A RELATION OF THE HOLY WAR.



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

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

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

Now there is in this gallant country of Universe a fair and delicate town, a corporationcalled Mansoul; a town for its building so curious, for its situation so commodious,for its privileges so advantageous, (I mean with reference to its origin,) that Imay say of it, as was said before of the continent in which it is placed, There isnot its equal under the whole heaven.

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

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

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

This famous town of Mansoul had five gates, in at which to come, out at which togo; and these were made likewise answerable to the walls, to wit, impregnable, andsuch as could never be opened nor forced but by the will and leave of those within.The names of the gates were these: Ear-gate, Eye-gate, Mouth-gate, Nose-gate, andFeel-gate.

Other things there were that belonged to the town of Mansoul, which if you adjointo these, will yet give farther demonstration to all, of the glory and strength ofthe place. It had always a sufficiency of provision within its walls; it had thebest, most wholesome, and excellent law that then was extant in the world. Therewas not a rascal, rogue, or traitorous person then within its walls; they were alltrue men, and fast joined together; and this, you know, is a great matter. And toall these, it had always (so long as it had the goodness to keep true to Shaddaithe King) his countenance, his protection, and it was his delight, etc.

Well, upon a time, there was one Diabolus, a mighty giant, made an assault upon thisfamous town of Mansoul, to take it, and make it his own habitation. This giant wasking of the blacks, and a most raving prince he was. We will, if you please, firstdiscourse of the origin of this Diabolus, and then of his taking of this famous townof Mansoul.

This Diabolus is indeed a great and mighty prince, and yet both poor and beggarly.As to his origin, he was at first one of the servants of King Shaddai, made, andtaken, and put by him into most high and mighty place; yea, was put into such principalitiesas belonged to the best of his territories and dominions. This Diabolus was made'son of the morning,' and a brave place he had of it: it brought him much glory,and gave him much brightness, an income that might have contented his Luciferianheart, had it not been insatiable, and enlarged as hell itself.

Well, he seeing himself thus exalted to greatness and honour, and raging in his mindfor higher state and degree, what doth he but begins to think with himself how hemight be set up as lord over all, and have the sole power under Shaddai. (Now thatdid the King reserve for his Son, yea, and had already bestowed it upon him.) Whereforehe first consults with himself what had best to be done; and then breaks his mindto some other of his companions, to the which they also agreed. So, in fine, theycame to this issue that they should make an attempt upon the King's Son to destroyhim, that the inheritance might be theirs. Well, to be short, the treason, as I said,was concluded, the time appointed, the word given, the rebels rendezvoused, and theassault attempted. Now the King and his Son being all and always eye, could not butdiscern all passages in his dominions; and he, having always love for his Son asfor himself, could not at what he saw but be greatly provoked and offended: whereforewhat does he, but takes them in the very nick and first trip that they made towardstheir design, convicts them of the treason, horrid rebellion, and conspiracy thatthey had devised, and now attempted to put into practice, and casts them altogetherout of all place of trust, benefit, honour, and preferment. This done, he banishesthem the court, turns them down into the horrible pits, as fast bound in chains,never more to expect the least favour from his hands, but to abide the judgment thathe had appointed, and that for ever.

Now they being thus cast out of all place of trust, profit, and honour, and alsoknowing that they had lost their prince's favour for ever, (being banished his court,and cast down to the horrible pits,) you may he sure they would now add to theirformer pride what malice and rage against Shaddai, and against his Son, they could.Wherefore, roving and ranging in much fury from place to place, if, perhaps, theymight find something that was the King's, by spoiling of that, to revenge themselveson him; at last they happened into this spacious country of Universe, and steer theircourse towards the town of Mansoul; and considering that that town was one of thechief works and delights of King Shaddai, what do they but, after counsel taken,make an assault upon that. I say, they knew that Mansoul belonged unto Shaddai; forthey were there when he built it and beautified it for himself. So when they hadfound the place, they shouted horribly for joy, and roared on it as a lion upon theprey, saying, 'Now we have found the prize, and how to be revenged on King Shaddaifor what he hath done to us.' So they sat down and called a council of war, and consideredwith themselves what ways and methods they had best to engage in for the winningto themselves this famous town of Mansoul, and these four things were then propoundedto be considered of.

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

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

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

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

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

2. And then to the second proposal they came, namely, Whether they had best go andsit down before Mansoul in their now ragged and beggarly guise. To which it was answeredalso in the negative, By no means; and that because, though the town of Mansoul hadbeen made to know, and to have to do, before now, with things that are invisible,they did never as yet see any of their fellow-creatures in so sad and rascally conditionas they; and this was the advice of that fierce Alecto. Then said Apollyon, 'Theadvice is pertinent; for even one of us appearing to them as we are now, must needsboth beget and multiply such thoughts in them as will both put them into a consternationof spirit, and necessitate them to put themselves upon their guard. And if so,' saidhe, 'then, as my Lord Diabolus said but now, it is in vain for us to think of takingthe town.' Then said that mighty giant Beelzebub, 'The advice that already is givenis safe; for though the men of Mansoul have seen such things as we once were, yethitherto they did never behold such things as we now are; and it is best, in mineopinion, to come upon them in such a guise as is common to, and most familiar amongthem.' To this, when they had consented, the next thing to be considered was, inwhat shape, hue, or guise Diabolus had best to show himself when he went about tomake Mansoul his own. Then one said one thing, and another the contrary. At lastLucifer answered, that, in his opinion, it was best that his lordship should assumethe body of some of those creatures that they of the town had dominion over; 'for,'quoth he, 'these are not only familiar to them, but, being under them, they willnever imagine that an attempt should by them be made upon the town; and, to blindall, let him assume the body of one of those beasts that Mansoul deems to be wiserthan any of the rest.' This advice was applauded of all: so it was determined thatthe giant Diabolus should assume the dragon, for that he was in those days as familiarwith the town of Mansoul as now is the bird with the boy; for nothing that was inits primitive state was at all amazing to them. Then they proceeded to the thirdthing, which was:

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

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

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

So they drew up and sat down before Ear-gate, for that was the place of hearing forall without the town, as Eye-gate was the place of perspection. So, as I said, hecame up with his train to the gate, and laid his ambuscado for Captain Resistancewithin bow-shot of the town. This done, the giant ascended up close to the gate,and called to the town of Mansoul for audience. Nor took he any with him but oneIll- pause, who was his orator in all difficult matters. Now, as I said, he beingcome up to the gate, (as the manner of those times was,) sounded his trumpet foraudience; at which the chief of the town of Mansoul, such as my Lord Innocent, myLord Willbewill, my Lord Mayor, Mr. Recorder, and Captain Resistance, came down tothe wall to see who was there, and what was the matter. And my Lord Willbewill, whenhe had looked over and saw who stood at the gate, demanded what he was, whereforehe was come, and why he roused the town of Mansoul with so unusual a sound.

Diabolus, then, as if he had been a lamb, began his oration, and said: 'Gentlemenof the famous town of Mansoul, I am, as you may perceive, no far dweller from you,but near, and one that is bound by the king to do you my homage and what serviceI 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, and hear me patiently.And first, I will assure you, it is not myself, but you - not mine, but your advantagethat I seek by what I now do, as will full well be made manifest, by that I haveopened my mind unto you. For, gentlemen, I am (to tell you the truth) come to showyou how you may obtain great and ample deliverance from a bondage that, unawaresto yourselves, you are captivated and enslaved under.' At this the town of Mansoulbegan to prick up its ears. And 'What is it? Pray what is it?' thought they. Andhe said, 'I have somewhat to say to you concerning your King, concerning his law,and also touching yourselves. Touching your King, I know he is great and potent;but yet all that he hath said to you is neither true nor yet for your advantage.1. It is not true, for that wherewith he hath hitherto awed you, shall not come topass, nor be fulfilled, though you do the thing that he hath forbidden. But if therewas danger, what a slavery is it to live always in fear of the greatest of punishments,for doing so small and trivial a thing as eating of a little fruit is. 2. 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 tothe offence: there is great difference and disproportion between the life and anapple; yet the one must go for the other by the law of your Shaddai. But it is alsointricate, in that he saith, first, you may eat of all; and yet after forbids theeating of one. And then, in the last place, it must needs be intolerable, forasmuchas that fruit which you are forbidden to eat of (if you are forbidden any) is that,and that alone, which is able, by your eating, to minister to you a good as yet unknownby you. This is manifest by the very name of the tree; it is called the "treeof knowledge of good and evil;" and have you that knowledge as yet? No, no;nor can you conceive how good, how pleasant, and how much to be desired to make onewise it is, so long as you stand by your King's commandment. Why should you be holdenin ignorance and blindness? Why should you not be enlarged in knowledge and understanding?And now, O ye inhabitants of the famous town of Mansoul, to speak more particularlyto yourselves you are not a free people! You are kept both in bondage and slavery,and that by a grievous threat; no reason being annexed but, "So I will haveit; so it shall be." And is it not grievous to think on, that that very thingwhich you are forbidden to do might you but do it, would yield you both wisdom andhonour? for then your eyes will be opened, and you shall be as gods. Now, since thisis thus,' quoth he, 'can you be kept by any prince in more slavery and in greaterbondage than you are under this day? You are made underlings, and are wrapped upin inconveniences, as I have well made appear. For what bondage greater than to bekept in blindness? Will not reason tell you that it is better to have eyes than tobe without them? and so to be at liberty to be better than to be shut up in a darkand stinking cave?'

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

'Gentlemen,' quoth he, 'it is my master's happiness that he has this day a quietand teachable auditory; and it is hoped by us that we shall prevail with you notto cast off good advice. My master has a very great love for you; and although, ashe very well knows, that he runs the hazard of the anger of King Shaddai, yet loveto you will make him do more than that. Nor doth there need that a word more shouldbe spoken to confirm for truth what he hath said; there is not a word but carrieswith it self-evidence in its bowels; the very name of the tree may put an end toall controversy in this matter. I therefore, at this time, shall only add this adviceto you, under and by the leave of my lord;' (and with that he made Diabolus a verylow congee;) 'consider his words, look on the tree and the promising fruit thereof;remember also that yet you know but little, and that this is the way to know more:and if your reasons be not conquered to accept of such good counsel, you are notthe men that I took you to be.'

But when the townsfolk saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasantto the eye, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, they did as old Ill-pauseadvised; they took and did eat thereof. Now this I should have told you before, thateven then, when this Ill-pause was making his speech to the townsmen, my Lord Innocency(whether by a shot from the camp of the giant, or from some sinking qualm that suddenlytook him, or whether by the stinking breath of that treacherous villain old Ill-pause,for so I am most apt to think) sunk down in the place where he stood, nor could bebrought to life again. Thus these two brave men died - brave men, I call them; forthey were the beauty and glory of Mansoul, so long as they lived therein; nor didthere now remain any more a noble spirit in Mansoul; they all fell down and yieldedobedience to Diabolus; and became his slaves and vassals, as you shall hear.

Now these being dead, what do the rest of the townsfolk, but, as men that had founda fool's paradise, they presently, as afore was hinted, fall to prove the truth ofthe giant's words. And, first, they did as Ill-pause had taught them; they looked,they considered they were taken with the forbidden fruit; they took thereof, anddid eat; and having eaten, they became immediately drunken therewith. So they openthe gate, both Ear-gate and Eye-gate, and let in Diabolus with all his bands, quiteforgetting their good Shaddai, his law, and the judgment that he had annexed, withsolemn threatening, to the breach thereof.

Diabolus, having now obtained entrance in at the gates of the town, marches up tothe middle thereof, to make his conquest as sure as he could; and finding, by thistime, the affections of the people warmly inclining to him, he, as thinking it wasbest striking while the iron is hot, made this further deceivable speech unto them,saying, 'Alas, my poor Mansoul! I have done thee indeed this service, as to promotethee to honour, and to greaten thy liberty; but, alas! alas! poor Mansoul, thou wantestnow one to defend thee; for assure thyself that when Shaddai shall hear what is done,he will come; for sorry will he be that thou hast broken his bonds, and cast hiscords away from thee. What wilt thou do? Wilt thou, after enlargement, suffer thyprivileges to be invaded and taken away, or what wilt resolve with thyself?'

Then they all with one consent said to this bramble, 'Do thou reign over us.' Sohe accepted the motion, and became the king of the town of Mansoul. This being done,the next thing was to give him possession of the castle, and so of the whole strengthof 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 a den and hold forthe giant Diabolus.

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

This done, but not thinking himself yet secure enough, in the next place he bethinkshimself of new modelling the town; and so he does, setting up one, and putting downanother at pleasure. Wherefore my Lord Mayor, whose name was my Lord Understanding,and Mr. Recorder, whose name was Mr. Conscience, these he put out of place and power.

As for my Lord Mayor, though he was an understanding man, and one too that had compliedwith the rest of the town of Mansoul in admitting the giant into the town, yet Diabolusthought not fit to let him abide in his former lustre and glory, because he was aseeing man. Wherefore he darkened him, not only by taking from him his office andpower, but by building a high and strong tower, just between the sun's reflectionsand the windows of my lord's palace; by which means his house and all, and the wholeof 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, his house, my lordwas confined as to a prison; nor might he, upon his parole, go farther than withinhis own bounds. And now, had he had a heart to do for Mansoul, what could he do forit, or wherein could he be profitable to her? So then, so long as Mansoul was underthe power and government of Diabolus, (and so long it was under him, as it was obedientto him, which was even until by a war it was rescued out of his hand,) so long myLord Mayor was rather an impediment in, than an advantage to the famous town of Mansoul.

As for Mr. Recorder, before the town was taken, he was a man well read in the lawsof his king, and also a man of courage and faithfulness to speak truth at every occasion;and he had a tongue as bravely hung as he had a head filled with judgment. Now, thisman Diabolus could by no means abide, because, though he gave his consent to hiscoming into the town, yet he could not, by all the wiles, trials, stratagems, anddevices that he could use, make him wholly his own. True, he was much degeneratedfrom his former king, and also much pleased with many of the giant's laws and service;but all this would not do, forasmuch as he was not wholly his. He would now and thenthink upon Shaddai, and have dread of his law upon him, and then he would speak againstDiabolus with a voice as great as when a lion roareth. Yea, and would also at certaintimes, when his fits were upon him, (for you must know that sometimes he had terriblefits,) make the whole town of Mansoul shake with his voice: and therefore the nowking of Mansoul could not abide him.

Diabolus, therefore, feared the Recorder more than any that was left alive in thetown of Mansoul, because, as I said, his words did shake the whole town; they werelike the rattling thunder, and also like thunder-claps. Since, therefore, the giantcould not make him wholly his own, what doth he do but studies all that he couldto debauch the old gentleman, and by debauchery to stupefy his mind, and more hardenhis heart in the ways of vanity. And as he attempted, so he accomplished his design:he debauched the man, and by little and little so drew him into sin and wickedness,that at last he was not only debauched, as at first, and so by consequence defiled,but was almost (at last, I say) past all conscience of sin. And this was the farthestDiabolus 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 not to be regarded.And for this he urged his fits, and said, 'If he be himself, why doth he not do thusalways? But,' quoth he, 'as all mad folks have their fits, and in them their ravinglanguage, so hath this old and doating gentleman.'

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

Wherefore, sometimes when Mansoul did use to be frighted with the thundering voiceof the Recorder that was, and when they did tell Diabolus of it, he would answer,that what the old gentleman said was neither of love to him nor pity to them, butof a foolish fondness that he had to be prating; and so would hush, still, and putall to quiet again. And that he might leave no argument unurged that might tend tomake them secure, he said, and said it often, 'O Mansoul! consider that, notwithstandingthe old gentleman's rage, and the rattle of his high and thundering words, you hearnothing of Shaddai himself;' when, liar and deceiver that he was, every outcry ofMr. Recorder against the sin of Mansoul was the voice of God in him to them. Buthe goes on, and says, 'You see that he values not the loss nor rebellion of the townof Mansoul, nor will he trouble himself with calling his town to a reckoning fortheir giving themselves to me. He knows that though you were his, now you are lawfullymine; so, leaving us one to another, he now hath shaken his hands of us.

'Moreover, O Mansoul!' quoth he, 'consider how I have served you, even to the uttermostof my power; and that with the best that I have, could get, or procure for you inall the world: besides, I dare say that the laws and customs that you now are under,and by which you do homage to me, do yield you more solace and content than did theparadise that at first you possessed. Your liberty also, as yourselves do very wellknow, has been greatly widened and enlarged by me; whereas I found you a penned-uppeople. I have not laid any restraint upon you; you have no law, statute, or judgmentof mine to fright you; I call none of you to account for your doings, except themadman - you know who I mean; I have granted you to live, each man like a princein his own, even with as little control from me as I myself have from you.'

And thus would Diabolus hush up and quiet the town of Mansoul, when the Recorderthat was, did at times molest them: yea, and with such cursed orations as these,would set the whole town in a rage and fury against the old gentleman. Yea, the rascalcrew at some times would be for destroying him. They have often wished, in my hearing,that he had lived a thousand miles off from them: his company, his words, yea, thesight of him, and specially when they remembered how in old times he did use to threatenand condemn them, (for all he was now so debauched,) did terrify and afflict themsore.

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

But to leave Mr. Recorder, and to come to my Lord Willbewill, another of the gentryof the famous town of Mansoul. This Willbewill was as high-born as any man in Mansoul,and was as much, if not more, a freeholder than many of them were; besides, if Iremember my tale aright, he had some privileges peculiar to himself in the famoustown of Mansoul. Now, together with these, he was a man of great strength, resolution,and courage, nor in his occasion could any turn him away. But I say, whether he wasproud of his estate, privileges, strength, or what, (but sure it was through prideof something,) he scorns now to be a slave in Mansoul; and therefore resolves tobear office under Diabolus, that he might (such an one as he was) be a petty rulerand governor in Mansoul. And, headstrong man that he was! thus he began betimes;for this man, when Diabolus did make his oration at Ear-gate, was one of the firstthat was for consenting to his words, and for accepting his counsel at wholesome,and that was for the opening of the gate, and for letting him into the town; whereforeDiabolus had a kindness for him, and therefore he designed for him a place. And perceivingthe valour and stoutness of the man, he coveted to have him for one of his greatones, to act and do in matters of the highest concern.

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

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

First, he maligned Mr. Recorder to death; he would neither endure to see him, norhear the words of his mouth; he would shut his eyes when he saw him, and stop hisears when he heard him speak. Also he could not endure that so much as a fragmentof the law of Shaddai should be anywhere seen in the town. For example, his clerk,Mr. Mind, had some old, rent, and torn parchments of the law of Shaddai in his house,but when Willbewill saw them, he cast them behind his back. True, Mr. Recorder hadsome of the laws in his study; but my lord could by no means come at them. He alsothought and said, that the windows of my old Lord Mayor's house were always too lightfor the profit of the town of Mansoul. The light of a candle he could not endure.Now nothing at all pleased Willbewill but what pleased Diabolus his lord.

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

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

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

Moreover, Diabolus made havoc of all remains of the laws and statutes of Shaddaithat could be found in the town of Mansoul; to wit, such as contained either thedoctrines of morals, with all civil and natural documents. Also relative severitieshe sought to extinguish. To be short, there was nothing of the remains of good inMansoul which he and Willbewill sought not to destroy; for their design was to turnMansoul into a brute, and to make it like to the sensual sow, by the hand of Mr.No-Truth.

When he had destroyed what law and good orders he could, then further to effect hisdesign, namely, to alienate Mansoul from Shaddai her King, he commands, and theyset up his own vain edicts, statutes, and commandments, in all places of resort orconcourse in Mansoul, to wit, such as gave liberty to the lusts of the flesh, thelusts of the eyes, and the pride of life, which are not of Shaddai, but of the world.He encouraged, countenanced, and promoted lasciviousness, and all ungodliness there.Yea, much more did Diabolus to encourage wickedness in the town of Mansoul; he promisedthem peace, content, joy, and bliss, in doing his commands, and that they shouldnever be called to an account for their not doing the contrary. And let this serveto give a taste to them that love to hear tell of what is done beyond their knowledgeafar off in other countries.

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

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

The name of the Mayor that was of Diabolus' making was the Lord Lustings, a man thathad neither eyes nor ears. All that he did, whether as a man or an officer, he didit naturally, as doth the beast. And that which made him yet the more ignoble, thoughnot to Mansoul, yet to them that beheld and were grieved for its ruin, was, thathe never could favour good, but evil.

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

Besides these, Diabolus made several burgesses and aldermen in Mansoul, such as outof whom the town, when it needed, might choose them officers, governors, and magistrates.And these are the names of the chief of them: Mr. Incredulity, Mr. Haughty, Mr. Swearing,Mr. Whoring, Mr. Hard-Heart, Mr. Pitiless, Mr. Fury, Mr. No-Truth, Mr. Stand-to-Lies,Mr. False-Peace, Mr. Drunkenness, Mr. Cheating, Mr. Atheism - thirteen in all. Mr.Incredulity is the eldest, and Mr. Atheism the youngest of the company.

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

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

He that Diabolus made governor over the first of these was one Spite-God, a mostblasphemous wretch: he came with the whole rabble of them that came against Mansoulat first, and was himself one of themselves. He that was made the governor of MidnightHold was one Love-no-Light; he was also of them that came first against the town.And he that was made the governor of the hold called Sweet-Sin Hold was one whosename was Love-Flesh: he was also a very lewd fellow, but not of that country wherethe other are bound. 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, he had engarrisonedhimself therein; he had put down the old officers, and had set up new ones; he haddefaced the image of Shaddai, and had set up his own; he had spoiled the old lawbooks, and had promoted his own vain lies; he had made him new magistrates, and setup new aldermen; he had builded him new holds, and had manned them for himself: andall this he did to make himself secure, in case the good Shaddai, or his Son, shouldcome to make an incursion upon him.

Now you may well think, that long before this time, word, by some one or other, couldnot but be carried to the good King Shaddai, how his Mansoul, in the continent ofUniverse, was lost; and that the runagate giant Diabolus, once one of his Majesty'sservants, had, in rebellion against the King, made sure thereof for himself. Yea,tidings were carried and brought to the King thereof, and that to a very circumstance.

At first, how Diabolus came upon Mansoul (they being a simple people and innocent)with craft, subtlety, lies, and guile. ITEM, that he had treacherously slain theright noble and valiant captain, their Captain Resistance, as he stood upon the gatewith the rest of the townsmen. ITEM, how my brave Lord Innocent fell down dead (withgrief, some say, or with being poisoned with the stinking breath of one Ill-Pause,as say others) at the hearing of his just lord and rightful prince, Shaddai, so abusedby the mouth of so filthy a Diabolian as that varlet Ill-Pause was. The messengerfurther told, that after this Ill-Pause had made a short oration to the townsmenin behalf of Diabolus, his master; the simple town, believing that what was saidwas true, with one consent did open Ear-gate, the chief gate of the corporation,and did let him, with his crew, into a possession of the famous town of Mansoul.He further showed how Diabolus had served the Lord Mayor and Mr. Recorder, to wit,that he had put them from all place of power and trust. ITEM, he showed also thatmy Lord Willbewill was turned a very rebel, and runagate, and that so was one Mr.Mind, his clerk; and that they two did range and revel it all the town over, andteach the wicked ones their ways. He said, moreover, that this Willbewill was putinto great trust, and particularly that Diabolus had put into Willbewill's hand allthe strong places in 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 King Shaddai, and hath horribly given hisfaith and plighted his troth to Diabolus.'

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

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

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

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

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

These papers, therefore, were published in several places, to the no little molestationof the tyrant Diabolus; 'for now,' thought he, 'I shall be molested, and my habitationwill be taken from me.'

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

Nor could these lords, high captains, and princes be content to keep this news atcourt; yea, before the records thereof were perfected, themselves came down and toldit in Universe. At last it came to the ears, as I said, of Diabolus, to his no littlediscontent; for you must think it would perplex him to hear of such a design againsthim. Well, but after a few casts in his mind, he concluded upon these four things.

First, that this news, these good tidings, (if possible,) should be kept from theears of the town of Mansoul; 'for,' said he, 'if they should once come to the knowledgethat Shaddai, their former King, and Emmanuel his Son, are contriving good for thetown 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 my Lord Willbewill,and also gives him strict charge and command, that he should keep watch by day andby night at all the gates of the town, especially Ear-gate and Eye-gate; 'for I hearof 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 flying stories,' quothhe; 'however, let no such news by any means be let into Mansoul, lest the peoplebe dejected thereat. I think, my lord, it can be no welcome news to you; I am sureit 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 trouble our people. WhereforeI desire, my lord, that you will in this matter do as I say. Let there be strongguards daily kept at every gate of the town. Stop also and examine from whence suchcome that you perceive do from far come hither to trade, nor let them by any meansbe admitted into Mansoul, unless you shall plainly perceive that they are favourersof our excellent government. I command, moreover,' said Diabolus, 'that there bespies continually walking up and down the town of Mansoul, and let them have powerto suppress and destroy any that they shall perceive to be plotting against us, orthat shall prate of what by Shaddai and Emmanuel is intended.'

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

Secondly, this done, in the next place, Diabolus, that he might make Mansoul as sureas he could, frames and imposes a new oath and horrible covenant upon the townsfolk:-To wit, that they should never desert him nor his government, nor yet betray him,nor seek to alter his laws; but that they should own, confess, stand by, and acknowledgehim for their rightful king, in defiance to any that do or hereafter shall, by anypretence, law, or title whatever, lay claim to the town of Mansoul; thinking, belike,that Shaddai had not power to absolve them from this covenant with death, and agreementwith hell. Nor did the silly Mansoul stick or boggle at all at this most monstrousengagement; but, as if it had been a sprat in the mouth of a whale, they swallowedit without any chewing. Were they troubled at all? Nay, they rather bragged and boastedof their so brave fidelity to the tyrant, their pretended king, swearing that theywould never be changelings, nor forsake their old lord for a new. Thus did Diabolustie poor Mansoul fast.

Thirdly. But jealousy, that never thinks itself strong enough, put him, in the nextplace, upon another exploit, which was, yet more, if possible, to debauch this townof Mansoul. Wherefore he caused, by the hand of one Mr. Filth, an odious, nasty,lascivious piece of beastliness to be drawn up in writing, and to be set upon thecastle gates; whereby he granted and gave license to all his true and trusty sonsin Mansoul to do whatsoever their lustful appetites prompted them to do; and thatno man was to let, hinder, or control them, upon pain of incurring the displeasureof their prince.

Now this he did for these reasons:-

1. That the town of Mansoul might be yet made weaker and weaker, and so more unable,should tidings come that their redemption was designed, to believe, hope, or consentto the truth thereof; for reason says, The bigger the sinner, the less grounds ofhopes of mercy.

2. The second reason was, if perhaps Emmanuel, the Son of Shaddai their King, byseeing the horrible and profane doings of the town of Mansoul, might repent, thoughentered into a covenant of redeeming them, of pursuing that covenant of their redemption;for he knew that Shaddai was holy, and that his Son Emmanuel was holy; yea, he knewit by woeful experience, for for his iniquity and sin was Diabolus cast from thehighest orbs. Wherefore what more rational than for him to conclude that thus, forsin, it might fare with 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 of Mansoul that Shaddaiwas raising an army, to come to overthrow and utterly to destroy this town of Mansoul.And this he did to forestall any tidings that might come to their ears of their deliverance:'For,' thought he, 'if I first bruit this, the tidings that shall come after willall be swallowed up of this; for what else will Mansoul say, when they shall hearthat they must be delivered, but that the true meaning is, Shaddai intends to destroythem? Wherefore he summons the whole town into the market-place, and there, withdeceitful tongue, thus he addressed himself unto them:-

'Gentlemen, and my very good friends, you are all, as you know, my legal subjects,and men of the famous town of Mansoul. You know how, from the first day that I havebeen with you until now, I have behaved myself among you, and what liberty and greatprivileges you have enjoyed under my government, I hope to your honour and mine,and also to your content and delight. Now, my famous Mansoul, a noise of troublethere is abroad, of trouble to the town of Mansoul; sorry I am thereof for your sakes:for I received but now by the post from my Lord Lucifer, (and he useth to have goodintelligence,) that your old King Shaddai is raising an army to come against you,to destroy you root and branch; and this, O Mansoul, is now the cause that at thistime I have called you together, namely, to advise what in this juncture is bestto be done. For my part, I am but one, and can with ease shift for myself, did Ilist to seek my own case, and to leave my Mansoul in all the danger; but my heartis so firmly united to you, and so unwilling am I to leave you, that I am willingto stand and fall with you, to the utmost hazard that shall befall me. What say you,O my Mansoul? Will you now desert your old friend, or do you think of standing byme?'

Then, as one man, with one mouth, they cried out together, 'Let him die the deaththat will not.'

Then said Diabolus again, 'It is in vain for us to hope for quarter, for this Kingknows not how to show it. True, perhaps, he, at his first sitting down before us,will talk of and pretend to mercy, that thereby, with the more ease, and less trouble,he may again make himself the master of Mansoul. Whatever, therefore, he shall say,believe not one syllable or tittle of it; for all such language is but to overcomeus, and to make us, while we wallow in our blood, the trophies of his merciless victory.My mind is, therefore, that we resolve to the last man to resist him, and not tobelieve him upon any terms, for in at that door will come our danger. But shall webe flattered out of our lives? I hope you know more of the rudiments of politicsthan to suffer yourselves so pitifully to be served.

'But suppose he should, if he get us to yield, save some of our lives, or the livesof some of them that are underlings in Mansoul, what help will that be to you thatare the chief of the town, especially you whom I have set up and whose greatnesshas been procured by you through your faithful sticking to me? And suppose, again,that he should give quarter to every one of you, be sure he will bring you into thatbondage under which you were captivated before, or a worse, and then what good willyour 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 that which at presentis hateful to you. I am for you, if you are for me; and it is better to die valiantlythan to live like pitiful slaves. But, I say, the life of a slave will be counteda life too good for Mansoul now. Blood, blood, nothing but blood is in every blastof Shaddai's trumpet against poor Mansoul now. Pray, be concerned; I hear he is coming.Up, and stand to your arms that now, while you have any leisure, I may learn yousome 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 force can do, if youshall keep it well girt and fastened about you. Come, therefore, to my castle, andwelcome, and harness yourselves for the war. There is helmet, breastplate, sword,and shield, and what not, that will make you fight like men.

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

'2. My breastplate is a breastplate of iron. I had it forged in mine own country,and all my soldiers are armed therewith. In plain language, it is a hard heart, aheart as hard as iron, and as much past feeling as a stone; the which if you getand keep, neither mercy shall win you, nor judgment fright you. This therefore, isa piece of armour most necessary for all to put on that hate Shaddai, and that wouldfight against him under my banner.

'3. My sword is a tongue that is set on fire of hell, and that can bend itself tospeak evil of Shaddai, his Son, his ways, and people. Use this; it has been trieda thousand times twice told. Whoever hath it, keeps it, and makes that use of itas I would have him, can never be conquered by mine enemy.

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

'5. Another part or piece,' said Diabolus, 'of mine excellent armour is a dumb andprayerless spirit, a spirit that scorns to cry for mercy: wherefore be you, my Mansoul,sure that you make use of this. What! cry for quarter! Never do that, if you wouldbe mine. I know you are stout men, and am sure that I have clad you with that whichis armour of proof. Wherefore, to cry to Shaddai for mercy, let that be far fromyou. Besides all this, I have a maul, firebrands, arrows, and death, all good hand-weapons,and such as will do execution.'

After he had thus furnished his men with armour and arms, he addressed himself tothem in such like words as these: 'Remember,' quoth he, 'that I am your rightfulking, and that you have taken an oath and entered into covenant to be true to meand my cause: I say, remember this, and show yourselves stout and valiant men ofMansoul. Remember also the kindness that I have always showed to you, and that withoutyour petition I have granted to you external things; wherefore the privileges, grants,immunities, profits, and honours wherewith I have endowed you do call for, at yourhands, returns of loyalty, my lion-like men of Mansoul: and when so fit a time toshow it as when another shall seek to take my dominion over you into his own hands?One word more, and I have done. Can we but stand, and overcome this one shock orbrunt, I doubt not but in little time all the world will be ours; and when that daycomes, my true hearts, I will make you kings, princes, and captains, and what bravedays shall we have then!'

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

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

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

These four captains, as was said, the King thought fit, in the first place, to sendto Mansoul, to make an attempt upon it; for indeed generally in all his wars he diduse to send these four captains in the van, for they were very stout and rough-hewnmen, men that were fit to break the ice, and to make their way by dint of sword,and their men were like themselves.

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

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

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

The third captain was Captain Judgment; to him were given ten thousand men. His ensign'sname was Mr. Terror; he bare the red colours, and his scutcheon was a burning fieryfurnace.

The fourth captain was Captain Execution; to him were given ten thousand men. Hisensign was one Mr. Justice; he also bare the red colours, and his scutcheon was afruitless tree, with an axe lying at the root thereof.

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

Well, the captains and their forces, their men and under officers, being had upona day by Shaddai into the field, and there called all over by their names, were thenand there put into such harness as became their degree and that service which nowthey were going about for their King.

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


A COMMISSION FROM THE GREAT SHADDAI, KING OF MANSOUL, TO HIS TRUSTY AND NOBLE CAPTAIN,THE CAPTAIN BOANERGES, FOR HIS MAKING WAR UPON THE TOWN OF MANSOUL.


'O, thou Boanerges, one of my stout and thundering captains over one ten thousandof my valiant and faithful servants, go thou in my name, with this thy force, tothe miserable town of Mansoul; and when thou comest thither, offer them first conditionsof peace; and command them that, casting off the yoke and tyranny of the wicked Diabolus,they return to me, their rightful Prince and Lord. Command them also that they cleansethemselves from all that is his in the town of Mansoul, and look to thyself, thatthou hast good satisfaction touching the truth of their obedience. Thus when thouhast commanded them, (if they in truth submit thereto,) then do thou, to the uttermostof thy power, what in thee lies to set up for me a garrison in the famous town ofMansoul; nor do thou hurt the least native that moveth or breatheth therein, if theywill submit themselves to me, but treat thou such as if they were thy friend or brother;for all such I love, and they shall be dear unto me, and tell them that I will takea time to come unto them, and to let them know that I am merciful.

'But if they shall, notwithstanding thy summons and the producing of thy authority,resist, stand out against thee, and rebel, then do I command thee to make use ofall thy cunning, power, might, and force, to bring them under by strength of hand.Farewell.'


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

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

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

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

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

'Gentlemen,' quoth he, 'although you are my trusty and well- beloved friends, yetI cannot but a little chide you for your late uncircumspect action, in going outto gaze on that great and mighty force that but yesterday sat down before, and havenow entrenched themselves in order to the maintaining of a siege against the famoustown of Mansoul. Do you know who they are, whence they come, and what is their purposein sitting down before the town of Mansoul? They are they of whom I have told youlong ago, that they would come to destroy this town, and against whom I have beenat the cost to arm you with CAP-A-PIE for your body, besides great fortificationsfor your mind. Wherefore, then, did you not rather, even at the first appearanceof them, cry out, "Fire the beacons!" and give the whole town an alarmconcerning them, that we might all have been in a posture of defence, and been readyto have received them with the highest acts of defiance? Then had you showed yourselvesmen to my liking; whereas, by what you have done, you have made me half afraid -I say, half afraid - that when they and we shall come to push a pike, I shall findyou want courage to stand it out any longer. Wherefore have I commanded a watch,and that you should double your guards at the gates? Wherefore have I endeavouredto make you as hard as iron, and your hearts as a piece of the nether millstone?Was it, think you, that you might show yourselves women, and that you might go outlike a company of innocents to gaze on your mortal foes? Fie, fie! put yourselvesinto a posture of defence, beat up the drum, gather together in warlike manner, thatour foes may know that, before they shall conquer this corporation, there are valiantmen in the town of Mansoul.

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

Now were the townsmen strangely altered; they were as men stricken with a panic fear;they ran to and fro through the streets of the town of Mansoul, crying out, 'Help,help! the men that turn the world upside down are come hither also.' Nor could anyof them be quiet after; but still, as men bereft of wit, they cried out, 'The destroyersof our peace and people are come.' This went down with Diabolus. 'Ah,' quoth he tohimself, 'this I like well: now it is as I would have it; now you show your obedienceto 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 Boanergescommanded his trumpeter to go down to Ear-gate, and there, in the name of the greatShaddai, to summon Mansoul to give audience to the message that he, in his Master'sname, was to them commanded to deliver. So the trumpeter, whose name was Take-heed-what-you-hear,went up, as he was commanded, to Ear-gate, and there sounded his trumpet for a hearing;but there was none that appeared that gave answer or regard, for so had Diaboluscommanded. So the trumpeter returned to his captain, and told him what he had done,and also how he had sped; whereat the captain was grieved, but bid the trumpetergo to his tent.

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

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

So Captain Boanerges commanded his trumpeter to go up to Ear- gate again, and, inthe name of the great King Shaddai, to give it a very loud summons to come down withoutdelay to Ear-gate, there to give audience to the King's most noble captains. So thetrumpeter went, and did as he was commanded: he went up to Ear-gate, and soundedhis trumpet, and gave a third summons to Mansoul. He said, moreover, that if thisthey should still refuse to do, the captains of his prince would with might comedown upon them, and endeavour to reduce them to their obedience by force.

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

The trumpeter answered, 'I am servant to the most noble captain, Captain Boanerges,general of the forces of the great King Shaddai, against whom both thyself, withthe whole town of Mansoul, have rebelled, and lift up the heel; and my master, thecaptain, hath a special message to this town, and to thee, as a member thereof; thewhich if you of Mansoul shall peaceably hear, so; and if not, you must take whatfollows.'

Then said the Lord Willbewill, 'I will carry thy words to my lord, and will knowwhat he will say.'

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

Then said the Lord Willbewill, 'I will do your errand to the town.'

The trumpeter then replied, 'Sir, do not deceive us, lest, in so doing, you deceiveyourselves much more.' He added, moreover, 'For we are resolved, if in peaceablemanner you do not submit yourselves, then to make a war upon you, and to bring youunder by force. And of the truth of what I now say, this shall be a sign unto you,- you shall see the black flag, with its hot, burning thunder-bolts, set upon themount to-morrow, as a token of defiance against your prince, and of our resolutionsto reduce you to your Lord and rightful King.'

So the said Lord Willbewill returned from off the wall, and the trumpeter came intothe camp. When the trumpeter was come into the camp, the captains and officers ofthe mighty King Shaddai came together to know if he had obtained a hearing, and whatwas the effect of his errand. So the trumpeter told, saying, 'When I had soundedmy trumpet, and had called aloud to the town for a hearing, my Lord Willbewill, thegovernor of the town, and he that hath charge of the gates, came up when he heardme sound, and, looking over the wall, he asked me what I was, whence I came, andwhat was the cause of my making this noise. So I told him my errand, and by whoseauthority I brought it. "Then," said he, "I will tell it to the governorand to Mansoul;" and then I returned to my lords.'

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

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

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

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

Then said the giant (for Diabolus was also come down) to the captain, 'Mr. Captain,you have by your boldness given to Mansoul at least four summonses to subject herselfto your King, by whose authority I know not, nor will I dispute that now. I ask,therefore, what is the reason of all this ado, or what would you be at if you knewyourselves?'

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

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

'Again I say to thee, O Mansoul, consider if it be not amazing grace that Shaddaishould so humble himself as he doth: now he, by us, reasons with you, in a way ofentreaty and sweet persuasions, that you would subject yourselves to him. Has hethat need of you that 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, and for a scutcheonhe had the burning fiery furnace, and he said, 'O ye, the inhabitants of the townof Mansoul, that have lived so long in rebellion and acts of treason against theKing Shaddai, know that 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 the King, my Master,that hath sent us to reduce you to your obedience to him; the which if you refusein a peaceable way to yield, we have commission to compel you thereto. And neverthink of yourselves, nor yet suffer the tyrant Diabolus to persuade you to think,that our King, by his power, is not able to bring you down, and to lay you underhis feet; for he is the former of all things, and if he touches the mountains, theysmoke. Nor will the gate of the King's clemency stand always open; for the day thatshall burn like an oven is before him; yea, it hasteth greatly, it slumbereth not.

'O Mansoul, is it little in thine eyes that our King doth offer thee mercy, and thatafter so many provocations? Yea, he still holdeth out his golden sceptre to thee,and will not yet suffer his gate to be shut against thee: wilt thou provoke him todo it? If so, consider of what I say; to thee it is opened no more for ever. If thousayest thou shalt not see him, yet judgment is before him; therefore trust thou inhim. Yea, because there is wrath, beware lest he take thee away with his stroke;then a great ransom cannot deliver thee. Will he esteem thy riches? No, not gold,nor all the forces of strength. He hath prepared his throne for judgment, for hewill come with fire, and with his chariots like a whirlwind, to render his angerwith fury, and his rebukes with flames of fire. Therefore, O Mansoul, take heed lest,after thou hast fulfilled the judgment of the wicked, justice and judgment shouldtake hold of thee.'

Now while the Captain Judgment was making this oration to the town of Mansoul, itwas observed by some that Diabolus trembled; but he proceeded in his parable andsaid, 'O thou woful town of Mansoul, wilt thou not yet set open thy gate to receiveus, the deputies of thy King, and those that would rejoice to see thee live? Canthine heart endure, or can thy hands be strong, in the day that he shall deal injudgment with thee? I say, canst thou endure to be forced to drink, as one woulddrink sweet wine, the sea of wrath that our King has prepared for Diabolus and hisangels? Consider, betimes consider.'

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

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

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

'Thou hast been a cumber-ground long already, and wilt thou continue so still? Thysin has brought this army to thy walls, and shall it bring it in judgment to do executioninto thy town? Thou hast heard what the captains have said, but as yet thou shuttestthy gates. Speak out, Mansoul; wilt thou do so still, or wilt thou accept of conditionsof peace?'

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

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

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

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

'Further, you have also, to the terror of the town of Mansoul, threatened with greatand sore destructions to punish this corporation, if she consents not to do as yourwills would have her.

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

'As for the war that you threaten to make upon us, we must therein defend ourselvesas well as we can; and know ye, that we are not without wherewithal to bid defianceto you; and, in short, (for I will not be tedious,) I tell you, that we take youto be some vagabond runagate crew, that having shaken off all obedience to your King,have gotten together in tumultuous manner, and are ranging from place to place tosee if, through the flatteries you are skilled to make on the one side, and threatswherewith you think to fright on the other, to make some silly town, city, or country,desert their place, and leave it to you; but Mansoul is none of them.

'To conclude: we dread you not, we fear you not, nor will we obey your summons. Ourgates we will shut upon you, our place we will keep you out of. Nor will we longthus suffer you to sit down before us: our people must live in quiet: your appearancedoth disturb them. Wherefore arise with bag and baggage, and begone, or we will letfly from the walls against you.'

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

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

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

Diabolus also returned to the castle, and the Lord Mayor and Recorder to their place;but the Lord Willbewill took special care that the gates should be secured with doubleguards, double bolts, and double locks and bars; and that Ear-gate especially mightthe better be looked to, for that was the gate in at which the King's forces soughtmost to enter. The Lord Willbewill made one old Mr. Prejudice, an angry and ill-conditioned fellow, captain of the ward at that gate, and put under his power sixtymen, called deaf men; men advantageous for that service, forasmuch as they matteredno words of the captains, nor of the soldiers.

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

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

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

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

The King's captains, when they marched from the court to come up against Mansoulto war, as they came crossing over the country, they happened to light upon threeyoung fellows that had a mind to go for soldiers: proper men they were, and men ofcourage and skill, to appearance. Their names were Mr. Tradition, Mr. Human-Wisdom,and Mr. Man's-Invention. So they came up to the captains, and proffered their serviceto Shaddai. The captains then told them of their design, and bid them not to be rashin their offers; but the young men told them they had considered the thing before,and that hearing they were upon their march for such a design, came hither on purposeto meet them, that they might be listed under their excellencies. Then Captain Boanerges,for that they were men of courage, listed them into his company, and so away theywent to the war.

Now, when the war was begun, in one of the briskest skirmishes, so it was, that acompany of the Lord Willbewill's men sallied out at the sallyport or postern of thetown, and fell in upon the rear of Captain Boanerges' men, where these three fellowshappened 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 be noised about thestreets of the town what three notable prisoners the Lord Willbewill's men had taken,and brought in prisoners out of the camp of Shaddai. At length tidings thereof werecarried to Diabolus to the castle, to wit what my Lord Willbewill's men had done,and whom they had taken prisoners.

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

'Anything, my darling, - The three men that are the bearers of this letter have adesire to serve me in the war; nor know I better to whose conduct to commit themthan to thine. Receive them, therefore, in my name, and, as need shall require, makeuse of them against Shaddai and his men. Farewell.'

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

They of the camp did also some execution upon the town; for they did beat down theroof of the Lord Mayor's house, and so laid him more open than he was before. Theyhad almost, with a sling, slain my Lord Willbewill outright; but he made a shiftto recover again. But they made a notable slaughter among the aldermen, for withone only shot they cut off six of them; to wit, Mr. Swearing, Mr. Whoring, Mr. Fury,Mr. Stand-to-Lies, Mr. Drunkenness, and Mr. Cheating.

They also dismounted the two guns that stood upon the tower over Ear-gate, and laidthem flat in the dirt. I told you before that the King's noble captains had drawnoff to their winter quarters, and had there entrenched themselves and their carriages,so as with the best advantage to their King, and the greatest annoyance to the enemy,they might give seasonable and warm alarms to the town of Mansoul. And this designof them did so hit, that I may say they did almost what they would to the molestationof the corporation. For now could not Mansoul sleep securely as before, nor couldthey now go to their debaucheries with that quietness as in times past; for theyhad from the camp of Shaddai such frequent, warm, and terrifying alarms, yea, alarmsupon alarms, first at one gate and then at another, and again at all the gates atonce, that they were broken as to former peace. Yea, they had their alarms so frequently,and that when the nights were at longest, the weather coldest, and so consequentlythe season most unseasonable, that that winter was to the town of Mansoul a winterby itself. Sometimes the trumpets would sound, and sometimes the slings would whirlthe stones into the town. Sometimes ten thousand of the King's soldiers would berunning round the walls of Mansoul at midnight, shouting and lifting up the voicefor the battle. Sometimes, again, some of them in the town would be wounded, andtheir cry and lamentable voice would be heard, to the great molestation of the nowlanguishing town of Mansoul. Yea, so distressed with those that laid siege againstthem were they, that, I dare say, Diabolus, their king, had in these days his restmuch broken.

In these days, as I was informed, new thoughts, and thoughts that began to run counterone to another, began to possess the minds of the men of the town of Mansoul. Somewould say, 'There is no living thus.' Others would then reply, 'This will be overshortly.' Then would a third stand up and answer, 'Let us turn to the King Shaddai,and so put an end to these troubles.' And a fourth would come in with a fear, saying,'I doubt he will not receive us.' The old gentleman, too, the Recorder, that wasso before Diabolus took Mansoul, he also began to talk aloud, and his words werenow to the town of Mansoul as if they were great claps of thunder. No noise now soterrible to Mansoul as was his, with the noise of the soldiers and shoutings of thecaptains.

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

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

I told you but now that they of the King's army had this winter sent three timesto Mansoul to submit herself.

The first time the trumpeter went he went with words of peace, telling them thatthe captains, the noble captains of Shaddai, did pity and bewail the misery of thenow perishing town of Mansoul, and were troubled to see them so much to stand inthe way of their own deliverance. He said, moreover, that the captains bid him tellthem, that if now poor Mansoul would humble herself and turn, her former rebellionsand most notorious treasons should by their merciful King be forgiven them, yea,and forgotten too. And having bid them beware that they stood not in their own way,that they opposed not themselves, nor made themselves their own losers, he returnedagain into the camp.

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

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

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

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

2. Provided that no man that now serveth under their great giant Diabolus be by Shaddaicast out of house, harbour, or the freedom that he hath hitherto enjoyed in the famoustown of Mansoul.

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

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

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

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

'O ye inhabitants of the town of Mansoul, when I heard your trumpet sound for a parleywith us, I can truly say I was glad; but when you said you were willing to submityourselves to our King and Lord, then I was yet more glad; but when, by your sillyprovisos and foolish cavils, you laid the stumbling-block of your iniquity beforeyour own faces, then was my gladness turned into sorrows, and my hopeful beginningsof your return, into languishing fainting fears.

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

'But, O Mansoul, if you will give yourselves into our hands, or rather into the handsof our King, and will trust him to make such terms with and for you as shall seemgood in his eyes, (and I dare say they shall be such as you shall find to be mostprofitable to you,) then we will receive you, and be at peace with you; but if youlike not to trust yourselves in the arms of Shaddai our King, then things are butwhere they were before, and we know also what we have to do.'

Then cried out old Incredulity, the Lord Mayor, and said, 'And who, being out ofthe hands of their enemies, as ye see we are now, will be so foolish as to put thestaff out of their own hands into the hands of they know not who? I, for my part,will never yield to so unlimited a proposition. Do we know the manner and temperof their King? It is said by some that he will be angry with his subjects if butthe breadth of an hair they chance to step out of the way; and by others, that herequireth of them much more than they can perform. Wherefore, it seems, O Mansoul,to be thy wisdom to take good heed what thou dost in this matter; for if you onceyield, you give up yourselves to another, and so you are no more your own. Wherefore,to give up yourselves to an unlimited power, is the greatest folly in the world;for now you indeed may repent, but can never justly complain. But do you indeed know,when you are his, which of you he will kill, and which of you he will save alive;or whether he will not cut off every one of us, and send out of his own country anothernew people, and cause them to inhabit this town?'

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

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

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

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

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

Then answered my Lord Understanding, 'It is even because that thou and thy masterhave carried it not rightly, and as you should, to the captains of Shaddai; for inthree things you are faulty. First, in that you would not let Mr. Conscience andmyself be at the hearing of your discourse. Secondly, in that you propounded suchterms of peace to the captains that by no means could be granted, unless they hadintended that their Shaddai should have been only a titular prince, and that Mansoulshould still have had power by law to have lived in all lewdness and vanity beforehim, and so by consequence Diabolus should still here be king in power, and the otheronly king in name. Thirdly, for that thou didst thyself, after the captains had showedus upon what conditions they would have received us to mercy, even undo all againwith thy unsavoury, unseasonable, and ungodly speech.'

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

UND. - Sir, you may put upon my words what meaning you please; but I am sure thatthe captains of such an high lord as theirs is, deserved a better treatment at yourhands.

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

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

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

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

INCRED. - Sir, you forget that you are under a governor, and that you ought to demeanyourself like a subject; and know ye, when my lord the king shall hear of this day'swork, he will give you but little thanks for your labour.

Now while these gentlemen were thus in their chiding words, down come from the wallsand gates of the town the Lord Willbewill, Mr. Prejudice, old Ill-Pause, and severalof the new-made aldermen and burgesses, and they asked the reason of the hubbub andtumult; and with that every man began to tell his own tale, so that nothing couldbe heard distinctly. Then was a silence commanded, and the old fox Incredulity beganto speak. 'My lord,' quoth he, 'here are a couple of peevish gentlemen, that have,as a fruit of their bad dispositions, and, as I fear, through the advice of one Mr.Discontent, tumultuously gathered this company against me this day, and also attemptedto run the town into acts of rebellion against our prince.'

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

Now when they that took part with my Lord Understanding and with Mr. Conscience perceivedthat they were like to come to the worst, for that force and power was on the otherside, they came in for their help and relief; so a great company was on both sides.Then they on Incredulity's side would have had the two old gentlemen presently awayto prison; but they on the other side said they should not. Then they began to cryup parties again: the Diabolonians cried up old Incredulity, Forget-Good, the newaldermen, and their great one Diabolus; and the other party, they as fast cried upShaddai, the captains, his laws, their mercifulness, and applauded their conditionsand ways. Thus the bickerment went awhile; at last they passed from words to blows,and now there were knocks on both sides. The good old gentleman, Mr. Conscience,was knocked down twice by one of the Diabolonians, whose name was Mr. Benumbing;and my Lord Understanding had like to have been slain with an arquebuse, but thathe that shot did not take his aim aright. Nor did the other side wholly escape; forthere was one Mr. Rashhead, a Diabolonian, that had his brains beaten out by Mr.Mind, the Lord Willbewill's servant; and it made me laugh to see how old Mr. Prejudicewas kicked and tumbled about in the dirt; for though, a while since, he was madecaptain of a company of the Diabolonians, to the hurt and damage of the town, yetnow they had got him under their feet, and, I'll assure you, he had, by some of theLord Understanding's party, his crown cracked to boot. Mr. Anything also, he becamea brisk man in the broil; but both sides were against him, because he was true tonone. Yet he had, for his malapertness, one of his legs broken, and he that did itwished it had been his neck. Much more harm was done on both sides, but this mustnot be forgotten; it was now a wonder to see my Lord Willbewill so indifferent ashe was: he did not seem to take one side more than another, only it was perceivedthat he smiled to see how old Prejudice was tumbled up and down in the dirt. Also,when Captain Anything came halting up before him, he seemed to take but little noticeof him.

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

But let us return again to our story. The captains, when they were gone back fromthe gate, and were come into the camp again, called a council of war, to consultwhat was further for them to do. Now, some said, 'Let us go up presently, and fallupon the town;' but the greatest part thought rather better it would be to give themanother summons to yield; and the reason why they thought this to be best was, becausethat, so far as could be perceived, the town of Mansoul now was more inclinable thanheretofore. 'And if,' said they, 'while some of them are in a way of inclination,we should by ruggedness give them distaste, we may set them further from closingwith our summons than we would be willing they should.' Wherefore to this advicethey agreed, and called a trumpeter, put words into his mouth, set him his time,and bid him God speed. Well, many hours were not expired before the trumpeter addressedhimself to his journey. Wherefore, coming up to the wall of the town, he steerethhis course to Ear-gate, and there sounded, as he was commanded. They then that werewithin came out to see what was the matter, and the trumpeter made them this speechfollowing:

'O hard-hearted and deplorable town of Mansoul, how long wilt thou love thy sinful,sinful simplicity, and, ye fools, delight in your scorning? As yet despise you theoffers of peace and deliverance? As yet will ye refuse the golden offers of Shaddai,and trust to the lies and falsehoods of Diabolus? Think you, when Shaddai shall haveconquered you, that the remembrance of these your carriages towards him will yieldyou peace and comfort, or that by ruffling language you can make him afraid as agrasshopper? Doth he entreat you for fear of you? Do you think that you are strongerthan he? Look to the heavens, and behold and consider the stars, how high are they?Can you stop the sun from running his course, and hinder the moon from giving herlight? Can you count the number of the stars, or stay the bottles of heaven? Canyou call for the waters of the sea, and cause them to cover the face of the ground?Can you behold every one that is proud, and abase him, and bind their faces in secret?Yet these are some of the works of our King, in whose name this day we come up untoyou, that you may be brought under his authority. In his name, therefore, I summonyou again to yield up yourselves to his captains.'

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

'Gentlemen,' quoth he, 'and my faithful subjects, if it is true that this summonerhath said concerning the greatness of their King, by his terror you will always bekept in bondage, and so be made to sneak. Yea, how can you now, though he is at adistance, endure to think of such a mighty one? And if not to think of him whileat a distance, how can you endure to be in his presence? I, your prince, am familiarwith you, and you may play with me as you would with a grasshopper. Consider, therefore,what is for your profit, and remember the immunities that I have granted you.

'Farther, if all be true that this man hath said, how comes it to pass that the subjectsof Shaddai are so enslaved in all places where they come? None in the universe sounhappy as they, none so trampled upon as they.

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

Upon this speech, the town of Mansoul did again harden their hearts yet more againstthe captains of Shaddai. The thoughts of his greatness did quite quash them, andthe thoughts of his holiness sunk them in despair. Wherefore, after a short consult,they (of the Diabolonian party they were) sent back this word by the trumpeter, That,for their parts, they were resolved to stick to their king, but never to yield toShaddai; so it was but in vain to give them any further summons, for they had ratherdie upon the place than yield. And now things seemed to be gone quite back, and Mansoulto be out of reach or call, yet the captains who knew what their Lord could do, wouldnot yet be beat out of heart; they therefore sent them another summons, more sharpand severe than the last; but the oftener they were sent to, to reconcile to Shaddai,the further off they were. 'As they called them, so they went from them - yea, thoughthey called them to the Most High.'

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

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

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

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

'Most gracious and glorious King, the Lord of the best world, and the builder ofthe town of Mansoul, we have, dread Sovereign, at thy commandment, put our livesin jeopardy, and at thy bidding made a war upon the famous town of Mansoul. Whenwe went up against it, we did, according to our commission, first offer conditionsof peace unto it. But they, great King, set light by our counsel, and would noneof our reproof. They were for shutting their gates, and for keeping us out of thetown. They also mounted their guns, they sallied out upon us, and have done us whatdamage they could; but we pursued them with alarm upon alarm, requiting them withsuch retribution as was meet, and have done some execution upon the town.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Now the King, at the sight of the petition, was glad; but how much more, think you,when it was seconded by his Son! It pleased him also to hear that his servants whocamped against Mansoul were so hearty in the work, and so steadfast in their resolves,and that they had already got some ground upon the famous town of Mansoul.

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

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

And with that he leaped over the mountains for joy, saying, 'I have not, in my heart,thought anything too dear for Mansoul: the day of vengeance is in mine heart forthee, my Mansoul: and glad am I that thou, my Father, hast made me the Captain oftheir salvation. And I will now begin to plague all those that have been a plagueto my town of Mansoul, and will deliver it from their hand.'

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

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

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

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

1. The first was that famous captain, the noble Captain Credence. His were the redcolours, and Mr. Promise bare them; and for a scutcheon he had the holy lamb andgolden shield; and he had ten thousand men at his feet.

2. The second was that famous captain, the Captain Good-Hope. His were the blue colours;his standard-bearer was Mr. Expectation, and for his scutcheon he had the three goldenanchors; and he had ten thousand men at his feet.

3. The third was that valiant captain, the Captain Charity. His standard-bearer wasMr. Pitiful: his were the green colours, and for his scutcheon he had three nakedorphans 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-bearerwas Mr. Harmless: his were the white colours, and for his scutcheon he had the threegolden doves.

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

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

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

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

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

Now when the men of the town saw the multitude of the soldiers that were come upagainst the place, and the rams and slings, and the mounts on which they were planted,together with the glittering of the armour and the waving of their colours, theywere forced to shift, and shift, and again to shift their thoughts; but they hardlychanged for thoughts more stout, but rather for thoughts more faint; for though beforethey thought themselves sufficiently guarded, yet now they began to think that noman knew what would be their hap or lot.

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

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

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

Then he commanded again that his servants should hang out the black flag of defianceagainst them, whose scutcheon was the three burning thunderbolts; but as unconcernedwas Mansoul at this as at those that went before. But when the Prince saw that neithermercy nor judgment, nor execution of judgment, would or could come near the heartof Mansoul, he was touched with much compunction, and said, 'Surely this strangecarriage of the town of Mansoul doth rather arise from ignorance of the manner andfeats of war, than from a secret defiance of us, and abhorrence of their own lives;or if they know the manner of the war of their own, yet not the rites and ceremoniesof the wars in which we are concerned, when I make wars upon mine enemy Diabolus.'

Therefore he sent to the town of Mansoul, to let them know what he meant by thosesigns and ceremonies of the flag; and also to know of them which of the things theywould choose, whether grace and mercy, or judgment and the execution of judgment.All this while they kept their gates shut with locks, bolts, and bars, as fast asthey could. Their guards also were doubled, and their watch made as strong as theycould. Diabolus also did pluck up what heart he could, to encourage the town to makeresistance.

The townsmen also made answer to the Prince's messenger, in substance according tothat which follows:-

'Great Sir, - As to what, by your messenger, you have signified to us, whether wewill accept of your mercy, or fall by your justice, we are bound by the law and customof this place, and can give you no positive answer; for it is against the law, government,and the prerogative royal of our king, to make either peace or war without him. Butthis we will do, - we will petition that our prince will come down to the wall, andthere give you such treatment as he shall think fit and profitable for us.'

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

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

Then said he, 'I will go down to the gates myself, and give him such an answer asI think fit.' So he went down to Mouth-gate, and there addressed himself to speakto Emmanuel, (but in such language as the town understood not,) the contents whereofwere as follows:-

'O thou great Emmanuel, Lord of all the world, I know thee, that thou art the Sonof the great Shaddai! Wherefore art thou come to torment me, and to cast me out ofmy possession? This town of Mansoul, as thou very well knowest, is mine, and thatby a twofold right. 1. It is mine by right of conquest; I won it in the open field;and shall the prey be taken from the mighty, or the lawful captive be delivered?2. This town of Mansoul is mine also by their subjection. They have opened the gatesof their town unto me; they have sworn fidelity to me, and have openly chosen meto be their king; they have also given their castle into my hands; yea, they haveput the whole strength of Mansoul under me.

'Moreover, this town of Mansoul hath disavowed thee, yea, they have cast thy law,thy name, thy image, and all that is thine, behind their back, and have acceptedand set up in their room my law, my name, my image, and all that ever is mine. Askelse 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, andscorn to thee and thine. Now, thou art the Just One and the Holy, and shouldest dono 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; for although he can, toevery man, speak in their own language, (else he could not tempt them all as he does,)yet he has a language proper to himself, and it is the language of the infernal cave,or black pit.

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

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

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

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

'Thou hast, moreover, (as if all these were but little things with thee,) not onlydeluded and undone this place, but, by thy lies and fradulent carriage, hast setthem against their own deliverance. How hast thou stirred them up against my Father'scaptains, and made them to fight against those that were sent of him to deliver themfrom their bondage! All these things, and very many more, thou hast done againstthy light, and in contempt of my Father and of his law, yea, and with design to bringunder his displeasure for ever the miserable town of Mansoul. I am therefore cometo avenge the wrong that thou hast done to my Father, and to deal with thee for theblasphemies wherewith thou hast made poor Mansoul blaspheme his name. Yea, upon thyhead, thou prince of the infernal cave, will I requite it.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

'5. Nor am I come out this day against thee, but by commandment of my Father; itwas he that said unto me, "Go down and deliver Mansoul."

'Wherefore be it known unto thee, O thou fountain of deceit, and be it also knownto the foolish town of Mansoul, that I am not come against thee this day withoutmy Father.

'And now,' said the golden-headed Prince, 'I have a word to the town of Mansoul.'But so soon as mention was made that he had a word to speak to the besotted townof Mansoul, the gates were double-guarded, and all men commanded not to give himaudience. So he proceeded and said, 'O unhappy town of Mansoul, I cannot but be touchedwith pity and compassion for thee. Thou hast accepted of Diabolus for thy king, andart become a nurse and minister of Diabolonians against thy sovereign Lord. Thy gatesthou hast opened to him, but hast shut them fast against me; thou hast given himan hearing, but hast stopped thine ears at my cry. He brought to thee thy destruction,and thou didst receive both him and it: I am come to thee bringing salvation, butthou regardest me not. Besides, thou hast, as with sacrilegious hands, taken thyself,with all that was mine in thee, and hast given all to my foe, and to the greatestenemy my Father has. You have bowed and subjected yourselves to him, you have vowedand sworn yourselves to be his. Poor Mansoul! what shall I do unto thee? Shall Isave thee? - shall I destroy thee? What shall I do unto thee? Shall I fall upon thee,and grind thee to powder, or make thee a monument of the richest grace? What shallI do unto thee? Hearken, therefore, thou town of Mansoul, hearken to my word, andthou shalt live. I am 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 do thee hurt. Whyfliest thou so fast from thy friend, and stickest so close to thine enemy? Indeed,I would have thee, because it becomes thee to be sorry for thy sin, but do not despairof life; this great force is not to hurt thee, but to deliver thee from thy bondage,and to reduce thee to thy obedience.

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

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

'All my words are true. I am mighty to save, and will deliver my Mansoul out of hishand.'

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

So when Emmanuel saw that Mansoul was thus involved in sin, he calls his army together,(since now also his words were despised,) and gave out a commandment throughout allhis host to be ready against 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-gateas the chief, therefore he commanded his captains and commanders to bring their rams,their slings and their men, and place them at Eye-gate and Ear-gate, in order tohis taking the town.

When Emmanuel had put all things in a readiness to give Diabolus battle, he sentagain to know of the town of Mansoul, if in peaceable manner they would yield themselves,or whether they were yet resolved to put him to try the utmost extremity? They then,together with Diabolus their king, called a council of war, and resolved upon certainpropositions that should be offered to Emmanuel, if he will accept thereof, so theyagreed; and then the next was, who should be sent on this errand. Now, there wasin the town of Mansoul an old man, a Diabolonian, and his name was Mr. Loth- to-stoop,a stiff man in his way, and a great doer for Diabolus; him, therefore, they sent,and put into his mouth what he should say. So he went and came to the camp to Emmanuel,and when he was come, a time was appointed to give him audience. So at the time hecame, and after a Diabolonian ceremony or two, he thus began and said, 'Great sir,that it may be known unto all men how good-natured a prince my master is, he hassent me to tell your lordship that he is very willing, rather than go to war, todeliver up into your hands one half of the town of Mansoul. I am therefore to knowif your Mightiness will accept of this proposition.'

Then said Emmanuel, 'The whole is mine by gift and purchase, wherefore I will neverlose one half.'

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

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

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

Then said the golden Prince, 'All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; andof all that he giveth me I will lose nothing - no, not a hoof nor a hair. I willnot, therefore, grant him, no, not the least corner of Mansoul to dwell in; I willhave all to myself.'

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

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

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

Then said Emmanuel, 'No; that is contrary to my Father's will; for all, and all mannerof Diabolonians that now are, or that at any time shall be found in Mansoul, shallnot only lose their lands and liberties, but also their lives.'

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

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

Mr. Loth-to-stoop yet added further, saying, 'But, great sir, since my master hathmany friends, and those that are dear to him, in Mansoul, may he not, if he shalldepart from them, even of his bounty and good-nature, bestow upon them, as he seesfit, some tokens of his love and kindness that he had for them, to the end that Mansoul,when he is gone, may look upon such tokens of kindness once received from their oldfriend, and remember him who was once their king, and the merry times that they sometimesenjoyed one with another, while he and they lived in peace together?'

Then said Emmanuel, 'No; for if Mansoul come to be mine, I shall not admit of norconsent that there should be the least scrap, shred, or dust of Diabolus left behind,as tokens of gifts bestowed upon any in Mansoul, thereby to call to remembrance thehorrible communion that was betwixt them and him.'

'Well, sir,' said Mr. Loth-to-stoop, 'I have one thing more to propound, and thenI am got to the end of my commission. Suppose that, when my master is gone from Mansoul,any that shall yet live in the town should have such business of high concerns todo, that if they be neglected the party shall be undone; and suppose, sir, that nobodycan help in that case so well as my master and lord, may not now my master be sentfor upon so urgent an occasion as this? Or if he may not be admitted into the town,may not he and the person concerned meet in some of the villages near Mansoul, 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 propoundto Emmanuel on behalf of his master Diabolus; but Emmanuel would not grant it; forhe said, 'There can be no case, or thing, or matter fall out in Mansoul, when thymaster shall be gone, that may not be solved by my Father; besides, it will be agreat disparagement to my Father's wisdom and skill to admit any from Mansoul togo out to Diabolus for advice, when they are bid before, in everything, by prayerand supplication to let their requests be made known to my Father. Further, this,should it be granted, would be to grant that a door should be set open for Diabolus,and the Diabolonians in Mansoul, to hatch, and plot, and bring to pass treasonabledesigns, to the grief of my Father and me, and to the utter destruction of Mansoul.'

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

Then he bid that the word should be given forth, and the word was at that time, 'EMMANUEL.'Then was an alarm sounded, and the battering-rams were played, and the slings didwhirl stones into the town amain, and thus the battle began. Now Diabolus himselfdid manage the townsmen in the war, and that at every gate; wherefore their resistancewas the more forcible, hellish, and offensive to Emmanuel. Thus was the good Princeengaged and entertained by Diabolus and Mansoul for several days together; and asight worth seeing it was to behold how the captains of Shaddai behaved themselvesin this war.

And first for Captain Boanerges, (not to under-value the rest,) he made three mostfierce assaults, one after another, upon Ear-gate, to the shaking of the posts thereof.Captain Conviction, he also made up as fast with Boanerges as possibly he could,and both discerning that the gate began to yield, they commanded that the rams shouldstill 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 thosethat rode reformades, they went about to encourage the captains.

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

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

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

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

There was, moreover, one Mr. Feeling; but he was no captain, but a great sticklerto encourage Mansoul to rebellion. He received a wound in the eye by the hand ofone of Boanerges' soldiers, and had by the captain himself been slain, but that hemade a sudden retreat.

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

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

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

Mr. Ill-Pause also, who was the man that came along with Diabolus when at first heattempted the taking of Mansoul, he also received a grievous wound in the head; somesay that his brain-pan was cracked. This I have taken notice of, that he was neverafter this able to do that mischief to Mansoul as he had done in times past. Alsoold Prejudice and Mr. Anything fled.

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

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

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

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

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

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

'2. I will show them wherein they have erred, and that transgression stands in theway to life.

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

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

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

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

Then said Emmanuel to him, 'O full of deceit, how movable are thy ways! How oftenhast thou changed and rechanged, if so be thou mightest still keep possession ofmy Mansoul, though, as has been plainly declared before, I am the right heir thereof!Often hast thou made thy proposals already, nor is this last a whit better than they.And failing to deceive when thou showedst thyself in thy black, thou hast now transformedthyself into an angel of light, and wouldst, to deceive, be now as a minister ofrighteousness.

'But know thou, O Diabolus, that nothing must be regarded that thou canst propound,for nothing is done by thee but to deceive. Thou neither hast conscience to God,nor love to the town of Mansoul; whence, then, should these thy sayings arise butfrom sinful craft and deceit? He that can of list and will propound what he pleases,and that wherewith he may destroy them that believe him, is to be abandoned, withall that he shall say. But if righteousness be such a beauty- spot in thine eyesnow, how is it that wickedness was so closely stuck to by thee before? But this isby-the-bye.

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

'Besides, I am not come to put Mansoul upon works to live thereby; should I do so,I should be like unto thee: but I am come that by me, and by what I have and shalldo for Mansoul, they may to my Father be reconciled, though by their sin they haveprovoked him to anger, and though by the law they cannot obtain mercy.

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

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

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

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

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

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

But after three or four notable charges by the Prince and his noble captains, Ear-gatewas broken open, and the bars and bolts wherewith it was used to be fast shut upagainst the Prince, were broken into a thousand pieces. Then did the Prince's trumpetssound, the captains shout, the town shake, and Diabolus retreat to his hold. Well,when the Prince's forces had broken open the gate, himself came up and did set histhrone in it; also he set his standard thereby, upon a mount that before by his menwas cast up to place the mighty slings thereon. The mount was called Mount Hear-well.There, therefore, the Prince abode, to wit, hard by the going in at the gate. Hecommanded also that the golden slings should yet be played upon the town, especiallyagainst the castle, because for shelter thither was Diabolus retreated. Now, fromEar-gate the street was straight even to the house of Mr. Recorder that so was beforeDiabolus took the town; and hard by his house stood the castle, which Diabolus fora long time had made his irksome den. The captains, therefore, did quickly clearthat street by the use of their slings, so that way was made up to the heart of thetown. Then did the Prince command that Captain Boanerges, Captain Conviction, andCaptain Judgment, should forthwith march up the town to the old gentleman's gate.Then did the captains in the most warlike manner enter into the town of Mansoul,and marching in with flying colours, they came up to the Recorder's house, and thatwas almost as strong as was the castle. Battering- rams they took also with them,to plant against the castle gates. When they were come to the house of Mr. Conscience,they knocked, and demanded entrance. Now, the old gentleman, not knowing as yet fullytheir design, kept his gates shut all the time of this fight. Wherefore Boanergesdemanded entrance at his gates; and no man making answer, he gave it one stroke withthe head of a ram, and this made the old gentleman shake, and his house to trembleand totter. Then came Mr. Recorder down to the gates, and, as he could, with quiveringlips he asked who was there? Boanerges answered, 'We are the captains and commandersof the great Shaddai and of the blessed Emmanuel, his Son, and we demand possessionof your house for the use of our noble Prince.' And with that the battering-ram gavethe gate another shake. This made the old gentleman tremble the more, yet durst henot but open the gate: then the King's forces marched in, namely, the three bravecaptains mentioned before. Now, the Recorder's house was a place of much conveniencefor Emmanuel, not only because it was near to the castle and strong, but also becauseit was large, and fronted the castle, the den where now Diabolus was, for he wasnow afraid to come out of his hold. As for Mr. Recorder, the captains carried itvery reservedly to him; as yet he knew nothing of the great designs of Emmanuel,so that he did not know what judgment to make, nor what would be the end of suchthundering beginnings. It was also presently noised in the town how the Recorder'shouse was possessed, his rooms taken up, and his palace made the seat of the war;and no sooner was it noised abroad, but they took the alarm as warmly, and gave itout to others of his friends, and you know, as a snowball loses nothing by rolling,so in little time the whole town was possessed that they must expect nothing fromthe Prince but destruction; and the ground of the business was this, the Recorderwas afraid, the Recorder trembled, and the captains carried it strangely to the Recorder.So many came to see, but when they with their own eyes did behold the captains inthe palace, and their battering-rams ever playing at the castle gates to beat themdown, they were riveted in their fears, and it made them all in amaze. And, as Isaid, the man of the house would increase all this; for whoever came to him, or discoursedwith him, nothing would he talk of, tell them, or hear, but that death and destructionnow attended Mansoul.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Then the Prince arose from the place where he was, and took with him such of hismen of war as were fittest for that expedition, and marched up the street of Mansoulto the old Recorder's house.

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

'And,' thought they, 'what time so fit to do this in as now, when he has the bridleof Mansoul in his hand?' And this I took special notice of, that the inhabitants,notwithstanding all this, could not - no, they could not, when they see him marchthrough the town, but cringe, bow, bend, and were ready to lick the dust of his feet.They also wished a thousand times over that he would become their Prince and Captain,and would become their protection. They would also one to another talk of the comelinessof his person, and how much for glory and valour he outstripped the great ones ofthe world. But, poor hearts, as to themselves, their thoughts would chance, and goupon all manner of extremes. Yea, through the working of them backward and forward,Mansoul became as a ball tossed, and as a rolling thing before the whirlwind.

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

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

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

Thus having made Diabolus naked in the eyes of Mansoul, and before the commandersof the Prince, in the next place, he commands that Diabolus should be bound withchains to his chariot wheels. Then leaving some of his forces, to wit, Captain Boanergesand Captain Conviction, as a guard for the castle-gates, that resistance might bemade on his behalf, (if any that heretofore followed Diabolus should make an attemptto possess it,) he did ride in triumph over him quite through the town of Mansoul,and so out at and before the gate called Eye-gate, to the plain where his camp didlie.

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

And they said, 'He hath led captivity captive, he hath spoiled principalities andpowers. Diabolus is subjected to the power of his sword, and made the object of allderision.'

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

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

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

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

Nor did the Prince himself as yet abide in the town of Mansoul, but in his royalpavilion in the camp, and in the midst of his Father's forces. So, at a time convenient,he sent special orders to Captain Boanerges to summons Mansoul, the whole of thetownsmen, into the castle-yard, and then and there, before their faces, to take myLord Understanding, Mr. Conscience, and that notable one, the Lord Willbewill, andput them all three in ward, and that they should set a strong guard upon them there,until his pleasure concerning them was further known: the which orders, when thecaptains had put them in execution, made no small addition to the fears of the townof Mansoul; for now, to their thinking, were their former fears of the ruin of Mansoulconfirmed. Now, what death they should die, and how long they should be in dying,was that which most perplexed their heads and hearts; yea, they were afraid thatEmmanuel would command them all into the deep, the place that the prince Diaboluswas afraid of, for they knew that they had deserved it. Also to die by the swordin the face of the town, and in the open way of disgrace, from the hand of so goodand so holy a prince, that, too, troubled them sore. The town was also greatly troubledfor the men that were committed to ward, for that they were their stay and theirguide, and for that they believed that, if those men were cut off, their executionwould be but the beginning of the ruin of the town of Mansoul. Wherefore, what dothey, but, together with the men in prison, draw up a petition to the Prince, andsent it to Emmanuel by the hand of Mr. Would-live. So he went, and came to the Prince'squarters, and presented the petition, the sum of which was this:

'Great and wonderful Potentate, victor over Diabolus, and conqueror of the town ofMansoul, We, the miserable inhabitants of that most woful corporation, do humblybeg that we may find favour in thy sight, and remember not against us former transgressions,nor yet the sins of the chief of our town: but spare us according to the greatnessof thy mercy, and let us not die, but live in thy sight. So shall we be willing tobe thy servants, and, if thou shalt think fit, to gather our meat under thy table.Amen.'

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

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

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

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

Now, you may think that they of Mansoul that had sent him, what with guilt, and whatwith fear lest their petition should be rejected, could not but look with many along look, and that, too, with strange workings of heart, to see what would becomeof their petition. At last they saw their messenger coming back. So, when he wascome, they asked him how he fared, what Emmanuel said, and what was become of thepetition. But he told them that he would be silent till he came to the prison tomy Lord Mayor, my Lord Willbewill, and Mr. Recorder. So he went forwards towardsthe prison-house, where the men of Mansoul lay bound. But, oh! what a multitude flockedafter, to hear what the messenger said. So, when he was come, and had shown himselfat the gate of the prison, my Lord Mayor himself looked as white as a clout; theRecorder also did quake. But they asked and said, 'Come, good sir, what did the greatPrince say to you?' Then said Mr. Desires-awake, 'When I came to my Lord's pavilion,I called, and he came forth. So I fell prostrate at his feet, and delivered to himmy petition; for the greatness of his person, and the glory of his countenance, wouldnot suffer me to stand upon my legs. Now, as he received the petition, I cried, "Ohthat Mansoul might live before thee!" So, when for a while he had looked thereon,he turned him about, and said to his servant, "Go thy way to thy place again,and I will consider of thy requests."' The messenger added, moreover, and said,'The Prince to whom you sent me is such a one for beauty and glory, that whoso seeshim must both love and fear him. I, for my part, can do no less; but I know not whatwill be the end of these things.'

At this answer they were all at a stand, both they in prison, and they that followedthe messenger thither to hear the news; nor knew they what, or what manner of interpretationto put upon what the Prince had said. Now, when the prison was cleared of the throng,the prisoners among themselves began to comment upon Emmanuel's words. My Lord Mayorsaid, that the answer did not look with a rugged face; but Willbewill said that itbetokened evil; and the Recorder, that it was a messenger of death. Now, they thatwere left, and that stood behind, and so could not so well hear what the prisonerssaid, some of them catched hold of one piece of a sentence, and some on a bit ofanother; some took hold of what the messenger said, and some of the prisoners' judgmentthereon; so none had the right understanding of things. But you cannot imagine whatwork these people made, and what a confusion there was in Mansoul now.

For presently they that had heard what was said flew about the town, one crying onething, and another the quite contrary; and both were sure enough they told true;for they did hear, they said, with their ears what was said, and therefore couldnot 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 be concerned withMansoul; and a fourth, that the prisoners must be suddenly put to death. And, asI said, every one stood to it that he told his tale the rightest, and that all othersbut 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 go by now, and ashe went, if he heard his neighbour tell his tale, to be sure he would tell the quitecontrary, and both would stand in it that he told the truth. Nay, some of them hadgot this story by the end, that the Prince did intend to put Mansoul to the sword.And now it began to be dark, wherefore poor Mansoul was in sad perplexity all thatnight until the morning.

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

And now did they begin to feel what were the effects of stubborn rebellion, and unlawfulresistance against their Prince. I say, they now began to feel the effects thereofby guilt and fear, that now had swallowed them up; and who more involved in the onebut they that were most in the other, to wit, the chief of the town of Mansoul?

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

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

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

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

After the Recorder had given in his reasons why old Good-Deed should not go withthis petition to Emmanuel, the rest of the prisoners and chief of Mansoul opposedit 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 a second time go withtheir petition to the Prince, and he readily told them he would. But they bid himthat in anywise he should take heed that in no word or carriage he gave offence tothe Prince; 'For by doing so, for ought we can tell, you may bring Mansoul into utterdestruction,' said they.

Now Mr. Desires-awake, when he saw that he must go on this errand, besought thatthey would grant that Mr. Wet-Eyes might go with him. Now this Mr. Wet-Eyes was anear neighbour of Mr. Desires, a poor man, a man of a broken spirit, yet one thatcould speak well to a petition; so they granted that he should go with him. Wherefore,they address themselves to their business: Mr. Desires put a rope upon his head,and Mr. Wet-Eyes went with his hands wringing together. Thus they went to the Prince'spavilion.

Now, when they went to petition this third time, they were not without thoughts that,by often coming, they might be a burden to the Prince. Wherefore, when they werecome to the door of his pavilion, they first made their apology for themselves, andfor their coming to trouble Emmanuel so often; and they said, that they came nothither to-day for that they delighted in being troublesome, or for that they delightedto hear themselves talk, but for that necessity caused them to come to his Majesty.They could, they said, have no rest day nor night because of their transgressionsagainst Shaddai and against Emmanuel, his Son. They also thought that some misbehaviourof Mr. Desires-awake the last time might give distaste to his Highness, and so causethat he returned from so merciful a Prince empty, and without countenance. So, whenthey had made this apology, Mr. Desires-awake cast himself prostrate upon the ground,as at the first, at the feet of the mighty Prince, saying, 'Oh! that Mansoul mightlive before thee!' and so he delivered his petition. The Prince then, having readthe petition, turned aside awhile as before, and coming again to the place wherethe petitioner lay on the ground, he demanded what his name was, and of what esteemin the account of Mansoul, for that he, above all the multitude in Mansoul, shouldbe sent to him upon such an errand. Then said the man to the Prince, 'Oh let notmy Lord be angry; and why inquirest thou after the name of such a dead do - as Iam? Pass by, I pray thee, and take not notice of who I am, because there is, as thouvery well knowest, so great a disproportion between me and thee. Why the townsmenchose to send me on this errand to my Lord is best known to themselves, but it couldnot be for that they thought that I had favour with my Lord. For my part, I am outof charity with myself; who, then, should be in love with me? Yet live I would, andso would I that my townsmen should; and because both they and myself are guilty ofgreat transgressions, therefore they have sent me, and I am come in their names tobeg of my Lord for mercy. Let it please thee, therefore, to incline to mercy; butask not what thy servants are.'

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

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

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

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

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

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

'Go, bid Captain Boanerges and Captain Conviction bring the prisoners out to me intothe camp to-morrow, and say you to Captain Judgment and Captain Execution, "Stayyou in the castle, and take good heed to yourselves that you keep all quiet in Mansouluntil you shall hear further from me."' And with that he turned himself fromthem, and went into his royal pavilion again.

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

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

But, oh! how this return, and specially this last clause of it, that the prisonersmust go out to the Prince into the camp, brake all their loins in pieces! Wherefore,with one voice they set up a cry that reached up to the heavens. This done, eachof the three prepared himself to die; (and the Recorder said unto them, 'This wasthe thing that I feared;') for they concluded that to-morrow, by that the sun wentdown, they should be tumbled out of the world. The whole town also counted of noother, but that, in their time and order, they must all drink of the same cup. Whereforethe town of Mansoul spent that night in mourning, and sackcloth and ashes. The prisonersalso, when the time was come for them to go down before the Prince, dressed themselvesin mourning attire, with ropes upon their heads. The whole town of Mansoul also showedthemselves upon the wall, all clad in mourning weeds, if, perhaps, the Prince withthe sight thereof might be moved with compassion. But, oh! how the busy-bodies thatwere in the town of Mansoul did now concern themselves! They did run here and therethrough the streets of the town by companies, crying out as they ran in tumultuouswise, one after one manner, and another the quite contrary, to the almost utter distractionof Mansoul.

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

Or, more particularly, thus: The prisoners went down all in mourning: they put ropesupon themselves; they went on, smiting themselves on the breasts, but durst not liftup their eyes to heaven. Thus they went out at the gate of Mansoul, till they cameinto the midst of the Prince's army, the sight and glory of which did greatly heightentheir affliction. Nor could they now longer forbear, but cry out aloud, 'O unhappymen! O wretched men of Mansoul!' Their chains, still mixing their dolorous noteswith the cries of the prisoners, made the noise more lamentable.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

But who can think what a turn, what a change, what an alteration this hint of thingsdid make in the countenance of the town of Mansoul! No man of Mansoul could sleepthat night for joy; in every house there was joy and music, singing and making merry:telling and hearing of Mansoul's happiness was then all that Mansoul had to do; andthis 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 wouldhave been such a day to us? And who thought, that saw our prisoners go down in irons,that they would have returned in chains of gold? Yea, they that judged themselvesas they went to be judged of their judge, were by his mouth acquitted, not for thatthey were innocent, but of the Prince's mercy, and sent home with pipe and tabor.But is this the common custom of princes? Do they use to show such kind of favoursto traitors? No; this is only peculiar to Shaddai, and unto Emmanuel, his Son!'

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

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

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

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

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

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

They marched, they counter-marched; they opened to the right and left; they dividedand subdivided; they closed, they wheeled, made good their front and rear with theirright and left wings, and twenty things more, with that aptness, and then were allas the were again, that they took - yea, ravished, the hearts that were in Mansoulto behold it. But add to this, the handling of their arms, the managing of theirweapons of war, were marvellously taking to Mansoul and me.

When this action was over, the whole town of Mansoul came out as one man to the Princein the camp to thank him, and praise him for his abundant favour, and to beg thatit would please his grace to come unto Mansoul with his men, and there to take uptheir quarters for ever: and this they did in most humble manner, bowing themselvesseven times to the ground before him. Then said he, 'All peace be to you.' So thetown came nigh, and touched with the hand the top of his golden sceptre; and theysaid, 'Oh! that the Prince Emmanuel, with his captains and men of war, would dwellin Mansoul for ever; and that his battering-rams and slings might be lodged in herfor the use and service of the Prince, and for the help and strength of Mansoul.For,' said they, 'we have room for thee, we have room for thy men, we have also roomfor thy weapons of war, and a place to make a magazine for thy carriages. Do it,Emmanuel, and thou shalt be King and Captain in Mansoul for ever. Yea, govern thoualso according to all the desire of thy soul, and make thou governors and princesunder thee of thy captains and men of war, and we will become thy servants, and thylaws shall be our direction.'

They added, moreover, and prayed his Majesty to consider thereof; 'for,' said they,'if now, after all this grace bestowed upon us, thy miserable town of Mansoul, thoushouldest withdraw, thou and thy captains, from us, the town of Mansoul will die.Yea,' said they, 'our blessed Emmanuel, if thou shouldest depart from us now, nowthou hast done so much good for us, and showed so much mercy unto us, what will followbut that our joy will be as if it had not been, and our enemies will a second timecome upon us with more rage than at the first? Wherefore, we beseech thee, O thou,the desire of our eyes, and the strength and life of our poor town, accept of thismotion that now we have made unto our Lord, and come and dwell in the midst of us,and let us be thy people. Besides, Lord, we do not know but that to this day manyDiabolonians may be yet lurking in the town of Mansoul, and they will betray us,when thou shalt leave us, into the hand of Diabolus again; and who knows what designs,plots, or contrivances have passed betwixt them about these things already? Loathwe are to fall again into his horrible hands. Wherefore, let it please thee to acceptof our palace for thy 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 me further to prosecutethat which is in mine heart against mine enemies and yours? - yea, will you helpme in such undertakings?'

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

'One word more, and thy servants have done, and in this will trouble our Lord nomore. We know not the depth of the wisdom of thee, our Prince. Who could have thought,that had been ruled by his reason, that so much sweet as we do now enjoy should havecome out of those bitter trials wherewith we were tried at the first! But, Lord,let light go before, and let love come after: yea, take us by the hand, and leadus by thy counsels, and let this always abide upon us, that all things shall be thebest for thy servants, and come to our Mansoul, and do as it pleaseth thee. Or, Lord,come to our Mansoul, do what thou wilt, so thou keepest us from sinning, and makestus serviceable to thy Majesty.'

Then said the Prince to the town of Mansoul again, 'Go, return to your houses inpeace. I will willingly in this comply with your desires; I will remove my royalpavilion, I will draw up my forces before Eye-gate to-morrow, and so will march forwardsinto the town of Mansoul. I will possess myself of your castle of Mansoul, and willset my soldiers over you: yea, I will yet do things in Mansoul that cannot be paralleledin any nation, country, or kingdom under heaven.' Then did the men of Mansoul givea shout, and returned unto their houses in peace; they also told to their kindredand friends the good that Emmanuel had promised to Mansoul. 'And to-morrow,' saidthey, 'he will march into our town, and take up his dwelling, he and his men, inMansoul.'

Then went out the inhabitants of the town of Mansoul with haste to the green treesand to the meadows, to gather boughs and flowers, therewith to strew the streetsagainst their Prince, the Son of Shaddai, should come; they also made garlands andother fine works to 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 musicthe town of Mansoul would afford, that they might play before him to the palace,his habitation.

So, at the time appointed he makes his approach to Mansoul, and the gates were setopen for him; there also the ancients and elders of Mansoul met him to salute himwith a thousand welcomes. Then he arose and entered Mansoul, he and all his servants.The elders of Mansoul did also go dancing before him till he came to the castle gates.And this was the manner of his going up thither:- He was clad in his golden armour,he rode in his royal chariot, the trumpets sounded about him, the colours were displayed,his ten thousands went up at his feet, and the elders of Mansoul danced before him.And now were the walls of the famous town of Mansoul filled with the tramplings ofthe inhabitants thereof, who went up thither to view the approach of the blessedPrince and his royal army. Also the casements, windows, balconies, and tops of thehouses, were all now filled with persons of all sorts, to behold how their town wasto be filled with good.


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

Now, the next care of the townsfolk was, how the captains and soldiers of the Prince'sarmy should be quartered among them; and the care was not how they should shut theirhands of them, but how they should fill their houses with them; for every man inMansoul now had that esteem of Emmanuel and his men that nothing grieved them morethan because they were not enlarged enough, every one of them to receive the wholearmy of the Prince; yea, they counted it their glory to be waiting upon them, andwould, in those days, run at their bidding like lackeys.

At last they came to this result:-

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

2. That Captain Patience should quarter at Mr. Mind's. This Mr. Mind was formerlythe Lord Willbewill's clerk in time of the late rebellion.

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

4. That Captain Good-Hope should quarter at my Lord Mayor's. Now, for the house ofthe Recorder, himself desired, because his house was next to the castle, and becausefrom him it was ordered by the Prince that, if need be, the alarm should be givento Mansoul, - it was, I say, desired by him that Captain Boanerges and Captain Convictionshould take up their quarters with him, even they and all their men.

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

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

Now, the ancients and elders of the town of Mansoul thought that they never shouldhave 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, thatthough the castle of Mansoul was his place of residence, (and they desired that hemight dwell there for ever,) yet that he would often visit the streets, houses, andpeople of Mansoul. 'For,' said they, 'dread Sovereign, thy presence, thy looks, thysmiles, thy words, are the life, and strength, and sinews of the town of Mansoul.'

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Now, it was in the heart of the Prince Emmanuel to new-model the town of Mansoul,and to put it into such a condition as might be most pleasing to him, and that mightbest stand with the profit and security of the now flourishing town of Mansoul. Heprovided also against 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 were brought fromhis Father's court, when he came to the war of Mansoul, should be mounted, some uponthe battlements of the castle, some upon the towers; for there were towers in thetown of Mansoul, towers, new-built by Emmanuel since he came hither. There was alsoan instrument, invented by Emmanuel, that was to throw stones from the castle ofMansoul, out at Mouth-gate; an instrument that could not be resisted, nor that wouldmiss 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 be managed by thebrave captain, the Captain Credence, in case of war.

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

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

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

Then he commanded that the image of Diabolus should be taken down from the placewhere it was set up, and that they should destroy it utterly, beating it into powder,and casting it into the wind without the town wall; and that the image of Shaddai,his Father, should be set up again, with his own, upon the castle gates; and thatit should be more fairly drawn than ever, forasmuch as both his Father and himselfwere come to Mansoul in more grace and mercy than heretofore. He would also thathis name should be fairly engraven upon the front of the town, and that it shouldbe done in the best of gold, for the honour of the town of Mansoul.

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

And these were their names: Alderman Atheism, Alderman Hard- Heart, and AldermanFalse-Peace. The burgesses were, Mr. No- Truth, Mr. Pitiless, Mr. Haughty, with thelike. These were committed to close custody, and the gaoler's name was Mr. True-Man.This True-Man was one of those that Emmanuel brought with him from his Father's courtwhen at the first he made a war upon Diabolus in the town or Mansoul.

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

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

Now, when the time was come, and the court set, commandment was sent to Mr. True-Man,the gaoler, to bring the prisoners down to the bar. Then were the prisoners broughtdown, pinioned and chained together, as the custom of the town of Mansoul was. So,when they were presented before the Lord Mayor, the Recorder, and the rest of thehonourable 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, withmy Lord Willbewill and his man, if need were.

So the prisoners were set to the bar. Then said Mr. Do- Right, (for he was the Town-Clerk,)'Set Atheism to the bar, gaoler.' So he was set to the bar. Then said the Clerk,'Atheism, hold up thy hand. Thou art here indicted by the name of Atheism, (an intruderupon the town of Mansoul,) for that thou hast perniciously and doltishly taught andmaintained that there is no God, and so no heed to be taken to religion. This thouhast done against the being, honour, and glory of the King, and against the peaceand safety of the town of Mansoul. What sayest thou? Art thou guilty of this indictment,or not?

ATHEISM. Not guilty.

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

So they were called, and they appeared.

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

Then said Mr. Know-All, 'Yes, my lord, we know him; his name is Atheism; he has beena very pestilent fellow for many years in the miserable town of Mansoul.'

CLERK. You are sure you know him?

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

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

KNOW. My lord, I and he were once in Villain's Lane together, and he at that timedid briskly talk of divers opinions; and then and there I heard him say, that, forhis part, he did believe that there was no God. 'But,' said he, 'I can profess one,and be as religious too, if the company I am in, and the circumstances of other things,'said he, 'shall put me upon it.'

CLERK. You are sure you heard him say thus?

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

Then said the Clerk, 'Mr. Tell-True, what say you to the King's judges touching theprisoner at the bar?'

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

CLERK. Where did you hear him say so?

TELL. In Blackmouth Lane and in Blasphemer's Row, and in many other places besides.

CLERK. Have you much knowledge of him?

TELL. I know him to be a Diabolonian, the son of a Diabolonian, and a horrible manto deny a Deity. His father's name was Never-be-good, and he had more children thanthis Atheism. I have no more to say,

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

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

CLERK. Where did you hear him say these things?

HATE. In Drunkard's Row, just at Rascal-Lane's End, at a house in which Mr. Impietylived.

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

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

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

LUST. Not guilty.

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

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

CLERK. Come, Mr. Know-All, look upon the prisoner at the bar; do you know him?

KNOW. Yes, my lord, I know him.

CLERK. What is his name?

KNOW. His name is Lustings; he was the son of one Beastly, and his mother bare himin Flesh Street: she was one Evil- Concupiscence's daughter. I knew all the generationof them.

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

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

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

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

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

KNOW. All the town over, my lord.

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

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

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

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

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

Incredulity set to the bar.

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

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

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

Forget-Good set to the bar.

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

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

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

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

CLERK. Where did you hear him say so?

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

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

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

CLERK. Where have you heard him say these words?

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

Then said the Clerk, 'Come, Mr. Tell-True, give in your evidence concerning the prisonerat the bar, about that for which he stands here, as you see, indicted by this honourableCourt.'

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

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

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

COURT. Gentlemen, you have heard the indictment, his plea, and the testimony of thewitnesses. 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 intruderupon the town of Mansoul,) for that thou didst most desperately and wickedly possessthe town of Mansoul with impenitency and obdurateness; and didst keep them from remorseand sorrow for their evils, all the time of their apostacy from and rebellion againstthe blessed King Shaddai. What sayest thou to this indictment? Art thou guilty, ornot guilty?

HARD. My lord, I never knew what remorse or sorrow meant in all my life. I am impenetrable.I care for no man; nor can I be pierced with men's griefs; their groans will notenter into my heart. Whomsoever I mischief, whomsoever I wrong, to me it is music,when to others mourning.

COURT. You see the man is a right Diabolonian, and has convicted himself. Set himby, 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 intruderupon the town of Mansoul,) for that thou didst most wickedly and satanically bring,hold, and keep the town of Mansoul, both in her apostacy and in her hellish rebellion,in a false, groundless, and dangerous peace, and damnable security, to the dishonourof the King, the transgression of his law, and the great damage of the town of Mansoul.What sayest thou? Art thou guilty of this indictment, or not?

Then said Mr. False-Peace: 'Gentlemen, and you now appointed to be my judges, I acknowledgethat my name is Mr. Peace; but that my name is False-Peace I utterly deny. If yourhonours shall please to send for any that do intimately know me, or for the midwifethat laid my mother of me, or for the gossips that were at my christening, they will,any or all of them, prove that my name is not False-Peace, but Peace. Wherefore Icannot plead to this indictment, forasmuch as my name is not inserted therein; andas is my true name, so are also my conditions. I was always a man that loved to liveat quiet, and what I loved myself, that I thought others might love also. Wherefore,when I saw any of my neighbours to labour under a disquieted mind, I endeavouredto help them what I could; and instances of this good temper of mine many I couldgive; as,

'1. When, at the beginning, our town of Mansoul did decline the ways of Shaddai,they, some of them, afterwards began to have disquieting reflections upon themselvesfor what they had done; but I, as one troubled to see them disquieted, presentlysought out means to get them quiet again.

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

'3. To come nearer home: when the wars fell out between Shaddai and Diabolus, ifat any time I saw any of the town of Mansoul afraid of destruction, I often used,by some way, device, invention, or other, to labour to bring them to peace again.Wherefore, since I have been always a man of so virtuous a temper as some say a peace-makeris, and if a peace-maker be so deserving a man as some have been bold to attest heis, 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 inhuman way of treatment,but liberty, and also a license to seek damage of those that have been my accusers.'

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

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

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

Then said Mr. Search-Truth, 'My Lord, I - '

COURT. Hold! give him his oath.

Then they sware him. So he proceeded.

SEARCH. My lord, I know and have known this man from a child, and can attest thathis name is False-Peace. I know his father; his name was Mr. Flatter: and his mother,before she was married, was called by the name of Mrs. Sooth-Up: and these two, whenthey came together, lived not long without this son; and when he was born, they calledhis name False- Peace. I was his play-fellow, only I was somewhat older than he;and when his mother did use to call him home from his play, she used to say, 'False-Peace,False-Peace, come home quick, or I'll fetch you.' Yea, I knew him when he sucked;and though I was then but little, yet I can remember that when his mother did useto sit at the door with him, or did play with him in her arms, she would call him,twenty times together, 'My little False-Peace! my pretty False-Peace!' and, 'Oh!my sweet rogue, False-Peace!' and again, 'Oh! my little bird, False-Peace!' and 'Howdo I love my child!' The gossips also know it is thus, though he has had the faceto deny it in open court.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

CLERK. Where did you hear him say this?

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

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

NO. Not guilty, my lord.

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

KNOW. My lord, this man was at the pulling down of the image of Shaddai; yea, thisis he that did it with his own hands. I myself stood by and saw him do it, and hedid it at the commandment of Diabolus. Yea, this Mr. No-Truth did more than this,he did also set up the horned image of the beast Diabolus in the same place. Thisalso is he that, at the bidding of Diabolus, did rend and tear, and cause to be consumed,all that he could of the remainders of the law of the King, even whatever he couldlay his hands on in Mansoul.

CLERK. Who saw him do this besides yourself?

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

CLERK. Mr. No-Truth, how could you have the face to plead not guilty, when you wereso manifestly the doer of all this wickedness?

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

CLERK. Set him by, gaoler, and set Mr. Pitiless to the bar. Mr. Pitiless, thou arthere indicted by the name of Pitiless, (an intruder upon the town of Mansoul,) forthat thou didst most traitorously and wickedly shut up all bowels of compassion,and wouldest not suffer poor Mansoul to condole her own misery when she had apostatisedfrom her rightful King, but didst evade, and at all times turn her mind awry fromthose thoughts that had in them a tendency to lead her to repentance. What sayestthou to this indictment? Guilty or not guilty?

'Not guilty of pitilessness: all I did was to cheer up, according to my name, formy name is not Pitiless, but Cheer- up; and I could not abide to see Mansoul inclinedto melancholy.'

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

KNOW. My lord, his name is Pitiless; so he hath written himself in all papers ofconcern wherein he has had to do. But these Diabolonians love to counterfeit theirnames: Mr. Covetousness covers himself with the name of Good-Husbandry, or the like;Mr. Pride can, when need is, call himself Mr. Neat, Mr. Handsome, or the like; andso of all the rest of them.

CLERK. Mr. Tell-True, what say you?

TELL. His name is Pitiless, my lord. I have known him from a child, and he hath doneall that wickedness whereof he stands charged in the indictment; but there is a companyof them that are not acquainted with the danger of damning, therefore they call allthose melancholy that have serious thoughts how that state should be shunned by them.

CLERK. Set Mr. Haughty to the bar, gaoler. Mr. Haughty, thou art here indicted bythe name of Haughty, (an intruder upon the town of Mansoul,) for that thou didstmost traitorously and devilishly teach the town of Mansoul to carry it loftily andstoutly against the summons that was given them by the captains of the King Shaddai.Thou didst also teach the town of Mansoul to speak contemptuously and vilifyinglyof their great King Shaddai; and didst moreover encourage, both by words and examples,Mansoul, to take up arms both against the King and his son Emmanuel. How sayest thou,art thou guilty of this indictment, or not?

HAUGHTY. Gentlemen, I have always been a man of courage and valour, and have notused, when under the greatest clouds, to sneak or hang down the head like a bulrush;nor did it at all at any time please me to see men veil their bonnets to those thathave opposed them; yea, though their adversaries seemed to have ten times the advantageof them. I did not use to consider who was my foe, nor what the cause was in whichI was engaged. It was enough to me if I carried it bravely, fought like a man, andcame off a victor.

COURT. Mr. Haughty, you are not here indicted for that you have been a valiant man,nor for your courage and stoutness in times of distress, but for that you have madeuse of this your pretended valour to draw the town of Mansoul into acts of rebellionboth against the great King, and Emmanuel his Son. This is the crime and the thingwherewith thou art charged in and by the indictment.

But he made no answer to that.

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

'Gentlemen of the jury, you have been here, and have seen these men; you have heardtheir indictments, their pleas, and what the witnesses have testified against them:now what remains, is, that you do forthwith withdraw yourselves to some place, wherewithout confusion you may consider of what verdict, in a way of truth and righteousness,you ought to bring in for the King against them, and so bring it in accordingly.'

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

And thus Mr. Belief (for he was the foreman) began: 'Gentlemen,' quoth he, 'for themen, the prisoners at the bar, for my part I believe that they all deserve death.''Very right,' said Mr. True-Heart; 'I am wholly of your opinion.' 'Oh what a mercyis it,' said Mr. Hate-Bad, 'that such villains as these are apprehended!' 'Ay! ay!'said Mr. Love-God, 'this is one of the joyfullest days that ever I saw in my life.'Then said Mr. See-Truth, 'I know that if we judge them to death, our verdict shallstand before Shaddai himself' 'Nor do I at all question it,' said Mr. Heavenly- Mind;he said, moreover, 'When all such beasts as these are cast out of Mansoul, what agoodly town will it be then!' 'Then,' said Mr. Moderate, 'it is not my manner topass my judgment with rashness; but for these their crimes are so notorious, andthe witness so palpable, that that man must be wilfully blind who saith the prisonersought not to die.' 'Blessed be God,' said Mr. Thankful, 'that the traitors are insafe custody.' 'And I join with you in this upon my bare knees,' said Mr. Humble.'I am glad also,' said Mr. Good- Work. Then said the warm man, and true-hearted Mr.Zeal-for- God, 'Cut them off; they have been the plague, and have sought the destructionof Mansoul.'

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

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

JURY. Yes, my lord.

CLERK. Who shall speak for you?

JURY. Our foreman.

CLERK. You, the gentlemen of the jury, being empannelled for our Lord the King, toserve here in a matter of life and death, have heard the trials of each of thesemen, the prisoners at the bar: what say you? are they guilty of that, and those crimesfor which they stand here indicted, or are they not guilty?

FOREMAN. Guilty, my lord.

CLERK. Look to your prisoners, gaoler.

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

The gaoler, therefore, having received such a charge, put them all in the inwardprison, to preserve them there till the day of execution, which was to be the nextday in the morning.

But now to see how it happened, one of the prisoners, Incredulity by name, in theinterim betwixt the sentence and the time of execution, brake prison and made hisescape, and gets him away quite out of the town of Mansoul, and lay lurking in suchplaces and holes as he might, until he should again have opportunity to do the townof Mansoul a mischief for their thus handling of him as they did.

Now when Mr. Trueman, the gaoler, perceived that he had lost his prisoner, he wasin a heavy taking, because that prisoner was, to speak on, the very worst of allthe gang: wherefore first he goes and acquaints my Lord Mayor, Mr. Recorder, andmy Lord Willbewill, with the matter, and to get of them an order to make search forhim throughout the town of Mansoul. So an order he got, and search was made, butno such man could now be found in all the town of Mansoul.

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

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

As, first, how Mansoul had, after some delays, received a general pardon at the handsof Emmanuel, and that they had invited him into the town, and that they had givenhim the castle for his possession. He said, moreover, that they had called his soldiersinto the town, coveted who should quarter the most of them; they also entertainedhim with the timbrel, song, and dance. 'But that,' said Incredulity, 'which is thesorest vexation to me is, that he hath pulled down, O father, thy image, and setup his own; pulled down thy officers and set up his own. Yea, and Willbewill, thatrebel, who, one would have thought, should never have turned from us, he is now inas great favour with Emmanuel as ever he was with thee. But, besides all this, thisWillbewill has received a special commission from his master to search for, to apprehend,and to put to death all, and all manner of Diabolonians that he shall find in Mansoul:yea, and this Willbewill has taken and committed to prison already eight of my Lord'smost trusty friends in Mansoul. Nay, further, my Lord, with grief I speak it, theyhave been all arraigned, condemned, and, I doubt, before this executed in Mansoul.I told my Lord of eight, and myself was the ninth, who should assuredly have drunkof the same cup, but that through craft, I, as thou seest, have made mine escapefrom them.'

When Diabolus had heard this lamentable story, he yelled and snuffed up the windlike a dragon, and made the sky to look dark with his roaring; he also sware thathe would try to be revenged on Mansoul for this. So they, both he and his old friendIncredulity, concluded to enter into great consultation, how they might get the townof Mansoul again.

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

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

Now, when this good work was done, the Prince came down to see, to visit, and tospeak comfortably to the men of Mansoul, and to strengthen their hands in such work.And he said to them that, by this act of theirs he had proved them, and found themto be lovers of his person, observers of his laws, and such as had also respect tohis honour. He said, moreover, (to show them that they by this should not be losers,nor their town weakened by the loss of them,) that he would make them another captain,and that of one of themselves. And that this captain should be the ruler of a thousand,for the good and benefit of the now flourishing town of Mansoul.

So he called one to him whose name was Waiting, and bid him, 'Go quickly up to thecastle gate, and inquire there for one Mr. Experience, that waiteth upon that noblecaptain, the Captain Credence, and bid him come hither to me.' So the messenger thatwaited upon the good Prince Emmanuel went and said as he was commanded. Now the younggentleman was waiting to see the captain train and muster his men in the castle yard.Then said Mr. Waiting to him, 'Sir, the Prince would that you should come down tohis highness forthwith.' So he brought him down to Emmanuel, and he came and madeobeisance before him. Now the men of the town knew Mr. Experience well, for he wasborn and bred in Mansoul; they also knew him to be a man of conduct, of valour, anda person prudent in matters; he was also a comely person, well-spoken, and very successfulin his undertakings.

Wherefore the hearts of the townsmen were transported with joy when they saw thatthe Prince himself was so taken with Mr. Experience, that he would needs make hima captain over a band of men.

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

Now as soon as the captain had received his commission, he sounded his trumpet forvolunteers, and young men came to him apace; yea, the greatest and chief men in thetown sent their sons, to be listed under his command. Thus Captain Experience cameunder command to Emmanuel, for the good of the town of Mansoul. He had for his lieutenantone Mr. Skilful, and for his cornet one Mr. Memory. His under officers I need notname. His colours were the white colours for the town of Mansoul; and his scutcheonwas the dead lion and dead bear. So the Prince returned to his royal palace again.

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

Emmanuel also at this time appointed them a day wherein he would renew their charter,yea, wherein he would renew and enlarge it, mending several faults therein, thatMansoul's yoke might be yet more easy. And this he did without any desire of theirs,even of his own frankness and noble mind. So when he had sent for and seen theirold one, he laid it by, and said, 'Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is readyto vanish away.' He said, moreover, 'The town of Mansoul shall have another, a better,a new one, more steady and firm by far.' An epitome hereof take as follows:-

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

'But all Diabolonians, of what sort, birth, country, or kingdom soever, shall bedebarred a share therein.'

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

But what joy, what comfort, what consolation, think you, did now possess the heartsof the men of Mansoul! The bells rung, the minstrels played, the people danced, thecaptains shouted, the colours waved in the wind, and the silver trumpets sounded;and the Diabolonians now were glad to hide their heads, for they looked like themthat had been long dead.

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

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

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

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

'And this is he,' said the Prince, 'that must be your chief teacher; for it is he,and he only, that can teach you clearly in all high and supernatural things. He,and he only, it is that knows the ways and methods of my Father at court, nor canany like him show how the heart of my Father is at all times, in all things, uponall occasions, towards Mansoul; for as no man knows the things of a man but thatspirit of a man which is in him, so the things of my Father knows no man but thishis high and mighty Secretary. Nor can any, as he, tell Mansoul how and what theyshall do to keep themselves in the love of my Father. He also it is that can bringlost things to your remembrance, and that can tell you things to come. This teacher,therefore, must of necessity have the pre-eminence, both in your affections and judgment,before your other teacher; his personal dignity, the excellency of his teaching,also the great dexterity that he hath to help you to make and draw up petitions tomy Father for your help, and to his pleasing, must lay obligations upon you to lovehim, fear him, and to take heed that you grieve him not.

'This person can put life and vigour into all he says; yea, and can also put it intoyour heart. This person can make seers of you, and can make you tell what shall behereafter. By this person you must frame all your petitions to my Father and me;and without his advice and counsel first obtained, let nothing enter into the townor castle of Mansoul, for that may disgust and grieve this noble person.

'Take heed, I say, that you do not grieve this minister; for if you do, he may fightagainst you; and should he once be moved by you to set himself against you in battlearray, that will distress you more than if twelve legions should from my Father'scourt be sent to make war upon you.

'But, as I said, if you shall hearken unto him, and shall love him; if you shalldevote yourselves to his teaching, and shall seek to have converse, and to maintaincommunion with him, you shall find him ten times better than is the whole world toany; yea, he will shed 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 had been the Recorderof Mansoul, Mr. Conscience by name, and told him, That, forasmuch as he was wellskilled in the law and government of the town of Mansoul, and was also well-spoken,and could pertinently deliver to them his Master's will in all terrene and domesticmatters, therefore he would also make him a minister for, in, and to the goodly townof Mansoul, in all the laws, statutes, and judgments of the famous town of Mansoul.'And thou must,' said the Prince, 'confine thyself to the teaching of moral virtues,to civil and natural duties; but thou must not attempt to presume to be a revealerof those high and supernatural mysteries that are kept close in the bosom of Shaddai,my Father: for those things knows no man, nor can any reveal them but my Father'sSecretary only.

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

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

'Thou must therefore, in all high and supernatural things, go to him for informationand knowledge; for though there be a spirit in man, this person's inspiration mustgive 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 ownstanding, are now made prisoners in the pit. Be therefore content with thy station.

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

'And, Mr. Recorder, because thou art old, and through many abuses made feeble; thereforeI give thee leave and license to go when thou wilt to my fountain, my conduit, andthere to drink freely of the blood of my grape, for my conduit doth always run wine.Thus doing, thou shalt drive from thine heart and stomach all foul, gross, and hurtfulhumours. It will also lighten thine eyes, and will strengthen thy memory for thereception and keeping of all that the King's most noble Secretary teacheth.'

When the Prince had thus put Mr. Recorder (that once so was) into the place and officeof a minister to Mansoul, and the man had thankfully accepted thereof, then did Emmanueladdress himself in a particular speech to the townsmen themselves.

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

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

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

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

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

'Besides, if they be weak, the town of Mansoul cannot be strong; if they be strong,then Mansoul cannot be weak; your safety, therefore, doth lie in their health, andin your countenancing them. 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 and your honour: observe,therefore, O my Mansoul, to be punctual in all things that I have given in chargeunto you, and that not only as a town corporate, and so to your officers and guard,and guides in chief, but to you as you are a people whose well-being, as single persons,depends on the observation of the orders and commandments of their Lord.

'Next, O my Mansoul, I do warn you of that, of which, notwithstanding that reformationthat at present is wrought among you, you have need to be warned about: whereforehearken diligently unto me. I am now sure, and you will know hereafter, that thereare yet of the Diabolonians remaining in the town of Mansoul, Diabolonians that aresturdy and implacable, and that do already while I am with you, and that will yetmore when I am from you, study, plot, contrive, invent, and jointly attempt to bringyou to desolation, and so to a state far worse than that of the Egyptian bondage;they are the avowed friends of Diabolus, therefore look about you. They used heretoforeto lodge with their Prince in the Castle, when Incredulity was the Lord Mayor ofthis town; but since my coming hither, they lie more in the outsides and walls, andhave made themselves dens, and caves, and holes, and strongholds therein. Wherefore,O Mansoul! thy work, as to this, will be so much the more difficult and hard; thatis, to take, mortify, and put them to death according to the will of my Father. Norcan you utterly rid yourselves of them, unless you should pull down the walls ofyour town, the which I am by no means willing you should. Do you ask me, What shallwe do then? Why, be you diligent, and quit you like men; observe their holes; findout their haunts; assault them, and make no peace with them. Wherever they haunt,lurk, or abide, and what terms of peace soever they offer you, abhor, and all shallbe well betwixt you and me. And that you may the better know them from those thatare the natives of Mansoul, I will give you this brief schedule of the names of thechief of them; and they are these that follow:- The Lord Fornication, the Lord Adultery,the Lord Murder, the Lord Anger, the Lord Lasciviousness, the Lord Deceit, the LordEvil-Eye, Mr. Drunkenness, Mr. Revelling, Mr. Idolatry, Mr. Witch-craft, Mr. Variance,Mr. Emulation, Mr. Wrath, Mr. Strife, Mr. Sedition, and Mr. Heresy. These are someof the chief, O Mansoul! of those that will seek to overthrow thee for ever. These,I say, are the skulkers in Mansoul; but look thou well into the law of thy King,and there thou shalt find their physiognomy, and such other characteristical notesof them, by which they certainly may be known.

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

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

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

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

When the Prince had thus far new modelled the town of Mansoul, and had instructedthem in such matters as were profitable for them to know, then he appointed anotherday in which he intended, when the townsfolk came together, to bestow a further badgeof honour upon the town of Mansoul, - a badge that should distinguish them from allthe people, kindreds, and tongues that dwell in the kingdom of Universe. Now it wasnot long before the day appointed was come, and the Prince and his people met inthe King's palace, where first Emmanuel made a short speech unto them, and then didfor them as he had said, and unto them as he had promised.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

'Fourth. Take heed that you lose them not, lest you walk naked, and they see yourshame.

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

And now was Mansoul, and the inhabitants of it, as the signet upon Emmanuel's righthand. Where was there now a town, a city, a corporation, that could compare withMansoul! a town redeemed from the hand, and from the power of Diabolus! a town thatthe King Shaddai loved, and that he sent Emmanuel to regain from the Prince of theinfernal cave; yea, a town that Emmanuel loved to dwell in, and that he chose forhis royal habitation; a town that he fortified for himself, and made strong by theforce 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 as snow. Nor are thesebenefits to be counted little, but great; can the town of Mansoul esteem them so,and improve them to that end and purpose for which they are bestowed upon them?

When the Prince had thus completed the modelling of the town, to show that he hadgreat delight in the work of his hands and took pleasure in the good that he hadwrought for the famous and flourishing Mansoul, he commanded, and they set his standardupon the battlements of the castle. And then,

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

The Prince would now also feast them, and be with them continually: hardly a weekwould pass but a banquet must be had betwixt him and them. You may remember that,some pages before, we make mention of one feast that they had together; but now tofeast them was a thing more common: every day with Mansoul was a feast-day now. Nordid he, when they returned to their places, send them empty away, either they musthave a ring, a gold chain, a bracelet, a white stone, or something; so dear was Mansoulto him now; so lovely was Mansoul in his eyes.

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

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

And was it not now amazing to behold, that in that very place where sometimes Diabolushad his abode, and entertained his Diabolonians to the almost utter destruction ofMansoul, the Prince of princes should sit eating and drinking with them, while allhis mighty captains, men of war, trumpeters, with the singing-men and singing-womenof his Father, stood round about to wait upon them! Now did Mansoul's cup run over,now did her conduits run sweet wine, now did she eat the finest of the wheat, anddrink milk and honey out of the rock! Now, she said, How great is his goodness! forsince I found favour in his eyes, how honourable have I been!

The blessed Prince did also ordain a new officer in the town, and a goodly personhe was; his name was Mr. God's-Peace: this man was set over my Lord Willbewill, myLord Mayor, Mr. Recorder, the subordinate preacher, Mr. Mind, and over all the nativesof the town of Mansoul. Himself was not a native of it, but came with the PrinceEmmanuel from the court. He was a great acquaintance of Captain Credence and CaptainGood-Hope; some say they were kin, and I am of that opinion too. This man, as I said,was made governor of the town in general, especially over the castle, and CaptainCredence was to help him there. And I made great observation of it, that so longas all things went in Mansoul as this sweet-natured gentleman would, the town wasin most happy condition. Now there were no jars, no chiding, no interferings, nounfaithful doings in all the town of Mansoul; every man in Mansoul kept close tohis own employment. The gentry, the officers, the soldiers, and all in place observedtheir order. And as for the women and children of the town, they followed their businessjoyfully; they would work and sing, work and sing, from morning till night: so thatquite through the town of Mansoul now nothing was to be found but harmony, quietness,joy, and health. And this lasted all that summer.

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

When Diabolus at first took possession of the town of Mansoul, he brought thither,with himself, a great number of Diabolonians, men of his own conditions. Now amongthese there was one whose name was Mr. Self-Conceit, and a notable brisk man he was,as any that in those days did possess the town of Mansoul. Diabolus, then, perceivingthis man to be active and bold, sent him upon many desperate designs, the which hemanaged better, and more to the pleasing of his lord, than most that came with himfrom the dens could do. Wherefore, finding him so fit for his purpose, he preferredhim, and made him next to the great Lord Willbewill, of whom we have written so muchbefore. Now the Lord Willbewill being in those days very well pleased with him, andwith his achievements, gave him his daughter, the Lady Fear-Nothing, to wife. Now,of my Lady Fear-nothing, did this Mr. Self- Conceit beget this gentleman, Mr. Carnal-Security.Wherefore, there being then in Mansoul those strange kinds of mixtures, it was hardfor them, in some cases, to find out who were natives, who not, for Mr. Carnal-Securitysprang from my Lord Willbewill by mother's side, though he had for his father a Diabolonianby nature.

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

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

And having got some little smattering of Emmanuel's things by the end, being bold,he ventures himself into the company of the townsmen, any attempts also to chat amongthem. Now he knew that the power and strength of the town of Mansoul was great, andthat it could not but be pleasing to the people, if he cried up their might and theirglory. Wherefore he beginneth his tale with the power and strength of Mansoul, andaffirmed that it was impregnable; now magnifying their captains and their slings,and their rams; then crying up their fortifications and strongholds; and, lastly,the

assurances that they had from their Prince, that Mansoul should be happy for ever.But when he saw that some of the men of the town were tickled and taken with hisdiscourse, he makes it his business, and walking from street to street, house tohouse, and man to man, he at last brought Mansoul to dance after his pipe, and togrow almost as carnally secure as himself; so from talking they went to feasting,and from feasting to sporting; and so to some other matters. Now Emmanuel was yetin 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 of this tattlingDiabolonian gentleman, forgetting that their Prince had given them warning beforeto take heed that they were not beguiled with any Diabolonian sleight; he had furthertold them that the security of the now flourishing town of Mansoul did not so muchlie in her present fortifications and force, as in her so using of what she had,as might oblige her Emmanuel to abide within her castle. For the right doctrine ofEmmanuel was, that the town of Mansoul should take heed that they forgot not hisFather's love and 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 inlove with one of the Diabolonians, and with such an one too as Mr. Carnal-Securitywas, and to be led up and down by the nose by him; they should have heard their Prince,feared their Prince, loved their Prince, and have stoned this naughty pack to death,and took care to have walked in the ways of their Prince's prescribing: for thenshould their peace have been as a river, when their righteousness had been like thewaves of the sea.

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

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

'1. They left off their former way of visiting him, they came not to his royal palaceas afore.

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

'3. The love-feasts that had wont to be between their Prince and them, though hemade them still, and called them to them, yet they neglected to come to them, orto be delighted with them.

'4. They waited not for his counsels, but began to be headstrong and confident inthemselves, concluding that now they were strong and invincible, and that Mansoulwas secure, and beyond all reach of the foe, and that her state must needs be unalterablefor ever.'

Now, as was said, Emmanuel perceiving that by the craft of Mr. Carnal-Security, thetown of Mansoul was taken off from their dependence upon him, and upon his Fatherby him, and set upon what by them was bestowed upon it; he first, as I said, bemoanedtheir state, then he used means to make them understand that the way that they wenton in was dangerous: for he sent my Lord High Secretary to them, to forbid them suchways; but twice when he came to them, he found them at dinner in Mr. Carnal-Security'sparlour; and perceiving also that they were not willing to reason about matters concerningtheir good, he took grief and went his way; the which when he had told to the PrinceEmmanuel, he took offence, and was grieved also, and so made provision to returnto his Father's court.

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

'1. Even while he was yet with them in Mansoul, he kept himself close, and more retiredthan formerly.

'2. His speech was not now, if he came in their company, so pleasant and familiaras formerly.

'3. Nor did he, as in times past, send to Mansoul, from his table, those dainty bitswhich he was wont to do.

'4. Nor when they came to visit him, as now and then they would, would he be so easilyspoken with as they found him to be in times past. They might now knock once, yea,twice, but he would seem not at all to regard them; whereas formerly at

the sound of their feet he would up and run, and meet them halfway, and take themtoo, and lay them in his bosom.'

But thus Emmanuel carried it now, and by this his carriage he sought to make thembethink themselves, and return to him. But, alas! they did not consider, they didnot know his ways, they regarded not, they were not touched with these, nor withthe true remembrance of former favours. Wherefore what does he but in private mannerwithdraw himself, first from his palace, then to the gate of the town, and so awayfrom Mansoul he goes, till they should acknowledge their offence, and more earnestlyseek his face. Mr. God's-Peace also laid down his commission, and would for the presentact no longer in the town of Mansoul.

Thus they walked contrary to him, and he again, by way of retaliation, walked contraryto them. But, alas! by this time they were so hardened in their way, and had so drunkin the doctrine of Mr. Carnal-Security, that the departing of their Prince touchedthem not, nor was he remembered by them when gone; and so, of consequence, his absencenot condoled by them.

Now, there was a day wherein this old gentleman, Mr. Carnal- Security, did againmake a feast for the town of Mansoul; and there was at that time in the town oneMr. Godly-Fear, one now but little set by, though formerly one of great request.This man, old Carnal-Security, had a mind, if possible, to gull, and debauch, andabuse, as he did the rest, and therefore he now bids him to the feast with his neighbours.So the day being come, they prepare, and he goes and appears with the rest of theguests; and being all set at the table, they did eat and drink, and were merry, evenall but this one man: for Mr. Godly-Fear sat like a stranger, and did neither eatnor was merry. The which, when Mr. Carnal-Security perceived, he presently addressedhimself in a speech thus to him:-

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

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

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

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

Then said Mr. Carnal-Security, 'Why?'

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

And now, to explain myself: from that time that my lords of Mansoul, and you, sir,grew so great, from that time the Strength of Mansoul has been offended, and nowhe is arisen and is gone. If any shall question the truth of my words, I will answerhim by this, and suchlike questions. 'Where is the Prince Emmanuel? When did a manor woman in Mansoul see him? When did you hear from him, or taste any of his daintybits?' You are now a feasting with this Diabolonian monster, but he is not your Prince.I say, therefore, though enemies from without, had you taken heed, could not havemade a prey of you, yet since you have sinned against your Prince, your enemies withinhave been too hard for you.

Then said Mr. Carnal-Security, 'Fie! fie! Mr. Godly-Fear, fie! - will you never shakeoff your TIMOROUSNESS? Are you afraid of being sparrow-blasted? Who hath hurt you?Behold, I am on your side; only you are for doubting, and I am for being confident.Besides, is this a time to be sad in? A feast is made for mirth; why, then, do younow, to your shame, and our trouble, break out into such passionate melancholy language,when you should eat and drink, and be merry?'

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

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

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

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

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

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

And, with that, that saying of their Prince came very hot into their minds, whichhe had bidden them do to such as were false prophets that should arise to deludethe town of Mansoul. So they took Mr. Carnal-Security (concluding that he must behe) and burned his house upon him with fire; for he also was a Diabolonian by nature.

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

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

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

Well, when the Sabbath day was come, they went to hear their subordinate preacher;but oh, how he did thunder and lighten this day! His text was that in the prophetJonah: 'They that observe lying vanities forsake their own mercy.' But there wasthen such power and authority in that sermon, and such a dejection seen in the countenancesof the people that day, that the like hath seldom been heard or seen. The people,when sermon was done, were scarce able to go to their homes, or to betake themselvesto their employs the week after; they were so sermon-smitten, and also so sermon-sickby being smitten, that they knew not what to do.

He did not only show to Mansoul their sin, but did tremble before them, under thesense of his own, still crying out of himself, as he preached to them, 'Unhappy manthat I am! that I should do so wicked a thing! That I, a preacher! whom the Princedid set up to teach to Mansoul his law, should myself live senseless and sottishlyhere, and be one of the first found in transgression! This transgression also fellwithin my precincts; I should have cried out against the wickedness; but I let Mansoullie wallowing in it, until it had driven Emmanuel from its borders!' With these thingshe also charged all the lords and gentry of Mansoul, to the almost distracting ofthem.

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

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

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

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

So they called and sent for Mr. Godly-Fear, and he forthwith appeared. Then theydesired that he would further show his opinion about what they had best to do. Thensaid the old gentleman as followeth: 'It is my opinion that this town of Mansoulshould, in this day of her distress, draw up and send an humble petition to theiroffended Prince Emmanuel, that he, in his favour and grace, will turn again untoyou, and not keep anger for ever.'

When the townsmen had heard this speech, they did, with one consent, agree to hisadvice; so they did presently draw up their request, and the next was, But who shallcarry it? At last they did all agree to send it by my Lord Mayor. So he acceptedof the service, and addressed himself to his journey; and went and came to the courtof Shaddai, whither Emmanuel the Prince of Mansoul was gone. But the gate was shut,and a strict watch kept thereat; so that the petitioner was forced to stand withoutfor a great while together. Then he desired that some would go into the Prince andtell him who stood at the gate, and what his business was. So one went and told toShaddai, and to Emmanuel his Son, that the Lord Mayor of the town of Mansoul stoodwithout at the gate of the King's court, desiring to be admitted into the presenceof the Prince, the King's Son. He also told what was the Lord Mayor's errand, bothto the King and his Son Emmanuel. But the Prince would not come down, nor admit thatthe gate should be opened to him, but sent him an answer to this effect: 'They haveturned their back unto me, and not their face; but now in the time of their troublethey say to me, Arise, and save us. But can they not now go to Mr. Carnal-Security,to whom they went when they turned from me, and make him their leader, their lord,and their protection now in their trouble; why now in their trouble do they visitme, since in their prosperity they went astray?'

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

Well, when he was come within sight of the town, the elders and chief of the peopleof Mansoul went out at the gate to meet him, and to salute him, and to know how hesped at court. But he told them his tale in so doleful a manner, that they all criedout, and mourned, and wept. Wherefore they threw ashes and dust upon their heads,and put sackcloth upon their loins, and went crying out through the town of Mansoul;the which, when the rest of the townsfolk saw, they all mourned and wept. This, therefore,was a day of rebuke and trouble, and of anguish to the town of Mansoul, and alsoof great distress.

After some time, when they had somewhat refrained themselves, they came togetherto consult again what by them was yet to be done; and they asked advice, as theydid before, of that reverend Mr. Godly-Fear, who told them that there was no waybetter than to do as they had done, nor would he that they should be discouragedat all with that they had met with at court; yea, though several of their petitionsshould be answered with nought but silence or rebuke: 'For,' said he, 'it is theway of the wise Shaddai to make men wait and to exercise patience, and it shouldbe the way of them in want, to be willing to stay his leisure.

Then they took courage, and sent again and again, and again, and again; for therewas not now one day, nor an hour that went over Mansoul's head, wherein a man mightnot have met upon the road one or other riding post, sounding the horn from Mansoulto the court of the King Shaddai; and all with letters petitionary in behalf of,and for the Prince's return to Mansoul. The road, I say, was now full of messengers,going and returning, and meeting one another; some from the court, and some fromMansoul; and this was the work of the miserable town of Mansoul, all that long, thatsharp, that cold and tedious winter.

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

Against these the good Prince did grant a commission to the Lord Willbewill and others,yea, to the whole town of Mansoul, to seek, take, secure, and destroy any or allthat they could lay hands of, for that they were Diabolonians by nature, enemiesto 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 look after, to apprehend,to secure, and to destroy these Diabolonians. Wherefore what do these villains butby degrees take courage to put forth their heads, and to show themselves to the inhabitantsof the town. Yea, and as I was told, some of the men of Mansoul grew too familiarwith some of them, to the sorrow of the corporation, as you yet will hear more ofin time and place.

Well, when the Diabolonian lords that were left perceived that Mansoul had, throughsinning, offended Emmanuel their Prince, and that he had withdrawn himself and wasgone, what do they but plot the ruin of the town of Mansoul. So upon a time theymet together at the hold of one Mr. Mischief, who was also a Diabolonian, and thereconsulted how they might deliver up Mansoul into the hands of Diabolus again. Nowsome advised one way, and some another, every man according to his own liking. Atlast my Lord Lasciviousness propounded, whether it might not be best, in the firstplace, for some of those that were Diabolonians in Mansoul, to adventure to offerthemselves for servants to some of the natives of the town; 'for,' said he, 'if theyso do, and Mansoul shall accept of them, they may for us, and for Diabolus our Lord,make the taking of the town of Mansoul more easy than otherwise it will be.' Butthen stood up the Lord Murder, and said, 'This may not be done at this time; forMansoul is now in a kind of a rage, because by our friend, Mr. Carnal-Security, shehath been once ensnared already, and made to offend against her Prince; and how shallshe reconcile herself unto her lord again, but by the heads of these men? Besides,we know that they have in commission to take and slay us wherever they shall findus; let us, therefore, be wise as foxes: when we are dead, we can do them no hurt;but while we live, we may.' Thus, when they had tossed the matter to and fro, theyjointly agreed that a letter should forthwith be sent away to Diabolus in their name,by which the state of the town of Mansoul should be showed him, and how much it isunder the frowns of their Prince. 'We may also,' said some, 'let him know our intentions,and ask of him his advice in the case.'

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

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

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

'The reason of this our writing unto our lord, is for that we are not altogetherwithout hope that this town may become thy habitation again; for it is greatly declinedfrom its Prince Emmanuel; and he is uprisen, and is departed from them: yea, andthough they send, and send, and send, and send after him to return to them, yet canthey not prevail, nor get good words from him.

'There has been also of late, and is yet remaining, a very great sickness and faintingamong them; and that not only upon the poorer sort of the town, but upon the lords,captains, and chief gentry of the place, (we only who are of the Diabolonians bynature remain well, lively, and strong,) so that through their great transgressionon the one hand, and their dangerous sickness on the other, we judge they lie opento thy hand and power. If, therefore, it shall stand with thy horrible cunning, andwith the cunning of the rest of the princes with thee, to come and make an attemptto take Mansoul again, send us word, and we shall to our utmost power be ready todeliver it into thy hand. Or if what we have said shall not by thy fatherhood bethought best and most meet to be done, send us thy mind in a few words, and we areall ready to follow thy counsel to the hazarding of our lives, and what else we have.

'Given under our hands the day and date above-written, after a close consultationat the house of Mr. Mischief, who yet is alive and hath his place in our desirabletown of Mansoul.'

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

Then came together from all places of the den Beelzebub, Lucifer, Apollyon, withthe rest of the rabblement there, to hear what news from Mansoul. So the letter wasbroken up and read, and Cerberus he stood by. When the letter was openly read, andthe contents thereof spread into all the corners of the den, command was given that,without let or stop, dead- man's bell should be rung for joy. So the bell was rung,and the princes rejoiced that Mansoul was likely to come to ruin. Now, the clapperof the bell went, 'The town of Mansoul is coming to dwell with us: make room forthe town of Mansoul.' This bell therefore they did ring, because they did hope thatthey should have Mansoul again.

Now, when they had performed this their horrible ceremony, they got together againto consult what answer to send to their friends in Mansoul; and some advised onething, and some another: but at length, because the business required haste, theyleft the whole business to the prince Diabolus, judging him the most proper lordof the place. So he drew up a letter as he thought fit, in answer to what Mr. Profanehad brought, and sent it to the Diabolonians that did dwell in Mansoul, by the samehand that had brought theirs to him; and these were the contents thereof:-

'To our offspring, the high and mighty Diabolonians that yet dwell in the town ofMansoul, Diabolus, the great prince of Mansoul, wisheth a prosperous issue and conclusionof those many brave enterprises, conspiracies, and designs, that you, of your loveand respect to our honour, have in your hearts to attempt to do against Mansoul.Beloved children and disciples, my Lord Fornication, Adultery, and the rest, we havehere, in our desolate den, received, to our highest joy and content, your welcomeletter, by the hand of our trusty Mr. Profane; and to show how acceptable your tidingswere, we rang out our bell for gladness; for we rejoiced as much as we could, whenwe perceived that yet we had friends in Mansoul, and such as sought our honour andrevenge in the ruin of the town of Mansoul. We also rejoiced to hear that they arein a degenerated condition, and that they have offended their Prince, and that heis gone. Their sickness also pleaseth us, as does also your health, might, and strength.Glad also would we be, right horribly beloved, could we get this town into our clutchesagain. Nor will we be sparing of spending our wit, our cunning, our craft, and hellishinventions to bring to a wished conclusion this your brave beginning in order thereto.

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

'Do you, therefore, our trusty Diabolonians, yet more pry into, and endeavour tospy out the weakness of the town of Mansoul. We also would that you yourselves doattempt to weaken them more and more. Send us word also by what means you think wehad best to attempt the regaining thereof: namely, whether by persuasion to a vainand loose life; or, whether by tempting them to doubt and despair; or, whether byblowing up of the town by the gunpowder of pride, and self- conceit. Do you also,O ye brave Diabolonians, and true sons of the pit, be always in a readiness to makea most hideous assault within, when we shall be ready to storm it without. Now speedyou in your project, and we in our desires, to the utmost power of our gates, whichis the wish of your great Diabolus, Mansoul's enemy, and him that trembles when hethinks of judgment to come. All the blessings of the pit be upon you, and so we closeup our letter.

'Given at the pit's mouth, by the joint consent of all the princes of darkness, tobe sent, to the force and power that we have yet remaining in Mansoul, by the handof Mr. Profane, by me, Diabolus.'

This letter, as was said, was sent to Mansoul, to the Diabolonians that yet remainedthere, and that yet inhabited the wall, from the dark dungeon of Diabolus, by thehand of Mr. Profane, by whom they also in Mansoul sent theirs to the pit. Now, whenthis Mr. Profane had 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 the conclave, andthe place where the contrivers were met. Now, when they saw that their messengerwas returned safe and sound, they were greatly gladded thereat. Then he presentedthem with his letter which he had brought from Diabolus for them; the which, whenthey had read and considered, did much augment their gladness. They asked him afterthe welfare of their friends, as how their Lord Diabolus, Lucifer, and Beelzebubdid, with the rest of those of the den. To which this Profane made answer, 'Well,well, my lords; they are well, even as well as can be in their place. They also,'said he, 'did ring for joy at the reading of your letter, as you well perceived bythis when you read it.'

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

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

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

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

'Now, I think, if we shall tempt them to pride, that may do something; and if wetempt them to wantonness, that may help. But, in my mind, if we could drive theminto desperation, that would knock the nail on the head; for then we should havethem, in the first place, question the truth of the love of the heart of their Princetowards them, and that will disgust him much. This, if it works well, will make themleave off quickly their way of sending petitions to him; then farewell earnest solicitationsfor help and supply; for then this conclusion lies naturally before them, "Asgood do nothing, as do to no purpose."' So to Mr. Deceit they unanimously didconsent.

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

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

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

Mr. Mind hired Prudent-Thrifty, and Mr. Godly-Fear hired Good-Zeal. True, this fellowHarmless-Mirth did hang a little in hand, and could not so soon get him a masteras the others did, because the town of Mansoul was now in Lent, but after a while,because Lent was almost out, the Lord Willbewill hired Harmless-Mirth to be bothhis waiting man and his lackey: and thus they got them masters.

These villains now being got thus far into the houses of the men of Mansoul, quicklybegan to do great mischief therein; for, being filthy, arch, and sly, they quicklycorrupted the families where they were; yea, they tainted their masters much, especiallythis Prudent-Thrifty, and him they call Harmless-Mirth. True, he that went underthe visor of Good- Zeal, was not so well liked of his master; for he quickly foundthat he was but a counterfeit rascal; the which when the fellow perceived, with speedhe made his escape from the house, or I doubt not but his master had hanged him.

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

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

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

'Our great lord, and the nourisher of our lives, Diabolus - how glad we were whenwe heard of your fatherhood's readiness to comply with us, and help forward our designin our attempts to ruin Mansoul, none can tell but those who, as we do, set themselvesagainst all appearance of good, when and wheresoever we find it.

'Touching the encouragement that your greatness is pleased to give us to continueto devise, contrive, and study the utter desolation of Mansoul, that we are not solicitousabout: for we know right well that it cannot but be pleasing and profitable to usto see our enemies, and them that seek our lives, die at our feet, or fly beforeus. We therefore are still contriving, and that to the best of our cunning, to makethis work most facile and easy to your lordships, and to us.

'First, we considered of that most hellishly cunning, compacted, threefold project,that by you was propounded to us in your last; and have concluded, that though toblow them up with the gunpowder of pride would do well, and to do it by temptingthem to be loose and 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 at your beck, havethought or two ways to do this: first we, for our parts, will make them as vile aswe can, and then you with us, at a time appointed, shall be ready to fall upon themwith the utmost force. And of all the nations that are at your whistle, we thinkthat an army of doubters may be the most likely to attack and overcome the town ofMansoul. Thus shall we overcome these enemies, else the pit shall open her mouthupon them, and desperation shall thrust them down into it. We have also, to effectthis so much by us desired design, sent already three of our trusty Diaboloniansamong them; they are disguised in garb, they have changed their names, and are nowaccepted of them; namely, Covetousness, Lasciviousness, and Anger. The name of Covetousnessis changed to Prudent-Thrifty, and him Mr. Mind has hired, and is almost become asbad as our friend. Lasciviousness has changed his name to Harmless-Mirth, and heis got to be the Lord Willbewill's lackey; but he has made his master very wanton.Anger changed his name into Good-Zeal, and was entertained by Mr. Godly-Fear; butthe peevish old gentleman took pepper in the nose, and turned our companion out ofhis house. Nay, he has informed us since that he ran away from him, or else his oldmaster had hanged him up for his labour.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

PROF. The contrivance is almost finished, the lords in Mansoul that are Diaboloniansare at it day and night, and the other are like silly doves; they want heart to beconcerned with their state and to consider that ruin is at hand. Besides you may,yea, must think, when you put all things together, that there are many reasons thatprevail 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 braveProfane, to my lords, they will give thee for thy welcome as good a CORANTO as thewhole 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 himwith, 'Welcome, my trusty servant: I have been made glad with thy letter.' The restof the lords of the pit gave him also their salutations. Then Profane, after obeisancemade to them all, said, 'Let Mansoul be given to my lord Diabolus, and let him beher king for ever.' And with that, the hollow belly and yawning gorge of hell gaveso loud and hideous a groan, (for that is the music of that place,) that it madethe mountains about it totter, as if they would fall in pieces.

Now, after they had read and considered the letter, they consulted what answer toreturn; and the first that did speak to it was Lucifer.

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

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

Then quoth Diabolus, 'How should we know this?' and it was answered, 'Inquire aboutit at the mouth of Mr. Profane.' So Profane was called in, and asked the question,and he made his answer as follows:-

PROF. My lords, so far as I can gather, this is at present the condition of the townof Mansoul: they are decayed in their faith and love; Emmanuel, their Prince, hasgiven them the back; they send often by petition to fetch him again, but he makethnot haste to answer their request, nor is there much reformation among them.

DIAB. I am glad that they are backward in a reformation, but yet I am afraid of theirpetitioning. However, their looseness of life is a sign that there is not much heartin what they do, and without the heart things are little worth. But go on, my masters;I will divert you, my lords, no longer.

BEEL. If the case be so with Mansoul, as Mr. Profane has described it to be, it willbe no great matter what day we assault it; not their prayers, nor their power willdo them much service.

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

So soon as Apollyon had made an end of speaking, Diabolus began to blow out his ownmalice, and to plead his own cause; and he said, 'My lords, and powers of the cave,my true and trusty friends, I have with much impatience, as becomes me, given earto your long and tedious orations. But my furious gorge, and empty paunch, so lustethafter a repossession of my famous town of Mansoul, that whatever comes out, I canwait no longer to see the events of lingering projects. I must, and that withoutfurther delay, seek, by all means I can, to fill my insatiable gulf with the souland body of the town of Mansoul. Therefore lend me your heads, your hearts, and yourhelp, now I am going to recover my town of Mansoul.'

When the lords and princes of the pit saw the flaming desire that was in Diabolusto devour the miserable town of Mansoul, they left off to raise any more objections,but consented to lend him what strength they could, though had Apollyon's advicebeen taken, they had far more fearfully distressed the town of Mansoul. But, I say,they were willing to lend him what strength they could, not knowing what need theymight have of him, when they should engage for themselves, as he. Wherefore theyfell to advising about the next thing propounded, namely, what soldiers they were,and also how many, with whom Diabolus should go against the town of Mansoul to takeit; and after some debate, it was concluded, according as in the letter the Diabolonianshad suggested, that none were more fit for that expedition than an army of terribledoubters. They therefore concluded to send against Mansoul an army of sturdy doubters.The number thought fit to be employed in that service was between twenty and thirtythousand. So then the result of that great council of those high and mighty lordswas - That Diabolus should even now, out of hand, beat up his drum for men in theland of Doubting, which land lieth upon the confines of the place called Hell-GateHill, for men that might be employed by him against the miserable town of Mansoul.It was also concluded, that these lords themselves should help him in the war, andthat they would to that end head and manage his men. So they drew up a letter, andsent back to the Diabolonians that lurked in Mansoul, and that waited for the back-comingof Mr. Profane, to signify to them into what method and forwardness they at presenthad put their design. The

contents whereof now follow:-

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

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

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

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

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

'We therefore give you to understand that our stout, furious, and unmerciful Diabolusis raising, for your relief, and the ruin of the rebellious town of Mansoul, morethan twenty thousand doubters to come against that people. They are all stout andsturdy men, and men that of old have been accustomed to war, and that can thereforewell endure the drum. I say, he is doing this work of his with all the possible speedhe can; for his heart and spirit is engaged in it. We desire, therefore, that, asyou have hitherto stuck to us, and given us both advice and encouragement thus far,you still will prosecute our design; nor shall you lose, but be gainers thereby;yea, we intend to make you the lords of Mansoul.

'One thing may not by any means be omitted, that is, those with us do desire thatevery one of you that are in Mansoul would still use all your power, cunning, andskill, with delusive persuasions, yet to draw the town of Mansoul into more sin andwickedness, even that sin may be finished and bring forth death.

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

'As to the time of our coming upon Mansoul, we, as yet, have not fully resolved uponthat, though at present some of us think as you, that a market-day, or a market-dayat night, will certainly be the best. However, do you be ready, and when you shallhear our roaring drum without, do you be as busy to make the most horrible confusionwithin. So shall Mansoul certainly be distressed before and behind, and shall notknow which way to betake herself for help. My Lord Lucifer, my Lord Beelzebub, myLord Apollyon, my Lord Legion, with the rest, salute you, as does also my Lord Diabolus;and we wish both you, with all that you do, or shall possess, the very self-samefruit and success for their doing as we ourselves at present enjoy for ours.

'From our dreadful confines in the most fearful pit, we salute you, and so do thosemany legions here with us, wishing you may be as hellishly prosperous as we desireto be ourselves. By the letter-carrier, Mr. Profane.'

Then Mr. Profane addressed himself for his return to Mansoul, with his errand fromthe horrible pit to the Diabolonians that dwelt in that town. So he came up the stairsfrom the deep to the mouth of the cave where Cerberus was. Now when Cerberus sawhim, he asked how did matters go below, about and against the town of Mansoul.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

So after a few more such kind of compliments, Mr. Profane took his leave of his friendCerberus; and Cerberus again, with a thousand of their pit-wishes, bid him haste,with all speed, to his masters. The which when he had heard, he made obeisance, andbegan to gather up his heels to run.

Thus, therefore, he returned, and went and came to Mansoul; and going, as afore,to the house of Mr. Mischief, there he found the Diabolonians assembled, and waitingfor his return. Now when he was come, and had presented himself, he also deliveredto them his letter, and adjoined this compliment to them therewith: 'My lords, fromthe confines of the pit, the high and mighty principalities and powers of the densalute you here, the true Diabolonians of the town of Mansoul. Wishing you alwaysthe most proper of their benedictions, for the great service, high attempts, andbrave achievements that you have put yourselves upon, for the restoring to our princeDiabolus the famous town of Mansoul.'

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

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

They did, indeed, still send petition after petition to the Prince, but he answeredall with silence. They did neglect reformation, and that was as Diabolus would haveit; for he knew, if they regarded iniquity in their heart, their King would not heartheir prayer; they therefore did still grow weaker and weaker, and were as a rollingthing before the whirlwind. They cried to their King for help, and laid Diaboloniansin their bosoms: what therefore should a King do to them? Yea, there seemed now tobe a mixture in Mansoul; the Diabolonians and the Mansoulians would walk the streetstogether. Yea, they began to seek their peace; for they thought that, since the sicknesshad been so mortal in Mansoul, it was in vain to go to handygripes with them. Besides,the weakness of Mansoul was the strength of their enemies; and the sins of Mansoul,the advantage of the Diabolonians. The foes of Mansoul did also now begin to promisethemselves the town for a possession: there was no great difference now betwixt Mansouliansand Diabolonians: both seemed to be masters of Mansoul. Yea, the Diabolonians increasedand grew, but the town of Mansoul diminished greatly. There were more than eleventhousand men, women, and children that died by the sickness in Mansoul.

But now, as Shaddai would have it, there was one whose name was Mr. Prywell, a greatlover of the people of Mansoul. And he, as his manner was, did go listening up anddown in Mansoul to see, and to hear, if at any time he might, whether there was anydesign against it or no. For he was always a jealous man, and feared some mischiefsometime would befal it, either from the Diabolonians within, or from some powerwithout. Now upon a time it so happened, as Mr. Prywell went listening here and there,that he lighted upon a place called Vilehill, in Mansoul, where Diabolonians usedto meet; so hearing a muttering, (you must know that it was in the night,) he softlydrew near to hear; nor had he stood long under the house-end, (for there stood ahouse 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 theDiabolonians did intend to put all Mansoulians to the sword, and would kill and destroythe King's captains, and drive all his soldiers out of the town. He said, moreover,that he knew there were above twenty thousand fighting men prepared by Diabolus forthe accomplishing of this design, and that it would not be months before they allshould see it.

When Mr. Prywell had heard this story, he did quickly believe it was true: whereforehe went forthwith to my Lord Mayor's house, and acquainted him therewith; who, sendingfor the subordinate preacher, brake the business to him; and he as soon gave thealarm to the town; for he was now the chief preacher in Mansoul, because, as yet,my Lord Secretary was ill at ease. And this was the way that the subordinate preacherdid take to alarm the town therewith. The same hour he caused the lecture bell tobe rung; so the people came together: he gave them then a short exhortation to watchfulness,and made Mr. Prywell's news the argument thereof. 'For,' said he, 'an horrible plotis contrived against Mansoul, even to massacre us all in a day, nor is this storyto be slighted; for Mr. Prywell is the author thereof. Mr. Prywell was always a loverof Mansoul, a sober and judicious man, a man that is no tattler, nor raiser of falsereports, but one that loves to look into the very bottom of matters, and talks nothingof news, but by very solid arguments.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

5. It was further concluded then, that with what speed, and with what warmth of mindthey could, they would renew their humiliation for sin, and their petitions to Shaddaifor help; they also resolved, to send tidings to the court of all that Mr. Prywellhad told them.

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

When the corporation, with their captains, had thus concluded, they did as they hadsaid; they shut up their gates, they made for Diabolonians strict search, they madethose with whom any were found to take penance in the open place: they kept theirfast, and renewed their petitions to their Prince, and Mr. Prywell managed his chargeand the trust that Mansoul had put in his hands, with great conscience and good fidelity;for he gave himself wholly up to his employ, and that not only within the town, buthe went out to pry, to see, and to hear.

And not many days after he provided for his journey, and went towards Hell-Gate Hill,into the country where the Doubters were, where he heard of all that had been talkedof in Mansoul, and he perceived also that Diabolus was almost ready for his march,etc. So he came back with speed, and, calling the captains and elders of Mansoultogether, he told them where he had been, what he had heard, and what he had seen.Particularly, he told them that Diabolus was almost ready for his march, and thathe had made old Mr. Incredulity, that once brake prison in Mansoul, the, generalof his army; that his army consisted all of Doubters, and that their number was abovetwenty thousand. He told, moreover, that Diabolus did intend to bring with him thechief princes of the infernal pit, and that he would make them chief captains overhis Doubters. He told them, moreover, that it was certainly true that several ofthe black den would, with Diabolus, ride reformades to reduce the town of Mansoulto the obedience of Diabolus, their prince.

He said, moreover, that he understood by the Doubters, among whom he had been, thatthe reason why old Incredulity was made general of the whole army, was because nonetruer than he to the tyrant; and because he had an implacable spite against the welfareof the town of Mansoul. Besides, said he, he remembers the affronts that Mansoulhas given him, and he is resolved to be revenged of them.

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

Now, when the captains of Mansoul, with the elders of the town, had heard the tidingsthat Mr. Prywell did bring, they thought it expedient, without further delay, toput into execution the laws that against the Diabolonians their Prince had made forthem, and given them in commandment to manage against them. Wherefore, forthwitha diligent and impartial search was made in all houses in Mansoul, for all and allmanner of Diabolonians. Now, in the house of Mr. Mind, and in the house of the greatLord Willbewill, were two Diabolonians found. In Mr. Mind's house was one Lord Covetousnessfound; but he had changed his name to Prudent- Thrifty. In my Lord Willbewill's house,one Lasciviousness was found; but he had changed his name to Harmless-Mirth. Thesetwo the captains and elders of the town of Mansoul took, and committed them to custodyunder the hand of Mr. Trueman, the gaoler; and this man handled them so severely,and loaded them so well with irons, that in time they both fell into a very deepconsumption, and died in the prison- house; their masters also, according to theagreement of the captains and elders, were brought to take penance in the open placeto their shame, and for a warning to the rest of the town of Mansoul.

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

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

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

By this time, Diabolus had finished his army which he intended to bring with himfor the ruin of Mansoul; and had set over them captains, and other field officers,such as liked his furious stomach best: himself was lord paramount, Incredulity wasgeneral of his army, their highest captains shall be named afterwards; but now fortheir officers, colours, and scutcheons.

1. Their first captain was Captain Rage: he was captain over the election doubters,his were the red colours; his standard-bearer was Mr. Destructive, and the greatred dragon he had for his scutcheon.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

These were his captains, and these were their forces, these were their standards,these were their colours, and these were their scutcheons. Now, over these did thegreat Diabolus make superior captains, and they were in number seven: as, namely,the Lord Beelzebub, the Lord Lucifer, the Lord Legion, the Lord Apollyon, the LordPython, the Lord Cerberus, and the Lord Belial; these seven he set over the captains,and Incredulity was lord-general, and, Diabolus was king. The reformades also, suchas were like themselves, were made some of them captains of hundreds, and some ofthem captains of more. And thus was the army of Incredulity completed.

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

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

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

Now having entrenched himself, he did cast up four mounts against the town: the firsthe called Mount Diabolus, putting his own name thereon, the more to affright thetown of Mansoul; the other three he called thus - Mount Alecto, Mount Megara, andMount 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 the lion his prey, evento make it fall before his terror. But, as I said, the captains and soldiers resistedso stoutly, and did do such execution with their stones, that they made him, thoughagainst stomach, to retreat, wherefore Mansoul began to take courage.

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

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

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

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

When Diabolus saw that by drumming he could not work out Mansoul to his will, thenext night he sendeth his drummer without his drum, still to let the townsmen knowthat he had a mind to parley with them. But when all came to all, his parley wasturned into a summons to the town to deliver up themselves: but they gave him neitherheed nor hearing: for they remembered what at first it cost them to hear him a fewwords.

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

'O ye inhabitants of the rebellious town of Mansoul! I summon you in the name ofthe Prince Diabolus, that, without any more ado, you set open the gates of your town,and admit the great lord to come in. But if you shall still rebel, when we have takento us the town by force, we will swallow you up as the grave; wherefore if you willhearken to my summons, say so, and if not then let me know.

'The reason of this my summons,' quoth he, 'is, for that my lord is your undoubtedprince and lord, as you yourselves have formerly owned. Nor shall that assault thatwas given to my lord, when Emmanuel dealt so dishonourably by him, prevail with himto lose his right, and to forbear to attempt to recover his own. Consider, then,O Mansoul, with thyself, wilt thou show thyself peaceable, or no? If thou shalt quietlyyield up thyself, then our old friendship shall be renewed; but if thou shalt yetrefuse and rebel, then expect nothing but fire and sword.'

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

But, after some consultation among themselves, as also with some of their captains,they applied themselves afresh to the Lord Secretary for counsel and advice fromhim; for this Lord Secretary was their chief preacher, (as also is mentioned somepages 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 himself so much retiredfrom them as formerly. Also, that he would be prevailed with to give them a hearing,while they should make known their miserable condition to him. But to this he toldthem as before, that 'as yet he was but ill at ease, and therefore could not do ashe had formerly done.'

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

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


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

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

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

So they took their leaves of my lord, and returned, and went, and came to the captains,to whom they did tell what my Lord High Secretary had said; who, when they had heardit, were all of the same opinion as was my Lord Mayor himself. The captains, therefore,began to take some courage unto them, and to prepare to make some brave attempt uponthe camp of the enemy, and to destroy all that were Diabolonians, with the rovingdoubters that the tyrant had brought with him to destroy the poor town of Mansoul.

So all betook themselves forthwith to their places - the Captains to theirs, theLord Mayor to his, the subordinate preacher to his, and my Lord Willbewill to his.The captains longed to be at some work for their prince; for they delighted in warlikeachievements. The next day, therefore, they came together and consulted; and afterconsultation had, they resolved to give an answer to the captain of Diabolus withslings; and so they did at the rising of the sun on the morrow; for Diabolus hadadventured to come nearer again, but the sling-stones were to him and his like hornets.For as there is nothing to the town of Mansoul so terrible as the roaring of Diabolus'sdrum, so there is nothing to Diabolus so terrible as the well playing of Emmanuel'sslings. Wherefore Diabolus was forced to make another retreat, yet further off fromthe famous town of Mansoul. Then did the Lord Mayor of Mansoul cause the bells tobe rung, 'and that thanks should be sent to the Lord High Secretary by the mouthof the subordinate preacher; for that by his words the captains and elders of Mansoulhad been strengthened against Diabolus.'

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

So he called for his drummer, who beat up for his men (and while he did beat, Mansouldid shake) to be in a readiness to give battle to the corporation: then Diabolusdrew near with his army, and thus disposed of his men. Captain Cruel and CaptainTorment, these he drew 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-Easeshould come in to their relief. At Nose-gate he placed the Captain Brimstone andCaptain Sepulchre, and bid them look well to their ward, on that side of the townof Mansoul. But at Eye- gate he placed that grim-faced one, the Captain Past-Hope,and there also now he did set up his terrible standard.

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

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

Now, as Diabolus was busy and industrious in preparing to make his assault upon thetown of Mansoul, without, so the captains and soldiers in the corporation were asbusy in preparing within; they mounted their slings, they set up their banners, theysounded their trumpets, and put themselves in such order as was judged most for theannoyance of the enemy, and for the advantage of Mansoul, and gave to their soldiersorders to be ready at the sound of the trumpet for war. The Lord Willbewill also,he took the charge of watching against the rebels within, and to do what he couldto take them while without, or to stifle them within their caves, dens, and holesin the town-wall of Mansoul. And, to speak the truth of him, ever since he took penancefor his fault, he has showed as much honesty and bravery of spirit as any he in Mansoul;for he took one Jolly, and his brother Griggish, the two sons of his servant Harmless-Mirth,(for to that day, though the father was committed to ward, the sons had a dwellingin the house of my lord,) - I say, he took them, and with his own hands put themto the cross. And this 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 hispranks, and to be ticking and toying with the daughters of their lord; nay, it wasjealoused that they were too familiar with them, the which was brought to his lordship'sear. Now his lordship being unwilling unadvisedly to put any man to death, did notsuddenly fall upon them, but set watch and spies to see if the thing was true; ofthe which he was soon informed, for his two servants, whose names were Find-Out andTell-All, catched them together in uncivil manner more than once or twice, and wentand told their lord. So when my Lord Willbewill had sufficient ground to believethe thing was true, he takes the two young Diabolonians, (for such they were, fortheir father was a Diabolonian born,) and has them to Eye-gate, where he raised avery high cross, just in the face of Diabolus, and of his army, and there he hangedthe young villains, in defiance to Captain Past-Hope, and of the horrible standardof the tyrant.

Now this Christian act of the brave Lord Willbewill did greatly abash Captain Past-Hope,discouraged the army of Diabolus, put fear into the Diabolonian runagates in Mansoul,and put strength and courage into the captains that belonged to Emmanuel, the Prince;for they without did gather, and that by this very act of my Lord, that Mansoul wasresolved to fight, and that the Diabolonians within the town could not do such thingsas Diabolus had hopes they would. Nor was this the only proof of the brave Lord Willbewill'shonesty to the town, nor of his loyalty to his Prince, as will afterwards appear.

Now, when the children of Prudent-Thrifty, who dwelt with Mr. Mind, (for Thrift leftchildren with Mr. Mind, when he was also committed to prison, and their names wereGripe and Rake-All; these he begat of Mr. Mind's bastard daughter, whose name wasMrs. Hold-fast-Bad;) - I say, when his children perceived how the Lord Willbewillhad served them that dwelt with him, what do they but, lest they should drink ofthe same cup, endeavour to make their escape. But Mr. Mind, being wary of it, tookthem and put them in hold in his house till morning; (for this was done over night;)and remembering that by the law of Mansoul all Diabolonians were to die, (and tobe sure they were at least by father's side such, and some say by mother's side too,)what does he but takes them and puts them in chains, and carries them to the selfsameplace where my lord hanged his two before, and there he hanged them.

The townsmen also took great encouragement at this act of Mr. Mind, and did whatthey could to have taken some more of these Diabolonian troublers of Mansoul; butat that time the rest lay so squat and close, that they could not be apprehended;so they set against them a diligent watch, and went every man to his place.

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

So Diabolus commanded that his drummer should beat a charge against the town; andthe captains also that were in the town sounded a charge against them, but they hadno drum: they were trumpets of silver with which they sounded against them. Thenthey which were of the camp of Diabolus came down to the town to take it, and thecaptains in the castle, with the slingers at Mouth-gate, played upon them amain.And now there was nothing heard in the camp of Diabolus but horrible rage and blasphemy;but in the town good words, prayer, and singing of psalms. The enemy replied withhorrible objections, and the terribleness of their drum; but the town made answerwith the slapping of their slings, and the melodious noise of their trumpets. Andthus the fight lasted for several days together, only now and then they had somesmall intermission, in the which the townsmen refreshed themselves, and the captainsmade ready for another assault.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Prince's captains fought it stoutly, beyond what indeed could be expected theyshould; they wounded many; they made the whole army of Diabolus to make a retreat.But I cannot tell how, but the brave Captain Credence, Captain Good-Hope, and CaptainExperience, as they were upon the pursuit, cutting down, and following hard afterthe enemy in the rear, Captain Credence stumbled and fell, by which fall he caughtso great a hurt, that he could not rise till Captain Experience did help him up,at which their men were put in disorder. The captain also was so full of pain, thathe could not forbear but aloud to cry out: at this, the other two captains fainted,supposing that Captain Credence had received his mortal wound; their men also weremore disordered, and had no list to fight. Now Diabolus being very observing, thoughat this time as yet he was put to the worst, perceiving that a halt was made amongthe men that were the pursuers, what does he but, taking it for granted that thecaptains were either wounded or dead, he therefore makes at first a stand, then facesabout, and so comes up upon the Prince's army with as much of his fury as hell couldhelp him to; and his hap was to fall in just among the three captains, Captain Credence,Captain Good-Hope, and Captain Experience, and did cut, wound, and pierce them sodreadfully, that what through discouragement, what through disorder, and what throughthe wounds that they had received, and also the loss of much blood, they scarce wereable, though they had for their power the three best hands in Mansoul, to get safeinto the hold again.

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

But the valiant Lord Mayor replied, that what he got he must get by force; for aslong as Emmanuel, their Prince, was alive, (though he at present was not so withthem as they wished,) they should never consent to yield Mansoul up to another.

And with that the Lord Willbewill stood up, and said, 'Diabolus, thou master of theden, and enemy to all that is good, we poor inhabitants of the town of Mansoul aretoo well acquainted with thy rule and government, and with the end of those thingsthat for certain will follow submitting to thee, to do it. Wherefore though whilewe were without knowledge we suffered thee to take us, (as the bird that saw notthe snare fell into the hands of the fowler,) yet since we have been turned fromdarkness to light, we have also been turned from the power of Satan to God. And thoughthrough thy subtlety, and also the subtlety of the Diabolonians within, we have sustainedmuch loss, and also plunged ourselves into much perplexity, yet give up ourselves,lay down our arms, and yield to so horrid a tyrant as thou, we shall not; die uponthe place we choose rather to do. Besides, we have hopes that in time deliverancewill come from court unto us, and therefore we yet will maintain a war against thee.'

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

The Lord Willbewill also did play the man within; for while the captains and soldierswere in the field, he was in arms in the town, and wherever by him there was a Diabolonianfound, they were forced to feel the weight of his heavy hand, and also the edge ofhis penetrating sword: many therefore of the Diabolonians he wounded, as the LordCavil, the Lord Brisk, the Lord Pragmatic, and the Lord Murmur; several also of themeaner sort he did sorely maim; though there cannot at this time an account be givenyou of any that he slew outright. The cause, or rather the advantage that my LordWillbewill had at this time to do thus, was for that the captains were gone out tofight the enemy in the field. 'For now,' thought the Diabolonians within, 'is ourtime to stir and make an uproar in the town.' What do they therefore but quicklyget themselves into a body, and fall forthwith to hurricaning in Mansoul, as if nownothing but whirlwind and tempest should be there. Wherefore, as I said, he takesthis opportunity to fall in among them with his men, cutting and slashing with couragethat was undaunted; at which the Diabolonians with all haste dispersed themselvesto their holds, and my lord to his place as before.

This brave act of my lord did somewhat revenge the wrong done by Diabolus to thecaptains, and also did let them know that Mansoul was not to be parted with for theloss of a victory or two; wherefore the wing of the tyrant was clipped again, asto boasting, - I mean in comparison of what he would have done, if the Diabolonianshad put the town to the same plight to which he had put the captains.

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

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

The captains therefore being fled into the castle, the enemy, without much resistance,possess themselves of the rest of the town, and spreading themselves as they wentinto every corner, they cried out as they marched, according to the command of thetyrant, 'Hell-fire! Hell-fire! Hell-fire!' so that nothing for a while throughoutthe town of Mansoul could be heard but the direful noise of 'Hell-fire!' togetherwith the roaring of Diabolus's drum. And now did the clouds hang black over Mansoul,nor to reason did anything but ruin seem to attend it. Diabolus also quartered hissoldiers in the houses of the inhabitants of the town of Mansoul. Yea, the subordinatepreacher's house was as full of these outlandish doubters as ever it could hold,and so was my Lord Mayor's, and my Lord Willbewill's also. Yea, where was there acorner, a cottage, a barn, or a hogstye, that now was not full of these vermin? Yea,they turned the men of the town out of their houses, and would lie in their beds,and sit at their tables themselves. Ah, poor Mansoul! now thou feelest the fruitsof sin, yea, what venom was in the flattering words of Mr. Carnal-Security! Theymade great havoc of whatever they laid their hands on; yea, they fired the town inseveral places; many young children also were by them dashed in pieces; and thosethat were yet unborn they destroyed in their mothers' wombs: for you must needs thinkthat it could not now be otherwise; for what conscience, what pity, what bowels ofcompassion can any expect at the hands of outlandish doubters? Many in Mansoul thatwere women, both young and old, they forced, ravished, and beastlike abused, so thatthey swooned, miscarried, and many of them died, and so lay at the top of every street,and in all by- places of the town.

And now did Mansoul seem to be nothing but a den of dragons, an emblem of hell, anda place of total darkness. Now did Mansoul lie almost like the barren wilderness;nothing but nettles, briars, thorns, weeds, and stinking things seemed now to coverthe face of Mansoul. I told you before, how that these Diabolonian doubters turnedthe men of Mansoul out of their beds, and now I will add, they wounded them, theymauled them, yea, and almost brained many of them. Many did I say, yea most, if notall 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 upon a rack; but thatShaddai rules all, certainly they had slain him outright. Mr. Lord Mayor they soabused that they almost put out his eyes; and had not my Lord Willbewill got intothe castle, they intended 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 was in Mansoul againstDiabolus and his crew. And indeed he hath shown himself a man, and more of his exploitsyou will hear of afterwards.

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

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

The captains also from the castle did hold them in continual play with their slings,to the chafing and fretting of the minds of the enemies. True, Diabolus made a greatmany attempts to have broken open the gates of the castle, but Mr. Godly-Fear wasmade the keeper of that; and he was a man of that courage, conduct, and valour, thatit was in vain, as long as life lasted within him, to think to do that work, thoughmostly desired; wherefore all the attempts that Diabolus made against him were fruitless.I have wished sometimes that that man had had the whole rule of the town of Mansoul.

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

After the town of Mansoul had been in this sad and lamentable condition, for so longa time as I have told you, and no petitions that they presented their Prince with,all this while, could prevail, the inhabitants of the town, namely, the elders andchief of Mansoul, gathered together, and, after some time spent in condoling theirmiserable state and this miserable judgment coming upon them, they agreed togetherto draw up yet another petition, and to send it away to Emmanuel for relief. ButMr. Godly-Fear stood up and answered, that he knew that his Lord the Prince neverdid nor ever would receive a petition for these matters, from the hand of any whoever,unless the Lord Secretary's hand was to it; 'and this,' quoth he, 'is the reasonthat you prevailed not all this while.' Then they said they would draw up one, andget the Lord Secretary's hand unto it. But Mr. Godly- Fear answered again, that heknew also that the Lord Secretary would not set his hand to any petition that himselfhad not an hand in composing and drawing up. 'And besides,' said he, 'the Princedoth know my Lord Secretary's hand from all the hands in the world; wherefore hecannot be deceived by any pretence whatever. Wherefore my advice is that you go tomy Lord, and implore him to lend you his aid.' (Now he did yet abide in the castle,where all the captains and men- at-arms were.)

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

Then said the Secretary to them, 'What petition is it that you would have me drawup for you?' But they said, 'Our Lord knows best the state and condition of the townof Mansoul; and how we are backslidden and degenerated from the Prince: thou alsoknowest who is come up to war against us, and how Mansoul is now the seat of war.My Lord knows, moreover, what barbarous usages our men, women, and children havesuffered at their hands; and how our homebred Diabolonians do walk now with moreboldness than dare the townsmen in the streets of Mansoul. Let our Lord therefore,according to the wisdom of God that is in him, draw up a petition for his poor servantsto our Prince Emmanuel.' 'Well,' said the Lord Secretary, 'I will draw up a petitionfor you, and will also set my hand thereto.' Then said they, 'But when shall we callfor it at the hands of our Lord?' But he answered, 'Yourselves must be present atthe doing of it; yea, you must put your desires to it. True, the hand and pen shallbe mine, but the ink and paper must be yours; else how can you say it is your petition?Nor have I need to petition for myself, because I have not offended.' He also addedas followeth: 'No petition goes from me in my name to the Prince, and so to his Fatherby him, but when the people that are chiefly concerned therein do join in heart andsoul in the matter, for that must be inserted therein.'

So they did heartily agree with the sentence of the Lord, and a petition was forthwithdrawn up for them. But now, who should carry it? that was next. But the Secretaryadvised that Captain Credence 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; and though I am lame, I will do this business foryou with as much speed, and as well as I can.'

The contents of the petition were to this purpose

'O our Lord, and Sovereign Prince Emmanuel, the potent, the long-suffering Prince!grace is poured into thy lips, and to thee belong mercy and forgiveness, though wehave rebelled against thee. We, who are no more worthy to be called thy Mansoul,nor yet fit to partake of common benefits, do beseech thee, and thy Father by thee,to do away our transgressions. We confess that thou mightest cast us away for them;but do it not for thy name's sake: let the Lord rather take an opportunity, at ourmiserable condition, to let out his bowels and compassions to us. We are compassedon every side, Lord; our own backslidings reprove us; our Diabolonians within ourtown fright us; and the army of the angel of the bottomless pit distresses us. Thygrace can be our salvation, and whither to go but to thee we know not.

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

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

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

Wherefore he commanded that his drum should be beat again, a thing that Mansoul couldnot abide to hear: but when Diabolus will have his drum beat, Mansoul must abidethe noise. Well, the drum was beat, and the Diabolonians were gathered together.

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

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

Moreover, when Diabolus had done thus, he went the next way up to the castle gates,and demanded that, upon pain of death, the gates should be opened to him, and thatentrance should be given him and his men that followed after. To whom Mr. Godly-Fearreplied, (for he it was that had the charge of that gate,) that the gate should notbe opened unto him, nor to the men that followed after him. He said, moreover, thatMansoul, when she had suffered awhile, should be made perfect, strengthened, settled.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The third note came out for the subordinate preacher, wherein was signified:- Thathis Prince took it well from him, that he had so honestly and so faithfully performedhis office, and executed the trust committed to him by his Lord, while he exhorted,rebuked, and forewarned Mansoul according to the laws of the town. He signified,moreover, that he took it well at his hand that he called to fasting, to sackcloth,and ashes, when Mansoul was under her revolt. Also, that he called for the aid ofthe Captain Boanerges to help in so weighty a work; and that shortly he also shouldreceive his reward.

The fourth note came out for Mr. Godly-Fear, wherein his Lord thus signified:- Thathis Lordship observed, that he was the first of all the men in Mansoul that detectedMr. Carnal- Security as the only one that, through his subtlety and cunning, hadobtained for Diabolus a defection and decay of goodness in the blessed town of Mansoul.Moreover, his Lord gave him to understand, that he still remembered his tears andmourning for the state of Mansoul. It was also observed, by the same note, that hisLord took notice of his detecting of this Mr. Carnal-Security, at his own table amonghis guests, in his own house, and that in the midst of his jolliness, even whilehe was seeking to perfect his villanies against the town of Mansoul. Emmanuel alsotook notice that this reverend person, Mr. Godly-Fear, stood stoutly to it, at thegates of the castle, against all the threats and attempts of the tyrant; and thathe had put the townsmen in a way to make their petition to their Prince, so as thathe might accept thereof, and as they might obtain an answer of peace; and that thereforeshortly he should receive his reward.

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

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

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

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

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


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

But Beelzebub stood up, and replied, saying: 'It is impossible to draw them all offfrom the castle; some, you may be sure, will lie there to keep that; wherefore itwill be but in vain thus to attempt, unless we were sure that they will all comeout.' He therefore concluded that what was done must be done by some other means.And the most likely means that the greatest of their heads could invent, was thatwhich Apollyon had advised to before, namely, to get the townsmen again to sin. 'For,'said he, 'it is not our being in the town, nor in the field, nor our fighting, norour killing of their men, that can make us the masters of Mansoul; for so long asone in the town is able to lift up his finger against us, Emmanuel will take theirparts; and if he shall take their parts, we know what time of day it will be withus. Wherefore, for my part,' quoth he, 'there is, in my judgment, no way to bringthem into bondage to us, like inventing a way to make them sin. Had we,' said he,'left all our doubters at home, we had done as well as we have done now, unless wecould have made them the masters and governors of the castle; for doubters at a distanceare but like objections refelled with arguments. Indeed, can we but get them intothe hold, and make them possessors of that, the day will be our own. Let us, therefore,withdraw ourselves into the plain, (not expecting that the captains in Mansoul shouldfollow us,) but yet, I say, let us do this, and before we so do, let us advise againwith our trusty Diabolonians that are yet in their holds of Mansoul, and set themto work to betray the town to us; for they indeed must do it, or it will be leftundone for ever.' By these sayings of Beelzebub, (for I think it was he that gavethis counsel,) the whole conclave was forced to be of his opinion, namely, that theway to get the castle was to get the town to sin. Then they fell to inventing bywhat means they might do this thing.

Then Lucifer stood up, and said: 'The counsel of Beelzebub is pertinent. Now, theway to bring this to pass, in mine opinion, is this: let us withdraw our force fromthe town of Mansoul; let us do this, and let us terrify them no more, either withsummons, or threats, or with the noise of our drum, or any other awakening means.Only let us lie in the field at a distance, and be as if we regarded them not; forfrights, I see, do but awaken them, and make them more stand to their arms. I havealso another stratagem in my head: you know Mansoul is a market-town, and a townthat delights in commerce; what, therefore, if some of our Diabolonians shall feignthemselves far-country men, and shall go out and bring to the market of Mansoul someof our wares to sell; and what matter at what rates they sell their wares, thoughit be but for half the worth? Now, let those that thus shall trade in their marketbe those that are witty and true to us, and I will lay my crown to pawn it will do.There are two that are come to my thoughts already, that I think will be arch atthis work, and they are Mr. Penny-wise-pound-foolish, and Mr. Get-i'the-hundred-and-lose-i'the-shire;nor is this man with the long name at all inferior to the other. What, also, if youjoin with them Mr. Sweet-world and Mr. Present-good; they are men that are civiland cunning, but our true friends and helpers. Let these, with as many more, engagein this business for us, and let Mansoul be taken up in much business, and let themgrow full and rich, and this is the way to get ground of them. Remember ye not thatthus we prevailed upon Laodicea, and how many at present do we hold in this snare?Now, when they begin to grow full, they will forget their misery; and if we shallnot affright them, they may happen to fall asleep, and so be got to neglect theirtown watch, their castle watch, as well as their watch at the gates.

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

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

This advice was highly applauded by them all, and was accounted the very masterpieceof hell, namely, to choke Mansoul with a fulness of this world, and to surfeit herheart with the good things thereof. But see how things meet together! Just as thisDiabolonian council was broken up, Captain Credence received a letter from Emmanuel,the contents of which were these: That upon the third day he would meet him in thefield in the plains about Mansoul. 'Meet me in the field!' quoth the Captain; 'whatmeaneth my lord by this? I know not what he meaneth by meeting me in the field.'So he took the note in his hand, and did carry it to my Lord Secretary, to ask histhoughts thereupon; for my Lord was a seer in all matters concerning the King, andalso for the good and comfort of the town of Mansoul. So he showed my Lord the note,and desired his opinion thereof. 'For my part,' quoth Captain Credence, 'I know notthe meaning thereof.' So my lord did take and read it and, after a little pause,he said, 'The Diabolonians have had against Mansoul a great consultation to-day;they have, I say, this day been contriving the utter ruin of the town; and the resultof their council is, to set Mansoul into such a way which, if taken, will surelymake her destroy herself. And, to this end, they are making ready for their own departureout 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 readywith the men of thy Lord, (for on the third day they will be in the plain,) thereto fall upon the Diabolonians; for the Prince will by that time be in the field;yea, by that it is break of day, sun-rising, or before, and that with a mighty forceagainst them. So he shall be before them, and thou shalt be behind them, and betwixtyou both their army shall be destroyed.'

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

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

Well, the time that the captains were to fall upon the Diabolonians being come, theyeagerly prepared themselves for action; for Captain Credence had told the captainsover night, that they should meet their Prince in the field to- morrow. This, therefore,made them yet far more desirous to be engaging the enemy; for 'You shall see thePrince in the field to-morrow' was like oil to a flaming fire, for of a long timethey had been at a distance: they therefore were for this the more earnest and desirousof 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 the sally-port of thetown. And, being all ready, Captain Credence went up to the head of the army, andgave to the rest of the captains the word, and so they to their under- officers andsoldiers: the word was 'The sword of the Prince Emmanuel, and the shield of CaptainCredence;' which is, in the Mansoulian tongue, 'The word of God and faith.' Thenthe captains fell on, and began roundly to front, and flank, and rear Diabolus'scamp.

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

Now, when Diabolus saw that the captains were come out, and that so valiantly theysurrounded his men, he concluded that, for the present, nothing from them was tobe looked for but blows, and the dints of their 'two-edged sword.'

Wherefore he also falls on upon the Prince's army with all his deadly force: so thebattle was joined. Now who was it that at first Diabolus met with in the fight, butCaptain Credence on the one hand, and the Lord Willbewill on the other: now Willbewill'sblows were like the blows of a giant, for that man had a strong arm, and he fellin upon the election doubters, for they were the life-guard of Diabolus, and he keptthem in play a good while, cutting and battering shrewdly. Now when Captain Credencesaw my lord engaged, he did stoutly fall on, on the other hand, upon the same companyalso; so they put them to great disorder. Now Captain Good- Hope had engaged thevocation doubters, and they were sturdy men; but the captain was a valiant man: CaptainExperience did also send him some aid; so he made the vocation doubters to retreat.The rest of the armies were hotly engaged, and that on every side, and the Diaboloniansdid fight stoutly. Then did my Lord Secretary command that the slings from the castleshould be played; and his men could throw stones at an hair's breadth. But, aftera while, those that were made to fly before the captains of the Prince, did beginto rally again, and they came up stoutly upon the rear of the Prince's army: whereforethe Prince's army began to faint; but, remembering that they should see the faceof their Prince by- and-by, they took courage, and a very fierce battle was fought.Then shouted the captains, saying, 'The sword of the Prince Emmanuel, and the shieldof Captain Credence!' and with that Diabolus gave back, thinking that more aid hadbeen come. But no Emmanuel as yet appeared. Moreover, the battle did hang in doubt;and they made a little retreat on both sides. Now, in the time of respite, CaptainCredence bravely encouraged his men to stand to it; and Diabolus did the like, aswell as he could. But Captain Credence made a brave speech to his soldiers, the contentswhereof here follow:-

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

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

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

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

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

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

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


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

Fourthly. When the Prince was come to the entrance of Mansoul, he found all the streetsstrewed with lilies and flowers, curiously decked with boughs and branches from thegreen trees that stood round about the town. Every door also was filled with persons,who had adorned every one their fore-part against their house with something of varietyand singular excellency, to entertain him withal as he passed in the streets: theyalso themselves, as Emmanuel passed by, did welcome him with shouts and acclamationsof joy, saying, 'Blessed be the Prince that cometh in the name of his Father Shaddai.'

Fifthly. At the castle gates the elders of Mansoul, namely, the Lord Mayor, the LordWillbewill, the subordinate preacher, Mr. Knowledge, and Mr. Mind, with other ofthe gentry of the place, saluted Emmanuel again. They bowed before him, they kissedthe dust of his feet, they thanked, they blessed, and praised his Highness for nottaking advantage against them for their sins, but rather had pity upon them in theirmisery, and returned to them with mercies, and to build up their Mansoul for ever.Thus was he had up straightway to the castle; for that was the royal palace, andthe place where his honour was to dwell; the which was ready prepared for his Highnessby the presence of the Lord Secretary, and the work of Captain Credence. So he enteredin.

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

To the which the great Prince replied, 'Weep not, but go your way, eat the fat, anddrink the sweet, and send portions to them for whom nought is prepared; for the joyof your Lord is your strength. I am returned to Mansoul with mercies, and my nameshall 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 town officer, a chain ofgold and a signet. He also sent to their wives earrings and jewels, and bracelets,and other things. He also bestowed upon the true-born children of Mansoul many preciousthings.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The doubters are such as have their name from their nature, as well as from the landand kingdom where they are born: their nature is to put a question upon every oneof the truths of Emmanuel; and their country is called the land of Doubting, andthat land lieth off, and farthest remote to the north, between the land of Darknessand that called the 'valley of the shadow of death.' For though the land of Darkness,and that called 'the valley of the shadow of death,' be sometimes called as if theywere one and the self- same place, yet indeed they are two, lying but a little wayasunder, and the land of Doubting points in, and lieth between them. This is theland of Doubting; and these that came with Diabolus to ruin the town of Mansoul arethe natives of that country.

The blood-men are a people that have their name derived from the malignity of theirnature, and from the fury that is in them to execute it upon the town of Mansoul:their land lieth under the dog-star, and by that they are governed as to their intellectuals.The name of their country is the province of Loath-good: the remote parts of it arefar distant from the land of Doubting, yet they do both butt and bound upon the hillcalled 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 of the town of Mansoul,and so are both alike qualified for the service of their prince.

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

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

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

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

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

2. Captain Nimrod was captain over two bands, namely, the tyrannical and encroachingblood-men: his standard-bearer bare the red colours, and his scutcheon was the greatbloodhound.

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

4. Captain Esau was captain over two bands, namely, the blood-men that grudged thatanother should have the blessing; also over the blood-men that are for executingtheir private revenge upon others: his standard-bearer bare the red colours, andhis scutcheon was one privately lurking to murder Jacob.

5. Captain Saul was captain over two bands, namely, the groundlessly jealous andthe devilishly furious blood-men: his standard-bearer bare the red colours, and hisscutcheon was three bloody darts cast at harmless David.

6. Captain Absalom was captain over two bands, namely, over the blood-men that willkill a father or a friend for the glory of this world; also over those blood-menthat will hold one fair in hand with words, till they shall have pierced him withtheir 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 that will sell a man'slife for money, and those also that will betray their friend with a kiss: his standard-bearerbare the red colours, and his scutcheon was thirty pieces of silver and the halter.

8. Captain Pope was captain over one band, for all these spirits are joined in oneunder him: his standard-bearer bare the red colours, and his scutcheon was the stake,the flame, and the good man in it.

Now, the reason why Diabolus did so soon rally another force, after he had been beatenout of the field, was, for that he put mighty confidence in this army of blood-men;for he put a great deal of more trust in them than he did before in his army of doubters;though they had also often done great service for him in the strengthening of himin his kingdom. But these blood-men, he had proved them often, and their sword didseldom return empty. Besides, he knew that these, like mastiffs, would fasten uponany; upon father, mother, brother, sister, prince, or governor, yea upon the Princeof princes. And that which encouraged him the more was, for that they once did forceEmmanuel out of the kingdom of Universe; 'And why,' thought he, 'may they not alsodrive him from the town of Mansoul?'

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

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

Now, when the townsmen had received this red-hot summons, it begat in them at presentsome changing and interchanging thoughts; but they jointly agreed, in less than halfan hour, to carry the summons to the Prince, the which they did when they had writat the bottom of it, 'Lord, save Mansoul from bloody men!'

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

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

So, after some time spent for the trial of the faith, and hope, and love of the townof Mansoul, the Prince Emmanuel upon a day calls his captains and men of war together,and divides them into two companies; this done, he commands them at a time appointed,and that in the morning very early, to sally out upon the enemy, saying: 'Let halfof you fall upon the doubters, and half of you fall upon the blood-men. Those ofyou that go out against the doubters, kill and slay, and cause to perish so manyof them as by any 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 captains went out as theywere commanded, against the enemies. Captain Good-Hope, Captain Charity, and thosethat were joined with them, as Captain Innocent and Captain Experience, went outagainst the doubters; and Captain Credence, and Captain Patience, with Captain Self-Denial,and the rest that were to join with them, went out against the blood-men.

Now, those that went out against the doubters drew up into a body before the plain,and marched on to bid them battle. But the doubters, remembering their last success,made a retreat, not daring to stand the shock, but fled from the Prince's men; whereforethey pursued them, and in their pursuit slew many, but they could not catch themall. Now those that escaped went some of them home; and the rest by fives, nines,and seventeens, like wanderers, went straggling up and down the country, where theyupon the barbarous people showed and exercised many of their Diabolonian actions:nor did these people rise up in arms against them, but suffered themselves to beenslaved by them. They would also after this show themselves in companies beforethe town of Mansoul, but never to abide in it; for if Captain Credence, Captain Good-Hope,or Captain Experience did but show themselves, they fled.

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

Now when they were taken, had before the Prince, and examined, he found them to beof three several counties, though they all came out of one land.

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

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

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

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

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

Now, they that came out of the town of Malice, that is in the county of Envy, theyneither wept, nor disputed, nor repented, but stood gnawing their tongues beforehim for anguish and madness, because they could not have their will upon Mansoul.Now these last, with all those of the other two sorts that did not unfeignedly askpardon for their faults, - those he made to enter into sufficient bond to answerfor what they had done against Mansoul, and against her King, at the great and generalassizes to be holden for our Lord the King, where he himself should appoint for thecountry and kingdom of Universe. So they became bound each man for himself, to comein, when called upon, to answer before our Lord the King for what they had done asbefore.

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

But there were three of those that came from the land of Doubting, who, after theyhad wandered and ranged the country a while, and perceived that they had escaped,were so hardy as to thrust themselves, knowing that yet there were in the town Diabolonians,- I say, they were so hardy as to thrust themselves into Mansoul among them. (Three,did I say? I think there were four.) Now, to whose house should these Diaboloniandoubters go, but to the house of an old Diabolonian in Mansoul, whose name was Evil-Questioning,a very great enemy he was to Mansoul, and a great doer among the Diabolonians there.Well, to this Evil-Questioning's house, as was said, did these Diabolonians come(you may be sure that they had directions how to find the way thither), so he madethem welcome, pitied their misfortune, and succoured them with the best that he hadin his house. Now, after a little acquaintance (and it was not long before they hadthat), this old Evil-Questioning asked the doubters if they were all of a town (heknew that they were all of one kingdom), and they answered: 'No, nor not of one shireneither; for I,' said one, 'am an election doubter:' 'I,' said another, 'am a vocationdoubter:' then said the third, 'I am a salvation doubter:' and the fourth said hewas a grace doubter. 'Well,' quoth the old gentleman, 'be of what shire you will,I am persuaded that you are down, boys: you have the very length of my foot, areone with my heart, and shall be welcome to me.' So they thanked him, and were gladthat they had found themselves an harbour in Mansoul.

Then said Evil-Questioning to them: 'How many of your company might there be thatcame with you to the siege of Mansoul?' and they answered: 'There were but ten thousanddoubters in all, for the rest of the army consisted of fifteen thousand blood-men.These blood-men,' quoth they, 'border upon our country; but, poor men! as we hear,they were every one taken by Emmanuel's forces.' 'Ten thousand!' quoth the old gentleman;'I will promise you, that is a round company. But how came it to pass, since youwere so mighty a number, that you fainted, and durst not fight your foes?' 'Our general,'said they, 'was the first man that did run for it.' 'Pray,' quoth their landlord,'who was that, your cowardly general?' 'He was once the Lord Mayor of Mansoul,' saidthey: 'but pray call him not a cowardly general; for whether any from the east tothe west has done more service for our prince Diabolus, than has my Lord Incredulity,will be a hard question for you to answer. But had they catched him, they would forcertain have hanged him; and we promise you, hanging is but a bad business.' Thensaid the old gentleman, 'I would that all the ten thousand doubters were now wellarmed in Mansoul, and myself at the head of them; I would see what I could do.' 'Ay,'said they, 'that would be well if we could see that; but wishes, alas! what are they?'and these words were spoken aloud. 'Well,' said old Evil-Questioning, 'take heedthat you talk not too loud; you must be quat and close, and must take care of yourselveswhile you are here, or, I will assure you, you will be snapped.' 'Why?' quoth thedoubters. 'Why!' quoth the old gentleman; 'why! because both the Prince and LordSecretary, and their captains and soldiers, are all at present in town; yea, thetown is as full of them as ever it can hold. And besides, there is one whose nameis Willbewill, a most cruel enemy of ours, and him the Prince has made keeper ofthe gates, and has commanded him that, with all the diligence he can, he should lookfor, search out, and destroy all, and all manner of Diabolonians. And if he lightethupon you, down you go, though your heads were made of gold.'

And now, to see how it happened, one of the Lord Willbewill's faithful soldiers,whose name was Mr. Diligence, stood all this while listening under old Evil-Questioning'seaves, and heard all the 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 that he loved dearly;and that both because he was a man of courage, and also a man that was unweariedin seeking after Diabolonians to apprehend them.

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

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

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

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

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

'Mr. Questioning, Thou art here indicted by the name of Evil- Questioning, an intruderupon the town of Mansoul, for that thou art a Diabolonian by nature, and also a haterof the Prince Emmanuel, and one that hast studied the ruin of the town of Mansoul.Thou art also here indicted for countenancing the King's enemies, after wholesomelaws made to the contrary: for, 1. Thou hast questioned the truth of her doctrineand state: 2. In wishing that ten thousand doubters were in her: 3. In receiving,in entertaining, and encouraging of her enemies, that came from their army unto thee.What sayest thou to this indictment? art thou guilty or not guilty?'

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

Then spake my Lord Willbewill, for he was one of the witnesses: 'My lord, and youthe honourable bench and magistrates of the town of Mansoul, you all have heard withyour ears that the prisoner at the bar has denied his name, and so thinks to shiftfrom the charge of the indictment. But I know him to be the man concerned, and thathis proper name is Evil-Questioning. I have known him, my lord, above these thirtyyears, for he and I (a shame it is for me to speak it) were great acquaintance, whenDiabolus, 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 the blessed town ofMansoul. He has, in times of rebellion, been at and lain in my house, my lord, notso little as twenty nights together, and we did use to talk then, for the substanceof talk, as he and his doubters have talked of late: true, I have not seen him manya day. I suppose that the coming of Emmanuel to Mansoul has made him change his lodgings,as this indictment has driven him to change his name; but this is the man, my lord.'

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

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

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

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

My Lord Mayor then replied: 'That though it was a virtue to entertain strangers,yet it was treason to entertain the King's enemies. And for what else thou hast said,thou dost by words but labour to evade and defer the execution of judgment. But couldthere be no more proved against thee but that thou art a Diabolonian, thou must forthat die the death by the law; but to be a receiver, a nourisher, a countenancer,and a harbourer of others of them, yea, of outlandish Diabolonians, yea, of themthat came from far on purpose to cut off and destroy our Mansoul - this must notbe borne.'

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

Then they called the outlandish doubters to the bar, and the first of them that wasarraigned was the election doubter. So his indictment was read; and because he wasan outlandish man, the substance of it was told him by an interpreter; namely, 'Thathe was there charged with being an enemy of Emmanuel the Prince, a hater of the townof Mansoul, and an opposer of her most wholesome doctrine.'

Then the judge asked him if he would plead? but he said only this - That he confessedthat he was an election doubter, and that that was the religion that he had everbeen brought up in. And said, moreover, 'If I must die for my religion, I trow, Ishall die a martyr, and so I care the less.'

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

Then was the vocation doubter called, and set to the bar; and his indictment forsubstance was the same with the other, only he was particularly charged with denyingthe calling of Mansoul.

The judge asked him also what he had to say for himself?

So he replied: 'That he never believed that there was any such thing as a distinctand powerful call of God to Mansoul; otherwise than by the general voice of the word,nor by that neither, otherwise than as it exhorted them to forbear evil, and to dothat which is good, and in so doing a promise of happiness is annexed.'

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

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

Then said the judge: 'Why, the law of the Prince is plain: 1. Negatively, "notof works:" 2. Positively, "by grace you are saved." And thy religionsettleth in and upon the works of the flesh; for the works of the law are the worksof the flesh. Besides, in saying as thou hast done, thou hast robbed God of His glory,and given it to a sinful man; thou hast robbed Christ of the necessity of His undertaking,and the sufficiency thereof, and hast given both these to the works of the flesh.Thou hast despised the work of the Holy Ghost, and hast magnified the will of theflesh, and of the legal mind. Thou art a Diabolonian, the son of a Diabolonian; andfor thy Diabolonian principles thou must die.'

The court then, having proceeded thus far with them, sent out the jury, who forthwithbrought them in guilty of death. Then stood up the Recorder, and addressed himselfto the prisoners: 'You, the prisoners at the bar, you have been here indicted, andproved guilty of high crimes against Emmanuel our Prince, and against the welfareof the famous town of Mansoul, crimes for which you must be put to death, and dieye accordingly.' So they were sentenced to the death of the cross. The place assignedthem for execution, was that where Diabolus drew up his last army against Mansoul;save only that old Evil-Questioning was hanged at the top of Bad Street, just overagainst his own door.

When the town of Mansoul had thus far rid themselves of their enemies, and of thetroublers of their peace, in the next place a strict commandment was given out, thatyet my Lord Willbewill should, with Diligence his man, search for, and do his bestto apprehend what town Diabolonians were yet left alive in Mansoul. The names ofseveral 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 apprehendMr. Evil-Questioning's children, that he left behind him, and that they should demolishhis house. The children that he left behind him were these: Mr. Doubt, and he washis eldest son; the next to him was Legal-Life, Unbelief, Wrong-Thoughts-of-Christ,Clip- Promise, Carnal-Sense, Live-by-Feeling, Self-Love. All these he had by onewife, and her name was No-Hope; she was the kinswoman of old Incredulity, for hewas her uncle; and when her father, old Dark, was dead, he took her and brought herup, and when she was marriageable, he gave her to this old Evil-Questioning to wife.

Now the Lord Willbewill did put into execution his commission, with great Diligence,his man. He took Fooling in the streets, and hanged him up in Want-wit-Alley, overagainst his own house. This Fooling was he that would have had the town of Mansouldeliver up Captain Credence into the hands of Diabolus, provided that then he wouldhave withdrawn his force out of the town. He also took Mr. Let-Good-Slip one dayas he was busy in the market, and executed him according to law. Now there was anhonest poor man in Mansoul, and his name was Mr. Meditation, one of no great accountin the days of apostasy, but now of repute with the best of the town. This man, therefore,they were willing to prefer. Now Mr. Let-Good-Slip had a great deal of wealth heretoforein Mansoul, and, at Emmanuel's coming, it was sequestered to the use of the Prince:this, therefore, was now given to Mr. Meditation, to improve for the common good,and after him to his son, Mr. Think-Well; this Think-Well he had by Mrs. Piety hiswife, and she was the daughter of Mr. Recorder.

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

He also apprehended Carnal-Sense, and put him in hold; but how it came about, I cannottell, but he brake prison, and made his escape: yea, and the bold villain will notyet quit the town, but lurks in the Diabolonian dens a days, and haunts like a ghosthonest men's houses a nights. Wherefore, there was a proclamation set up in the market-placein Mansoul, signifying that whosoever could discover Carnal- Sense, and apprehendhim and slay him, should be admitted daily to the Prince's table, and should be madekeeper of the treasure of Mansoul. Many, therefore, did bend themselves to do thisthing, but take him and slay him they could not, though often he was discovered.

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

Self-Love was also taken and committed to custody; but there were many that wereallied to him in Mansoul, so his judgment was deferred. But at last Mr. Self-Denialstood up, and said: 'If such villains as these may be winked at in Mansoul, I willlay down my commission.' He also took him from the crowd, and had him among his soldiers,and there he was brained. But some in Mansoul muttered at it, though none durst speakplainly, because Emmanuel was in town. But this brave act of Captain Self-Denialcame to the Prince's ears; so he sent for him, and made him a lord in Mansoul. MyLord Willbewill also obtained great commendations of Emmanuel, for what he had donefor the town of Mansoul.

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

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

'You, my Mansoul, and the beloved of mine heart, many and great are the privilegesthat I have bestowed upon you; I have singled you out from others, and have chosenyou to myself, not for your worthiness, but for mine own sake. I have also redeemedyou, not only from the dread of my Father's law, but from the hand of Diabolus. ThisI have done because I loved you, and because I have set my heart upon you to do yougood. I have also, that all things, that might hinder thy way to the pleasures ofparadise might be taken out of the way, laid down for thee for thy soul a plenarysatisfaction, and have bought thee to myself; a price not of corruptible things,as of silver and gold, but a price of blood, mine own blood, which I have freelyspilled upon the ground to make thee mine. So I have reconciled thee, O my Mansoul,to my Father, and entrusted thee in the mansion houses that are with my Father inthe royal city, where things are, O my Mansoul, that eye hath not seen, nor hathentered into the heart of man to conceive.

'Besides, O my Mansoul, thou seest what I have done, and how I have taken thee outof the hands of thine enemies: unto whom thou hadst deeply revolted from my Father,and by whom thou wast content to be possessed, and also to be destroyed. I came tothee first by my law, then by my gospel, to awaken thee, and show thee my glory.And thou knowest what thou wast, what thou saidst, what thou didst, and how manytimes thou rebelledst against my Father and me; yet I left thee not as thou seestthis day, but came to thee, have borne thy manners, have waited upon thee, and, afterall, accepted of thee, even of my mere grace and favour; and would not suffer theeto be lost, as thou most willingly wouldst have been. I also compassed thee about,and afflicted thee on every side, that I might make thee weary of thy ways, and bringdown thy heart with molestation to a willingness to close with thy good and happiness.And when I had gotten a complete conquest over thee, I turned it to thy advantage.

'Thou seest, also, what a company of my Father's host I have lodged within thy borders:captains and rulers, soldiers and men of war, engines and excellent devices to subdueand bring down thy foes; thou knowest my meaning, O Mansoul. And they are my servants,and thine, too, Mansoul. Yea, my design of possessing of thee with them, and thenatural tendency of each of them is to defend, purge, strengthen, and sweeten theefor myself, O Mansoul, and to make thee meet for my Father's presence, blessing,and glory; for thou, my Mansoul, art created to be prepared unto these.

'Thou seest, moreover, my Mansoul, how I have passed by thy backslidings, and havehealed thee. Indeed I was angry with thee, but I have turned mine anger away fromthee, because I loved thee still, and mine anger and mine indignation is ceased inthe destruction of thine enemies, O Mansoul. Nor did thy goodness fetch me againunto thee, after that I for thy transgressions have hid my face, and withdrawn mypresence from thee. The way of backsliding was thine, but the way and means of thyrecovery was mine. I invented the means of thy return; it was I that made an hedgeand a wall, when thou wast beginning to turn to things in which I delighted not.It was I that made thy sweet bitter, thy day night, thy smooth way thorny, and thatalso confounded all that sought thy destruction. It was I that set Mr. Godly- Fearto work in Mansoul. It was I that stirred up thy conscience and understanding, thywill and thy affections, after thy great and woful decay. It was I that put lifeinto thee, O Mansoul, to seek me, that thou mightest find me, and in thy findingfind thine own health, happiness, and salvation. It was I that fetched the secondtime the Diabolonians out of Mansoul; and it was I that overcame them, and that destroyedthem before thy face.

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

For yet a little while, O my Mansoul, even after a few more times are gone over thyhead, I will (but be not thou troubled at what I say) take down this famous townof Mansoul, stick and stone, to the ground. And I will carry the stones thereof,and the timber thereof, and the walls thereof, and the dust thereof, and the inhabitantsthereof, into mine own country, even into a kingdom of my Father; and will thereset it up in such strength and glory, as it never did see in the kingdom where nowit is placed. I will even there set it up for my Father's habitation; for for thatpurpose it was at first erected in the kingdom of Universe; and there will I makeit a spectacle of wonder, a monument of mercy, and the admirer of its own mercy.There shall the natives of Mansoul see all that, of which they have seen nothinghere: there shall they be equal to those unto whom they have been inferior here.And there shalt thou, O my Mansoul, have such communion with me, with my Father,and with your Lord Secretary, as it is not possible here to be enjoyed, nor evercould be, shouldest thou live in Universe the space of a thousand years.

'And there, O my Mansoul, thou shalt be afraid of murderers no more; of Diabolonians,and their threats, no more. There, there shall be no more plots, nor contrivances,nor designs against thee, O my Mansoul. There thou shalt no more hear the evil-tidings,or the noise of the Diabolonian drum. There thou shalt not see the Diabolonian standard-bearers,nor yet behold Diabolus's standard. No Diabolonian mount shall be cast up againstthee there; nor shall there the Diabolonian standard be set up to make thee afraid.There thou shalt not need captains, engines, soldiers, and men of war. There thoushalt meet with no sorrow, nor grief, nor shall it be possible that any Diabolonianshould again, for ever, be able to creep into thy skirts, burrow in thy walls, orbe seen again within thy borders all the days of eternity. Life shall there lastlonger than here you are able to desire it should; and yet it shall always be sweetand new, nor shall any impediment attend it for ever.

'There, O Mansoul, thou shalt meet with many of those that have been like thee, andthat have been partakers of thy sorrows; even such as I have chosen, and redeemed,and set apart, as thou, for my Father's court and city-royal. All they will be gladin thee, and thou, when thou seest them, shalt be glad in thine heart.

'There are things, O Mansoul, even things of my Father's providing, and mine, thatnever were seen since the beginning of the world; and they are laid up with my Father,and sealed up among his treasures for thee, till thou shalt come thither to enjoythem. I told you before, that I would remove my Mansoul, and set it up elsewhere;and where I will set it, there are those that love thee, and those that rejoice inthee now; but how much more, when they shall see thee exalted to honour! My Fatherwill then send them for you to fetch you; and their bosoms are chariots to put youin. And you, O my Mansoul, shall ride upon the wings of the wind. They will cometo convey, conduct, and bring you to that, when your eyes see more, that will beyour desired haven.

'And thus, O my Mansoul, I have showed unto thee what shall be done to thee hereafter,if thou canst hear, if thou canst understand; and now I will tell thee what at presentmust be thy duty and practice, until I come and fetch thee to myself, according asis related in the Scriptures of truth.

'First, I charge thee that thou dost hereafter keep more white and clean the liverieswhich I gave thee before my last withdrawing from thee. Do it, I say, for this willbe thy wisdom. They are in themselves fine linen, but thou must keep them white andclean. This will be your wisdom, your honour, and will be greatly for my glory. Whenyour garments are white, the world will count you mine. Also, when your garmentsare white, then I am delighted in your ways; for then your goings to and fro willbe like a flash of lightning, that those that are present must take notice of; alsotheir eyes will be made to dazzle thereat. Deck thyself, therefore, according tomy bidding, and make thyself by my law straight steps for thy feet; so shall thyKing greatly desire thy beauty, for he is thy Lord, and worship thou him.

'Now, that thou mayest keep them as I bid thee, I have, as I before did tell thee,provided for thee an open fountain to wash thy garments in. Look, therefore, thatthou wash often in my fountain, and go not in defiled garments; for as it is to mydishonour and my disgrace, so it will be to thy discomfort, when you shall walk infilthy garments. Let not, therefore, my garments, your garments, the garments thatI 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, andconspiracies of Diabolus; and for all this I ask thee nothing, but that thou rendernot to me evil for my good; but that thou bear in mind my love, and the continuationof my kindness to my beloved Mansoul, so as to provoke thee to walk in thy measureaccording to the benefit bestowed on thee. Of old, the sacrifices were bound withcoords to the horns of the altar. Consider what is said to thee, O my blessed Mansoul.

'O my Mansoul, I have lived, I have died, I live, and will die no more for thee.I live, that thou mayest not die. Because I live, thou shalt live also. I reconciledthee to my Father by the blood of my cross; and being reconciled, thou shalt livethrough me. I will pray for thee; I will fight for thee; I will yet do thee good.

'Nothing can hurt thee but sin; nothing can grieve me but sin; nothing can make theebase before thy foes but sin: take heed of sin, my Mansoul.

'And dost thou know why I at first, and do still, suffer Diabolonians to dwell inthy walls, O Mansoul? It is to keep thee wakening, to try thy love, to make theewatchful, and to cause thee yet to prize my noble captains, their soldiers, and mymercy.

'It is also, that yet thou mayest be made to remember what a deplorable conditionthou once wast in. I mean when, not some, but all did dwell, not in thy walls, butin thy castle, and in thy stronghold, O Mansoul.

'O my Mansoul, should I slay all them within, many there be without, that would bringthee into bondage; for were all these within cut off, those without would find theesleeping; and then, as in a moment, they would swallow up my Mansoul. I thereforeleft them in thee, not to do thee hurt (the which they yet will, if thou hearkento them, and serve them,) but to do thee good, the which they must, if thou watchand fight against them. Know, therefore, that whatever they shall tempt thee to,my design is, that they should drive thee, not further off, but nearer to my father,to learn thee war, to make petitioning desirable to thee, and to make thee littlein thine own eyes. Hearken diligently to this, my Mansoul.

'Show me, then, thy love, my Mansoul, and let not those that are within thy walls,take thy affections off from him that hath redeemed thy soul. Yea, let the sightof a Diabolonian heighten thy love to me. I came once, and twice, and thrice, tosave thee from the poison of those arrows that would have wrought thy death: standfor me, thy Friend, my Mansoul, against the Diabolonians, and I will stand for theebefore my Father, and all his court. Love me against temptation, and I will lovethee notwithstanding thine infirmities.

'O my Mansoul, remember what my captains, my soldiers, and mine engines have donefor thee. They have fought for thee, they have suffered by thee, they have bornemuch at thy hands to do thee good, O Mansoul. Hadst thou not had them to help thee,Diabolus had certainly made a hand of thee. Nourish them, therefore, my Mansoul.When thou dost well, they will be well; when thou dost ill, they will be ill, andsick, and weak. Make not my captains sick, O Mansoul; for if they be sick, thou canstnot be well; if they be weak, thou canst not be strong; if they be faint, thou canstnot be stout and valiant for thy King, O Mansoul. Nor must thou think always to liveby sense: thou must live upon my word. Thou must believe, O my Mansoul, when I amfrom thee, that yet I love thee, and bear thee upon mine heart for ever.

'Remember, therefore, O my Mansoul, that thou art beloved of me: as I have, therefore,taught thee to watch, to fight, to pray, and to make war against my foes; so nowI command thee to believe that my love is constant to thee. O my Mansoul, how haveI set my heart, my love upon thee! Watch. Behold, I lay none other burden upon thee,than what thou hast already. Hold fast, till I come.'