Sometimes ten thousand of theKing's soldiers would be running round the walls of Mansoul atmidnight, shouting and lifting up the voice for the battle. Sometimes, again, some of them in the town would be wounded, andtheir cry and lamentable voice would be heard, to the greatmolestation of the now languishing town of Mansoul. Yea, sodistressed with those that laid siege against them were they, that, I dare say, Diabolus, their king, had in these days his rest muchbroken. 

In these days, as I was informed, new thoughts, and thoughts thatbegan to run counter one to another, began to possess the minds ofthe men of the town of Mansoul. Some would say, 'There is noliving thus. ' Others would then reply, 'This will be overshortly. ' Then would a third stand up and answer, 'Let us turn tothe King Shaddai, and so put an end to these troubles. ' And afourth would come in with a fear, saying, 'I doubt he will notreceive us. ' The old gentleman, too, the Recorder, that was sobefore Diabolus took Mansoul, he also began to talk aloud, and hiswords were now to the town of Mansoul as if they were great clapsof thunder. No noise now so terrible to Mansoul as was his, withthe noise of the soldiers and shoutings of the captains. 

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

The captains also, in the deep of this winter, did send by themouth of Boanerges' trumpeter a summons to Mansoul to yield upherself to the King, the great King Shaddai. They sent it once, and twice, and thrice; not knowing but that at some times theremight be in Mansoul some willingness to surrender up themselvesunto them, might they but have the colour of an invitation to do itunder. Yea, so far as I could gather, the town had beensurrendered up to them before now, had it not been for theopposition of old Incredulity, and the fickleness of the thoughtsof my Lord Willbewill. Diabolus also began to rave; whereforeMansoul, as to yielding, was not yet all of one mind; thereforethey still lay distressed under these perplexing fears. 

I told you but now that they of the King's army had this wintersent 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, didpity 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 theirown deliverance. He said, moreover, that the captains bid him tellthem, that if now poor Mansoul would humble herself and turn, herformer rebellions and most notorious treasons should by theirmerciful King be forgiven them, yea, and forgotten too. And havingbid them beware that they stood not in their own way, that theyopposed not themselves, nor made themselves their own losers, hereturned again into the camp. 

The second time the trumpeter went, he did treat them a little moreroughly; for, after sound of trumpet, he told them that theircontinuing in their rebellion did but chafe and heat the spirit ofthe captains, and that they were resolved to make a conquest ofMansoul, 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, hedid not know, not certainly know, whether the captains wereinclining to mercy or judgment. 'Only, ' said he, 'they commandedme to give you a summons to open the gates unto them. ' So hereturned, and went into the camp. 

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

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

2. Provided that no man that now serveth under their great giantDiabolus be by Shaddai cast out of house, harbour, or the freedomthat he hath hitherto enjoyed in the famous town of Mansoul. 

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

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

'These be our propositions, or conditions of peace; and upon theseterms, ' said they, 'we will submit to your King. '

But when the captains had heard this weak and feeble offer of thetown of Mansoul, and their high and bold demands, they made to themagain, by their noble captain, the Captain Boanerges, this speechfollowing:

'O ye inhabitants of the town of Mansoul, when I heard your trumpetsound for a parley with us, I can truly say I was glad; but whenyou said you were willing to submit yourselves to our King andLord, then I was yet more glad; but when, by your silly provisosand foolish cavils, you laid the stumbling-block of your iniquitybefore your own faces, then was my gladness turned into sorrows, and my hopeful beginnings of your return, into languishing faintingfears. 

'I count that old Ill-Pause, the ancient enemy of Mansoul, did drawup those proposals that now you present us with as terms of anagreement; but they deserve not to be admitted to sound in the earof any man that pretends to have service for Shaddai. We dotherefore jointly, and that with the highest disdain, refuse andreject such things, as the greatest of iniquities. 

'But, O Mansoul, if you will give yourselves into our hands, orrather into the hands of our King, and will trust him to make suchterms with and for you as shall seem good in his eyes, (and I daresay they shall be such as you shall find to be most profitable toyou, ) then we will receive you, and be at peace with you; but ifyou like not to trust yourselves in the arms of Shaddai our King, then things are but where they were before, and we know also whatwe 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, willbe so foolish as to put the staff out of their own hands into thehands of they know not who? I, for my part, will never yield to sounlimited a proposition. Do we know the manner and temper of theirKing? It is said by some that he will be angry with his subjectsif 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 canperform. Wherefore, it seems, O Mansoul, to be thy wisdom to takegood heed what thou dost in this matter; for if you once yield, yougive up yourselves to another, and so you are no more your own. Wherefore, to give up yourselves to an unlimited power, is thegreatest folly in the world; for now you indeed may repent, but cannever 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; orwhether he will not cut off every one of us, and send out of hisown country another new people, and cause them to inhabit thistown?'

This speech of the Lord Mayor undid all, and threw flat to theground their hopes of an accord. Wherefore the captains returnedto 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 theyhad been at their points. So, when he was come into the chamber ofstate, Diabolus saluted him with--'Welcome, my lord. How wentmatters betwixt you to-day?' So the Lord Incredulity, with a lowcongee, told him the whole of the matter, saying, 'Thus and thussaid the captains of Shaddai, and thus and thus said I. ' The whichwhen it was told to Diabolus, he was very glad to hear it, andsaid, 'My Lord Mayor, my faithful Incredulity, I have proved thyfidelity above ten times already, but never yet found thee false. I do promise thee, if we rub over this brunt, to prefer thee to aplace of honour, a place far better than to be Lord Mayor ofMansoul. I will make thee my universal deputy, and thou shalt, next to me, have all nations under thy hand; yea, and thou shaltlay bands upon them, that they may not resist thee; nor shall anyof our vassals walk more at liberty, but those that shall becontent to walk in thy fetters. '

Now came the Lord Mayor out from Diabolus, as if he had obtained afavour indeed. Wherefore to his habitation he goes in great state, and thinks to feed himself well enough with hopes, until the timecame 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 hislord with what had passed, the old Lord Mayor, that was so beforeDiabolus came to the town, to wit, my Lord Understanding, and theold Recorder, Mr. Conscience, getting intelligence of what hadpassed at Ear-gate, (for you must know that they might not besuffered to be at that debate, lest they should then have mutiniedfor the captains; but, I say, they got intelligence of what hadpassed there, and were much concerned therewith, ) wherefore they, getting some of the town together, began to possess them with thereasonableness of the noble captains' demands, and with the badconsequences that would follow upon the speech of old Incredulity, the Lord Mayor; to wit how little reverence he showed thereineither to the captains or to their King; also how he implicitlycharged them with unfaithfulness and treachery. 'For what less, 'quoth they, 'could be made of his words, when he said he would notyield to their proposition; and added, moreover, a supposition thathe would destroy us, when before he had sent us word that he wouldshow us mercy!' The multitude, being now possessed with theconviction of the evil that old Incredulity had done, began to runtogether by companies in all places, and in every corner of thestreets of Mansoul; and first they began to mutter, then to talkopenly, and after that they run to and fro, and cried as they run, 'Oh the brave captains of Shaddai! would we were under thegovernment of the captains, and of Shaddai their King!' When theLord Mayor had intelligence that Mansoul was in an uproar, down hecomes to appease the people, and thought to have quashed their heatwith the bigness and the show of his countenance; but when they sawhim, they came running upon him, and had doubtless done him amischief, had he not betaken himself to house. However, theystrongly assaulted the house where he was, to have pulled it downabout his ears; but the place was too strong, so they failed ofthat. So he, taking some courage, addressed himself, out at awindow, to the people in this manner:

'Gentlemen, what is the reason that there is here such an uproarto-day?'

Then answered my Lord Understanding, 'It is even because that thouand thy master have carried it not rightly, and as you should, tothe captains of Shaddai; for in three things you are faulty. First, in that you would not let Mr. Conscience and myself be atthe hearing of your discourse. Secondly, in that you propoundedsuch terms of peace to the captains that by no means could begranted, unless they had intended that their Shaddai should havebeen only a titular prince, and that Mansoul should still have hadpower 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 didstthyself, after the captains had showed us upon what conditions theywould have received us to mercy, even undo all again with thyunsavoury, 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 ofDiabolus in Mansoul. '

Und. --Sir, you may put upon my words what meaning you please; but Iam 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 youhave this day set to mutiny against us. '

Then replied the old Recorder, whose name was Mr. Conscience, andsaid, 'Sir, you ought not thus to retort upon what my LordUnderstanding hath said. It is evident enough that he hath spokenthe truth, and that you are an enemy to Mansoul. Be convinced, then, of the evil of your saucy and malapert language, and of thegrief that you have put the captains to; yea, and of the damagesthat you have done to Mansoul thereby. Had you accepted of theconditions, the sound of the trumpet and the alarm of war had nowceased 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 errandto Diabolus, and there you shall have an answer to your words. Meanwhile we will seek the good of the town, and not ask counsel ofyou. '

Und. --Sir, your prince and you are both foreigners to Mansoul, andnot the natives thereof; and who can tell but that, when you havebrought us into greater straits, (when you also shall see thatyourselves can be safe by no other means than by flight, ) you mayleave us and shift for yourselves, or set us on fire, and go awayin the smoke, or by the light of our burning, and so leave us inour ruins?

Incred. --Sir, you forget that you are under a governor, and thatyou ought to demean yourself like a subject; and know ye, when mylord the king shall hear of this day's work, he will give you butlittle thanks for your labour. 

Now while these gentlemen were thus in their chiding words, downcome from the walls and gates of the town the Lord Willbewill, Mr. Prejudice, old Ill-Pause, and several of the new-made aldermen andburgesses, and they asked the reason of the hubbub and tumult; andwith that every man began to tell his own tale, so that nothingcould be heard distinctly. Then was a silence commanded, and theold fox Incredulity began to speak. 'My lord, ' quoth he, 'here area couple of peevish gentlemen, that have, as a fruit of their baddispositions, and, as I fear, through the advice of one Mr. Discontent, tumultuously gathered this company against me this day, and also attempted to run the town into acts of rebellion againstour prince. '

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

Now when they that took part with my Lord Understanding and withMr. Conscience perceived that they were like to come to the worst, for that force and power was on the other side, they came in fortheir help and relief; so a great company was on both sides. Thenthey on Incredulity's side would have had the two old gentlemenpresently away to prison; but they on the other side said theyshould not. Then they began to cry up parties again: theDiabolonians cried up old Incredulity, Forget-Good, the newaldermen, and their great one Diabolus; and the other party, theyas fast cried up Shaddai, the captains, his laws, theirmercifulness, and applauded their conditions and ways. Thus thebickerment 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 tohave been slain with an arquebuse, but that he that shot did nottake his aim aright. Nor did the other side wholly escape; forthere was one Mr. Rashhead, a Diabolonian, that had his brainsbeaten out by Mr. Mind, the Lord Willbewill's servant; and it mademe laugh to see how old Mr. Prejudice was kicked and tumbled aboutin the dirt; for though, a while since, he was made captain of acompany of the Diabolonians, to the hurt and damage of the town, yet now they had got him under their feet, and, I'll assure you, hehad, by some of the Lord Understanding's party, his crown crackedto boot. Mr. Anything also, he became a brisk man in the broil;but both sides were against him, because he was true to none. Yethe had, for his malapertness, one of his legs broken, and he thatdid it wished it had been his neck. Much more harm was done onboth sides, but this must not be forgotten; it was now a wonder tosee my Lord Willbewill so indifferent as he was: he did not seemto take one side more than another, only it was perceived that hesmiled to see how old Prejudice was tumbled up and down in thedirt. Also, when Captain Anything came halting up before him, heseemed to take but little notice of him. 

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

But let us return again to our story. The captains, when they weregone back from the gate, and were come into the camp again, calleda 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;' butthe greatest part thought rather better it would be to give themanother summons to yield; and the reason why they thought this tobe best was, because that, so far as could be perceived, the townof Mansoul now was more inclinable than heretofore. 'And if, ' saidthey, 'while some of them are in a way of inclination, we should byruggedness give them distaste, we may set them further from closingwith our summons than we would be willing they should. ' Whereforeto this advice they agreed, and called a trumpeter, put words intohis mouth, set him his time, and bid him God speed. Well, manyhours were not expired before the trumpeter addressed himself tohis journey. Wherefore, coming up to the wall of the town, hesteereth his course to Ear-gate, and there sounded, as he wascommanded. They then that were within came out to see what was thematter, and the trumpeter made them this speech following:

'O hard-hearted and deplorable town of Mansoul, how long wilt thoulove thy sinful, sinful simplicity, and, ye fools, delight in yourscorning? As yet despise you the offers of peace and deliverance?As yet will ye refuse the golden offers of Shaddai, and trust tothe lies and falsehoods of Diabolus? Think you, when Shaddai shallhave conquered you, that the remembrance of these your carriagestowards him will yield you peace and comfort, or that by rufflinglanguage you can make him afraid as a grasshopper? Doth he entreatyou for fear of you? Do you think that you are stronger than he?Look to the heavens, and behold and consider the stars, how highare they? Can you stop the sun from running his course, and hinderthe moon from giving her light? Can you count the number of thestars, or stay the bottles of heaven? Can you call for the watersof the sea, and cause them to cover the face of the ground? Canyou behold every one that is proud, and abase him, and bind theirfaces in secret? Yet these are some of the works of our King, inwhose name this day we come up unto you, that you may be broughtunder his authority. In his name, therefore, I summon you again toyield up yourselves to his captains. '

At this summons the Mansoulians seemed to be at a stand, and knewnot what answer to make. Wherefore Diabolus forthwith appeared, and took upon him to do it himself; and thus he begins, but turnshis speech to them of Mansoul. 

'Gentlemen, ' quoth he, 'and my faithful subjects, if it is truethat this summoner hath said concerning the greatness of theirKing, by his terror you will always be kept in bondage, and so bemade 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 himwhile 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 youwould with a grasshopper. Consider, therefore, what is for yourprofit, and remember the immunities that I have granted you. 

'Farther, if all be true that this man hath said, how comes it topass that the subjects of Shaddai are so enslaved in all placeswhere they come? None in the universe so unhappy as they, none sotrampled upon as they. 

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

Upon this speech, the town of Mansoul did again harden their heartsyet more against the captains of Shaddai. The thoughts of hisgreatness did quite quash them, and the thoughts of his holinesssunk them in despair. Wherefore, after a short consult, they (ofthe Diabolonian party they were) sent back this word by thetrumpeter, That, for their parts, they were resolved to stick totheir king, but never to yield to Shaddai; so it was but in vain togive them any further summons, for they had rather die upon theplace than yield. And now things seemed to be gone quite back, andMansoul to be out of reach or call, yet the captains who knew whattheir Lord could do, would not yet be beat out of heart; theytherefore sent them another summons, more sharp and severe than thelast; but the oftener they were sent to, to reconcile to Shaddai, the further off they were. 'As they called them, so they went fromthem--yea, though they called them to the Most High. '

So they ceased that way to deal with them any more, and inclined tothink of another way. The captains, therefore, did gatherthemselves together, to have free conference among themselves, toknow what was yet to be done to gain the town, and to deliver itfrom the tyranny of Diabolus; and one said after this manner, andanother after that. Then stood up the right noble the CaptainConviction, and said, 'My brethren, mine opinion is this:

'First, that we continually play our slings into the town, and keepit in a continual alarm, molesting them day and night. By thusdoing, we shall stop the growth of their rampant spirit; for a lionmay be tamed by continual molestation. 

'Secondly, this done, I advise that, in the next place, we with oneconsent draw up a petition to our Lord Shaddai, by which, after wehave showed our King the condition of Mansoul and of affairs here, and have begged his pardon for our no better success, we willearnestly implore his Majesty's help, and that he will please tosend us more force and power, and some gallant and well-spokencommander to head them, that so his Majesty may not lose thebenefit of these his good beginnings, but may complete his conquestupon the town of Mansoul. '

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

'Most gracious and glorious King, the Lord of the best world, andthe builder of the town of Mansoul, we have, dread Sovereign, atthy commandment, put our lives in jeopardy, and at thy bidding madea war upon the famous town of Mansoul. When we went up against it, we did, according to our commission, first offer conditions ofpeace unto it. But they, great King, set light by our counsel, andwould none of our reproof. They were for shutting their gates, andfor keeping us out of the town. They also mounted their guns, theysallied out upon us, and have done us what damage they could; butwe pursued them with alarm upon alarm, requiting them with suchretribution as was meet, and have done some execution upon thetown. 

'Diabolus, Incredulity, and Willbewill are the great doers againstus: now we are in our winter quarters, but so as that we do yetwith an high hand molest and distress the town. 

'Once, as we think, had we had but one substantial friend in thetown, such as would but have seconded the sound of our summons asthey ought, the people might have yielded themselves; but therewere none but enemies there, nor any to speak in behalf of our Lordto the town. Wherefore, though we have done as we could, yetMansoul abides in a state of rebellion against thee. 

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

'We do not thus speak because we are willing to relinquish thewars, (for we are for laying of our bones against the place, ) butthat the town of Mansoul may be won for thy Majesty. We also praythy Majesty, for expedition in this matter, that, after theirconquest, we may be at liberty to be sent about other thy graciousdesigns. Amen. '

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

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

Now the King, at the sight of the petition, was glad; but how muchmore, think you, when it was seconded by his Son! It pleased himalso to hear that his servants who camped against Mansoul were sohearty in the work, and so steadfast in their resolves, and thatthey had already got some ground upon the famous town of Mansoul. 

Wherefore the King called to him Emmanuel, his Son, who said, 'Heream I, my Father. ' Then said the King, 'Thou knowest, as I domyself, the condition of the town of Mansoul, and what we havepurposed, and what thou hast done to redeem it. Come now, therefore, my Son, and prepare thyself for the war, for thou shaltgo to my camp at Mansoul. Thou shalt also there prosper andprevail, and conquer the town of Mansoul. '

Then said the King's Son, 'Thy law is within my heart: I delightto do thy will. This is the day that I have longed for, and thework that I have waited for all this while. Grant me, therefore, what force thou shalt in thy wisdom think meet; and I will go andwill deliver from Diabolus, and from his power, thy perishing townof Mansoul. My heart has been often pained within me for themiserable town of Mansoul; but now it is rejoiced, but now it isglad, '

And with that he leaped over the mountains for joy, saying, 'I havenot, in my heart, thought anything too dear for Mansoul: the dayof vengeance is in mine heart for thee, my Mansoul: and glad am Ithat 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 tomy town of Mansoul, and will deliver it from their hand. '

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

Then was it concluded that some should go and carry tidings to thecamp, that Emmanuel was to come to recover Mansoul, and that hewould bring along with him so mighty, so impregnable a force, thathe could not be resisted. But, oh! how ready were the high ones atcourt to run like lackeys to carry these tidings to the camp thatwas at Mansoul. Now, when the captains perceived that the Kingwould send Emmanuel his Son, and that it also delighted the Son tobe 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 ashout that made the earth rend at the sound thereof. Yea, themountains did answer again by echo, and Diabolus himself did totterand shake. 

For you must know, that though the town of Mansoul itself was notmuch, if at all concerned with the project, (for, alas for them!they were wofully besotted, for they chiefly regarded theirpleasure and their lusts, ) yet Diabolus their governor was; for hehad his spies continually abroad, who brought him intelligence ofall things, and they told him what was doing at court against him, and that Emmanuel would shortly certainly come with a power toinvade him. Nor was there any man at court, nor peer of thekingdom, that Diabolus so feared as he feared this Prince; for, ifyou remember, I showed you before that Diabolus had felt the weightof 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 engagedto come from the court to save Mansoul, and that his Father hadmade him the Captain of the forces. The time, therefore, of hissetting forth being now expired, he addressed himself for hismarch, and taketh with him, for his power, five noble captains andtheir forces. 

1. The first was that famous captain, the noble Captain Credence. His were the red colours, and Mr. Promise bare them; and for ascutcheon he had the holy lamb and golden shield; and he had tenthousand men at his feet. 

2. The second was that famous captain, the Captain Good-Hope. Hiswere the blue colours; his standard-bearer was Mr. Expectation, andfor his scutcheon he had the three golden anchors; and he had tenthousand men at his feet. 

3. The third was that valiant captain, the Captain Charity. Hisstandard-bearer was Mr. Pitiful: his were the green colours, andfor 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, theCaptain Patience. His standard-bearer was Mr. Suffer-Long: hiswere the black colours, and for a scutcheon he had three arrowsthrough the golden heart. 

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

But when they set out for their march, oh, how the trumpetssounded, their armour glittered, and how the colours waved in thewind! The Prince's armour was all of gold, and it shone like thesun in the firmament; the captains' armour was of proof, and was inappearance like the glittering stars. There were also some fromthe court that rode reformades for the love that they had to theKing Shaddai, and for the happy deliverance of the town of Mansoul. 

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

So they marched till they came within less than a league of thetown; there they lay till the first four captains came thither toacquaint them with matters. Then they took their journey to go tothe town of Mansoul, and unto Mansoul they came; but when the oldsoldiers that were in the camp saw that they had new forces to joinwith, they again gave such a shout before the walls of the town ofMansoul, that it put Diabolus into another fright. So they satdown before the town, not now as the other four captains did, towit, against the gates of Mansoul only; but they environed it roundon every side, and beset it behind and before; so that now, letMansoul look which way it will, it saw force and power lie in siegeagainst it. Besides, there were mounts cast up against it. TheMount Gracious was on the one side, and Mount Justice was on theother. Further, there were several small banks and advance-grounds, as Plain-Truth Hill and No-Sin Banks, where many of theslings were placed against the town. Upon Mount Gracious wereplanted four, and upon Mount Justice were placed as many, and therest were conveniently placed in several parts round about thetown. Five of the best battering-rams, that is, of the biggest ofthem, 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 thatwere come up against the place, and the rams and slings, and themounts on which they were planted, together with the glittering ofthe armour and the waving of their colours, they were forced toshift, and shift, and again to shift their thoughts; but theyhardly changed for thoughts more stout, but rather for thoughtsmore faint; for though before they thought themselves sufficientlyguarded, yet now they began to think that no man knew what would betheir hap or lot. 

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

So the white flag, with the three golden doves in it, was hung outfor two days together, to give them time and space to consider; butthey, as was hinted before, as if they were unconcerned, made noreply to the favourable signal of the Prince. 

Then he commanded, and they set the red flag upon that mount calledMount Justice. It was the red flag of Captain Judgment, whosescutcheon was the burning fiery furnace; and this also stood wavingbefore them in the wind for several days together. But look howthey carried it under the white flag, when that was hung out, sodid they also when the red one was; and yet he took no advantage ofthem. 

Then he commanded again that his servants should hang out the blackflag of defiance against them, whose scutcheon was the threeburning thunderbolts; but as unconcerned was Mansoul at this as atthose that went before. But when the Prince saw that neither mercynor judgment, nor execution of judgment, would or could come nearthe heart of Mansoul, he was touched with much compunction, andsaid, 'Surely this strange carriage of the town of Mansoul dothrather arise from ignorance of the manner and feats of war, thanfrom a secret defiance of us, and abhorrence of their own lives; orif they know the manner of the war of their own, yet not the ritesand ceremonies of the wars in which we are concerned, when I makewars upon mine enemy Diabolus. '

Therefore he sent to the town of Mansoul, to let them know what hemeant by those signs and ceremonies of the flag; and also to knowof them which of the things they would choose, whether grace andmercy, or judgment and the execution of judgment. All this whilethey kept their gates shut with locks, bolts, and bars, as fast asthey could. Their guards also were doubled, and their watch madeas strong as they could. Diabolus also did pluck up what heart hecould, to encourage the town to make resistance. 

The townsmen also made answer to the Prince's messenger, insubstance according to that which follows:-

'Great Sir, --As to what, by your messenger, you have signified tous, 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 youno positive answer; for it is against the law, government, and theprerogative royal of our king, to make either peace or war withouthim. But this we will do, --we will petition that our prince willcome down to the wall, and there give you such treatment as heshall think fit and profitable for us. '

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

But to return again to our purpose. After the town had carriedthis news to Diabolus, and had told him, moreover, that the Prince, that lay in the leaguer without the wall, waited upon them for ananswer, he refused, and huffed as well as he could; but in heart hewas afraid. 

Then said he, 'I will go down to the gates myself, and give himsuch an answer as I think fit. ' So he went down to Mouth-gate, andthere addressed himself to speak to Emmanuel, (but in such languageas the town understood not, ) the contents whereof were as follows:-

'O thou great Emmanuel, Lord of all the world, I know thee, thatthou art the Son of the great Shaddai! Wherefore art thou come totorment me, and to cast me out of my possession? This town ofMansoul, as thou very well knowest, is mine, and that by a twofoldright. 1. It is mine by right of conquest; I won it in the openfield; and shall the prey be taken from the mighty, or the lawfulcaptive be delivered? 2. This town of Mansoul is mine also bytheir subjection. They have opened the gates of their town untome; they have sworn fidelity to me, and have openly chosen me to betheir 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 havecast thy law, thy name, thy image, and all that is thine, behindtheir back, and have accepted and set up in their room my law, myname, my image, and all that ever is mine. Ask else thy captains, and they will tell thee that Mansoul hath, in answer to all theirsummonses, shown love and loyalty to me, but always disdain, despite, contempt, and scorn to thee and thine. Now, thou art theJust One and the Holy, and shouldest do no iniquity. Depart, then, I pray thee, therefore, from me, and leave me to my justinheritance peaceably. '

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

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

Yea, they all this while took him to be one of that power and forcethat by no means could be resisted. Wherefore, while he was thusentreating that he might have yet his residence there, and thatEmmanuel would not take it from him by force, the inhabitantsboasted even of his valour, saying, 'Who is able to make war withhim?'

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

'Thou deceiving one, ' said he, 'I have, in my Father's name, inmine own name, and on the behalf and for the good of this wretchedtown of Mansoul, somewhat to say unto thee. Thou pretendest aright, a lawful right, to the deplorable town of Mansoul, when itis most apparent to all my Father's court that the entrance whichthou hast obtained in at the gates of Mansoul was through thy lieand falsehood; thou beliedst my Father, thou beliedst his law, andso deceivedst the people of Mansoul. Thou pretendest that thepeople have accepted thee for their king, their captain, and rightliege lord; but that also was by the exercise of deceit and guile. Now, if lying, wiliness, sinful craft, and all manner of horriblehypocrisy, will go in my Father's court (in which court thou mustbe tried) for equity and right, then will I confess unto thee thatthou hast made a lawful conquest. But, alas! what thief, whattyrant, what devil is there that may not conquer after this sort?But I can make it appear, O Diabolus, that thou, in all thypretences to a conquest of Mansoul, hast nothing of truth to say. Thinkest thou this to be right, that that didst put the lie upon myFather, and madest him (to Mansoul) the greatest deluder in theworld? And what sayest thou to thy perverting knowingly the rightpurport and intent of the law? Was it good also that thou madest aprey of the innocency and simplicity of the now miserable town ofMansoul? Yea, thou didst overcome Mansoul by promising to themhappiness in their transgressions against my Father's law, whenthou knewest, and couldest not but know, hadst thou consultednothing but thine own experience, that that was the way to undothem. Thou hast also thyself, O thou master of enmity, of spitedefaced my Father's image in Mansoul, and set up thy own in itsplace, to the great contempt of my Father, the heightening of thysin, and to the intolerable damage of the perishing town ofMansoul. 

'Thou hast, moreover, (as if all these were but little things withthee, ) not only deluded and undone this place, but, by thy lies andfradulent carriage, hast set them against their own deliverance. How hast thou stirred them up against my Father's captains, andmade them to fight against those that were sent of him to deliverthem from their bondage! All these things, and very many more, thou hast done against thy light, and in contempt of my Father andof his law, yea, and with design to bring under his displeasure forever the miserable town of Mansoul. I am therefore come to avengethe wrong that thou hast done to my Father, and to deal with theefor the blasphemies wherewith thou hast made poor Mansoul blasphemehis 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 thyburning fingers; for this town of Mansoul is mine, O Diabolus, andthat by undoubted right, as all shall see that will diligentlysearch the most ancient and most authentic records, and I willplead my title to it, to the confusion of thy face. 

'First, for the town of Mansoul, my Father built and did fashion itwith 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 thatgainsays 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 onlydelight of his heart. I am therefore come up against thee in mineown 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 myFather'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, thathe should take it from me, and give it to thee. Nor have I beenforced, by playing the bankrupt, to sell or set to sale to thee mybeloved town of Mansoul. Mansoul is my desire, my delight, and thejoy of my heart. But, '3. Mansoul is mine by right of purchase. I have bought it, ODiabolus, I have bought it to myself. Now, since it was myFather's and mine, as I was his heir, and since also I have made itmine by virtue of a great purchase, it followeth that, by alllawful right, the town of Mansoul is mine, and that thou art anusurper, a tyrant, and traitor, in thy holding possession thereof. Now, the cause of my purchasing of it was this: Mansoul hadtrespassed against my Father; now my Father had said, that in theday that they broke his law they should die. Now, it is morepossible for heaven and earth to pass away than for my Father tobreak his word. Wherefore when Mansoul had sinned indeed byhearkening 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 forMansoul's transgressions, and my Father did accept thereof. So, when the time appointed was come, I gave body for body, soul forsoul, life for life, blood for blood, and so redeemed my belovedMansoul. 

'4. Nor did I do this by halves: my Father's law and justice, thatwere both concerned in the threatening upon transgression, are bothnow satisfied, and very well content that Mansoul should bedelivered. 

'5. Nor am I come out this day against thee, but by commandment ofmy Father; it was he that said unto me, "Go down and deliverMansoul. "

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

'And now, ' said the golden-headed Prince, 'I have a word to thetown of Mansoul. ' But so soon as mention was made that he had aword to speak to the besotted town of Mansoul, the gates weredouble-guarded, and all men commanded not to give him audience. Sohe proceeded and said, 'O unhappy town of Mansoul, I cannot but betouched with pity and compassion for thee. Thou hast accepted ofDiabolus for thy king, and art become a nurse and minister ofDiabolonians against thy sovereign Lord. Thy gates thou hastopened to him, but hast shut them fast against me; thou hast givenhim an hearing, but hast stopped thine ears at my cry. He broughtto thee thy destruction, and thou didst receive both him and it: Iam come to thee bringing salvation, but thou regardest me not. Besides, thou hast, as with sacrilegious hands, taken thyself, withall that was mine in thee, and hast given all to my foe, and to thegreatest enemy my Father has. You have bowed and subjectedyourselves to him, you have vowed and sworn yourselves to be his. Poor Mansoul! what shall I do unto thee? Shall I save thee?--shallI destroy thee? What shall I do unto thee? Shall I fall uponthee, and grind thee to powder, or make thee a monument of therichest grace? What shall I do unto thee? Hearken, therefore, thou town of Mansoul, hearken to my word, and thou shalt live. Iam merciful, Mansoul, and thou shalt find me so: shut me not outof thy gates. 

'O Mansoul, neither is my commission nor inclination at all to dothee hurt. Why fliest thou so fast from thy friend, and stickestso close to thine enemy? Indeed, I would have thee, because itbecomes 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 thybondage, 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 armedthat keeps the house, and I will have him out: his spoils I mustdivide, his armour I must take from him, his hold I must cast himout of, and must make it a habitation for myself. And this, OMansoul, shall Diabolus know when he shall be made to follow me inchains, and when Mansoul shall rejoice to see it so. 

 'I could, would I now put forth my might, cause that forthwith heshould leave you and depart; but I have it in my heart so to dealwith him, as that the justice of the war that I shall make upon himmay be seen and acknowledged by all. He hath taken Mansoul byfraud, and keeps it by violence and deceit, and I will make himbare and naked in the eyes of all observers. 

'All my words are true. I am mighty to save, and will deliver myMansoul out of his hand. '

This speech was intended chiefly for Mansoul, but Mansoul would nothave the hearing of it. They shut up Ear-gate, they barricaded itup, they kept it locked and bolted, they set a guard thereat, andcommanded that no Mansoulonian should go out to him, nor that anyfrom the camp should be admitted into the town. All this they did, so horribly had Diabolus enchanted them to do, and seek to do forhim, against their rightful Lord and Prince; wherefore no man, norvoice, nor sound of man that belonged to the glorious host, was tocome into the town. 

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

When Emmanuel had put all things in a readiness to give Diabolusbattle, he sent again to know of the town of Mansoul, if inpeaceable manner they would yield themselves, or whether they wereyet resolved to put him to try the utmost extremity? They then, together with Diabolus their king, called a council of war, andresolved upon certain propositions that should be offered toEmmanuel, if he will accept thereof, so they agreed; and then thenext was, who should be sent on this errand. Now, there was in thetown 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 forDiabolus; him, therefore, they sent, and put into his mouth what heshould say. So he went and came to the camp to Emmanuel, and whenhe was come, a time was appointed to give him audience. So at thetime he came, and after a Diabolonian ceremony or two, he thusbegan and said, 'Great sir, that it may be known unto all men howgood-natured a prince my master is, he has sent me to tell yourlordship that he is very willing, rather than go to war, to deliverup into your hands one half of the town of Mansoul. I am thereforeto 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 willbe 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 andword 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 condescensionof my master! He says, that he will be content, if he may but haveassigned to him some place in Mansoul as a place to live privatelyin, and you shall be Lord of all the rest. '

Then said the golden Prince, 'All that the Father giveth me shallcome 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, notthe least corner of Mansoul to dwell in; I will have all tomyself. '

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

Then said Emmanuel, 'No. He came as a wayfaring man to David, nordid he stay long with him, and yet it had like to have cost Davidhis soul. I will not consent that he ever should have any harbourmore 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 libertyto trade in the town, and to enjoy their present dwellings. Maynot that be granted, sir?'

Then said Emmanuel, 'No; that is contrary to my Father's will; forall, and all manner of Diabolonians that now are, or that at anytime shall be found in Mansoul, shall not only lose their lands andliberties, but also their lives. '

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

Emmanuel answered, 'No, by no means; forasmuch as any suchfellowship, friendship, intimacy, or acquaintance, in what way, sort, or mode soever maintained, will tend to the corrupting ofMansoul, the alienating of their affections from me, and theendangering of their peace with my Father. '

Mr. Loth-to-stoop yet added further, saying, 'But, great sir, sincemy master hath many friends, and those that are dear to him, inMansoul, may he not, if he shall depart from them, even of hisbounty and good-nature, bestow upon them, as he sees fit, sometokens of his love and kindness that he had for them, to the endthat Mansoul, when he is gone, may look upon such tokens ofkindness once received from their old friend, and remember him whowas once their king, and the merry times that they sometimesenjoyed one with another, while he and they lived in peacetogether?'

Then said Emmanuel, 'No; for if Mansoul come to be mine, I shallnot admit of nor consent that there should be the least scrap, shred, or dust of Diabolus left behind, as tokens of gifts bestowedupon any in Mansoul, thereby to call to remembrance the horriblecommunion that was betwixt them and him. '

'Well, sir, ' said Mr. Loth-to-stoop, 'I have one thing more topropound, and then I am got to the end of my commission. Supposethat, when my master is gone from Mansoul, any that shall yet livein the town should have such business of high concerns to do, thatif 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 asthis? Or if he may not be admitted into the town, may not he andthe person concerned meet in some of the villages near Mansoul, andthere 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 nocase, or thing, or matter fall out in Mansoul, when thy mastershall be gone, that may not be solved by my Father; besides, itwill be a great disparagement to my Father's wisdom and skill toadmit any from Mansoul to go out to Diabolus for advice, when theyare bid before, in everything, by prayer and supplication to lettheir requests be made known to my Father. Further, this, shouldit be granted, would be to grant that a door should be set open forDiabolus, and the Diabolonians in Mansoul, to hatch, and plot, andbring to pass treasonable designs, to the grief of my Father andme, and to the utter destruction of Mansoul. '

When Mr. Loth-to-stoop had heard this answer, he took his leave ofEmmanuel, and departed, saying that he would carry word to hismaster concerning this whole affair. So he departed, and came toDiabolus to Mansoul, and told him the whole of the matter, and howEmmanuel would not admit, no, not by any means, that he, when hewas once gone out, should for ever have anything more to do eitherin, or with any that are of the town of Mansoul. When Mansoul andDiabolus had heard this relation of things, they with one consentconcluded to use their best endeavour to keep Emmanuel out ofMansoul, and sent old Ill-Pause, of whom you have heard before, totell the Prince and his captains so. So the old gentleman came upto the top of Ear-gate, and called to the camp for a hearing, whowhen they gave audience, he said, 'I have in commandment from myhigh lord to bid you tell it to your Prince Emmanuel, that Mansouland their king are resolved to stand and fall together; and that itis in vain for your Prince to think of ever having Mansoul in hishand, unless he can take it by force. ' So some went and told toEmmanuel what old Ill-Pause, a Diabolonian in Mansoul, had said. Then said the Prince, 'I must try the power of my sword, for I willnot (for all the rebellions and repulses that Mansoul has madeagainst me) raise my siege and depart, but will assuredly take myMansoul, and deliver it from the hand of her enemy. ' And with thathe gave out a commandment that Captain Boanerges, CaptainConviction, Captain Judgment, and Captain Execution shouldforthwith march up to Ear-gate with trumpets sounding, coloursflying, and with shouting for the battle. Also he would thatCaptain Credence should join himself with them. Emmanuel, moreover, gave order that Captain Good-Hope and Captain Charityshould draw themselves up before Eye-gate. He bid also that therest of his captains and their men should place themselves for thebest of their advantage against the enemy round about the town; andall was done as he had commanded. 

Then he bid that the word should be given forth, and the word wasat that time, 'EMMANUEL. ' Then was an alarm sounded, and thebattering-rams were played, and the slings did whirl stones intothe town amain, and thus the battle began. Now Diabolus himselfdid manage the townsmen in the war, and that at every gate;wherefore their resistance was the more forcible, hellish, andoffensive to Emmanuel. Thus was the good Prince engaged andentertained by Diabolus and Mansoul for several days together; anda sight worth seeing it was to behold how the captains of Shaddaibehaved themselves in this war. 

And first for Captain Boanerges, (not to under-value the rest, ) hemade three most fierce assaults, one after another, upon Ear-gate, to the shaking of the posts thereof. Captain Conviction, he alsomade up as fast with Boanerges as possibly he could, and bothdiscerning that the gate began to yield, they commanded that therams 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 rodereformades, they went about to encourage the captains. 

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

Nor did Captain Good-Hope nor Captain Charity come behind in thismost desperate fight, for they so well did behave themselves atEye-gate, that they had almost broken it quite open. These alsohad a reward from their Prince, as also had the rest of thecaptains, 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 oneCaptain Boasting slain. This Boasting thought that nobody couldhave shaken the posts of Ear-gate, nor have shaken the heart ofDiabolus. Next to him there was one Captain Secure slain: thisSecure used to say that the blind and lame in Mansoul were able tokeep the gates of the town against Emmanuel's army. This CaptainSecure 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 desperatefellow, and he was captain over a band of those that threwfirebrands, arrows, and death: he also received, by the hand ofCaptain Good-Hope at Eye-gate, a mortal wound in the breast. 

There was, moreover, one Mr. Feeling; but he was no captain, but agreat stickler to encourage Mansoul to rebellion. He received awound in the eye by the hand of one of Boanerges' soldiers, and hadby the captain himself been slain, but that he made a suddenretreat. 

But I never saw Willbewill so daunted in all my life; he was notable to do as he was wont, and some say that he also received awound in the leg, and that some of the men in the Prince's armyhave certainly seen him limp as he afterwards walked on the wall. 

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

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

Mr. Ill-Pause also, who was the man that came along with Diaboluswhen at first he attempted the taking of Mansoul, he also receiveda grievous wound in the head; some say that his brain-pan wascracked. This I have taken notice of, that he was never after thisable 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 oncemore the white flag should be set upon Mount Gracious in sight ofthe town of Mansoul, to show that yet Emmanuel had grace for thewretched town of Mansoul. 

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

'Forasmuch as thou makest it appear by thy white flag that thou artwholly given to peace and quiet, I thought meet to acquaint theethat we are ready to accept thereof upon terms which thou mayestadmit. 

'I know that thou art given to devotion, and that holiness pleaseththee; yea, that thy great end in making a war upon Mansoul is, thatit may be a holy habitation. Well, draw off thy forces from thetown, and I will bend Mansoul to thy bow. 

'First, I will lay down all acts of hostility against thee, andwill be willing to become thy deputy, and will, as I have formerlybeen against thee, now serve thee in the town of Mansoul. And moreparticularly, '1. I will persuade Mansoul to receive thee for their Lord; and Iknow that they will do it the sooner when they shall understandthat I am thy deputy. 

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

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

'4. I will press upon them the necessity of a reformation accordingto thy law. 

'5. And, moreover, that none of these things may fail, I myself, atmy own proper cost and charge, will set up and maintain asufficient ministry, besides lectures, in Mansoul. 

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

Then said Emmanuel to him, 'O full of deceit, how movable are thyways! How often hast thou changed and rechanged, if so be thoumightest still keep possession of my Mansoul, though, as has beenplainly declared before, I am the right heir thereof! Often hastthou made thy proposals already, nor is this last a whit betterthan they. And failing to deceive when thou showedst thyself inthy black, thou hast now transformed thyself into an angel oflight, and wouldst, to deceive, be now as a minister ofrighteousness. 

'But know thou, O Diabolus, that nothing must be regarded that thoucanst propound, for nothing is done by thee but to deceive. Thouneither hast conscience to God, nor love to the town of Mansoul;whence, then, should these thy sayings arise but from sinful craftand deceit? He that can of list and will propound what he pleases, and that wherewith he may destroy them that believe him, is to beabandoned, with all that he shall say. But if righteousness besuch a beauty-spot in thine eyes now, how is it that wickedness wasso closely stuck to by thee before? But this is by-the-bye. 

'Thou talkest now of a reformation in Mansoul, and that thouthyself, if I will please, wilt be at the head of that reformation;all the while knowing that the greatest proficiency that man canmake in the law, and the righteousness thereof, will amount to nomore, for the taking away of the curse from Mansoul, than justnothing at all; for a law being broken by Mansoul, that had before, upon a supposition of the breach thereof, a curse pronouncedagainst him for it of God, can never, by his obeying of the law, deliver himself therefrom (to say nothing of what a reformation islike to be set up in Mansoul when the devil is become corrector ofvice). Thou knowest that all that thou hast now said in thismatter is nothing but guile and deceit; and is, as it was thefirst, so is it the last card that thou hast to play. Many therebe that do soon discern thee when thou showest them thy clovenfoot; but in thy white, thy light, and in thy transformation, thouart 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 byme, and by what I have and shall do for Mansoul, they may to myFather be reconciled, though by their sin they have provoked him toanger, and though by the law they cannot obtain mercy. 

'Thou talkest of subjecting of this town to good, when nonedesireth it at thy hands. I am sent by my Father to possess itmyself, and to guide it by the skilfulness of my hands into such aconformity to him as shall be pleasing in his sight. I willtherefore possess it myself; I will dispossess and cast thee out; Iwill set up mine own standard in the midst of them; I will alsogovern them by new laws, new officers, new motives, and new ways;yea, I will pull down this town, and build it again; and it shallbe as though it had not been, and it shall then be the glory of thewhole universe. '

When Diabolus heard this, and perceived that he was discovered inall his deceits, he was confounded, and utterly put to a nonplus;but having in himself the fountain of iniquity, rage, and maliceagainst both Shaddai and his Son, and the beloved town of Mansoul, what doth he but strengthen himself what he could to give freshbattle to the noble Prince Emmanuel? So, then, now we must haveanother fight before the town of Mansoul is taken. Come up, then, to the mountains, you that love to see military actions, and beholdby 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 ofMansoul. 

Diabolus, therefore, having withdrawn himself from the wall to hisforce that was in the heart of the town of Mansoul, Emmanuel alsoreturned 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 thefamous town of Mansoul, resolved to do what mischief he could (if, indeed, he could do any) to the army of the Prince and to thefamous town of Mansoul; for, alas! it was not the happiness of thesilly town of Mansoul that was designed by Diabolus, but the utterruin and overthrow thereof, as now is enough in view. Wherefore, he commands his officers that they should then, when they see thatthey could hold the town no longer, do it what harm and mischiefthey could, rendering and tearing men, women, and children. 'For, 'said he, 'we had better quite demolish the place, and leave it likea ruinous heap, than so leave it that it may be an habitation forEmmanuel. '

Emmanuel again, knowing that the next battle would issue in hisbeing made master of the place, gave out a royal commandment to allhis officers, high captains, and men of war, to be sure to showthemselves men of war against Diabolus and all Diabolonians; butfavourable, merciful, and meek to the old inhabitants of Mansoul. 'Bend, therefore, ' said the noble Prince, 'the hottest front of thebattle against Diabolus and his men. '

So the day being come, the command was given, and the Prince's mendid bravely stand to their arms, and did, as before, bend theirmain 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 captainsfor a time fought very cruelly against the Prince's army. 

But after three or four notable charges by the Prince and his noblecaptains, Ear-gate was broken open, and the bars and boltswherewith it was used to be fast shut up against the Prince, werebroken into a thousand pieces. Then did the Prince's trumpetssound, the captains shout, the town shake, and Diabolus retreat tohis 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 hisstandard thereby, upon a mount that before by his men was cast upto place the mighty slings thereon. The mount was called MountHear-well. There, therefore, the Prince abode, to wit, hard by thegoing in at the gate. He commanded also that the golden slingsshould 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 thatso was before Diabolus took the town; and hard by his house stoodthe castle, which Diabolus for a long time had made his irksomeden. The captains, therefore, did quickly clear that street by theuse of their slings, so that way was made up to the heart of thetown. Then did the Prince command that Captain Boanerges, CaptainConviction, and Captain Judgment, should forthwith march up thetown to the old gentleman's gate. Then did the captains in themost warlike manner enter into the town of Mansoul, and marching inwith flying colours, they came up to the Recorder's house, and thatwas almost as strong as was the castle. Battering-rams they tookalso with them, to plant against the castle gates. When they werecome to the house of Mr. Conscience, they knocked, and demandedentrance. Now, the old gentleman, not knowing as yet fully theirdesign, kept his gates shut all the time of this fight. WhereforeBoanerges 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 oldgentleman shake, and his house to tremble and totter. Then cameMr. Recorder down to the gates, and, as he could, with quiveringlips he asked who was there? Boanerges answered, 'We are thecaptains and commanders of the great Shaddai and of the blessedEmmanuel, his Son, and we demand possession of your house for theuse of our noble Prince. ' And with that the battering-ram gave thegate another shake. This made the old gentleman tremble the more, yet durst he not but open the gate: then the King's forces marchedin, namely, the three brave captains mentioned before. Now, theRecorder's house was a place of much convenience for Emmanuel, notonly because it was near to the castle and strong, but also becauseit was large, and fronted the castle, the den where now Diaboluswas, 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 heknew nothing of the great designs of Emmanuel, so that he did notknow what judgment to make, nor what would be the end of suchthundering beginnings. It was also presently noised in the townhow the Recorder's house was possessed, his rooms taken up, and hispalace made the seat of the war; and no sooner was it noisedabroad, but they took the alarm as warmly, and gave it out toothers of his friends, and you know, as a snowball loses nothing byrolling, so in little time the whole town was possessed that theymust expect nothing from the Prince but destruction; and the groundof the business was this, the Recorder was afraid, the Recordertrembled, and the captains carried it strangely to the Recorder. So many came to see, but when they with their own eyes did beholdthe captains in the palace, and their battering-rams ever playingat the castle gates to beat them down, they were riveted in theirfears, and it made them all in amaze. And, as I said, the man ofthe house would increase all this; for whoever came to him, ordiscoursed 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 thatwe all have been traitors to that once despised, but now famouslyvictorious and glorious Prince Emmanuel; for he now, as you see, doth not only lie in close siege about us, but hath forced hisentrance in at our gates. Moreover, Diabolus flees before him; andhe hath, as you behold, made of my house a garrison against thecastle where he is. I, for my part, have transgressed greatly, andhe that is clean, it is well for him. But I say I havetransgressed 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 takingpart with the laws of King Shaddai; but that, alas! what will thatdo? Will that make compensation for the rebellions and treasonsthat I have done, and have suffered without gainsaying to becommitted in the town of Mansoul? Oh! I tremble to think what willbe the end of this so dreadful and so ireful a beginning!'

Now, while these brave captains were thus busy in the house of theold Recorder, Captain Execution was as busy in other parts of thetown, in securing the back streets and the walls. He also huntedthe Lord Willbewill sorely; he suffered him not to rest in anycorner; he pursued him so hard that he drove his men from him, andmade him glad to thrust his head into a hole. Also this mightywarrior did cut three of the Lord Willbewill's officers down to theground: one was old Mr. Prejudice, he that had his crown crackedin the mutiny. This man was made by Lord Willbewill keeper of theEar-gate, and fell by the hand of Captain Execution. There wasalso one Mr. Backward-to-all-but-naught, and he also was one ofLord Willbewill's officers, and was the captain of the two gunsthat once were mounted on the top of Ear-gate; he also was cut downto the ground by the hands of Captain Execution. Besides these twothere was another, a third, and his name was Captain Treacherous; avile man this was, but one that Willbewill did put a great deal ofconfidence in; but him also did this Captain Execution cut down tothe ground with the rest. 

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

Other feats of war were also likewise performed by other of thecaptains, as at Eye-gate, where Captain Good-Hope and CaptainCharity had a charge, was great execution done; for the CaptainGood-Hope, with his own hands, slew one Captain Blindfold, thekeeper of that gate. This Blindfold was captain of 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 incorners. 

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

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

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

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

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

Now, the Prince himself was clad all in armour of gold, and so hemarched up the town with his standard borne before him; but he kepthis countenance much reserved all the way as he went, so that thepeople could not tell how to gather to themselves love or hatred byhis looks. Now, as he marched up the street, the townsfolk cameout at every door to see, and could not but be taken with hisperson and the glory thereof, but wondered at the reservedness ofhis countenance; for as yet he spake more to them by his actionsand works than he did by words or smiles. But also poor Mansoul, (as in such cases all are apt to do, ) they interpreted the carriageof Emmanuel to them as did Joseph's brethren his to them, even allthe quite contrary way. 'For, ' thought they, 'if Emmanuel lovedus, he would show it to us by word of carriage; but none of thesehe 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 thatagainst him they had been in with Diabolus, his enemy. They alsoknew that the Prince Emmanuel knew all this; for they wereconvinced that he was an angel of God, to know all things that aredone in the earth; and this made them think that their conditionwas miserable, and that the good Prince would make them desolate. 

'And, ' thought they, 'what time so fit to do this in as now, whenhe has the bridle of Mansoul in his hand?' And this I took specialnotice of, that the inhabitants, notwithstanding all this, couldnot--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 theirPrince and Captain, and would become their protection. They wouldalso one to another talk of the comeliness of his person, and howmuch for glory and valour he outstripped the great ones of theworld. But, poor hearts, as to themselves, their thoughts wouldchance, and go upon all manner of extremes. Yea, through theworking of them backward and forward, Mansoul became as a balltossed, and as a rolling thing before the whirlwind. 

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

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

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

Thus having made Diabolus naked in the eyes of Mansoul, and beforethe commanders of the Prince, in the next place, he commands thatDiabolus should be bound with chains to his chariot wheels. Thenleaving some of his forces, to wit, Captain Boanerges and CaptainConviction, as a guard for the castle-gates, that resistance mightbe made on his behalf, (if any that heretofore followed Diabolusshould make an attempt to possess it, ) he did ride in triumph overhim quite through the town of Mansoul, and so out at and before thegate called Eye-gate, to the plain where his camp did lie. 

But you cannot think, unless you had been there, as I was, what ashout there was in Emmanuel's camp when they saw the tyrant boundby the hand of their noble Prince, and tied to his chariot wheels!

And they said, 'He hath led captivity captive, he hath spoiledprincipalities and powers. Diabolus is subjected to the power ofhis sword, and made the object of all derision. '

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

The townsmen also, so many of them as saw this sight, were, as itwere, 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 cannottell how, but things in the management of them seemed to cast asmile towards the town, so that their eyes, their heads, theirhearts, and their minds, and all that they had, were taken and heldwhile they observed Emmanuel's order. 

So, when the brave Prince had finished this part of his triumphover Diabolus his foe, he turned him up in the midst of hiscontempt and shame, having given him a charge no more to be apossessor of Mansoul. Then went he from Emmanuel, and out of themidst 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 oflions, and their words like the roaring of the sea; and they stillquartered in Mr. Conscience's house, of whom mention was madebefore. When, therefore, the high and mighty Prince had thus farfinished his triumph over Diabolus, the townsmen had more leisureto view and to behold the actions of these noble captains. But thecaptains carried it with that terror and dread in all that theydid, (and you may be sure that they had private instructions so todo, ) that they kept the town under continual heart-aching, andcaused (in their apprehension) the well-being of Mansoul for thefuture to hang in doubt before them, so that for some considerabletime 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, butin his royal pavilion in the camp, and in the midst of his Father'sforces. So, at a time convenient, he sent special orders toCaptain Boanerges to summons Mansoul, the whole of the townsmen, into the castle-yard, and then and there, before their faces, totake my Lord Understanding, Mr. Conscience, and that notable one, the Lord Willbewill, and put them all three in ward, and that theyshould set a strong guard upon them there, until his pleasureconcerning them was further known: the which orders, when thecaptains had put them in execution, made no small addition to thefears of the town of Mansoul; for now, to their thinking, weretheir former fears of the ruin of Mansoul confirmed. Now, whatdeath they should die, and how long they should be in dying, wasthat which most perplexed their heads and hearts; yea, they wereafraid that Emmanuel would command them all into the deep, theplace that the prince Diabolus was afraid of, for they knew thatthey had deserved it. Also to die by the sword in the face of thetown, and in the open way of disgrace, from the hand of so good andso holy a prince, that, too, troubled them sore. The town was alsogreatly troubled for the men that were committed to ward, for thatthey were their stay and their guide, and for that they believedthat, if those men were cut off, their execution would be but thebeginning of the ruin of the town of Mansoul. Wherefore, what dothey, but, together with the men in prison, draw up a petition tothe 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 thepetition, the sum of which was this:

'Great and wonderful Potentate, victor over Diabolus, and conquerorof the town of Mansoul, We, the miserable inhabitants of that mostwoful corporation, do humbly beg that we may find favour in thysight, and remember not against us former transgressions, nor yetthe sins of the chief of our town: but spare us according to thegreatness 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 thinkfit, to gather our meat under thy table. Amen. '

So the petitioner went, as was said, with his petition to thePrince; and the Prince took it at his hand, but sent him away withsilence. This still afflicted the town of Mansoul; but yet, considering that now they must either petition or die, for now theycould not do anything else, therefore they consulted again, andsent another petition; and this petition was much after the formand 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 whomthey sent the first, for they thought that the Prince had takensome offence at the manner of his deportment before him: so theyattempted to make Captain Conviction their messenger with it; buthe said that he neither durst nor would petition Emmanuel fortraitors, nor be to the Prince an advocate for rebels. 'Yetwithal, ' said he, 'our Prince is good, and you may adventure tosend it by the hand of one of your town, provided he went with arope 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 thedangerousness of them, they thought, but with many a fainting intheir minds, to send their petition by Mr. Desires-awake; so theysent for Mr. Desires-awake. Now he dwelt in a very mean cottage inMansoul, and he came at his neighbour's request. So they told himwhat they had done, and what they would do, concerning petitioning, and that they did desire of him that he would go therewith to thePrince. 

Then said Mr. Desires-awake, 'Why should not I do the best I can tosave so famous a town as Mansoul from deserved destruction?' Theytherefore delivered the petition to him, and told him how he mustaddress himself to the Prince, and wished him ten thousand goodspeeds. So he comes to the Prince's pavilion, as the first, andasked to speak with his Majesty. So word was carried to Emmanuel, and the Prince came out to the man. When Mr. Desires-awake saw thePrince, he fell flat with his face to the ground, and cried out, 'Oh that Mansoul might live before thee!' and with that hepresented the petition; the which when the Prince had read, heturned away for a while and wept; but refraining himself, he turnedagain to the man, who all this while lay crying at his feet, as atthe first, and said to him, 'Go thy way to thy place, and I willconsider of thy requests. '

Now, you may think that they of Mansoul that had sent him, whatwith guilt, and what with fear lest their petition should berejected, could not but look with many a long look, and that, too, with strange workings of heart, to see what would become of theirpetition. At last they saw their messenger coming back. So, whenhe was come, they asked him how he fared, what Emmanuel said, andwhat was become of the petition. But he told them that he would besilent till he came to the prison to my Lord Mayor, my LordWillbewill, and Mr. Recorder. So he went forwards towards theprison-house, where the men of Mansoul lay bound. But, oh! what amultitude flocked after, to hear what the messenger said. So, whenhe was come, and had shown himself at the gate of the prison, myLord Mayor himself looked as white as a clout; the Recorder alsodid quake. But they asked and said, 'Come, good sir, what did thegreat Prince say to you?' Then said Mr. Desires-awake, 'When Icame to my Lord's pavilion, I called, and he came forth. So I fellprostrate at his feet, and delivered to him my petition; for thegreatness of his person, and the glory of his countenance, wouldnot suffer me to stand upon my legs. Now, as he received thepetition, I cried, "Oh that Mansoul might live before thee!" So, when for a while he had looked thereon, he turned him about, andsaid to his servant, "Go thy way to thy place again, and I willconsider of thy requests. "' The messenger added, moreover, andsaid, 'The Prince to whom you sent me is such a one for beauty andglory, that whoso sees him must both love and fear him. I, for mypart, can do no less; but I know not what will be the end of thesethings. '

At this answer they were all at a stand, both they in prison, andthey that followed the messenger thither to hear the news; nor knewthey what, or what manner of interpretation to put upon what thePrince had said. Now, when the prison was cleared of the throng, the prisoners among themselves began to comment upon Emmanuel'swords. My Lord Mayor said, that the answer did not look with arugged face; but Willbewill said that it betokened evil; and theRecorder, that it was a messenger of death. Now, they that wereleft, and that stood behind, and so could not so well hear what theprisoners said, some of them catched hold of one piece of asentence, and some on a bit of another; some took hold of what themessenger said, and some of the prisoners' judgment thereon; sonone had the right understanding of things. But you cannot imaginewhat work these people made, and what a confusion there was inMansoul now. 

For presently they that had heard what was said flew about thetown, one crying one thing, and another the quite contrary; andboth were sure enough they told true; for they did hear, 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 mustall be saved;' and a third would say that the Prince would not beconcerned with Mansoul; and a fourth, that the prisoners must besuddenly put to death. And, as I said, every one stood to it thathe told his tale the rightest, and that all others but he were out. Wherefore Mansoul had now molestation upon molestation, nor couldany man know on what to rest the sole of his foot; for one would goby now, and as he went, if he heard his neighbour tell his tale, tobe sure he would tell the quite contrary, and both would stand init that he told the truth. Nay, some of them had got this story bythe end, that the Prince did intend to put Mansoul to the sword. And now it began to be dark, wherefore poor Mansoul was in sadperplexity all that night until the morning. 

But, so far as I could gather by the best information that I couldget, all this hubbub came through the words that the Recorder saidwhen he told them that, in his judgment, the Prince's answer was amessenger of death. It was this that fired the town, and thatbegan the fright in Mansoul; for Mansoul in former times did use tocount that Mr. Recorder was a seer, and that his sentence was equalto the best of orators; and thus was Mansoul a terror to itself. 

And now did they begin to feel what were the effects of stubbornrebellion, and unlawful resistance against their Prince. I say, they now began to feel the effects thereof by guilt and fear, thatnow had swallowed them up; and who more involved in the one butthey that were most in the other, to wit, the chief of the town ofMansoul?

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

'Prince Emmanuel the Great, Lord of all worlds, and Master ofmercy, we, thy poor, wretched, miserable, dying town of Mansoul, doconfess unto thy great and glorious Majesty that we have sinnedagainst thy Father and thee, and are no more worthy to be calledthy Mansoul, but rather to be cast into the pit. If thou wilt slayus, we have deserved it. If thou wilt condemn us to the deep, wecannot but say thou art righteous. We cannot complain whateverthou dost, or however thou carriest it towards us. But, oh! letmercy reign, and let it be extended to us! Oh! let mercy take holdupon us, and free us from our transgressions, and we will sing ofthy mercy and of thy judgment. Amen. '

This petition, when drawn up, was designed to be sent to the Princeas the first. But who should carry it?--that was the question. Some said, 'Let him do it that went with the first, ' but othersthought 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 natureof the thing. Now, some were for sending him; but the Recorder wasby no means for that. 'For, ' said he, 'we now stand in need of, and are pleading for mercy: wherefore, to send our petition by aman of this name, will seem to cross the petition itself. Shouldwe make Mr. Good-Deed our messenger, when our petition cries formercy?

'Besides, ' quoth the old gentleman, 'should the Prince now, as hereceives the petition, ask him, and say, "What is thy name?" asnobody knows but he will, and he should say, "Old Good-Deed, " what, think you, would Emmanuel say but this? "Ay! is old Good-Deed yetalive in Mansoul? then let old Good-Deed save you from yourdistresses. " And if he says so, I am sure we are lost; nor can athousand of old Good-Deeds save Mansoul. '

After the Recorder had given in his reasons why old Good-Deedshould not go with this petition to Emmanuel, the rest of theprisoners and chief of Mansoul opposed it also, and so old Good-Deed was laid aside, and they agreed to send Mr. Desires-awakeagain. So they sent for him, and desired him that he would asecond time go with their petition to the Prince, and he readilytold them he would. But they bid him that in anywise he shouldtake heed that in no word or carriage he gave offence to thePrince; 'For by doing so, for ought we can tell, you may bringMansoul 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 poorman, a man of a broken spirit, yet one that could speak well to apetition; so they granted that he should go with him. Wherefore, they address themselves to their business: Mr. Desires put a ropeupon his head, and Mr. Wet-Eyes went with his hands wringingtogether. Thus they went to the Prince's pavilion. 

Now, when they went to petition this third time, they were notwithout thoughts that, by often coming, they might be a burden tothe Prince. Wherefore, when they were come to the door of hispavilion, they first made their apology for themselves, and fortheir coming to trouble Emmanuel so often; and they said, that theycame not hither to-day for that they delighted in beingtroublesome, or for that they delighted to hear themselves talk, but for that necessity caused them to come to his Majesty. Theycould, they said, have no rest day nor night because of theirtransgressions against Shaddai and against Emmanuel, his Son. Theyalso thought that some misbehaviour of Mr. Desires-awake the lasttime might give distaste to his Highness, and so cause that hereturned from so merciful a Prince empty, and without countenance. So, when they had made this apology, Mr. Desires-awake cast himselfprostrate upon the ground, as at the first, at the feet of themighty Prince, saying, 'Oh! that Mansoul might live before thee!'and so he delivered his petition. The Prince then, having read thepetition, turned aside awhile as before, and coming again to theplace where the petitioner lay on the ground, he demanded what hisname was, and of what esteem in the account of Mansoul, for thathe, above all the multitude in Mansoul, should be sent to him uponsuch an errand. Then said the man to the Prince, 'Oh let not myLord be angry; and why inquirest thou after the name of such a deaddo--as I am? Pass by, I pray thee, and take not notice of who Iam, because there is, as thou very well knowest, so great adisproportion between me and thee. Why the townsmen chose to sendme on this errand to my Lord is best known to themselves, but itcould 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 bein love with me? Yet live I would, and so would I that my townsmenshould; and because both they and myself are guilty of greattransgressions, therefore they have sent me, and I am come in theirnames 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 companionin this so weighty a matter?' So Mr. Desires told Emmanuel that hewas a poor neighbour of his, and one of his most intimateassociates. 'And his name, ' said he, 'may it please your mostexcellent Majesty, is Wet-Eyes, of the town of Mansoul, I know thatthere are many of that name that are naught; but I hope it will beno offence to my Lord that I have brought my poor neighbour withme. '

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

'O, my Lord, ' quoth he, 'what I am I know not myself, nor whethermy name be feigned or true, especially when I begin to think whatsome have said, namely, That this name was given me because Mr. Repentance was my father. Good men have bad children, and thesincere do oftentimes beget hypocrites. My mother also called meby this name from the cradle; but whether because of the moistnessof 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 myprayers. But I pray thee (and all this while the gentleman wept)that thou wouldest not remember against us our transgressions, nortake offence at the unqualifiedness of thy servants, but mercifullypass by the sin of Mansoul, and refrain from the glorifying of thygrace 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, inthat they have rejected him from being their King, and did chooseto themselves for their captain a liar, a murderer, and a runagateslave. For this Diabolus, your pretended prince, though once sohighly accounted of by you, made rebellion against my Father andme, even in our palace and highest court there, thinking to becomea prince and king. But being there timely discovered andapprehended, and for his wickedness bound in chains, and separatedto the pit with those that were his companions, he offered himselfto you, and you have received him. 

'Now this is, and for a long time hath been, a high affront to myFather; wherefore my Father sent to you a powerful army to reduceyou to your obedience. But you know how these men, their captainsand their counsels, were esteemed of you, and what they received atyour hand. You rebelled against them, you shut your gates uponthem, you bid them battle, you fought them, and fought for Diabolusagainst them. So they sent to my Father for more power, and I, with my men, are come to subdue you. But as you treated theservants, so you treated their Lord. You stood up in hostilemanner against me, you shut up your gates against me, you turnedthe deaf ear to me, and resisted as long as you could; but now Ihave made a conquest of you. Did you cry me mercy so long as youhad hopes that you might prevail against me? But now I have takenthe town, you cry; but why did you not cry before, when the whiteflag of my mercy, the red flag of justice, and the black flag thatthreatened execution, were set up to cite you to it? Now I haveconquered your Diabolus, you come to me for favour; but why did younot 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 theprisoners out to me into the camp to-morrow, and say you to CaptainJudgment and Captain Execution, "Stay you in the castle, and takegood heed to yourselves that you keep all quiet in Mansoul untilyou shall hear further from me. "' And with that he turned himselffrom 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. Butthey had not gone far, but thoughts began to work in their mindsthat no mercy as yet was intended by the Prince to Mansoul. Sothey went to the place where the prisoners lay bound; but theseworkings of mind about what would become of Mansoul had such strongpower over them, that by that they were come unto them that sentthem, they were scarce able to deliver their message. 

But they came at length to the gates of the town, (now the townsmenwith earnestness were waiting for their return, ) where many metthem, to know what answer was made to the petition. Then theycried out to those that were sent, 'What news from the Prince? andwhat hath Emmanuel said?' But they said that they must, as afore, go up to the prison, and there deliver their message. So away theywent to the prison, with a multitude at their heels. Now, whenthey were come to the gates of the prison, they told the first partof Emmanuel's speech to the prisoners, to wit, how he reflectedupon their disloyalty to his Father and himself, and how they hadchosen and closed with Diabolus, had fought for him, hearkened tohim, and been ruled by him; but had despised him and his men. Thismade the prisoners look pale; but the messengers proceeded andsaid, 'He, the Prince, said, moreover, that yet he would consideryour petition, and give such answer thereto as would stand with hisglory. ' And as these words were spoken, Mr. Wet-Eyes gave a greatsigh. At this they were all of them struck into their dumps, andcould not tell what to say: fear also possessed them in amarvellous manner, and death seemed to sit upon some of theireyebrows. Now, there was in the company a notable, sharp-wittedfellow, a mean man of estate, and his name was old Inquisitive. This man asked the petitioners if they had told out every whit ofwhat Emmanuel said, and they answered, 'Verily, no. ' Then saidInquisitive, 'I thought so, indeed. Pray, what was it more that hesaid unto you?' Then they paused awhile; but at last they broughtout all, saying, 'The Prince bade us bid Captain Boanerges andCaptain Conviction bring the prisoners down to him to-morrow; andthat Captain Judgment and Captain Execution should take charge ofthe castle and town till they should hear further from him. Theysaid also that when the Prince had commanded them thus to do, heimmediately turned his back upon them, and went into his royalpavilion. 

But, oh! how this return, and specially this last clause of it, that the prisoners must go out to the Prince into the camp, brakeall their loins in pieces! Wherefore, with one voice they set up acry that reached up to the heavens. This done, each of the threeprepared himself to die; (and the Recorder said unto them, 'Thiswas 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 timeand order, they must all drink of the same cup. Wherefore the townof Mansoul spent that night in mourning, and sackcloth and ashes. The prisoners also, when the time was come for them to go downbefore the Prince, dressed themselves in mourning attire, withropes upon their heads. The whole town of Mansoul also showedthemselves 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 didnow concern themselves! They did run here and there through thestreets of the town by companies, crying out as they ran intumultuous wise, one after one manner, and another the quitecontrary, 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 theirgoing down: Captain Boanerges went with a guard before them, andCaptain Conviction came behind, and the prisoners went down, boundin chains, in the midst. So I say, the prisoners went in themidst, 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 inmourning: they put ropes upon themselves; they went on, smitingthemselves on the breasts, but durst not lift up their eyes toheaven. Thus they went out at the gate of Mansoul, till they cameinto the midst of the Prince's army, the sight and glory of whichdid greatly heighten their affliction. Nor could they now longerforbear, but cry out aloud, 'O unhappy men! O wretched men ofMansoul!' Their chains, still mixing their dolorous notes with thecries of the prisoners, made the noise more lamentable. 

So, when they were come to the door of the Prince's pavilion, theycast themselves prostrate upon the place; then one went in and toldhis Lord that the prisoners were come down. The Prince thenascended a throne of state, and sent for the prisoners in; who, when they came, did tremble before him, also they covered theirfaces with shame. Now, as they drew near to the place where hesat, they threw themselves down before him. Then said the Princeto the Captain Boanerges, 'Bid the prisoners stand upon theirfeet. ' Then they stood trembling before him, and he said, 'Are youthe men that heretofore were the servants of Shaddai?' And theysaid, 'Yes, Lord, yes. ' Then said the Prince again, 'Are you themen that did suffer yourselves to be corrupted and defiled by thatabominable one, Diabolus?' And they said, 'We did more than sufferit, Lord; for we chose it of our own mind. ' The Prince askedfurther, saying, 'Could you have been content that your slaveryshould have continued under his tyranny as long as you had lived?'Then said the prisoners, 'Yes, Lord, yes; for his ways werepleasing to our flesh, and we were grown aliens to a betterstate. '--'And did you, ' said he, 'when I came up against this townof Mansoul, heartily wish that I might not have the victory overyou?'--'Yes, Lord, yes, ' said they. Then said the Prince, 'Andwhat punishment is it, think you, that you deserve at my hand, forthese and other your high and mighty sins?'--And they said, 'Bothdeath and the deep, Lord; for we have deserved no less. ' He askedagain if they had aught to say for themselves why the sentence, that they confessed that they had deserved, should not be passedupon them? And they said, 'We can say nothing, Lord: thou artjust, for we have sinned. ' Then said the Prince, 'And for what arethose ropes on your heads?' The prisoners answered, 'These ropesare to bind us withal to the place of execution, if mercy be notpleasing in thy sight. ' So he further asked if all the men in thetown of Mansoul were in this confession, as they? And theyanswered, 'All the natives, Lord; but for the Diabolonians thatcame into our town when the tyrant got possession of us, we can saynothing for them. '

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

Then the Prince called for the prisoners to come and to stand againbefore him, and they came and stood trembling. And he said untothem, 'The sins, trespasses, iniquities, that you, with the wholetown of Mansoul, have from time to time committed against my Fatherand me, I have power and commandment from my Father to forgive tothe town of Mansoul, and do forgive you accordingly. ' And havingso said, he gave them, written in parchment, and sealed with sevenseals, a large and general pardon, commanding my Lord Mayor, myLord Willbewill, and Mr. Recorder, to proclaim and cause it to beproclaimed to-morrow, by that the sun is up, throughout the wholetown of Mansoul. 

Moreover, the Prince stripped the prisoners of their mourningweeds, 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 preciousstones, and took away their ropes, and put chains of gold abouttheir necks, and ear-rings in their ears. Now, the prisoners, whenthey did hear the gracious words of Prince Emmanuel, and had beheldall that was done unto them, fainted almost quite away; for thegrace, 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 tohim, put his everlasting arms under him, embraced him, kissed him, and bid him be of good cheer, for all should be performed accordingto his word. He also did kiss, and embrace, and smile upon theother two that were Willbewill's companions, saying, 'Take these asfurther tokens of my love, favour, and compassions to you; and Icharge you that you, Mr. Recorder, tell in the town of Mansoul whatyou have heard and seen. '

Then were their fetters broken to pieces before their faces, andcast into the air, and their steps were enlarged under them. Thenthey fell down at the feet of the Prince, and kissed his feet, andwetted them with tears: also they cried out with a mighty strongvoice, 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 Mansoulwhat the Prince had done. He commanded also that one with a pipeand tabor should go and play before them all the way into the townof Mansoul. Then was fulfilled what they never looked for, andthey were made to possess that which they never dreamed of. 

The Prince also called for the noble Captain Credence, andcommanded that he and some of his officers should march before thenoble men of Mansoul with flying colours into the town. He gavealso unto Captain Credence a charge, that about that time that theRecorder did read the general pardon in the town of Mansoul, thatat 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 gountil he came by the high street of the town, up to the castlegates, and that himself should take possession thereof against hisLord came thither. He commanded, moreover, that he should bidCaptain Judgment and Captain Execution to leave the stronghold tohim, and to withdraw from Mansoul, and to return into the camp withspeed unto the Prince. 

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

Well, I told you before how the prisoners were entertained by thenoble Prince Emmanuel, and how they behaved themselves before him, and how he sent them away to their home with pipe and tabor goingbefore them. And now you must think that those of the town thathad all this while waited to hear of their death, could not but beexercised with sadness of mind, and with thoughts that pricked likethorns. Nor could their thoughts be kept to any one point; thewind blew with them all this while at great uncertainties; yea, their hearts were like a balance that had been disquieted with ashaking hand. But at last, as they with many a long look lookedover the wall of Mansoul, they thought that they saw some returningto the town; and thought again, Who should they be, too? Whoshould they be? At last they discerned that they were theprisoners: but can you imagine how their hearts were surprisedwith wonder, specially when they perceived also in what equipageand with what honour they were sent home. They went down to thecamp in black, but they came back to the town in white; they wentdown to the camp in ropes, they came back in chains of gold; theywent down to the camp with their feet in fetters, but came backwith their steps enlarged under them; they went also to the camplooking for death, but they came back from thence with assurance oflife; they went down to the camp with heavy hearts, but came backagain with pipe and tabor playing before them. So as soon as theywere come to Eye-gate, the poor and tottering town of Mansouladventured to give a shout; and they gave such a shout as made thecaptains in the Prince's army leap at the sound thereof. Alas! forthem, poor hearts! who could blame them? since their dead friendswere come to life again; for it was to them as life from the deadto see the ancients of the town of Mansoul shine in such splendour. They looked for nothing but the axe and the block; but, behold, joyand gladness, comfort and consolation, and such melodious notesattending 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 ofMansoul? 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 poorMansoul!' Then they gave another shout, that made the earth toring again. After this, they inquired yet more particularly howthings went in the camp, and what message they had from Emmanuel tothe town. So they told them all passages that had happened to themat the camp, and everything that the Prince did to them. This madeMansoul wonder at the wisdom and grace of the Prince Emmanuel. Then they told them what they had received at his hands for thewhole town of Mansoul, and the Recorder delivered it in thesewords: ' PARDON, PARDON, PARDON for Mansoul! and this shallMansoul know to-morrow!' Then he commanded, and they went andsummoned 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 alterationthis hint of things did make in the countenance of the town ofMansoul! No man of Mansoul could sleep that night for joy; inevery house there was joy and music, singing and making merry:telling and hearing of Mansoul's happiness was then all thatMansoul 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 havebeen such a day to us? And who thought, that saw our prisoners godown in irons, that they would have returned in chains of gold?Yea, they that judged themselves as they went to be judged of theirjudge, were by his mouth acquitted, not for that they wereinnocent, but of the Prince's mercy, and sent home with pipe andtabor. But is this the common custom of princes? Do they use toshow such kind of favours to traitors? No; this is only peculiarto Shaddai, and unto Emmanuel, his Son!'

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

Then the Recorder stood up upon his feet, and, first beckoning withhis hand for silence, he read out with a loud voice the pardon. But when he came to these words: 'The Lord, the Lord God, mercifuland gracious, pardoning iniquity, transgressions, and sins, and tothem all manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven, ' etc. , theycould not forbear leaping for joy. For this you must know, thatthere was conjoined herewith every man's name in Mansoul; also theseals of the pardon made a brave show. 

When the Recorder had made an end of reading the pardon, thetownsmen ran up upon the walls of the town, and leaped and skippedthereon for joy, and bowed themselves seven times with their facestoward Emmanuel's pavilion, and shouted out aloud for joy, andsaid, 'Let Emmanuel live for ever!' Then order was given to theyoung men in Mansoul that they should ring the bells for joy. Sothe bells did ring, and the people sing, and the music go in everyhouse in Mansoul. 

When the Prince had sent home the three prisoners of Mansoul withjoy, and pipe and tabor, he commanded his captains, with all thefield officers and soldiers throughout his army, to be ready inthat 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 thepardon, Emmanuel commanded that all the trumpets in the camp shouldsound, that the colours should be displayed, half of them uponMount Gracious, and half of them upon Mount Justice. He commandedalso that all the captains should show themselves in all theirharness, and that the soldiers should shout for joy. Nor wasCaptain Credence, though in the castle, silent in such a day; buthe, from the top of the hold, showed himself with sound of trumpetto Mansoul and to the Prince's camp. 

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

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

They marched, they counter-marched; they opened to the right andleft; they divided and subdivided; they closed, they wheeled, madegood their front and rear with their right and left wings, andtwenty things more, with that aptness, and then were all as thewere again, that they took--yea, ravished, the hearts that were inMansoul to behold it. But add to this, the handling of their arms, the managing of their weapons of war, were marvellously taking toMansoul and me. 

When this action was over, the whole town of Mansoul came out asone man to the Prince in the camp to thank him, and praise him forhis abundant favour, and to beg that it would please his grace tocome unto Mansoul with his men, and there to take up their quartersfor ever: and this they did in most humble manner, bowingthemselves seven times to the ground before him. Then said he, 'All peace be to you. ' So the town came nigh, and touched with thehand the top of his golden sceptre; and they said, 'Oh! that thePrince Emmanuel, with his captains and men of war, would dwell inMansoul for ever; and that his battering-rams and slings might belodged in her for the use and service of the Prince, and for thehelp and strength of Mansoul. For, ' said they, 'we have room forthee, we have room for thy men, we have also room for thy weaponsof war, and a place to make a magazine for thy carriages. Do it, Emmanuel, and thou shalt be King and Captain in Mansoul for ever. Yea, govern thou also according to all the desire of thy soul, andmake thou governors and princes under thee of thy captains and menof war, and we will become thy servants, and thy laws shall be ourdirection. '

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 andthy captains, from us, the town of Mansoul will die. Yea, ' saidthey, 'our blessed Emmanuel, if thou shouldest depart from us now, now thou hast done so much good for us, and showed so much mercyunto us, what will follow but that our joy will be as if it had notbeen, and our enemies will a second time come upon us with morerage than at the first? Wherefore, we beseech thee, O thou, thedesire of our eyes, and the strength and life of our poor town, accept of this motion that now we have made unto our Lord, and comeand 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 beyet lurking in the town of Mansoul, and they will betray us, whenthou shalt leave us, into the hand of Diabolus again; and who knowswhat designs, plots, or contrivances have passed betwixt them aboutthese things already? Loath we are to fall again into his horriblehands. Wherefore, let it please thee to accept of our palace forthy place of residence, and of the houses of the best men in ourtown for the reception of thy soldiers and their furniture. '

Then said the Prince, 'If I come to your town, will you suffer mefurther to prosecute that which is in mine heart against mineenemies and yours?--yea, will you help me in such undertakings?'

They answered, 'We know not what we shall do; we did not think oncethat we should have been such traitors to Shaddai as we have provedto be. What, then, shall we say to our Lord? Let him put no trustin his saints; let the Prince dwell in our castle, and make of ourtown a garrison; let him set his noble captains and his warlikesoldiers over us; yea, let him conquer us with his love, andovercome us with his grace, and then surely shall he be but withus, and help us, as he was and did that morning that our pardon wasread unto us. We shall comply with this our Lord, and with hisways, and fall in with his word against the mighty. 

'One word more, and thy servants have done, and in this willtrouble our Lord no more. We know not the depth of the wisdom ofthee, our Prince. Who could have thought, that had been ruled byhis reason, that so much sweet as we do now enjoy should have comeout of those bitter trials wherewith we were tried at the first!But, Lord, let light go before, and let love come after: yea, takeus by the hand, and lead us by thy counsels, and let this alwaysabide 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 fromsinning, and makest us serviceable to thy Majesty. '

Then said the Prince to the town of Mansoul again, 'Go, return toyour houses in peace. I will willingly in this comply with yourdesires; I will remove my royal pavilion, I will draw up my forcesbefore Eye-gate to-morrow, and so will march forwards into the townof Mansoul. I will possess myself of your castle of Mansoul, andwill set my soldiers over you: yea, I will yet do things inMansoul that cannot be paralleled in any nation, country, orkingdom under heaven. ' Then did the men of Mansoul give a shout, and returned unto their houses in peace; they also told to theirkindred and friends the good that Emmanuel had promised to Mansoul. 'And to-morrow, ' said they, 'he will march into our town, and takeup his dwelling, he and his men, in Mansoul. '

Then went out the inhabitants of the town of Mansoul with haste tothe green trees and to the meadows, to gather boughs and flowers, therewith to strew the streets against their Prince, the Son ofShaddai, should come; they also made garlands and other fine worksto betoken how joyful they were, and should be to receive theirEmmanuel 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 Mansoulwould afford, that they might play before him to the palace, hishabitation. 

So, at the time appointed he makes his approach to Mansoul, and thegates were set open for him; there also the ancients and elders ofMansoul met him to salute him with a thousand welcomes. Then hearose and entered Mansoul, he and all his servants. The elders ofMansoul did also go dancing before him till he came to the castlegates. And this was the manner of his going up thither:- He wasclad in his golden armour, he rode in his royal chariot, thetrumpets sounded about him, the colours were displayed, his tenthousands went up at his feet, and the elders of Mansoul dancedbefore him. And now were the walls of the famous town of Mansoulfilled with the tramplings of the inhabitants thereof, who went upthither to view the approach of the blessed Prince and his royalarmy. Also the casements, windows, balconies, and tops of thehouses, were all now filled with persons of all sorts, to beholdhow their town was to be filled with good. 

Now, when he was come so far into the town as to the Recorder'shouse, he commanded that one should go to Captain Credence, to knowwhether the castle of Mansoul was prepared to entertain his royalpresence (for the preparation of that was left to that captain), and word was brought that it was. Then was Captain Credencecommanded also to come forth with his power to meet the Prince, thewhich was, as he had commanded, done; and he conducted him into thecastle. This done, the Prince that night did lodge in the castlewith his mighty captains and men of war, to the joy of the town ofMansoul. 

Now, the next care of the townsfolk was, how the captains andsoldiers of the Prince's army should be quartered among them; andthe care was not how they should shut their hands of them, but howthey should fill their houses with them; for every man in Mansoulnow had that esteem of Emmanuel and his men that nothing grievedthem more than because they were not enlarged enough, every one ofthem to receive the whole army of the Prince; yea, they counted ittheir glory to be waiting upon them, and would, in those days, runat 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 laterebellion. 

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 housewas next to the castle, and because from him it was ordered by thePrince that, if need be, the alarm should be given to Mansoul, --itwas, I say, desired by him that Captain Boanerges and CaptainConviction should take up their quarters with him, even they andall their men. 

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

6. And throughout the rest of the town were quartered Emmanuel'sforces; but Captain Credence, with his men, abode still in thecastle. So the Prince, his captains, and his soldiers, were lodgedin the town of Mansoul. 

Now, the ancients and elders of the town of Mansoul thought thatthey 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 thecastle of Mansoul was his place of residence, (and they desiredthat he might dwell there for ever, ) yet that he would often visitthe 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 difficultyor interruption, continual access unto him, (so for that verypurpose he commanded that the gates should stand open, ) that theymight there see the manner of his doings, the fortifications of theplace, and the royal mansion-house of the Prince. 

When he spake, they all stopped their mouths and gave audience; andwhen 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 topartake of his banquet; and he feasted them with all manner ofoutlandish food;--food that grew not in the fields of Mansoul; norin all the whole Kingdom of Universe; it was food that came fromhis Father's court. And so there was dish after dish set beforethem, and they were commanded freely to eat. But still, when afresh dish was set before them, they would whisperingly say to eachother, 'What is it?' for they wist not what to call it. They drankalso 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 eatangels' food, and had honey given him out of the rock. So Mansouldid eat the food that was peculiar to the court; yea, they had nowthereof to the full. 

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

Now, after the feast was over, Emmanuel was for entertaining thetown of Mansoul with some curious riddles of secrets drawn up byhis Father's secretary, by the skill and wisdom of Shaddai; thelike to these there is not in any kingdom. These riddles were madeupon the King Shaddai himself, and upon Emmanuel his Son, and uponhis 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 beencouched in so few and such ordinary words. I told you before, whomthese riddles did concern; and as they were opened, the people didevidently see it was so. Yea, they did gather that the thingsthemselves were a kind of a portraiture, and that of Emmanuelhimself; for when they read in the scheme where the riddles werewrit, and looked in the face of the Prince, things looked so likethe one to the other, that Mansoul could not forbear but say, 'Thisis the lamb! this is the sacrifice! this is the rock! this is thered cow! this is the door! and this is the way!' with a great manyother things more. 

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

Now, it was in the heart of the Prince Emmanuel to new-model thetown of Mansoul, and to put it into such a condition as might bemost pleasing to him, and that might best stand with the profit andsecurity of the now flourishing town of Mansoul. He provided alsoagainst insurrections at home, and invasions from abroad, such lovehad he for the famous town of Mansoul. 

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

This done, Emmanuel called the Lord Willbewill to him, and gave himin commandment to take care of the gates, the wall, and towers inMansoul; also the Prince gave him the militia into his hand, and aspecial charge to withstand all insurrections and tumults thatmight be made in Mansoul against the peace of our Lord the King, and the peace and tranquillity of the town of Mansoul. He alsogave him in commission, that if he found any of the Diabolonianslurking in any corner of the famous town of Mansoul, he shouldforthwith apprehend them, and stay them, or commit them to safecustody, that they may be proceeded against according to law. 

Then he called unto him the Lord Understanding, who was the oldLord Mayor, he that was put out of place when Diabolus took thetown, and put him into his former office again, and it became hisplace for his lifetime. He bid him also that he should build him apalace near Eye-gate; and that he should build it in fashion like atower for defence. He bid him also that he should read in theRevelation of Mysteries all the days of his life, that he mightknow 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 inhis princely mind to confer upon Mr. Conscience another employ, ofwhich he told the old gentleman he should know more hereafter. 

Then he commanded that the image of Diabolus should be taken downfrom the place where it was set up, and that they should destroy itutterly, beating it into powder, and casting it into the windwithout the town wall; and that the image of Shaddai, his Father, should be set up again, with his own, upon the castle gates; andthat it should be more fairly drawn than ever, forasmuch as bothhis Father and himself were come to Mansoul in more grace and mercythan heretofore. He would also that his name should be fairlyengraven upon the front of the town, and that it should be done inthe best of gold, for the honour of the town of Mansoul. 

After this was done, Emmanuel gave out a commandment that thosethree great Diabolonians should be apprehended, namely, the twolate Lord Mayors, to wit, Mr. Incredulity, Mr. Lustings, and Mr. Forget-Good, the Recorder. Besides these, there were some of themthat Diabolus made burgesses and aldermen in Mansoul, that werecommitted to ward by the hand of the now valiant and now rightnoble, 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 toclose custody, and the gaoler's name was Mr. True-Man. This True-Man was one of those that Emmanuel brought with him from hisFather's court when at the first he made a war upon Diabolus in thetown or Mansoul. 

After this, the Prince gave a charge that the three strongholdsthat, at the command of Diabolus, the Diabolonians built inMansoul, should be demolished and utterly pulled down; of whichholds and their names, with their captains and governors, you reada little before. But this was long in doing, because of thelargeness of the places, and because the stones, the timber, theiron, and all rubbish, was to be carried without the town. 

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

Now, when the time was come, and the court set, commandment wassent to Mr. True-Man, the gaoler, to bring the prisoners down tothe bar. Then were the prisoners brought down, pinioned andchained together, as the custom of the town of Mansoul was. So, when they were presented before the Lord Mayor, the Recorder, andthe 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, (forhe was the Town-Clerk, ) 'Set Atheism to the bar, gaoler. ' So hewas set to the bar. Then said the Clerk, 'Atheism, hold up thyhand. Thou art here indicted by the name of Atheism, (an intruderupon the town of Mansoul, ) for that thou hast perniciously anddoltishly taught and maintained that there is no God, and so noheed to be taken to religion. This thou hast done against thebeing, honour, and glory of the King, and against the peace andsafety of the town of Mansoul. What sayest thou? Art thou guiltyof this indictment, or not?

Atheism. Not guilty. 

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

So they were called, and they appeared. 

Then said the Clerk, 'You, the witnesses for the King, look uponthe prisoner at the bar; do you know him?'

Then said Mr. Know-All, 'Yes, my lord, we know him; his name isAtheism; he has been a very pestilent fellow for many years in themiserable town of Mansoul. '

Clerk. You are sure you know him?

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

Clerk. Well said. He standeth here indicted by the name ofAtheism, etc. , and is charged that he hath maintained and taughtthat 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, andhe at that time did briskly talk of divers opinions; and then andthere I heard him say, that, for his part, he did believe thatthere was no God. 'But, ' said he, 'I can profess one, and be asreligious too, if the company I am in, and the circumstances ofother things, ' said he, 'shall put me 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'sjudges touching the prisoner at the bar?'

Tell. My lord, I formerly was a great companion of his, for thewhich I now repent me, and I have often heard him say, and thatwith very great stomachfulness, that he believed there was neitherGod, angel, nor spirit. 

Clerk. Where did you hear him say so?

Tell. In Blackmouth Lane and in Blasphemer's Row, and in manyother 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 nomore to say, Clerk. Mr. Hate-Lies, look upon the prisoner at the bar; do youknow him?

Hate. My lord, this Atheism is one of the vilest wretches thatever I came near, or had to do with in my life. I have heard himsay that there is no God; I have heard him say that there is noworld to come, no sin, nor punishment hereafter, and, moreover, Ihave heard him say that it was as good to go to a whore-house as togo 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 inwhich 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, (anintruder upon the town of Mansoul, ) for that thou hast devilishlyand traitorously taught, by practice and filthy words, that it islawful and profitable to man to give way to his carnal desires; andthat thou, for thy part, hast not, nor never wilt, deny thyself ofany sinful delight as long as thy name is Lustings. How sayestthou? Art thou guilty of this indictment, or not?

Then said Mr. Lustings, 'My lord, I am a man of high birth, andhave been used to pleasures and pastimes of greatness. I have notbeen wont to be snubbed for my doings, but have been left to followmy will as if it were law. And it seems strange to me that Ishould 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; (thoughthe higher, the better you should have been;) but we are concerned, and so are you now, about an indictment preferred against you. Howsay you? Are you guilty of it, or not?

Lust. Not guilty. 

Clerk. Crier, call upon the witnesses to stand forth and givetheir evidence. 

Crier. Gentlemen, you, the witnesses for the King, come in andgive in your evidence for our Lord the King against the prisoner atthe bar. 

Clerk. Come, Mr. Know-All, look upon the prisoner at the bar; doyou 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 hismother bare him in Flesh Street: she was one Evil-Concupiscence'sdaughter. I knew all the generation of them. 

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

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

Clerk. But what do you know of his particular actions, andespecially with reference to his indictment?

Know. I know him to be a swearer, a liar, a Sabbath-breaker; Iknow him to be a fornicator and an unclean person; I know him to beguilty of abundance of evils. He has been, to my knowledge, a veryfilthy man. 

Clerk. But where did he use to commit his wickedness? in someprivate 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 theKing against the prisoner at the bar?

Tell. My lord, all that the first witness has said I know to betrue, 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 mancould live on earth was to keep himself back from nothing that hedesired in the world; nor have I been false at any time to thisopinion of mine, but have lived in the love of my notions all mydays. Nor was I ever so churlish, having found such sweetness inthem myself, as to keep the commendations of them from others. 

Then said the Court, 'There hath proceeded enough from his ownmouth 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 ofIncredulity, (an intruder upon the town of Mansoul, ) for that thouhast feloniously and wickedly, and that when thou wert an officerin the town of Mansoul, made head against the captains of the greatKing Shaddai when they came and demanded possession of Mansoul;yea, thou didst bid defiance to the name, forces, and cause of theKing, and didst also, as did Diabolus thy captain, stir up andencourage the town of Mansoul to make head against and resist thesaid force of the King. What sayest thou to this indictment? Artthou guilty of it, or not?

Then said Incredulity, 'I know not Shaddai; I love my old prince; Ithought it my duty to be true to my trust, and to do what I couldto possess the minds of the men of Mansoul to do their utmost toresist strangers and foreigners, and with might to fight againstthem. Nor have I, nor shall I, change mine opinion for fear oftrouble, though you at present are possessed of place and power. '

Then said the Court, 'The man, as you see, is incorrigible; he isfor maintaining his villainies by stoutness of words, and hisrebellion 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 ofForget-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 fallin with the tyrant Diabolus against Shaddai the King, against hiscaptains, and all his host, to the dishonour of Shaddai, the breachof his law, and the endangering of the destruction of the famoustown of Mansoul. What sayest thou to this indictment? Art thouguilty or not guilty?

Then said Forget-Good: 'Gentlemen, and at this time my judges, asto the indictment by which I stand of several crimes accused beforeyou, pray attribute my forgetfulness to mine age, and not to mywilfulness; to the craziness of my brain, and not to thecarelessness of my mind; and then I hope I may be by your charityexcused from great punishment, though I be guilty. '

Then said the Court, 'Forget-Good, Forget-Good, thy forgetfulnessof good was not simply of frailty, but of purpose, and for thatthou didst loathe to keep virtuous things in thy mind. What wasbad thou couldst retain, but what was good thou couldst not abideto think of; thy age, therefore, and thy pretended craziness, thoumakest use of to blind the court withal, and as a cloak to coverthy knavery. But let us hear what the witnesses have to say forthe King against the prisoner at the bar. Is he guilty of thisindictment, or not?'

Hate. My lord, I have heard this Forget-Good say, that he couldnever 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 theConscience seared with a hot iron. 

Clerk. Mr. Know-All, what can you say for our Lord the Kingagainst the prisoner at the bar?

Know. My lord, I know this man well. He is a Diabolonian, the sonof a Diabolonian: his father's name was Love-Naught; and for him, I have often heard him say, that he counted the very thoughts ofgoodness 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 evidenceconcerning the prisoner at the bar, about that for which he standshere, as you see, indicted by this honourable Court. '

Tell. My lord, I have heard him often say he had rather think ofthe 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 NauseousStreet, in the house of one Shameless, and in Filth Lane, at thesign of the Reprobate, next door to the Descent into the Pit. 

Court. Gentlemen, you have heard the indictment, his plea, and thetestimony 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 didstmost desperately and wickedly possess the town of Mansoul withimpenitency and obdurateness; and didst keep them from remorse andsorrow for their evils, all the time of their apostacy from andrebellion against the blessed King Shaddai. What sayest thou tothis indictment? Art thou guilty, or not guilty?

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

Court. You see the man is a right Diabolonian, and has convictedhimself. 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 didstmost wickedly and satanically bring, hold, and keep the town ofMansoul, both in her apostacy and in her hellish rebellion, in afalse, groundless, and dangerous peace, and damnable security, tothe dishonour of the King, the transgression of his law, and thegreat damage of the town of Mansoul. What sayest thou? Art thouguilty of this indictment, or not?

Then said Mr. False-Peace: 'Gentlemen, and you now appointed to bemy judges, I acknowledge that my name is Mr. Peace; but that myname is False-Peace I utterly deny. If your honours shall pleaseto send for any that do intimately know me, or for the midwife thatlaid my mother of me, or for the gossips that were at mychristening, they will, any or all of them, prove that my name isnot False-Peace, but Peace. Wherefore I cannot plead to thisindictment, forasmuch as my name is not inserted therein; and as ismy true name, so are also my conditions. I was always a man thatloved to live at quiet, and what I loved myself, that I thoughtothers might love also. Wherefore, when I saw any of my neighboursto labour under a disquieted mind, I endeavoured to help them whatI could; and instances of this good temper of mine many I couldgive; as, '1. When, at the beginning, our town of Mansoul did decline theways of Shaddai, they, some of them, afterwards began to havedisquieting reflections upon themselves for what they had done; butI, as one troubled to see them disquieted, presently sought outmeans 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 ofthe present times, I laboured to make them quiet again, and tocause them to act without molestation. 

'3. To come nearer home: when the wars fell out between Shaddaiand Diabolus, if at any time I saw any of the town of Mansoulafraid 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 temperas some say a peace-maker is, and if a peace-maker be so deservinga man as some have been bold to attest he is, then let me, gentlemen, be accounted by you, who have a great name for justiceand equity in Mansoul, for a man that deserveth not this inhumanway of treatment, but liberty, and also a license to seek damage ofthose that have been my accusers. '

Then said the clerk, 'Crier, make a proclamation. '

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

Then came two into the court, and desired that they might haveleave to speak what they knew concerning the prisoner at the bar:the name of the one was Search-Truth, and the name of the otherVouch-Truth. So the Court demanded of these men if they knew theprisoner, 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, andcan attest that his name is False-Peace. I know his father; hisname was Mr. Flatter: and his mother, before she was married, wascalled by the name of Mrs. Sooth-Up: and these two, when they cametogether, lived not long without this son; and when he was born, they called his name False-Peace. I was his play-fellow, only Iwas somewhat older than he; and when his mother did use to call himhome from his play, she used to say, 'False-Peace, False-Peace, come home quick, or I'll fetch you. ' Yea, I knew him when hesucked; and though I was then but little, yet I can remember thatwhen his mother did use to sit at the door with him, or did playwith him in her arms, she would call him, twenty times together, 'My little False-Peace! my pretty False-Peace!' and, 'Oh! my sweetrogue, 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 witnesshath said is true. His name is False-Peace, the son of Mr. Flatter, and of Mrs. Sooth-Up, his mother: and I have in formertimes seen him angry with those that have called him anything elsebut False-Peace, for he would say that all such did mock andnickname him; but this was in the time when Mr. False-Peace was agreat man, and when the Diabolonians were the brave men in Mansoul. 

Court. Gentlemen, you have heard what these two men have swornagainst 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 thesehonest men have sworn that that is your name. As to your plea, inthat you are quite besides the matter of your indictment, you arenot by it charged for evil-doing because you are a man of peace, ora peace-maker among your neighbours; but for that you did wickedlyand satanically bring, keep, and hold the town of Mansoul, bothunder its apostasy from, and in its rebellion against its King, ina false, lying, and damnable peace, contrary to the law of Shaddai, and to the hazard of the destruction of the then miserable town ofMansoul. All that you have pleaded for yourself is, that you havedenied your name, etc. ; but here, you see, we have witnesses toprove that you are the man. For the peace that you so much boastof making among your neighbours, know that peace that is not acompanion of truth and holiness, but that which is without thisfoundation, is grounded upon a lie, and is both deceitful anddamnable, as also the great Shaddai hath said. Thy plea, therefore, has not delivered thee from what by the indictment thouart charged with, but rather it doth fasten all upon thee. Butthou shalt have very fair play. Let us call the witnesses that areto testify as to matter of fact, and see what they have to say forour Lord the King against the prisoner at the bar. 

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

Know. My lord, this man hath of a long time made it, to myknowledge, his business to keep the town of Mansoul in a sinfulquietness in the midst of all her lewdness, filthiness, andturmoils, and hath said, and that in my hearing, Come, come, let usfly from all trouble, on what ground soever it comes, and let us befor a quiet and peaceable life, though it wanteth a goodfoundation. 

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

Hate. My lord, I have heard him say, that peace, though in a wayof 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 hathsaid this to my knowledge twenty times in that place. 

Clerk. We may spare further witness; this evidence is plain andfull. 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, (anintruder upon the town of Mansoul, ) for that thou hast always, tothe dishonour of Shaddai, and the endangering of the utter ruin ofthe famous town of Mansoul, set thyself to deface, and utterly tospoil, all the remainders of the law and image of Shaddai that havebeen found in Mansoul after her deep apostasy from her king toDiabolus, the envious tyrant. What sayest thou, art thou guilty ofthis indictment, or not?

No. Not guilty, my lord. 

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

Know. My lord, this man was at the pulling down of the image ofShaddai; yea, this is he that did it with his own hands. I myselfstood by and saw him do it, and he did it at the commandment ofDiabolus. Yea, this Mr. No-Truth did more than this, he did alsoset up the horned image of the beast Diabolus in the same place. This also is he that, at the bidding of Diabolus, did rend andtear, and cause to be consumed, all that he could of the remaindersof the law of the King, even whatever he could lay his hands on inMansoul. 

Clerk. Who saw him do this besides yourself?

Hate. I did, my lord, and so did many more besides; for this wasnot 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 thedoing of it. 

Clerk. Mr. No-Truth, how could you have the face to plead notguilty, when you were so manifestly the doer of all thiswickedness?

No. Sir, I thought I must say something, and as my name is, so Ispeak. I have been advantaged thereby before now, and did not knowbut 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, (anintruder upon the town of Mansoul, ) for that thou didst mosttraitorously and wickedly shut up all bowels of compassion, andwouldest not suffer poor Mansoul to condole her own misery when shehad apostatised from her rightful King, but didst evade, and at alltimes turn her mind awry from those thoughts that had in them atendency to lead her to repentance. What sayest thou to thisindictment? Guilty or not guilty?

'Not guilty of pitilessness: all I did was to cheer up, accordingto my name, for my name is not Pitiless, but Cheer-up; and I couldnot abide to see Mansoul inclined to melancholy. '

Clerk. How! do you deny your name, and say it is not Pitiless, butCheer-up? Call for the witnesses. What say you, the witnesses, tothis plea?

Know. My lord, his name is Pitiless; so he hath written himself inall papers of concern wherein he has had to do. But theseDiabolonians love to counterfeit their names: Mr. Covetousnesscovers himself with the name of Good-Husbandry, or the like; Mr. Pride can, when need is, call himself Mr. Neat, Mr. Handsome, orthe 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 achild, and he hath done all that wickedness whereof he standscharged in the indictment; but there is a company of them that arenot acquainted with the danger of damning, therefore they call allthose melancholy that have serious thoughts how that state shouldbe shunned by them. 

Clerk. Set Mr. Haughty to the bar, gaoler. Mr. Haughty, thou arthere indicted by the name of Haughty, (an intruder upon the town ofMansoul, ) for that thou didst most traitorously and devilishlyteach the town of Mansoul to carry it loftily and stoutly againstthe summons that was given them by the captains of the KingShaddai. Thou didst also teach the town of Mansoul to speakcontemptuously and vilifyingly of their great King Shaddai; anddidst moreover encourage, both by words and examples, Mansoul, totake up arms both against the King and his son Emmanuel. Howsayest thou, art thou guilty of this indictment, or not?

Haughty. Gentlemen, I have always been a man of courage andvalour, and have not used, when under the greatest clouds, to sneakor hang down the head like a bulrush; nor did it at all at any timeplease me to see men veil their bonnets to those that have opposedthem; yea, though their adversaries seemed to have ten times theadvantage of them. I did not use to consider who was my foe, norwhat the cause was in which I was engaged. It was enough to me ifI carried it bravely, fought like a man, and came off a victor. 

Court. Mr. Haughty, you are not here indicted for that you havebeen a valiant man, nor for your courage and stoutness in times ofdistress, but for that you have made use of this your pretendedvalour to draw the town of Mansoul into acts of rebellion bothagainst the great King, and Emmanuel his Son. This is the crimeand 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 atthe bar, then they put them over to the verdict of their jury, towhom they did apply themselves after this manner:

'Gentlemen of the jury, you have been here, and have seen thesemen; you have heard their indictments, their pleas, and what thewitnesses have testified against them: now what remains, is, thatyou do forthwith withdraw yourselves to some place, where withoutconfusion you may consider of what verdict, in a way of truth andrighteousness, you ought to bring in for the King against them, andso 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 theywere shut up by themselves, they fell to discourse among themselvesin 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 Ibelieve 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 daysthat ever I saw in my life. ' Then said Mr. See-Truth, 'I know thatif we judge them to death, our verdict shall stand before Shaddaihimself' 'Nor do I at all question it, ' said Mr. Heavenly-Mind; hesaid, moreover, 'When all such beasts as these are cast out ofMansoul, 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 sopalpable, that that man must be wilfully blind who saith theprisoners ought not to die. ' 'Blessed be God, ' said Mr. Thankful, 'that the traitors are in safe custody. ' 'And I join with you inthis upon my bare knees, ' said Mr. Humble. 'I am glad also, ' saidMr. Good-Work. Then said the warm man, and true-hearted Mr. Zeal-for-God, 'Cut them off; they have been the plague, and have soughtthe destruction of Mansoul. '

Thus, therefore, being all agreed in their verdict, they comeinstantly 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 andtrue, 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 ourLord the King, to serve here in a matter of life and death, haveheard the trials of each of these men, the prisoners at the bar:what say you? are they guilty of that, and those crimes for whichthey 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 receivedthe sentence of death according to the law. 

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

But now to see how it happened, one of the prisoners, Incredulityby name, in the interim betwixt the sentence and the time ofexecution, brake prison and made his escape, and gets him awayquite out of the town of Mansoul, and lay lurking in such placesand holes as he might, until he should again have opportunity to dothe town of Mansoul a mischief for their thus handling of him asthey did. 

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

All that could be gathered was, that he had lurked a while aboutthe outside of the town, and that here and there one or other had aglimpse of him as he did make his escape out of Mansoul; one or twoalso did affirm that they saw him without the town, going apacequite over the plain. Now when he was quite gone, it was affirmedby one Mr. Did-see, that he ranged all over dry places, till he metwith Diabolus, his friend, and where should they meet one anotherbut just upon Hell-gate hill. 

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

As, first, how Mansoul had, after some delays, received a generalpardon at the hands of Emmanuel, and that they had invited him intothe town, and that they had given him the castle for hispossession. He said, moreover, that they had called his soldiersinto the town, coveted who should quarter the most of them; theyalso entertained him with the timbrel, song, and dance. 'Butthat, ' 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 turnedfrom us, he is now in as great favour with Emmanuel as ever he waswith thee. But, besides all this, this Willbewill has received aspecial commission from his master to search for, to apprehend, andto put to death all, and all manner of Diabolonians that he shallfind in Mansoul: yea, and this Willbewill has taken and committedto prison already eight of my Lord's most trusty friends inMansoul. Nay, further, my Lord, with grief I speak it, they havebeen all arraigned, condemned, and, I doubt, before this executedin Mansoul. I told my Lord of eight, and myself was the ninth, whoshould assuredly have drunk of the same cup, but that throughcraft, I, as thou seest, have made mine escape from them. '

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

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

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

Now, when this good work was done, the Prince came down to see, tovisit, and to speak comfortably to the men of Mansoul, and tostrengthen their hands in such work. And he said to them that, bythis act of theirs he had proved them, and found them to be loversof his person, observers of his laws, and such as had also respectto his honour. He said, moreover, (to show them that they by thisshould not be losers, nor their town weakened by the loss of them, )that he would make them another captain, and that of one ofthemselves. And that this captain should be the ruler of athousand, for the good and benefit of the now flourishing town ofMansoul. 

So he called one to him whose name was Waiting, and bid him, 'Goquickly up to the castle gate, and inquire there for one Mr. Experience, that waiteth upon that noble captain, the CaptainCredence, and bid him come hither to me. ' So the messenger thatwaited upon the good Prince Emmanuel went and said as he wascommanded. Now the young gentleman was waiting to see the captaintrain and muster his men in the castle yard. Then said Mr. Waitingto him, 'Sir, the Prince would that you should come down to hishighness forthwith. ' So he brought him down to Emmanuel, and hecame and made obeisance before him. Now the men of the town knewMr. Experience well, for he was born and bred in Mansoul; they alsoknew him to be a man of conduct, of valour, and a person prudent inmatters; he was also a comely person, well-spoken, and verysuccessful in his undertakings. 

Wherefore the hearts of the townsmen were transported with joy whenthey 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 ashout said, 'Let Emmanuel live for ever!' Then said the Prince tothe young gentleman, whose name was Mr. Experience, 'I have thoughtgood to confer upon thee a place of trust and honour in this mytown of Mansoul. ' Then the young man bowed his head andworshipped. 'It is, ' said Emmanuel, 'that thou shouldest be acaptain, a captain over a thousand men in my beloved town ofMansoul. ' Then said the captain, 'Let the King live!' So thePrince gave out orders forthwith to the King's secretary, that heshould draw up for Mr. Experience a commission to make him acaptain over a thousand men. 'And let it be brought to me, ' saidhe, 'that I may set to my seal. ' So it was done as it wascommanded. The commission was drawn up, brought to Emmanuel, andhe set his seal thereto. Then, by the hand of Mr. Waiting, he sentit away to the captain. 

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

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

Emmanuel also at this time appointed them a day wherein he wouldrenew their charter, yea, wherein he would renew and enlarge it, mending several faults therein, that Mansoul's yoke might be yetmore easy. And this he did without any desire of theirs, even ofhis own frankness and noble mind. So when he had sent for and seentheir old one, he laid it by, and said, 'Now that which decayethand waxeth old is ready to vanish away. ' He said, moreover, 'Thetown of Mansoul shall have another, a better, a new one, moresteady and firm by far. ' An epitome hereof take as follows:-

'Emmanuel, Prince of Peace, and a great lover of the town ofMansoul, 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, theirneighbour, or themselves. 

'Second. I do give them the holy law and my testament, with allthat therein is contained, for their everlasting comfort andconsolation. 

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

'Fourth. I do give, grant, and bestow upon them freely, the worldand what is therein, for their good; and they shall have that powerover them, as shall stand with the honour of my Father, my glory, and their comfort: yea, I grant them the benefits of life anddeath, and of things present, and things to come. This privilegeno other city, town, or corporation, shall have, but my Mansoulonly. 

'Fifth. I do give and grant them leave, and free access to me inmy palace at all seasons--to my palace above or below--there tomake known their wants to me, and I give them, moreover, a promisethat I will hear and redress all their grievances. 

'Sixth. I do give, grant to, and invest the town of Mansoul withfull power and authority to seek out, take, enslave, and destroyall, and all manner of Diabolonians that at any time, fromwhencesoever, shall be found straggling in or about the town ofMansoul. 

'Seventh. I do further grant to my beloved town of Mansoul, thatthey 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 thegrants, privileges, and immunities that I bestow upon the famoustown of Mansoul, shall be for those the old natives, and trueinhabitants thereof; to them, I say, and to their right seed afterthem. 

'But all Diabolonians, of what sort, birth, country, or kingdomsoever, shall be debarred a share therein. '

So when the town of Mansoul had received at the hand of Emmanueltheir gracious charter, (which in itself is infinitely more largethan by this lean epitome is set before you, ) they carried it toaudience, that is, to the market place, and there Mr. Recorder readit in the presence of all the people. This being done, it was hadback to the castle gates, and there fairly engraven upon the doorsthereof, and laid in letters of gold, to the end that the town ofMansoul, with all the people thereof, might have it always in theirview, or might go where they might see what a blessed freedom theirPrince had bestowed upon them, that their joy might be increased inthemselves, and their love renewed to their great and goodEmmanuel. 

But what joy, what comfort, what consolation, think you, did nowpossess the hearts of the men of Mansoul! The bells rung, theminstrels played, the people danced, the captains shouted, thecolours waved in the wind, and the silver trumpets sounded; and theDiabolonians now were glad to hide their heads, for they lookedlike them that had been long dead. 

When this was over, the Prince sent again for the elders of thetown of Mansoul, and communed with them about a ministry that heintended to establish among them; such a ministry that might openunto them, and that might instruct them in the things that didconcern their present and future state. 

'For, ' said he, 'you, of yourselves, unless you have teachers andguides, will not be able to know, and, if not to know, to be surenot 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, aswhatever the Prince now did pleased the people, ) and all with oneconsent implored his Majesty that he would forthwith establish sucha ministry among them as might teach them both law and judgment, statute and commandment; that they might be documented in all goodand wholesome things. So he told them that he would grant themtheir requests, and would establish two among them; one that was ofhis Father's court, and one that was a native of Mansoul. 

'He that is from the court, ' said he, 'is a person of no lessquality and dignity than my Father and I; and he is the Lord ChiefSecretary of my Father's house: for he is, and always has been, the chief dictator of all my Father's laws, a person altogetherwell skilled in all mysteries, and knowledge of mysteries, as is myFather, or as myself is. Indeed he is one with us in nature, andalso as to loving of, and being faithful to, and in the eternalconcerns of the town of Mansoul. 

'And this is he, ' said the Prince, 'that must be your chiefteacher; for it is he, and he only, that can teach you clearly inall high and supernatural things. He, and he only, it is thatknows the ways and methods of my Father at court, nor can any likehim 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 thingsof a man but that spirit of a man which is in him, so the things ofmy Father knows no man but this his high and mighty Secretary. Norcan any, as he, tell Mansoul how and what they shall do to keepthemselves in the love of my Father. He also it is that can bringlost things to your remembrance, and that can tell you things tocome. This teacher, therefore, must of necessity have the pre-eminence, both in your affections and judgment, before your otherteacher; his personal dignity, the excellency of his teaching, alsothe great dexterity that he hath to help you to make and draw uppetitions to my Father for your help, and to his pleasing, must layobligations upon you to love him, fear him, and to take heed thatyou grieve him not. 

'This person can put life and vigour into all he says; yea, and canalso put it into your heart. This person can make seers of you, and can make you tell what shall be hereafter. By this person youmust frame all your petitions to my Father and me; and without hisadvice and counsel first obtained, let nothing enter into the townor castle of Mansoul, for that may disgust and grieve this nobleperson. 

'Take heed, I say, that you do not grieve this minister; for if youdo, he may fight against you; and should he once be moved by you toset himself against you in battle array, that will distress youmore than if twelve legions should from my Father's court be sentto 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 tohave converse, and to maintain communion with him, you shall findhim ten times better than is the whole world to any; yea, he willshed abroad the love of my Father in your hearts, and Mansoul willbe the wisest, and most blessed of all people. '

Then did the Prince call unto him the old gentleman, who before hadbeen the Recorder of Mansoul, Mr. Conscience by name, and told him, That, forasmuch as he was well skilled in the law and government ofthe town of Mansoul, and was also well-spoken, and couldpertinently deliver to them his Master's will in all terrene anddomestic 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, ' saidthe Prince, 'confine thyself to the teaching of moral virtues, tocivil and natural duties; but thou must not attempt to presume tobe a revealer of those high and supernatural mysteries that arekept close in the bosom of Shaddai, my Father: for those thingsknows no man, nor can any reveal them but my Father's Secretaryonly. 

'Thou art a native of the town of Mansoul, but the Lord Secretaryis a native with my Father; wherefore, as thou hast knowledge ofthe laws and customs of the corporation, so he of the things andwill of my Father. 

'Wherefore, O Mr. Conscience, although I have made thee a ministerand a preacher to the town of Mansoul, yet as to the things whichthe Lord Secretary knoweth, and shall teach to this people, therethou must be his scholar and a learner, even as the rest of Mansoulare. 

'Thou must therefore, in all high and supernatural things, go tohim for information and knowledge; for though there be a spirit inman, this person's inspiration must give him understanding. Wherefore, O thou Mr. Recorder, keep low and be humble, andremember that the Diabolonians that kept not their first charge, but left their own standing, are now made prisoners in the pit. Betherefore content with thy station. 

'I have made thee my Father's vicegerent on earth, in such thingsof which I have made mention before: and thou, take thou power toteach them to Mansoul, yea, and to impose them with whips andchastisements, if they shall not willingly hearken to do thycommandments. 

'And, Mr. Recorder, because thou art old, and through many abusesmade feeble; therefore I give thee leave and license to go whenthou wilt to my fountain, my conduit, and there to drink freely ofthe blood of my grape, for my conduit doth always run wine. Thusdoing, thou shalt drive from thine heart and stomach all foul, gross, and hurtful humours. It will also lighten thine eyes, andwill strengthen thy memory for the reception and keeping of allthat the King's most noble Secretary teacheth. '

When the Prince had thus put Mr. Recorder (that once so was) intothe place and office of a minister to Mansoul, and the man hadthankfully accepted thereof, then did Emmanuel address himself in aparticular speech to the townsmen themselves. 

'Behold, ' said the Prince to Mansoul, 'my love and care towardsyou; I have added to all that is past, this mercy, to appoint youpreachers; the most noble Secretary to teach you in all high andsublime mysteries; and this gentleman, ' pointing to Mr. Conscience, 'is to teach you in all things human and domestic, for thereinlieth his work. He is not, by what I have said, debarred oftelling to Mansoul anything that he hath heard and received at themouth of the lord high Secretary; only he shall not attempt topresume to pretend to be a revealer of those high mysterieshimself; for the breaking of them up, and the discovery of them toMansoul lieth only in the power, authority, and skill of the lordhigh Secretary himself. Talk of them he may, and so may the restof the town of Mansoul; yea, and may, as occasion gives themopportunity, press them upon each other for the benefit of thewhole. These things, therefore, I would have you 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 townof Mansoul: You must not dwell in, nor stay upon, anything of thatwhich he hath in commission to teach you, as to your trust andexpectation of the next world; (of the next world, I say, for Ipurpose to give another to Mansoul, when this with them is wornout;) but for that you must wholly and solely have recourse to, andmake stay upon his doctrine that is your Teacher after the firstorder. Yea, Mr. Recorder himself must not look for life from thatwhich he himself revealeth; his dependence for that must be foundedin the doctrine of the other preacher. Let Mr. Recorder also takeheed that he receive not any doctrine, or point of doctrine, thatis not communicated to him by his Superior Teacher, nor yet withinthe precincts of his own formal knowledge. '

Now, after the Prince had thus settled things in the famous town ofMansoul, he proceeded to give to the elders of the corporation anecessary caution, to wit, how they should carry it to the high andnoble captains that he had, from his Father's court, sent orbrought with him, to the famous town of Mansoul. 

'These captains, ' said he, 'do love the town of Mansoul, and theyare picked men, picked out of abundance, as men that best suit, andthat will most faithfully serve in the wars of Shaddai against theDiabolonians, for the preservation of the town of Mansoul. 'Icharge you therefore, ' said he, 'O ye inhabitants of the nowflourishing town of Mansoul, that you carry it not ruggedly oruntowardly to my captains, or their men; since, as I said, they arepicked and choice men--men chosen out of many for the good of thetown of Mansoul. I say, I charge you, that you carry it notuntowardly to them: for though they have the hearts and faces oflions, when at any time they shall be called forth to engage andfight with the King's foes, and the enemies of the town of Mansoul;yet a little discountenance cast upon them from the town of Mansoulwill deject and cast down their faces, will weaken and take awaytheir courage. Do not, therefore, O my beloved, carry it unkindlyto my valiant captains and courageous men of war, but love them, nourish them, succour them, and lay them in your bosoms; and theywill not only fight for you, but cause to fly from you all thosethe Diabolonians that seek, and will, if possible, be, your utterdestruction. 

'If, therefore, any of them should at any time be sick or weak, andso not able to perform that office of love, which, with all theirhearts, they are willing to do (and will do also when well and inhealth), slight them not, nor despise them, but rather strengthenthem and encourage them, though weak and ready to die, for they areyour fence, and your guard, your wall, your gates, your locks, andyour bars. And although, when they are weak, they can do butlittle, but rather need to be helped by you, than that you shouldthen expect great things from them, yet, when well, you know whatexploits, 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; ifthey be strong, then Mansoul cannot be weak; your safety, therefore, doth lie in their health, and in your countenancingthem. Remember, also, that if they be sick, they catch thatdisease of the town of Mansoul itself. 

'These things I have said unto you because I love your welfare andyour honour: observe, therefore, O my Mansoul, to be punctual inall things that I have given in charge unto you, and that not onlyas a town corporate, and so to your officers and guard, and guidesin chief, but to you as you are a people whose well-being, assingle persons, depends on the observation of the orders andcommandments of their Lord. 

'Next, O my Mansoul, I do warn you of that, of which, notwithstanding that reformation that at present is wrought amongyou, you have need to be warned about: wherefore hearkendiligently unto me. I am now sure, and you will know hereafter, that there are yet of the Diabolonians remaining in the town ofMansoul, Diabolonians that are sturdy and implacable, and that doalready while I am with you, and that will yet more when I am fromyou, study, plot, contrive, invent, and jointly attempt to bringyou to desolation, and so to a state far worse than that of theEgyptian bondage; they are the avowed friends of Diabolus, therefore look about you. They used heretofore to lodge with theirPrince in the Castle, when Incredulity was the Lord Mayor of thistown; but since my coming hither, they lie more in the outsides andwalls, and have made themselves dens, and caves, and holes, andstrongholds 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 pulldown the walls of your town, the which I am by no means willing youshould. Do you ask me, What shall we do then? Why, be youdiligent, and quit you like men; observe their holes; find outtheir haunts; assault them, and make no peace with them. Whereverthey haunt, lurk, or abide, and what terms of peace soever theyoffer you, abhor, and all shall be well betwixt you and me. Andthat you may the better know them from those that are the nativesof Mansoul, I will give you this brief schedule of the names of thechief of them; and they are these that follow:- The LordFornication, the Lord Adultery, the Lord Murder, the Lord Anger, the Lord Lasciviousness, the Lord Deceit, the Lord Evil-Eye, Mr. Drunkenness, Mr. Revelling, Mr. Idolatry, Mr. Witch-craft, Mr. Variance, Mr. Emulation, Mr. Wrath, Mr. Strife, Mr. Sedition, andMr. Heresy. These are some of the chief, O Mansoul! of those thatwill seek to overthrow thee for ever. These, I say, are theskulkers in Mansoul; but look thou well into the law of thy King, and there thou shalt find their physiognomy, and such othercharacteristical notes of them, by which they certainly may beknown. 

'These, O my Mansoul, (and I would gladly that you should certainlyknow it, ) if they be suffered to run and range about the town asthey would, will quickly, like vipers, eat out your bowels; yea, poison your captains, cut the sinews of your soldiers, break thebars and bolts of your gates, and turn your now most flourishingMansoul into a barren and desolate wilderness, and ruinous heap. Wherefore, that you may take courage to yourselves to apprehendthese villains wherever you find them, I give to you, my LordMayor, my Lord Willbewill, and Mr. Recorder, with all theinhabitants of the town of Mansoul, full power and commission toseek out, to take, and to cause to be put to death by the cross, all, and all manner of Diabolonians, when and wherever you shallfind them to lurk within, or to range without the walls of the townof 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 captainswho came against the master and lord of the Diabolonians that wasin Mansoul, they can, and if need be, and if they be required, willnot only privately inform, but publicly preach to the corporationboth good and wholesome doctrine, and such as shall lead you in theway. Yea, they will set up a weekly, yea, if need be, a dailylecture in thee, O Mansoul! and will instruct thee in suchprofitable lessons, that, if heeded, will do thee good at the end. And take good heed that you spare not the men that you have acommission to take and crucify. 

'Now, as I have set before your eyes the vagrants and runagates byname, so I will tell you, that among yourselves, some of them shallcreep in to beguile you, even such as would seem, and that inappearance are, very rife and hot for religion. And they, if youwatch not, will do you a mischief, such an one as at present youcannot think of. 

'These, as I said, will show themselves to you in another hue thanthose under description before. Wherefore, Mansoul, watch and besober, and suffer not thyself to be betrayed. '

When the Prince had thus far new modelled the town of Mansoul, andhad instructed them in such matters as were profitable for them toknow, then he appointed another day in which he intended, when thetownsfolk came together, to bestow a further badge of honour uponthe town of Mansoul, --a badge that should distinguish them from allthe people, kindreds, and tongues that dwell in the kingdom ofUniverse. Now it was not long before the day appointed was come, and the Prince and his people met in the King's palace, where firstEmmanuel made a short speech unto them, and then did for them as hehad said, and unto them as he had promised. 

'My Mansoul, ' said he, 'that which I now am about to do, is to makeyou known to the world to be mine, and to distinguish you also inyour own eyes, from all false traitors that may creep in amongyou. '

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

Then said the Prince unto them, 'This, O Mansoul, is my livery, andthe badge by which mine are known from the servants of others. Yea, it is that which I grant to all that are mine, and withoutwhich 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 knownby 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, ormighty 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 youalso in commandment concerning them; and be sure that you take goodheed to my words. 

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

'Second. Keep them always white; for if they be soiled, it isdishonour to me. 

'Third. Wherefore gird them up from the ground, and let them notlag 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 princeDiabolus will be glad if you would, then speed you to do that whichis 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 maynot leave you, nor forsake you while here, but may dwell in thistown of Mansoul for ever. '

And now was Mansoul, and the inhabitants of it, as the signet uponEmmanuel's right hand. Where was there now a town, a city, acorporation, that could compare with Mansoul! a town redeemed fromthe hand, and from the power of Diabolus! a town that the KingShaddai loved, and that he sent Emmanuel to regain from the Princeof the infernal cave; yea, a town that Emmanuel loved to dwell in, and that he chose for his royal habitation; a town that hefortified for himself, and made strong by the force of his army. What shall I say, Mansoul has now a most excellent Prince, goldencaptains and men of war, weapons proved, and garments as white assnow. Nor are these benefits to be counted little, but great; canthe town of Mansoul esteem them so, and improve them to that endand purpose for which they are bestowed upon them?

When the Prince had thus completed the modelling of the town, toshow that he had great delight in the work of his hands and tookpleasure in the good that he had wrought for the famous andflourishing Mansoul, he commanded, and they set his standard uponthe battlements of the castle. And then, First. He gave them frequent visits; not a day now but the eldersof Mansoul must come to him, or he to them, into his palace. Nowthey must walk and talk together of all the great things that hehad done, and yet further promised to do, for the town of Mansoul. Thus would he often do with the Lord Mayor, my Lord Willbewill, andthe honest subordinate preacher Mr. Conscience, and Mr. Recorder. But oh, how graciously, how lovingly, how courteously, and tenderlydid this blessed Prince now carry it towards the town of Mansoul!In all the streets, gardens, orchards, and other places where hecame, 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 onthem, 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 morevigour, more life, and stoutness into them, than would anythingelse 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 andthem. You may remember that, some pages before, we make mention ofone feast that they had together; but now to feast them was a thingmore common: every day with Mansoul was a feast-day now. Nor didhe, when they returned to their places, send them empty away, either they must have a ring, a gold chain, a bracelet, a whitestone, or something; so dear was Mansoul to him now; so lovely wasMansoul in his eyes. 

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

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

And was it not now amazing to behold, that in that very place wheresometimes Diabolus had his abode, and entertained his Diaboloniansto the almost utter destruction of Mansoul, the Prince of princesshould sit eating and drinking with them, while all his mightycaptains, men of war, trumpeters, with the singing-men and singing-women of his Father, stood round about to wait upon them! Now didMansoul's cup run over, now did her conduits run sweet wine, nowdid she eat the finest of the wheat, and drink milk and honey outof the rock! Now, she said, How great is his goodness! for since Ifound favour in his eyes, how honourable have I been!

The blessed Prince did also ordain a new officer in the town, and agoodly person he was; his name was Mr. God's-Peace: this man wasset over my Lord Willbewill, my Lord Mayor, Mr. Recorder, thesubordinate preacher, Mr. Mind, and over all the natives of thetown of Mansoul. Himself was not a native of it, but came with thePrince Emmanuel from the court. He was a great acquaintance ofCaptain Credence and Captain Good-Hope; some say they were kin, andI am of that opinion too. This man, as I said, was made governorof the town in general, especially over the castle, and CaptainCredence was to help him there. And I made great observation ofit, that so long as all things went in Mansoul as this sweet-natured gentleman would, the town was in most happy condition. Nowthere were no jars, no chiding, no interferings, no unfaithfuldoings in all the town of Mansoul; every man in Mansoul kept closeto his own employment. The gentry, the officers, the soldiers, andall in place observed their order. And as for the women andchildren of the town, they followed their business joyfully; theywould work and sing, work and sing, from morning till night: sothat quite through the town of Mansoul now nothing was to be foundbut harmony, quietness, joy, and health. And this lasted all thatsummer. 

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 onthis corporation, bring the town of Mansoul into great and grievousslavery and bondage. A brief account of him and of his doings takeas followeth:-

When Diabolus at first took possession of the town of Mansoul, hebrought thither, with himself, a great number of Diabolonians, menof his own conditions. Now among these there was one whose namewas Mr. Self-Conceit, and a notable brisk man he was, as any thatin those days did possess the town of Mansoul. Diabolus, then, perceiving this man to be active and bold, sent him upon manydesperate designs, the which he managed better, and more to thepleasing of his lord, than most that came with him from the denscould do. Wherefore, finding him so fit for his purpose, hepreferred him, and made him next to the great Lord Willbewill, ofwhom we have written so much before. Now the Lord Willbewill beingin those days very well pleased with him, and with hisachievements, gave him his daughter, the Lady Fear-Nothing, towife. Now, of my Lady Fear-nothing, did this Mr. Self-Conceitbeget this gentleman, Mr. Carnal-Security. Wherefore, there beingthen in Mansoul those strange kinds of mixtures, it was hard forthem, 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 busyman: nothing of news, nothing of doctrine, nothing of alteration, or talk of alteration, could at any time be on foot in Mansoul, butbe 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 supposedwas the strongest side. 

Now, when Shaddai the mighty, and Emmanuel his Son, made war uponMansoul, to take it, this Mr. Carnal-Security was then in town, andwas a great doer among the people, encouraging them in theirrebellion, putting them upon hardening themselves in theirresisting the King's forces: but when he saw that the town ofMansoul was taken, and converted to the use of the glorious PrinceEmmanuel; and when he also saw what was become of Diabolus, and howhe was unroosted, and made to quit the castle in the greatestcontempt and scorn; and that the town of Mansoul was well linedwith captains, engines of war, and men, and also provision; whatdoth he but slyly wheel about also; and as he had served Diabolusagainst the good Prince, so he feigned that he would serve thePrince against his foes. 

And having got some little smattering of Emmanuel's things by theend, being bold, he ventures himself into the company of thetownsmen, any attempts also to chat among them. Now he knew thatthe power and strength of the town of Mansoul was great, and thatit could not but be pleasing to the people, if he cried up theirmight and their glory. Wherefore he beginneth his tale with thepower and strength of Mansoul, and affirmed that it wasimpregnable; now magnifying their captains and their slings, andtheir rams; then crying up their fortifications and strongholds;and, lastly, the assurances that they had from their Prince, thatMansoul should be happy for ever. But when he saw that some of themen of the town were tickled and taken with his discourse, he makesit 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 talkingthey went to feasting, and from feasting to sporting; and so tosome other matters. Now Emmanuel was yet in the town of Mansoul, and he wisely observed their doings. My Lord Mayor, my LordWillbewill, and Mr. Recorder were also all taken with the words ofthis tattling Diabolonian gentleman, forgetting that their Princehad given them warning before to take heed that they were notbeguiled with any Diabolonian sleight; he had further told themthat the security of the now flourishing town of Mansoul did not somuch lie in her present fortifications and force, as in her sousing of what she had, as might oblige her Emmanuel to abide withinher castle. For the right doctrine of Emmanuel was, that the townof Mansoul should take heed that they forgot not his Father's loveand his; also, that they should so demean themselves as to continueto keep themselves therein. Now this was not the way to do it, namely, to fall in love with one of the Diabolonians, and with suchan one too as Mr. Carnal-Security was, and to be led up and down bythe nose by him; they should have heard their Prince, feared theirPrince, loved their Prince, and have stoned this naughty pack todeath, and took care to have walked in the ways of their Prince'sprescribing: for then should their peace have been as a river, when their righteousness had been like the waves of the sea. 

Now when Emmanuel perceived that through the policy of Mr. Carnal-Security the hearts of the men of Mansoul were chilled and abatedin their practical love to him, First. He bemoans them, and, condoles their state with theSecretary, saying, 'Oh that my people had hearkened unto me, andthat Mansoul had walked in my ways! I would have fed them with thefinest of the wheat; and with honey out of the rock would I havesustained them. ' This done, he said in his heart, 'I will returnto the court, and go to my place, till Mansoul shall consider andacknowledge their offence. ' And he did so, and the cause andmanner 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 notto his royal palace as afore. 

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

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

'4. They waited not for his counsels, but began to be headstrongand confident in themselves, concluding that now they were strongand invincible, and that Mansoul was secure, and beyond all reachof 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 theirdependence upon him, and upon his Father by him, and set upon whatby them was bestowed upon it; he first, as I said, bemoaned theirstate, then he used means to make them understand that the way thatthey went on in was dangerous: for he sent my Lord High Secretaryto them, to forbid them such ways; but twice when he came to them, he found them at dinner in Mr. Carnal-Security's parlour; andperceiving also that they were not willing to reason about mattersconcerning their good, he took grief and went his way; the whichwhen he had told to the Prince Emmanuel, he took offence, and wasgrieved also, and so made provision to return to his Father'scourt. 

Now, the methods of his withdrawing, as I was saying before, werethus:-

'1. Even while he was yet with them in Mansoul, he kept himselfclose, and more retired than formerly. 

'2. His speech was not now, if he came in their company, sopleasant 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 timespast. They might now knock once, yea, twice, but he would seem notat all to regard them; whereas formerly at the sound of their feethe would up and run, and meet them halfway, and take them too, andlay them in his bosom. '

But thus Emmanuel carried it now, and by this his carriage hesought to make them bethink themselves, and return to him. But, alas! they did not consider, they did not know his ways, theyregarded not, they were not touched with these, nor with the trueremembrance of former favours. Wherefore what does he but inprivate manner withdraw himself, first from his palace, then to thegate of the town, and so away from Mansoul he goes, till theyshould acknowledge their offence, and more earnestly seek his face. Mr. God's-Peace also laid down his commission, and would for thepresent act no longer in the town of Mansoul. 

Thus they walked contrary to him, and he again, by way ofretaliation, walked contrary to them. But, alas! by this time theywere so hardened in their way, and had so drunk in the doctrine ofMr. Carnal-Security, that the departing of their Prince touchedthem not, nor was he remembered by them when gone; and so, ofconsequence, 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 therewas at that time in the town one Mr. Godly-Fear, one now but littleset by, though formerly one of great request. This man, oldCarnal-Security, had a mind, if possible, to gull, and debauch, andabuse, as he did the rest, and therefore he now bids him to thefeast with his neighbours. So the day being come, they prepare, and he goes and appears with the rest of the guests; and being allset at the table, they did eat and drink, and were merry, even allbut this one man: for Mr. Godly-Fear sat like a stranger, and didneither eat nor was merry. The which, when Mr. Carnal-Securityperceived, he presently addressed himself in a speech thus to him:-

'Mr. Godly-Fear, are you not well? You seem to be ill of body ormind, or both. I have a cordial of Mr. Forget-Good's making, thewhich, sir, if you will take a dram of, I hope it may make youbonny and blithe, and so make you more fit for us, feastingcompanions. '

Unto whom the good old gentleman discreetly replied, 'Sir, I thankyou for all things courteous and civil; but for your cordial I haveno list thereto. But a word to the natives of Mansoul: You, theelders and chief of Mansoul, to me it is strange to see you sojocund 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 bemerry. '

Then said the good man as follows: 'Sir, if you were not destituteof 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 Mansoulwas strong, and, with a proviso, impregnable; but you, thetownsmen, 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 gloryfrom her; you have pulled down her towers, you have broken down hergates, you have spoiled her locks and bars. 

And now, to explain myself: from that time that my lords ofMansoul, and you, sir, grew so great, from that time the Strengthof Mansoul has been offended, and now he is arisen and is gone. Ifany shall question the truth of my words, I will answer him bythis, and suchlike questions. 'Where is the Prince Emmanuel? Whendid 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 thisDiabolonian monster, but he is not your Prince. I say, therefore, though enemies from without, had you taken heed, could not havemade a prey of you, yet since you have sinned against 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 ofbeing sparrow-blasted? Who hath hurt you? Behold, I am on yourside; 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 outinto such passionate melancholy language, when you should eat anddrink, and be merry?'

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

'And now, my lords and gentlemen, for my speech is still to you, your gradual declining from him did provoke him gradually to departfrom you, the which he did for some time, if perhaps you would havebeen made sensible thereby, and have been renewed by humblingyourselves; but when he saw that none would regard, nor lay thesefearful beginnings of his anger and judgment to heart, he went awayfrom this place; and this I saw with mine eye. Wherefore now, while you boast, your strength is gone; you are like the man thathad lost his locks that before did wave about his shoulders. Youmay, with this lord of your feast, shake yourselves, and concludeto 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 yourmirth into lamentation. '

Then the subordinate preacher, old Mr. Conscience by name, he thatof 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 tellsus true: I, for my part, have not seen my Prince a long season. Icannot remember the day, for my part; nor can I answer Mr. Godly-Fear's question. I doubt, I am afraid that all is nought withMansoul. '

Godly. Nay, I know that you shall not find him in Mansoul, for heis 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 downdead at the table; also all there present, except the man of thehouse, began to look pale and wan. But having a little recoveredthemselves, and jointly agreeing to believe Mr. Godly-Fear and hissayings, they began to consult what was best to be done, (now Mr. Carnal-Security was gone into his withdrawing-room, for he likednot such dumpish doings, ) both to the man of the house for drawingthem into evil, and also to recover Emmanuel's love. 

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

So when this was passed and over, they bespeed themselves to lookfor Emmanuel their Prince; and they sought him, but they found himnot. Then were they more confirmed in the truth of Mr. Godly-Fear's sayings, and began also severely to reflect upon themselvesfor their so vile and ungodly doings; for they concluded now thatit was through them that their Prince had left them. 

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

And now was it a day gloomy and dark, a day of clouds and of thickdarkness 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 wordshad brought poor Mansoul into. But what further it was likely tocost them they were ignorant of. Now Mr. Godly-Fear began again tobe in repute with the men of the town; yea, they were ready to lookupon him as a prophet. 

Well, when the Sabbath day was come, they went to hear theirsubordinate preacher; but oh, how he did thunder and lighten thisday! His text was that in the prophet Jonah: 'They that observelying vanities forsake their own mercy. ' But there was then suchpower and authority in that sermon, and such a dejection seen inthe countenances of the people that day, that the like hath seldombeen heard or seen. The people, when sermon was done, were scarceable to go to their homes, or to betake themselves to their employsthe 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 beforethem, under the sense of his own, still crying out of himself, ashe preached to them, 'Unhappy man that I am! that I should do sowicked a thing! That I, a preacher! whom the Prince did set up toteach to Mansoul his law, should myself live senseless andsottishly here, and be one of the first found in transgression!This transgression also fell within my precincts; I should havecried out against the wickedness; but I let Mansoul lie wallowingin it, until it had driven Emmanuel from its borders!' With thesethings he also charged all the lords and gentry of Mansoul, to thealmost distracting of them. 

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

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

After some time spent in this sad and desolate condition, thesubordinate preacher called for a day of fasting, and to humblethemselves for being so wicked against the great Shaddai and hisSon. And he desired that Captain Boanerges would preach. So heconsented to do it; and the day being come, and his text was this, 'Cut it down, why cumbereth it the ground?' And a very smartsermon he made upon the place. First, he showed what was theoccasion 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 whoseauthority this sentence was pronounced, and that was by Shaddaihimself. And, lastly, he showed the reasons of the point, and thenconcluded his sermon. But he was very pertinent in theapplication, insomuch that he made poor Mansoul tremble. For thissermon, as well as the former, wrought much upon the hearts of themen of Mansoul; yea, it greatly helped to keep awake those thatwere roused by the preaching that went before. So that nowthroughout the whole town, there was little or nothing to be heardor seen but sorrow, and mourning, and woe. 

Now, after sermon, they got together and consulted what was best tobe done. 'But, ' said the subordinate preacher, 'I will do nothingof mine own head, without advising with my neighbour Mr. Godly-Fear. For if he had aforehand understood more of the mind of ourPrince than we, I do not know but he also may have it now, even nowwe are turning again to virtue. '

So they called and sent for Mr. Godly-Fear, and he forthwithappeared. Then they desired that he would further show his opinionabout what they had best to do. Then said the old gentleman asfolloweth: 'It is my opinion that this town of Mansoul should, inthis day of her distress, draw up and send an humble petition totheir 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 oneconsent, agree to his advice; so they did presently draw up theirrequest, and the next was, But who shall carry it? At last theydid all agree to send it by my Lord Mayor. So he accepted of theservice, and addressed himself to his journey; and went and came tothe court of Shaddai, whither Emmanuel the Prince of Mansoul wasgone. But the gate was shut, and a strict watch kept thereat; sothat the petitioner was forced to stand without for a great whiletogether. Then he desired that some would go into the Prince andtell him who stood at the gate, and what his business was. So onewent and told to Shaddai, and to Emmanuel his Son, that the LordMayor of the town of Mansoul stood without at the gate of theKing's court, desiring to be admitted into the presence of thePrince, the King's Son. He also told what was the Lord Mayor'serrand, both to the King and his Son Emmanuel. But the Princewould not come down, nor admit that the gate should be opened tohim, but sent him an answer to this effect: 'They have turnedtheir back unto me, and not their face; but now in the time oftheir trouble they say to me, Arise, and save us. But can they notnow go to Mr. Carnal-Security, to whom they went when they turnedfrom me, and make him their leader, their lord, and theirprotection now in their trouble; why now in their trouble do theyvisit 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 whatit was to be familiar with Diabolonians, such as Mr. Carnal-Security was. When he saw that at court, as yet, there was littlehelp to be expected, either for himself or friends in Mansoul, hesmote upon his breast, and returned weeping, and all the waybewailing the lamentable state of Mansoul. 

Well, when he was come within sight of the town, the elders andchief 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 toldthem his tale in so doleful a manner, that they all cried out, andmourned, and wept. Wherefore they threw ashes and dust upon theirheads, and put sackcloth upon their loins, and went crying outthrough the town of Mansoul; the which, when the rest of thetownsfolk saw, they all mourned and wept. This, therefore, was aday 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, theycame together to consult again what by them was yet to be done; andthey 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 theyhad done, nor would he that they should be discouraged at all withthat they had met with at court; yea, though several of theirpetitions should be answered with nought but silence or rebuke:'For, ' said he, 'it is the way of the wise Shaddai to make men waitand 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, andagain; for there was not now one day, nor an hour that went overMansoul's head, wherein a man might not have met upon the road oneor other riding post, sounding the horn from Mansoul to the courtof the King Shaddai; and all with letters petitionary in behalf of, and for the Prince's return to Mansoul. The road, I say, was nowfull of messengers, going and returning, and meeting one another;some from the court, and some from Mansoul; and this was the workof the miserable town of Mansoul, all that long, that sharp, thatcold and tedious winter. 

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

Against these the good Prince did grant a commission to the LordWillbewill 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 thetown of Mansoul did not pursue this warrant, but neglected to lookafter, to apprehend, to secure, and to destroy these Diabolonians. Wherefore what do these villains but by degrees take courage to putforth their heads, and to show themselves to the inhabitants of thetown. Yea, and as I was told, some of the men of Mansoul grew toofamiliar with some of them, to the sorrow of the corporation, asyou yet will hear more of in time and place. 

Well, when the Diabolonian lords that were left perceived thatMansoul had, through sinning, offended Emmanuel their Prince, andthat he had withdrawn himself and was gone, what do they but plotthe ruin of the town of Mansoul. So upon a time they met togetherat the hold of one Mr. Mischief, who was also a Diabolonian, andthere consulted how they might deliver up Mansoul into the hands ofDiabolus again. Now some advised one way, and some another, everyman according to his own liking. At last my Lord Lasciviousnesspropounded, whether it might not be best, in the first place, forsome of those that were Diabolonians in Mansoul, to adventure tooffer 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 thetown of Mansoul more easy than otherwise it will be. ' But thenstood up the Lord Murder, and said, 'This may not be done at thistime; for Mansoul is now in a kind of a rage, because by ourfriend, Mr. Carnal-Security, she hath been once ensnared already, and made to offend against her Prince; and how shall she reconcileherself unto her lord again, but by the heads of these men?Besides, we know that they have in commission to take and slay uswherever they shall find us; let us, therefore, be wise as foxes:when we are dead, we can do them no hurt; but while we live, wemay. ' Thus, when they had tossed the matter to and fro, theyjointly agreed that a letter should forthwith be sent away toDiabolus in their name, by which the state of the town of Mansoulshould be showed him, and how much it is under the frowns of theirPrince. '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 werethese:-

'To our great lord, the Prince Diabolus, dwelling below in theinfernal cave:

'O great father, and mighty Prince Diabolus, we, the trueDiabolonians yet remaining in the rebellious town of Mansoul, having received our beings from thee, and our nourishment at thyhands, cannot with content and quiet endure to behold, as we dothis day, how thou art dispraised, disgraced, and reproached amongthe inhabitants of this town; nor is thy long absence at alldelightful to us, because greatly to our detriment. 

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

'There has been also of late, and is yet remaining, a very greatsickness and fainting among them; and that not only upon the poorersort of the town, but upon the lords, captains, and chief gentry ofthe place, (we only who are of the Diabolonians by nature remainwell, lively, and strong, ) so that through their greattransgression on the one hand, and their dangerous sickness on theother, we judge they lie open to thy hand and power. If, therefore, it shall stand with thy horrible cunning, and with thecunning of the rest of the princes with thee, to come and make anattempt to take Mansoul again, send us word, and we shall to ourutmost power be ready to deliver it into thy hand. Or if what wehave said shall not by thy fatherhood be thought best and most meetto be done, send us thy mind in a few words, and we are all readyto follow thy counsel to the hazarding of our lives, and what elsewe have. 

'Given under our hands the day and date above-written, after aclose consultation at the house of Mr. Mischief, who yet is aliveand hath his place in our desirable town of Mansoul. '

When Mr. Profane (for he was the carrier) was come with his letterto 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 hadbrought from the Diabolonians in Mansoul. So he carried it in, andpresented 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 newsfrom Mansoul. So the letter was broken up and read, and Cerberushe stood by. When the letter was openly read, and the contentsthereof spread into all the corners of the den, command was giventhat, without let or stop, dead-man's bell should be rung for joy. So the bell was rung, and the princes rejoiced that Mansoul waslikely to come to ruin. Now, the clapper of the bell went, 'Thetown of Mansoul is coming to dwell with us: make room for the townof Mansoul. ' This bell therefore they did ring, because they didhope that they should have Mansoul again. 

Now, when they had performed this their horrible ceremony, they gottogether again to consult what answer to send to their friends inMansoul; and some advised one thing, and some another: but atlength, because the business required haste, they left the wholebusiness to the prince Diabolus, judging him the most proper lordof the place. So he drew up a letter as he thought fit, in answerto what Mr. Profane had brought, and sent it to the Diaboloniansthat did dwell in Mansoul, by the same hand that had brought theirsto him; and these were the contents thereof:-

'To our offspring, the high and mighty Diabolonians that yet dwellin the town of Mansoul, Diabolus, the great prince of Mansoul, wisheth a prosperous issue and conclusion of those many braveenterprises, conspiracies, and designs, that you, of your love andrespect to our honour, have in your hearts to attempt to do againstMansoul. 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, bythe hand of our trusty Mr. Profane; and to show how acceptable yourtidings were, we rang out our bell for gladness; for we rejoiced asmuch as we could, when we perceived that yet we had friends inMansoul, and such as sought our honour and revenge in the ruin ofthe town of Mansoul. We also rejoiced to hear that they are in adegenerated condition, and that they have offended their Prince, and that he is gone. Their sickness also pleaseth us, as does alsoyour health, might, and strength. Glad also would we be, righthorribly 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 yourbrave 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 putall your foes to the sword, and will make you the great lords andcaptains 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 comewith more strength, and so lay far more fast hold than at the firstwe 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, andendeavour to spy out the weakness of the town of Mansoul. We alsowould that you yourselves do attempt to weaken them more and more. Send us word also by what means you think we had best to attemptthe regaining thereof: namely, whether by persuasion to a vain andloose life; or, whether by tempting them to doubt and despair; or, whether by blowing up of the town by the gunpowder of pride, andself-conceit. Do you also, O ye brave Diabolonians, and true sonsof the pit, be always in a readiness to make a most hideous assaultwithin, when we shall be ready to storm it without. Now speed youin your project, and we in our desires, to the utmost power of ourgates, which is the wish of your great Diabolus, Mansoul's enemy, and him that trembles when he thinks of judgment to come. All theblessings 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 princesof darkness, to be sent, to the force and power that we have yetremaining in Mansoul, by the hand of Mr. Profane, by me, Diabolus. '

This letter, as was said, was sent to Mansoul, to the Diaboloniansthat yet remained there, and that yet inhabited the wall, from thedark dungeon of Diabolus, by the hand of Mr. Profane, by whom theyalso in Mansoul sent theirs to the pit. Now, when this Mr. Profanehad made his return, and was come to Mansoul again, he went andcame as he was wont to the house of Mr. Mischief, for there was theconclave, and the place where the contrivers were met. Now, whenthey saw that their messenger was returned safe and sound, theywere greatly gladded thereat. Then he presented them with hisletter which he had brought from Diabolus for them; the which, whenthey had read and considered, did much augment their gladness. They asked him after the welfare of their friends, as how theirLord Diabolus, Lucifer, and Beelzebub did, with the rest of thoseof the den. To which this Profane made answer, 'Well, well, mylords; they are well, even as well as can be in their place. Theyalso, ' said he, 'did ring for joy at the reading of your letter, asyou well perceived by this when you read it. '

Now, as was said, when they had read their letter, and perceivedthat it encouraged them in their work, they fell to their way ofcontriving again, namely, how they might complete their Diaboloniandesign upon Mansoul. And the first thing that they agreed upon wasto keep all things from Mansoul as close as they could. 'Let itnot be known, let not Mansoul be acquainted with what we designagainst it. ' The next thing was, how, or by what means, theyshould try to bring to pass the ruin and overthrow of Mansoul; andone said after this manner, and another said after that. Thenstood up Mr. Deceit, and said, 'My right Diabolonian friends, ourlords, and the high ones of the deep dungeon, do propound unto usthese three ways. 

'1. Whether we had best to seek its ruin by making Mansoul looseand vain. 

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

'3. Or whether by endeavouring to blow them up by the gunpowder ofpride and self-conceit. 

'Now, I think, if we shall tempt them to pride, that may dosomething; and if we tempt them to wantonness, that may help. But, in my mind, if we could drive them into desperation, that wouldknock the nail on the head; for then we should have them, in thefirst place, question the truth of the love of the heart of theirPrince towards them, and that will disgust him much. This, if itworks well, will make them leave off quickly their way of sendingpetitions to him; then farewell earnest solicitations for help andsupply; for then this conclusion lies naturally before them, "Asgood do nothing, as do to no purpose. "' So to Mr. Deceit theyunanimously did consent. 

Then the next question was, But how shall we do to bring this ourproject to pass? and it was answered by the same gentleman--thatthis might be the best way to do it: 'Even let, ' quoth he, 'somany of our friends as are willing to venture themselves for thepromoting of their prince's cause, disguise themselves withapparel, change their names, and go into the market like farcountry-men, and proffer to let themselves for servants to thefamous town of Mansoul, and let them pretend to do for theirmasters as beneficially as may be; for by so doing they may, ifMansoul shall hire them, in little time so corrupt and defile thecorporation, that her now Prince shall be not only further offendedwith them, but in conclusion shall spue them out of his mouth. Andwhen this is done, our prince Diabolus shall prey upon them withease: yea, of themselves they shall fall into the mouth of thecater. '

This project was no sooner propounded, but was as highly accepted, and forward were all Diabolonians now to engage in so delicate anenterprise: but it was not thought fit that all should do thus;wherefore they pitched upon two or three, namely, the LordCovetousness, the Lord Lasciviousness, and the Lord Anger. TheLord 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 lustyfellows they were to look on, and they were clothed in sheep'srusset, which was also now in a manner as white as were the whiterobes of the men of Mansoul. Now the men could speak the languageof Mansoul well. So when they were come into the market-place, andhad offered to let themselves to the townsmen, they were presentlytaken up; for they asked but little wages, and promised to do theirmasters 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, andcould not so soon get him a master as the others did, because thetown of Mansoul was now in Lent, but after a while, because Lentwas almost out, the Lord Willbewill hired Harmless-Mirth to be bothhis waiting man and his lackey: and thus they got them masters. 

 These villains now being got thus far into the houses of the menof Mansoul, quickly began to do great mischief therein; for, beingfilthy, arch, and sly, they quickly corrupted the families wherethey were; yea, they tainted their masters much, especially thisPrudent-Thrifty, and him they call Harmless-Mirth. True, he thatwent under the visor of Good-Zeal, was not so well liked of hismaster; for he quickly found that he was but a counterfeit rascal;the which when the fellow perceived, with speed he made his escapefrom 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 placethey considered with themselves at what time their prince Diaboluswithout, and themselves within the town, should make an attempt toseize upon Mansoul; and they all agreed upon this, that a market-day would be best for that work; for why? Then will the townsfolkbe busy in their ways: and always take this for a rule, whenpeople are most busy in the world, they least fear a surprise. 'Wealso then, ' said they, 'shall be able with less suspicion to gatherourselves together for the work of our friends and lords; yea, andin 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 thecrowd, and escape. '

These things being thus far agreed upon by them, they wrote anotherletter to Diabolus, and sent it by the hand to Mr. Profane, thecontents of which were these:-

'The lords of Looseness send to the great and high Diabolus fromour dens, caves, holes, and strongholds, in and about the wall ofthe town of Mansoul, greeting:

'Our great lord, and the nourisher of our lives, Diabolus--how gladwe were when we heard of your fatherhood's readiness to comply withus, and help forward our design in our attempts to ruin Mansoul, none can tell but those who, as we do, set themselves against allappearance of good, when and wheresoever we find it. 

'Touching the encouragement that your greatness is pleased to giveus to continue to devise, contrive, and study the utter desolationof Mansoul, that we are not solicitous about: for we know rightwell that it cannot but be pleasing and profitable to us to see ourenemies, and them that seek our lives, die at our feet, or flybefore us. We therefore are still contriving, and that to the bestof our cunning, to make this work most facile and easy to yourlordships, 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 gunpowderof pride would do well, and to do it by tempting them to be looseand vain will help on, yet to contrive to bring them into the gulfof desperation, we think will do best of all. Now we, who are atyour beck, have thought or two ways to do this: first we, for ourparts, will make them as vile as we can, and then you with us, at atime appointed, shall be ready to fall upon them with the utmostforce. And of all the nations that are at your whistle, we thinkthat an army of doubters may be the most likely to attack andovercome the town of Mansoul. Thus shall we overcome theseenemies, else the pit shall open her mouth upon them, anddesperation shall thrust them down into it. We have also, toeffect this so much by us desired design, sent already three of ourtrusty Diabolonians among them; they are disguised in garb, theyhave changed their names, and are now accepted of them; namely, Covetousness, Lasciviousness, and Anger. The name of Covetousnessis changed to Prudent-Thrifty, and him Mr. Mind has hired, and isalmost become as bad as our friend. Lasciviousness has changed hisname to Harmless-Mirth, and he is got to be the Lord Willbewill'slackey; but he has made his master very wanton. Anger changed hisname into Good-Zeal, and was entertained by Mr. Godly-Fear; but thepeevish old gentleman took pepper in the nose, and turned ourcompanion out of his house. Nay, he has informed us since that heran away from him, or else his old master had hanged him up for hislabour. 

'Now these have much helped forward our work and design uponMansoul; for notwithstanding the spite and quarrelsome temper ofthe old gentleman last mentioned, the other two ply their businesswell, and are likely to ripen the work apace. 

'Our next project is, that it be concluded that you come upon thetown upon a market-day, and that when they are upon the heat oftheir business; for then, to be sure, they will be most secure, andleast think that an assault will be made upon them. They will alsoat such a time be less able to defend themselves, and to offend youin the prosecution of our design. And we your trusty (and we aresure your beloved) ones shall, when you shall make your furiousassault without, be ready to second the business within. So shallwe, in all likelihood, be able to put Mansoul to utter confusion, and to swallow them up before they can come to themselves. If yourserpentine heads, most subtile dragons, and our highly esteemedlords can find out a better way than this, let us quickly know yourminds. 

'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 hellishDiabolonians 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 withinthem afresh; and also because, though they had by many petitionsmade suit to the Prince Emmanuel, and to his Father Shaddai by him, for their pardon and favour, yet hitherto obtained they not onesmile; but contrariwise, through the craft and subtilty of thedomestic Diabolonians, their cloud was made to grow blacker andblacker, and their Emmanuel to stand at further distance. 

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

By this time the letter last mentioned, that was written by theDiabolonians that yet lurked in the town of Mansoul, was conveyedto Diabolus in the black den, by the hand of Mr. Profane. Hecarried the letter by Hell-Gate Hill as afore, and conveyed it byCerberus to his lord. 

But when Cerberus and Mr. Profane did meet, they were presently asgreat 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 Hillagain? By St. Mary, I am glad to see thee!'

Prof. Yes, my lord, I am come again about the concerns of the townof Mansoul. 

Cerb. Prithee, tell me what condition is that town of Mansoul inat present?

Prof. In a brave condition, my lord, for us, and for my lords, thelords of this place, I trow for they are greatly decayed as togodliness, and that is as well as our heart can wish; their Lord isgreatly out with them, and that doth also please us well. We havealready also a foot in their dish, for our Diabolonian friends arelaid in their bosoms, and what do we lack but to be masters of theplace! Besides, our trusty friends in Mansoul are daily plottingto betray it to the lords of this town; also the sickness ragesbitterly among them; and that which makes up all, we hope at lastto 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 successdesired may be soon effected: yea, I wish it for the poorDiabolonians' sakes, that live in the continual fear of their livesin that traitorous town of Mansoul. '

Prof. The contrivance is almost finished, the lords in Mansoulthat are Diabolonians are at it day and night, and the other arelike silly doves; they want heart to be concerned with their stateand to consider that ruin is at hand. Besides you may, yea, mustthink, when you put all things together, that there are manyreasons 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 thywelcome 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 beenmade glad with thy letter. ' The rest of the lords of the pit gavehim also their salutations. Then Profane, after obeisance made tothem all, said, 'Let Mansoul be given to my lord Diabolus, and lethim be her king for ever. ' And with that, the hollow belly andyawning gorge of hell gave so loud and hideous a groan, (for thatis the music of that place, ) that it made the mountains about ittotter, as if they would fall in pieces. 

Now, after they had read and considered the letter, they consultedwhat answer to return; and the first that did speak to it wasLucifer. 

Then said he, 'The first project of the Diabolonians in Mansoul islikely to be lucky, and to take; namely, that they will, by all theways and means they can, make Mansoul yet more vile and filthy: noway to destroy a soul like this. Our old friend Balaam went thisway and prospered many years ago; let this therefore stand with usfor 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 hopethat this town has no share. But whether to fall upon them on amarket-day, because of their cumber in business, that I wouldshould be under debate. And there is more reason why this headshould be debated, than why some other should; because upon thiswill turn the whole of what we shall attempt. If we time not ourbusiness well, our whole project may fail. Our friends, theDiabolonians, say that a market-day is best; for then will Mansoulbe most busy, and have fewest thoughts of a surprise. But what ifalso they should double their guards on those days? (and methinksnature and reason should teach them to do it;) and what if theyshould keep such a watch on those days as the necessity of theirpresent case doth require? yea, what if their men should be alwaysin arms on those days? then you may, my lords, be disappointed inyour attempts, and may bring our friends in the town to utterdanger of unavoidable ruin. '

Then said the great Beelzebub, 'There is something in what my lordhath said; but his conjecture may, or may not fall out. Nor hathmy lord laid it down as that which must not be receded from; for Iknow that he said it only to provoke to a warm debate thereabout. Therefore we must understand, if we can, whether the town ofMansoul has such sense and knowledge of her decayed state, and ofthe design that we have on foot against her, as doth provoke her toset 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 myjudgment in this case. '

Then quoth Diabolus, 'How should we know this?' and it wasanswered, 'Inquire about it at the mouth of Mr. Profane. ' SoProfane was called in, and asked the question, and he made hisanswer as follows:-

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

Diab. I am glad that they are backward in a reformation, but yet Iam afraid of their petitioning. However, their looseness of lifeis a sign that there is not much heart in what they do, and withoutthe heart things are little worth. But go on, my masters; I willdivert you, my lords, no longer. 

Beel. If the case be so with Mansoul, as Mr. Profane has describedit to be, it will be no great matter what day we assault it; nottheir prayers, nor their power will do them much service. 

When Beelzebub had ended his oration, then Apollyon did begin. 'Myopinion, ' said he, 'concerning this matter, is, that we go on fairand softly, not doing things in a hurry. Let our friends inMansoul go on still to pollute and defile it, by seeking to draw ityet more into sin (for there is nothing like sin to devourMansoul). If this be done, and it takes effect, Mansoul, ofitself, will leave off to watch, to petition, or anything else thatshould tend to her security and safety; for she will forget herEmmanuel, she will not desire his company, and can she be gottenthus to live, her Prince will not come to her in haste. Our trustyfriend, Mr. Carnal-Security, with one of his tricks did drive himout of the town; and why may not my Lord Covetousness, and my LordLasciviousness, by what they may do, keep him out of the town? Andthis I will tell you, (not because you know it not, ) that two orthree Diabolonians, if entertained and countenanced by the town ofMansoul, will do more to the keeping of Emmanuel from them, andtowards making the town of Mansoul your own, than can an army of alegion that should be sent out from us to withstand him. Let, therefore, this first project that our friends in Mansoul have seton foot, be strongly and diligently carried on, with all cunningand craft imaginable; and let them send continually, under oneguise or another, more and other of their men to play with thepeople of Mansoul; and then, perhaps, we shall not need to be atthe charge of making a war upon them; or if that must of necessitybe 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 shallovercome them. And besides, suppose (and that is the worst thatcan be supposed) that Emmanuel should come to them again, why maynot 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 drivenfrom them for ever, for the sake of which he was at the firstdriven from them for a season? And if this should happen, thenaway 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 ownaccord open her gates again unto you, and make of you as in thedays of old? But this must be done by time, a few days will noteffect so great a work as this. '

So soon as Apollyon had made an end of speaking, Diabolus began toblow 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, Ihave with much impatience, as becomes me, given ear to your longand tedious orations. But my furious gorge, and empty paunch, solusteth after a repossession of my famous town of Mansoul, thatwhatever comes out, I can wait no longer to see the events oflingering projects. I must, and that without further delay, seek, by all means I can, to fill my insatiable gulf with the soul andbody of the town of Mansoul. Therefore lend me your heads, yourhearts, and your help, now I am going to recover my town ofMansoul. '

When the lords and princes of the pit saw the flaming desire thatwas in Diabolus to devour the miserable town of Mansoul, they leftoff to raise any more objections, but consented to lend him whatstrength they could, though had Apollyon's advice been taken, theyhad far more fearfully distressed the town of Mansoul. But, I say, they were willing to lend him what strength they could, not knowingwhat need they might have of him, when they should engage forthemselves, as he. Wherefore they fell to advising about the nextthing propounded, namely, what soldiers they were, and also howmany, with whom Diabolus should go against the town of Mansoul totake it; and after some debate, it was concluded, according as inthe letter the Diabolonians had suggested, that none were more fitfor that expedition than an army of terrible doubters. Theytherefore concluded to send against Mansoul an army of sturdydoubters. The number thought fit to be employed in that servicewas between twenty and thirty thousand. So then the result of thatgreat council of those high and mighty lords was--That Diabolusshould even now, out of hand, beat up his drum for men in the landof Doubting, which land lieth upon the confines of the place calledHell-Gate Hill, for men that might be employed by him against themiserable town of Mansoul. It was also concluded, that these lordsthemselves should help him in the war, and that they would to thatend head and manage his men. So they drew up a letter, and sentback to the Diabolonians that lurked in Mansoul, and that waitedfor the back-coming of Mr. Profane, to signify to them into whatmethod and forwardness they at present had put their design. Thecontents whereof now follow:-

'From the dark and horrible dungeon of hell, Diabolus with all thesociety of the princes of darkness, sends to our trusty ones, inand about the walls of the town of Mansoul, now impatiently waitingfor our most devilish answer to their venomous and most poisonousdesign against the town of Mansoul. 

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

'We could also do no less than admire your faithfulness to us, withthe greatness of that subtilty that now hath showed itself to be inyour heads to serve us against the town of Mansoul. For you haveinvented for us so excellent a method for our proceeding againstthat rebellious people, a more effectual cannot be thought of byall the wits of hell. The proposals, therefore, which now, atlast, you have sent us, since we saw them, we have done little elsebut 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 princesand principalities of this place, your project was discoursed andtossed from one side of our cave to the other by theirmightinesses; but a better, and as was by themselves judged, a morefit and proper way by all their wits, could not be invented, tosurprise, take, and make our own, the rebellious town of Mansoul. 

'Wherefore, in fine, all that was said that varied from what youhad in your letter propounded, fell of itself to the ground, andyours only was stuck to by Diabolus, the prince; yea, his gapinggorge and yawning paunch was on fire to put your invention intoexecution. 

'We therefore give you to understand that our stout, furious, andunmerciful Diabolus is raising, for your relief, and the ruin ofthe rebellious town of Mansoul, more than twenty thousand doubtersto come against that people. They are all stout and sturdy men, and men that of old have been accustomed to war, and that cantherefore well endure the drum. I say, he is doing this work ofhis with all the possible speed he can; for his heart and spirit isengaged in it. We desire, therefore, that, as you have hithertostuck to us, and given us both advice and encouragement thus far, you still will prosecute our design; nor shall you lose, but begainers thereby; yea, we intend to make you the lords of Mansoul. 

'One thing may not by any means be omitted, that is, those with usdo desire that every one of you that are in Mansoul would still useall your power, cunning, and skill, with delusive persuasions, yetto draw the town of Mansoul into more sin and wickedness, even thatsin may be finished and bring forth death. 

'For thus it is concluded with us, that the more vile, sinful, anddebauched the town of Mansoul is, more backward will be theirEmmanuel to come to their help, either by presence or other relief;yea, the more sinful, the more weak, and so the more unable willthey be to make resistance when we shall make our assault upon themto swallow them up. Yea, that may cause that their mighty Shaddaihimself may cast them out of his protection; yea, and send for hiscaptains and soldiers home, with his slings and rams, and leavethem naked and bare; and then the town of Mansoul will of itselfopen 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 uponher and overcome her. 

'As to the time of our coming upon Mansoul, we, as yet, have notfully resolved upon that, though at present some of us think asyou, that a market-day, or a market-day at night, will certainly bethe best. However, do you be ready, and when you shall hear ourroaring drum without, do you be as busy to make the most horribleconfusion within. So shall Mansoul certainly be distressed beforeand behind, and shall not know which way to betake herself forhelp. My Lord Lucifer, my Lord Beelzebub, my Lord Apollyon, myLord Legion, with the rest, salute you, as does also my LordDiabolus; and we wish both you, with all that you do, or shallpossess, the very self-same fruit and success for their doing as weourselves 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 ashellishly prosperous as we desire to be ourselves. By the letter-carrier, Mr. Profane. '

Then Mr. Profane addressed himself for his return to Mansoul, withhis errand from the horrible pit to the Diabolonians that dwelt inthat town. So he came up the stairs from the deep to the mouth ofthe cave where Cerberus was. Now when Cerberus saw him, he askedhow did matters go below, about and against the town of Mansoul. 

Prof. Things go as well as we can expect. The letter that Icarried thither was highly approved, and well liked by all mylords, and I am returning to tell our Diabolonians so. I have ananswer to it here in my bosom, that I am sure will make our mastersthat sent me glad; for the contents thereof are to encourage themto pursue their design to the utmost, and to be ready also to fallon within, when they shall see my Lord Diabolus beleaguering thetown of Mansoul. 

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

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

Then was Cerberus glad, and said, 'And is there such bravepreparations 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 Imight also show my valour against the famous town of Mansoul. '

Prof. Your wish may come to pass; you look like one that hasmettle enough, and my lord will have with him those that arevaliant and stout. But my business requires haste. 

Cerb. Ay, so it does. Speed thee to the town of Mansoul, with allthe deepest mischiefs that this place can afford thee. And whenthou shalt come to the house of Mr. Mischief, the place where theDiabolonians meet to plot, tell them that Cerberus doth wish themhis service, and that if he may, he will with the army come upagainst the famous town of Mansoul. 

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

So after a few more such kind of compliments, Mr. Profane took hisleave of his friend Cerberus; and Cerberus again, with a thousandof their pit-wishes, bid him haste, with all speed, to his masters. The which when he had heard, he made obeisance, and began to gatherup his heels to run. 

Thus, therefore, he returned, and went and came to Mansoul; andgoing, as afore, to the house of Mr. Mischief, there he found theDiabolonians assembled, and waiting for his return. Now when hewas come, and had presented himself, he also delivered to them hisletter, and adjoined this compliment to them therewith: 'My lords, from the confines of the pit, the high and mighty principalitiesand powers of the den salute you here, the true Diabolonians of thetown of Mansoul. Wishing you always the most proper of theirbenedictions, for the great service, high attempts, and braveachievements that you have put yourselves upon, for the restoringto our prince Diabolus the famous town of Mansoul. '

This was therefore the present state of the miserable town ofMansoul: she had offended her Prince, and he was gone; she hadencouraged the powers of hell, by her foolishness, to come againsther 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, butEmmanuel was gone, and her cries did not fetch him as yet again. Besides, she knew not now whether, ever or never, he would returnand come to his Mansoul again; nor did they know the power andindustry of the enemy, nor how forward they were to put inexecution 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 theyregarded iniquity in their heart, their King would not hear theirprayer; they therefore did still grow weaker and weaker, and wereas a rolling thing before the whirlwind. They cried to their Kingfor help, and laid Diabolonians in their bosoms: what thereforeshould a King do to them? Yea, there seemed now to be a mixture inMansoul; the Diabolonians and the Mansoulians would walk thestreets together. Yea, they began to seek their peace; for theythought that, since the sickness had been so mortal in Mansoul, itwas in vain to go to handygripes with them. Besides, the weaknessof Mansoul was the strength of their enemies; and the sins ofMansoul, the advantage of the Diabolonians. The foes of Mansouldid also now begin to promise themselves the town for a possession:there was no great difference now betwixt Mansoulians andDiabolonians: both seemed to be masters of Mansoul. Yea, theDiabolonians increased and grew, but the town of Mansoul diminishedgreatly. There were more than eleven thousand men, women, andchildren 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 hismanner was, did go listening up and down in Mansoul to see, and tohear, if at any time he might, whether there was any design againstit or no. For he was always a jealous man, and feared somemischief sometime would befal it, either from the Diabolonianswithin, or from some power without. Now upon a time it sohappened, as Mr. Prywell went listening here and there, that helighted upon a place called Vilehill, in Mansoul, whereDiabolonians used to meet; so hearing a muttering, (you must knowthat it was in the night, ) he softly drew near to hear; nor had hestood long under the house-end, (for there stood a house there, )but he heard one confidently affirm, that it was not, or would notbe long before Diabolus should possess himself again of Mansoul;and that then the Diabolonians did intend to put all Mansoulians tothe sword, and would kill and destroy the King's captains, anddrive all his soldiers out of the town. He said, moreover, that heknew there were above twenty thousand fighting men prepared byDiabolus for the accomplishing of this design, and that it wouldnot be months before they all should see it. 

When Mr. Prywell had heard this story, he did quickly believe itwas true: wherefore he went forthwith to my Lord Mayor's house, and acquainted him therewith; who, sending for the subordinatepreacher, brake the business to him; and he as soon gave the alarmto 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 waythat the subordinate preacher did take to alarm the town therewith. The same hour he caused the lecture bell to be rung; so the peoplecame together: he gave them then a short exhortation towatchfulness, 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 alover of Mansoul, a sober and judicious man, a man that is notattler, nor raiser of false reports, but one that loves to lookinto the very bottom of matters, and talks nothing of news, but byvery solid arguments. 

'I will call him, and you shall hear him your own selves;' so hecalled him, and he came and told his tale so punctually, andaffirmed its truth with such ample grounds, that Mansoul fellpresently under a conviction of the truth of what he said. Thepreacher did also back him, saying, 'Sirs, it is not irrational forus to believe it, for we have provoked Shaddai to anger, and havesinned Emmanuel out of the town; we have had too muchcorrespondence with Diabolonians, and have forsaken our formermercies: no marvel then, if the enemy both within and withoutshould 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 weakthereby. Many a good meaning man is dead, and the Diabolonians oflate grow stronger and stronger. 

'Besides, ' quoth the subordinate preacher, 'I have received fromthis good truth-teller this one inkling further, that he understoodby those that he overheard, that several letters have lately passedbetween the furies and the Diabolonians in order to ourdestruction. ' When Mansoul heard all this, and not being able togainsay it, they lift up their voice and wept. Mr. Prywell didalso, in the presence of the townsmen, confirm all that theirsubordinate preacher had said. Wherefore they now set afresh tobewail their folly, and to a doubling of petitions to Shaddai andhis Son. They also brake the business to the captains, highcommanders, and men of war in the town of Mansoul, entreating themto use the means to be strong, and to take good courage; and thatthey would look after their harness, and make themselves ready togive Diabolus battle by night and by day, shall he come, as theyare informed he will, to beleaguer the town of Mansoul. 

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

1. That the gates of Mansoul should be kept shut, and made fastwith bars and locks, and that all persons that went out, or camein, should be very strictly examined by the captains of the guards, 'to the end, ' said they, 'that those that are managers of the plotamongst us, may, either coming or going, be taken; and that we mayalso find out who are the great contrivers, amongst us, of ourruin. '

2. The next thing was, that a strict search should be made for allkind of Diabolonians throughout the whole town of Mansoul; and thatevery man's house from top to bottom should be looked into, andthat, too, house by house, that if possible a further discoverymight be made of all such among them as had a hand in thesedesigns. 

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

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

5. It was further concluded then, that with what speed, and withwhat warmth of mind they could, they would renew their humiliationfor sin, and their petitions to Shaddai for help; they alsoresolved, to send tidings to the court of all that Mr. Prywell hadtold them. 

6. It was also determined, that thanks should be given by the townof Mansoul to Mr. Prywell, for his diligent seeking of the welfareof their town: and further, that forasmuch as he was so naturallyinclined to seek their good, and also to undermine their foes, theygave him a commission of scout-master-general, for the good of thetown of Mansoul. 

When the corporation, with their captains, had thus concluded, theydid as they had said; they shut up their gates, they made forDiabolonians strict search, they made those with whom any werefound to take penance in the open place: they kept their fast, andrenewed their petitions to their Prince, and Mr. Prywell managedhis charge and the trust that Mansoul had put in his hands, withgreat conscience and good fidelity; for he gave himself wholly upto his employ, and that not only within the town, but he went outto pry, to see, and to hear. 

And not many days after he provided for his journey, and wenttowards Hell-Gate Hill, into the country where the Doubters were, where he heard of all that had been talked of in Mansoul, and heperceived also that Diabolus was almost ready for his march, etc. So he came back with speed, and, calling the captains and elders ofMansoul together, he told them where he had been, what he hadheard, and what he had seen. Particularly, he told them thatDiabolus was almost ready for his march, and that he had made oldMr. Incredulity, that once brake prison in Mansoul, the, general ofhis army; that his army consisted all of Doubters, and that theirnumber was above twenty thousand. He told, moreover, that Diabolusdid intend to bring with him the chief princes of the infernal pit, and that he would make them chief captains over his Doubters. Hetold them, moreover, that it was certainly true that several of theblack den would, with Diabolus, ride reformades to reduce the townof Mansoul to the obedience of Diabolus, their prince. 

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

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

Now, when the captains of Mansoul, with the elders of the town, hadheard the tidings that Mr. Prywell did bring, they thought itexpedient, without further delay, to put into execution the lawsthat against the Diabolonians their Prince had made for them, andgiven them in commandment to manage against them. Wherefore, forthwith a diligent and impartial search was made in all houses inMansoul, for all and all manner of Diabolonians. Now, in the houseof Mr. Mind, and in the house of the great Lord Willbewill, weretwo Diabolonians found. In Mr. Mind's house was one LordCovetousness found; but he had changed his name to Prudent-Thrifty. In my Lord Willbewill's house, one Lasciviousness was found; but hehad changed his name to Harmless-Mirth. These two the captains andelders of the town of Mansoul took, and committed them to custodyunder the hand of Mr. Trueman, the gaoler; and this man handledthem so severely, and loaded them so well with irons, that in timethey both fell into a very deep consumption, and died in theprison-house; their masters also, according to the agreement of thecaptains and elders, were brought to take penance in the open placeto their shame, and for a warning to the rest of the town ofMansoul. 

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

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

But Mansoul did now with so stiff an hand rule over theDiabolonians that were left, that they were glad to shrink intocorners: time was when they durst walk openly, and in the day; butnow they were forced to embrace privacy and the night: time waswhen a Mansoulian was their companion; but now they counted themdeadly enemies. This good change did Mr. Prywell's intelligencemake in the famous town of Mansoul. 

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

1. Their first captain was Captain Rage: he was captain over theelection doubters, his were the red colours; his standard-bearerwas Mr. Destructive, and the great red dragon he had for hisscutcheon. 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

These were his captains, and these were their forces, these weretheir standards, these were their colours, and these were theirscutcheons. Now, over these did the great Diabolus make superiorcaptains, and they were in number seven: as, namely, the LordBeelzebub, the Lord Lucifer, the Lord Legion, the Lord Apollyon, the Lord Python, the Lord Cerberus, and the Lord Belial; theseseven he set over the captains, and Incredulity was lord-general, and, Diabolus was king. The reformades also, such as were likethemselves, were made some of them captains of hundreds, and someof them captains of more. And thus was the army of Incredulitycompleted. 

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

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

When Diabolus was come up against the town, first he made hisapproach to Ear-gate, and gave it a furious assault, supposing, asit seems, that his friends in Mansoul had been ready to do the workwithin; but care was taken of that before, by the vigilance of thecaptains. Wherefore, missing of the help that he expected fromthem, and finding his army warmly attended with the stones that theslingers did sling, (for that I will say for the captains, thatconsidering the weakness that yet was upon them by reason of thelong sickness that had annoyed the town of Mansoul, they didgallantly behave themselves, ) he was forced to make some retreatfrom Mansoul, and to entrench himself and his men in the fieldwithout the reach of the slings of the town. 

Now having entrenched himself, he did cast up four mounts againstthe town: the first he called Mount Diabolus, putting his own namethereon, the more to affright the town of Mansoul; the other threehe called thus--Mount Alecto, Mount Megara, and Mount Tisiphone;for these are the names of the dreadful furies of hell. Thus hebegan to play his game with Mansoul, and to serve it as doth thelion his prey, even to make it fall before his terror. But, as Isaid, the captains and soldiers resisted so stoutly, and did dosuch execution with their stones, that they made him, thoughagainst stomach, to retreat, wherefore Mansoul began to takecourage. 

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

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

So this drummer did as commanded: he arose, and did beat 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 theheaven thereof. ' No noise was ever heard upon earth more terrible, except the voice of Shaddai when he speaketh. But how did Mansoultremble! it now looked for nothing but forthwith to be swallowedup. 

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

When Diabolus saw that by drumming he could not work out Mansoul tohis will, the next night he sendeth his drummer without his drum, still to let the townsmen know that he had a mind to parley withthem. But when all came to all, his parley was turned into asummons to the town to deliver up themselves: but they gave himneither heed nor hearing: for they remembered what at first itcost them to hear him a few words. 

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

'O ye inhabitants of the rebellious town of Mansoul! I summon youin the name of the Prince Diabolus, that, without any more ado, youset open the gates of your town, and admit the great lord to comein. But if you shall still rebel, when we have taken to us thetown by force, we will swallow you up as the grave; wherefore ifyou will hearken to my summons, say so, and if not then let meknow. 

'The reason of this my summons, ' quoth he, 'is, for that my lord isyour undoubted prince and lord, as you yourselves have formerlyowned. Nor shall that assault that was given to my lord, whenEmmanuel dealt so dishonourably by him, prevail with him to losehis right, and to forbear to attempt to recover his own. Consider, then, O Mansoul, with thyself, wilt thou show thyself peaceable, orno? If thou shalt quietly yield up thyself, then our oldfriendship shall be renewed; but if thou shalt yet refuse andrebel, then expect nothing but fire and sword. '

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

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

1. That he would look comfortably upon them, and not keep himselfso much retired from them as formerly. Also, that he would beprevailed with to give them a hearing, while they should make knowntheir miserable condition to him. But to this he told them asbefore, that 'as yet he was but ill at ease, and therefore couldnot do as he had formerly done. '

2. The second thing that they desired was, that he would be pleasedto give them his advice about their now so important affairs, forthat Diabolus was come and set down before the town with no lessthan twenty thousand doubters. They said, moreover, that both heand 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, andthere see what is laid upon you to do. '

3. Then they desired that his highness would help them to frame apetition to Shaddai, and unto Emmanuel his Son, and that he wouldset his own hand thereto as a token that he was one with them init: 'For, ' said they, 'my Lord, many a one have we sent, but canget no answer of peace; but now, surely, one with thy hand unto itmay obtain good for Mansoul. '

But all the answer that he gave to this was, 'that they hadoffended their Emmanuel, and had also grieved himself, and thattherefore 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; yetthey durst not comply with the demands of Diabolus, nor with thedemands of his captain. So then here were the straits that thetown of Mansoul was betwixt, when the enemy came upon her: herfoes were ready to swallow her up, and her friends did forbear tohelp 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 ofthat seemingly bitter saying of the Lord Secretary; for thus hedescanted upon it: 'First, ' said he, 'this unavoidably followsupon 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 weshould be saved from our enemies, and that after a few moresorrows, Emmanuel will come and be our help. ' Now the Lord Mayorwas the more critical in his dealing with the Secretary's words, because my lord was more than a prophet, and because none of hiswords were such, but that at all times they were most exactlysignificant; and the townsmen were allowed to pry into them, and toexpound them to their best advantage. 

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

So all betook themselves forthwith to their places--the Captains totheirs, the Lord Mayor to his, the subordinate preacher to his, andmy Lord Willbewill to his. The captains longed to be at some workfor their prince; for they delighted in warlike achievements. Thenext day, therefore, they came together and consulted; and afterconsultation had, they resolved to give an answer to the captain ofDiabolus with slings; and so they did at the rising of the sun onthe morrow; for Diabolus had adventured to come nearer again, butthe sling-stones were to him and his like hornets. For as there isnothing to the town of Mansoul so terrible as the roaring ofDiabolus's drum, so there is nothing to Diabolus so terrible as thewell playing of Emmanuel's slings. Wherefore Diabolus was forcedto make another retreat, yet further off from the famous town ofMansoul. Then did the Lord Mayor of Mansoul cause the bells to berung, 'and that thanks should be sent to the Lord High Secretary bythe mouth of the subordinate preacher; for that by his words thecaptains and elders of Mansoul had been strengthened againstDiabolus. '

When Diabolus saw that his captains and soldiers, high lords andrenowned, were frightened, and beaten down by the stones that camefrom the golden slings of the Prince of the town of Mansoul, hebethought 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 nowwith his drum, nor with Captain Sepulchre; but having all besugaredhis lips, he seemed to be a very sweet-mouthed, peaceable prince, designing nothing for humour's sake, nor to be revenged on Mansoulfor injuries by them done to him; but the welfare, and good, andadvantage of the town and people therein was now, as he said, hisonly design. Wherefore, after he had called for audience, anddesired that the townsfolk would give it to him, he proceeded inhis oration, and said:-

'Oh, the desire of my heart, the famous town of Mansoul! how manynights have I watched, and how many weary steps have I taken, ifperhaps I might do thee good! Far be it, far be it from me todesire to make a war upon you; if ye will but willingly and quietlydeliver up yourselves unto me. You know that you were mine of old. Remember also, that so long as you enjoyed me for your lord, andthat I enjoyed you for my subjects, you wanted for nothing of allthe delights of the earth, that I, your lord and prince, could getfor you, or that I could invent to make you bonny and blithewithal. Consider, you never had so many hard, dark, troublesome, and heart-afflicting hours, while you were mine, as you have hadsince you revolted from me; nor shall you ever have peace again, until you and I become one as before. But, be but prevailed withto embrace me again, and I will grant, yea, enlarge your oldcharter with abundance of privileges; so that your license andliberty shall be to take, hold, enjoy, and make your own all thatis pleasant from the east to the west. Nor shall any of thoseincivilities, wherewith you have offended me, be ever charged uponyou by me, so long as the sun and moon endure. Nor shall any ofthose dear friends of mine that now, for the fear of you, lielurking in dens, and holes, and caves in Mansoul, be hurtful to youany more; yea, they shall be your servants, and shall minister untoyou of their substance, and of whatever shall come to hand. I needspeak no more; you know them, and have sometime since been muchdelighted in their company. Why, then, should we abide at suchodds? Let us renew our old acquaintance and friendship again. 

'Bear with your friend; I take the liberty at this time to speakthus freely unto you. The love that I have to you presses me to doit, as also does the zeal of my heart for my friends with you: putme not therefore to further trouble, nor yourselves to furtherfears and frights. Have you I will, in a way of peace or war; nordo you flatter yourselves with the power and force of yourcaptains, 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 thechief princes of the den are even at the head of it. Besides, mycaptains are swifter than eagles, stronger than lions, and moregreedy 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, toone of the least of my captains! How, then, shall Mansoul think toescape my hand and force?'

Diabolus having thus handed his flattering, fawning, deceitful, andlying speech to the famous town of Mansoul, the Lord Mayor repliedto him as follows: 'O Diabolus, prince of darkness, and master ofall deceit; thy lying flatteries we have had and made sufficientprobation of, and have tasted too deeply of that destructive cupalready. Should we therefore again hearken unto thee, and so breakthe commandments of our great Shaddai, to join in affinity withthee, 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 forthee be a place of rest for us? Besides, O thou that art empty andvoid of all truth, we are rather ready to die by thy hand, than tofall in with thy flattering and lying deceits. '

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

So he called for his drummer, who beat up for his men (and while hedid beat, Mansoul did shake) to be in a readiness to give battle tothe corporation: then Diabolus drew near with his army, and thusdisposed of his men. Captain Cruel and Captain Torment, these hedrew up and placed against Feel-gate, and commanded them to sitdown there for the war. And he also appointed that, if need were, Captain No-Ease should come in to their relief. At Nose-gate heplaced the Captain Brimstone and Captain Sepulchre, and bid themlook well to their ward, on that side of the town of Mansoul. Butat 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 ofDiabolus, and was also appointed to take into custody that, orthose persons and things, that should at any time as prey be takenfrom 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 atwhich the townsfolk did send their petitions to Emmanuel theirPrince. That also was the gate from the top of which the captainsdid play their slings at the enemies; for that gate stood somewhatascending, so that the placing of them there, and the letting ofthem fly from that place, did much execution against the tyrant'sarmy. 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 hisassault upon the town of Mansoul, without, so the captains andsoldiers in the corporation were as busy in preparing within; theymounted their slings, they set up their banners, they sounded theirtrumpets, and put themselves in such order as was judged most forthe annoyance of the enemy, and for the advantage of Mansoul, andgave to their soldiers orders to be ready at the sound of thetrumpet for war. The Lord Willbewill also, he took the charge ofwatching against the rebels within, and to do what he could to takethem while without, or to stifle them within their caves, dens, andholes 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 muchhonesty and bravery of spirit as any he in Mansoul; for he took oneJolly, and his brother Griggish, the two sons of his servantHarmless-Mirth, (for to that day, though the father was committedto 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. Andthis was the reason why he hanged them up: after their father wasput into the hands of Mr. True-Man the gaoler, they, his sons, began to play his pranks, and to be ticking and toying with thedaughters of their lord; nay, it was jealoused that they were toofamiliar with them, the which was brought to his lordship's ear. Now his lordship being unwilling unadvisedly to put any man todeath, did not suddenly fall upon them, but set watch and spies tosee if the thing was true; of the which he was soon informed, forhis two servants, whose names were Find-Out and Tell-All, catchedthem together in uncivil manner more than once or twice, and wentand told their lord. So when my Lord Willbewill had sufficientground to believe the thing was true, he takes the two youngDiabolonians, (for such they were, for their father was aDiabolonian born, ) and has them to Eye-gate, where he raised a veryhigh cross, just in the face of Diabolus, and of his army, andthere 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 greatlyabash Captain Past-Hope, discouraged the army of Diabolus, put fearinto the Diabolonian runagates in Mansoul, and put strength andcourage 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 Diabolonianswithin the town could not do such things as Diabolus had hopes theywould. Nor was this the only proof of the brave Lord Willbewill'shonesty to the town, nor of his loyalty to his Prince, as willafterwards appear. 

Now, when the children of Prudent-Thrifty, who dwelt with Mr. Mind, (for Thrift left children with Mr. Mind, when he was also committedto prison, and their names were Gripe and Rake-All; these he begatof Mr. Mind's bastard daughter, whose name was Mrs. Hold-fast-Bad;)--I say, when his children perceived how the Lord Willbewillhad served them that dwelt with him, what do they but, lest theyshould drink of the same cup, endeavour to make their escape. ButMr. Mind, being wary of it, took them and put them in hold in hishouse till morning; (for this was done over night;) and rememberingthat by the law of Mansoul all Diabolonians were to die, (and to besure they were at least by father's side such, and some say bymother's side too, ) what does he but takes them and puts them inchains, and carries them to the selfsame place where my lord hangedhis 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 theseDiabolonian troublers of Mansoul; but at that time the rest lay sosquat and close, that they could not be apprehended; so they setagainst them a diligent watch, and went every man to his place. 

I told you a little before, that Diabolus and his army weresomewhat abashed and discouraged at the sight of what my LordWillbewill did, when he hanged up those two young Diabolonians; buthis discouragement quickly turned itself into furious madness andrage against the town of Mansoul, and fight it he would. Also thetownsmen and captains within, they had their hopes and theirexpectations 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 atthe first, yet the victory should most certainly be Mansoul's atthe last. 

So Diabolus commanded that his drummer should beat a charge againstthe town; and the captains also that were in the town sounded acharge against them, but they had no drum: they were trumpets ofsilver with which they sounded against them. Then they which wereof the camp of Diabolus came down to the town to take it, and thecaptains in the castle, with the slingers at Mouth-gate, playedupon them amain. And now there was nothing heard in the camp ofDiabolus but horrible rage and blasphemy; but in the town goodwords, prayer, and singing of psalms. The enemy replied withhorrible objections, and the terribleness of their drum; but thetown made answer with the slapping of their slings, and themelodious noise of their trumpets. And thus the fight lasted forseveral days together, only now and then they had some smallintermission, in the which the townsmen refreshed themselves, andthe captains made ready for another assault. 

The captains of Emmanuel were clad in silver armour, and thesoldiers in that which was of proof; the soldiers of Diabolus wereclad 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, forthat Emmanuel at present was absent. Howbeit, with the leaves of atree the wounded were kept from dying; yet their wounds did greatlyputrefy, and some did grievously stink. Of the townsmen, thesewere wounded, namely, my Lord Reason; he was wounded in the head. Another that was wounded was the brave Lord Mayor; he was woundedin the eye. Another that was wounded was Mr. Mind; he received hiswound about the stomach. The honest subordinate preacher also, hereceived a shot not far off the heart but none of these weremortal. 

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

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

Many also of the doubters were slain outright, though enough ofthem were left alive to make Mansoul shake and totter. Now thevictory that day being turned to Mansoul, did put great valour intothe townsmen and captains, and did cover Diabolus's camp with acloud, but withal it made them far more furious. So the next dayMansoul rested, and commanded that the bells should be rung; thetrumpets also joyfully sounded, and the captains shouted round thetown. 

My Lord Willbewill also was not idle, but did notable servicewithin against the domestics, or the Diabolonians that were in thetown, not only by keeping them in awe, for he lighted on one atlast whose name was Mr. Anything, a fellow of whom mention was madebefore; for it was he, if you remember, that brought the threefellows to Diabolus, whom the Diabolonians took out of CaptainBoanerges's companies, and that persuaded them to list themselvesunder the tyrant, to fight against the army of Shaddai. My LordWillbewill did also take a notable Diabolonian, whose name wasLoose-Foot: this Loose-Foot was a scout to the vagabonds inMansoul, and that did use to carry tidings out of Mansoul to thecamp, and out of the camp to those of the enemies in Mansoul. Boththese my lord sent away safe to Mr. True-Man, the gaoler, with acommandment to keep them in irons; for he intended then to havethem out to be crucified, when it would be for the best to thecorporation, and most for the discouragement of the camp of theenemies. 

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

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

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

So the night appointed being come, the Prince's brave captains castlots who should lead the van in this new and desperate expeditionagainst Diabolus, and against his Diabolonian army; and the lotfell to Captain Credence, to Captain Experience, and to CaptainGood-Hope, to lead the forlorn hope. (This Captain Experience thePrince created such when himself did reside in the town ofMansoul. ) So, as I said, they made their sally out upon the armythat lay in the siege against them; and their hap was to fall inwith the main body of their enemies. Now Diabolus and his menbeing expertly accustomed to night-work, took the alarm presently, and were as ready to give them battle, as if they had sent themword of their coming. Wherefore to it they went amain, and blowswere hard on every side; the hell drum also was beat mostfuriously, while the trumpets of the Prince most sweetly sounded. And thus the battle was joined; and Captain Insatiable looked tothe enemy's carriages, and waited when he should receive some prey. 

The Prince's captains fought it stoutly, beyond what indeed couldbe expected they should; they wounded many; they made the wholearmy of Diabolus to make a retreat. But I cannot tell how, but thebrave Captain Credence, Captain Good-Hope, and Captain Experience, as they were upon the pursuit, cutting down, and following hardafter the enemy in the rear, Captain Credence stumbled and fell, bywhich fall he caught so great a hurt, that he could not rise tillCaptain Experience did help him up, at which their men were put indisorder. The captain also was so full of pain, that he could notforbear but aloud to cry out: at this, the other two captainsfainted, supposing that Captain Credence had received his mortalwound; their men also were more disordered, and had no list tofight. Now Diabolus being very observing, though at this time asyet he was put to the worst, perceiving that a halt was made amongthe men that were the pursuers, what does he but, taking it forgranted that the captains were either wounded or dead, he thereforemakes at first a stand, then faces about, and so comes up upon thePrince'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, CaptainCredence, Captain Good-Hope, and Captain Experience, and did cut, wound, and pierce them so dreadfully, that what throughdiscouragement, what through disorder, and what through the woundsthat they had received, and also the loss of much blood, theyscarce were able, though they had for their power the three besthands in Mansoul, to get safe into the hold again. 

Now, when the body of the Prince's army saw how these threecaptains were put to the worst, they thought it their wisdom tomake as safe and good a retreat as they could, and so returned bythe sally-port again; and so there was an end of this presentaction. But Diabolus was so flushed with this night's work, thathe promised himself, in few days, an easy and complete conquestover the town of Mansoul; wherefore, on the day following, he comesup 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 somewhatbrisk, as we shall show afterward. 

But the valiant Lord Mayor replied, that what he got he must get byforce; for as long as Emmanuel, their Prince, was alive, (though heat present was not so with them as they wished, ) they should neverconsent 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 poorinhabitants of the town of Mansoul are too well acquainted with thyrule and government, and with the end of those things that forcertain will follow submitting to thee, to do it. Wherefore thoughwhile we were without knowledge we suffered thee to take us, (asthe 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 alsobeen turned from the power of Satan to God. And though through thysubtlety, and also the subtlety of the Diabolonians within, we havesustained much loss, and also plunged ourselves into muchperplexity, yet give up ourselves, lay down our arms, and yield toso horrid a tyrant as thou, we shall not; die upon the place wechoose rather to do. Besides, we have hopes that in timedeliverance will come from court unto us, and therefore we yet willmaintain a war against thee. '

This brave speech of the Lord Willbewill, with that also of theLord Mayor, did somewhat abate the boldness of Diabolus, though itkindled the fury of his rage. It also succoured the townsmen andcaptains; yea, it was as a plaster to the brave Captain Credence'swound; for you must know that a brave speech now (when the captainsof the town with their men of war came home routed, and when theenemy took courage and boldness at the success that he had obtainedto draw up to the walls, and demand entrance, as he did) was inseason, and also advantageous. 

The Lord Willbewill also did play the man within; for while thecaptains and soldiers were in the field, he was in arms in thetown, and wherever by him there was a Diabolonian found, they wereforced to feel the weight of his heavy hand, and also the edge ofhis penetrating sword: many therefore of the Diabolonians hewounded, as the Lord Cavil, the Lord Brisk, the Lord Pragmatic, andthe Lord Murmur; several also of the meaner sort he did sorelymaim; though there cannot at this time an account be given you ofany that he slew outright. The cause, or rather the advantage thatmy Lord Willbewill had at this time to do thus, was for that thecaptains were gone out to fight the enemy in the field. 'For now, 'thought the Diabolonians within, 'is our time to stir and make anuproar in the town. ' What do they therefore but quickly getthemselves into a body, and fall forthwith to hurricaning inMansoul, as if now nothing but whirlwind and tempest should bethere. Wherefore, as I said, he takes this opportunity to fall inamong them with his men, cutting and slashing with courage that wasundaunted; at which the Diabolonians with all haste dispersedthemselves to their holds, and my lord to his place as before. 

This brave act of my lord did somewhat revenge the wrong done byDiabolus to the captains, and also did let them know that Mansoulwas not to be parted with for the loss of a victory or two;wherefore the wing of the tyrant was clipped again, as toboasting, --I mean in comparison of what he would have done, if theDiabolonians had put the town to the same plight to which he hadput 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 thenight, to make a fresh assault upon the town; and he gave it out inspecial that they should bend all their force against Feel-gate, and attempt to break into the town through that. The word thatthen 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, eitherwith some, or with all our force, let them that break in look toit, that they forget not the word. And let nothing be heard in thetown of Mansoul but, "Hell-fire! Hell-fire! Hell-fire!"' Thedrummer was also to beat without ceasing, and the standard-bearerswere to display their colours; the soldiers, too, were to put onwhat courage they could, and to see that they played manfully theirparts against the town. 

So when night was come, and all things by the tyrant made ready forthe work, he suddenly makes his assault upon Feel-gate, and afterhe had awhile struggled there, he throws the gate wide open: forthe truth is, those gates were but weak, and so most easily made toyield. When Diabolus had thus far made his attempt, he placed hiscaptains (namely, Torment and No-Ease) there; so he attempted topress forward, but the Prince's captains came down upon him, andmade his entrance more difficult than he desired. And, to speaktruth, they made what resistance they could; but the three of theirbest and most valiant captains being wounded, and by their woundsmade much incapable of doing the town that service they would, (andall the rest having more than their hands full of the doubters, andtheir captains that did follow Diabolus, ) they were overpoweredwith force, nor could they keep them out of the town. Whereforethe Prince's men and their captains betook themselves to thecastle, as to the stronghold of the town: and this they did partlyfor their own security, partly for the security of the town, andpartly, 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 thetown, and spreading themselves as they went into every corner, theycried out as they marched, according to the command of the tyrant, 'Hell-fire! Hell-fire! Hell-fire!' so that nothing for a whilethroughout the town of Mansoul could be heard but the direful noiseof 'Hell-fire!' together with the roaring of Diabolus's drum. Andnow did the clouds hang black over Mansoul, nor to reason didanything but ruin seem to attend it. Diabolus also quartered hissoldiers in the houses of the inhabitants of the town of Mansoul. Yea, the subordinate preacher's house was as full of theseoutlandish doubters as ever it could hold, and so was my LordMayor's, and my Lord Willbewill's also. Yea, where was there acorner, a cottage, a barn, or a hogstye, that now was not full ofthese vermin? Yea, they turned the men of the town out of theirhouses, and would lie in their beds, and sit at their tablesthemselves. 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 alsowere by them dashed in pieces; and those that were yet unborn theydestroyed in their mothers' wombs: for you must needs think thatit could not now be otherwise; for what conscience, what pity, whatbowels of compassion can any expect at the hands of outlandishdoubters? Many in Mansoul that were women, both young 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 everystreet, and in all by-places of the town. 

And now did Mansoul seem to be nothing but a den of dragons, anemblem of hell, and a place of total darkness. Now did Mansoul liealmost like the barren wilderness; nothing but nettles, briars, thorns, weeds, and stinking things seemed now to cover the face ofMansoul. I told you before, how that these Diabolonian doubtersturned the men of Mansoul out of their beds, and now I will add, they wounded them, they mauled them, yea, and almost brained manyof them. Many did I say, yea most, if not all of them. Mr. Conscience they so wounded, yea, and his wounds so festered, thathe could have no ease day nor night, but lay as if continually upona rack; but that Shaddai rules all, certainly they had slain himoutright. Mr. Lord Mayor they so abused that they almost put outhis eyes; and had not my Lord Willbewill got into the castle, theyintended to have chopped him all to pieces; for they did look uponhim, as his heart now stood, to be one of the very worst that wasin Mansoul against Diabolus and his crew. And indeed he hath shownhimself a man, and more of his exploits you will hear ofafterwards. 

Now, a man might have walked for days together in Mansoul, andscarcely have seen one in the town that looked like a religiousman. Oh, the fearful state of Mansoul now! now every cornerswarmed with outlandish doubters; red-coats and black-coats walkedthe town by clusters, and filled up all the houses with hideousnoises, vain songs, lying stories, and blasphemous language againstShaddai and his Son. Now also those Diabolonians that lurked inthe walls and dens and holes that were in the town of Mansoul, cameforth and showed themselves; yea, walked with open face in companywith the doubters that were in Mansoul. Yea, they had moreboldness now to walk the streets, to haunt the houses, and to showthemselves abroad, than had any of the honest inhabitants of thenow 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 forcesof Emmanuel: the townsmen did browbeat them what they could; nordid they partake or make stroy of any of the necessaries ofMansoul, but that which they seized on against the townsmen's will:what they could, they hid from them, and what they could not, theyhad with an ill-will. They, poor hearts! had rather have had theirroom than their company; but they were at present their captives, and their captives for the present they were forced to be. But, Isay, they discountenanced them as much as they were able, andshowed them all the dislike that they could. 

The captains also from the castle did hold them in continual playwith their slings, to the chafing and fretting of the minds of theenemies. True, Diabolus made a great many attempts to have brokenopen the gates of the castle, but Mr. Godly-Fear was made thekeeper of that; and he was a man of that courage, conduct, andvalour, that it was in vain, as long as life lasted within him, tothink to do that work, though mostly desired; wherefore all theattempts that Diabolus made against him were fruitless. I havewished sometimes that that man had had the whole rule of the townof Mansoul. 

Well, this was the condition of the town of Mansoul for about twoyears and a half: the body of the town was the seat of war, thepeople of the town were driven into holes, and the glory of Mansoulwas laid in the dust. What rest, then, could be to theinhabitants, what peace could Mansoul have, and what sun couldshine upon it? Had the enemy lain so long without in the plainagainst the town, it had been enough to have famished them: butnow, when they shall be within, when the town shall be their tent, their trench and fort against the castle that was in the town; whenthe town shall be against the town, and shall serve to be a defenceto the enemies of her strength and life: I say, when they shallmake use of the forts and town-holds to secure themselves in, eventill they shall take, spoil, and demolish the castle, --this wasterrible! and yet this was now the state of the town of Mansoul. 

After the town of Mansoul had been in this sad and lamentablecondition, for so long a time as I have told you, and no petitionsthat they presented their Prince with, all this while, couldprevail, the inhabitants of the town, namely, the elders and chiefof Mansoul, gathered together, and, after some time spent incondoling their miserable state and this miserable judgment comingupon them, they agreed together to draw up yet another petition, and to send it away to Emmanuel for relief. But Mr. Godly-Fearstood up and answered, that he knew that his Lord the Prince neverdid nor ever would receive a petition for these matters, from thehand of any whoever, unless the Lord Secretary's hand was to it;'and this, ' quoth he, 'is the reason that you prevailed not allthis while. ' Then they said they would draw up one, and get theLord Secretary's hand unto it. But Mr. Godly-Fear answered again, that he knew also that the Lord Secretary would not set his hand toany petition that himself had not an hand in composing and drawingup. 'And besides, ' said he, 'the Prince doth know my LordSecretary's hand from all the hands in the world; wherefore hecannot be deceived by any pretence whatever. Wherefore my adviceis 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 andmen-at-arms were. )

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

Then said the Secretary to them, 'What petition is it that youwould have me draw up for you?' But they said, 'Our Lord knowsbest the state and condition of the town of Mansoul; and how we arebackslidden and degenerated from the Prince: thou also knowest whois come up to war against us, and how Mansoul is now the seat ofwar. My Lord knows, moreover, what barbarous usages our men, women, and children have suffered at their hands; and how ourhomebred Diabolonians do walk now with more boldness than dare thetownsmen in the streets of Mansoul. Let our Lord therefore, according to the wisdom of God that is in him, draw up a petitionfor his poor servants to our Prince Emmanuel. ' 'Well, ' said theLord Secretary, 'I will draw up a petition for you, and will alsoset my hand thereto. ' Then said they, 'But when shall we call forit at the hands of our Lord?' But he answered, 'Yourselves must bepresent 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 beyours; else how can you say it is your petition? Nor have I needto petition for myself, because I have not offended. ' He also addedas 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 chieflyconcerned therein do join in heart and soul in the matter, for thatmust be inserted therein. '

So they did heartily agree with the sentence of the Lord, and apetition was forthwith drawn up for them. But now, who shouldcarry it? that was next. But the Secretary advised that CaptainCredence should carry it; for he was a well-spoken man. Theytherefore called for him, and propounded to him the business. 'Well, ' said the captain, 'I gladly accept of the motion; andthough I am lame, I will do this business for you with as muchspeed, 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 belongmercy and forgiveness, though we have rebelled against thee. We, who are no more worthy to be called thy Mansoul, nor yet fit topartake of common benefits, do beseech thee, and thy Father bythee, to do away our transgressions. We confess that thou mightestcast us away for them; but do it not for thy name's sake: let theLord rather take an opportunity, at our miserable condition, to letout his bowels and compassions to us. We are compassed on everyside, Lord; our own backslidings reprove us; our Diabolonianswithin our town fright us; and the army of the angel of thebottomless pit distresses us. Thy grace can be our salvation, andwhither to go but to thee we know not. 

'Furthermore, O gracious Prince, we have weakened our captains, andthey are discouraged, sick, and, of late, some of them grievouslyworsted and beaten out of the field by the power and force of thetyrant. Yea, even those of our captains, in whose valour we didformerly use to put most of our confidence, they are as woundedmen. Besides, Lord, our enemies are lively, and they are strong;they vaunt and boast themselves, and do threaten to part us amongthemselves for a booty. They are fallen also upon us, Lord, withmany thousand doubters, such as with whom we cannot tell what todo; they are all grim-looked and unmerciful ones, and they biddefiance to us and thee. 

'Our wisdom is gone, our power is gone, because thou art departedfrom us; nor have we what we may call ours but sin, shame, andconfusion of face for sin. Take pity upon us, O Lord, take pityupon us, thy miserable town of Mansoul, and save us out of thehands of our enemies. Amen. '

This petition, as was touched afore, was handed by the LordSecretary, and carried to the court by the brave and most stoutCaptain Credence. Now he carried it out at Mouth-gate, (for that, as I said, was the sally-port of the town, ) and he went and came toEmmanuel with it. Now how it came out, I do not know; but forcertain it did, and that so far as to reach the ears of Diabolus. Thus I conclude, because that the tyrant had it presently by theend, and charged the town of Mansoul with it, saying, 'Thourebellious and stubborn-hearted Mansoul, I will make thee to leaveoff petitioning. Art thou yet for petitioning? I will make theeto leave. ' Yea, he also knew who the messenger was that carriedthe petition to the Prince, and it made him both to fear and rage. 

Wherefore he commanded that his drum should be beat again, a thingthat Mansoul could not abide to hear: but when Diabolus will havehis drum beat, Mansoul must abide the noise. Well, the drum wasbeat, 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 townof Mansoul; for albeit the town is in our possession, as you see, yet these miserable Mansoulians have attempted to dare, and havebeen 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 itto the wretched town of Mansoul. Wherefore, O my trustyDiabolonians, I command that yet more and more ye distress thistown 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 bethe reward of the Mansoulians from me, for their desperaterebellions against me. '

This, you see, was the charge; but something stepped in betwixtthat and execution, for as yet there was but little more done thanto rage. 

Moreover, when Diabolus had done thus, he went the next way up tothe castle gates, and demanded that, upon pain of death, the gatesshould be opened to him, and that entrance should be given him andhis men that followed after. To whom Mr. Godly-Fear replied, (forhe it was that had the charge of that gate, ) that the gate shouldnot be opened unto him, nor to the men that followed after him. Hesaid, moreover, that Mansoul, when she had suffered awhile, shouldbe made perfect, strengthened, settled. 

Then said Diabolus, 'Deliver me, then, the men that have petitionedagainst me, especially Captain Credence, that carried it to yourPrince; deliver that varlet into my hands, and I will depart fromthe 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 manperish, than that your whole Mansoul should be undone. '

But Mr. Godly-Fear made him this replication, 'How long willMansoul be kept out of the dungeon, when she hath given up herfaith to Diabolus! As good lose the town, as lose CaptainCredence; for if one be gone the other must follow. ' But to thatMr. 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; weare 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 ofMansoul. ' But Diabolus answered, 'Do you hope, do you wait, do youlook for help and deliverance? You have sent to Emmanuel, but yourwickedness sticks too close in your skirts, to let innocent prayerscome out of your lips. Think you that you shall be prevailers andprosper in this design? You will fail in your wish, you will failin your attempts; for it is not only I, but your Emmanuel isagainst you: yea, it is he that hath sent me against you to subdueyou. For what, then, do you hope? or by what means will youescape?'

Then said the Lord Mayor, 'We have sinned indeed; but that shall beno help to thee, for our Emmanuel hath said it, and that in greatfaithfulness, "and him that cometh to me I will in no wise castout. " He hath also told us, O our enemy, that "all manner of sinand blasphemy shall be forgiven" to the sons of men. Therefore wedare not despair, but will look for, wait for, and hope fordeliverance still. '

Now, by this time, Captain Credence was returned and come from thecourt from Emmanuel to the castle of Mansoul, and he returned tothem with a packet. So my Lord Mayor, hearing that CaptainCredence was come, withdrew himself from the noise of the roaringof the tyrant, and left him to yell at the wall of the town, oragainst the gates of the castle. So he came up to the captain'slodgings, and saluting him, he asked him of his welfare, and whatwas the best news at court. But when he asked Captain Credencethat, the water stood in his eyes. Then said the captain, 'Cheerup, my lord, for all will be well in time. ' And with that he firstproduced his packet, and laid it by; but that the Lord Mayor, andthe rest of the captains, took for sign of good tidings. Now aseason of grace being come, he sent for all the captains and eldersof the town, that were here and there in their lodgings in thecastle and upon their guard, to let them know that Captain Credencewas returned from the court, and that he had something in general, and something in special, to communicate to them. So they all cameup to him, and saluted him, and asked him concerning his journey, and what was the best news at the court. And he answered them ashe 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 hadsent 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 hadbeen so true and trusty in his office, and the great concerns thatlay upon him for the town and people of Mansoul. Also, he bid himto know, that he took it well that he had been so bold for hisPrince Emmanuel, and had engaged so faithfully in his cause againstDiabolus. He also signified, at the close of his letter, that heshould 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 wellunderstand how valiant and courageous he had been for the honour ofhis Lord, now in his absence, and when his name was under contemptby Diabolus. There was signified also, that his Prince had takenit well that he had been so faithful to the town of Mansoul, in hiskeeping of so strict a hand and eye over and so strict a rein uponthe neck of the Diabolonians, that did still lie lurking in theirseveral holes in the famous town of Mansoul. He signified, moreover, how that he understood that my Lord had, with his ownhand, done great execution upon some of the chief of the rebelsthere, to the great discouragement of the adverse party and to thegood example of the whole town of Mansoul; and that shortly hislordship should have his reward. 

The third note came out for the subordinate preacher, wherein wassignified:- That his Prince took it well from him, that he had sohonestly and so faithfully performed his office, and executed thetrust committed to him by his Lord, while he exhorted, rebuked, andforewarned Mansoul according to the laws of the town. Hesignified, moreover, that he took it well at his hand that hecalled to fasting, to sackcloth, and ashes, when Mansoul was underher revolt. Also, that he called for the aid of the CaptainBoanerges to help in so weighty a work; and that shortly he alsoshould receive his reward. 

The fourth note came out for Mr. Godly-Fear, wherein his Lord thussignified:- That his Lordship observed, that he was the first ofall the men in Mansoul that detected Mr. Carnal-Security as theonly one that, through his subtlety and cunning, had obtained forDiabolus a defection and decay of goodness in the blessed town ofMansoul. Moreover, his Lord gave him to understand, that he stillremembered his tears and mourning for the state of Mansoul. It wasalso observed, by the same note, that his Lord took notice of hisdetecting of this Mr. Carnal-Security, at his own table among hisguests, in his own house, and that in the midst of his jolliness, even while he was seeking to perfect his villanies against the townof 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 hadput the townsmen in a way to make their petition to their Prince, so as that he might accept thereof, and as they might obtain ananswer of peace; and that therefore shortly he should receive hisreward. 

After all this, there was yet produced a note which was written tothe whole town of Mansoul, whereby they perceived--That their Lordtook notice of their so often repeating of petitions to him; andthat they should see more of the fruits of such their doings intime to come. Their Prince did also therein tell them, that hetook it well, that their heart and mind, now at last, abode fixedupon him and his ways, though Diabolus had made such inroads uponthem; and that neither flatteries on the one hand, nor hardships onthe other, could make them yield to serve his cruel designs. Therewas also inserted at the bottom of this note--That his Lordship hadleft the town of Mansoul in the hands of the Lord Secretary, andunder the conduct of Captain Credence, saying, 'Beware that you yetyield yourselves unto their governance; and in due time you shallreceive your reward. '

So, after the brave Captain Credence had delivered his notes tothose to whom they belonged, he retired himself to my LordSecretary's lodgings, and there spends time in conversing with him;for they too were very great one with another, and did indeed knowmore how things would go with Mansoul than did all the townsmenbesides. The Lord Secretary also loved the Captain Credencedearly; 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 Mansoullay under the clouds: so, after some time for converse was spent, the captain betook himself to his chambers to rest. But it was notlong after when my Lord did send for the captain again; so thecaptain came to him, and they greeted one another with usualsalutations. Then said the captain to the Lord Secretary, 'Whathath my Lord to say to his servant?' So the Lord Secretary tookhim and had him aside, and after a sign or two of more favour, hesaid, 'I have made thee the Lord's lieutenant over all the forcesin Mansoul; so that, from this day forward, all men in Mansoulshall be at thy word; and thou shalt be he that shall lead in, andthat shall lead out Mansoul. Thou shalt therefore manage, according to thy place, the war for thy Prince, and for the town ofMansoul, against the force and power of Diabolus; and at thycommand 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 newsfrom Emmanuel as he. Wherefore what do they, after somelamentation that they made no more use of him in their distresses, but send by their subordinate preacher to the Lord Secretary, todesire him that all that ever they were and had might be put underthe government, care, custody, and conduct of Captain Credence. 

So their preacher went and did his errand, and received this answerfrom the mouth of his Lord: that Captain Credence should be thegreat doer in all the King's army, against the King's enemies, andalso for the welfare of Mansoul. So he bowed to the ground, andthanked his Lordship, and returned and told his news to thetownsfolk. But all this was done with all imaginable secrecy, because the foes had yet great strength in the town. But to returnto 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 onMansoul. So all the princes of the pit came together, and oldIncredulity at the head of them, with all the captains of his army. So they consult what to do. Now the effect and conclusion of thecouncil that day was how they might take the castle, because theycould not conclude themselves masters of the town so long as thatwas in the possession of their enemies. 

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

But Beelzebub stood up, and replied, saying: 'It is impossible todraw them all off from the castle; some, you may be sure, will liethere to keep that; wherefore it will be but in vain thus toattempt, unless we were sure that they will all come out. ' Hetherefore concluded that what was done must be done by some othermeans. And the most likely means that the greatest of their headscould invent, was that which Apollyon had advised to before, namely, to get the townsmen again to sin. 'For, ' said he, 'it isnot our being in the town, nor in the field, nor our fighting, norour 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 fingeragainst us, Emmanuel will take their parts; and if he shall taketheir parts, we know what time of day it will be with us. Wherefore, for my part, ' quoth he, 'there is, in my judgment, noway to bring them into bondage to us, like inventing a way to makethem sin. Had we, ' said he, 'left all our doubters at home, we haddone as well as we have done now, unless we could have made themthe masters and governors of the castle; for doubters at a distanceare but like objections refelled with arguments. Indeed, can webut get them into the hold, and make them possessors of that, theday will be our own. Let us, therefore, withdraw ourselves intothe plain, (not expecting that the captains in Mansoul shouldfollow 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 intheir holds of Mansoul, and set them to work to betray the town tous; for they indeed must do it, or it will be left undone forever. ' By these sayings of Beelzebub, (for I think it was he thatgave this counsel, ) the whole conclave was forced to be of hisopinion, namely, that the way to get the castle was to get the townto sin. Then they fell to inventing by what means they might dothis thing. 

Then Lucifer stood up, and said: 'The counsel of Beelzebub ispertinent. Now, the way to bring this to pass, in mine opinion, isthis: let us withdraw our force from the town of Mansoul; let usdo this, and let us terrify them no more, either with summons, orthreats, or with the noise of our drum, or any other awakeningmeans. Only let us lie in the field at a distance, and be as if weregarded them not; for frights, I see, do but awaken them, and makethem more stand to their arms. I have also another stratagem in myhead: you know Mansoul is a market-town, and a town that delightsin commerce; what, therefore, if some of our Diabolonians shallfeign themselves far-country men, and shall go out and bring to themarket of Mansoul some of our wares to sell; and what matter atwhat rates they sell their wares, though it be but for half theworth? Now, let those that thus shall trade in their market bethose that are witty and true to us, and I will lay my crown topawn it will do. There are two that are come to my thoughtsalready, 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 theother. What, also, if you join with them Mr. Sweet-world and Mr. Present-good; they are men that are civil and cunning, but our truefriends and helpers. Let these, with as many more, engage in thisbusiness for us, and let Mansoul be taken up in much business, andlet them grow full and rich, and this is the way to get ground ofthem. Remember ye not that thus we prevailed upon Laodicea, andhow many at present do we hold in this snare? Now, when they beginto grow full, they will forget their misery; and if we shall notaffright them, they may happen to fall asleep, and so be got toneglect their town watch, their castle watch, as well as theirwatch 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 formen of war. Thus, if we get our goods and commodities thither, Ireckon that the castle is more than half ours. Besides, could weso order it that it shall be filled with such kind of wares, thenif we made a sudden assault upon them, it would be hard for thecaptains to take shelter there. Do you not know that of theparable, "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 atunawares?

'Furthermore, my lords, ' quoth he, 'you very well know that it isnot easy for a people to be filled with our things, and not to havesome of our Diabolonians as retainers to their houses and services. Where is a Mansoulian that is full of this world, that has not forhis servants and waiting-men, Mr. Profuse, or Mr. Prodigality, orsome other of our Diabolonian gang, as Mr. Voluptuous, Mr. Pragmatical, Mr. Ostentation, or the like? Now these can take thecastle of Mansoul, or blow it up, or make it unfit for a garrisonfor Emmanuel, and any of these will do. Yea, these, for aught Iknow, may do it for us sooner than an army of twenty thousand men. Wherefore, to end as I began, my advice is, that we quietlywithdraw ourselves, not offering any further force, or forcibleattempts, upon the castle, at least at this time; and let us set onfoot our new project, and let us see if that will not make themdestroy themselves. '

This advice was highly applauded by them all, and was accounted thevery masterpiece of hell, namely, to choke Mansoul with a fulnessof this world, and to surfeit her heart with the good thingsthereof. But see how things meet together! Just as thisDiabolonian council was broken up, Captain Credence received aletter from Emmanuel, the contents of which were these: That uponthe third day he would meet him in the field in the plains aboutMansoul. 'Meet me in the field!' quoth the Captain; 'what meanethmy lord by this? I know not what he meaneth by meeting me in thefield. ' So he took the note in his hand, and did carry it to myLord Secretary, to ask his thoughts thereupon; for my Lord was aseer in all matters concerning the King, and also for the good andcomfort of the town of Mansoul. So he showed my Lord the note, anddesired his opinion thereof. 'For my part, ' quoth CaptainCredence, 'I know not the meaning thereof. ' So my lord did takeand read it and, after a little pause, he said, 'The Diabolonianshave had against Mansoul a great consultation to-day; they have, Isay, this day been contriving the utter ruin of the town; and theresult 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 tolie 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 daythey 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 itis break of day, sun-rising, or before, and that with a mightyforce against them. So he shall be before them, and thou shalt bebehind them, and betwixt you both their army shall be destroyed. '

When Captain Credence heard this, away goes he to the rest of thecaptains, and tells them what a note he had a while since receivedfrom the hand of Emmanuel. 'And, ' said he, 'that which was darktherein hath my lord the Lord Secretary expounded unto me. ' Hetold them, moreover, what by himself and by them must be done toanswer the mind of their Lord. Then were the captains glad; andCaptain Credence commanded that all the King's trumpeters shouldascend to the battlements of the castle, and there, in the audienceof Diabolus and of the whole town of Mansoul, make the best musicthat heart could invent. The trumpeters then did as they werecommanded. They got themselves up to the top of the castle, andthus they began to sound. Then did Diabolus start, and said, 'Whatcan be the meaning of this? they neither sound Boot-and-saddle, norHorse-and-away, nor a charge. What do these madmen mean that yetthey should be so merry and glad?' Then answered one of themselvesand said, 'This is for joy that their Prince Emmanuel is coming torelieve the town of Mansoul; and to this end he is at the head ofan army, and that this relief is near. '

The men of Mansoul also were greatly concerned at this melodiouscharm of the trumpets; they said, yea, they answered one another, saying, 'This can be no harm to us; surely this can be no harm tous. ' Then said the Diabolonians, 'What had we best to do?' and itwas 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 alsobe better able to give the enemy battle, should an army fromwithout come upon us. So, on the second day, they withdrewthemselves from Mansoul, and abode in the plains without; but theyencamped themselves before Eye-gate, in what terrene and terriblemanner 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 tofly, if need be, when we are encamped in the open plains. 'Besides, the town would have been a pit for them rather than aplace of defence, had the Prince come up and inclosed them fasttherein. Therefore they betook themselves to the field, that theymight also be out of the reach of the slings, by which they weremuch annoyed all the while that they were in the town. 

Well, the time that the captains were to fall upon the Diaboloniansbeing come, they eagerly prepared themselves for action; forCaptain Credence had told the captains over night, that they shouldmeet their Prince in the field to-morrow. This, therefore, madethem yet far more desirous to be engaging the enemy; for 'You shallsee the Prince in the field to-morrow' was like oil to a flamingfire, for of a long time they had been at a distance: theytherefore were for this the more earnest and desirous of the work. So, as I said, the hour being come, Captain Credence, with the restof the men of war, drew out their forces before it was day by thesally-port of the town. And, being all ready, Captain Credencewent up to the head of the army, and gave to the rest of thecaptains the word, and so they to their under-officers andsoldiers: the word was 'The sword of the Prince Emmanuel, and theshield of Captain Credence;' which is, in the Mansoulian tongue, 'The word of God and faith. ' Then the captains fell on, and beganroundly to front, and flank, and rear Diabolus's camp. 

Now, they left Captain Experience in the town, because he was yetill of his wounds, which the Diabolonians had given him in the lastfight. But when he perceived that the captains were at it, whatdoes he but, calling for his crutches with haste, gets up, and awayhe goes to the battle, saying, 'Shall I lie here, when my brethrenare in the fight, and when Emmanuel, the Prince, will show himselfin the field to his servants?' But when the enemy saw the man comewith his crutches, they were daunted yet the more; 'for, ' thoughtthey, 'what spirit has possessed these Mansoulians, that they fightus upon their crutches?' Well, the captains, as I said, fell on, and did bravely handle their weapons, still crying out andshouting, 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 sovaliantly they surrounded his men, he concluded that, for thepresent, nothing from them was to be looked for but blows, and thedints of their 'two-edged sword. '

Wherefore he also falls on upon the Prince's army with all hisdeadly force: so the battle was joined. Now who was it that atfirst Diabolus met with in the fight, but Captain Credence on theone hand, and the Lord Willbewill on the other: now Willbewill'sblows were like the blows of a giant, for that man had a strongarm, and he fell in upon the election doubters, for they were thelife-guard of Diabolus, and he kept them in play a good while, cutting and battering shrewdly. Now when Captain Credence saw mylord engaged, he did stoutly fall on, on the other hand, upon thesame company also; so they put them to great disorder. Now CaptainGood-Hope had engaged the vocation doubters, and they were sturdymen; but the captain was a valiant man: Captain Experience didalso send him some aid; so he made the vocation doubters toretreat. The rest of the armies were hotly engaged, and that onevery side, and the Diabolonians did fight stoutly. Then did myLord Secretary command that the slings from the castle should beplayed; and his men could throw stones at an hair's breadth. But, after a while, those that were made to fly before the captains ofthe Prince, did begin to rally again, and they came up stoutly uponthe rear of the Prince's army: wherefore the Prince's army beganto faint; but, remembering that they should see the face of theirPrince by-and-by, they took courage, and a very fierce battle wasfought. Then shouted the captains, saying, 'The sword of thePrince Emmanuel, and the shield of Captain Credence!' and with thatDiabolus gave back, thinking that more aid had been come. But noEmmanuel as yet appeared. Moreover, the battle did hang in doubt;and they made a little retreat on both sides. Now, in the time ofrespite, Captain Credence bravely encouraged his men to stand toit; and Diabolus did the like, as well as he could. But CaptainCredence made a brave speech to his soldiers, the contents whereofhere follow:-

'Gentlemen soldiers, and my brethren in this design, it rejoicethme much to see in the field for our Prince, this day, so stout andso valiant an army, and such faithful lovers of Mansoul. You havehitherto, as hath become you, shown yourselves men of truth andcourage against the Diabolonian forces; so that, for all theirboast, they have not yet much cause to boast of their gettings. Now take to yourselves your wonted courage, and show yourselves meneven this once only; for in a few minutes after the nextengagement, this time, you shall see your Prince show himself inthe field; for we must make this second assault upon this tyrantDiabolus, and then Emmanuel comes. '

No sooner had the captain made this speech to his soldiers, but oneMr. Speedy came post to the captain from the Prince, to tell himthat Emmanuel was at hand. This news when the captain hadreceived, he communicated to the other field-officers, and theyagain to their soldiers and men of war. Wherefore, like men raisedfrom the dead, so the captains and their men arose, made up to theenemy, and cried as before, 'The sword of the Prince Emmanuel, andthe shield of Captain Credence!'

The Diabolonians also bestirred themselves, and made resistance aswell as they could; but in this last engagement the Diabolonianslost their courage, and many of the doubters fell down dead to theground. Now, when they had been in heat of battle about an hour ormore, 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 withthat celerity towards the captains that were engaged. Then didCredence wind with his men to the townward, and gave to Diabolusthe field: so Emmanuel came upon him on the one side, and theenemies' place was betwixt them both. Then again they fell to itafresh; and now it was but a little while more but Emmanuel andCaptain Credence met, still trampling down the slain as they came. 

But when the captains saw that the Prince was come, and that hefell upon the Diabolonians on the other side, and that CaptainCredence and his Highness had got them up betwixt them, theyshouted, (they so shouted that the ground rent again, ) saying, 'Thesword of Emmanuel, and the shield of Captain Credence!' Now, whenDiabolus saw that he and his forces were so hard beset by thePrince and his princely army, what does he, and the lords of thepit that were with him, but make their escape, and forsake theirarmy, and leave them to fall by the hand of Emmanuel, and of hisnoble Captain Credence: so they fell all down slain before them, before the Prince, and before his royal army; there was not left somuch as one doubter alive; they lay spread upon the ground deadmen, 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 saluteEmmanuel, while without the corporation: so they saluted him, andwelcomed him, and that with a thousand welcomes, for that he wascome to the borders of Mansoul again. So he smiled upon them, andsaid, 'Peace be to you. ' Then they addressed themselves to go tothe 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 thewar. Also all the gates of the town were set open for hisreception, so glad were they of his blessed return. And this wasthe 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 ofMansoul placed themselves at the gates of the town, to salute himat his entrance thither: and so they did; for, as he drew near, and approached towards the gates, they said, 'Lift up your heads, Oye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King ofglory shall come in. ' And they answered again, 'Who is the King ofglory?' and they made return to themselves, 'The Lord, strong andmighty; 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 theway from the town gates to those of the castle, his blessed Majestyshould be entertained with the song, by them that had the bestskill in music in all the town of Mansoul: then did the elders, and the rest of the men of Mansoul, answer one another as Emmanuelentered the town, till he came at the castle gates, with songs andsound of trumpets, saying, 'They have seen thy goings, O God; eventhe goings of my God, my King, in the sanctuary. So the singerswent before, the players on instruments followed after, and amongthem 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 thegates of Mansoul. Captain Credence went before, and Captain Good-Hope with him; Captain Charity came behind with other of hiscompanions, and Captain Patience followed after all; and the restof the captains, some on the right hand, and some on the left, accompanied Emmanuel into Mansoul. And all the while the colourswere displayed, the trumpets sounded, and continual shoutings wereamong the soldiers. The Prince himself rode into the town in hisarmour, which was all of beaten gold, and in his chariot--thepillars of it were of silver, the bottom thereof of gold, thecovering of it was of purple, the midst thereof being paved withlove for the daughters of the town of Mansoul. 

Fourthly. When the Prince was come to the entrance of Mansoul, hefound all the streets strewed with lilies and flowers, curiouslydecked with boughs and branches from the green trees that stoodround about the town. Every door also was filled with persons, whohad adorned every one their fore-part against their house withsomething of variety and singular excellency, to entertain himwithal as he passed in the streets: they also themselves, asEmmanuel passed by, did welcome him with shouts and acclamations ofjoy, saying, 'Blessed be the Prince that cometh in the name of hisFather Shaddai. '

Fifthly. At the castle gates the elders of Mansoul, namely, theLord 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 thedust of his feet, they thanked, they blessed, and praised hisHighness for not taking advantage against them for their sins, butrather had pity upon them in their misery, and returned to themwith mercies, and to build up their Mansoul for ever. Thus was hehad up straightway to the castle; for that was the royal palace, and the place where his honour was to dwell; the which was readyprepared 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 Mansoulcame to him into the castle to mourn, and to weep, and to lamentfor 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 thePrince, and prayed that he would again, as of old, confirm his loveto 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 forwhom 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, andkissed them, and laid them in his bosom. 

Moreover, he gave to the elders of Mansoul, and to each townofficer, a chain of gold and a signet. He also sent to their wivesearrings and jewels, and bracelets, and other things. He alsobestowed upon the true-born children of Mansoul many preciousthings. 

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

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

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

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

After things were thus far put into order in the famous town ofMansoul, care was taken, and order given by the blessed PrinceEmmanuel, that the townsmen should, without further delay, appointsome 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 ofthe Captain Credence, --lest the fumes and ill savours that wouldarise from them might infect the air, and so annoy the famous townof Mansoul. This also was a reason of this order, namely, that, asmuch as in Mansoul lay, they might cut off the name, and being, andremembrance of those enemies from the thought of the famous town ofMansoul and its inhabitants. 

So order was given out by the Lord Mayor, that wise and trustyfriend of the town of Mansoul, that persons should be employedabout this necessary business; and Mr. Godly-Fear, and one Mr. Upright, were to be overseers about this matter: so persons wereput under them to work in the fields, and to bury the slain thatlay dead in the plains. And these were their places of employment:some were to make the graves, some to bury the dead, and some wereto go to and fro in the plains, and also round about the borders ofMansoul, to see if a skull, or a bone, or a piece of a bone of adoubter, was yet to be found above ground anywhere near thecorporation; and if any were found, it was ordered, that thesearchers that searched should set up a mark thereby, and a sign, that those that were appointed to bury them might find it, and buryit out of sight, that the name and remembrance of a Diaboloniandoubter might be blotted out from under heaven; and that thechildren, 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 adoubter was. So the buriers, and those that were appointed forthat purpose, did as they were commanded: they buried thedoubters, and all the skulls and bones, and pieces of bones ofdoubters, wherever they found them; and so they cleansed theplains. Now also Mr. God's-Peace took up his commission, and actedagain as in former days. 

Thus they buried in the plains about Mansoul the election doubters, the vocation doubters, the grace doubters, the perseverancedoubters, the resurrection doubters, the salvation doubters, andthe glory doubters; whose captains were Captain Rage, CaptainCruel, Captain Damnation, Captain Insatiable, Captain Brimstone, Captain Torment, Captain No-Ease, Captain Sepulchre, and CaptainPast-Hope; and old Incredulity was, under Diabolus, their general. There were also the seven heads of their army; and they were theLord Beelzebub, the Lord Lucifer, the Lord Legion, the LordApollyon, the Lord Python, the Lord Cerberus, and the Lord Belial. But the princes and the captains, with old Incredulity, theirgeneral, did all of them make their escape: so their men fell downslain by the power of the Prince's forces, and by the hands of themen of the town of Mansoul. They also were buried as is aforerelated, to the exceeding great joy of the now famous town ofMansoul. 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 theirarmour, their colours, banners, with the standard of Diabolus, andwhat else soever they could find that did but smell of aDiabolonian doubter. 

Now when the tyrant had arrived at Hell-Gate Hill, with his oldfriend Incredulity, they immediately descended the den, and havingthere with their fellows for a while condoled their misfortune andgreat loss that they sustained against the town of Mansoul, theyfell at length into a passion, and revenged they would be for theloss that they sustained before the town of Mansoul. Whereforethey presently call a council to contrive yet further what was tobe done against the famous town of Mansoul; for their yawningpaunches could not wait to see the result of their Lord Lucifer'sand their Lord Apollyon's counsel that they had given before; fortheir raging gorge thought every day, even as long as a short forever, until they were filled with the body and soul, with the fleshand bones, and with all the delicates of Mansoul. They thereforeresolve to make another attempt upon the town of Mansoul, and thatby an army mixed and made up partly of doubters, and partly ofblood-men. A more particular account now take of both. 

The doubters are such as have their name from their nature, as wellas from the land and kingdom where they are born: their nature isto put a question upon every one of the truths of Emmanuel; andtheir country is called the land of Doubting, and that land liethoff, and farthest remote to the north, between the land of Darknessand that called the 'valley of the shadow of death. ' For thoughthe land of Darkness, and that called 'the valley of the shadow ofdeath, ' be sometimes called as if they were one and the self-sameplace, yet indeed they are two, lying but a little way asunder, andthe land of Doubting points in, and lieth between them. This isthe land of Doubting; and these that came with Diabolus to ruin thetown of Mansoul are the natives of that country. 

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

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

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

But Diabolus did not count that, in this expedition of his, thesedoubters would prove his principal men, for their manhood had beentried before; also the Mansoulians had put them to the worst: onlyhe 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 theywere all rugged villains, and he knew that they had done featsheretofore. 

As for the blood-men, they also were under command and the names oftheir captains were, Captain Cain, Captain Nimrod, Captain Ishmael, Captain Esau, Captain Saul, Captain Absalom, Captain Judas, andCaptain Pope. 

1. Captain Cain was over two bands, namely, the zealous and theangry blood-men: his standard-bearer bare the red colours, and hisscutcheon was the murdering club. 

2. Captain Nimrod was captain over two bands, namely, thetyrannical and encroaching blood-men: his standard-bearer bare thered colours, and his scutcheon was the great bloodhound. 

3. Captain Ishmael was captain over two bands, namely, the mockingand 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-menthat grudged that another should have the blessing; also over theblood-men that are for executing their private revenge upon others:his standard-bearer bare the red colours, and his scutcheon was oneprivately lurking to murder Jacob. 

5. Captain Saul was captain over two bands, namely, thegroundlessly jealous and the devilishly furious blood-men: hisstandard-bearer bare the red colours, and his scutcheon was threebloody darts cast at harmless David. 

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

7. Captain Judas was over two bands, namely, the blood-men thatwill sell a man's life for money, and those also that will betraytheir friend with a kiss: his standard-bearer bare the redcolours, and his scutcheon was thirty pieces of silver and thehalter. 

8. Captain Pope was captain over one band, for all these spiritsare joined in one under him: his standard-bearer bare the redcolours, and his scutcheon was the stake, the flame, and the goodman in it. 

Now, the reason why Diabolus did so soon rally another force, afterhe had been beaten out of the field, was, for that he put mightyconfidence in this army of blood-men; for he put a great deal ofmore trust in them than he did before in his army of doubters;though they had also often done great service for him in thestrengthening of him in his kingdom. But these blood-men, he hadproved 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 uponthe Prince of princes. And that which encouraged him the more was, for that they once did force Emmanuel out of the kingdom ofUniverse; 'And why, ' thought he, 'may they not also drive him fromthe town of Mansoul?'

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

So Diabolus brought up his army, and beleaguered the town ofMansoul; 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 theblood-men and the rest that were with him, send a summons as hot asa red-hot iron to Mansoul, to yield to their demands; threatening, that if they still stood it out against them, they would presentlyburn down Mansoul with fire. For you must know that, as for theblood-men, they were not so much that Mansoul should besurrendered, as that Mansoul should be destroyed, and cut off outof the land of the living. True, they send to them to surrender;but should they so do, that would not stench or quench the thirstsof these men. They must have blood, the blood of Mansoul, elsethey 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 cardbe played against the town of Mansoul. 

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

So he took it, and looked upon it, and considered it, and tooknotice also of that short petition that the men of Mansoul hadwritten at the bottom of it, and called to him the noble CaptainCredence, and bid him go and take Captain Patience with him, and goand take care of that side of Mansoul that was beleaguered by theblood-men. So they went and did as they were commanded: theCaptain Credence went and took Captain Patience, and they bothsecured that side of Mansoul that was besieged by the blood-men. 

Then he commanded that Captain Good-hope and Captain Charity, andmy Lord Willbewill, should take charge of the other side of thetown. 'And I, ' said the Prince, 'will set my standard upon thebattlements of your castle, and do you three watch against thedoubters. ' 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 peopleof the town of Mansoul. Now this siege was long, and many a fierceattempt did the enemy, especially those called the blood-men, makeupon the town of Mansoul; and many a shrewd brush did some of thetownsmen meet with from them, especially Captain Self-Denial, who, I should have told you before, was commanded to take the care ofEar-gate and Eye-gate now against the blood-men. This CaptainSelf-Denial was a young man, but stout, and a townsman in Mansoul, as Captain Experience also was. And Emmanuel, at his second returnto Mansoul, made him a captain over a thousand of the Mansoulians, for the good of the corporation. This captain, therefore, being anhardy man, and a man of great courage, and willing to venturehimself for the good of the town of Mansoul, would now and thensally out upon the blood-men, and give them many notable alarms, and entered several brisk skirmishes with them, and also did someexecution upon them; but you must think that this could not easilybe done, but he must meet with brushes himself, for he carriedseveral of their marks in his face; yea, and some in some otherparts of his body. 

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

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

Now, those that went out against the doubters drew up into a bodybefore the plain, and marched on to bid them battle. But thedoubters, remembering their last success, made a retreat, notdaring to stand the shock, but fled from the Prince's men;wherefore they pursued them, and in their pursuit slew many, butthey could not catch them all. Now those that escaped went some ofthem home; and the rest by fives, nines, and seventeens, likewanderers, went straggling up and down the country, where they uponthe barbarous people showed and exercised many of their Diabolonianactions: nor did these people rise up in arms against them, butsuffered themselves to be enslaved by them. They would also afterthis show themselves in companies before the town of Mansoul, butnever 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 werecommanded: they forbore to slay any, but sought to compass themabout. But the blood-men, when they saw that no Emmanuel was inthe field, concluded also that no Emmanuel was in Mansoul;wherefore they, looking upon what the captains did to be, as theycalled it, a fruit of the extravagancy of their wild and foolishfancies, rather despised them than feared them. But the captains, minding their business, at last did compass them round; they alsothat had routed the doubters came in amain to their aid: so, infine, after some little struggling, (for the blood-men also wouldhave run for it, only now it was too late; for though they aremischievous and cruel, where they can overcome, yet all blood-menare chicken-hearted men, when they once come to see themselvesmatched and equalled, )--so the captains took them, and brought themto the Prince. 

Now when they were taken, had before the Prince, and examined, hefound them to be of three several counties, though they all cameout of one land. 

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

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

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

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

They that came out of Blind-zeal-shire, they did not as theirfellows did; for they pleaded that they had a right to do what theydid, because Mansoul was a town whose laws and customs were diversefrom all that dwelt thereabouts. Very few of these could bebrought 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 thecounty of Envy, they neither wept, nor disputed, nor repented, butstood gnawing their tongues before him for anguish and madness, because they could not have their will upon Mansoul. Now theselast, with all those of the other two sorts that did notunfeignedly ask pardon for their faults, --those he made to enterinto sufficient bond to answer for what they had done againstMansoul, and against her King, at the great and general assizes tobe holden for our Lord the King, where he himself should appointfor the country and kingdom of Universe. So they became bound eachman for himself, to come in, when called upon, to answer before ourLord the King for what they had done as before. 

And thus much concerning this second army that was sent by Diabolusto 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, andperceived that they had escaped, were so hardy as to thrustthemselves, knowing that yet there were in the town Diabolonians, --I say, they were so hardy as to thrust themselves into Mansoulamong them. (Three, did I say? I think there were four. ) Now, towhose house should these Diabolonian doubters go, but to the houseof an old Diabolonian in Mansoul, whose name was Evil-Questioning, a very great enemy he was to Mansoul, and a great doer among theDiabolonians there. Well, to this Evil-Questioning's house, as wassaid, did these Diabolonians come (you may be sure that they haddirections how to find the way thither), so he made them welcome, pitied their misfortune, and succoured them with the best that hehad in his house. Now, after a little acquaintance (and it was notlong before they had that), this old Evil-Questioning asked thedoubters if they were all of a town (he knew that they were all ofone kingdom), and they answered: 'No, nor not of one shireneither; for I, ' said one, 'am an election doubter:' 'I, ' saidanother, 'am a vocation doubter:' then said the third, 'I am asalvation doubter:' and the fourth said he was a grace doubter. 'Well, ' quoth the old gentleman, 'be of what shire you will, I ampersuaded that you are down, boys: you have the very length of myfoot, are one with my heart, and shall be welcome to me. ' So theythanked him, and were glad that they had found themselves anharbour in Mansoul. 

Then said Evil-Questioning to them: 'How many of your companymight there be that came with you to the siege of Mansoul?' andthey answered: 'There were but ten thousand doubters in all, forthe rest of the army consisted of fifteen thousand blood-men. These blood-men, ' quoth they, 'border upon our country; but, poormen! as we hear, they were every one taken by Emmanuel's forces. ''Ten thousand!' quoth the old gentleman; 'I will promise you, thatis a round company. But how came it to pass, since you were somighty 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 cowardlygeneral?' 'He was once the Lord Mayor of Mansoul, ' said they:'but pray call him not a cowardly general; for whether any from theeast to the west has done more service for our prince Diabolus, than has my Lord Incredulity, will be a hard question for you toanswer. But had they catched him, they would for certain havehanged him; and we promise you, hanging is but a bad business. 'Then said the old gentleman, 'I would that all the ten thousanddoubters were now well armed in Mansoul, and myself at the head ofthem; I would see what I could do. ' 'Ay, ' said they, 'that wouldbe well if we could see that; but wishes, alas! what are they?' andthese 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 willassure you, you will be snapped. ' 'Why?' quoth the doubters. 'Why!' quoth the old gentleman; 'why! because both the Prince andLord Secretary, and their captains and soldiers, are all at presentin town; yea, the town is as full of them as ever it can hold. Andbesides, there is one whose name is Willbewill, a most cruel enemyof ours, and him the Prince has made keeper of the gates, and hascommanded him that, with all the diligence he can, he should lookfor, search out, and destroy all, and all manner of Diabolonians. And if he lighteth upon you, down you go, though your heads weremade of gold. '

And now, to see how it happened, one of the Lord Willbewill'sfaithful soldiers, whose name was Mr. Diligence, stood all thiswhile listening under old Evil-Questioning's eaves, and heard allthe talk that had been betwixt him and the doubters that heentertained under his roof. 

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

Now this man, as I told you, heard all the talk that was betweenold Evil-Questioning and these Diabolonians; wherefore what does hebut goes to his lord, and tells him what he had heard. 'And sayestthou so, my trusty?' quoth my lord. 'Ay, ' quoth Diligence, 'that Ido; and if your lordship will be pleased to go with me, you shallfind it as I have said. ' 'And are they there?' quoth my lord. 'Iknow Evil-Questioning well, for he and I were great in the time ofour 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 theway to his den. ' 'Go!' quoth my lord, 'that I will. Come, myDiligence, 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 tillthey came even under old Mr. Evil-Questioning's wall. Then saidDiligence, 'Hark! my lord, do you know the old gentleman's tonguewhen you hear it?' 'Yes, ' said my lord, 'I know it well, but Ihave not seen him many a day. This I know, he is cunning; I wishhe doth not give us the slip. ' 'Let me alone for that, ' said hisservant Diligence. 'But how shall we find the door?' quoth mylord. 'Let me alone for that, too, ' said his man. So he had myLord Willbewill about, and showed him the way to the door. Then mylord, without more ado, broke open the door, rushed into the house, and caught them all five together, even as Diligence his man hadtold him. So my lord apprehended them, and led them away, andcommitted them to the hand of Mr. Trueman, the gaoler, andcommanded, and he did put them in ward. This done, my Lord Mayorwas acquainted in the morning with what my Lord Willbewill had doneover night, and his lordship rejoiced much at the news, not onlybecause there were doubters apprehended, but because that old Evil-Questioning was taken; for he had been a very great trouble toMansoul, and much affliction to my Lord Mayor himself. He had alsobeen sought for often, but no hand could ever be laid upon him tillnow. 

Well, the next thing was to make preparation to try these five thatby 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 andcome together, and the prisoners brought to the bar. My LordWillbewill 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 morefor the honour of the Prince, the comfort of Mansoul, and thediscouragement of the enemy, to bring them forth to publicjudgment. 

But, I say, Mr. Trueman brought them in chains to the bar; to thetown-hall, for that was the place of judgment. So, to be short, the jury was panelled, the witnesses sworn, and the prisoners triedfor 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 wasthe receiver, the entertainer, and comforter of these doubters, that by nation were outlandish men: then he was bid to hearken tohis charge, and was told that he had liberty to object, if he hadought to say for himself. So his indictment was read: the mannerand form here follows. 

'Mr. Questioning, Thou art here indicted by the name of Evil-Questioning, an intruder upon the town of Mansoul, for that thouart a Diabolonian by nature, and also a hater of the PrinceEmmanuel, and one that hast studied the ruin of the town ofMansoul. Thou art also here indicted for countenancing the King'senemies, after wholesome laws made to the contrary: for, 1. Thouhast questioned the truth of her doctrine and state: 2. In wishingthat ten thousand doubters were in her: 3. In receiving, inentertaining, and encouraging of her enemies, that came from theirarmy unto thee. What sayest thou to this indictment? art thouguilty 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 thatstandeth by this charge accused before this bench is called by thename of Evil-Questioning, which name I deny to be mine, mine beingHonest-Inquiry. The one indeed sounds like the other; but, I trow, your lordships know that between these two there is a widedifference; for I hope that a man, even in the worst of times, andthat, too, amongst the worst of men, may make an honest inquiryafter 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 townof Mansoul, you all have heard with your ears that the prisoner atthe bar has denied his name, and so thinks to shift from the chargeof the indictment. But I know him to be the man concerned, andthat his proper name is Evil-Questioning. I have known him, mylord, above these thirty years, for he and I (a shame it is for meto speak it) were great acquaintance, when Diabolus, that tyrant, had the government of Mansoul; and I testify that he is aDiabolonian by nature, an enemy to our Prince, and a hater of theblessed town of Mansoul. He has, in times of rebellion, been atand lain in my house, my lord, not so little as twenty nightstogether, 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 seenhim many a day. I suppose that the coming of Emmanuel to Mansoulhas made him change his lodgings, as this indictment has driven himto change his name; but this is the man, my lord. '

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

'Yes, ' quoth the old gentleman, 'that I have; for all that as yethas been said against me, is but by the mouth of one witness; andit is not lawful for the famous town of Mansoul, at the mouth ofone witness, to put any man to death. '

Then stood forth Mr. Diligence, and said, 'My lord, as I was uponmy watch such a night at the head of Bad Street, in this town, Ichanced to hear a muttering within this gentleman's house. Then, thought I, what is to do here? So I went up close, but verysoftly, to the side of the house to listen, thinking, as indeed itfell out, that there I might light upon some Diabolonianconventicle. So, as I said, I drew nearer and nearer; and when Iwas got up close to the wall, it was but a while before I perceivedthat there were outlandish men in the house; but I did wellunderstand their speech, for I have been a traveller myself. Now, hearing such language in such a tottering cottage as this oldgentleman dwelt in, I clapped mine ear to a hole in the window, andthere heard them talk as followeth. This old Mr. Questioning askedthese doubters what they were, whence they came, and what was theirbusiness in these parts; and they told him to all these questions, yet he did entertain them. He also asked what numbers there wereof them; and they told him ten thousand men. He then asked them, why they made no more manly assault upon Mansoul; and they toldhim: so he called their general coward, for marching off when heshould have fought for his prince. Further, this old Evil-Questioning wished, and I heard him wish, would all the tenthousand doubters were now in Mansoul, and himself at the head ofthem. He bid them also to take heed and lie quat; for if they weretaken they must die, although they had heads of gold. ' Then saidthe court: 'Mr. Evil-Questioning, here is now another witnessagainst you, and his testimony is full: 1. He swears that you didreceive these men into your house, and that you did nourish themthere, though you knew that they were Diabolonians, and the King'senemies. 2. He swears that you did wish ten thousand of them inMansoul. 3. He swears that you did give them advice to be quat andclose, lest they were taken by the King's servants. All whichmanifesteth that thou art a Diabolonian; but hadst thou been afriend to the King, thou wouldst have apprehended them. '

Then said Evil-Questioning: 'To the first of these I answer, Themen 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 entertainstrangers? That I did also nourish them is true; and why should mycharity be blamed? As for the reason why I wished ten thousand ofthem in Mansoul, I never told it to the witnesses, nor tothemselves. I might wish them to be taken, and so my wish mightmean well to Mansoul, for aught that any yet knows. I did also bidthem take heed that they fell not into the captains' hands; butthat 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 toentertain strangers, yet it was treason to entertain the King'senemies. And for what else thou hast said, thou dost by words butlabour to evade and defer the execution of judgment. But couldthere be no more proved against thee but that thou art aDiabolonian, thou must for that die the death by the law; but to bea receiver, a nourisher, a countenancer, and a harbourer of othersof them, yea, of outlandish Diabolonians, yea, of them that camefrom far on purpose to cut off and destroy our Mansoul--this mustnot be borne. '

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

Then they called the outlandish doubters to the bar, and the firstof them that was arraigned was the election doubter. So hisindictment was read; and because he was an outlandish man, thesubstance of it was told him by an interpreter; namely, 'That hewas there charged with being an enemy of Emmanuel the Prince, ahater of the town of Mansoul, and an opposer of her most wholesomedoctrine. '

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 thatwas 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 amartyr, and so I care the less. '

Judge. Then it was replied: 'To question election, is tooverthrow a great doctrine of the gospel, namely, the omnisciency, and power, and will of God; to take away the liberty of God withhis creature, to stumble the faith of the town of Mansoul, and tomake salvation to depend upon works, and not upon grace. It alsobelied 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 hisindictment for substance was the same with the other, only he wasparticularly 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 suchthing as a distinct and powerful call of God to Mansoul; otherwisethan by the general voice of the word, nor by that neither, otherwise than as it exhorted them to forbear evil, and to do thatwhich is good, and in so doing a promise of happiness is annexed. '

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

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

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

The court then, having proceeded thus far with them, sent out thejury, who forthwith brought them in guilty of death. Then stood upthe Recorder, and addressed himself to the prisoners: 'You, theprisoners at the bar, you have been here indicted, and provedguilty of high crimes against Emmanuel our Prince, and against thewelfare of the famous town of Mansoul, crimes for which you must beput to death, and die ye accordingly. ' So they were sentenced tothe death of the cross. The place assigned them for execution, wasthat where Diabolus drew up his last army against Mansoul; saveonly 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 theirenemies, and of the troublers of their peace, in the next place astrict commandment was given out, that yet my Lord Willbewillshould, with Diligence his man, search for, and do his best toapprehend what town Diabolonians were yet left alive 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 theyshould demolish his house. The children that he left behind himwere these: Mr. Doubt, and he was his eldest son; the next to himwas Legal-Life, Unbelief, Wrong-Thoughts-of-Christ, Clip-Promise, Carnal-Sense, Live-by-Feeling, Self-Love. All these he had by onewife, and her name was No-Hope; she was the kinswoman of oldIncredulity, for he was her uncle; and when her father, old Dark, was dead, he took her and brought her up, and when she wasmarriageable, he gave her to this old Evil-Questioning to wife. 

Now the Lord Willbewill did put into execution his commission, withgreat Diligence, his man. He took Fooling in the streets, andhanged him up in Want-wit-Alley, over against his own house. ThisFooling was he that would have had the town of Mansoul deliver upCaptain Credence into the hands of Diabolus, provided that then hewould 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 executedhim according to law. Now there was an honest poor man in Mansoul, and his name was Mr. Meditation, one of no great account in thedays 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, atEmmanuel's coming, it was sequestered to the use of the Prince:this, therefore, was now given to Mr. Meditation, to improve forthe common good, and after him to his son, Mr. Think-Well; thisThink-Well he had by Mrs. Piety his wife, and she was the daughterof Mr. Recorder. 

After this, my lord apprehended Clip-Promise: now because he was anotorious villain, for by his doings much of the King's coin wasabused, therefore he was made a public example. He was arraignedand judged to be first set in the pillory, then to be whipped byall the children and servants in Mansoul, and then to be hangedtill he was dead. Some may wonder at the severity of this man'spunishment; but those that are honest traders in Mansoul, aresensible of the great abuse that one clipper of promises in littletime may do to the town of Mansoul. And truly my judgment is, thatall those of his name and life should be served even as he. 

He also apprehended Carnal-Sense, and put him in hold; but how itcame about, I cannot tell, but he brake prison, and made hisescape: yea, and the bold villain will not yet quit the town, butlurks in the Diabolonian dens a days, and haunts like a ghosthonest men's houses a nights. Wherefore, there was a proclamationset up in the market-place in Mansoul, signifying that whosoevercould discover Carnal-Sense, and apprehend him and slay him, shouldbe admitted daily to the Prince's table, and should be made keeperof the treasure of Mansoul. Many, therefore, did bend themselvesto do this thing, but take him and slay him they could not, thoughoften he was discovered. 

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

Self-Love was also taken and committed to custody; but there weremany that were allied to him in Mansoul, so his judgment wasdeferred. But at last Mr. Self-Denial stood up, and said: 'Ifsuch villains as these may be winked at in Mansoul, I will lay downmy commission. ' He also took him from the crowd, and had him amonghis soldiers, and there he was brained. But some in Mansoulmuttered at it, though none durst speak plainly, because Emmanuelwas in town. But this brave act of Captain Self-Denial came to thePrince'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 ofthe Diabolonians, with my Lord Willbewill; and they took Live-by-Feeling, and they took Legal-Life, and put them in hold till theydied. But Mr. Unbelief was a nimble Jack: him they could neverlay hold of, though they attempted to do it often. He therefore, and some few more of the subtlest of the Diabolonian tribe, did yetremain in Mansoul, to the time that Mansoul left off to dwell anylonger in the kingdom of Universe. But they kept them to theirdens and holes: if one of them did appear, or happen to be seen inany of the streets of the town of Mansoul, the whole town would beup in arms after them; yea, the very children in Mansoul would cryout after them as after a thief, and would wish that they mightstone them to death with stones. And now did Mansoul arrive tosome good degree of peace and quiet; her Prince also did abidewithin her borders; her captains, also, and her soldiers did theirduties; and Mansoul minded her trade that she had with the countrythat was afar off; also she was busy in her manufacture. 

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

'You, my Mansoul, and the beloved of mine heart, many and great arethe privileges that I have bestowed upon you; I have singled youout from others, and have chosen you to myself, not for yourworthiness, but for mine own sake. I have also redeemed you, notonly from the dread of my Father's law, but from the hand ofDiabolus. This I have done because I loved you, and because I haveset my heart upon you to do you good. I have also, that allthings, that might hinder thy way to the pleasures of paradisemight be taken out of the way, laid down for thee for thy soul aplenary satisfaction, and have bought thee to myself; a price notof corruptible things, as of silver and gold, but a price of blood, mine own blood, which I have freely spilled upon the ground to makethee mine. So I have reconciled thee, O my Mansoul, to my Father, and entrusted thee in the mansion houses that are with my Father inthe royal city, where things are, O my Mansoul, that eye hath notseen, nor hath entered into the heart of man to conceive. 

'Besides, O my Mansoul, thou seest what I have done, and how I havetaken thee out of the hands of thine enemies: unto whom thou hadstdeeply revolted from my Father, and by whom thou wast content to bepossessed, and also to be destroyed. I came to thee first by mylaw, 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 Ileft thee not as thou seest this day, but came to thee, have bornethy manners, have waited upon thee, and, after all, accepted ofthee, even of my mere grace and favour; and would not suffer theeto be lost, as thou most willingly wouldst have been. I alsocompassed thee about, and afflicted thee on every side, that Imight make thee weary of thy ways, and bring down thy heart withmolestation to a willingness to close with thy good and happiness. And when I had gotten a complete conquest over thee, I turned it tothy advantage. 

'Thou seest, also, what a company of my Father's host I have lodgedwithin 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, andthine, too, Mansoul. Yea, my design of possessing of thee withthem, and the natural tendency of each of them is to defend, purge, strengthen, and sweeten thee for myself, O Mansoul, and to makethee meet for my Father's presence, blessing, and glory; for thou, my Mansoul, art created to be prepared unto these. 

'Thou seest, moreover, my Mansoul, how I have passed by thybackslidings, and have healed thee. Indeed I was angry with thee, but I have turned mine anger away from thee, because I loved theestill, and mine anger and mine indignation is ceased in thedestruction of thine enemies, O Mansoul. Nor did thy goodnessfetch me again unto thee, after that I for thy transgressions havehid my face, and withdrawn my presence from thee. The way ofbacksliding was thine, but the way and means of thy recovery wasmine. I invented the means of thy return; it was I that made anhedge and a wall, when thou wast beginning to turn to things inwhich I delighted not. It was I that made thy sweet bitter, thyday night, thy smooth way thorny, and that also confounded all thatsought thy destruction. It was I that set Mr. Godly-Fear to workin Mansoul. It was I that stirred up thy conscience andunderstanding, thy will and thy affections, after thy great andwoful decay. It was I that put life into thee, O Mansoul, to seekme, that thou mightest find me, and in thy finding find thine ownhealth, happiness, and salvation. It was I that fetched the secondtime the Diabolonians out of Mansoul; and it was I that overcamethem, and that destroyed them before thy face. 

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

For yet a little while, O my Mansoul, even after a few more timesare gone over thy head, I will (but be not thou troubled at what Isay) take down this famous town of Mansoul, stick and stone, to theground. And I will carry the stones thereof, and the timberthereof, and the walls thereof, and the dust thereof, and theinhabitants thereof, into mine own country, even into a kingdom ofmy Father; and will there set it up in such strength and glory, asit never did see in the kingdom where now it is placed. I willeven there set it up for my Father's habitation; for for thatpurpose it was at first erected in the kingdom of Universe; andthere will I make it a spectacle of wonder, a monument of mercy, and the admirer of its own mercy. There shall the natives ofMansoul see all that, of which they have seen nothing here: thereshall they be equal to those unto whom they have been inferiorhere. And there shalt thou, O my Mansoul, have such communion withme, with my Father, and with your Lord Secretary, as it is notpossible here to be enjoyed, nor ever could be, shouldest thou livein Universe the space of a thousand years. 

'And there, O my Mansoul, thou shalt be afraid of murderers nomore; of Diabolonians, and their threats, no more. There, thereshall be no more plots, nor contrivances, nor designs against thee, O my Mansoul. There thou shalt no more hear the evil-tidings, orthe noise of the Diabolonian drum. There thou shalt not see theDiabolonian standard-bearers, nor yet behold Diabolus's standard. No Diabolonian mount shall be cast up against thee there; nor shallthere the Diabolonian standard be set up to make thee afraid. There thou shalt not need captains, engines, soldiers, and men ofwar. There thou shalt meet with no sorrow, nor grief, nor shall itbe possible that any Diabolonian should again, for ever, be able tocreep into thy skirts, burrow in thy walls, or be seen again withinthy borders all the days of eternity. Life shall there last longerthan here you are able to desire it should; and yet it shall alwaysbe sweet and new, nor shall any impediment attend it for ever. 

'There, O Mansoul, thou shalt meet with many of those that havebeen like thee, and that have been partakers of thy sorrows; evensuch as I have chosen, and redeemed, and set apart, as thou, for myFather's court and city-royal. All they will be glad in thee, andthou, 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 histreasures for thee, till thou shalt come thither to enjoy them. Itold you before, that I would remove my Mansoul, and set it upelsewhere; and where I will set it, there are those that love thee, and those that rejoice in thee now; but how much more, when theyshall see thee exalted to honour! My Father will then send themfor 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. Theywill come to convey, conduct, and bring you to that, when your eyessee more, that will be your desired haven. 

'And thus, O my Mansoul, I have showed unto thee what shall be doneto thee hereafter, if thou canst hear, if thou canst understand;and now I will tell thee what at present must be thy duty andpractice, until I come and fetch thee to myself, according as isrelated in the Scriptures of truth. 

'First, I charge thee that thou dost hereafter keep more white andclean the liveries which I gave thee before my last withdrawingfrom thee. Do it, I say, for this will be thy wisdom. They are inthemselves fine linen, but thou must keep them white and clean. This will be your wisdom, your honour, and will be greatly for myglory. When your garments are white, the world will count youmine. Also, when your garments are white, then I am delighted inyour ways; for then your goings to and fro will be like a flash oflightning, that those that are present must take notice of; alsotheir eyes will be made to dazzle thereat. Deck thyself, therefore, according to my bidding, and make thyself by my lawstraight steps for thy feet; so shall thy King greatly desire thybeauty, for he is thy Lord, and worship thou him. 

'Now, that thou mayest keep them as I bid thee, I have, as I beforedid tell thee, provided for thee an open fountain to wash thygarments in. Look, therefore, that thou wash often in my fountain, and go not in defiled garments; for as it is to my dishonour and mydisgrace, so it will be to thy discomfort, when you shall walk infilthy 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 Iask 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 mykindness to my beloved Mansoul, so as to provoke thee to walk inthy measure according to the benefit bestowed on thee. Of old, thesacrifices were bound with coords to the horns of the altar. Consider what is said to thee, O my blessed Mansoul. 

'O my Mansoul, I have lived, I have died, I live, and will die nomore for thee. I live, that thou mayest not die. Because I live, thou shalt live also. I reconciled thee to my Father by the bloodof my cross; and being reconciled, thou shalt live through me. Iwill 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 ofsin, my Mansoul. 

'And dost thou know why I at first, and do still, sufferDiabolonians to dwell in thy walls, O Mansoul? It is to keep theewakening, to try thy love, to make thee watchful, and to cause theeyet to prize my noble captains, their soldiers, and my mercy. 

'It is also, that yet thou mayest be made to remember what adeplorable condition thou once wast in. I mean when, not some, butall did dwell, not in thy walls, but in thy castle, and in thystronghold, O Mansoul. 

'O my Mansoul, should I slay all them within, many there bewithout, that would bring thee into bondage; for were all thesewithin cut off, those without would find thee sleeping; and then, as in a moment, they would swallow up my Mansoul. I therefore leftthem in thee, not to do thee hurt (the which they yet will, if thouhearken to them, and serve them, ) but to do thee good, the whichthey must, if thou watch and fight against them. Know, therefore, that whatever they shall tempt thee to, my design is, that theyshould drive thee, not further off, but nearer to my father, tolearn thee war, to make petitioning desirable to thee, and to makethee little in thine own eyes. Hearken diligently to this, myMansoul. 

'Show me, then, thy love, my Mansoul, and let not those that arewithin thy walls, take thy affections off from him that hathredeemed thy soul. Yea, let the sight of a Diabolonian heightenthy love to me. I came once, and twice, and thrice, to save theefrom the poison of those arrows that would have wrought thy death:stand for me, thy Friend, my Mansoul, against the Diabolonians, andI will stand for thee before my Father, and all his court. Love meagainst temptation, and I will love thee notwithstanding thineinfirmities. 

'O my Mansoul, remember what my captains, my soldiers, and mineengines have done for thee. They have fought for thee, they havesuffered by thee, they have borne much at thy hands to do theegood, O Mansoul. Hadst thou not had them to help thee, Diabolushad certainly made a hand of thee. Nourish them, therefore, myMansoul. When thou dost well, they will be well; when thou dostill, they will be ill, and sick, and weak. Make not my captainssick, O Mansoul; for if they be sick, thou canst not be well; ifthey be weak, thou canst not be strong; if they be faint, thoucanst not be stout and valiant for thy King, O Mansoul. Nor mustthou 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 Ilove 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, andto make war against my foes; so now I command thee to believe thatmy love is constant to thee. O my Mansoul, how have I set myheart, my love upon thee! Watch. Behold, I lay none other burdenupon thee, than what thou hast already. Hold fast, till I come. '