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Title: The Holy war, made by King Shaddai upon Diabolus, for the regaining of the metropolis of the world; or, the losing and taking again of the town of Mansoul
Author: Bunyan, John, 1628-1688
Language: English
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DIABOLUS***
Transcribed from the 1907 Religious Tract Society edition by David Price,
email ccx074@pglaf.org
THE HOLY WAR MADE
BY SHADDI UPON
DIABOLUS FOR THE
REGAINING OF THE METROPOLIS
OF THE WORLD OR THE LOSING
AND TAKING AGAIN OF THE TOWN
OF MANSOUL. BY JOHN BUNYAN
* * * * *
WITH THREE
COLOURED ILLUSTRATIONS
BY VICTOR PROUT {0}
* * * * *
“I have used similitudes.” Hosea xii. 10
* * * * *
[Picture: Decorative design]
London
THE RELIGIOUS TRACT SOCIETY
4 Bouverie Street and 65 St Paul’s Churchyard
1907
* * * * *
PRINTED BY
HAZELL, WATSON AND VINEY, LD.
LONDON AND AYLESBURY.
PREFACE.
_IN the year 1682 there was published by Dorman Newman_, ‘_at the King’s
Arms in the Poultry_,’_ and Benjamin Alsop_, ‘_at the Angel and Bible in
the Poultry_,’_ a volume entitled_ ‘_The Holy War_, _made by Shaddai upon
Diabolus for the regaining of the Metropolis of the World; or the Losing
and Taking again of the Town of Mansoul_.’_ It was the work of John
Bunyan_, _who_, _sixteen years before_, _had published the story of his
own spiritual struggle under the title of_ ‘_Grace abounding to the Chief
of Sinners_’;_ and_, _but four years before_, _had produced_ ‘_The
Pilgrim’s Progress_’ (_Part I_). _Bunyan had speedily followed the issue
of the_ ‘_Pilgrim’s Progress_’ _with the_ ‘_Life and Death of Mr.
Badman_,’_ picture of English life and character as he had seen it_,
_grimly faithful to fact_. _In_ ‘_The Holy War_’_ Bunyan returned to
allegory_. _As a piece of literature the book is in no way inferior to
the_ ‘_Pilgrim’s Progress_.’_ If Bunyan had written nothing else_, ‘_The
Holy War_’ _would have sufficed to establish his claim to a place amongst
the masters of English prose_. _As an appeal to the conscience it is not
a whit less effective than the_ ‘_Pilgrim’s Progress_’; _but in the power
of seizing and retaining the reader’s attention it is scarcely so
successful_. _Nevertheless Macaulay held that_ ‘_if there had been no_
“_Pilgrim’s Progress_” “_The Holy War_” _would have been the first of
religious allegories_.’
_In working out the details of_ ‘_The Holy War_’ _Bunyan seems to have
kept in mind his own experience_. _The fortifications of the city_, _the
movements of the opposing forces_, _the changes in the municipal offices
of Mansoul were reproductions of scenes and events that had but recently
gone on under Bunyan’s eyes_. _He adapted them with extraordinary
success to the presentation both of the doctrines of grace and of the
temptations which attend the Christian life_. _The characters and the
incidents are_, _in effect_, _the characters and incidents of every age_.
_It is this which gives to the story of Mansoul its undying freshness_,
_and suits it to the needs of men in all climes_. ‘_The Holy War_’ _has
been translated into many languages_, _including some of those with the
scantiest of literature_. _Indeed_, _as this edition is being prepared
for the press_, _assistance is being rendered by the Religious Tract
Society in the printing of_ ‘_The Holy War_’ _in Kongo_.
_A. R. BUCKLAND_.
TO THE READER.
’Tis strange to me, that they that love to tell
Things done of old, yea, and that do excel
Their equals in historiology,
Speak not of Mansoul’s wars, but let them lie
Dead, like old fables, or such worthless things,
That to the reader no advantage brings:
When men, let them make what they will their own,
Till they know this, are to themselves unknown.
Of stories, I well know, there’s divers sorts,
Some foreign, some domestic; and reports
Are thereof made as fancy leads the writers:
(By books a man may guess at the inditers.)
Some will again of that which never was,
Nor will be, feign (and that without a cause)
Such matter, raise such mountains, tell such things
Of men, of laws, of countries, and of kings;
And in their story seem to be so sage,
And with such gravity clothe every page,
That though their frontispiece says all is vain,
Yet to their way disciples they obtain.
But, readers, I have somewhat else to do,
Than with vain stories thus to trouble you.
What here I say, some men do know so well,
They can with tears and joy the story tell.
The town of Mansoul is well known to many,
Nor are her troubles doubted of by any
That are acquainted with those Histories
That Mansoul and her wars anatomize.
Then lend thine ear to what I do relate,
Touching the town of Mansoul and her state:
How she was lost, took captive, made a slave:
And how against him set, that should her save;
Yea, how by hostile ways she did oppose
Her Lord, and with his enemy did close.
For they are true: he that will them deny
Must needs the best of records vilify.
For my part, I myself was in the town,
Both when ’twas set up, and when pulling down.
I saw Diabolus in his possession,
And Mansoul also under his oppression.
Yea, I was there when she own’d him for lord,
And to him did submit with one accord.
When Mansoul trampled upon things divine,
And wallowed in filth as doth a swine;
When she betook herself unto her arms,
Fought her Emmanuel, despis’d his charms;
Then I was there, and did rejoice to see
Diabolus and Mansoul so agree.
Let no men, then, count me a fable-maker,
Nor make my name or credit a partaker
Of their derision: what is here in view,
Of mine own knowledge, I dare say is true.
I saw the Prince’s armed men come down
By troops, by thousands, to besiege the town;
I saw the captains, heard the trumpets sound,
And how his forces covered all the ground.
Yea, how they set themselves in battle-’ray,
I shall remember to my dying day.
I saw the colours waving in the wind,
And they within to mischief how combin’d
To ruin Mansoul, and to make away
Her primum mobile without delay.
I saw the mounts cast up against the town,
And how the slings were placed to beat it down:
I heard the stones fly whizzing by mine ears,
(What longer kept in mind than got in fears?)
I heard them fall, and saw what work they made.
And how old Mors did cover with his shade
The face of Mansoul; and I heard her cry,
‘Woe worth the day, in dying I shall die!’
I saw the battering-rams, and how they play’d
To beat open Ear-gate; and I was afraid
Not only Ear-gate, but the very town
Would by those battering-rams be beaten down.
I saw the fights, and heard the captains shout,
And in each battle saw who faced about;
I saw who wounded were, and who were slain;
And who, when dead, would come to life again.
I heard the cries of those that wounded were,
(While others fought like men bereft of fear,)
And while the cry, ‘Kill, kill,’ was in mine ears,
The gutters ran, not so with blood as tears.
Indeed, the captains did not always fight,
But then they would molest us day and night;
Their cry, ‘Up, fall on, let us take the town,’
Kept us from sleeping, or from lying down.
I was there when the gates were broken ope,
And saw how Mansoul then was stripp’d of hope;
I saw the captains march into the town,
How there they fought, and did their foes cut down.
I heard the Prince bid Boanerges go
Up to the castle, and there seize his foe;
And saw him and his fellows bring him down,
In chains of great contempt quite through the town.
I saw Emmanuel, when he possess’d
His town of Mansoul; and how greatly blest
A town his gallant town of Mansoul was,
When she received his pardon, loved his laws.
When the Diabolonians were caught,
When tried, and when to execution brought,
Then I was there; yea, I was standing by
When Mansoul did the rebels crucify.
I also saw Mansoul clad all in white,
I heard her Prince call her his heart’s delight.
I saw him put upon her chains of gold,
And rings, and bracelets, goodly to behold.
What shall I say? I heard the people’s cries,
And saw the Prince wipe tears from Mansoul’s eyes.
And heard the groans, and saw the joy of many:
Tell you of all, I neither will, nor can I.
But by what here I say, you well may see
That Mansoul’s matchless wars no fables be.
Mansoul, the desire of both princes was:
One keep his gain would, t’other gain his loss.
Diabolus would cry, ‘The town is mine!’
Emmanuel would plead a right divine
Unto his Mansoul: then to blows they go,
And Mansoul cries, ‘These wars will me undo.’
Mansoul! her wars seemed endless in her eyes;
She’s lost by one, becomes another’s prize:
And he again that lost her last would swear,
‘Have her I will, or her in pieces tear.’
Mansoul! it was the very seat of war;
Wherefore her troubles greater were by far
Than only where the noise of war is heard,
Or where the shaking of a sword is fear’d;
Or only where small skirmishes are fought,
Or where the fancy fighteth with a thought.
She saw the swords of fighting men made red,
And heard the cries of those with them wounded:
Must not her frights, then, be much more by far
Than theirs that to such doings strangers are?
Or theirs that hear the beating of a drum,
But not made fly for fear from house and home?
Mansoul not only heard the trumpet’s sound,
But saw her gallants gasping on the ground:
Wherefore we must not think that she could rest
With them, whose greatest earnest is but jest:
Or where the blust’ring threat’ning of great wars
Do end in parlies, or in wording jars.
Mansoul! her mighty wars, they did portend
Her weal or woe, and that world without end:
Wherefore she must be more concern’d than they
Whose fears begin, and end the selfsame day;
Or where none other harm doth come to him
That is engaged, but loss of life or limb,
As all must needs confess that now do dwell
In Universe, and can this story tell.
Count me not, then, with them that, to amaze
The people, set them on the stars to gaze,
Insinuating with much confidence,
That each of them is now the residence
Of some brave creatures: yea, a world they will
Have in each star, though it be past their skill
To make it manifest to any man,
That reason hath, or tell his fingers can.
But I have too long held thee in the porch,
And kept thee from the sunshine with a torch,
Well, now go forward, step within the door,
And there behold five hundred times much more
Of all sorts of such inward rarities
As please the mind will, and will feed the eyes
With those, which, if a Christian, thou wilt see
Not small, but things of greatest moment be.
Nor do thou go to work without my key;
(In mysteries men soon do lose their way;)
And also turn it right, if thou wouldst know
My riddle, and wouldst with my heifer plough;
It lies there in the window. Fare thee well,
My next may be to ring thy passing-bell.
JOHN BUNYAN.
AN ADVERTISEMENT TO THE READER.
SOME say the ‘Pilgrim’s Progress’ is not mine,
Insinuating as if I would shine
In name and fame by the worth of another,
Like some made rich by robbing of their brother.
Or that so fond I am of being sire,
I’ll father bastards; or, if need require,
I’ll tell a lie in print to get applause.
I scorn it: John such dirt-heap never was,
Since God converted him. Let this suffice
To show why I my ‘Pilgrim’ patronize.
It came from mine own heart, so to my head,
And thence into my fingers trickled;
Then to my pen, from whence immediately
On paper I did dribble it daintily.
Manner and matter, too, was all mine own,
Nor was it unto any mortal known
Till I had done it; nor did any then
By books, by wits, by tongues, or hand, or pen,
Add five words to it, or write half a line
Thereof: the whole, and every whit is mine.
Also for THIS, thine eye is now upon,
The matter in this manner came from none
But the same heart, and head, fingers, and pen,
As did the other. Witness all good men;
For none in all the world, without a lie,
Can say that this is mine, excepting I
I write not this of my ostentation,
Nor ‘cause I seek of men their commendation;
I do it to keep them from such surmise,
As tempt them will my name to scandalize.
Witness my name, if anagram’d to thee,
The letters make—‘Nu hony in a B.’
JOHN BUNYAN.
A RELATION OF THE HOLY WAR.
IN my travels, as I walked through many regions and countries, it was my
chance to happen into that famous continent of Universe. A very large
and spacious country it is: it lieth between the two poles, and just
amidst the four points of the heavens. It is a place well watered, and
richly adorned with hills and valleys, bravely situate, and for the most
part, at least where I was, very fruitful, also well peopled, and a very
sweet air.
The people are not all of one complexion, nor yet of one language, mode,
or way of religion, but differ as much as, it is said, do the planets
themselves. Some are right, and some are wrong, even as it happeneth to
be in lesser regions.
In this country, as I said, it was my lot to travel; and there travel I
did, and that so long, even till I learned much of their mother tongue,
together with the customs and manners of them among whom I was. And, to
speak truth, I was much delighted to see and hear many things which I saw
and heard among them; yea, I had, to be sure, even lived and died a
native among them, (so was I taken with them and their doings,) had not
my master sent for me home to his house, there to do business for him,
and to oversee business done.
Now there is in this gallant country of Universe a fair and delicate
town, a corporation called Mansoul; a town for its building so curious,
for its situation so commodious, for its privileges so advantageous, (I
mean with reference to its origin,) that I may say of it, as was said
before of the continent in which it is placed, There is not its equal
under the whole heaven.
As to the situation of this town, it lieth just between the two worlds;
and the first founder and builder of it, so far as by the best and most
authentic records I can gather, was one Shaddai; and he built it for his
own delight. He made it the mirror and glory of all that he made, even
the top-piece, beyond anything else that he did in that country. Yea, so
goodly a town was Mansoul when first built, that it is said by some, the
gods, at the setting up thereof, came down to see it, and sang for joy.
And as he made it goodly to behold, so also mighty to have dominion over
all the country round about. Yea, all were commanded to acknowledge
Mansoul for their metropolitan, all were enjoined to do homage to it.
Aye, the town itself had positive commission and power from her King to
demand service of all, and also to subdue any that anyways denied to do
it.
There was reared up in the midst of this town a most famous and stately
palace; for strength, it might be called a castle; for pleasantness, a
paradise; for largeness, a place so copious as to contain all the world.
This place the King Shaddai intended but for himself alone, and not
another with him; partly because of his own delights, and partly because
he would not that the terror of strangers should be upon the town. This
place Shaddai made also a garrison of, but committed the keeping of it
only to the men of the town.
The walls of the town were well built, yea, so fast and firm were they
knit and compact together, that, had it not been for the townsmen
themselves, they could not have been shaken or broken for ever. For here
lay the excellent wisdom of him that builded Mansoul, that the walls
could never be broken down nor hurt by the most mighty adverse potentate,
unless the townsmen gave consent thereto.
This famous town of Mansoul had five gates, in at which to come, out at
which to go; and these were made likewise answerable to the walls, to
wit, impregnable, and such as could never be opened nor forced but by the
will and leave of those within. The names of the gates were these:
Ear-gate, Eye-gate, Mouth-gate, Nose-gate, and Feel-gate.
Other things there were that belonged to the town of Mansoul, which if
you adjoin to these, will yet give farther demonstration to all, of the
glory and strength of the place. It had always a sufficiency of
provision within its walls; it had the best, most wholesome, and
excellent law that then was extant in the world. There was not a rascal,
rogue, or traitorous person then within its walls; they were all true
men, and fast joined together; and this, you know, is a great matter.
And to all these, it had always (so long as it had the goodness to keep
true to Shaddai the King) his countenance, his protection, and it was his
delight, etc.
Well, upon a time, there was one Diabolus, a mighty giant, made an
assault upon this famous town of Mansoul, to take it, and make it his own
habitation. This giant was king of the blacks, and a most raving prince
he was. We will, if you please, first discourse of the origin of this
Diabolus, and then of his taking of this famous town of Mansoul.
This Diabolus is indeed a great and mighty prince, and yet both poor and
beggarly. As to his origin, he was at first one of the servants of King
Shaddai, made, and taken, and put by him into most high and mighty place;
yea, was put into such principalities as belonged to the best of his
territories and dominions. This Diabolus was made ‘son of the morning,’
and a brave place he had of it: it brought him much glory, and gave him
much brightness, an income that might have contented his Luciferian
heart, had it not been insatiable, and enlarged as hell itself.
Well, he seeing himself thus exalted to greatness and honour, and raging
in his mind for higher state and degree, what doth he but begins to think
with himself how he might be set up as lord over all, and have the sole
power under Shaddai. (Now that did the King reserve for his Son, yea,
and had already bestowed it upon him.) Wherefore he first consults with
himself what had best to be done; and then breaks his mind to some other
of his companions, to the which they also agreed. So, in fine, they came
to this issue that they should make an attempt upon the King’s Son to
destroy him, that the inheritance might be theirs. Well, to be short,
the treason, as I said, was concluded, the time appointed, the word
given, the rebels rendezvoused, and the assault attempted. Now the King
and his Son being all and always eye, could not but discern all passages
in his dominions; and he, having always love for his Son as for himself,
could not at what he saw but be greatly provoked and offended: wherefore
what does he, but takes them in the very nick and first trip that they
made towards their design, convicts them of the treason, horrid
rebellion, and conspiracy that they had devised, and now attempted to put
into practice, and casts them altogether out of all place of trust,
benefit, honour, and preferment. This done, he banishes them the court,
turns them down into the horrible pits, as fast bound in chains, never
more to expect the least favour from his hands, but to abide the judgment
that he had appointed, and that for ever.
Now they being thus cast out of all place of trust, profit, and honour,
and also knowing that they had lost their prince’s favour for ever,
(being banished his court, and cast down to the horrible pits,) you may
he sure they would now add to their former pride what malice and rage
against Shaddai, and against his Son, they could. Wherefore, roving and
ranging in much fury from place to place, if, perhaps, they might find
something that was the King’s, by spoiling of that, to revenge themselves
on him; at last they happened into this spacious country of Universe, and
steer their course towards the town of Mansoul; and considering that that
town was one of the chief works and delights of King Shaddai, what do
they but, after counsel taken, make an assault upon that. I say, they
knew that Mansoul belonged unto Shaddai; for they were there when he
built it and beautified it for himself. So when they had found the
place, they shouted horribly for joy, and roared on it as a lion upon the
prey, saying, ‘Now we have found the prize, and how to be revenged on
King Shaddai for what he hath done to us.’ So they sat down and called a
council of war, and considered with themselves what ways and methods they
had best to engage in for the winning to themselves this famous town of
Mansoul, and these four things were then propounded to be considered of.
First. Whether they had best all of them to show themselves in this
design to the town of Mansoul.
Secondly. Whether they had best to go and sit down against Mansoul in
their now ragged and beggarly guise.
Thirdly. Whether they had best show to Mansoul their intentions, and
what design they came about, or whether to assault it with words and ways
of deceit.
Fourthly. Whether they had not best to some of their companions to give
out private orders to take the advantage, if they see one or more of the
principal townsmen, to shoot them, if thereby they shall judge their
cause and design will the better be promoted.
1. It was answered to the first of these proposals in the negative, to
wit, that it would not be best that all should show themselves before the
town, because the appearance of many of them might alarm and frighten the
town; whereas a few or but one of them was not so likely to do it. And
to enforce this advice to take place it was added further, that if
Mansoul was frighted, or did take the alarm, ‘It is impossible,’ said
Diabolus (for he spake now), ‘that we should take the town: for that none
can enter into it without its own consent. Let, therefore, but few, or
but one, assault Mansoul; and in mine opinion,’ said Diabolus, ‘let me be
he.’ Wherefore to this they all agreed.
2. And then to the second proposal they came, namely, Whether they had
best go and sit down before Mansoul in their now ragged and beggarly
guise. To which it was answered also in the negative, By no means; and
that because, though the town of Mansoul had been made to know, and to
have to do, before now, with things that are invisible, they did never as
yet see any of their fellow-creatures in so sad and rascally condition as
they; and this was the advice of that fierce Alecto. Then said Apollyon,
‘The advice is pertinent; for even one of us appearing to them as we are
now, must needs both beget and multiply such thoughts in them as will
both put them into a consternation of spirit, and necessitate them to put
themselves upon their guard. And if so,’ said he, ‘then, as my Lord
Diabolus said but now, it is in vain for us to think of taking the town.’
Then said that mighty giant Beelzebub, ‘The advice that already is given
is safe; for though the men of Mansoul have seen such things as we once
were, yet hitherto they did never behold such things as we now are; and
it is best, in mine opinion, to come upon them in such a guise as is
common to, and most familiar among them.’ To this, when they had
consented, the next thing to be considered was, in what shape, hue, or
guise Diabolus had best to show himself when he went about to make
Mansoul his own. Then one said one thing, and another the contrary. At
last Lucifer answered, that, in his opinion, it was best that his
lordship should assume the body of some of those creatures that they of
the town had dominion over; ‘for,’ quoth he, ‘these are not only familiar
to them, but, being under them, they will never imagine that an attempt
should by them be made upon the town; and, to blind all, let him assume
the body of one of those beasts that Mansoul deems to be wiser than any
of the rest.’ This advice was applauded of all: so it was determined
that the giant Diabolus should assume the dragon, for that he was in
those days as familiar with the town of Mansoul as now is the bird with
the boy; for nothing that was in its primitive state was at all amazing
to them. Then they proceeded to the third thing, which was:
3. Whether they had best to show their intentions, or the design of his
coming, to Mansoul, or no. This also was answered in the negative,
because of the weight that was in the former reasons, to wit, for that
Mansoul were a strong people, a strong people in a strong town, whose
wall and gates were impregnable, (to say nothing of their castle,) nor
can they by any means be won but by their own consent. ‘Besides,’ said
Legion, (for he gave answer to this,) ‘a discovery of our intentions may
make them send to their king for aid; and if that be done, I know quickly
what time of day it will be with us. Therefore let us assault them in
all pretended fairness, covering our intentions with all manner of lies,
flatteries, delusive words; feigning things that never will be, and
promising that to them that they shall never find. This is the way to
win Mansoul, and to make them of themselves open their gates to us; yea,
and to desire us too to come in to them. And the reason why I think that
this project will do is, because the people of Mansoul now are, every
one, simple and innocent, all honest and true; nor do they as yet know
what it is to be assaulted with fraud, guile, and hypocrisy. They are
strangers to lying and dissembling lips; wherefore we cannot, if thus we
be disguised, by them at all be discerned; our lies shall go for true
sayings, and our dissimulations for upright dealings. What we promise
them they will in that believe us, especially if, in all our lies and
feigned words, we pretend great love to them, and that our design is only
their advantage and honour.’ Now there was not one bit of a reply
against this; this went as current down as doth the water down a steep
descent. Wherefore they go to consider of the last proposal, which was:
4. Whether they had not best to give out orders to some of their company
to shoot some one or more of the principal of the townsmen, if they judge
that their cause may be promoted thereby. This was carried in the
affirmative, and the man that was designed by this stratagem to be
destroyed was one Mr. Resistance, otherwise called Captain Resistance.
And a great man in Mansoul this Captain Resistance was, and a man that
the giant Diabolus and his band more feared than they feared the whole
town of Mansoul besides. Now who should be the actor to do the murder?
That was the next, and they appointed one Tisiphone, a fury of the lake,
to do it.
They thus having ended their council of war, rose up, and essayed to do
as they had determined; they marched towards Mansoul, but all in a manner
invisible, save one, only one; nor did he approach the town in his own
likeness, but under the shade and in the body of the dragon.
So they drew up and sat down before Ear-gate, for that was the place of
hearing for all without the town, as Eye-gate was the place of
perspection. So, as I said, he came up with his train to the gate, and
laid his ambuscado for Captain Resistance within bow-shot of the town.
This done, the giant ascended up close to the gate, and called to the
town of Mansoul for audience. Nor took he any with him but one
Ill-pause, who was his orator in all difficult matters. Now, as I said,
he being come up to the gate, (as the manner of those times was,) sounded
his trumpet for audience; at which the chief of the town of Mansoul, such
as my Lord Innocent, my Lord Willbewill, my Lord Mayor, Mr. Recorder, and
Captain Resistance, came down to the wall to see who was there, and what
was the matter. And my Lord Willbewill, when he had looked over and saw
who stood at the gate, demanded what he was, wherefore he was come, and
why he roused the town of Mansoul with so unusual a sound.
Diabolus, then, as if he had been a lamb, began his oration, and said:
‘Gentlemen of the famous town of Mansoul, I am, as you may perceive, no
far dweller from you, but near, and one that is bound by the king to do
you my homage and what service I can; wherefore, that I may be faithful
to myself and to you, I have somewhat of concern to impart unto you.
Wherefore, grant me your audience, and hear me patiently. And first, I
will assure you, it is not myself, but you—not mine, but your advantage
that I seek by what I now do, as will full well be made manifest, by that
I have opened my mind unto you. For, gentlemen, I am (to tell you the
truth) come to show you how you may obtain great and ample deliverance
from a bondage that, unawares to yourselves, you are captivated and
enslaved under.’ At this the town of Mansoul began to prick up its ears.
And ‘What is it? Pray what is it?’ thought they. And he said, ‘I have
somewhat to say to you concerning your King, concerning his law, and also
touching yourselves. Touching your King, I know he is great and potent;
but yet all that he hath said to you is neither true nor yet for your
advantage. 1. It is not true, for that wherewith he hath hitherto awed
you, shall not come to pass, nor be fulfilled, though you do the thing
that he hath forbidden. But if there was danger, what a slavery is it to
live always in fear of the greatest of punishments, for doing so small
and trivial a thing as eating of a little fruit is. 2. Touching his
laws, this I say further, they are both unreasonable, intricate, and
intolerable. Unreasonable, as was hinted before; for that the punishment
is not proportioned to the offence: there is great difference and
disproportion between the life and an apple; yet the one must go for the
other by the law of your Shaddai. But it is also intricate, in that he
saith, first, you may eat of all; and yet after forbids the eating of
one. And then, in the last place, it must needs be intolerable,
forasmuch as that fruit which you are forbidden to eat of (if you are
forbidden any) is that, and that alone, which is able, by your eating, to
minister to you a good as yet unknown by you. This is manifest by the
very name of the tree; it is called the “tree of knowledge of good and
evil;” and have you that knowledge as yet? No, no; nor can you conceive
how good, how pleasant, and how much to be desired to make one wise it
is, so long as you stand by your King’s commandment. Why should you be
holden in ignorance and blindness? Why should you not be enlarged in
knowledge and understanding? And now, O ye inhabitants of the famous
town of Mansoul, to speak more particularly to yourselves you are not a
free people! You are kept both in bondage and slavery, and that by a
grievous threat; no reason being annexed but, “So I will have it; so it
shall be.” And is it not grievous to think on, that that very thing
which you are forbidden to do might you but do it, would yield you both
wisdom and honour? for then your eyes will be opened, and you shall be as
gods. Now, since this is thus,’ quoth he, ‘can you be kept by any prince
in more slavery and in greater bondage than you are under this day? You
are made underlings, and are wrapped up in inconveniences, as I have well
made appear. For what bondage greater than to be kept in blindness?
Will not reason tell you that it is better to have eyes than to be
without them? and so to be at liberty to be better than to be shut up in
a dark and stinking cave?’
And just now, while Diabolus was speaking these words to Mansoul,
Tisiphone shot at Captain Resistance, where he stood on the gate, and
mortally wounded him in the head; so that he, to the amazement of the
townsmen, and the encouragement of Diabolus, fell down dead quite over
the wall. Now, when Captain Resistance was dead, (and he was the only
man of war in the town,) poor Mansoul was wholly left naked of courage,
nor had she now any heart to resist. But this was as the devil would
have it. Then stood forth he, Mr. Ill-pause, that Diabolus brought with
him, who was his orator; and he addressed himself to speak to the town of
Mansoul; the tenour of whose speech here follows:—
‘Gentlemen,’ quoth he, ‘it is my master’s happiness that he has this day
a quiet and teachable auditory; and it is hoped by us that we shall
prevail with you not to cast off good advice. My master has a very great
love for you; and although, as he very well knows, that he runs the
hazard of the anger of King Shaddai, yet love to you will make him do
more than that. Nor doth there need that a word more should be spoken to
confirm for truth what he hath said; there is not a word but carries with
it self-evidence in its bowels; the very name of the tree may put an end
to all controversy in this matter. I therefore, at this time, shall only
add this advice to you, under and by the leave of my lord;’ (and with
that he made Diabolus a very low congee;) ‘consider his words, look on
the tree and the promising fruit thereof; remember also that yet you know
but little, and that this is the way to know more: and if your reasons be
not conquered to accept of such good counsel, you are not the men that I
took you to be.’
But when the townsfolk saw that the tree was good for food, and that it
was pleasant to the eye, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, they
did as old Ill-pause advised; they took and did eat thereof. Now this I
should have told you before, that even then, when this Ill-pause was
making his speech to the townsmen, my Lord Innocency (whether by a shot
from the camp of the giant, or from some sinking qualm that suddenly took
him, or whether by the stinking breath of that treacherous villain old
Ill-pause, for so I am most apt to think) sunk down in the place where he
stood, nor could be brought to life again. Thus these two brave men
died—brave men, I call them; for they were the beauty and glory of
Mansoul, so long as they lived therein; nor did there now remain any more
a noble spirit in Mansoul; they all fell down and yielded obedience to
Diabolus; and became his slaves and vassals, as you shall hear.
Now these being dead, what do the rest of the townsfolk, but, as men that
had found a fool’s paradise, they presently, as afore was hinted, fall to
prove the truth of the giant’s words. And, first, they did as Ill-pause
had taught them; they looked, they considered they were taken with the
forbidden fruit; they took thereof, and did eat; and having eaten, they
became immediately drunken therewith. So they open the gate, both
Ear-gate and Eye-gate, and let in Diabolus with all his bands, quite
forgetting their good Shaddai, his law, and the judgment that he had
annexed, with solemn threatening, to the breach thereof.
Diabolus, having now obtained entrance in at the gates of the town,
marches up to the middle thereof, to make his conquest as sure as he
could; and finding, by this time, the affections of the people warmly
inclining to him, he, as thinking it was best striking while the iron is
hot, made this further deceivable speech unto them, saying, ‘Alas, my
poor Mansoul! I have done thee indeed this service, as to promote thee
to honour, and to greaten thy liberty; but, alas! alas! poor Mansoul,
thou wantest now one to defend thee; for assure thyself that when Shaddai
shall hear what is done, he will come; for sorry will he be that thou
hast broken his bonds, and cast his cords away from thee. What wilt thou
do? Wilt thou, after enlargement, suffer thy privileges to be invaded
and taken away, or what wilt resolve with thyself?’
Then they all with one consent said to this bramble, ‘Do thou reign over
us.’ So he accepted the motion, and became the king of the town of
Mansoul. This being done, the next thing was to give him possession of
the castle, and so of the whole strength of the town. Wherefore, into
the castle he goes; it was that which Shaddai built in Mansoul for his
own delight and pleasure; this now was become a den and hold for the
giant Diabolus.
Now, having got possession of this stately palace or castle, what doth he
but makes it a garrison for himself, and strengthens and fortifies it
with all sorts of provision, against the King Shaddai, or those that
should endeavour the regaining of it to him and his obedience again.
This done, but not thinking himself yet secure enough, in the next place
he bethinks himself of new modelling the town; and so he does, setting up
one, and putting down another at pleasure. Wherefore my Lord Mayor,
whose name was my Lord Understanding, and Mr. Recorder, whose name was
Mr. Conscience, these he put out of place and power.
As for my Lord Mayor, though he was an understanding man, and one too
that had complied with the rest of the town of Mansoul in admitting the
giant into the town, yet Diabolus thought not fit to let him abide in his
former lustre and glory, because he was a seeing man. Wherefore he
darkened him, not only by taking from him his office and power, but by
building a high and strong tower, just between the sun’s reflections and
the windows of my lord’s palace; by which means his house and all, and
the whole of his habitation, were made as dark as darkness itself. And
thus, being alienated from the light, he became as one that was born
blind. To this, his house, my lord was confined as to a prison; nor
might he, upon his parole, go farther than within his own bounds. And
now, had he had a heart to do for Mansoul, what could he do for it, or
wherein could he be profitable to her? So then, so long as Mansoul was
under the power and government of Diabolus, (and so long it was under
him, as it was obedient to him, which was even until by a war it was
rescued out of his hand,) so long my Lord Mayor was rather an impediment
in, than an advantage to the famous town of Mansoul.
As for Mr. Recorder, before the town was taken, he was a man well read in
the laws of his king, and also a man of courage and faithfulness to speak
truth at every occasion; and he had a tongue as bravely hung as he had a
head filled with judgment. Now, this man Diabolus could by no means
abide, because, though he gave his consent to his coming into the town,
yet he could not, by all the wiles, trials, stratagems, and devices that
he could use, make him wholly his own. True, he was much degenerated
from his former king, and also much pleased with many of the giant’s laws
and service; but all this would not do, forasmuch as he was not wholly
his. He would now and then think upon Shaddai, and have dread of his law
upon him, and then he would speak against Diabolus with a voice as great
as when a lion roareth. Yea, and would also at certain times, when his
fits were upon him, (for you must know that sometimes he had terrible
fits,) make the whole town of Mansoul shake with his voice: and therefore
the now king of Mansoul could not abide him.
Diabolus, therefore, feared the Recorder more than any that was left
alive in the town of Mansoul, because, as I said, his words did shake the
whole town; they were like the rattling thunder, and also like
thunder-claps. Since, therefore, the giant could not make him wholly his
own, what doth he do but studies all that he could to debauch the old
gentleman, and by debauchery to stupefy his mind, and more harden his
heart in the ways of vanity. And as he attempted, so he accomplished his
design: he debauched the man, and by little and little so drew him into
sin and wickedness, that at last he was not only debauched, as at first,
and so by consequence defiled, but was almost (at last, I say) past all
conscience of sin. And this was the farthest Diabolus could go.
Wherefore he bethinks him of another project, and that was, to persuade
the men of the town that Mr. Recorder was mad, and so not to be regarded.
And for this he urged his fits, and said, ‘If he be himself, why doth he
not do thus always? But,’ quoth he, ‘as all mad folks have their fits,
and in them their raving language, so hath this old and doating
gentleman.’
Thus, by one means or another, he quickly got Mansoul to slight, neglect,
and despise whatever Mr. Recorder could say. For, besides what already
you have heard, Diabolus had a way to make the old gentleman, when he was
merry, unsay and deny what he in his fits had affirmed. And, indeed,
this was the next way to make himself ridiculous, and to cause that no
man should regard him. Also now he never spake freely for King Shaddai,
but also by force and constraint. Besides, he would at one time be hot
against that at which, at another, he would hold his peace; so uneven was
he now in his doings. Sometimes he would be as if fast asleep, and again
sometimes as dead, even then when the whole town of Mansoul was in her
career after vanity, and in her dance after the giant’s pipe.
Wherefore, sometimes when Mansoul did use to be frighted with the
thundering voice of the Recorder that was, and when they did tell
Diabolus of it, he would answer, that what the old gentleman said was
neither of love to him nor pity to them, but of a foolish fondness that
he had to be prating; and so would hush, still, and put all to quiet
again. And that he might leave no argument unurged that might tend to
make them secure, he said, and said it often, ‘O Mansoul! consider that,
notwithstanding the old gentleman’s rage, and the rattle of his high and
thundering words, you hear nothing of Shaddai himself;’ when, liar and
deceiver that he was, every outcry of Mr. Recorder against the sin of
Mansoul was the voice of God in him to them. But he goes on, and says,
‘You see that he values not the loss nor rebellion of the town of
Mansoul, nor will he trouble himself with calling his town to a reckoning
for their giving themselves to me. He knows that though you were his,
now you are lawfully mine; so, leaving us one to another, he now hath
shaken his hands of us.
‘Moreover, O Mansoul!’ quoth he, ‘consider how I have served you, even to
the uttermost of my power; and that with the best that I have, could get,
or procure for you in all the world: besides, I dare say that the laws
and customs that you now are under, and by which you do homage to me, do
yield you more solace and content than did the paradise that at first you
possessed. Your liberty also, as yourselves do very well know, has been
greatly widened and enlarged by me; whereas I found you a penned-up
people. I have not laid any restraint upon you; you have no law,
statute, or judgment of mine to fright you; I call none of you to account
for your doings, except the madman—you know who I mean; I have granted
you to live, each man like a prince in his own, even with as little
control from me as I myself have from you.’
And thus would Diabolus hush up and quiet the town of Mansoul, when the
Recorder that was, did at times molest them: yea, and with such cursed
orations as these, would set the whole town in a rage and fury against
the old gentleman. Yea, the rascal crew at some times would be for
destroying him. They have often wished, in my hearing, that he had lived
a thousand miles off from them: his company, his words, yea, the sight of
him, and specially when they remembered how in old times he did use to
threaten and condemn them, (for all he was now so debauched,) did terrify
and afflict them sore.
But all wishes were vain, for I do not know how, unless by the power of
Shaddai, and his wisdom, he was preserved in being amongst them.
Besides, his house was as strong as a castle, and stood hard by a
stronghold of the town: moreover, if at any time any of the crew or
rabble attempted to make him away, he could pull up the sluices, and let
in such floods as would drown all round about him.
But to leave Mr. Recorder, and to come to my Lord Willbewill, another of
the gentry of the famous town of Mansoul. This Willbewill was as
high-born as any man in Mansoul, and was as much, if not more, a
freeholder than many of them were; besides, if I remember my tale aright,
he had some privileges peculiar to himself in the famous town of Mansoul.
Now, together with these, he was a man of great strength, resolution, and
courage, nor in his occasion could any turn him away. But I say, whether
he was proud of his estate, privileges, strength, or what, (but sure it
was through pride of something,) he scorns now to be a slave in Mansoul;
and therefore resolves to bear office under Diabolus, that he might (such
an one as he was) be a petty ruler and governor in Mansoul. And,
headstrong man that he was! thus he began betimes; for this man, when
Diabolus did make his oration at Ear-gate, was one of the first that was
for consenting to his words, and for accepting his counsel at wholesome,
and that was for the opening of the gate, and for letting him into the
town; wherefore Diabolus had a kindness for him, and therefore he
designed for him a place. And perceiving the valour and stoutness of the
man, he coveted to have him for one of his great ones, to act and do in
matters of the highest concern.
So he sent for him, and talked with him of that secret matter that lay in
his breast, but there needed not much persuasion in the case. For as at
first he was willing that Diabolus should be let into the town, so now he
was as willing to serve him there. When the tyrant, therefore, perceived
the willingness of my lord to serve him, and that his mind stood bending
that way, he forthwith made him the captain of the castle, governor of
the wall, and keeper of the gates of Mansoul: yea, there was a clause in
his commission, that nothing without him should be done in all the town
of Mansoul. So that now, next to Diabolus himself, who but my Lord
Willbewill in all the town of Mansoul! nor could anything now be done,
but at his will and pleasure, throughout the town of Mansoul. He had
also one Mr. Mind for his clerk, a man to speak on every way like his
master: for he and his lord were in principle one, and in practice not
far asunder. And now was Mansoul brought under to purpose, and made to
fulfil the lusts of the will, and of the mind.
But it will not out of my thoughts what a desperate one this Willbewill
was when power was put into his hand. First, he flatly denied that he
owed any suit or service to his former prince and liege lord. This done,
in the next place he took an oath, and swore fidelity to his great master
Diabolus, and then, being stated and settled in his places, offices,
advancements, and preferments, oh! you cannot think, unless you had seen
it, the strange work that this workman made in the town of Mansoul.
First, he maligned Mr. Recorder to death; he would neither endure to see
him, nor hear the words of his mouth; he would shut his eyes when he saw
him, and stop his ears when he heard him speak. Also he could not endure
that so much as a fragment of the law of Shaddai should be anywhere seen
in the town. For example, his clerk, Mr. Mind, had some old, rent, and
torn parchments of the law of Shaddai in his house, but when Willbewill
saw them, he cast them behind his back. True, Mr. Recorder had some of
the laws in his study; but my lord could by no means come at them. He
also thought and said, that the windows of my old Lord Mayor’s house were
always too light for the profit of the town of Mansoul. The light of a
candle he could not endure. Now nothing at all pleased Willbewill but
what pleased Diabolus his lord.
There was none like him to trumpet about the streets the brave nature,
the wise conduct, and great glory of the king Diabolus. He would range
and rove throughout all the streets of Mansoul to cry up his illustrious
lord, and would make himself even as an abject, among the base and rascal
crew, to cry up his valiant prince. And I say, when and wheresoever he
found these vassals, he would even make himself as one of them. In all
ill courses he would act without bidding, and do mischief without
commandment.
The Lord Willbewill also had a deputy under him, and his name was Mr.
Affection, one that was also greatly debauched in his principles, and
answerable thereto in his life: he was wholly given to the flesh, and
therefore they called him Vile-Affection. Now there was he and one
Carnal-Lust, the daughter of Mr. Mind, (like to like,) that fell in love,
and made a match, and were married; and, as I take it, they had several
children, as Impudent, Blackmouth, and Hate-Reproof. These three were
black boys. And besides these they had three daughters, as Scorn-Truth
and Slight-God, and the name of the youngest was Revenge. These were all
married in the town, and also begot and yielded many bad brats, too many
to be here inserted. But to pass by this.
When the giant had thus engarrisoned himself in the town of Mansoul, and
had put down and set up whom he thought good, he betakes himself to
defacing. Now there was in the market-place in Mansoul, and also upon
the gates of the castle, an image of the blessed King Shaddai. This
image was so exactly engraven, (and it was engraven in gold,) that it did
the most resemble Shaddai himself of anything that then was extant in the
world. This he basely commanded to be defaced, and it was as basely done
by the hand of Mr. No-Truth. Now you must know that, as Diabolus had
commanded, and that by the hand of Mr. No-Truth, the image of Shaddai was
defaced, he likewise gave order that the same Mr. No-Truth should set up
in its stead the horrid and formidable image of Diabolus, to the great
contempt of the former King, and debasing of his town of Mansoul.
Moreover, Diabolus made havoc of all remains of the laws and statutes of
Shaddai that could be found in the town of Mansoul; to wit, such as
contained either the doctrines of morals, with all civil and natural
documents. Also relative severities he sought to extinguish. To be
short, there was nothing of the remains of good in Mansoul which he and
Willbewill sought not to destroy; for their design was to turn Mansoul
into a brute, and to make it like to the sensual sow, by the hand of Mr.
No-Truth.
When he had destroyed what law and good orders he could, then further to
effect his design, namely, to alienate Mansoul from Shaddai her King, he
commands, and they set up his own vain edicts, statutes, and
commandments, in all places of resort or concourse in Mansoul, to wit,
such as gave liberty to the lusts of the flesh, the lusts of the eyes,
and the pride of life, which are not of Shaddai, but of the world. He
encouraged, countenanced, and promoted lasciviousness, and all
ungodliness there. Yea, much more did Diabolus to encourage wickedness
in the town of Mansoul; he promised them peace, content, joy, and bliss,
in doing his commands, and that they should never be called to an account
for their not doing the contrary. And let this serve to give a taste to
them that love to hear tell of what is done beyond their knowledge afar
off in other countries.
Now Mansoul being wholly at his beck, and brought wholly to his bow,
nothing was heard or seen therein but that which tended to set up him.
But now he, having disabled the Lord Mayor and Mr. Recorder from bearing
of office in Mansoul, and seeing that the town, before he came to it, was
the most ancient of corporations in the world, and fearing, if he did not
maintain greatness, they at any time should object that he had done them
an injury; therefore, I say, (that they might see that he did not intend
to lessen their grandeur, or to take from them any of their advantageous
things,) he did choose for them a Lord Mayor and a Recorder himself, and
such as contented them at the heart, and such also as pleased him
wondrous well.
The name of the Mayor that was of Diabolus’ making was the Lord Lustings,
a man that had neither eyes nor ears. All that he did, whether as a man
or an officer, he did it naturally, as doth the beast. And that which
made him yet the more ignoble, though not to Mansoul, yet to them that
beheld and were grieved for its ruin, was, that he never could favour
good, but evil.
The Recorder was one whose name was Forget-Good, and a very sorry fellow
he was. He could remember nothing but mischief, and to do it with
delight. He was naturally prone to do things that were hurtful, even
hurtful to the town of Mansoul, and to all the dwellers there. These
two, therefore, by their power and practice, examples, and smiles upon
evil, did much more grammar and settle the common people in hurtful ways.
For who doth not perceive that when those that sit aloft are vile and
corrupt themselves, they corrupt the whole region and country where they
are?
Besides these, Diabolus made several burgesses and aldermen in Mansoul,
such as out of whom the town, when it needed, might choose them officers,
governors, and magistrates. And these are the names of the chief of
them: Mr. Incredulity, Mr. Haughty, Mr. Swearing, Mr. Whoring, Mr.
Hard-Heart, Mr. Pitiless, Mr. Fury, Mr. No-Truth, Mr. Stand-to-Lies, Mr.
False-Peace, Mr. Drunkenness, Mr. Cheating, Mr. Atheism—thirteen in all.
Mr. Incredulity is the eldest, and Mr. Atheism the youngest of the
company.
There was also an election of common councilmen and others, as bailiffs,
sergeants, constables, and others; but all of them like to those
afore-named, being either fathers, brothers, cousins, or nephews to them,
whose names, for brevity’s sake, I omit to mention.
When the giant had thus far proceeded in his work, in the next place, he
betook him to build some strongholds in the town, and he built three that
seemed to be impregnable. The first he called the Hold of Defiance,
because it was made to command the whole town, and to keep it from the
knowledge of its ancient King. The second he called Midnight Hold,
because it was built on purpose to keep Mansoul from the true knowledge
of itself. The third was called Sweet-Sin Hold, because by that he
fortified Mansoul against all desires of good. The first of these holds
stood close by Eye-gate, that, as much might be, light might be darkened
there; the second was built hard by the old castle, to the end that that
might be made more blind, if possible; and the third stood in the
market-place.
He that Diabolus made governor over the first of these was one Spite-God,
a most blasphemous wretch: he came with the whole rabble of them that
came against Mansoul at first, and was himself one of themselves. He
that was made the governor of Midnight Hold was one Love-no-Light; he was
also of them that came first against the town. And he that was made the
governor of the hold called Sweet-Sin Hold was one whose name was
Love-Flesh: he was also a very lewd fellow, but not of that country where
the other are bound. This fellow could find more sweetness when he stood
sucking of a lust than he did in all the paradise of God.
And now Diabolus thought himself safe. He had taken Mansoul, he had
engarrisoned himself therein; he had put down the old officers, and had
set up new ones; he had defaced the image of Shaddai, and had set up his
own; he had spoiled the old law books, and had promoted his own vain
lies; he had made him new magistrates, and set up new aldermen; he had
builded him new holds, and had manned them for himself: and all this he
did to make himself secure, in case the good Shaddai, or his Son, should
come to make an incursion upon him.
Now you may well think, that long before this time, word, by some one or
other, could not but be carried to the good King Shaddai, how his
Mansoul, in the continent of Universe, was lost; and that the runagate
giant Diabolus, once one of his Majesty’s servants, had, in rebellion
against the King, made sure thereof for himself. Yea, tidings were
carried and brought to the King thereof, and that to a very circumstance.
At first, how Diabolus came upon Mansoul (they being a simple people and
innocent) with craft, subtlety, lies, and guile. _Item_, that he had
treacherously slain the right noble and valiant captain, their Captain
Resistance, as he stood upon the gate with the rest of the townsmen.
_Item_, how my brave Lord Innocent fell down dead (with grief, some say,
or with being poisoned with the stinking breath of one Ill-Pause, as say
others) at the hearing of his just lord and rightful prince, Shaddai, so
abused by the mouth of so filthy a Diabolian as that varlet Ill-Pause
was. The messenger further told, that after this Ill-Pause had made a
short oration to the townsmen in behalf of Diabolus, his master; the
simple town, believing that what was said was true, with one consent did
open Ear-gate, the chief gate of the corporation, and did let him, with
his crew, into a possession of the famous town of Mansoul. He further
showed how Diabolus had served the Lord Mayor and Mr. Recorder, to wit,
that he had put them from all place of power and trust. _Item_, he
showed also that my Lord Willbewill was turned a very rebel, and
runagate, and that so was one Mr. Mind, his clerk; and that they two did
range and revel it all the town over, and teach the wicked ones their
ways. He said, moreover, that this Willbewill was put into great trust,
and particularly that Diabolus had put into Willbewill’s hand all the
strong places in Mansoul; and that Mr. Affection was made my Lord
Willbewill’s deputy in his most rebellious affairs. ‘Yea,’ said the
messenger, ‘this monster, Lord Willbewill, has openly disavowed his King
Shaddai, and hath horribly given his faith and plighted his troth to
Diabolus.’
‘Also,’ said the messenger, ‘besides all this, the new king, or rather
rebellious tyrant, over the once famous, but now perishing town of
Mansoul, has set up a Lord Mayor and a Recorder of his own. For Mayor,
he has set up one Mr. Lustings; and for Recorder, Mr. Forget-Good; two of
the vilest of all the town of Mansoul.’ This faithful messenger also
proceeded, and told what a sort of new burgesses Diabolus had made; also
that he had built several strong forts, towers, and strongholds in
Mansoul. He told, too, the which I had almost forgot, how Diabolus had
put the town of Mansoul into arms, the better to capacitate them, on his
behalf, to make resistance against Shaddai their King, should he come to
reduce them to their former obedience.
Now this tidings-teller did not deliver his relation of things in
private, but in open court, the King and his Son, high lords, chief
captains, and nobles, being all there present to hear. But by that they
had heard the whole of the story, it would have amazed one to have seen,
had he been there to behold it, what sorrow and grief, and compunction of
spirit, there was among all sorts, to think that famous Mansoul was now
taken: only the King and his Son foresaw all this long before, yea, and
sufficiently provided for the relief of Mansoul, though they told not
everybody thereof. Yet because they also would have a share in condoling
of the Misery of Mansoul, therefore they also did, and that at a rate of
the highest degree, bewail the losing of Mansoul. The King said plainly
that it grieved him at the heart, and you may be sure that his Son was
not a whit behind him. Thus gave they conviction to all about them that
they had love and compassion for the famous town of Mansoul. Well, when
the King and his Son were retired into the privy chamber, there they
again consulted about what they had designed before, to wit, that as
Mansoul should in time be suffered to be lost, so as certainly it should
be recovered again; recovered, I say, in such a way, as that both the
King and his Son would get themselves eternal fame and glory thereby.
Wherefore, after this consult, the Son of Shaddai (a sweet and comely
Person, and one that had always great affection for those that were in
affliction, but one that had mortal enmity in his heart against Diabolus,
because he was designed for it, and because he sought his crown and
dignity)—this Son of Shaddai, I say, having stricken hands with his
Father and promised that he would be his servant to recover his Mansoul
again, stood by his resolution, nor would he repent of the same. The
purport of which agreement was this: to wit, that at a certain time,
prefixed by both, the King’s Son should take a journey into the country
of Universe, and there, in a way of justice and equity, by making amends
for the follies of Mansoul, he should lay a foundation of perfect
deliverance from Diabolus and from his tyranny.
Moreover Emmanuel resolved to make, at a time convenient, a war upon the
giant Diabolus, even while he was possessed of the town of Mansoul; and
that he would fairly by strength of hand drive him out of his hold, his
nest, and take it to himself to be his habitation.
This now being resolved upon, order was given to the Lord Chief Secretary
to draw up a fair record of what was determined, and to cause that it
should be published in all the corners of the kingdom of Universe. A
short breviate of the contents thereof you may, if you please, take here
as follows:
‘Let all men know who are concerned, that the Son of Shaddai, the great
King, is engaged by covenant to his Father to bring his Mansoul to him
again; yea, and to put Mansoul, too, through the power of his matchless
love, into a far better and more happy condition than it was in before it
was taken by Diabolus.’
These papers, therefore, were published in several places, to the no
little molestation of the tyrant Diabolus; ‘for now,’ thought he, ‘I
shall be molested, and my habitation will be taken from me.’
But when this matter, I mean this purpose of the King and his Son, did at
first take air at court, who can tell how the high lords, chief captains,
and noble princes that were there, were taken with the business! First,
they whispered it one to another, and after that it began to ring out
through the King’s palace, all wondering at the glorious design that
between the King and his Son was on foot for the miserable town of
Mansoul. Yea, the courtiers could scarce do anything either for the King
or kingdom, but they would mix, with the doing thereof, a noise of the
love of the King and his Son, that they had for the town of Mansoul.
Nor could these lords, high captains, and princes be content to keep this
news at court; yea, before the records thereof were perfected, themselves
came down and told it in Universe. At last it came to the ears, as I
said, of Diabolus, to his no little discontent; for you must think it
would perplex him to hear of such a design against him. Well, but after
a few casts in his mind, he concluded upon these four things.
First, that this news, these good tidings, (if possible,) should be kept
from the ears of the town of Mansoul; ‘for,’ said he, ‘if they should
once come to the knowledge that Shaddai, their former King, and Emmanuel
his Son, are contriving good for the town of Mansoul, what can be
expected by me, but that Mansoul will make a revolt from under my hand
and government, and return again to him?’
Now, to accomplish this his design, he renews his flattery with my Lord
Willbewill, and also gives him strict charge and command, that he should
keep watch by day and by night at all the gates of the town, especially
Ear-gate and Eye-gate; ‘for I hear of a design,’ quoth he, ‘a design to
make us all traitors, and that Mansoul must be reduced to its first
bondage again. I hope they are but flying stories,’ quoth he; ‘however,
let no such news by any means be let into Mansoul, lest the people be
dejected thereat. I think, my lord, it can be no welcome news to you; I
am sure it is none to me; and I think that, at this time, it should be
all our wisdom and care to nip the head of all such rumours as shall tend
to trouble our people. Wherefore I desire, my lord, that you will in
this matter do as I say. Let there be strong guards daily kept at every
gate of the town. Stop also and examine from whence such come that you
perceive do from far come hither to trade, nor let them by any means be
admitted into Mansoul, unless you shall plainly perceive that they are
favourers of our excellent government. I command, moreover,’ said
Diabolus, ‘that there be spies continually walking up and down the town
of Mansoul, and let them have power to suppress and destroy any that they
shall perceive to be plotting against us, or that shall prate of what by
Shaddai and Emmanuel is intended.’
This, therefore, was accordingly done; my Lord Willbewill hearkened to
his lord and master, went willingly after the commandment, and, with all
the diligence he could, kept any that would from going out abroad, or
that sought to bring these tidings to Mansoul, from coming into the town.
Secondly, this done, in the next place, Diabolus, that he might make
Mansoul as sure as he could, frames and imposes a new oath and horrible
covenant upon the townsfolk:—To wit, that they should never desert him
nor his government, nor yet betray him, nor seek to alter his laws; but
that they should own, confess, stand by, and acknowledge him for their
rightful king, in defiance to any that do or hereafter shall, by any
pretence, law, or title whatever, lay claim to the town of Mansoul;
thinking, belike, that Shaddai had not power to absolve them from this
covenant with death, and agreement with hell. Nor did the silly Mansoul
stick or boggle at all at this most monstrous engagement; but, as if it
had been a sprat in the mouth of a whale, they swallowed it without any
chewing. Were they troubled at all? Nay, they rather bragged and
boasted of their so brave fidelity to the tyrant, their pretended king,
swearing that they would never be changelings, nor forsake their old lord
for a new. Thus did Diabolus tie poor Mansoul fast.
Thirdly. But jealousy, that never thinks itself strong enough, put him,
in the next place, upon another exploit, which was, yet more, if
possible, to debauch this town of Mansoul. Wherefore he caused, by the
hand of one Mr. Filth, an odious, nasty, lascivious piece of beastliness
to be drawn up in writing, and to be set upon the castle gates; whereby
he granted and gave license to all his true and trusty sons in Mansoul to
do whatsoever their lustful appetites prompted them to do; and that no
man was to let, hinder, or control them, upon pain of incurring the
displeasure of their prince.
Now this he did for these reasons:—
1. That the town of Mansoul might be yet made weaker and weaker, and so
more unable, should tidings come that their redemption was designed, to
believe, hope, or consent to the truth thereof; for reason says, The
bigger the sinner, the less grounds of hopes of mercy.
2. The second reason was, if perhaps Emmanuel, the Son of Shaddai their
King, by seeing the horrible and profane doings of the town of Mansoul,
might repent, though entered into a covenant of redeeming them, of
pursuing that covenant of their redemption; for he knew that Shaddai was
holy, and that his Son Emmanuel was holy; yea, he knew it by woeful
experience, for for his iniquity and sin was Diabolus cast from the
highest orbs. Wherefore what more rational than for him to conclude that
thus, for sin, it might fare with Mansoul? But fearing also lest this
knot should break, he bethinks himself of another, to wit:—
Fourthly. To endeavour to possess all hearts in the town of Mansoul that
Shaddai was raising an army, to come to overthrow and utterly to destroy
this town of Mansoul. And this he did to forestall any tidings that
might come to their ears of their deliverance: ‘For,’ thought he, ‘if I
first bruit this, the tidings that shall come after will all be swallowed
up of this; for what else will Mansoul say, when they shall hear that
they must be delivered, but that the true meaning is, Shaddai intends to
destroy them? Wherefore he summons the whole town into the market-place,
and there, with deceitful tongue, thus he addressed himself unto them:—
‘Gentlemen, and my very good friends, you are all, as you know, my legal
subjects, and men of the famous town of Mansoul. You know how, from the
first day that I have been with you until now, I have behaved myself
among you, and what liberty and great privileges you have enjoyed under
my government, I hope to your honour and mine, and also to your content
and delight. Now, my famous Mansoul, a noise of trouble there is abroad,
of trouble to the town of Mansoul; sorry I am thereof for your sakes: for
I received but now by the post from my Lord Lucifer, (and he useth to
have good intelligence,) that your old King Shaddai is raising an army to
come against you, to destroy you root and branch; and this, O Mansoul, is
now the cause that at this time I have called you together, namely, to
advise what in this juncture is best to be done. For my part, I am but
one, and can with ease shift for myself, did I list to seek my own case,
and to leave my Mansoul in all the danger; but my heart is so firmly
united to you, and so unwilling am I to leave you, that I am willing to
stand and fall with you, to the utmost hazard that shall befall me. What
say you, O my Mansoul? Will you now desert your old friend, or do you
think of standing by me?’
Then, as one man, with one mouth, they cried out together, ‘Let him die
the death that will not.’
Then said Diabolus again, ‘It is in vain for us to hope for quarter, for
this King knows not how to show it. True, perhaps, he, at his first
sitting down before us, will talk of and pretend to mercy, that thereby,
with the more ease, and less trouble, he may again make himself the
master of Mansoul. Whatever, therefore, he shall say, believe not one
syllable or tittle of it; for all such language is but to overcome us,
and to make us, while we wallow in our blood, the trophies of his
merciless victory. My mind is, therefore, that we resolve to the last
man to resist him, and not to believe him upon any terms, for in at that
door will come our danger. But shall we be flattered out of our lives?
I hope you know more of the rudiments of politics than to suffer
yourselves so pitifully to be served.
‘But suppose he should, if he get us to yield, save some of our lives, or
the lives of some of them that are underlings in Mansoul, what help will
that be to you that are the chief of the town, especially you whom I have
set up and whose greatness has been procured by you through your faithful
sticking to me? And suppose, again, that he should give quarter to every
one of you, be sure he will bring you into that bondage under which you
were captivated before, or a worse, and then what good will your lives do
you? Shall you with him live in pleasure as you do now? No, no; you
must be bound by laws that will pinch you, and be made to do that which
at present is hateful to you. I am for you, if you are for me; and it is
better to die valiantly than to live like pitiful slaves. But, I say,
the life of a slave will be counted a life too good for Mansoul now.
Blood, blood, nothing but blood is in every blast of Shaddai’s trumpet
against poor Mansoul now. Pray, be concerned; I hear he is coming. Up,
and stand to your arms that now, while you have any leisure, I may learn
you some feats of war. Armour for you I have, and by me it is; yea, and
it is sufficient for Mansoul from top to toe; nor can you be hurt by what
his force can do, if you shall keep it well girt and fastened about you.
Come, therefore, to my castle, and welcome, and harness yourselves for
the war. There is helmet, breastplate, sword, and shield, and what not,
that will make you fight like men.
‘1. My helmet, otherwise called an head-piece, is in hope of doing well
at last, what lives soever you live. This is that which they had who
said, that they should have peace, though they walked in the wickedness
of their heart, to add drunkenness to thirst. A piece of approved armour
this is, and whoever has it, and can hold it, so long no arrow, dart,
sword, or shield can hurt him. This, therefore, keep on, and thou wilt
keep off many a blow, my Mansoul.
‘2. My breastplate is a breastplate of iron. I had it forged in mine own
country, and all my soldiers are armed therewith. In plain language, it
is a hard heart, a heart as hard as iron, and as much past feeling as a
stone; the which if you get and keep, neither mercy shall win you, nor
judgment fright you. This therefore, is a piece of armour most necessary
for all to put on that hate Shaddai, and that would fight against him
under my banner.
‘3. My sword is a tongue that is set on fire of hell, and that can bend
itself to speak evil of Shaddai, his Son, his ways, and people. Use
this; it has been tried a thousand times twice told. Whoever hath it,
keeps it, and makes that use of it as I would have him, can never be
conquered by mine enemy.
‘4. My, shield is unbelief, or calling into question the truth of the
word, or all the sayings that speak of the judgment that Shaddai has
appointed for wicked men. Use this shield; many attempts he has made
upon it, and sometimes, it is true, it has been bruised; but they that
have writ of the wars of Emmanuel against my servants, have testified
that he could do no mighty work there because of their unbelief. Now, to
handle this weapon of mine aright, it is not to believe things because
they are true, of what sort or by whomsoever asserted. If he speaks of
judgment, care not for it; if he speaks of mercy, care not for it; if he
promises, if he swears that he would do to Mansoul, if it turns, no hurt,
but good, regard not what is said, question the truth of all, for it is
to wield the shield of unbelief aright, and as my servants ought and do;
and he that doth otherwise loves me not, nor do I count him but an enemy
to me.
‘5. Another part or piece,’ said Diabolus, ‘of mine excellent armour is a
dumb and prayerless spirit, a spirit that scorns to cry for mercy:
wherefore be you, my Mansoul, sure that you make use of this. What! cry
for quarter! Never do that, if you would be mine. I know you are stout
men, and am sure that I have clad you with that which is armour of proof.
Wherefore, to cry to Shaddai for mercy, let that be far from you.
Besides all this, I have a maul, firebrands, arrows, and death, all good
hand-weapons, and such as will do execution.’
After he had thus furnished his men with armour and arms, he addressed
himself to them in such like words as these: ‘Remember,’ quoth he, ‘that
I am your rightful king, and that you have taken an oath and entered into
covenant to be true to me and my cause: I say, remember this, and show
yourselves stout and valiant men of Mansoul. Remember also the kindness
that I have always showed to you, and that without your petition I have
granted to you external things; wherefore the privileges, grants,
immunities, profits, and honours wherewith I have endowed you do call
for, at your hands, returns of loyalty, my lion-like men of Mansoul: and
when so fit a time to show it as when another shall seek to take my
dominion over you into his own hands? One word more, and I have done.
Can we but stand, and overcome this one shock or brunt, I doubt not but
in little time all the world will be ours; and when that day comes, my
true hearts, I will make you kings, princes, and captains, and what brave
days shall we have then!’
Diabolus having thus armed and forearmed his servants and vassals in
Mansoul against their good and lawful King Shaddai, in the next place, he
doubleth his guards at the gates of the town, and he takes himself to the
castle, which was his stronghold. His vassals also, to show their wills,
and supposed (but ignoble) gallantry, exercise themselves in their arms
every day, and teach one another feats of war; they also defied their
enemies, and sang up the praises of their tyrant; they threatened also
what men they would be if ever things should rise so high as a war
between Shaddai and their king.
Now all this time the good King, the King Shaddai, was preparing to send
an army to recover the town of Mansoul again from under the tyranny of
their pretended king Diabolus; but he thought good, at first, not to send
them by the hand and conduct of brave Emmanuel his Son, but under the
hand of some of his servants, to see first by them the temper of Mansoul,
and whether by them they would be won to the obedience of their King.
The army consisted of above forty thousand, all true men, for they came
from the King’s own court, and were those of his own choosing.
They came up to Mansoul under the conduct of four stout generals, each
man being a captain of ten thousand men, and these are their names and
their ensigns. The name of the first was Boanerges, the name of the
second was Captain Conviction, the name of the third was Captain
Judgment, and the name of the fourth was Captain Execution. These were
the captains that Shaddai sent to regain Mansoul.
These four captains, as was said, the King thought fit, in the first
place, to send to Mansoul, to make an attempt upon it; for indeed
generally in all his wars he did use to send these four captains in the
van, for they were very stout and rough-hewn men, men that were fit to
break the ice, and to make their way by dint of sword, and their men were
like themselves.
To each of these captains the King gave a banner, that it might be
displayed, because of the goodness of his cause, and because of the right
that he had to Mansoul.
First, to Captain Boanerges, for he was the chief, to him, I say, were
given ten thousand men. His ensign was Mr. Thunder; he bare the black
colours, and his scutcheon was the three burning thunderbolts.
The second captain was Captain Conviction; to him also were given ten
thousand men. His ensign’s name was Mr. Sorrow; he did bear the pale
colours, and his scutcheon was the book of the law wide open, from whence
issued a flame of fire.
The third captain was Captain Judgment; to him were given ten thousand
men. His ensign’s name was Mr. Terror; he bare the red colours, and his
scutcheon was a burning fiery furnace.
The fourth captain was Captain Execution; to him were given ten thousand
men. His ensign was one Mr. Justice; he also bare the red colours, and
his scutcheon was a fruitless tree, with an axe lying at the root
thereof.
These four captains, as I said, had every one of them under his command
ten thousand men, all of good fidelity to the King, and stout at their
military actions.
Well, the captains and their forces, their men and under officers, being
had upon a day by Shaddai into the field, and there called all over by
their names, were then and there put into such harness as became their
degree and that service which now they were going about for their King.
Now, when the King had mustered his forces, (for it is he that mustereth
the host to the battle,) he gave unto the captains their several
commissions, with charge and commandment in the audience of all the
soldiers, that they should take heed faithfully and courageously to do
and execute the same. Their commissions were, for the substance of them,
the same in form, though, as to name, title, place and degree of the
captains, there might be some, but very small variation. And here let me
give you an account of the matter and sum contained in their commission.
_A Commission from the great Shaddai_, _King of Mansoul_, _to his
trusty and noble Captain_, _the Captain Boanerges_, _for his making
War upon the town of Mansoul_.
‘O, thou Boanerges, one of my stout and thundering captains over one
ten thousand of my valiant and faithful servants, go thou in my name,
with this thy force, to the miserable town of Mansoul; and when thou
comest thither, offer them first conditions of peace; and command
them that, casting off the yoke and tyranny of the wicked Diabolus,
they return to me, their rightful Prince and Lord. Command them also
that they cleanse themselves from all that is his in the town of
Mansoul, and look to thyself, that thou hast good satisfaction
touching the truth of their obedience. Thus when thou hast commanded
them, (if they in truth submit thereto,) then do thou, to the
uttermost of thy power, what in thee lies to set up for me a garrison
in the famous town of Mansoul; nor do thou hurt the least native that
moveth or breatheth therein, if they will submit themselves to me,
but treat thou such as if they were thy friend or brother; for all
such I love, and they shall be dear unto me, and tell them that I
will take a time to come unto them, and to let them know that I am
merciful.
‘But if they shall, notwithstanding thy summons and the producing of
thy authority, resist, stand out against thee, and rebel, then do I
command thee to make use of all thy cunning, power, might, and force,
to bring them under by strength of hand. Farewell.’
Thus you see the sum of their commissions; for, as I said before, for the
substance of them, they were the same that the rest of the noble captains
had.
Wherefore they, having received each commander his authority at the hand
of their King, the day being appointed, and the place of their rendezvous
prefixed, each commander appeared in such gallantry as became his cause
and calling. So, after a new entertainment from Shaddai, with flying
colours they set forward to march towards the famous town of Mansoul.
Captain Boanerges led the van, Captain Conviction and Captain Judgment
made up the main body, and Captain Execution brought up the rear. They
then, having a great way to go, (for the town of Mansoul was far off from
the court of Shaddai,) marched through the regions and countries of many
people, not hurting or abusing any, but blessing wherever they came.
They also lived upon the King’s cost in all the way they went.
Having travelled thus for many days, at last they came within sight of
Mansoul; the which when they saw, the captains could for their hearts do
no less than for a while bewail the condition of the town; for they
quickly saw how that it was prostrate to the will of Diabolus, and to his
ways and designs.
Well, to be short, the captains came up before the town, march up to
Ear-gate, sit down there (for that was the place of hearing). So, when
they had pitched their tents and entrenched themselves, they addressed
themselves to make their assault.
Now the townsfolk at first, beholding so gallant a company, so bravely
accoutred, and so excellently disciplined, having on their glittering
armour, and displaying of their flying colours, could not but come out of
their houses and gaze. But the cunning fox Diabolus, fearing that the
people, after this sight, should, on a sudden summons, open the gates to
the captains, came down with all haste from the castle, and made them
retire into the body of the town, who, when he had them there, made this
lying and deceivable speech unto them:
‘Gentlemen,’ quoth he, ‘although you are my trusty and well-beloved
friends, yet I cannot but a little chide you for your late uncircumspect
action, in going out to gaze on that great and mighty force that but
yesterday sat down before, and have now entrenched themselves in order to
the maintaining of a siege against the famous town of Mansoul. Do you
know who they are, whence they come, and what is their purpose in sitting
down before the town of Mansoul? They are they of whom I have told you
long ago, that they would come to destroy this town, and against whom I
have been at the cost to arm you with _cap-a-pie_ for your body, besides
great fortifications for your mind. Wherefore, then, did you not rather,
even at the first appearance of them, cry out, “Fire the beacons!” and
give the whole town an alarm concerning them, that we might all have been
in a posture of defence, and been ready to have received them with the
highest acts of defiance? Then had you showed yourselves men to my
liking; whereas, by what you have done, you have made me half afraid—I
say, half afraid—that when they and we shall come to push a pike, I shall
find you want courage to stand it out any longer. Wherefore have I
commanded a watch, and that you should double your guards at the gates?
Wherefore have I endeavoured to make you as hard as iron, and your hearts
as a piece of the nether millstone? Was it, think you, that you might
show yourselves women, and that you might go out like a company of
innocents to gaze on your mortal foes? Fie, fie! put yourselves into a
posture of defence, beat up the drum, gather together in warlike manner,
that our foes may know that, before they shall conquer this corporation,
there are valiant men in the town of Mansoul.
‘I will leave off now to chide, and will not further rebuke you; but I
charge you, that henceforwards you let me see no more such actions. Let
not henceforward a man of you, without order first obtained from me, so
much as show his head over the wall of the town of Mansoul. You have now
heard me; do as I have commanded, and you shall cause me that I dwell
securely with you, and that I take care, as for myself, so for your
safety and honour also. Farewell.’
Now were the townsmen strangely altered; they were as men stricken with a
panic fear; they ran to and fro through the streets of the town of
Mansoul, crying out, ‘Help, help! the men that turn the world upside down
are come hither also.’ Nor could any of them be quiet after; but still,
as men bereft of wit, they cried out, ‘The destroyers of our peace and
people are come.’ This went down with Diabolus. ‘Ah,’ quoth he to
himself, ‘this I like well: now it is as I would have it; now you show
your obedience to your prince. Hold you but here, and then let them take
the town if they can.’
Well, before the King’s forces had sat before Mansoul three days, Captain
Boanerges commanded his trumpeter to go down to Ear-gate, and there, in
the name of the great Shaddai, to summon Mansoul to give audience to the
message that he, in his Master’s name, was to them commanded to deliver.
So the trumpeter, whose name was Take-heed-what-you-hear, went up, as he
was commanded, to Ear-gate, and there sounded his trumpet for a hearing;
but there was none that appeared that gave answer or regard, for so had
Diabolus commanded. So the trumpeter returned to his captain, and told
him what he had done, and also how he had sped; whereat the captain was
grieved, but bid the trumpeter go to his tent.
Again Captain Boanerges sendeth his trumpeter to Ear-gate, to sound as
before for a hearing; but they again kept close, came not out, nor would
they give him an answer, so observant were they of the command of
Diabolus their king.
Then the captains and other field officers called a council of war, to
consider what further was to be done for the gaining of the town of
Mansoul; and, after some close and thorough debate upon the contents of
their commissions, they concluded yet to give to the town, by the hand of
the fore-named trumpeter, another summons to hear; but if that shall be
refused, said they, and that the town shall stand it out still, then they
determined, and bid the trumpeter tell them so, that they would
endeavour, by what means they could, to compel them by force to the
obedience of their King.
So Captain Boanerges commanded his trumpeter to go up to Ear-gate again,
and, in the name of the great King Shaddai, to give it a very loud
summons to come down without delay to Ear-gate, there to give audience to
the King’s most noble captains. So the trumpeter went, and did as he was
commanded: he went up to Ear-gate, and sounded his trumpet, and gave a
third summons to Mansoul. He said, moreover, that if this they should
still refuse to do, the captains of his prince would with might come down
upon them, and endeavour to reduce them to their obedience by force.
Then stood up my Lord Willbewill, who was the governor of the town, (this
Willbewill was that apostate of whom mention was made before,) and the
keeper of the gates of Mansoul. He therefore, with big and ruffling
words, demanded of the trumpeter who he was, whence he came, and what was
the cause of his making so hideous a noise at the gate, and speaking such
insufferable words against the town of Mansoul.
The trumpeter answered, ‘I am servant to the most noble captain, Captain
Boanerges, general of the forces of the great King Shaddai, against whom
both thyself, with the whole town of Mansoul, have rebelled, and lift up
the heel; and my master, the captain, hath a special message to this
town, and to thee, as a member thereof; the which if you of Mansoul shall
peaceably hear, so; and if not, you must take what follows.’
Then said the Lord Willbewill, ‘I will carry thy words to my lord, and
will know what he will say.’
But the trumpeter soon replied, saying. ‘Our message is not to the giant
Diabolus, but to the miserable town of Mansoul; nor shall we at all
regard what answer by him is made, nor yet by any for him. We are sent
to this town to recover it from under his cruel tyranny, and to persuade
it to submit, as in former times it did, to the most excellent King
Shaddai.’
Then said the Lord Willbewill, ‘I will do your errand to the town.’
The trumpeter then replied, ‘Sir, do not deceive us, lest, in so doing,
you deceive yourselves much more.’ He added, moreover, ‘For we are
resolved, if in peaceable manner you do not submit yourselves, then to
make a war upon you, and to bring you under by force. And of the truth
of what I now say, this shall be a sign unto you,—you shall see the black
flag, with its hot, burning thunder-bolts, set upon the mount to-morrow,
as a token of defiance against your prince, and of our resolutions to
reduce you to your Lord and rightful King.’
So the said Lord Willbewill returned from off the wall, and the trumpeter
came into the camp. When the trumpeter was come into the camp, the
captains and officers of the mighty King Shaddai came together to know if
he had obtained a hearing, and what was the effect of his errand. So the
trumpeter told, saying, ‘When I had sounded my trumpet, and had called
aloud to the town for a hearing, my Lord Willbewill, the governor of the
town, and he that hath charge of the gates, came up when he heard me
sound, and, looking over the wall, he asked me what I was, whence I came,
and what was the cause of my making this noise. So I told him my errand,
and by whose authority I brought it. “Then,” said he, “I will tell it to
the governor and to Mansoul;” and then I returned to my lords.’
Then said the brave Boanerges, ‘Let us yet for a while lie still in our
trenches, and see what these rebels will do.’
Now when the time drew nigh that audience by Mansoul must be given to the
brave Boanerges and his companions, it was commanded that all the men of
war throughout the whole camp of Shaddai should as one man stand to their
arms, and make themselves ready, if the town of Mansoul shall hear, to
receive it forthwith to mercy; but if not, to force a subjection. So the
day being come, the trumpeters sounded, and that throughout the whole
camp, that the men of war might be in a readiness for that which then
should be the work of the day. But when they that were in the town of
Mansoul heard the sound of the trumpets throughout the camp of Shaddai,
and thinking no other but that it must be in order to storm the
corporation, they at first were put to great consternation of spirit; but
after they a little were settled again, they also made what preparation
they could for a war, if they did storm; else, to secure themselves.
Well, when the utmost time was come, Boanerges was resolved to hear their
answer; wherefore he sent out his trumpeter again to summon Mansoul to a
hearing of the message that they had brought from Shaddai.
So he went and sounded, and the townsmen came up, but made Ear-gate as
sure as they could. Now when they were come up to the top of the wall,
Captain Boanerges desired to see the Lord Mayor; but my Lord Incredulity
was then Lord Mayor, for he came in the room of my Lord Lustings. So
Incredulity came up and showed himself over the wall; but when the
Captain Boanerges had set his eyes upon him, he cried out aloud, ‘This is
not he: where is my Lord Understanding, the ancient Lord Mayor of the
town of Mansoul? for to him I would deliver my message.’
Then said the giant (for Diabolus was also come down) to the captain,
‘Mr. Captain, you have by your boldness given to Mansoul at least four
summonses to subject herself to your King, by whose authority I know not,
nor will I dispute that now. I ask, therefore, what is the reason of all
this ado, or what would you be at if you knew yourselves?’
Then Captain Boanerges, whose were the black colours, and whose scutcheon
was the three burning thunderbolts, taking no notice of the giant or of
his speech, thus addressed himself to the town of Mansoul: ‘Be it known
unto you, O unhappy and rebellious Mansoul, that the most gracious King,
the great King Shaddai, my Master, hath sent me unto you with commission’
(and so he showed to the town his broad seal) ‘to reduce you to his
obedience; and he hath commanded me, in case you yield upon my summons,
to carry it to you as if you were my friends or brethren; but he also
hath bid, that if, after summons to submit you still stand out and rebel,
we should endeavour to take you by force.’
Then stood forth Captain Conviction, and said, (his were the pale
colours, and for a scutcheon he had the book of the law wide open, etc.,)
‘Hear, O Mansoul! Thou, O Mansoul, wast once famous for innocency, but
now thou art degenerated into lies and deceit. Thou hast heard what my
brother, the Captain Boanerges, hath said; and it is your wisdom, and
will be your happiness, to stoop to, and accept of conditions of peace
and mercy when offered, specially when offered by one against whom thou
hast rebelled, and one who is of power to tear thee in pieces, for so is
Shaddai, our King; nor, when he is angry, can anything stand before him.
If you say you have not sinned, or acted rebellion against our King, the
whole of your doings since the day that you cast off his service (and
there was the beginning of your sin) will sufficiently testify against
you. What else means your hearkening to the tyrant, and your receiving
him for your king? What means else your rejecting of the laws of
Shaddai, and your obeying of Diabolus? Yea, what means this your taking
up of arms against, and the shutting of your gates upon us, the faithful
servants of your King? Be ruled then, and accept of my brother’s
invitation, and overstand not the time of mercy, but agree with thine
adversary quickly. Ah, Mansoul! suffer not thyself to be kept from
mercy, and to be run into a thousand miseries, by the flattering wiles of
Diabolus. Perhaps that piece of deceit may attempt to make you believe
that we seek our own profit in this our service, but know it is obedience
to our King, and love to your happiness, that is the cause of this
undertaking of ours.
‘Again I say to thee, O Mansoul, consider if it be not amazing grace that
Shaddai should so humble himself as he doth: now he, by us, reasons with
you, in a way of entreaty and sweet persuasions, that you would subject
yourselves to him. Has he that need of you that we are sure you have of
him? No, no; but he is merciful, and will not that Mansoul should die,
but turn to him and live.’
Then stood forth Captain Judgment, whose were the red colours, and for a
scutcheon he had the burning fiery furnace, and he said, ‘O ye, the
inhabitants of the town of Mansoul, that have lived so long in rebellion
and acts of treason against the King Shaddai, know that we come not
to-day to this place, in this manner, with our message of our own minds,
or to revenge our own quarrel; it is the King, my Master, that hath sent
us to reduce you to your obedience to him; the which if you refuse in a
peaceable way to yield, we have commission to compel you thereto. And
never think of yourselves, nor yet suffer the tyrant Diabolus to persuade
you to think, that our King, by his power, is not able to bring you down,
and to lay you under his feet; for he is the former of all things, and if
he touches the mountains, they smoke. Nor will the gate of the King’s
clemency stand always open; for the day that shall burn like an oven is
before him; yea, it hasteth greatly, it slumbereth not.
‘O Mansoul, is it little in thine eyes that our King doth offer thee
mercy, and that after so many provocations? Yea, he still holdeth out
his golden sceptre to thee, and will not yet suffer his gate to be shut
against thee: wilt thou provoke him to do it? If so, consider of what I
say; to thee it is opened no more for ever. If thou sayest thou shalt
not see him, yet judgment is before him; therefore trust thou in him.
Yea, because there is wrath, beware lest he take thee away with his
stroke; then a great ransom cannot deliver thee. Will he esteem thy
riches? No, not gold, nor all the forces of strength. He hath prepared
his throne for judgment, for he will come with fire, and with his
chariots like a whirlwind, to render his anger with fury, and his rebukes
with flames of fire. Therefore, O Mansoul, take heed lest, after thou
hast fulfilled the judgment of the wicked, justice and judgment should
take hold of thee.’
Now while the Captain Judgment was making this oration to the town of
Mansoul, it was observed by some that Diabolus trembled; but he proceeded
in his parable and said, ‘O thou woful town of Mansoul, wilt thou not yet
set open thy gate to receive us, the deputies of thy King, and those that
would rejoice to see thee live? Can thine heart endure, or can thy hands
be strong, in the day that he shall deal in judgment with thee? I say,
canst thou endure to be forced to drink, as one would drink sweet wine,
the sea of wrath that our King has prepared for Diabolus and his angels?
Consider, betimes consider.’
Then stood forth the fourth captain, the noble Captain Execution, and
said, ‘O town of Mansoul, once famous, but now like the fruitless bough,
once the delight of the high ones, but now a den for Diabolus, hearken
also to me, and to the words that I shall speak to thee in the name of
the great Shaddai. Behold, the axe is laid to the root of the trees:
every tree, therefore, that bringeth not forth good fruit, is hewn down
and cast into the fire.
‘Thou, O town of Mansoul, hast hitherto been this fruitless tree; thou
bearest nought but thorns and briars. Thy evil fruit bespeaks thee not
to be a good tree; thy grapes are grapes of gall, thy clusters are
bitter. Thou hast rebelled against thy King; and, lo! we, the power and
force of Shaddai, are the axe that is laid to thy root. What sayest
thou? Wilt thou turn? I say again, tell me, before the first blow is
given, wilt thou turn? Our axe must first be laid _to_ thy root before
it be laid _at_ thy root; it must first be laid _to_ thy root in a way of
threatening, before it is laid _at_ thy root by way of execution; and
between these two is required thy repentance, and this is all the time
that thou hast. What wilt thou do? Wilt thou turn, or shall I smite?
If I fetch my blow, Mansoul, down you go; for I have commission to lay my
axe _at_ as well as _to_ thy roots, nor will anything but yielding to our
King prevent doing of execution. What art thou fit for, O Mansoul, if
mercy preventeth not, but to be hewn down, and cast into the fire and
burned?
‘O Mansoul, patience and forbearance do not act for ever: a year, or two,
or three, they may; but if thou provoke by a three years’ rebellion, (and
thou hast already done more than this,) then what follows but, ‘Cut it
down’? nay, ‘After that thou shalt cut it down.’ And dost thou think
that these are but threatenings, or that our King has not power to
execute his words? O Mansoul, thou wilt find that in the words of our
King, when they are by sinners made little or light of, there is not only
threatening, but burning coals of fire.
‘Thou hast been a cumber-ground long already, and wilt thou continue so
still? Thy sin has brought this army to thy walls, and shall it bring it
in judgment to do execution into thy town? Thou hast heard what the
captains have said, but as yet thou shuttest thy gates. Speak out,
Mansoul; wilt thou do so still, or wilt thou accept of conditions of
peace?’
These brave speeches of these four noble captains the town of Mansoul
refused to hear; yet a sound thereof did beat against Ear-gate, though
the force thereof could not break it open. In fine, the town desired a
time to prepare their answer to these demands. The captains then told
them, that if they would throw out to them one Ill-Pause that was in the
town, that they might reward him according to his works, then they would
give them time to consider; but if they would not cast him to them over
the wall of Mansoul, then they would give them none; ‘for,’ said they,
‘we know that, so long as Ill-Pause draws breath in Mansoul, all good
consideration will be confounded, and nothing but mischief will come
thereon.’
Then Diabolus, who was there present, being loath to lose his Ill-Pause,
because he was his orator, (and yet be sure he had, could the captains
have laid their fingers on him,) was resolved at this instant to give
them answer by himself; but then changing his mind, he commanded the then
Lord Mayor, the Lord Incredulity, to do it, saying, ‘My lord, do you give
these runagates an answer, and speak out, that Mansoul may hear and
understand you.’
So Incredulity, at Diabolus’ command, began, and said, ‘Gentlemen, you
have here, as we do behold, to the disturbance of our prince and the
molestation of the town of Mansoul, camped against it: but from whence
you come, we will not know; and what you are, we will not believe.
Indeed, you tell us in your terrible speech that you have this authority
from Shaddai, but by what right he commands you to do it, of that we
shall yet be ignorant.
‘You have also, by the authority aforesaid, summoned this town to desert
her lord, and, for protection, to yield up herself to the great Shaddai,
your King; flatteringly telling her, that if she will do it, he will pass
by and not charge her with her past offences.
‘Further, you have also, to the terror of the town of Mansoul, threatened
with great and sore destructions to punish this corporation, if she
consents not to do as your wills would have her.
‘Now, captains, from whencesoever you come, and though your designs be
ever so right, yet know ye that neither my Lord Diabolus, nor I, his
servant, Incredulity, nor yet our brave Mansoul, doth regard either your
persons, message, or the King that you say hath sent you. His power, his
greatness, his vengeance, we fear not; nor will we yield at all to your
summons.
‘As for the war that you threaten to make upon us, we must therein defend
ourselves as well as we can; and know ye, that we are not without
wherewithal to bid defiance to you; and, in short, (for I will not be
tedious,) I tell you, that we take you to be some vagabond runagate crew,
that having shaken off all obedience to your King, have gotten together
in tumultuous manner, and are ranging from place to place to see if,
through the flatteries you are skilled to make on the one side, and
threats wherewith you think to fright on the other, to make some silly
town, city, or country, desert their place, and leave it to you; but
Mansoul is none of them.
‘To conclude: we dread you not, we fear you not, nor will we obey your
summons. Our gates we will shut upon you, our place we will keep you out
of. Nor will we long thus suffer you to sit down before us: our people
must live in quiet: your appearance doth disturb them. Wherefore arise
with bag and baggage, and begone, or we will let fly from the walls
against you.’
This oration, made by old Incredulity, was seconded by desperate
Willbewill, in words to this effect: ‘Gentlemen, we have heard your
demands, and the noise of your threats, and have heard the sound of your
summons; but we fear not your force, we regard not your threats, but will
still abide as you found us. And we command you, that in three days’
time you cease to appear in these parts, or you shall know what it is
once to dare offer to rouse the lion Diabolus when asleep in his town of
Mansoul.’
The Recorder, whose name was Forget-Good, he also added as followeth:
‘Gentlemen, my lords, as you see, have with mild and gentle words
answered your rough and angry speeches: they have, moreover, in my
hearing, given you leave quietly to depart as you came; wherefore, take
their kindness and be gone. We might have come out with force upon you,
and have caused you to feel the dint of our swords; but as we love ease
and quiet ourselves, so we love not to hurt or molest others.’
Then did the town of Mansoul shout for joy, as if by Diabolus and his
crew some great advantage had been gotten of the captains. They also
rang the bells, and made merry, and danced upon the walls.
Diabolus also returned to the castle, and the Lord Mayor and Recorder to
their place; but the Lord Willbewill took special care that the gates
should be secured with double guards, double bolts, and double locks and
bars; and that Ear-gate especially might the better be looked to, for
that was the gate in at which the King’s forces sought most to enter.
The Lord Willbewill made one old Mr. Prejudice, an angry and
ill-conditioned fellow, captain of the ward at that gate, and put under
his power sixty men, called deaf men; men advantageous for that service,
forasmuch as they mattered no words of the captains, nor of the soldiers.
Now when the captains saw the answer of the great ones, and that they
could not get a hearing from the old natives of the town, and that
Mansoul was resolved to give the King’s army battle, they prepared
themselves to receive them, and to try it out by the power of the arm.
And, first, they made their force more formidable against Ear-gate; for
they knew that, unless they could penetrate that, no good could be done
upon the town. This done, they put the rest of their men in their
places; after which, they gave out the word, which was, ‘YE MUST BE BORN
AGAIN.’ Then they sounded the trumpet; then they in the town made them
answer, with shout against shout, charge against charge, and so the
battle began. Now they in the town had planted upon the tower over
Ear-gate two great guns, the one called High-mind, and the other Heady.
Unto these two guns they trusted much; they were cast in the castle by
Diabolus’ founder, whose name was Mr. Puff-up, and mischievous pieces
they were. But so vigilant and watchful, when the captains saw them,
were they, that though sometimes their shot would go by their ears with a
whiz, yet they did them no harm. By these two guns the townsfolk made no
question but greatly to annoy the camp of Shaddai, and well enough to
secure the gate; but they had not much cause to boast of what execution
they did, as by what follows will be gathered.
The famous Mansoul had also some other small pieces in it, of the which
they made use against the camp of Shaddai.
They from the camp also did as stoutly, and with as much of that as may
in truth be called valour, let fly as fast at the town and at Ear-gate;
for they saw that, unless they could break open Ear-gate, it would be but
in vain to batter the wall. Now the King’s captains had brought with
them several slings, and two or three battering-rams; with their slings,
therefore, they battered the houses and people of the town, and with
their rams they sought to break Ear-gate open.
The camp and the town had several skirmishes and brisk encounters, while
the captains with their engines made many brave attempts to break open or
beat down the tower that was over Ear-gate, and at the said gate to make
their entrance; but Mansoul stood it out so lustily, through the rage of
Diabolus, the valour of the Lord Willbewill, and the conduct of old
Incredulity, the Mayor, and Mr. Forget-Good, the Recorder, that the
charge and expense of that summer’s wars, on the King’s side, seemed to
be almost quite lost, and the advantage to return to Mansoul. But when
the captains saw how it was they made a fair retreat, and entrenched
themselves in their winter quarters. Now, in this war, you must needs
think there was much loss on both sides, of which be pleased to accept of
this brief account following.
The King’s captains, when they marched from the court to come up against
Mansoul to war, as they came crossing over the country, they happened to
light upon three young fellows that had a mind to go for soldiers: proper
men they were, and men of courage and skill, to appearance. Their names
were Mr. Tradition, Mr. Human-Wisdom, and Mr. Man’s-Invention. So they
came up to the captains, and proffered their service to Shaddai. The
captains then told them of their design, and bid them not to be rash in
their offers; but the young men told them they had considered the thing
before, and that hearing they were upon their march for such a design,
came hither on purpose to meet them, that they might be listed under
their excellencies. Then Captain Boanerges, for that they were men of
courage, listed them into his company, and so away they went to the war.
Now, when the war was begun, in one of the briskest skirmishes, so it
was, that a company of the Lord Willbewill’s men sallied out at the
sallyport or postern of the town, and fell in upon the rear of Captain
Boanerges’ men, where these three fellows happened to be; so they took
them prisoners, and away they carried them into the town, where they had
not lain long in durance, but it began to be noised about the streets of
the town what three notable prisoners the Lord Willbewill’s men had
taken, and brought in prisoners out of the camp of Shaddai. At length
tidings thereof were carried to Diabolus to the castle, to wit what my
Lord Willbewill’s men had done, and whom they had taken prisoners.
Then Diabolus called for Willbewill, to know the certainty of this
matter. So he asked him, and he told him. Then did the giant send for
the prisoners, and, when they were come, demanded of them who they were,
whence they came, and what they did in the camp of Shaddai; and they told
him. Then he sent them to ward again. Not many days after, he sent for
them to him again, and then asked them if they would be willing to serve
him against their former captains. They then told him that they did not
so much live by religion as by the fates of fortune; and that since his
lordship was willing to entertain them, they should be willing to serve
him. Now while things were thus in hand, there was one Captain Anything,
a great doer, in the town of Mansoul; and to this Captain Anything did
Diabolus send these men, and a note under his hand, to receive them into
his company, the contents of which letter were thus:
‘Anything, my darling,—The three men that are the bearers of this letter
have a desire to serve me in the war; nor know I better to whose conduct
to commit them than to thine. Receive them, therefore, in my name, and,
as need shall require, make use of them against Shaddai and his men.
Farewell.’
So they came, and he received them; and he made of two of them sergeants;
but he made Mr. Man’s-Invention his ancient-bearer. But thus much for
this, and now to return to the camp.
They of the camp did also some execution upon the town; for they did beat
down the roof of the Lord Mayor’s house, and so laid him more open than
he was before. They had almost, with a sling, slain my Lord Willbewill
outright; but he made a shift to recover again. But they made a notable
slaughter among the aldermen, for with one only shot they cut off six of
them; to wit, Mr. Swearing, Mr. Whoring, Mr. Fury, Mr. Stand-to-Lies, Mr.
Drunkenness, and Mr. Cheating.
They also dismounted the two guns that stood upon the tower over
Ear-gate, and laid them flat in the dirt. I told you before that the
King’s noble captains had drawn off to their winter quarters, and had
there entrenched themselves and their carriages, so as with the best
advantage to their King, and the greatest annoyance to the enemy, they
might give seasonable and warm alarms to the town of Mansoul. And this
design of them did so hit, that I may say they did almost what they would
to the molestation of the corporation. For now could not Mansoul sleep
securely as before, nor could they now go to their debaucheries with that
quietness as in times past; for they had from the camp of Shaddai such
frequent, warm, and terrifying alarms, yea, alarms upon alarms, first at
one gate and then at another, and again at all the gates at once, that
they were broken as to former peace. Yea, they had their alarms so
frequently, and that when the nights were at longest, the weather
coldest, and so consequently the season most unseasonable, that that
winter was to the town of Mansoul a winter by itself. Sometimes the
trumpets would sound, and sometimes the slings would whirl the stones
into the town. Sometimes ten thousand of the King’s soldiers would be
running round the walls of Mansoul at midnight, shouting and lifting up
the voice for the battle. Sometimes, again, some of them in the town
would be wounded, and their cry and lamentable voice would be heard, to
the great molestation of the now languishing town of Mansoul. Yea, so
distressed with those that laid siege against them were they, that, I
dare say, Diabolus, their king, had in these days his rest much broken.
In these days, as I was informed, new thoughts, and thoughts that began
to run counter one to another, began to possess the minds of the men of
the town of Mansoul. Some would say, ‘There is no living thus.’ Others
would then reply, ‘This will be over shortly.’ Then would a third stand
up and answer, ‘Let us turn to the King Shaddai, and so put an end to
these troubles.’ And a fourth would come in with a fear, saying, ‘I
doubt he will not receive us.’ The old gentleman, too, the Recorder,
that was so before Diabolus took Mansoul, he also began to talk aloud,
and his words were now to the town of Mansoul as if they were great claps
of thunder. No noise now so terrible to Mansoul as was his, with the
noise of the soldiers and shoutings of the captains.
Also things began to grow scarce in Mansoul; now the things that her soul
lusted after were departing from her. Upon all her pleasant things there
was a blast, and burning instead of beauty. Wrinkles now, and some shows
of the shadow of death, were upon the inhabitants of Mansoul. And now, O
how glad would Mansoul have been to have enjoyed quietness and
satisfaction of mind, though joined with the meanest condition in the
world!
The captains also, in the deep of this winter, did send by the mouth of
Boanerges’ trumpeter a summons to Mansoul to yield up herself to the
King, the great King Shaddai. They sent it once, and twice, and thrice;
not knowing but that at some times there might be in Mansoul some
willingness to surrender up themselves unto them, might they but have the
colour of an invitation to do it under. Yea, so far as I could gather,
the town had been surrendered up to them before now, had it not been for
the opposition of old Incredulity, and the fickleness of the thoughts of
my Lord Willbewill. Diabolus also began to rave; wherefore Mansoul, as
to yielding, was not yet all of one mind; therefore they still lay
distressed under these perplexing fears.
I told you but now that they of the King’s army had this winter sent
three times to Mansoul to submit herself.
The first time the trumpeter went he went with words of peace, telling
them that the captains, the noble captains of Shaddai, did pity and
bewail the misery of the now perishing town of Mansoul, and were troubled
to see them so much to stand in the way of their own deliverance. He
said, moreover, that the captains bid him tell them, that if now poor
Mansoul would humble herself and turn, her former rebellions and most
notorious treasons should by their merciful King be forgiven them, yea,
and forgotten too. And having bid them beware that they stood not in
their own way, that they opposed not themselves, nor made themselves
their own losers, he returned again into the camp.
The second time the trumpeter went, he did treat them a little more
roughly; for, after sound of trumpet, he told them that their continuing
in their rebellion did but chafe and heat the spirit of the captains, and
that they were resolved to make a conquest of Mansoul, or to lay their
bones before the town walls.
He went again the third time, and dealt with them yet more roughly;
telling them that now, since they had been so horribly profane, he did
not know, not certainly know, whether the captains were inclining to
mercy or judgment. ‘Only,’ said he, ‘they commanded me to give you a
summons to open the gates unto them.’ So he returned, and went into the
camp.
These three summonses, and especially the last two, did so distress the
town that they presently call a consultation, the result of which was
this—That my Lord Willbewill should go up to Ear-gate, and there, with
sound of trumpet, call to the captains of the camp for a parley. Well,
the Lord Willbewill sounded upon the wall; so the captains came up in
their harness, with their ten thousands at their feet. The townsmen then
told the captains that they had heard and considered their summons, and
would come to an agreement with them, and with their King Shaddai, upon
such certain terms, articles, and propositions as, with and by the order
of their prince, they to them were appointed to propound; to wit, they
would agree upon these grounds to be one people with them.
1. If that those of their own company, as the now Lord Mayor and their
Mr. Forget-Good, with then brave Lord Willbewill, might, under Shaddai,
be still the governors of the town, castle, and gates of Mansoul.
2. Provided that no man that now serveth under their great giant Diabolus
be by Shaddai cast out of house, harbour, or the freedom that he hath
hitherto enjoyed in the famous town of Mansoul.
3. That it shall be granted them, that they of the town of Mansoul shall
enjoy certain of their rights and privileges; to wit, such as have
formerly been granted them, and that they have long lived in the
enjoyment of, under the reign of their king Diabolus, that now is, and
long has been, their only lord and great defender.
4. That no new law, officer, or executioner of law or office, shall have
any power over them, without their own choice and consent.
‘These be our propositions, or conditions of peace; and upon these
terms,’ said they, ‘we will submit to your King.’
But when the captains had heard this weak and feeble offer of the town of
Mansoul, and their high and bold demands, they made to them again, by
their noble captain, the Captain Boanerges, this speech following:
‘O ye inhabitants of the town of Mansoul, when I heard your trumpet sound
for a parley with us, I can truly say I was glad; but when you said you
were willing to submit yourselves to our King and Lord, then I was yet
more glad; but when, by your silly provisos and foolish cavils, you laid
the stumbling-block of your iniquity before your own faces, then was my
gladness turned into sorrows, and my hopeful beginnings of your return,
into languishing fainting fears.
‘I count that old Ill-Pause, the ancient enemy of Mansoul, did draw up
those proposals that now you present us with as terms of an agreement;
but they deserve not to be admitted to sound in the ear of any man that
pretends to have service for Shaddai. We do therefore jointly, and that
with the highest disdain, refuse and reject such things, as the greatest
of iniquities.
‘But, O Mansoul, if you will give yourselves into our hands, or rather
into the hands of our King, and will trust him to make such terms with
and for you as shall seem good in his eyes, (and I dare say they shall be
such as you shall find to be most profitable to you,) then we will
receive you, and be at peace with you; but if you like not to trust
yourselves in the arms of Shaddai our King, then things are but where
they were before, and we know also what we have to do.’
Then cried out old Incredulity, the Lord Mayor, and said, ‘And who, being
out of the hands of their enemies, as ye see we are now, will be so
foolish as to put the staff out of their own hands into the hands of they
know not who? I, for my part, will never yield to so unlimited a
proposition. Do we know the manner and temper of their King? It is said
by some that he will be angry with his subjects if but the breadth of an
hair they chance to step out of the way; and by others, that he requireth
of them much more than they can perform. Wherefore, it seems, O Mansoul,
to be thy wisdom to take good heed what thou dost in this matter; for if
you once yield, you give up yourselves to another, and so you are no more
your own. Wherefore, to give up yourselves to an unlimited power, is the
greatest folly in the world; for now you indeed may repent, but can never
justly complain. But do you indeed know, when you are his, which of you
he will kill, and which of you he will save alive; or whether he will not
cut off every one of us, and send out of his own country another new
people, and cause them to inhabit this town?’
This speech of the Lord Mayor undid all, and threw flat to the ground
their hopes of an accord. Wherefore the captains returned to their
trenches, to their tents, and to their men, as they were; and the Mayor
to the castle and to his King.
Now Diabolus had waited for his return, for he had heard that they had
been at their points. So, when he was come into the chamber of state,
Diabolus saluted him with—‘Welcome, my lord. How went matters betwixt
you to-day?’ So the Lord Incredulity, with a low congee, told him the
whole of the matter, saying, ‘Thus and thus said the captains of Shaddai,
and thus and thus said I.’ The which when it was told to Diabolus, he
was very glad to hear it, and said, ‘My Lord Mayor, my faithful
Incredulity, I have proved thy fidelity above ten times already, but
never yet found thee false. I do promise thee, if we rub over this
brunt, to prefer thee to a place of honour, a place far better than to be
Lord Mayor of Mansoul. I will make thee my universal deputy, and thou
shalt, next to me, have all nations under thy hand; yea, and thou shalt
lay bands upon them, that they may not resist thee; nor shall any of our
vassals walk more at liberty, but those that shall be content to walk in
thy fetters.’
Now came the Lord Mayor out from Diabolus, as if he had obtained a favour
indeed. Wherefore to his habitation he goes in great state, and thinks
to feed himself well enough with hopes, until the time came that his
greatness should be enlarged.
But now, though the Lord Mayor and Diabolus did thus well agree, yet this
repulse to the brave captains put Mansoul into a mutiny. For while old
Incredulity went into the castle to congratulate his lord with what had
passed, the old Lord Mayor, that was so before Diabolus came to the town,
to wit, my Lord Understanding, and the old Recorder, Mr. Conscience,
getting intelligence of what had passed at Ear-gate, (for you must know
that they might not be suffered to be at that debate, lest they should
then have mutinied for the captains; but, I say, they got intelligence of
what had passed there, and were much concerned therewith,) wherefore
they, getting some of the town together, began to possess them with the
reasonableness of the noble captains’ demands, and with the bad
consequences that would follow upon the speech of old Incredulity, the
Lord Mayor; to wit how little reverence he showed therein either to the
captains or to their King; also how he implicitly charged them with
unfaithfulness and treachery. ‘For what less,’ quoth they, ‘could be
made of his words, when he said he would not yield to their proposition;
and added, moreover, a supposition that he would destroy us, when before
he had sent us word that he would show us mercy!’ The multitude, being
now possessed with the conviction of the evil that old Incredulity had
done, began to run together by companies in all places, and in every
corner of the streets of Mansoul; and first they began to mutter, then to
talk openly, and after that they run to and fro, and cried as they run,
‘Oh the brave captains of Shaddai! would we were under the government of
the captains, and of Shaddai their King!’ When the Lord Mayor had
intelligence that Mansoul was in an uproar, down he comes to appease the
people, and thought to have quashed their heat with the bigness and the
show of his countenance; but when they saw him, they came running upon
him, and had doubtless done him a mischief, had he not betaken himself to
house. However, they strongly assaulted the house where he was, to have
pulled it down about his ears; but the place was too strong, so they
failed of that. So he, taking some courage, addressed himself, out at a
window, to the people in this manner:
‘Gentlemen, what is the reason that there is here such an uproar to-day?’
Then answered my Lord Understanding, ‘It is even because that thou and
thy master have carried it not rightly, and as you should, to the
captains of Shaddai; for in three things you are faulty. First, in that
you would not let Mr. Conscience and myself be at the hearing of your
discourse. Secondly, in that you propounded such terms of peace to the
captains that by no means could be granted, unless they had intended that
their Shaddai should have been only a titular prince, and that Mansoul
should still have had power by law to have lived in all lewdness and
vanity before him, and so by consequence Diabolus should still here be
king in power, and the other only king in name. Thirdly, for that thou
didst thyself, after the captains had showed us upon what conditions they
would have received us to mercy, even undo all again with thy unsavoury,
unseasonable, and ungodly speech.’
When old Incredulity had heard this speech, he cried out, ‘Treason!
treason! To your arms! to your arms! O ye, the trusty friends of
Diabolus in Mansoul.’
_Und._—Sir, you may put upon my words what meaning you please; but I am
sure that the captains of such an high lord as theirs is, deserved a
better treatment at your hands.
Then said old Incredulity, ‘This is but little better. But, Sir,’ quoth
he, ‘what I spake I spake for my prince, for his government, and the
quieting of the people, whom by your unlawful actions you have this day
set to mutiny against us.’
Then replied the old Recorder, whose name was Mr. Conscience, and said,
‘Sir, you ought not thus to retort upon what my Lord Understanding hath
said. It is evident enough that he hath spoken the truth, and that you
are an enemy to Mansoul. Be convinced, then, of the evil of your saucy
and malapert language, and of the grief that you have put the captains
to; yea, and of the damages that you have done to Mansoul thereby. Had
you accepted of the conditions, the sound of the trumpet and the alarm of
war had now ceased about the town of Mansoul; but that dreadful sound
abides, and your want of wisdom in your speech has been the cause of it.’
Then said old Incredulity, ‘Sir, if I live, I will do your errand to
Diabolus, and there you shall have an answer to your words. Meanwhile we
will seek the good of the town, and not ask counsel of you.’
_Und._—Sir, your prince and you are both foreigners to Mansoul, and not
the natives thereof; and who can tell but that, when you have brought us
into greater straits, (when you also shall see that yourselves can be
safe by no other means than by flight,) you may leave us and shift for
yourselves, or set us on fire, and go away in the smoke, or by the light
of our burning, and so leave us in our ruins?
_Incred._—Sir, you forget that you are under a governor, and that you
ought to demean yourself like a subject; and know ye, when my lord the
king shall hear of this day’s work, he will give you but little thanks
for your labour.
Now while these gentlemen were thus in their chiding words, down come
from the walls and gates of the town the Lord Willbewill, Mr. Prejudice,
old Ill-Pause, and several of the new-made aldermen and burgesses, and
they asked the reason of the hubbub and tumult; and with that every man
began to tell his own tale, so that nothing could be heard distinctly.
Then was a silence commanded, and the old fox Incredulity began to speak.
‘My lord,’ quoth he, ‘here are a couple of peevish gentlemen, that have,
as a fruit of their bad dispositions, and, as I fear, through the advice
of one Mr. Discontent, tumultuously gathered this company against me this
day, and also attempted to run the town into acts of rebellion against
our prince.’
Then stood up all the Diabolonians that were present, and affirmed these
things to be true.
Now when they that took part with my Lord Understanding and with Mr.
Conscience perceived that they were like to come to the worst, for that
force and power was on the other side, they came in for their help and
relief; so a great company was on both sides. Then they on Incredulity’s
side would have had the two old gentlemen presently away to prison; but
they on the other side said they should not. Then they began to cry up
parties again: the Diabolonians cried up old Incredulity, Forget-Good,
the new aldermen, and their great one Diabolus; and the other party, they
as fast cried up Shaddai, the captains, his laws, their mercifulness, and
applauded their conditions and ways. Thus the bickerment went awhile; at
last they passed from words to blows, and now there were knocks on both
sides. The good old gentleman, Mr. Conscience, was knocked down twice by
one of the Diabolonians, whose name was Mr. Benumbing; and my Lord
Understanding had like to have been slain with an arquebuse, but that he
that shot did not take his aim aright. Nor did the other side wholly
escape; for there was one Mr. Rashhead, a Diabolonian, that had his
brains beaten out by Mr. Mind, the Lord Willbewill’s servant; and it made
me laugh to see how old Mr. Prejudice was kicked and tumbled about in the
dirt; for though, a while since, he was made captain of a company of the
Diabolonians, to the hurt and damage of the town, yet now they had got
him under their feet, and, I’ll assure you, he had, by some of the Lord
Understanding’s party, his crown cracked to boot. Mr. Anything also, he
became a brisk man in the broil; but both sides were against him, because
he was true to none. Yet he had, for his malapertness, one of his legs
broken, and he that did it wished it had been his neck. Much more harm
was done on both sides, but this must not be forgotten; it was now a
wonder to see my Lord Willbewill so indifferent as he was: he did not
seem to take one side more than another, only it was perceived that he
smiled to see how old Prejudice was tumbled up and down in the dirt.
Also, when Captain Anything came halting up before him, he seemed to take
but little notice of him.
Now, when the uproar was over, Diabolus sends for my Lord Understanding
and Mr. Conscience, and claps them both up in prison as the ringleaders
and managers of this most heavy, riotous rout in Mansoul. So now the
town began to be quiet again, and the prisoners were used hardly; yea, he
thought to have made them away, but that the present juncture did not
serve for that purpose, for that war was in all their gates.
But let us return again to our story. The captains, when they were gone
back from the gate, and were come into the camp again, called a council
of war, to consult what was further for them to do. Now, some said, ‘Let
us go up presently, and fall upon the town;’ but the greatest part
thought rather better it would be to give them another summons to yield;
and the reason why they thought this to be best was, because that, so far
as could be perceived, the town of Mansoul now was more inclinable than
heretofore. ‘And if,’ said they, ‘while some of them are in a way of
inclination, we should by ruggedness give them distaste, we may set them
further from closing with our summons than we would be willing they
should.’ Wherefore to this advice they agreed, and called a trumpeter,
put words into his mouth, set him his time, and bid him God speed. Well,
many hours were not expired before the trumpeter addressed himself to his
journey. Wherefore, coming up to the wall of the town, he steereth his
course to Ear-gate, and there sounded, as he was commanded. They then
that were within came out to see what was the matter, and the trumpeter
made them this speech following:
‘O hard-hearted and deplorable town of Mansoul, how long wilt thou love
thy sinful, sinful simplicity, and, ye fools, delight in your scorning?
As yet despise you the offers of peace and deliverance? As yet will ye
refuse the golden offers of Shaddai, and trust to the lies and falsehoods
of Diabolus? Think you, when Shaddai shall have conquered you, that the
remembrance of these your carriages towards him will yield you peace and
comfort, or that by ruffling language you can make him afraid as a
grasshopper? Doth he entreat you for fear of you? Do you think that you
are stronger than he? Look to the heavens, and behold and consider the
stars, how high are they? Can you stop the sun from running his course,
and hinder the moon from giving her light? Can you count the number of
the stars, or stay the bottles of heaven? Can you call for the waters of
the sea, and cause them to cover the face of the ground? Can you behold
every one that is proud, and abase him, and bind their faces in secret?
Yet these are some of the works of our King, in whose name this day we
come up unto you, that you may be brought under his authority. In his
name, therefore, I summon you again to yield up yourselves to his
captains.’
At this summons the Mansoulians seemed to be at a stand, and knew not
what answer to make. Wherefore Diabolus forthwith appeared, and took
upon him to do it himself; and thus he begins, but turns his speech to
them of Mansoul.
‘Gentlemen,’ quoth he, ‘and my faithful subjects, if it is true that this
summoner hath said concerning the greatness of their King, by his terror
you will always be kept in bondage, and so be made to sneak. Yea, how
can you now, though he is at a distance, endure to think of such a mighty
one? And if not to think of him while at a distance, how can you endure
to be in his presence? I, your prince, am familiar with you, and you may
play with me as you would with a grasshopper. Consider, therefore, what
is for your profit, and remember the immunities that I have granted you.
‘Farther, if all be true that this man hath said, how comes it to pass
that the subjects of Shaddai are so enslaved in all places where they
come? None in the universe so unhappy as they, none so trampled upon as
they.
‘Consider, my Mansoul: would thou wert as loath to leave me as I am loath
to leave thee. But consider, I say, the ball is yet at thy foot; liberty
you have, if you know how to use it; yea, a king you have too, if you can
tell how to love and obey him.’
Upon this speech, the town of Mansoul did again harden their hearts yet
more against the captains of Shaddai. The thoughts of his greatness did
quite quash them, and the thoughts of his holiness sunk them in despair.
Wherefore, after a short consult, they (of the Diabolonian party they
were) sent back this word by the trumpeter, That, for their parts, they
were resolved to stick to their king, but never to yield to Shaddai; so
it was but in vain to give them any further summons, for they had rather
die upon the place than yield. And now things seemed to be gone quite
back, and Mansoul to be out of reach or call, yet the captains who knew
what their Lord could do, would not yet be beat out of heart; they
therefore sent them another summons, more sharp and severe than the last;
but the oftener they were sent to, to reconcile to Shaddai, the further
off they were. ‘As they called them, so they went from them—yea, though
they called them to the Most High.’
So they ceased that way to deal with them any more, and inclined to think
of another way. The captains, therefore, did gather themselves together,
to have free conference among themselves, to know what was yet to be done
to gain the town, and to deliver it from the tyranny of Diabolus; and one
said after this manner, and another after that. Then stood up the right
noble the Captain Conviction, and said, ‘My brethren, mine opinion is
this:
‘First, that we continually play our slings into the town, and keep it in
a continual alarm, molesting them day and night. By thus doing, we shall
stop the growth of their rampant spirit; for a lion may be tamed by
continual molestation.
‘Secondly, this done, I advise that, in the next place, we with one
consent draw up a petition to our Lord Shaddai, by which, after we have
showed our King the condition of Mansoul and of affairs here, and have
begged his pardon for our no better success, we will earnestly implore
his Majesty’s help, and that he will please to send us more force and
power, and some gallant and well-spoken commander to head them, that so
his Majesty may not lose the benefit of these his good beginnings, but
may complete his conquest upon the town of Mansoul.’
To this speech of the noble Captain Conviction they as one man consented,
and agreed that a petition should forthwith be drawn up, and sent by a
fit man away to Shaddai with speed. The contents of the petition were
thus:—
‘Most gracious and glorious King, the Lord of the best world, and the
builder of the town of Mansoul, we have, dread Sovereign, at thy
commandment, put our lives in jeopardy, and at thy bidding made a war
upon the famous town of Mansoul. When we went up against it, we did,
according to our commission, first offer conditions of peace unto it.
But they, great King, set light by our counsel, and would none of our
reproof. They were for shutting their gates, and for keeping us out of
the town. They also mounted their guns, they sallied out upon us, and
have done us what damage they could; but we pursued them with alarm upon
alarm, requiting them with such retribution as was meet, and have done
some execution upon the town.
‘Diabolus, Incredulity, and Willbewill are the great doers against us:
now we are in our winter quarters, but so as that we do yet with an high
hand molest and distress the town.
‘Once, as we think, had we had but one substantial friend in the town,
such as would but have seconded the sound of our summons as they ought,
the people might have yielded themselves; but there were none but enemies
there, nor any to speak in behalf of our Lord to the town. Wherefore,
though we have done as we could, yet Mansoul abides in a state of
rebellion against thee.
‘Now, King of kings, let it please thee to pardon the unsuccessfulness of
thy servants, who have been no more advantageous in so desirable a work
as the conquering of Mansoul is. And send, Lord, as we now desire, more
forces to Mansoul, that it may be subdued; and a man to head them, that
the town may both love and fear.
‘We do not thus speak because we are willing to relinquish the wars, (for
we are for laying of our bones against the place,) but that the town of
Mansoul may be won for thy Majesty. We also pray thy Majesty, for
expedition in this matter, that, after their conquest, we may be at
liberty to be sent about other thy gracious designs. Amen.’
The petition, thus drawn up, was sent away with haste to the King by the
hand of that good man, Mr. Love-to-Mansoul.
When this petition was come to the palace of the King, who should it be
delivered to but to the King’s Son? So he took it and read it, and
because the contents of it pleased him well, he mended, and also in some
things added to the petition himself. So, after he had made such
amendments and additions as he thought convenient, with his own hand, he
carried it in to the King; to whom, when he had with obeisance delivered
it, he put on authority, and spake to it himself.
Now the King, at the sight of the petition, was glad; but how much more,
think you, when it was seconded by his Son! It pleased him also to hear
that his servants who camped against Mansoul were so hearty in the work,
and so steadfast in their resolves, and that they had already got some
ground upon the famous town of Mansoul.
Wherefore the King called to him Emmanuel, his Son, who said, ‘Here am I,
my Father.’ Then said the King, ‘Thou knowest, as I do myself, the
condition of the town of Mansoul, and what we have purposed, and what
thou hast done to redeem it. Come now, therefore, my Son, and prepare
thyself for the war, for thou shalt go to my camp at Mansoul. Thou shalt
also there prosper and prevail, and conquer the town of Mansoul.’
Then said the King’s Son, ‘Thy law is within my heart: I delight to do
thy will. This is the day that I have longed for, and the work that I
have waited for all this while. Grant me, therefore, what force thou
shalt in thy wisdom think meet; and I will go and will deliver from
Diabolus, and from his power, thy perishing town of Mansoul. My heart
has been often pained within me for the miserable town of Mansoul; but
now it is rejoiced, but now it is glad.’
And with that he leaped over the mountains for joy, saying, ‘I have not,
in my heart, thought anything too dear for Mansoul: the day of vengeance
is in mine heart for thee, my Mansoul: and glad am I that thou, my
Father, hast made me the Captain of their salvation. And I will now
begin to plague all those that have been a plague to my town of Mansoul,
and will deliver it from their hand.’
When the King’s Son had said thus to his Father, it presently flew like
lightning round about at court; yea, it there became the only talk what
Emmanuel was to go to do for the famous town of Mansoul. But you cannot
think how the courtiers, too, were taken with this design of the Prince;
yea, so affected were they with this work, and with the justness of the
war, that the highest lord and greatest peer of the kingdom did covet to
have commissions under Emmanuel, to go to help to recover again to
Shaddai the miserable town of Mansoul.
Then was it concluded that some should go and carry tidings to the camp,
that Emmanuel was to come to recover Mansoul, and that he would bring
along with him so mighty, so impregnable a force, that he could not be
resisted. But, oh! how ready were the high ones at court to run like
lackeys to carry these tidings to the camp that was at Mansoul. Now,
when the captains perceived that the King would send Emmanuel his Son,
and that it also delighted the Son to be sent on this errand by the great
Shaddai his Father, they also, to show how they were pleased at the
thoughts of his coming gave a shout that made the earth rend at the sound
thereof. Yea, the mountains did answer again by echo, and Diabolus
himself did totter and shake.
For you must know, that though the town of Mansoul itself was not much,
if at all concerned with the project, (for, alas for them! they were
wofully besotted, for they chiefly regarded their pleasure and their
lusts,) yet Diabolus their governor was; for he had his spies continually
abroad, who brought him intelligence of all things, and they told him
what was doing at court against him, and that Emmanuel would shortly
certainly come with a power to invade him. Nor was there any man at
court, nor peer of the kingdom, that Diabolus so feared as he feared this
Prince; for, if you remember, I showed you before that Diabolus had felt
the weight of his hand already; so that, since it was he that was to
come, this made him the more afraid.
Well, you see how I have told you that the King’s Son was engaged to come
from the court to save Mansoul, and that his Father had made him the
Captain of the forces. The time, therefore, of his setting forth being
now expired, he addressed himself for his march, and taketh with him, for
his power, five noble captains and their forces.
1. The first was that famous captain, the noble Captain Credence. His
were the red colours, and Mr. Promise bare them; and for a scutcheon he
had the holy lamb and golden shield; and he had ten thousand men at his
feet.
2. The second was that famous captain, the Captain Good-Hope. His were
the blue colours; his standard-bearer was Mr. Expectation, and for his
scutcheon he had the three golden anchors; and he had ten thousand men at
his feet.
3. The third was that valiant captain, the Captain Charity. His
standard-bearer was Mr. Pitiful: his were the green colours, and for his
scutcheon he had three naked orphans embraced in the bosom; and he had
ten thousand men at his feet.
4. The fourth was that gallant commander, the Captain Innocent. His
standard-bearer was Mr. Harmless: his were the white colours, and for his
scutcheon he had the three golden doves.
5. The fifth was the truly loyal and well-beloved captain, the Captain
Patience. His standard-bearer was Mr. Suffer-Long: his were the black
colours, and for a scutcheon he had three arrows through the golden
heart.
These were Emmanuel’s captains; these their standard-bearers, their
colours, and their scutcheons; and these the men under their command.
So, as was said, the brave Prince took his march to go to the town of
Mansoul. Captain Credence led the van, and Captain Patience brought up
the rear; so the other three, with their men, made up the main body, the
Prince himself riding in his chariot at the head of them.
But when they set out for their march, oh, how the trumpets sounded,
their armour glittered, and how the colours waved in the wind! The
Prince’s armour was all of gold, and it shone like the sun in the
firmament; the captains’ armour was of proof, and was in appearance like
the glittering stars. There were also some from the court that rode
reformades for the love that they had to the King Shaddai, and for the
happy deliverance of the town of Mansoul.
Emmanuel also, when he had thus set forwards to go to recover the town of
Mansoul, took with him, at the commandment of his Father, fifty-four
battering-rams, and twelve slings to whirl stones withal. Every one of
these was made of pure gold, and these they carried with them, in the
heart and body of their army, all along as they went to Mansoul.
So they marched till they came within less than a league of the town;
there they lay till the first four captains came thither to acquaint them
with matters. Then they took their journey to go to the town of Mansoul,
and unto Mansoul they came; but when the old soldiers that were in the
camp saw that they had new forces to join with, they again gave such a
shout before the walls of the town of Mansoul, that it put Diabolus into
another fright. So they sat down before the town, not now as the other
four captains did, to wit, against the gates of Mansoul only; but they
environed it round on every side, and beset it behind and before; so that
now, let Mansoul look which way it will, it saw force and power lie in
siege against it. Besides, there were mounts cast up against it. The
Mount Gracious was on the one side, and Mount Justice was on the other.
Further, there were several small banks and advance-grounds, as
Plain-Truth Hill and No-Sin Banks, where many of the slings were placed
against the town. Upon Mount Gracious were planted four, and upon Mount
Justice were placed as many, and the rest were conveniently placed in
several parts round about the town. Five of the best battering-rams,
that is, of the biggest of them, were placed upon Mount Hearken, a mount
cast up hard by Ear-gate, with intent to break that open.
Now when the men of the town saw the multitude of the soldiers that were
come up against the place, and the rams and slings, and the mounts on
which they were planted, together with the glittering of the armour and
the waving of their colours, they were forced to shift, and shift, and
again to shift their thoughts; but they hardly changed for thoughts more
stout, but rather for thoughts more faint; for though before they thought
themselves sufficiently guarded, yet now they began to think that no man
knew what would be their hap or lot.
When the good Prince Emmanuel had thus beleaguered Mansoul, in the first
place he hangs out the white flag, which he caused to be set up among the
golden slings that were planted upon Mount Gracious. And this he did for
two reasons: 1. To give notice to Mansoul that he could and would yet be
gracious if they turned to him. 2. And that he might leave them the more
without excuse, should he destroy them, they continuing in their
rebellion.
So the white flag, with the three golden doves in it, was hung out for
two days together, to give them time and space to consider; but they, as
was hinted before, as if they were unconcerned, made no reply to the
favourable signal of the Prince.
Then he commanded, and they set the red flag upon that mount called Mount
Justice. It was the red flag of Captain Judgment, whose scutcheon was
the burning fiery furnace; and this also stood waving before them in the
wind for several days together. But look how they carried it under the
white flag, when that was hung out, so did they also when the red one
was; and yet he took no advantage of them.
Then he commanded again that his servants should hang out the black flag
of defiance against them, whose scutcheon was the three burning
thunderbolts; but as unconcerned was Mansoul at this as at those that
went before. But when the Prince saw that neither mercy nor judgment,
nor execution of judgment, would or could come near the heart of Mansoul,
he was touched with much compunction, and said, ‘Surely this strange
carriage of the town of Mansoul doth rather arise from ignorance of the
manner and feats of war, than from a secret defiance of us, and
abhorrence of their own lives; or if they know the manner of the war of
their own, yet not the rites and ceremonies of the wars in which we are
concerned, when I make wars upon mine enemy Diabolus.’
Therefore he sent to the town of Mansoul, to let them know what he meant
by those signs and ceremonies of the flag; and also to know of them which
of the things they would choose, whether grace and mercy, or judgment and
the execution of judgment. All this while they kept their gates shut
with locks, bolts, and bars, as fast as they could. Their guards also
were doubled, and their watch made as strong as they could. Diabolus
also did pluck up what heart he could, to encourage the town to make
resistance.
The townsmen also made answer to the Prince’s messenger, in substance
according to that which follows:—
‘Great Sir,—As to what, by your messenger, you have signified to us,
whether we will accept of your mercy, or fall by your justice, we are
bound by the law and custom of this place, and can give you no positive
answer; for it is against the law, government, and the prerogative royal
of our king, to make either peace or war without him. But this we will
do,—we will petition that our prince will come down to the wall, and
there give you such treatment as he shall think fit and profitable for
us.’
When the good Prince Emmanuel heard this answer, and saw the slavery and
bondage of the people, and how much content they were to abide in the
chains of the tyrant Diabolus, it grieved him at the heart; and, indeed,
when at any time he perceived that any were contented under the slavery
of the giant, he would be affected with it.
But to return again to our purpose. After the town had carried this news
to Diabolus, and had told him, moreover, that the Prince, that lay in the
leaguer without the wall, waited upon them for an answer, he refused, and
huffed as well as he could; but in heart he was afraid.
Then said he, ‘I will go down to the gates myself, and give him such an
answer as I think fit.’ So he went down to Mouth-gate, and there
addressed himself to speak to Emmanuel, (but in such language as the town
understood not,) the contents whereof were as follows:—
‘O thou great Emmanuel, Lord of all the world, I know thee, that thou art
the Son of the great Shaddai! Wherefore art thou come to torment me, and
to cast me out of my possession? This town of Mansoul, as thou very well
knowest, is mine, and that by a twofold right. 1. It is mine by right of
conquest; I won it in the open field; and shall the prey be taken from
the mighty, or the lawful captive be delivered? 2. This town of Mansoul
is mine also by their subjection. They have opened the gates of their
town unto me; they have sworn fidelity to me, and have openly chosen me
to be their king; they have also given their castle into my hands; yea,
they have put the whole strength of Mansoul under me.
‘Moreover, this town of Mansoul hath disavowed thee, yea, they have cast
thy law, thy name, thy image, and all that is thine, behind their back,
and have accepted and set up in their room my law, my name, my image, and
all that ever is mine. Ask else thy captains, and they will tell thee
that Mansoul hath, in answer to all their summonses, shown love and
loyalty to me, but always disdain, despite, contempt, and scorn to thee
and thine. Now, thou art the Just One and the Holy, and shouldest do no
iniquity. Depart, then, I pray thee, therefore, from me, and leave me to
my just inheritance peaceably.’
This oration was made in the language of Diabolus himself; for although
he can, to every man, speak in their own language, (else he could not
tempt them all as he does,) yet he has a language proper to himself, and
it is the language of the infernal cave, or black pit.
Wherefore the town of Mansoul (poor hearts!) understood him not; nor did
they see how he crouched and cringed while he stood before Emmanuel,
their Prince.
Yea, they all this while took him to be one of that power and force that
by no means could be resisted. Wherefore, while he was thus entreating
that he might have yet his residence there, and that Emmanuel would not
take it from him by force, the inhabitants boasted even of his valour,
saying, ‘Who is able to make war with him?’
Well, when this pretended king had made an end of what he would say,
Emmanuel, the golden Prince, stood up and spake; the contents of whose
words follow:—
‘Thou deceiving one,’ said he, ‘I have, in my Father’s name, in mine own
name, and on the behalf and for the good of this wretched town of
Mansoul, somewhat to say unto thee. Thou pretendest a right, a lawful
right, to the deplorable town of Mansoul, when it is most apparent to all
my Father’s court that the entrance which thou hast obtained in at the
gates of Mansoul was through thy lie and falsehood; thou beliedst my
Father, thou beliedst his law, and so deceivedst the people of Mansoul.
Thou pretendest that the people have accepted thee for their king, their
captain, and right liege lord; but that also was by the exercise of
deceit and guile. Now, if lying, wiliness, sinful craft, and all manner
of horrible hypocrisy, will go in my Father’s court (in which court thou
must be tried) for equity and right, then will I confess unto thee that
thou hast made a lawful conquest. But, alas! what thief, what tyrant,
what devil is there that may not conquer after this sort? But I can make
it appear, O Diabolus, that thou, in all thy pretences to a conquest of
Mansoul, hast nothing of truth to say. Thinkest thou this to be right,
that that didst put the lie upon my Father, and madest him (to Mansoul)
the greatest deluder in the world? And what sayest thou to thy
perverting knowingly the right purport and intent of the law? Was it
good also that thou madest a prey of the innocency and simplicity of the
now miserable town of Mansoul? Yea, thou didst overcome Mansoul by
promising to them happiness in their transgressions against my Father’s
law, when thou knewest, and couldest not but know, hadst thou consulted
nothing but thine own experience, that that was the way to undo them.
Thou hast also thyself, O thou master of enmity, of spite defaced my
Father’s image in Mansoul, and set up thy own in its place, to the great
contempt of my Father, the heightening of thy sin, and to the intolerable
damage of the perishing town of Mansoul.
‘Thou hast, moreover, (as if all these were but little things with thee,)
not only deluded and undone this place, but, by thy lies and fradulent
carriage, hast set them against their own deliverance. How hast thou
stirred them up against my Father’s captains, and made them to fight
against those that were sent of him to deliver them from their bondage!
All these things, and very many more, thou hast done against thy light,
and in contempt of my Father and of his law, yea, and with design to
bring under his displeasure for ever the miserable town of Mansoul. I am
therefore come to avenge the wrong that thou hast done to my Father, and
to deal with thee for the blasphemies wherewith thou hast made poor
Mansoul blaspheme his name. Yea, upon thy head, thou prince of the
infernal cave, will I requite it.
‘As for myself, O Diabolus, I am come against thee by lawful power, and
to take, by strength of hand, this town of Mansoul out of thy burning
fingers; for this town of Mansoul is mine, O Diabolus, and that by
undoubted right, as all shall see that will diligently search the most
ancient and most authentic records, and I will plead my title to it, to
the confusion of thy face.
‘First, for the town of Mansoul, my Father built and did fashion it with
his hand. The palace also that is in the midst of that town, he built it
for his own delight. This town of Mansoul, therefore, is my Father’s,
and that by the best of titles, and he that gainsays the truth of this
must lie against his soul.
‘Secondly, O thou master of the lie, this town of Mansoul is mine.
‘1. For that I am my Father’s heir, his firstborn, and the only delight
of his heart. I am therefore come up against thee in mine own right,
even to recover mine own inheritance out of thine hand.
‘2. But further, as I have a right and title to Mansoul by being my
Father’s heir, so I have also by my Father’s donation. His it was, and
he gave it me; nor have I at any time offended my Father, that he should
take it from me, and give it to thee. Nor have I been forced, by playing
the bankrupt, to sell or set to sale to thee my beloved town of Mansoul.
Mansoul is my desire, my delight, and the joy of my heart. But,
‘3. Mansoul is mine by right of purchase. I have bought it, O Diabolus,
I have bought it to myself. Now, since it was my Father’s and mine, as I
was his heir, and since also I have made it mine by virtue of a great
purchase, it followeth that, by all lawful right, the town of Mansoul is
mine, and that thou art an usurper, a tyrant, and traitor, in thy holding
possession thereof. Now, the cause of my purchasing of it was this:
Mansoul had trespassed against my Father; now my Father had said, that in
the day that they broke his law they should die. Now, it is more
possible for heaven and earth to pass away than for my Father to break
his word. Wherefore when Mansoul had sinned indeed by hearkening to thy
lie, I put in and became a surety to my Father, body for body, and soul
for soul, that I would make amends for Mansoul’s transgressions, and my
Father did accept thereof. So, when the time appointed was come, I gave
body for body, soul for soul, life for life, blood for blood, and so
redeemed my beloved Mansoul.
‘4. Nor did I do this by halves: my Father’s law and justice, that were
both concerned in the threatening upon transgression, are both now
satisfied, and very well content that Mansoul should be delivered.
‘5. Nor am I come out this day against thee, but by commandment of my
Father; it was he that said unto me, “Go down and deliver Mansoul.”
‘Wherefore be it known unto thee, O thou fountain of deceit, and be it
also known to the foolish town of Mansoul, that I am not come against
thee this day without my Father.
‘And now,’ said the golden-headed Prince, ‘I have a word to the town of
Mansoul.’ But so soon as mention was made that he had a word to speak to
the besotted town of Mansoul, the gates were double-guarded, and all men
commanded not to give him audience. So he proceeded and said, ‘O unhappy
town of Mansoul, I cannot but be touched with pity and compassion for
thee. Thou hast accepted of Diabolus for thy king, and art become a
nurse and minister of Diabolonians against thy sovereign Lord. Thy gates
thou hast opened to him, but hast shut them fast against me; thou hast
given him an hearing, but hast stopped thine ears at my cry. He brought
to thee thy destruction, and thou didst receive both him and it: I am
come to thee bringing salvation, but thou regardest me not. Besides,
thou hast, as with sacrilegious hands, taken thyself, with all that was
mine in thee, and hast given all to my foe, and to the greatest enemy my
Father has. You have bowed and subjected yourselves to him, you have
vowed and sworn yourselves to be his. Poor Mansoul! what shall I do unto
thee? Shall I save thee?—shall I destroy thee? What shall I do unto
thee? Shall I fall upon thee, and grind thee to powder, or make thee a
monument of the richest grace? What shall I do unto thee? Hearken,
therefore, thou town of Mansoul, hearken to my word, and thou shalt live.
I am merciful, Mansoul, and thou shalt find me so: shut me not out of thy
gates.
‘O Mansoul, neither is my commission nor inclination at all to do thee
hurt. Why fliest thou so fast from thy friend, and stickest so close to
thine enemy? Indeed, I would have thee, because it becomes thee to be
sorry for thy sin, but do not despair of life; this great force is not to
hurt thee, but to deliver thee from thy bondage, and to reduce thee to
thy obedience.
‘My commission, indeed, is to make a war upon Diabolus thy king, and upon
all Diabolonians with him; for he is the strong man armed that keeps the
house, and I will have him out: his spoils I must divide, his armour I
must take from him, his hold I must cast him out of, and must make it a
habitation for myself. And this, O Mansoul, shall Diabolus know when he
shall be made to follow me in chains, and when Mansoul shall rejoice to
see it so.
‘I could, would I now put forth my might, cause that forthwith he should
leave you and depart; but I have it in my heart so to deal with him, as
that the justice of the war that I shall make upon him may be seen and
acknowledged by all. He hath taken Mansoul by fraud, and keeps it by
violence and deceit, and I will make him bare and naked in the eyes of
all observers.
‘All my words are true. I am mighty to save, and will deliver my Mansoul
out of his hand.’
This speech was intended chiefly for Mansoul, but Mansoul would not have
the hearing of it. They shut up Ear-gate, they barricaded it up, they
kept it locked and bolted, they set a guard thereat, and commanded that
no Mansoulonian should go out to him, nor that any from the camp should
be admitted into the town. All this they did, so horribly had Diabolus
enchanted them to do, and seek to do for him, against their rightful Lord
and Prince; wherefore no man, nor voice, nor sound of man that belonged
to the glorious host, was to come into the town.
So when Emmanuel saw that Mansoul was thus involved in sin, he calls his
army together, (since now also his words were despised,) and gave out a
commandment throughout all his host to be ready against the time
appointed. Now, forasmuch as there was no way lawfully to take the town
of Mansoul but to get in by the gates, and at Ear-gate as the chief,
therefore he commanded his captains and commanders to bring their rams,
their slings and their men, and place them at Eye-gate and Ear-gate, in
order to his taking the town.
When Emmanuel had put all things in a readiness to give Diabolus battle,
he sent again to know of the town of Mansoul, if in peaceable manner they
would yield themselves, or whether they were yet resolved to put him to
try the utmost extremity? They then, together with Diabolus their king,
called a council of war, and resolved upon certain propositions that
should be offered to Emmanuel, if he will accept thereof, so they agreed;
and then the next was, who should be sent on this errand. Now, there was
in the town of Mansoul an old man, a Diabolonian, and his name was Mr.
Loth-to-stoop, a stiff man in his way, and a great doer for Diabolus;
him, therefore, they sent, and put into his mouth what he should say. So
he went and came to the camp to Emmanuel, and when he was come, a time
was appointed to give him audience. So at the time he came, and after a
Diabolonian ceremony or two, he thus began and said, ‘Great sir, that it
may be known unto all men how good-natured a prince my master is, he has
sent me to tell your lordship that he is very willing, rather than go to
war, to deliver up into your hands one half of the town of Mansoul. I am
therefore to know if your Mightiness will accept of this proposition.’
Then said Emmanuel, ‘The whole is mine by gift and purchase, wherefore I
will never lose one half.’
Then said Mr. Loth-to-stoop, ‘Sir, my master hath said that he will be
content that you shall be the nominal and titular Lord of all, if he may
possess but a part.’
Then Emmanuel answered, ‘The whole is mine really, not in name and word
only; wherefore I will be the sole lord and possessor of all, or of none
at all, of Mansoul.’
Then Mr. Loth-to-stoop said again, ‘Sir, behold the condescension of my
master! He says, that he will be content, if he may but have assigned to
him some place in Mansoul as a place to live privately in, and you shall
be Lord of all the rest.’
Then said the golden Prince, ‘All that the Father giveth me shall come to
me; and of all that he giveth me I will lose nothing—no, not a hoof nor a
hair. I will not, therefore, grant him, no, not the least corner of
Mansoul to dwell in; I will have all to myself.’
Then Loth-to-stoop said again, ‘But, sir, suppose that my Lord should
resign the whole town to you, only with this proviso, that he sometimes,
when he comes into this country, may, for old acquaintance’ sake, be
entertained as a wayfaring man for two days, or ten days or a month, or
so. May not this small matter be granted?’
Then said Emmanuel, ‘No. He came as a wayfaring man to David, nor did he
stay long with him, and yet it had like to have cost David his soul. I
will not consent that he ever should have any harbour more there.’
Then said Mr. Loth-to-stoop, ‘Sir, you seem to be very hard. Suppose my
master should yield to all that your lordship hath said, provided that
his friends and kindred in Mansoul may have liberty to trade in the town,
and to enjoy their present dwellings. May not that be granted, sir?’
Then said Emmanuel, ‘No; that is contrary to my Father’s will; for all,
and all manner of Diabolonians that now are, or that at any time shall be
found in Mansoul, shall not only lose their lands and liberties, but also
their lives.’
Then said Mr. Loth-to-stoop again, ‘But, sir, may not my master and great
lord, by letters, by passengers, by accidental opportunities, and the
like, maintain, if he shall deliver up all unto thee, some kind of old
friendship with Mansoul?’
Emmanuel answered, ‘No, by no means; forasmuch as any such fellowship,
friendship, intimacy, or acquaintance, in what way, sort, or mode soever
maintained, will tend to the corrupting of Mansoul, the alienating of
their affections from me, and the endangering of their peace with my
Father.’
Mr. Loth-to-stoop yet added further, saying, ‘But, great sir, since my
master hath many friends, and those that are dear to him, in Mansoul, may
he not, if he shall depart from them, even of his bounty and good-nature,
bestow upon them, as he sees fit, some tokens of his love and kindness
that he had for them, to the end that Mansoul, when he is gone, may look
upon such tokens of kindness once received from their old friend, and
remember him who was once their king, and the merry times that they
sometimes enjoyed one with another, while he and they lived in peace
together?’
Then said Emmanuel, ‘No; for if Mansoul come to be mine, I shall not
admit of nor consent that there should be the least scrap, shred, or dust
of Diabolus left behind, as tokens of gifts bestowed upon any in Mansoul,
thereby to call to remembrance the horrible communion that was betwixt
them and him.’
‘Well, sir,’ said Mr. Loth-to-stoop, ‘I have one thing more to propound,
and then I am got to the end of my commission. Suppose that, when my
master is gone from Mansoul, any that shall yet live in the town should
have such business of high concerns to do, that if they be neglected the
party shall be undone; and suppose, sir, that nobody can help in that
case so well as my master and lord, may not now my master be sent for
upon so urgent an occasion as this? Or if he may not be admitted into
the town, may not he and the person concerned meet in some of the
villages near Mansoul, and there lay their heads together, and there
consult of matters?’
This was the last of those ensnaring propositions that Mr. Loth-to-stoop
had to propound to Emmanuel on behalf of his master Diabolus; but
Emmanuel would not grant it; for he said, ‘There can be no case, or
thing, or matter fall out in Mansoul, when thy master shall be gone, that
may not be solved by my Father; besides, it will be a great disparagement
to my Father’s wisdom and skill to admit any from Mansoul to go out to
Diabolus for advice, when they are bid before, in everything, by prayer
and supplication to let their requests be made known to my Father.
Further, this, should it be granted, would be to grant that a door should
be set open for Diabolus, and the Diabolonians in Mansoul, to hatch, and
plot, and bring to pass treasonable designs, to the grief of my Father
and me, and to the utter destruction of Mansoul.’
When Mr. Loth-to-stoop had heard this answer, he took his leave of
Emmanuel, and departed, saying that he would carry word to his master
concerning this whole affair. So he departed, and came to Diabolus to
Mansoul, and told him the whole of the matter, and how Emmanuel would not
admit, no, not by any means, that he, when he was once gone out, should
for ever have anything more to do either in, or with any that are of the
town of Mansoul. When Mansoul and Diabolus had heard this relation of
things, they with one consent concluded to use their best endeavour to
keep Emmanuel out of Mansoul, and sent old Ill-Pause, of whom you have
heard before, to tell the Prince and his captains so. So the old
gentleman came up to the top of Ear-gate, and called to the camp for a
hearing, who when they gave audience, he said, ‘I have in commandment
from my high lord to bid you tell it to your Prince Emmanuel, that
Mansoul and their king are resolved to stand and fall together; and that
it is in vain for your Prince to think of ever having Mansoul in his
hand, unless he can take it by force.’ So some went and told to Emmanuel
what old Ill-Pause, a Diabolonian in Mansoul, had said. Then said the
Prince, ‘I must try the power of my sword, for I will not (for all the
rebellions and repulses that Mansoul has made against me) raise my siege
and depart, but will assuredly take my Mansoul, and deliver it from the
hand of her enemy.’ And with that he gave out a commandment that Captain
Boanerges, Captain Conviction, Captain Judgment, and Captain Execution
should forthwith march up to Ear-gate with trumpets sounding, colours
flying, and with shouting for the battle. Also he would that Captain
Credence should join himself with them. Emmanuel, moreover, gave order
that Captain Good-Hope and Captain Charity should draw themselves up
before Eye-gate. He bid also that the rest of his captains and their men
should place themselves for the best of their advantage against the enemy
round about the town; and all was done as he had commanded.
Then he bid that the word should be given forth, and the word was at that
time, ‘EMMANUEL.’ Then was an alarm sounded, and the battering-rams were
played, and the slings did whirl stones into the town amain, and thus the
battle began. Now Diabolus himself did manage the townsmen in the war,
and that at every gate; wherefore their resistance was the more forcible,
hellish, and offensive to Emmanuel. Thus was the good Prince engaged and
entertained by Diabolus and Mansoul for several days together; and a
sight worth seeing it was to behold how the captains of Shaddai behaved
themselves in this war.
And first for Captain Boanerges, (not to under-value the rest,) he made
three most fierce assaults, one after another, upon Ear-gate, to the
shaking of the posts thereof. Captain Conviction, he also made up as
fast with Boanerges as possibly he could, and both discerning that the
gate began to yield, they commanded that the rams should still be played
against it. Now, Captain Conviction, going up very near to the gate, was
with great force driven back, and received three wounds in the mouth.
And those that rode reformades, they went about to encourage the
captains.
For the valour of the two captains, made mention of before, the Prince
sent for them to his pavilion, and commanded that a while they should
rest themselves, and that with somewhat they should be refreshed. Care
also was taken for Captain Conviction, that he should be healed of his
wounds. The Prince also gave to each of them a chain of gold, and bid
them yet be of good courage.
Nor did Captain Good-Hope nor Captain Charity come behind in this most
desperate fight, for they so well did behave themselves at Eye-gate, that
they had almost broken it quite open. These also had a reward from their
Prince, as also had the rest of the captains, because they did valiantly
round about the town.
In this engagement several of the officers of Diabolus were slain, and
some of the townsmen wounded. For the officers, there was one Captain
Boasting slain. This Boasting thought that nobody could have shaken the
posts of Ear-gate, nor have shaken the heart of Diabolus. Next to him
there was one Captain Secure slain: this Secure used to say that the
blind and lame in Mansoul were able to keep the gates of the town against
Emmanuel’s army. This Captain Secure did Captain Conviction cleave down
the head with a two-handed sword, when he received himself three wounds
in his mouth.
Besides these there was one Captain Bragman, a very desperate fellow, and
he was captain over a band of those that threw firebrands, arrows, and
death: he also received, by the hand of Captain Good-Hope at Eye-gate, a
mortal wound in the breast.
There was, moreover, one Mr. Feeling; but he was no captain, but a great
stickler to encourage Mansoul to rebellion. He received a wound in the
eye by the hand of one of Boanerges’ soldiers, and had by the captain
himself been slain, but that he made a sudden retreat.
But I never saw Willbewill so daunted in all my life; he was not able to
do as he was wont, and some say that he also received a wound in the leg,
and that some of the men in the Prince’s army have certainly seen him
limp as he afterwards walked on the wall.
I shall not give you a particular account of the names of the soldiers
that were slain in the town, for many were maimed, and wounded, and
slain; for when they saw that the posts of Ear-gate did shake, and
Eye-gate was well-nigh broken quite open, and also that their captains
were slain, this took away the hearts of many of the Diabolonians; they
fell also by the force of the shot that were sent by the golden slings
into the midst of the town of Mansoul.
Of the townsmen, there was one Love-no-Good; he was a townsman, but a
Diabolonian; he also received his mortal wound in Mansoul, but he died
not very soon.
Mr. Ill-Pause also, who was the man that came along with Diabolus when at
first he attempted the taking of Mansoul, he also received a grievous
wound in the head; some say that his brain-pan was cracked. This I have
taken notice of, that he was never after this able to do that mischief to
Mansoul as he had done in times past. Also old Prejudice and Mr.
Anything fled.
Now, when the battle was over, the Prince commanded that yet once more
the white flag should be set upon Mount Gracious in sight of the town of
Mansoul, to show that yet Emmanuel had grace for the wretched town of
Mansoul.
When Diabolus saw the white flag hung out again, and knowing that it was
not for him, but Mansoul, he cast in his mind to play another prank, to
wit, to see if Emmanuel would raise his siege and begone, upon promise of
reformation. So he comes down to the gate one evening, a good while
after the sun was gone down, and calls to speak with Emmanuel, who
presently came down to the gate, and Diabolus saith unto him:
‘Forasmuch as thou makest it appear by thy white flag that thou art
wholly given to peace and quiet, I thought meet to acquaint thee that we
are ready to accept thereof upon terms which thou mayest admit.
‘I know that thou art given to devotion, and that holiness pleaseth thee;
yea, that thy great end in making a war upon Mansoul is, that it may be a
holy habitation. Well, draw off thy forces from the town, and I will
bend Mansoul to thy bow.
‘First, I will lay down all acts of hostility against thee, and will be
willing to become thy deputy, and will, as I have formerly been against
thee, now serve thee in the town of Mansoul. And more particularly,
‘1. I will persuade Mansoul to receive thee for their Lord; and I know
that they will do it the sooner when they shall understand that I am thy
deputy.
‘2. I will show them wherein they have erred, and that transgression
stands in the way to life.
‘3. I will show them the holy law unto which they must conform, even that
which they have broken.
‘4. I will press upon them the necessity of a reformation according to
thy law.
‘5. And, moreover, that none of these things may fail, I myself, at my
own proper cost and charge, will set up and maintain a sufficient
ministry, besides lectures, in Mansoul.
‘6. Thou shalt receive, as a token of our subjection to thee, year by
year, what thou shalt think fit to lay and levy upon us in token of our
subjection to thee.’
Then said Emmanuel to him, ‘O full of deceit, how movable are thy ways!
How often hast thou changed and rechanged, if so be thou mightest still
keep possession of my Mansoul, though, as has been plainly declared
before, I am the right heir thereof! Often hast thou made thy proposals
already, nor is this last a whit better than they. And failing to
deceive when thou showedst thyself in thy black, thou hast now
transformed thyself into an angel of light, and wouldst, to deceive, be
now as a minister of righteousness.
‘But know thou, O Diabolus, that nothing must be regarded that thou canst
propound, for nothing is done by thee but to deceive. Thou neither hast
conscience to God, nor love to the town of Mansoul; whence, then, should
these thy sayings arise but from sinful craft and deceit? He that can of
list and will propound what he pleases, and that wherewith he may destroy
them that believe him, is to be abandoned, with all that he shall say.
But if righteousness be such a beauty-spot in thine eyes now, how is it
that wickedness was so closely stuck to by thee before? But this is
by-the-bye.
‘Thou talkest now of a reformation in Mansoul, and that thou thyself, if
I will please, wilt be at the head of that reformation; all the while
knowing that the greatest proficiency that man can make in the law, and
the righteousness thereof, will amount to no more, for the taking away of
the curse from Mansoul, than just nothing at all; for a law being broken
by Mansoul, that had before, upon a supposition of the breach thereof, a
curse pronounced against him for it of God, can never, by his obeying of
the law, deliver himself therefrom (to say nothing of what a reformation
is like to be set up in Mansoul when the devil is become corrector of
vice). Thou knowest that all that thou hast now said in this matter is
nothing but guile and deceit; and is, as it was the first, so is it the
last card that thou hast to play. Many there be that do soon discern
thee when thou showest them thy cloven foot; but in thy white, thy light,
and in thy transformation, thou art seen but of a few. But thou shalt
not do thus with my Mansoul, O Diabolus; for I do still love my Mansoul.
‘Besides, I am not come to put Mansoul upon works to live thereby; should
I do so, I should be like unto thee: but I am come that by me, and by
what I have and shall do for Mansoul, they may to my Father be
reconciled, though by their sin they have provoked him to anger, and
though by the law they cannot obtain mercy.
‘Thou talkest of subjecting of this town to good, when none desireth it
at thy hands. I am sent by my Father to possess it myself, and to guide
it by the skilfulness of my hands into such a conformity to him as shall
be pleasing in his sight. I will therefore possess it myself; I will
dispossess and cast thee out; I will set up mine own standard in the
midst of them; I will also govern them by new laws, new officers, new
motives, and new ways; yea, I will pull down this town, and build it
again; and it shall be as though it had not been, and it shall then be
the glory of the whole universe.’
When Diabolus heard this, and perceived that he was discovered in all his
deceits, he was confounded, and utterly put to a nonplus; but having in
himself the fountain of iniquity, rage, and malice against both Shaddai
and his Son, and the beloved town of Mansoul, what doth he but strengthen
himself what he could to give fresh battle to the noble Prince Emmanuel?
So, then, now we must have another fight before the town of Mansoul is
taken. Come up, then, to the mountains, you that love to see military
actions, and behold by both sides how the fatal blow is given, while one
seeks to hold, and the other seeks to make himself master of the famous
town of Mansoul.
Diabolus, therefore, having withdrawn himself from the wall to his force
that was in the heart of the town of Mansoul, Emmanuel also returned to
the camp; and both of them, after their divers ways, put themselves into
a posture fit to give battle one to another.
Diabolus, as filled with despair of retaining in his hands the famous
town of Mansoul, resolved to do what mischief he could (if, indeed, he
could do any) to the army of the Prince and to the famous town of
Mansoul; for, alas! it was not the happiness of the silly town of Mansoul
that was designed by Diabolus, but the utter ruin and overthrow thereof,
as now is enough in view. Wherefore, he commands his officers that they
should then, when they see that they could hold the town no longer, do it
what harm and mischief they could, rendering and tearing men, women, and
children. ‘For,’ said he, ‘we had better quite demolish the place, and
leave it like a ruinous heap, than so leave it that it may be an
habitation for Emmanuel.’
Emmanuel again, knowing that the next battle would issue in his being
made master of the place, gave out a royal commandment to all his
officers, high captains, and men of war, to be sure to show themselves
men of war against Diabolus and all Diabolonians; but favourable,
merciful, and meek to the old inhabitants of Mansoul. ‘Bend, therefore,’
said the noble Prince, ‘the hottest front of the battle against Diabolus
and his men.’
So the day being come, the command was given, and the Prince’s men did
bravely stand to their arms, and did, as before, bend their main force
against Ear-gate and Eye-gate. The word was then, ‘Mansoul is won!’ so
they made their assault upon the town. Diabolus also, as fast as he
could, with the main of his power, made resistance from within; and his
high lords and chief captains for a time fought very cruelly against the
Prince’s army.
But after three or four notable charges by the Prince and his noble
captains, Ear-gate was broken open, and the bars and bolts wherewith it
was used to be fast shut up against the Prince, were broken into a
thousand pieces. Then did the Prince’s trumpets sound, the captains
shout, the town shake, and Diabolus retreat to his hold. Well, when the
Prince’s forces had broken open the gate, himself came up and did set his
throne in it; also he set his standard thereby, upon a mount that before
by his men was cast up to place the mighty slings thereon. The mount was
called Mount Hear-well. There, therefore, the Prince abode, to wit, hard
by the going in at the gate. He commanded also that the golden slings
should yet be played upon the town, especially against the castle,
because for shelter thither was Diabolus retreated. Now, from Ear-gate
the street was straight even to the house of Mr. Recorder that so was
before Diabolus took the town; and hard by his house stood the castle,
which Diabolus for a long time had made his irksome den. The captains,
therefore, did quickly clear that street by the use of their slings, so
that way was made up to the heart of the town. Then did the Prince
command that Captain Boanerges, Captain Conviction, and Captain Judgment,
should forthwith march up the town to the old gentleman’s gate. Then did
the captains in the most warlike manner enter into the town of Mansoul,
and marching in with flying colours, they came up to the Recorder’s
house, and that was almost as strong as was the castle. Battering-rams
they took also with them, to plant against the castle gates. When they
were come to the house of Mr. Conscience, they knocked, and demanded
entrance. Now, the old gentleman, not knowing as yet fully their design,
kept his gates shut all the time of this fight. Wherefore Boanerges
demanded entrance at his gates; and no man making answer, he gave it one
stroke with the head of a ram, and this made the old gentleman shake, and
his house to tremble and totter. Then came Mr. Recorder down to the
gates, and, as he could, with quivering lips he asked who was there?
Boanerges answered, ‘We are the captains and commanders of the great
Shaddai and of the blessed Emmanuel, his Son, and we demand possession of
your house for the use of our noble Prince.’ And with that the
battering-ram gave the gate another shake. This made the old gentleman
tremble the more, yet durst he not but open the gate: then the King’s
forces marched in, namely, the three brave captains mentioned before.
Now, the Recorder’s house was a place of much convenience for Emmanuel,
not only because it was near to the castle and strong, but also because
it was large, and fronted the castle, the den where now Diabolus was, for
he was now afraid to come out of his hold. As for Mr. Recorder, the
captains carried it very reservedly to him; as yet he knew nothing of the
great designs of Emmanuel, so that he did not know what judgment to make,
nor what would be the end of such thundering beginnings. It was also
presently noised in the town how the Recorder’s house was possessed, his
rooms taken up, and his palace made the seat of the war; and no sooner
was it noised abroad, but they took the alarm as warmly, and gave it out
to others of his friends, and you know, as a snowball loses nothing by
rolling, so in little time the whole town was possessed that they must
expect nothing from the Prince but destruction; and the ground of the
business was this, the Recorder was afraid, the Recorder trembled, and
the captains carried it strangely to the Recorder. So many came to see,
but when they with their own eyes did behold the captains in the palace,
and their battering-rams ever playing at the castle gates to beat them
down, they were riveted in their fears, and it made them all in amaze.
And, as I said, the man of the house would increase all this; for whoever
came to him, or discoursed with him, nothing would he talk of, tell them,
or hear, but that death and destruction now attended Mansoul.
‘For,’ quoth the old gentleman, ‘you are all of you sensible that we all
have been traitors to that once despised, but now famously victorious and
glorious Prince Emmanuel; for he now, as you see, doth not only lie in
close siege about us, but hath forced his entrance in at our gates.
Moreover, Diabolus flees before him; and he hath, as you behold, made of
my house a garrison against the castle where he is. I, for my part, have
transgressed greatly, and he that is clean, it is well for him. But I
say I have transgressed greatly in keeping silence when I should have
spoken, and in perverting justice when I should have executed the same.
True, I have suffered something at the hand of Diabolus for taking part
with the laws of King Shaddai; but that, alas! what will that do? Will
that make compensation for the rebellions and treasons that I have done,
and have suffered without gainsaying to be committed in the town of
Mansoul? Oh! I tremble to think what will be the end of this so dreadful
and so ireful a beginning!’
Now, while these brave captains were thus busy in the house of the old
Recorder, Captain Execution was as busy in other parts of the town, in
securing the back streets and the walls. He also hunted the Lord
Willbewill sorely; he suffered him not to rest in any corner; he pursued
him so hard that he drove his men from him, and made him glad to thrust
his head into a hole. Also this mighty warrior did cut three of the Lord
Willbewill’s officers down to the ground: one was old Mr. Prejudice, he
that had his crown cracked in the mutiny. This man was made by Lord
Willbewill keeper of the Ear-gate, and fell by the hand of Captain
Execution. There was also one Mr. Backward-to-all-but-naught, and he
also was one of Lord Willbewill’s officers, and was the captain of the
two guns that once were mounted on the top of Ear-gate; he also was cut
down to the ground by the hands of Captain Execution. Besides these two
there was another, a third, and his name was Captain Treacherous; a vile
man this was, but one that Willbewill did put a great deal of confidence
in; but him also did this Captain Execution cut down to the ground with
the rest.
He also made a very great slaughter among my Lord Willbewill’s soldiers,
killing many that were stout and sturdy, and wounding many that for
Diabolus were nimble and active. But all these were Diabolonians; there
was not a man, a native of Mansoul, hurt.
Other feats of war were also likewise performed by other of the captains,
as at Eye-gate, where Captain Good-Hope and Captain Charity had a charge,
was great execution done; for the Captain Good-Hope, with his own hands,
slew one Captain Blindfold, the keeper of that gate. This Blindfold was
captain of a thousand men, and they were they that fought with mauls; he
also pursued his men, slew many, and wounded more, and made the rest hide
their heads in corners.
There was also at that gate Mr. Ill-Pause, of whom you have heard before.
He was an old man, and had a beard that reached down to his girdle: the
same was he that was orator to Diabolus: he did much mischief in the town
of Mansoul, and fell by the hand of Captain Good-Hope.
What shall I say? The Diabolonians in these days lay dead in every
corner, though too many yet were alive in Mansoul.
Now, the old Recorder and my Lord Understanding, with some others of the
chief of the town, to wit, such as knew they must stand and fall with the
famous town of Mansoul, came together upon a day, and after consultation
had, did jointly agree to draw up a petition, and to send it to Emmanuel,
now while he sat in the gate of Mansoul. So they drew up their petition
to Emmanuel, the contents whereof were these: That they, the old
inhabitants of the now deplorable town of Mansoul, confessed their sin,
and were sorry that they had offended his princely Majesty, and prayed
that he would spare their lives.
Unto this petition he gave no answer at all, and that did trouble them
yet so much the more. Now, all this while the captains that were in the
Recorder’s house were playing with the battering-rams at the gates of the
castle, to beat them down. So after some time, labour, and travail, the
gate of the castle that was called Impregnable was beaten open, and
broken into several splinters, and so a way made to go up to the hold in
which Diabolus had hid himself. Then were tidings sent down to Ear-gate,
for Emmanuel still abode there, to let him know that a way was made in at
the gates of the castle of Mansoul. But, oh! how the trumpets at the
tidings sounded throughout the Prince’s camp, for that now the war was so
near an end, and Mansoul itself of being set free.
Then the Prince arose from the place where he was, and took with him such
of his men of war as were fittest for that expedition, and marched up the
street of Mansoul to the old Recorder’s house.
Now, the Prince himself was clad all in armour of gold, and so he marched
up the town with his standard borne before him; but he kept his
countenance much reserved all the way as he went, so that the people
could not tell how to gather to themselves love or hatred by his looks.
Now, as he marched up the street, the townsfolk came out at every door to
see, and could not but be taken with his person and the glory thereof,
but wondered at the reservedness of his countenance; for as yet he spake
more to them by his actions and works than he did by words or smiles.
But also poor Mansoul, (as in such cases all are apt to do,) they
interpreted the carriage of Emmanuel to them as did Joseph’s brethren his
to them, even all the quite contrary way. ‘For,’ thought they, ‘if
Emmanuel loved us, he would show it to us by word of carriage; but none
of these he doth, therefore Emmanuel hates us. Now, if Emmanuel hates
us, then Mansoul shall be slain, then Mansoul shall become a dunghill.’
They knew that they had transgressed his Father’s law, and that against
him they had been in with Diabolus, his enemy. They also knew that the
Prince Emmanuel knew all this; for they were convinced that he was an
angel of God, to know all things that are done in the earth; and this
made them think that their condition was miserable, and that the good
Prince would make them desolate.
‘And,’ thought they, ‘what time so fit to do this in as now, when he has
the bridle of Mansoul in his hand?’ And this I took special notice of,
that the inhabitants, notwithstanding all this, could not—no, they could
not, when they see him march through the town, but cringe, bow, bend, and
were ready to lick the dust of his feet. They also wished a thousand
times over that he would become their Prince and Captain, and would
become their protection. They would also one to another talk of the
comeliness of his person, and how much for glory and valour he
outstripped the great ones of the world. But, poor hearts, as to
themselves, their thoughts would chance, and go upon all manner of
extremes. Yea, through the working of them backward and forward, Mansoul
became as a ball tossed, and as a rolling thing before the whirlwind.
Now, when he was come to the castle gates, he commanded Diabolus to
appear, and to surrender himself into his hands. But, oh! how loath was
the beast to appear! how he stuck at it! how he shrank! how he cringed!
yet out he came to the Prince. Then Emmanuel commanded, and they took
Diabolus and bound him fast in chains, the better to reserve him to the
judgment that he had appointed for him. But Diabolus stood up to entreat
for himself that Emmanuel would not send him into the deep, but suffer
him to depart out of Mansoul in peace.
When Emmanuel had taken him and bound him in chains, he led him into the
marketplace, and there, before Mansoul, stripped him of his armour in
which he boasted so much before. This now was one of the acts of triumph
of Emmanuel over his enemy; and all the while that the giant was
stripping, the trumpets of the golden Prince did sound amain; the
captains also shouted, and the soldiers did sing for joy.
Then was Mansoul called upon to behold the beginning of Emmanuel’s
triumph over him in whom they so much had trusted, and of whom they so
much had boasted in the days when he flattered them.
Thus having made Diabolus naked in the eyes of Mansoul, and before the
commanders of the Prince, in the next place, he commands that Diabolus
should be bound with chains to his chariot wheels. Then leaving some of
his forces, to wit, Captain Boanerges and Captain Conviction, as a guard
for the castle-gates, that resistance might be made on his behalf, (if
any that heretofore followed Diabolus should make an attempt to possess
it,) he did ride in triumph over him quite through the town of Mansoul,
and so out at and before the gate called Eye-gate, to the plain where his
camp did lie.
But you cannot think, unless you had been there, as I was, what a shout
there was in Emmanuel’s camp when they saw the tyrant bound by the hand
of their noble Prince, and tied to his chariot wheels!
And they said, ‘He hath led captivity captive, he hath spoiled
principalities and powers. Diabolus is subjected to the power of his
sword, and made the object of all derision.’
Those also that rode reformades, and that came down to see the battle,
they shouted with that greatness of voice, and sung with such melodious
notes, that they caused them that dwell in the highest orbs to open their
windows, put out their heads, and look to see the cause of that glory.
The townsmen also, so many of them as saw this sight, were, as it were,
while they looked, betwixt the earth and the heavens. True, they could
not tell what would be the issue of things as to them; but all things
were done in such excellent methods, and I cannot tell how, but things in
the management of them seemed to cast a smile towards the town, so that
their eyes, their heads, their hearts, and their minds, and all that they
had, were taken and held while they observed Emmanuel’s order.
So, when the brave Prince had finished this part of his triumph over
Diabolus his foe, he turned him up in the midst of his contempt and
shame, having given him a charge no more to be a possessor of Mansoul.
Then went he from Emmanuel, and out of the midst of his camp, to inherit
the parched places in a salt land, seeking rest, but finding none.
Now, Captain Boanerges and Captain Conviction were, both of them, men of
very great majesty; their faces were like the faces of lions, and their
words like the roaring of the sea; and they still quartered in Mr.
Conscience’s house, of whom mention was made before. When, therefore,
the high and mighty Prince had thus far finished his triumph over
Diabolus, the townsmen had more leisure to view and to behold the actions
of these noble captains. But the captains carried it with that terror
and dread in all that they did, (and you may be sure that they had
private instructions so to do,) that they kept the town under continual
heart-aching, and caused (in their apprehension) the well-being of
Mansoul for the future to hang in doubt before them, so that for some
considerable time they neither knew what rest, or ease, or peace, or hope
meant.
Nor did the Prince himself as yet abide in the town of Mansoul, but in
his royal pavilion in the camp, and in the midst of his Father’s forces.
So, at a time convenient, he sent special orders to Captain Boanerges to
summons Mansoul, the whole of the townsmen, into the castle-yard, and
then and there, before their faces, to take my Lord Understanding, Mr.
Conscience, and that notable one, the Lord Willbewill, and put them all
three in ward, and that they should set a strong guard upon them there,
until his pleasure concerning them was further known: the which orders,
when the captains had put them in execution, made no small addition to
the fears of the town of Mansoul; for now, to their thinking, were their
former fears of the ruin of Mansoul confirmed. Now, what death they
should die, and how long they should be in dying, was that which most
perplexed their heads and hearts; yea, they were afraid that Emmanuel
would command them all into the deep, the place that the prince Diabolus
was afraid of, for they knew that they had deserved it. Also to die by
the sword in the face of the town, and in the open way of disgrace, from
the hand of so good and so holy a prince, that, too, troubled them sore.
The town was also greatly troubled for the men that were committed to
ward, for that they were their stay and their guide, and for that they
believed that, if those men were cut off, their execution would be but
the beginning of the ruin of the town of Mansoul. Wherefore, what do
they, but, together with the men in prison, draw up a petition to the
Prince, and sent it to Emmanuel by the hand of Mr. Would-live. So he
went, and came to the Prince’s quarters, and presented the petition, the
sum of which was this:
‘Great and wonderful Potentate, victor over Diabolus, and conqueror of
the town of Mansoul, We, the miserable inhabitants of that most woful
corporation, do humbly beg that we may find favour in thy sight, and
remember not against us former transgressions, nor yet the sins of the
chief of our town: but spare us according to the greatness of thy mercy,
and let us not die, but live in thy sight. So shall we be willing to be
thy servants, and, if thou shalt think fit, to gather our meat under thy
table. Amen.’
So the petitioner went, as was said, with his petition to the Prince; and
the Prince took it at his hand, but sent him away with silence. This
still afflicted the town of Mansoul; but yet, considering that now they
must either petition or die, for now they could not do anything else,
therefore they consulted again, and sent another petition; and this
petition was much after the form and method of the former.
But when the petition was drawn up, By whom should they send it? was the
next question; for they would not send this by him by whom they sent the
first, for they thought that the Prince had taken some offence at the
manner of his deportment before him: so they attempted to make Captain
Conviction their messenger with it; but he said that he neither durst nor
would petition Emmanuel for traitors, nor be to the Prince an advocate
for rebels. ‘Yet withal,’ said he, ‘our Prince is good, and you may
adventure to send it by the hand of one of your town, provided he went
with a rope about his head, and pleaded nothing but mercy.’
Well, they made, through fear, their delays as long as they could, and
longer than delays were good; but fearing at last the dangerousness of
them, they thought, but with many a fainting in their minds, to send
their petition by Mr. Desires-awake; so they sent for Mr. Desires-awake.
Now he dwelt in a very mean cottage in Mansoul, and he came at his
neighbour’s request. So they told him what they had done, and what they
would do, concerning petitioning, and that they did desire of him that he
would go therewith to the Prince.
Then said Mr. Desires-awake, ‘Why should not I do the best I can to save
so famous a town as Mansoul from deserved destruction?’ They therefore
delivered the petition to him, and told him how he must address himself
to the Prince, and wished him ten thousand good speeds. So he comes to
the Prince’s pavilion, as the first, and asked to speak with his Majesty.
So word was carried to Emmanuel, and the Prince came out to the man.
When Mr. Desires-awake saw the Prince, he fell flat with his face to the
ground, and cried out, ‘Oh that Mansoul might live before thee!’ and with
that he presented the petition; the which when the Prince had read, he
turned away for a while and wept; but refraining himself, he turned again
to the man, who all this while lay crying at his feet, as at the first,
and said to him, ‘Go thy way to thy place, and I will consider of thy
requests.’
Now, you may think that they of Mansoul that had sent him, what with
guilt, and what with fear lest their petition should be rejected, could
not but look with many a long look, and that, too, with strange workings
of heart, to see what would become of their petition. At last they saw
their messenger coming back. So, when he was come, they asked him how he
fared, what Emmanuel said, and what was become of the petition. But he
told them that he would be silent till he came to the prison to my Lord
Mayor, my Lord Willbewill, and Mr. Recorder. So he went forwards towards
the prison-house, where the men of Mansoul lay bound. But, oh! what a
multitude flocked after, to hear what the messenger said. So, when he
was come, and had shown himself at the gate of the prison, my Lord Mayor
himself looked as white as a clout; the Recorder also did quake. But
they asked and said, ‘Come, good sir, what did the great Prince say to
you?’ Then said Mr. Desires-awake, ‘When I came to my Lord’s pavilion, I
called, and he came forth. So I fell prostrate at his feet, and
delivered to him my petition; for the greatness of his person, and the
glory of his countenance, would not suffer me to stand upon my legs.
Now, as he received the petition, I cried, “Oh that Mansoul might live
before thee!” So, when for a while he had looked thereon, he turned him
about, and said to his servant, “Go thy way to thy place again, and I
will consider of thy requests.”’ The messenger added, moreover, and
said, ‘The Prince to whom you sent me is such a one for beauty and glory,
that whoso sees him must both love and fear him. I, for my part, can do
no less; but I know not what will be the end of these things.’
At this answer they were all at a stand, both they in prison, and they
that followed the messenger thither to hear the news; nor knew they what,
or what manner of interpretation to put upon what the Prince had said.
Now, when the prison was cleared of the throng, the prisoners among
themselves began to comment upon Emmanuel’s words. My Lord Mayor said,
that the answer did not look with a rugged face; but Willbewill said that
it betokened evil; and the Recorder, that it was a messenger of death.
Now, they that were left, and that stood behind, and so could not so well
hear what the prisoners said, some of them catched hold of one piece of a
sentence, and some on a bit of another; some took hold of what the
messenger said, and some of the prisoners’ judgment thereon; so none had
the right understanding of things. But you cannot imagine what work
these people made, and what a confusion there was in Mansoul now.
For presently they that had heard what was said flew about the town, one
crying one thing, and another the quite contrary; and both were sure
enough they told true; for they did hear, they said, with their ears what
was said, and therefore could not be deceived. One would say, ‘We must
all be killed;’ another would say, ‘We must all be saved;’ and a third
would say that the Prince would not be concerned with Mansoul; and a
fourth, that the prisoners must be suddenly put to death. And, as I
said, every one stood to it that he told his tale the rightest, and that
all others but he were out. Wherefore Mansoul had now molestation upon
molestation, nor could any man know on what to rest the sole of his foot;
for one would go by now, and as he went, if he heard his neighbour tell
his tale, to be sure he would tell the quite contrary, and both would
stand in it that he told the truth. Nay, some of them had got this story
by the end, that the Prince did intend to put Mansoul to the sword. And
now it began to be dark, wherefore poor Mansoul was in sad perplexity all
that night until the morning.
But, so far as I could gather by the best information that I could get,
all this hubbub came through the words that the Recorder said when he
told them that, in his judgment, the Prince’s answer was a messenger of
death. It was this that fired the town, and that began the fright in
Mansoul; for Mansoul in former times did use to count that Mr. Recorder
was a seer, and that his sentence was equal to the best of orators; and
thus was Mansoul a terror to itself.
And now did they begin to feel what were the effects of stubborn
rebellion, and unlawful resistance against their Prince. I say, they now
began to feel the effects thereof by guilt and fear, that now had
swallowed them up; and who more involved in the one but they that were
most in the other, to wit, the chief of the town of Mansoul?
To be brief: when the fame of the fright was out of the town, and the
prisoners had a little recovered themselves, they take to themselves some
heart, and think to petition the Prince for life again. So they did draw
up a third petition, the contents whereof were these:—
‘Prince Emmanuel the Great, Lord of all worlds, and Master of mercy, we,
thy poor, wretched, miserable, dying town of Mansoul, do confess unto thy
great and glorious Majesty that we have sinned against thy Father and
thee, and are no more worthy to be called thy Mansoul, but rather to be
cast into the pit. If thou wilt slay us, we have deserved it. If thou
wilt condemn us to the deep, we cannot but say thou art righteous. We
cannot complain whatever thou dost, or however thou carriest it towards
us. But, oh! let mercy reign, and let it be extended to us! Oh! let
mercy take hold upon us, and free us from our transgressions, and we will
sing of thy mercy and of thy judgment. Amen.’
This petition, when drawn up, was designed to be sent to the Prince as
the first. But who should carry it?—that was the question. Some said,
‘Let him do it that went with the first,’ but others thought not good to
do that, and that because he sped no better. Now, there was an old man
in the town, and his name was Mr. Good-Deed; a man that bare only the
name, but had nothing of the nature of the thing. Now, some were for
sending him; but the Recorder was by no means for that. ‘For,’ said he,
‘we now stand in need of, and are pleading for mercy: wherefore, to send
our petition by a man of this name, will seem to cross the petition
itself. Should we make Mr. Good-Deed our messenger, when our petition
cries for mercy?
‘Besides,’ quoth the old gentleman, ‘should the Prince now, as he
receives the petition, ask him, and say, “What is thy name?” as nobody
knows but he will, and he should say, “Old Good-Deed,” what, think you,
would Emmanuel say but this? “Ay! is old Good-Deed yet alive in Mansoul?
then let old Good-Deed save you from your distresses.” And if he says
so, I am sure we are lost; nor can a thousand of old Good-Deeds save
Mansoul.’
After the Recorder had given in his reasons why old Good-Deed should not
go with this petition to Emmanuel, the rest of the prisoners and chief of
Mansoul opposed it also, and so old Good-Deed was laid aside, and they
agreed to send Mr. Desires-awake again. So they sent for him, and
desired him that he would a second time go with their petition to the
Prince, and he readily told them he would. But they bid him that in
anywise he should take heed that in no word or carriage he gave offence
to the Prince; ‘For by doing so, for ought we can tell, you may bring
Mansoul into utter destruction,’ said they.
Now Mr. Desires-awake, when he saw that he must go on this errand,
besought that they would grant that Mr. Wet-Eyes might go with him. Now
this Mr. Wet-Eyes was a near neighbour of Mr. Desires, a poor man, a man
of a broken spirit, yet one that could speak well to a petition; so they
granted that he should go with him. Wherefore, they address themselves
to their business: Mr. Desires put a rope upon his head, and Mr. Wet-Eyes
went with his hands wringing together. Thus they went to the Prince’s
pavilion.
Now, when they went to petition this third time, they were not without
thoughts that, by often coming, they might be a burden to the Prince.
Wherefore, when they were come to the door of his pavilion, they first
made their apology for themselves, and for their coming to trouble
Emmanuel so often; and they said, that they came not hither to-day for
that they delighted in being troublesome, or for that they delighted to
hear themselves talk, but for that necessity caused them to come to his
Majesty. They could, they said, have no rest day nor night because of
their transgressions against Shaddai and against Emmanuel, his Son. They
also thought that some misbehaviour of Mr. Desires-awake the last time
might give distaste to his Highness, and so cause that he returned from
so merciful a Prince empty, and without countenance. So, when they had
made this apology, Mr. Desires-awake cast himself prostrate upon the
ground, as at the first, at the feet of the mighty Prince, saying, ‘Oh!
that Mansoul might live before thee!’ and so he delivered his petition.
The Prince then, having read the petition, turned aside awhile as before,
and coming again to the place where the petitioner lay on the ground, he
demanded what his name was, and of what esteem in the account of Mansoul,
for that he, above all the multitude in Mansoul, should be sent to him
upon such an errand. Then said the man to the Prince, ‘Oh let not my
Lord be angry; and why inquirest thou after the name of such a dead do—as
I am? Pass by, I pray thee, and take not notice of who I am, because
there is, as thou very well knowest, so great a disproportion between me
and thee. Why the townsmen chose to send me on this errand to my Lord is
best known to themselves, but it could not be for that they thought that
I had favour with my Lord. For my part, I am out of charity with myself;
who, then, should be in love with me? Yet live I would, and so would I
that my townsmen should; and because both they and myself are guilty of
great transgressions, therefore they have sent me, and I am come in their
names to beg of my Lord for mercy. Let it please thee, therefore, to
incline to mercy; but ask not what thy servants are.’
Then said the Prince, ‘And what is he that is become thy companion in
this so weighty a matter?’ So Mr. Desires told Emmanuel that he was a
poor neighbour of his, and one of his most intimate associates. ‘And his
name,’ said he, ‘may it please your most excellent Majesty, is Wet-Eyes,
of the town of Mansoul, I know that there are many of that name that are
naught; but I hope it will be no offence to my Lord that I have brought
my poor neighbour with me.’
Then Mr. Wet-Eyes fell on his face to the ground, and made this apology
for his coming with his neighbour to his Lord:—
‘O, my Lord,’ quoth he, ‘what I am I know not myself, nor whether my name
be feigned or true, especially when I begin to think what some have said,
namely, That this name was given me because Mr. Repentance was my father.
Good men have bad children, and the sincere do oftentimes beget
hypocrites. My mother also called me by this name from the cradle; but
whether because of the moistness of my brain, or because of the softness
of my heart, I cannot tell. I see dirt in mine own tears, and filthiness
in the bottom of my prayers. But I pray thee (and all this while the
gentleman wept) that thou wouldest not remember against us our
transgressions, nor take offence at the unqualifiedness of thy servants,
but mercifully pass by the sin of Mansoul, and refrain from the
glorifying of thy grace no longer.’
So at his bidding they arose, and both stood trembling before him, and he
spake to them to this purpose:—
‘The town of Mansoul hath grievously rebelled against my Father, in that
they have rejected him from being their King, and did choose to
themselves for their captain a liar, a murderer, and a runagate slave.
For this Diabolus, your pretended prince, though once so highly accounted
of by you, made rebellion against my Father and me, even in our palace
and highest court there, thinking to become a prince and king. But being
there timely discovered and apprehended, and for his wickedness bound in
chains, and separated to the pit with those that were his companions, he
offered himself to you, and you have received him.
‘Now this is, and for a long time hath been, a high affront to my Father;
wherefore my Father sent to you a powerful army to reduce you to your
obedience. But you know how these men, their captains and their
counsels, were esteemed of you, and what they received at your hand. You
rebelled against them, you shut your gates upon them, you bid them
battle, you fought them, and fought for Diabolus against them. So they
sent to my Father for more power, and I, with my men, are come to subdue
you. But as you treated the servants, so you treated their Lord. You
stood up in hostile manner against me, you shut up your gates against me,
you turned the deaf ear to me, and resisted as long as you could; but now
I have made a conquest of you. Did you cry me mercy so long as you had
hopes that you might prevail against me? But now I have taken the town,
you cry; but why did you not cry before, when the white flag of my mercy,
the red flag of justice, and the black flag that threatened execution,
were set up to cite you to it? Now I have conquered your Diabolus, you
come to me for favour; but why did you not help me against the mighty?
Yet I will consider your petition, and will answer it so as will be for
my glory.
‘Go, bid Captain Boanerges and Captain Conviction bring the prisoners out
to me into the camp to-morrow, and say you to Captain Judgment and
Captain Execution, “Stay you in the castle, and take good heed to
yourselves that you keep all quiet in Mansoul until you shall hear
further from me.”’ And with that he turned himself from them, and went
into his royal pavilion again.
So the petitioners, having received this answer from the Prince,
returned, as at the first, to go to their companions again. But they had
not gone far, but thoughts began to work in their minds that no mercy as
yet was intended by the Prince to Mansoul. So they went to the place
where the prisoners lay bound; but these workings of mind about what
would become of Mansoul had such strong power over them, that by that
they were come unto them that sent them, they were scarce able to deliver
their message.
But they came at length to the gates of the town, (now the townsmen with
earnestness were waiting for their return,) where many met them, to know
what answer was made to the petition. Then they cried out to those that
were sent, ‘What news from the Prince? and what hath Emmanuel said?’ But
they said that they must, as afore, go up to the prison, and there
deliver their message. So away they went to the prison, with a multitude
at their heels. Now, when they were come to the gates of the prison,
they told the first part of Emmanuel’s speech to the prisoners, to wit,
how he reflected upon their disloyalty to his Father and himself, and how
they had chosen and closed with Diabolus, had fought for him, hearkened
to him, and been ruled by him; but had despised him and his men. This
made the prisoners look pale; but the messengers proceeded and said, ‘He,
the Prince, said, moreover, that yet he would consider your petition, and
give such answer thereto as would stand with his glory.’ And as these
words were spoken, Mr. Wet-Eyes gave a great sigh. At this they were all
of them struck into their dumps, and could not tell what to say: fear
also possessed them in a marvellous manner, and death seemed to sit upon
some of their eyebrows. Now, there was in the company a notable,
sharp-witted fellow, a mean man of estate, and his name was old
Inquisitive. This man asked the petitioners if they had told out every
whit of what Emmanuel said, and they answered, ‘Verily, no.’ Then said
Inquisitive, ‘I thought so, indeed. Pray, what was it more that he said
unto you?’ Then they paused awhile; but at last they brought out all,
saying, ‘The Prince bade us bid Captain Boanerges and Captain Conviction
bring the prisoners down to him to-morrow; and that Captain Judgment and
Captain Execution should take charge of the castle and town till they
should hear further from him. They said also that when the Prince had
commanded them thus to do, he immediately turned his back upon them, and
went into his royal pavilion.
But, oh! how this return, and specially this last clause of it, that the
prisoners must go out to the Prince into the camp, brake all their loins
in pieces! Wherefore, with one voice they set up a cry that reached up
to the heavens. This done, each of the three prepared himself to die;
(and the Recorder said unto them, ‘This was the thing that I feared;’)
for they concluded that to-morrow, by that the sun went down, they should
be tumbled out of the world. The whole town also counted of no other,
but that, in their time and order, they must all drink of the same cup.
Wherefore the town of Mansoul spent that night in mourning, and sackcloth
and ashes. The prisoners also, when the time was come for them to go
down before the Prince, dressed themselves in mourning attire, with ropes
upon their heads. The whole town of Mansoul also showed themselves upon
the wall, all clad in mourning weeds, if, perhaps, the Prince with the
sight thereof might be moved with compassion. But, oh! how the
busy-bodies that were in the town of Mansoul did now concern themselves!
They did run here and there through the streets of the town by companies,
crying out as they ran in tumultuous wise, one after one manner, and
another the quite contrary, to the almost utter distraction of Mansoul.
Well, the time is come that the prisoners must go down to the camp, and
appear before the Prince. And thus was the manner of their going down:
Captain Boanerges went with a guard before them, and Captain Conviction
came behind, and the prisoners went down, bound in chains, in the midst.
So I say, the prisoners went in the midst, and the guard went with flying
colours behind and before, but the prisoners went with drooping spirits.
Or, more particularly, thus: The prisoners went down all in mourning:
they put ropes upon themselves; they went on, smiting themselves on the
breasts, but durst not lift up their eyes to heaven. Thus they went out
at the gate of Mansoul, till they came into the midst of the Prince’s
army, the sight and glory of which did greatly heighten their affliction.
Nor could they now longer forbear, but cry out aloud, ‘O unhappy men! O
wretched men of Mansoul!’ Their chains, still mixing their dolorous
notes with the cries of the prisoners, made the noise more lamentable.
So, when they were come to the door of the Prince’s pavilion, they cast
themselves prostrate upon the place; then one went in and told his Lord
that the prisoners were come down. The Prince then ascended a throne of
state, and sent for the prisoners in; who, when they came, did tremble
before him, also they covered their faces with shame. Now, as they drew
near to the place where he sat, they threw themselves down before him.
Then said the Prince to the Captain Boanerges, ‘Bid the prisoners stand
upon their feet.’ Then they stood trembling before him, and he said,
‘Are you the men that heretofore were the servants of Shaddai?’ And they
said, ‘Yes, Lord, yes.’ Then said the Prince again, ‘Are you the men
that did suffer yourselves to be corrupted and defiled by that abominable
one, Diabolus?’ And they said, ‘We did more than suffer it, Lord; for we
chose it of our own mind.’ The Prince asked further, saying, ‘Could you
have been content that your slavery should have continued under his
tyranny as long as you had lived?’ Then said the prisoners, ‘Yes, Lord,
yes; for his ways were pleasing to our flesh, and we were grown aliens to
a better state.’—‘And did you,’ said he, ‘when I came up against this
town of Mansoul, heartily wish that I might not have the victory over
you?’—‘Yes, Lord, yes,’ said they. Then said the Prince, ‘And what
punishment is it, think you, that you deserve at my hand, for these and
other your high and mighty sins?’—And they said, ‘Both death and the
deep, Lord; for we have deserved no less.’ He asked again if they had
aught to say for themselves why the sentence, that they confessed that
they had deserved, should not be passed upon them? And they said, ‘We
can say nothing, Lord: thou art just, for we have sinned.’ Then said the
Prince, ‘And for what are those ropes on your heads?’ The prisoners
answered, ‘These ropes are to bind us withal to the place of execution,
if mercy be not pleasing in thy sight.’ So he further asked if all the
men in the town of Mansoul were in this confession, as they? And they
answered, ‘All the natives, Lord; but for the Diabolonians that came into
our town when the tyrant got possession of us, we can say nothing for
them.’
Then the Prince commanded that a herald should be called, and that he
should, in the midst and throughout the camp of Emmanuel, proclaim, and
that with sound of trumpet, that the Prince, the Son of Shaddai, had, in
his Father’s name, and for his Father’s glory, gotten a perfect conquest
and victory over Mansoul; and that the prisoners should follow him, and
say Amen. So, this was done as he had commanded. And presently the
music that was in the upper region sounded melodiously, the captains that
were in the camp shouted, and the soldiers did sing songs of triumph to
the Prince; the colours waved in the wind, and great joy was everywhere,
only it was wanting as yet in the hearts of the men of Mansoul.
Then the Prince called for the prisoners to come and to stand again
before him, and they came and stood trembling. And he said unto them,
‘The sins, trespasses, iniquities, that you, with the whole town of
Mansoul, have from time to time committed against my Father and me, I
have power and commandment from my Father to forgive to the town of
Mansoul, and do forgive you accordingly.’ And having so said, he gave
them, written in parchment, and sealed with seven seals, a large and
general pardon, commanding my Lord Mayor, my Lord Willbewill, and Mr.
Recorder, to proclaim and cause it to be proclaimed to-morrow, by that
the sun is up, throughout the whole town of Mansoul.
Moreover, the Prince stripped the prisoners of their mourning weeds, and
gave them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, and the garment
of praise for the spirit of heaviness.
Then he gave to each of the three jewels of gold and precious stones, and
took away their ropes, and put chains of gold about their necks, and
ear-rings in their ears. Now, the prisoners, when they did hear the
gracious words of Prince Emmanuel, and had beheld all that was done unto
them, fainted almost quite away; for the grace, the benefit, the pardon,
was sudden, glorious, and so big, that they were not able, without
staggering, to stand up under it. Yea, my Lord Willbewill swooned
outright; but the Prince stepped to him, put his everlasting arms under
him, embraced him, kissed him, and bid him be of good cheer, for all
should be performed according to his word. He also did kiss, and
embrace, and smile upon the other two that were Willbewill’s companions,
saying, ‘Take these as further tokens of my love, favour, and compassions
to you; and I charge you that you, Mr. Recorder, tell in the town of
Mansoul what you have heard and seen.’
Then were their fetters broken to pieces before their faces, and cast
into the air, and their steps were enlarged under them. Then they fell
down at the feet of the Prince, and kissed his feet, and wetted them with
tears: also they cried out with a mighty strong voice, saying, ‘Blessed
be the glory of the Lord from this place.’ So they were bid rise up, and
go to the town, and tell to Mansoul what the Prince had done. He
commanded also that one with a pipe and tabor should go and play before
them all the way into the town of Mansoul. Then was fulfilled what they
never looked for, and they were made to possess that which they never
dreamed of.
The Prince also called for the noble Captain Credence, and commanded that
he and some of his officers should march before the noble men of Mansoul
with flying colours into the town. He gave also unto Captain Credence a
charge, that about that time that the Recorder did read the general
pardon in the town of Mansoul, that at that very time he should with
flying colours march in at Eye-gate with his ten thousands at his feet
and that he should so go until he came by the high street of the town, up
to the castle gates, and that himself should take possession thereof
against his Lord came thither. He commanded, moreover, that he should
bid Captain Judgment and Captain Execution to leave the stronghold to
him, and to withdraw from Mansoul, and to return into the camp with speed
unto the Prince.
And now was the town of Mansoul also delivered from the terror of the
first four captains and their men.
Well, I told you before how the prisoners were entertained by the noble
Prince Emmanuel, and how they behaved themselves before him, and how he
sent them away to their home with pipe and tabor going before them. And
now you must think that those of the town that had all this while waited
to hear of their death, could not but be exercised with sadness of mind,
and with thoughts that pricked like thorns. Nor could their thoughts be
kept to any one point; the wind blew with them all this while at great
uncertainties; yea, their hearts were like a balance that had been
disquieted with a shaking hand. But at last, as they with many a long
look looked over the wall of Mansoul, they thought that they saw some
returning to the town; and thought again, Who should they be, too? Who
should they be? At last they discerned that they were the prisoners: but
can you imagine how their hearts were surprised with wonder, specially
when they perceived also in what equipage and with what honour they were
sent home. They went down to the camp in black, but they came back to
the town in white; they went down to the camp in ropes, they came back in
chains of gold; they went down to the camp with their feet in fetters,
but came back with their steps enlarged under them; they went also to the
camp looking for death, but they came back from thence with assurance of
life; they went down to the camp with heavy hearts, but came back again
with pipe and tabor playing before them. So as soon as they were come to
Eye-gate, the poor and tottering town of Mansoul adventured to give a
shout; and they gave such a shout as made the captains in the Prince’s
army leap at the sound thereof. Alas! for them, poor hearts! who could
blame them? since their dead friends were come to life again; for it was
to them as life from the dead to see the ancients of the town of Mansoul
shine in such splendour. They looked for nothing but the axe and the
block; but, behold, joy and gladness, comfort and consolation, and such
melodious notes attending them that was sufficient to make a sick man
well.
So, when they came up, they saluted each other with, ‘Welcome, welcome!
and blessed be he that has spared you!’ They added also, ‘We see it is
well with you; but how must it go with the town of Mansoul? And will it
go well with the town of Mansoul?’ said they. Then answered them the
Recorder and my Lord Mayor, ‘Oh! tidings! glad tidings! good tidings of
good, and of great joy to poor Mansoul!’ Then they gave another shout,
that made the earth to ring again. After this, they inquired yet more
particularly how things went in the camp, and what message they had from
Emmanuel to the town. So they told them all passages that had happened
to them at the camp, and everything that the Prince did to them. This
made Mansoul wonder at the wisdom and grace of the Prince Emmanuel. Then
they told them what they had received at his hands for the whole town of
Mansoul, and the Recorder delivered it in these words: ‘PARDON, PARDON,
PARDON for Mansoul! and this shall Mansoul know to-morrow!’ Then he
commanded, and they went and summoned Mansoul to meet together in the
market-place to-morrow, then to hear their general pardon read.
But who can think what a turn, what a change, what an alteration this
hint of things did make in the countenance of the town of Mansoul! No
man of Mansoul could sleep that night for joy; in every house there was
joy and music, singing and making merry: telling and hearing of Mansoul’s
happiness was then all that Mansoul had to do; and this was the burden of
all their song: ‘Oh! more of this at the rising of the sun! more of this
to-morrow!’ ‘Who thought yesterday,’ would one say, ‘that this day would
have been such a day to us? And who thought, that saw our prisoners go
down in irons, that they would have returned in chains of gold? Yea,
they that judged themselves as they went to be judged of their judge,
were by his mouth acquitted, not for that they were innocent, but of the
Prince’s mercy, and sent home with pipe and tabor. But is this the
common custom of princes? Do they use to show such kind of favours to
traitors? No; this is only peculiar to Shaddai, and unto Emmanuel, his
Son!’
Now morning drew on apace; wherefore the Lord Mayor, the Lord Willbewill,
and Mr. Recorder came down to the market-place at the time that the
Prince had appointed, where the townsfolk were waiting for them: and when
they came, they came in that attire, and in that glory that the Prince
had put them into the day before, and the street was lightened with their
glory. So the Mayor, Recorder, and my Lord Willbewill drew down to
Mouth-gate, which was at the lower end of the market-place, because that
of old time was the place where they used to read public matters.
Thither, therefore, they came in their robes, and their tabrets went
before them. Now, the eagerness of the people to know the full of the
matter was great.
Then the Recorder stood up upon his feet, and, first beckoning with his
hand for silence, he read out with a loud voice the pardon. But when he
came to these words: ‘The Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious,
pardoning iniquity, transgressions, and sins, and to them all manner of
sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven,’ etc., they could not forbear
leaping for joy. For this you must know, that there was conjoined
herewith every man’s name in Mansoul; also the seals of the pardon made a
brave show.
When the Recorder had made an end of reading the pardon, the townsmen ran
up upon the walls of the town, and leaped and skipped thereon for joy,
and bowed themselves seven times with their faces toward Emmanuel’s
pavilion, and shouted out aloud for joy, and said, ‘Let Emmanuel live for
ever!’ Then order was given to the young men in Mansoul that they should
ring the bells for joy. So the bells did ring, and the people sing, and
the music go in every house in Mansoul.
When the Prince had sent home the three prisoners of Mansoul with joy,
and pipe and tabor, he commanded his captains, with all the field
officers and soldiers throughout his army, to be ready in that morning,
that the Recorder should read the pardon in Mansoul, to do his further
pleasure. So the morning, as I have showed, being come, just as the
Recorder had made an end of reading the pardon, Emmanuel commanded that
all the trumpets in the camp should sound, that the colours should be
displayed, half of them upon Mount Gracious, and half of them upon Mount
Justice. He commanded also that all the captains should show themselves
in all their harness, and that the soldiers should shout for joy. Nor
was Captain Credence, though in the castle, silent in such a day; but he,
from the top of the hold, showed himself with sound of trumpet to Mansoul
and to the Prince’s camp.
Thus have I showed you the manner and way that Emmanuel took to recover
the town of Mansoul from under the hand and power of the tyrant Diabolus.
Now, when the Prince had completed these, the outward ceremonies of his
joy, he again commanded that his captains and soldiers should show unto
Mansoul some feats of war: so they presently addressed themselves to this
work. But oh! with what agility, nimbleness, dexterity, and bravery did
these military men discover their skill in feats of war to the now gazing
town of Mansoul!
They marched, they counter-marched; they opened to the right and left;
they divided and subdivided; they closed, they wheeled, made good their
front and rear with their right and left wings, and twenty things more,
with that aptness, and then were all as the were again, that they
took—yea, ravished, the hearts that were in Mansoul to behold it. But
add to this, the handling of their arms, the managing of their weapons of
war, were marvellously taking to Mansoul and me.
When this action was over, the whole town of Mansoul came out as one man
to the Prince in the camp to thank him, and praise him for his abundant
favour, and to beg that it would please his grace to come unto Mansoul
with his men, and there to take up their quarters for ever: and this they
did in most humble manner, bowing themselves seven times to the ground
before him. Then said he, ‘All peace be to you.’ So the town came nigh,
and touched with the hand the top of his golden sceptre; and they said,
‘Oh! that the Prince Emmanuel, with his captains and men of war, would
dwell in Mansoul for ever; and that his battering-rams and slings might
be lodged in her for the use and service of the Prince, and for the help
and strength of Mansoul. For,’ said they, ‘we have room for thee, we
have room for thy men, we have also room for thy weapons of war, and a
place to make a magazine for thy carriages. Do it, Emmanuel, and thou
shalt be King and Captain in Mansoul for ever. Yea, govern thou also
according to all the desire of thy soul, and make thou governors and
princes under thee of thy captains and men of war, and we will become thy
servants, and thy laws shall be our direction.’
They added, moreover, and prayed his Majesty to consider thereof; ‘for,’
said they, ‘if now, after all this grace bestowed upon us, thy miserable
town of Mansoul, thou shouldest withdraw, thou and thy captains, from us,
the town of Mansoul will die. Yea,’ said they, ‘our blessed Emmanuel, if
thou shouldest depart from us now, now thou hast done so much good for
us, and showed so much mercy unto us, what will follow but that our joy
will be as if it had not been, and our enemies will a second time come
upon us with more rage than at the first? Wherefore, we beseech thee, O
thou, the desire of our eyes, and the strength and life of our poor town,
accept of this motion that now we have made unto our Lord, and come and
dwell in the midst of us, and let us be thy people. Besides, Lord, we do
not know but that to this day many Diabolonians may be yet lurking in the
town of Mansoul, and they will betray us, when thou shalt leave us, into
the hand of Diabolus again; and who knows what designs, plots, or
contrivances have passed betwixt them about these things already? Loath
we are to fall again into his horrible hands. Wherefore, let it please
thee to accept of our palace for thy place of residence, and of the
houses of the best men in our town for the reception of thy soldiers and
their furniture.’
Then said the Prince, ‘If I come to your town, will you suffer me further
to prosecute that which is in mine heart against mine enemies and
yours?—yea, will you help me in such undertakings?’
They answered, ‘We know not what we shall do; we did not think once that
we should have been such traitors to Shaddai as we have proved to be.
What, then, shall we say to our Lord? Let him put no trust in his
saints; let the Prince dwell in our castle, and make of our town a
garrison; let him set his noble captains and his warlike soldiers over
us; yea, let him conquer us with his love, and overcome us with his
grace, and then surely shall he be but with us, and help us, as he was
and did that morning that our pardon was read unto us. We shall comply
with this our Lord, and with his ways, and fall in with his word against
the mighty.
‘One word more, and thy servants have done, and in this will trouble our
Lord no more. We know not the depth of the wisdom of thee, our Prince.
Who could have thought, that had been ruled by his reason, that so much
sweet as we do now enjoy should have come out of those bitter trials
wherewith we were tried at the first! But, Lord, let light go before,
and let love come after: yea, take us by the hand, and lead us by thy
counsels, and let this always abide upon us, that all things shall be the
best for thy servants, and come to our Mansoul, and do as it pleaseth
thee. Or, Lord, come to our Mansoul, do what thou wilt, so thou keepest
us from sinning, and makest us serviceable to thy Majesty.’
Then said the Prince to the town of Mansoul again, ‘Go, return to your
houses in peace. I will willingly in this comply with your desires; I
will remove my royal pavilion, I will draw up my forces before Eye-gate
to-morrow, and so will march forwards into the town of Mansoul. I will
possess myself of your castle of Mansoul, and will set my soldiers over
you: yea, I will yet do things in Mansoul that cannot be paralleled in
any nation, country, or kingdom under heaven.’ Then did the men of
Mansoul give a shout, and returned unto their houses in peace; they also
told to their kindred and friends the good that Emmanuel had promised to
Mansoul. ‘And to-morrow,’ said they, ‘he will march into our town, and
take up his dwelling, he and his men, in Mansoul.’
Then went out the inhabitants of the town of Mansoul with haste to the
green trees and to the meadows, to gather boughs and flowers, therewith
to strew the streets against their Prince, the Son of Shaddai, should
come; they also made garlands and other fine works to betoken how joyful
they were, and should be to receive their Emmanuel into Mansoul; yea,
they strewed the street quite from Eye-gate to the castle-gate, the place
where the Prince should be. They also prepared for his coming what music
the town of Mansoul would afford, that they might play before him to the
palace, his habitation.
So, at the time appointed he makes his approach to Mansoul, and the gates
were set open for him; there also the ancients and elders of Mansoul met
him to salute him with a thousand welcomes. Then he arose and entered
Mansoul, he and all his servants. The elders of Mansoul did also go
dancing before him till he came to the castle gates. And this was the
manner of his going up thither:—He was clad in his golden armour, he rode
in his royal chariot, the trumpets sounded about him, the colours were
displayed, his ten thousands went up at his feet, and the elders of
Mansoul danced before him. And now were the walls of the famous town of
Mansoul filled with the tramplings of the inhabitants thereof, who went
up thither to view the approach of the blessed Prince and his royal army.
Also the casements, windows, balconies, and tops of the houses, were all
now filled with persons of all sorts, to behold how their town was to be
filled with good.
Now, when he was come so far into the town as to the Recorder’s house, he
commanded that one should go to Captain Credence, to know whether the
castle of Mansoul was prepared to entertain his royal presence (for the
preparation of that was left to that captain), and word was brought that
it was. Then was Captain Credence commanded also to come forth with his
power to meet the Prince, the which was, as he had commanded, done; and
he conducted him into the castle. This done, the Prince that night did
lodge in the castle with his mighty captains and men of war, to the joy
of the town of Mansoul.
Now, the next care of the townsfolk was, how the captains and soldiers of
the Prince’s army should be quartered among them; and the care was not
how they should shut their hands of them, but how they should fill their
houses with them; for every man in Mansoul now had that esteem of
Emmanuel and his men that nothing grieved them more than because they
were not enlarged enough, every one of them to receive the whole army of
the Prince; yea, they counted it their glory to be waiting upon them, and
would, in those days, run at their bidding like lackeys.
At last they came to this result:—
1. That Captain Innocency should quarter at Mr. Reason’s.
2. That Captain Patience should quarter at Mr. Mind’s. This Mr. Mind was
formerly the Lord Willbewill’s clerk in time of the late rebellion.
3. It was ordered that Captain Charity should quarter at Mr. Affection’s
house.
4. That Captain Good-Hope should quarter at my Lord Mayor’s. Now, for
the house of the Recorder, himself desired, because his house was next to
the castle, and because from him it was ordered by the Prince that, if
need be, the alarm should be given to Mansoul,—it was, I say, desired by
him that Captain Boanerges and Captain Conviction should take up their
quarters with him, even they and all their men.
5. As for Captain Judgment and Captain Execution, my Lord Willbewill took
them and their men to him, because he was to rule under the Prince for
the good of the town of Mansoul now, as he had before under the tyrant
Diabolus for the hurt and damage thereof.
6. And throughout the rest of the town were quartered Emmanuel’s forces;
but Captain Credence, with his men, abode still in the castle. So the
Prince, his captains, and his soldiers, were lodged in the town of
Mansoul.
Now, the ancients and elders of the town of Mansoul thought that they
never should have enough of the Prince Emmanuel; his person, his actions,
his words, and behaviour, were so pleasing, so taking, so desirable to
them. Wherefore they prayed him, that though the castle of Mansoul was
his place of residence, (and they desired that he might dwell there for
ever,) yet that he would often visit the streets, houses, and people of
Mansoul. ‘For,’ said they, ‘dread Sovereign, thy presence, thy looks,
thy smiles, thy words, are the life, and strength, and sinews of the town
of Mansoul.’
Besides this, they craved that they might have, without difficulty or
interruption, continual access unto him, (so for that very purpose he
commanded that the gates should stand open,) that they might there see
the manner of his doings, the fortifications of the place, and the royal
mansion-house of the Prince.
When he spake, they all stopped their mouths and gave audience; and when
he walked, it was their delight to imitate him in his goings.
Now, upon a time, Emmanuel made a feast for the town of Mansoul; and upon
the feasting-day the townsfolk were come to the castle to partake of his
banquet; and he feasted them with all manner of outlandish food;—food
that grew not in the fields of Mansoul; nor in all the whole Kingdom of
Universe; it was food that came from his Father’s court. And so there
was dish after dish set before them, and they were commanded freely to
eat. But still, when a fresh dish was set before them, they would
whisperingly say to each other, ‘What is it?’ for they wist not what to
call it. They drank also of the water that was made wine, and were very
merry with him. There was music also all the while at the table; and man
did eat angels’ food, and had honey given him out of the rock. So
Mansoul did eat the food that was peculiar to the court; yea, they had
now thereof to the full.
I must not forget to tell you, that as at this table there were
musicians, so they were not those of the country, nor yet of the town of
Mansoul; but they were the masters of the songs that were sung at the
court of Shaddai.
Now, after the feast was over, Emmanuel was for entertaining the town of
Mansoul with some curious riddles of secrets drawn up by his Father’s
secretary, by the skill and wisdom of Shaddai; the like to these there is
not in any kingdom. These riddles were made upon the King Shaddai
himself, and upon Emmanuel his Son, and upon his wars and doings with
Mansoul.
Emmanuel also expounded unto them some of those riddles himself; but, oh!
how they were lightened! They saw what they never saw; they could not
have thought that such rarities could have been couched in so few and
such ordinary words. I told you before, whom these riddles did concern;
and as they were opened, the people did evidently see it was so. Yea,
they did gather that the things themselves were a kind of a portraiture,
and that of Emmanuel himself; for when they read in the scheme where the
riddles were writ, and looked in the face of the Prince, things looked so
like the one to the other, that Mansoul could not forbear but say, ‘This
is the lamb! this is the sacrifice! this is the rock! this is the red
cow! this is the door! and this is the way!’ with a great many other
things more.
And thus he dismissed the town of Mansoul. But can you imagine how the
people of the corporation were taken with this entertainment! Oh! they
were transported with joy, they were drowned with wonderment, while they
saw and understood, and considered what their Emmanuel entertained them
withal, and what mysteries he opened to them. And when they were at home
in their houses, and in their most retired places, they could not but
sing of him and of his actions. Yea, so taken were the townsmen now with
their Prince, that they would sing of him in their sleep.
Now, it was in the heart of the Prince Emmanuel to new-model the town of
Mansoul, and to put it into such a condition as might be most pleasing to
him, and that might best stand with the profit and security of the now
flourishing town of Mansoul. He provided also against insurrections at
home, and invasions from abroad, such love had he for the famous town of
Mansoul.
Wherefore he first of all commanded that the great slings that were
brought from his Father’s court, when he came to the war of Mansoul,
should be mounted, some upon the battlements of the castle, some upon the
towers; for there were towers in the town of Mansoul, towers, new-built
by Emmanuel since he came hither. There was also an instrument, invented
by Emmanuel, that was to throw stones from the castle of Mansoul, out at
Mouth-gate; an instrument that could not be resisted, nor that would miss
of execution. Wherefore, for the wonderful exploits that it did when
used, it went without a name; and it was committed to the care of, and to
be managed by the brave captain, the Captain Credence, in case of war.
This done, Emmanuel called the Lord Willbewill to him, and gave him in
commandment to take care of the gates, the wall, and towers in Mansoul;
also the Prince gave him the militia into his hand, and a special charge
to withstand all insurrections and tumults that might be made in Mansoul
against the peace of our Lord the King, and the peace and tranquillity of
the town of Mansoul. He also gave him in commission, that if he found
any of the Diabolonians lurking in any corner of the famous town of
Mansoul, he should forthwith apprehend them, and stay them, or commit
them to safe custody, that they may be proceeded against according to
law.
Then he called unto him the Lord Understanding, who was the old Lord
Mayor, he that was put out of place when Diabolus took the town, and put
him into his former office again, and it became his place for his
lifetime. He bid him also that he should build him a palace near
Eye-gate; and that he should build it in fashion like a tower for
defence. He bid him also that he should read in the Revelation of
Mysteries all the days of his life, that he might know how to perform his
office aright.
He also made Mr. Knowledge the Recorder, not of contempt to old Mr.
Conscience, who had been Recorder before, but for that it was in his
princely mind to confer upon Mr. Conscience another employ, of which he
told the old gentleman he should know more hereafter.
Then he commanded that the image of Diabolus should be taken down from
the place where it was set up, and that they should destroy it utterly,
beating it into powder, and casting it into the wind without the town
wall; and that the image of Shaddai, his Father, should be set up again,
with his own, upon the castle gates; and that it should be more fairly
drawn than ever, forasmuch as both his Father and himself were come to
Mansoul in more grace and mercy than heretofore. He would also that his
name should be fairly engraven upon the front of the town, and that it
should be done in the best of gold, for the honour of the town of
Mansoul.
After this was done, Emmanuel gave out a commandment that those three
great Diabolonians should be apprehended, namely, the two late Lord
Mayors, to wit, Mr. Incredulity, Mr. Lustings, and Mr. Forget-Good, the
Recorder. Besides these, there were some of them that Diabolus made
burgesses and aldermen in Mansoul, that were committed to ward by the
hand of the now valiant and now right noble, the brave Lord Willbewill.
And these were their names: Alderman Atheism, Alderman Hard-Heart, and
Alderman False-Peace. The burgesses were, Mr. No-Truth, Mr. Pitiless,
Mr. Haughty, with the like. These were committed to close custody, and
the gaoler’s name was Mr. True-Man. This True-Man was one of those that
Emmanuel brought with him from his Father’s court when at the first he
made a war upon Diabolus in the town or Mansoul.
After this, the Prince gave a charge that the three strongholds that, at
the command of Diabolus, the Diabolonians built in Mansoul, should be
demolished and utterly pulled down; of which holds and their names, with
their captains and governors, you read a little before. But this was
long in doing, because of the largeness of the places, and because the
stones, the timber, the iron, and all rubbish, was to be carried without
the town.
When this was done, the Prince gave order that the Lord Mayor and
aldermen of Mansoul should call a court of judicature for the trial and
execution of the Diabolonians in the corporation now under the charge of
Mr. True-Man, the gaoler.
Now, when the time was come, and the court set, commandment was sent to
Mr. True-Man, the gaoler, to bring the prisoners down to the bar. Then
were the prisoners brought down, pinioned and chained together, as the
custom of the town of Mansoul was. So, when they were presented before
the Lord Mayor, the Recorder, and the rest of the honourable bench,
first, the jury was empannelled, and then the witnesses sworn. The names
of the jury were these: Mr. Belief, Mr. True-Heart, Mr. Upright, Mr.
Hate-Bad, Mr. Love-God, Mr. See-Truth, Mr. Heavenly-Mind, Mr. Moderate,
Mr. Thankful, Mr. Good-Work, Mr. Zeal-for-God, and Mr. Humble.
The names of the witnesses were—Mr. Know-All, Mr. Tell-True, Mr.
Hate-Lies, with my Lord Willbewill and his man, if need were.
So the prisoners were set to the bar. Then said Mr. Do-Right, (for he
was the Town-Clerk,) ‘Set Atheism to the bar, gaoler.’ So he was set to
the bar. Then said the Clerk, ‘Atheism, hold up thy hand. Thou art here
indicted by the name of Atheism, (an intruder upon the town of Mansoul,)
for that thou hast perniciously and doltishly taught and maintained that
there is no God, and so no heed to be taken to religion. This thou hast
done against the being, honour, and glory of the King, and against the
peace and safety of the town of Mansoul. What sayest thou? Art thou
guilty of this indictment, or not?
_Atheism_. Not guilty.
_Crier_. Call Mr. Know-All, Mr. Tell-True, and Mr. Hate-Lies into the
court.
So they were called, and they appeared.
Then said the Clerk, ‘You, the witnesses for the King, look upon the
prisoner at the bar; do you know him?’
Then said Mr. Know-All, ‘Yes, my lord, we know him; his name is Atheism;
he has been a very pestilent fellow for many years in the miserable town
of Mansoul.’
_Clerk_. You are sure you know him?
_Know_. Know him! Yes my lord; I have heretofore too often been in his
company to be at this time ignorant of him. He is a Diabolonian, the son
of a Diabolonian: I knew his grandfather and his father.
_Clerk_. Well said. He standeth here indicted by the name of Atheism,
etc., and is charged that he hath maintained and taught that there is no
God, and so no heed need be taken to any religion. What say you, the
King’s witnesses, to this? Is he guilty or not?
_Know_. My lord, I and he were once in Villain’s Lane together, and he
at that time did briskly talk of divers opinions; and then and there I
heard him say, that, for his part, he did believe that there was no God.
‘But,’ said he, ‘I can profess one, and be as religious too, if the
company I am in, and the circumstances of other things,’ said he, ‘shall
put me upon it.’
_Clerk_. You are sure you heard him say thus?
_Know_. Upon mine oath, I heard him say thus.
Then said the Clerk, ‘Mr. Tell-True, what say you to the King’s judges
touching the prisoner at the bar?’
_Tell_. My lord, I formerly was a great companion of his, for the which
I now repent me, and I have often heard him say, and that with very great
stomachfulness, that he believed there was neither God, angel, nor
spirit.
_Clerk_. Where did you hear him say so?
_Tell_. In Blackmouth Lane and in Blasphemer’s Row, and in many other
places besides.
_Clerk_. Have you much knowledge of him?
_Tell_. I know him to be a Diabolonian, the son of a Diabolonian, and a
horrible man to deny a Deity. His father’s name was Never-be-good, and
he had more children than this Atheism. I have no more to say.
_Clerk_. Mr. Hate-Lies, look upon the prisoner at the bar; do you know
him?
_Hate_. My lord, this Atheism is one of the vilest wretches that ever I
came near, or had to do with in my life. I have heard him say that there
is no God; I have heard him say that there is no world to come, no sin,
nor punishment hereafter, and, moreover, I have heard him say that it was
as good to go to a whore-house as to go to hear a sermon.
_Clerk_. Where did you hear him say these things?
_Hate_. In Drunkard’s Row, just at Rascal-Lane’s End, at a house in
which Mr. Impiety lived.
_Clerk_. Set him by, gaoler, and set Mr. Lustings to the bar. Mr.
Lustings, thou art here indicted by the name of Lustings, (an intruder
upon the town of Mansoul,) for that thou hast devilishly and traitorously
taught, by practice and filthy words, that it is lawful and profitable to
man to give way to his carnal desires; and that thou, for thy part, hast
not, nor never wilt, deny thyself of any sinful delight as long as thy
name is Lustings. How sayest thou? Art thou guilty of this indictment,
or not?
Then said Mr. Lustings, ‘My lord, I am a man of high birth, and have been
used to pleasures and pastimes of greatness. I have not been wont to be
snubbed for my doings, but have been left to follow my will as if it were
law. And it seems strange to me that I should this day be called into
question for that, that not only I, but almost all men, do either
secretly or openly countenance, love, and approve of.’
_Clerk_. Sir, we concern not ourselves with your greatness; (though the
higher, the better you should have been;) but we are concerned, and so
are you now, about an indictment preferred against you. How say you?
Are you guilty of it, or not?
_Lust_. Not guilty.
_Clerk_. Crier, call upon the witnesses to stand forth and give their
evidence.
_Crier_. Gentlemen, you, the witnesses for the King, come in and give in
your evidence for our Lord the King against the prisoner at the bar.
_Clerk_. Come, Mr. Know-All, look upon the prisoner at the bar; do you
know him?
_Know_. Yes, my lord, I know him.
_Clerk_. What is his name?
_Know_. His name is Lustings; he was the son of one Beastly, and his
mother bare him in Flesh Street: she was one Evil-Concupiscence’s
daughter. I knew all the generation of them.
_Clerk_. Well said. You have heard his indictment; what say you to it?
Is he guilty of the things charged against him, or not?
_Know_. My lord, he has, as he saith, been a great man indeed, and
greater in wickedness than by pedigree more than a thousandfold.
_Clerk_. But what do you know of his particular actions, and especially
with reference to his indictment?
_Know_. I know him to be a swearer, a liar, a Sabbath-breaker; I know
him to be a fornicator and an unclean person; I know him to be guilty of
abundance of evils. He has been, to my knowledge, a very filthy man.
_Clerk_. But where did he use to commit his wickedness? in some private
corners, or more open and shamelessly?
_Know_. All the town over, my lord.
_Clerk_. Come, Mr. Tell-True, what have you to say for our Lord the King
against the prisoner at the bar?
_Tell_. My lord, all that the first witness has said I know to be true,
and a great deal more besides.
_Clerk_. Mr. Lustings, do you hear what these gentlemen say?
_Lust_. I was ever of opinion that the happiest life that a man could
live on earth was to keep himself back from nothing that he desired in
the world; nor have I been false at any time to this opinion of mine, but
have lived in the love of my notions all my days. Nor was I ever so
churlish, having found such sweetness in them myself, as to keep the
commendations of them from others.
Then said the Court, ‘There hath proceeded enough from his own mouth to
lay him open to condemnation; wherefore, set him by, gaoler, and set Mr.
Incredulity to the bar.’
Incredulity set to the bar.
_Clerk_. Mr. Incredulity, thou art here indicted by the name of
Incredulity, (an intruder upon the town of Mansoul,) for that thou hast
feloniously and wickedly, and that when thou wert an officer in the town
of Mansoul, made head against the captains of the great King Shaddai when
they came and demanded possession of Mansoul; yea, thou didst bid
defiance to the name, forces, and cause of the King, and didst also, as
did Diabolus thy captain, stir up and encourage the town of Mansoul to
make head against and resist the said force of the King. What sayest
thou to this indictment? Art thou guilty of it, or not?
Then said Incredulity, ‘I know not Shaddai; I love my old prince; I
thought it my duty to be true to my trust, and to do what I could to
possess the minds of the men of Mansoul to do their utmost to resist
strangers and foreigners, and with might to fight against them. Nor have
I, nor shall I, change mine opinion for fear of trouble, though you at
present are possessed of place and power.’
Then said the Court, ‘The man, as you see, is incorrigible; he is for
maintaining his villainies by stoutness of words, and his rebellion with
impudent confidence; and therefore set him by, gaoler, and set Mr.
Forget-Good to the bar.
Forget-Good set to the bar.
_Clerk_. Mr. Forget-Good, thou art here indicted by the name of
Forget-Good, (an intruder upon the town of Mansoul,) for that thou, when
the whole affairs of the town of Mansoul were in thy hand, didst utterly
forget to serve them in what was good, and didst fall in with the tyrant
Diabolus against Shaddai the King, against his captains, and all his
host, to the dishonour of Shaddai, the breach of his law, and the
endangering of the destruction of the famous town of Mansoul. What
sayest thou to this indictment? Art thou guilty or not guilty?
Then said Forget-Good: ‘Gentlemen, and at this time my judges, as to the
indictment by which I stand of several crimes accused before you, pray
attribute my forgetfulness to mine age, and not to my wilfulness; to the
craziness of my brain, and not to the carelessness of my mind; and then I
hope I may be by your charity excused from great punishment, though I be
guilty.’
Then said the Court, ‘Forget-Good, Forget-Good, thy forgetfulness of good
was not simply of frailty, but of purpose, and for that thou didst loathe
to keep virtuous things in thy mind. What was bad thou couldst retain,
but what was good thou couldst not abide to think of; thy age, therefore,
and thy pretended craziness, thou makest use of to blind the court
withal, and as a cloak to cover thy knavery. But let us hear what the
witnesses have to say for the King against the prisoner at the bar. Is
he guilty of this indictment, or not?’
_Hate_. My lord, I have heard this Forget-Good say, that he could never
abide to think of goodness, no, not for a quarter of an hour.
_Clerk_. Where did you hear him say so?
_Hate_. In All-base Lane, at a house next door to the sign of the
Conscience seared with a hot iron.
_Clerk_. Mr. Know-All, what can you say for our Lord the King against
the prisoner at the bar?
_Know_. My lord, I know this man well. He is a Diabolonian, the son of
a Diabolonian: his father’s name was Love-Naught; and for him, I have
often heard him say, that he counted the very thoughts of goodness the
most burdensome thing in the world.
_Clerk_. Where have you heard him say these words?
_Know_. In Flesh Lane, right opposite to the church.
Then said the Clerk, ‘Come, Mr. Tell-True, give in your evidence
concerning the prisoner at the bar, about that for which he stands here,
as you see, indicted by this honourable Court.’
_Tell_. My lord, I have heard him often say he had rather think of the
vilest thing than of what is contained in the Holy Scriptures.
_Clerk_. Where did you hear him say such grievous words?
_Tell_. Where?—in a great many places, particularly in Nauseous Street,
in the house of one Shameless, and in Filth Lane, at the sign of the
Reprobate, next door to the Descent into the Pit.
_Court_. Gentlemen, you have heard the indictment, his plea, and the
testimony of the witnesses. Gaoler, set Mr. Hard-Heart to the bar.
He is set to the bar.
_Clerk_. Mr. Hard-Heart, thou art here indicted by the name of
Hard-Heart, (an intruder upon the town of Mansoul,) for that thou didst
most desperately and wickedly possess the town of Mansoul with
impenitency and obdurateness; and didst keep them from remorse and sorrow
for their evils, all the time of their apostacy from and rebellion
against the blessed King Shaddai. What sayest thou to this indictment?
Art thou guilty, or not guilty?
_Hard_. My lord, I never knew what remorse or sorrow meant in all my
life. I am impenetrable. I care for no man; nor can I be pierced with
men’s griefs; their groans will not enter into my heart. Whomsoever I
mischief, whomsoever I wrong, to me it is music, when to others mourning.
_Court_. You see the man is a right Diabolonian, and has convicted
himself. Set him by, gaoler, and set Mr. False-Peace to the bar.
False-Peace set to the bar.
‘Mr. False-Peace, thou art here indicted by the name of False-Peace, (an
intruder upon the town of Mansoul,) for that thou didst most wickedly and
satanically bring, hold, and keep the town of Mansoul, both in her
apostacy and in her hellish rebellion, in a false, groundless, and
dangerous peace, and damnable security, to the dishonour of the King, the
transgression of his law, and the great damage of the town of Mansoul.
What sayest thou? Art thou guilty of this indictment, or not?
Then said Mr. False-Peace: ‘Gentlemen, and you now appointed to be my
judges, I acknowledge that my name is Mr. Peace; but that my name is
False-Peace I utterly deny. If your honours shall please to send for any
that do intimately know me, or for the midwife that laid my mother of me,
or for the gossips that were at my christening, they will, any or all of
them, prove that my name is not False-Peace, but Peace. Wherefore I
cannot plead to this indictment, forasmuch as my name is not inserted
therein; and as is my true name, so are also my conditions. I was always
a man that loved to live at quiet, and what I loved myself, that I
thought others might love also. Wherefore, when I saw any of my
neighbours to labour under a disquieted mind, I endeavoured to help them
what I could; and instances of this good temper of mine many I could
give; as,
‘1. When, at the beginning, our town of Mansoul did decline the ways of
Shaddai, they, some of them, afterwards began to have disquieting
reflections upon themselves for what they had done; but I, as one
troubled to see them disquieted, presently sought out means to get them
quiet again.
‘2. When the ways of the old world, and of Sodom, were in fashion, if
anything happened to molest those that were for the customs of the
present times, I laboured to make them quiet again, and to cause them to
act without molestation.
‘3. To come nearer home: when the wars fell out between Shaddai and
Diabolus, if at any time I saw any of the town of Mansoul afraid of
destruction, I often used, by some way, device, invention, or other, to
labour to bring them to peace again. Wherefore, since I have been always
a man of so virtuous a temper as some say a peace-maker is, and if a
peace-maker be so deserving a man as some have been bold to attest he is,
then let me, gentlemen, be accounted by you, who have a great name for
justice and equity in Mansoul, for a man that deserveth not this inhuman
way of treatment, but liberty, and also a license to seek damage of those
that have been my accusers.’
Then said the clerk, ‘Crier, make a proclamation.’
_Crier_. Oyes! Forasmuch as the prisoner at the bar hath denied his
name to be that which is mentioned in the indictment, the Court requireth
that if there be any in this place that can give information to the Court
of the original and right name of the prisoner, they would come forth and
give in their evidence; for the prisoner stands upon his own innocency.
Then came two into the court, and desired that they might have leave to
speak what they knew concerning the prisoner at the bar: the name of the
one was Search-Truth, and the name of the other Vouch-Truth. So the
Court demanded of these men if they knew the prisoner, and what they
could say concerning him, ‘for he stands,’ said they, ‘upon his own
vindication.’
Then said Mr. Search-Truth, ‘My Lord, I—’
_Court_. Hold! give him his oath.
Then they sware him. So he proceeded.
_Search_. My lord, I know and have known this man from a child, and can
attest that his name is False-Peace. I know his father; his name was Mr.
Flatter: and his mother, before she was married, was called by the name
of Mrs. Sooth-Up: and these two, when they came together, lived not long
without this son; and when he was born, they called his name False-Peace.
I was his play-fellow, only I was somewhat older than he; and when his
mother did use to call him home from his play, she used to say,
‘False-Peace, False-Peace, come home quick, or I’ll fetch you.’ Yea, I
knew him when he sucked; and though I was then but little, yet I can
remember that when his mother did use to sit at the door with him, or did
play with him in her arms, she would call him, twenty times together, ‘My
little False-Peace! my pretty False-Peace!’ and, ‘Oh! my sweet rogue,
False-Peace!’ and again, ‘Oh! my little bird, False-Peace!’ and ‘How do I
love my child!’ The gossips also know it is thus, though he has had the
face to deny it in open court.
Then Mr. Vouch-Truth was called upon to speak what he knew of him. So
they sware him.
Then said Mr. Vouch-Truth, ‘My lord, all that the former witness hath
said is true. His name is False-Peace, the son of Mr. Flatter, and of
Mrs. Sooth-Up, his mother: and I have in former times seen him angry with
those that have called him anything else but False-Peace, for he would
say that all such did mock and nickname him; but this was in the time
when Mr. False-Peace was a great man, and when the Diabolonians were the
brave men in Mansoul.
_Court_. Gentlemen, you have heard what these two men have sworn against
the prisoner at the bar. And now, Mr. False-Peace, to you: you have
denied your name to be False-Peace, yet you see that these honest men
have sworn that that is your name. As to your plea, in that you are
quite besides the matter of your indictment, you are not by it charged
for evil-doing because you are a man of peace, or a peace-maker among
your neighbours; but for that you did wickedly and satanically bring,
keep, and hold the town of Mansoul, both under its apostasy from, and in
its rebellion against its King, in a false, lying, and damnable peace,
contrary to the law of Shaddai, and to the hazard of the destruction of
the then miserable town of Mansoul. All that you have pleaded for
yourself is, that you have denied your name, etc.; but here, you see, we
have witnesses to prove that you are the man. For the peace that you so
much boast of making among your neighbours, know that peace that is not a
companion of truth and holiness, but that which is without this
foundation, is grounded upon a lie, and is both deceitful and damnable,
as also the great Shaddai hath said. Thy plea, therefore, has not
delivered thee from what by the indictment thou art charged with, but
rather it doth fasten all upon thee. But thou shalt have very fair play.
Let us call the witnesses that are to testify as to matter of fact, and
see what they have to say for our Lord the King against the prisoner at
the bar.
_Clerk_. Mr. Know-All, what say you for our Lord the King against the
prisoner at the bar?
_Know_. My lord, this man hath of a long time made it, to my knowledge,
his business to keep the town of Mansoul in a sinful quietness in the
midst of all her lewdness, filthiness, and turmoils, and hath said, and
that in my hearing, Come, come, let us fly from all trouble, on what
ground soever it comes, and let us be for a quiet and peaceable life,
though it wanteth a good foundation.
_Clerk_. Come, Mr. Hate-Lies, what have you to say?
_Hate_. My lord, I have heard him say, that peace, though in a way of
unrighteousness, is better than trouble with truth.
_Clerk_. Where did you hear him say this?
_Hate_. I heard him say it in Folly-yard, at the house of one Mr.
Simple, next door to the sign of the Self-deceiver. Yea, he hath said
this to my knowledge twenty times in that place.
_Clerk_. We may spare further witness; this evidence is plain and full.
Set him by, gaoler, and set Mr. No-Truth to the bar. Mr. No-Truth, thou
art here indicted by the name of No-Truth, (an intruder upon the town of
Mansoul,) for that thou hast always, to the dishonour of Shaddai, and the
endangering of the utter ruin of the famous town of Mansoul, set thyself
to deface, and utterly to spoil, all the remainders of the law and image
of Shaddai that have been found in Mansoul after her deep apostasy from
her king to Diabolus, the envious tyrant. What sayest thou, art thou
guilty of this indictment, or not?
_No_. Not guilty, my lord.
Then the witnesses were called, and Mr. Know-All did first give in his
evidence against him.
_Know_. My lord, this man was at the pulling down of the image of
Shaddai; yea, this is he that did it with his own hands. I myself stood
by and saw him do it, and he did it at the commandment of Diabolus. Yea,
this Mr. No-Truth did more than this, he did also set up the horned image
of the beast Diabolus in the same place. This also is he that, at the
bidding of Diabolus, did rend and tear, and cause to be consumed, all
that he could of the remainders of the law of the King, even whatever he
could lay his hands on in Mansoul.
_Clerk_. Who saw him do this besides yourself?
_Hate_. I did, my lord, and so did many more besides; for this was not
done by stealth, or in a corner, but in the open view of all; yea, he
chose himself to do it publicly, for he delighted in the doing of it.
_Clerk_. Mr. No-Truth, how could you have the face to plead not guilty,
when you were so manifestly the doer of all this wickedness?
_No_. Sir, I thought I must say something, and as my name is, so I
speak. I have been advantaged thereby before now, and did not know but
by speaking no truth, I might have reaped the same benefit now.
_Clerk_. Set him by, gaoler, and set Mr. Pitiless to the bar. Mr.
Pitiless, thou art here indicted by the name of Pitiless, (an intruder
upon the town of Mansoul,) for that thou didst most traitorously and
wickedly shut up all bowels of compassion, and wouldest not suffer poor
Mansoul to condole her own misery when she had apostatised from her
rightful King, but didst evade, and at all times turn her mind awry from
those thoughts that had in them a tendency to lead her to repentance.
What sayest thou to this indictment? Guilty or not guilty?
‘Not guilty of pitilessness: all I did was to cheer up, according to my
name, for my name is not Pitiless, but Cheer-up; and I could not abide to
see Mansoul inclined to melancholy.’
_Clerk_. How! do you deny your name, and say it is not Pitiless, but
Cheer-up? Call for the witnesses. What say you, the witnesses, to this
plea?
_Know_. My lord, his name is Pitiless; so he hath written himself in all
papers of concern wherein he has had to do. But these Diabolonians love
to counterfeit their names: Mr. Covetousness covers himself with the name
of Good-Husbandry, or the like; Mr. Pride can, when need is, call himself
Mr. Neat, Mr. Handsome, or the like; and so of all the rest of them.
_Clerk_. Mr. Tell-True, what say you?
_Tell_. His name is Pitiless, my lord. I have known him from a child,
and he hath done all that wickedness whereof he stands charged in the
indictment; but there is a company of them that are not acquainted with
the danger of damning, therefore they call all those melancholy that have
serious thoughts how that state should be shunned by them.
_Clerk_. Set Mr. Haughty to the bar, gaoler. Mr. Haughty, thou art here
indicted by the name of Haughty, (an intruder upon the town of Mansoul,)
for that thou didst most traitorously and devilishly teach the town of
Mansoul to carry it loftily and stoutly against the summons that was
given them by the captains of the King Shaddai. Thou didst also teach
the town of Mansoul to speak contemptuously and vilifyingly of their
great King Shaddai; and didst moreover encourage, both by words and
examples, Mansoul, to take up arms both against the King and his son
Emmanuel. How sayest thou, art thou guilty of this indictment, or not?
_Haughty_. Gentlemen, I have always been a man of courage and valour,
and have not used, when under the greatest clouds, to sneak or hang down
the head like a bulrush; nor did it at all at any time please me to see
men veil their bonnets to those that have opposed them; yea, though their
adversaries seemed to have ten times the advantage of them. I did not
use to consider who was my foe, nor what the cause was in which I was
engaged. It was enough to me if I carried it bravely, fought like a man,
and came off a victor.
_Court_. Mr. Haughty, you are not here indicted for that you have been a
valiant man, nor for your courage and stoutness in times of distress, but
for that you have made use of this your pretended valour to draw the town
of Mansoul into acts of rebellion both against the great King, and
Emmanuel his Son. This is the crime and the thing wherewith thou art
charged in and by the indictment.
But he made no answer to that.
Now when the Court had thus far proceeded against the prisoners at the
bar, then they put them over to the verdict of their jury, to whom they
did apply themselves after this manner:
‘Gentlemen of the jury, you have been here, and have seen these men; you
have heard their indictments, their pleas, and what the witnesses have
testified against them: now what remains, is, that you do forthwith
withdraw yourselves to some place, where without confusion you may
consider of what verdict, in a way of truth and righteousness, you ought
to bring in for the King against them, and so bring it in accordingly.’
Then the jury, to wit, Mr. Belief, Mr. True-Heart, Mr. Upright, Mr.
Hate-bad, Mr. Love-God, Mr. See-Truth, Mr. Heavenly-Mind, Mr. Moderate,
Mr. Thankful, Mr. Humble, Mr. Good-Work, and Mr. Zeal-for-God, withdrew
themselves in order to their work. Now when they were shut up by
themselves, they fell to discourse among themselves in order to the
drawing up of their verdict.
And thus Mr. Belief (for he was the foreman) began: ‘Gentlemen,’ quoth
he, ‘for the men, the prisoners at the bar, for my part I believe that
they all deserve death.’ ‘Very right,’ said Mr. True-Heart; ‘I am wholly
of your opinion.’ ‘Oh what a mercy is it,’ said Mr. Hate-Bad, ‘that such
villains as these are apprehended!’ ‘Ay! ay!’ said Mr. Love-God, ‘this
is one of the joyfullest days that ever I saw in my life.’ Then said Mr.
See-Truth, ‘I know that if we judge them to death, our verdict shall
stand before Shaddai himself’ ‘Nor do I at all question it,’ said Mr.
Heavenly-Mind; he said, moreover, ‘When all such beasts as these are cast
out of Mansoul, what a goodly town will it be then!’ ‘Then,’ said Mr.
Moderate, ‘it is not my manner to pass my judgment with rashness; but for
these their crimes are so notorious, and the witness so palpable, that
that man must be wilfully blind who saith the prisoners ought not to
die.’ ‘Blessed be God,’ said Mr. Thankful, ‘that the traitors are in
safe custody.’ ‘And I join with you in this upon my bare knees,’ said
Mr. Humble. ‘I am glad also,’ said Mr. Good-Work. Then said the warm
man, and true-hearted Mr. Zeal-for-God, ‘Cut them off; they have been the
plague, and have sought the destruction of Mansoul.’
Thus, therefore, being all agreed in their verdict, they come instantly
into the Court.
_Clerk_. Gentlemen of the jury, answer all to your names: Mr. Belief,
one; Mr. True-Heart, two; Mr. Upright, three; Mr. Hate-Bad, four; Mr.
Love-God, five; Mr. See-Truth, six; Mr. Heavenly-mind, seven; Mr.
Moderate, eight; Mr. Thankful, nine; Mr. Humble, ten; Mr. Good-Work,
eleven; and Mr. Zeal-for-God, twelve. Good men and true, stand together
in your verdict: are you all agreed?
_Jury_. Yes, my lord.
_Clerk_. Who shall speak for you?
_Jury_. Our foreman.
_Clerk_. You, the gentlemen of the jury, being empannelled for our Lord
the King, to serve here in a matter of life and death, have heard the
trials of each of these men, the prisoners at the bar: what say you? are
they guilty of that, and those crimes for which they stand here indicted,
or are they not guilty?
_Foreman_. Guilty, my lord.
_Clerk_. Look to your prisoners, gaoler.
This was done in the morning, and in the afternoon they received the
sentence of death according to the law.
The gaoler, therefore, having received such a charge, put them all in the
inward prison, to preserve them there till the day of execution, which
was to be the next day in the morning.
But now to see how it happened, one of the prisoners, Incredulity by
name, in the interim betwixt the sentence and the time of execution,
brake prison and made his escape, and gets him away quite out of the town
of Mansoul, and lay lurking in such places and holes as he might, until
he should again have opportunity to do the town of Mansoul a mischief for
their thus handling of him as they did.
Now when Mr. Trueman, the gaoler, perceived that he had lost his
prisoner, he was in a heavy taking, because that prisoner was, to speak
on, the very worst of all the gang: wherefore first he goes and acquaints
my Lord Mayor, Mr. Recorder, and my Lord Willbewill, with the matter, and
to get of them an order to make search for him throughout the town of
Mansoul. So an order he got, and search was made, but no such man could
now be found in all the town of Mansoul.
All that could be gathered was, that he had lurked a while about the
outside of the town, and that here and there one or other had a glimpse
of him as he did make his escape out of Mansoul; one or two also did
affirm that they saw him without the town, going apace quite over the
plain. Now when he was quite gone, it was affirmed by one Mr. Did-see,
that he ranged all over dry places, till he met with Diabolus, his
friend, and where should they meet one another but just upon Hell-gate
hill.
But oh! what a lamentable story did the old gentleman tell to Diabolus
concerning what sad alteration Emmanuel had made in Mansoul!
As, first, how Mansoul had, after some delays, received a general pardon
at the hands of Emmanuel, and that they had invited him into the town,
and that they had given him the castle for his possession. He said,
moreover, that they had called his soldiers into the town, coveted who
should quarter the most of them; they also entertained him with the
timbrel, song, and dance. ‘But that,’ said Incredulity, ‘which is the
sorest vexation to me is, that he hath pulled down, O father, thy image,
and set up his own; pulled down thy officers and set up his own. Yea,
and Willbewill, that rebel, who, one would have thought, should never
have turned from us, he is now in as great favour with Emmanuel as ever
he was with thee. But, besides all this, this Willbewill has received a
special commission from his master to search for, to apprehend, and to
put to death all, and all manner of Diabolonians that he shall find in
Mansoul: yea, and this Willbewill has taken and committed to prison
already eight of my Lord’s most trusty friends in Mansoul. Nay, further,
my Lord, with grief I speak it, they have been all arraigned, condemned,
and, I doubt, before this executed in Mansoul. I told my Lord of eight,
and myself was the ninth, who should assuredly have drunk of the same
cup, but that through craft, I, as thou seest, have made mine escape from
them.’
When Diabolus had heard this lamentable story, he yelled and snuffed up
the wind like a dragon, and made the sky to look dark with his roaring;
he also sware that he would try to be revenged on Mansoul for this. So
they, both he and his old friend Incredulity, concluded to enter into
great consultation, how they might get the town of Mansoul again.
Now, before this time, the day was come in which the prisoners in Mansoul
were to be executed. So they were brought to the cross, and that by
Mansoul, in most solemn manner; for the Prince said that this should be
done by the hand of the town of Mansoul, ‘that I may see,’ said he, ‘the
forwardness of my now redeemed Mansoul to keep my word, and to do my
commandments; and that I may bless Mansoul in doing this deed. Proof of
sincerity pleases me well; let Mansoul therefore first lay their hands
upon these Diabolonians to destroy them.’
So the town of Mansoul slew them, according to the word of their Prince;
but when the prisoners were brought to the cross to die, you can hardly
believe what troublesome work Mansoul had of it to put the Diabolonians
to death; for the men, knowing that they must die, and every of them
having implacable enmity in their hearts to Mansoul, what did they but
took courage at the cross, and there resisted the men of the town of
Mansoul? Wherefore the men of Mansoul were forced to cry out for help to
the captains and men of war. Now the great Shaddai had a secretary in
the town, and he was a great lover of the men of Mansoul, and he was at
the place of execution also; so he, hearing the men of Mansoul cry out
against the strugglings and unruliness of the prisoners, rose up from his
place, and came and put his hands upon the hands of the men of Mansoul.
So they crucified the Diabolonians that had been a plague, a grief, and
an offence to the town of Mansoul.
Now, when this good work was done, the Prince came down to see, to visit,
and to speak comfortably to the men of Mansoul, and to strengthen their
hands in such work. And he said to them that, by this act of theirs he
had proved them, and found them to be lovers of his person, observers of
his laws, and such as had also respect to his honour. He said, moreover,
(to show them that they by this should not be losers, nor their town
weakened by the loss of them,) that he would make them another captain,
and that of one of themselves. And that this captain should be the ruler
of a thousand, for the good and benefit of the now flourishing town of
Mansoul.
So he called one to him whose name was Waiting, and bid him, ‘Go quickly
up to the castle gate, and inquire there for one Mr. Experience, that
waiteth upon that noble captain, the Captain Credence, and bid him come
hither to me.’ So the messenger that waited upon the good Prince
Emmanuel went and said as he was commanded. Now the young gentleman was
waiting to see the captain train and muster his men in the castle yard.
Then said Mr. Waiting to him, ‘Sir, the Prince would that you should come
down to his highness forthwith.’ So he brought him down to Emmanuel, and
he came and made obeisance before him. Now the men of the town knew Mr.
Experience well, for he was born and bred in Mansoul; they also knew him
to be a man of conduct, of valour, and a person prudent in matters; he
was also a comely person, well-spoken, and very successful in his
undertakings.
Wherefore the hearts of the townsmen were transported with joy when they
saw that the Prince himself was so taken with Mr. Experience, that he
would needs make him a captain over a band of men.
So with one consent they bowed the knee before Emmanuel, and with a shout
said, ‘Let Emmanuel live for ever!’ Then said the Prince to the young
gentleman, whose name was Mr. Experience, ‘I have thought good to confer
upon thee a place of trust and honour in this my town of Mansoul.’ Then
the young man bowed his head and worshipped. ‘It is,’ said Emmanuel,
‘that thou shouldest be a captain, a captain over a thousand men in my
beloved town of Mansoul.’ Then said the captain, ‘Let the King live!’
So the Prince gave out orders forthwith to the King’s secretary, that he
should draw up for Mr. Experience a commission to make him a captain over
a thousand men. ‘And let it be brought to me,’ said he, ‘that I may set
to my seal.’ So it was done as it was commanded. The commission was
drawn up, brought to Emmanuel, and he set his seal thereto. Then, by the
hand of Mr. Waiting, he sent it away to the captain.
Now as soon as the captain had received his commission, he sounded his
trumpet for volunteers, and young men came to him apace; yea, the
greatest and chief men in the town sent their sons, to be listed under
his command. Thus Captain Experience came under command to Emmanuel, for
the good of the town of Mansoul. He had for his lieutenant one Mr.
Skilful, and for his cornet one Mr. Memory. His under officers I need
not name. His colours were the white colours for the town of Mansoul;
and his scutcheon was the dead lion and dead bear. So the Prince
returned to his royal palace again.
Now when he was returned thither, the elders of the town of Mansoul, to
wit, the Lord Mayor, the Recorder, and the Lord Willbewill, went to
congratulate him, and in special way to thank him for his love, care, and
the tender compassion which he showed to his ever-obliged town of
Mansoul. So after a while, and some sweet communion between them, the
townsmen having solemnly ended their ceremony, returned to their place
again.
Emmanuel also at this time appointed them a day wherein he would renew
their charter, yea, wherein he would renew and enlarge it, mending
several faults therein, that Mansoul’s yoke might be yet more easy. And
this he did without any desire of theirs, even of his own frankness and
noble mind. So when he had sent for and seen their old one, he laid it
by, and said, ‘Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish
away.’ He said, moreover, ‘The town of Mansoul shall have another, a
better, a new one, more steady and firm by far.’ An epitome hereof take
as follows:—
‘Emmanuel, Prince of Peace, and a great lover of the town of Mansoul, I
do in the name of my Father, and of mine own clemency, give, grant, and
bequeath to my beloved town of Mansoul.
‘First. Free, full, and everlasting forgiveness of all wrongs, injuries,
and offences done by them against my Father, me, their neighbour, or
themselves.
‘Second. I do give them the holy law and my testament, with all that
therein is contained, for their everlasting comfort and consolation.
‘Third. I do also give them a portion of the self-same grace and
goodness that dwells in my Father’s heart and mine.
‘Fourth. I do give, grant, and bestow upon them freely, the world and
what is therein, for their good; and they shall have that power over
them, as shall stand with the honour of my Father, my glory, and their
comfort: yea, I grant them the benefits of life and death, and of things
present, and things to come. This privilege no other city, town, or
corporation, shall have, but my Mansoul only.
‘Fifth. I do give and grant them leave, and free access to me in my
palace at all seasons—to my palace above or below—there to make known
their wants to me, and I give them, moreover, a promise that I will hear
and redress all their grievances.
‘Sixth. I do give, grant to, and invest the town of Mansoul with full
power and authority to seek out, take, enslave, and destroy all, and all
manner of Diabolonians that at any time, from whencesoever, shall be
found straggling in or about the town of Mansoul.
‘Seventh. I do further grant to my beloved town of Mansoul, that they
shall have authority not to suffer any foreigner, or stranger, or their
seed, to be free in, and of the blessed town of Mansoul, nor to share in
the excellent privileges thereof. But that all the grants, privileges,
and immunities that I bestow upon the famous town of Mansoul, shall be
for those the old natives, and true inhabitants thereof; to them, I say,
and to their right seed after them.
‘But all Diabolonians, of what sort, birth, country, or kingdom soever,
shall be debarred a share therein.’
So when the town of Mansoul had received at the hand of Emmanuel their
gracious charter, (which in itself is infinitely more large than by this
lean epitome is set before you,) they carried it to audience, that is, to
the market place, and there Mr. Recorder read it in the presence of all
the people. This being done, it was had back to the castle gates, and
there fairly engraven upon the doors thereof, and laid in letters of
gold, to the end that the town of Mansoul, with all the people thereof,
might have it always in their view, or might go where they might see what
a blessed freedom their Prince had bestowed upon them, that their joy
might be increased in themselves, and their love renewed to their great
and good Emmanuel.
But what joy, what comfort, what consolation, think you, did now possess
the hearts of the men of Mansoul! The bells rung, the minstrels played,
the people danced, the captains shouted, the colours waved in the wind,
and the silver trumpets sounded; and the Diabolonians now were glad to
hide their heads, for they looked like them that had been long dead.
When this was over, the Prince sent again for the elders of the town of
Mansoul, and communed with them about a ministry that he intended to
establish among them; such a ministry that might open unto them, and that
might instruct them in the things that did concern their present and
future state.
‘For,’ said he, ‘you, of yourselves, unless you have teachers and guides,
will not be able to know, and, if not to know, to be sure not to do the
will of my Father.’
At this news, when the elders of Mansoul brought it to the people, the
whole town came running together, (for it pleased them well, as whatever
the Prince now did pleased the people,) and all with one consent implored
his Majesty that he would forthwith establish such a ministry among them
as might teach them both law and judgment, statute and commandment; that
they might be documented in all good and wholesome things. So he told
them that he would grant them their requests, and would establish two
among them; one that was of his Father’s court, and one that was a native
of Mansoul.
‘He that is from the court,’ said he, ‘is a person of no less quality and
dignity than my Father and I; and he is the Lord Chief Secretary of my
Father’s house: for he is, and always has been, the chief dictator of all
my Father’s laws, a person altogether well skilled in all mysteries, and
knowledge of mysteries, as is my Father, or as myself is. Indeed he is
one with us in nature, and also as to loving of, and being faithful to,
and in the eternal concerns of the town of Mansoul.
‘And this is he,’ said the Prince, ‘that must be your chief teacher; for
it is he, and he only, that can teach you clearly in all high and
supernatural things. He, and he only, it is that knows the ways and
methods of my Father at court, nor can any like him show how the heart of
my Father is at all times, in all things, upon all occasions, towards
Mansoul; for as no man knows the things of a man but that spirit of a man
which is in him, so the things of my Father knows no man but this his
high and mighty Secretary. Nor can any, as he, tell Mansoul how and what
they shall do to keep themselves in the love of my Father. He also it is
that can bring lost things to your remembrance, and that can tell you
things to come. This teacher, therefore, must of necessity have the
pre-eminence, both in your affections and judgment, before your other
teacher; his personal dignity, the excellency of his teaching, also the
great dexterity that he hath to help you to make and draw up petitions to
my Father for your help, and to his pleasing, must lay obligations upon
you to love him, fear him, and to take heed that you grieve him not.
‘This person can put life and vigour into all he says; yea, and can also
put it into your heart. This person can make seers of you, and can make
you tell what shall be hereafter. By this person you must frame all your
petitions to my Father and me; and without his advice and counsel first
obtained, let nothing enter into the town or castle of Mansoul, for that
may disgust and grieve this noble person.
‘Take heed, I say, that you do not grieve this minister; for if you do,
he may fight against you; and should he once be moved by you to set
himself against you in battle array, that will distress you more than if
twelve legions should from my Father’s court be sent to make war upon
you.
‘But, as I said, if you shall hearken unto him, and shall love him; if
you shall devote yourselves to his teaching, and shall seek to have
converse, and to maintain communion with him, you shall find him ten
times better than is the whole world to any; yea, he will shed abroad the
love of my Father in your hearts, and Mansoul will be the wisest, and
most blessed of all people.’
Then did the Prince call unto him the old gentleman, who before had been
the Recorder of Mansoul, Mr. Conscience by name, and told him, That,
forasmuch as he was well skilled in the law and government of the town of
Mansoul, and was also well-spoken, and could pertinently deliver to them
his Master’s will in all terrene and domestic matters, therefore he would
also make him a minister for, in, and to the goodly town of Mansoul, in
all the laws, statutes, and judgments of the famous town of Mansoul.
‘And thou must,’ said the Prince, ‘confine thyself to the teaching of
moral virtues, to civil and natural duties; but thou must not attempt to
presume to be a revealer of those high and supernatural mysteries that
are kept close in the bosom of Shaddai, my Father: for those things knows
no man, nor can any reveal them but my Father’s Secretary only.
‘Thou art a native of the town of Mansoul, but the Lord Secretary is a
native with my Father; wherefore, as thou hast knowledge of the laws and
customs of the corporation, so he of the things and will of my Father.
‘Wherefore, O Mr. Conscience, although I have made thee a minister and a
preacher to the town of Mansoul, yet as to the things which the Lord
Secretary knoweth, and shall teach to this people, there thou must be his
scholar and a learner, even as the rest of Mansoul are.
‘Thou must therefore, in all high and supernatural things, go to him for
information and knowledge; for though there be a spirit in man, this
person’s inspiration must give him understanding. Wherefore, O thou Mr.
Recorder, keep low and be humble, and remember that the Diabolonians that
kept not their first charge, but left their own standing, are now made
prisoners in the pit. Be therefore content with thy station.
‘I have made thee my Father’s vicegerent on earth, in such things of
which I have made mention before: and thou, take thou power to teach them
to Mansoul, yea, and to impose them with whips and chastisements, if they
shall not willingly hearken to do thy commandments.
‘And, Mr. Recorder, because thou art old, and through many abuses made
feeble; therefore I give thee leave and license to go when thou wilt to
my fountain, my conduit, and there to drink freely of the blood of my
grape, for my conduit doth always run wine. Thus doing, thou shalt drive
from thine heart and stomach all foul, gross, and hurtful humours. It
will also lighten thine eyes, and will strengthen thy memory for the
reception and keeping of all that the King’s most noble Secretary
teacheth.’
When the Prince had thus put Mr. Recorder (that once so was) into the
place and office of a minister to Mansoul, and the man had thankfully
accepted thereof, then did Emmanuel address himself in a particular
speech to the townsmen themselves.
‘Behold,’ said the Prince to Mansoul, ‘my love and care towards you; I
have added to all that is past, this mercy, to appoint you preachers; the
most noble Secretary to teach you in all high and sublime mysteries; and
this gentleman,’ pointing to Mr. Conscience, ‘is to teach you in all
things human and domestic, for therein lieth his work. He is not, by
what I have said, debarred of telling to Mansoul anything that he hath
heard and received at the mouth of the lord high Secretary; only he shall
not attempt to presume to pretend to be a revealer of those high
mysteries himself; for the breaking of them up, and the discovery of them
to Mansoul lieth only in the power, authority, and skill of the lord high
Secretary himself. Talk of them he may, and so may the rest of the town
of Mansoul; yea, and may, as occasion gives them opportunity, press them
upon each other for the benefit of the whole. These things, therefore, I
would have you observe and do, for it is for your life, and the
lengthening of your days.
‘And one thing more to my beloved Mr. Recorder, and to all the town of
Mansoul: You must not dwell in, nor stay upon, anything of that which he
hath in commission to teach you, as to your trust and expectation of the
next world; (of the next world, I say, for I purpose to give another to
Mansoul, when this with them is worn out;) but for that you must wholly
and solely have recourse to, and make stay upon his doctrine that is your
Teacher after the first order. Yea, Mr. Recorder himself must not look
for life from that which he himself revealeth; his dependence for that
must be founded in the doctrine of the other preacher. Let Mr. Recorder
also take heed that he receive not any doctrine, or point of doctrine,
that is not communicated to him by his Superior Teacher, nor yet within
the precincts of his own formal knowledge.’
Now, after the Prince had thus settled things in the famous town of
Mansoul, he proceeded to give to the elders of the corporation a
necessary caution, to wit, how they should carry it to the high and noble
captains that he had, from his Father’s court, sent or brought with him,
to the famous town of Mansoul.
‘These captains,’ said he, ‘do love the town of Mansoul, and they are
picked men, picked out of abundance, as men that best suit, and that will
most faithfully serve in the wars of Shaddai against the Diabolonians,
for the preservation of the town of Mansoul. ‘I charge you therefore,’
said he, ‘O ye inhabitants of the now flourishing town of Mansoul, that
you carry it not ruggedly or untowardly to my captains, or their men;
since, as I said, they are picked and choice men—men chosen out of many
for the good of the town of Mansoul. I say, I charge you, that you carry
it not untowardly to them: for though they have the hearts and faces of
lions, when at any time they shall be called forth to engage and fight
with the King’s foes, and the enemies of the town of Mansoul; yet a
little discountenance cast upon them from the town of Mansoul will deject
and cast down their faces, will weaken and take away their courage. Do
not, therefore, O my beloved, carry it unkindly to my valiant captains
and courageous men of war, but love them, nourish them, succour them, and
lay them in your bosoms; and they will not only fight for you, but cause
to fly from you all those the Diabolonians that seek, and will, if
possible, be, your utter destruction.
‘If, therefore, any of them should at any time be sick or weak, and so
not able to perform that office of love, which, with all their hearts,
they are willing to do (and will do also when well and in health), slight
them not, nor despise them, but rather strengthen them and encourage
them, though weak and ready to die, for they are your fence, and your
guard, your wall, your gates, your locks, and your bars. And although,
when they are weak, they can do but little, but rather need to be helped
by you, than that you should then expect great things from them, yet,
when well, you know what exploits, what feats and warlike achievements
they are able to do, and will perform for you.
‘Besides, if they be weak, the town of Mansoul cannot be strong; if they
be strong, then Mansoul cannot be weak; your safety, therefore, doth lie
in their health, and in your countenancing them. Remember, also, that if
they be sick, they catch that disease of the town of Mansoul itself.
‘These things I have said unto you because I love your welfare and your
honour: observe, therefore, O my Mansoul, to be punctual in all things
that I have given in charge unto you, and that not only as a town
corporate, and so to your officers and guard, and guides in chief, but to
you as you are a people whose well-being, as single persons, depends on
the observation of the orders and commandments of their Lord.
‘Next, O my Mansoul, I do warn you of that, of which, notwithstanding
that reformation that at present is wrought among you, you have need to
be warned about: wherefore hearken diligently unto me. I am now sure,
and you will know hereafter, that there are yet of the Diabolonians
remaining in the town of Mansoul, Diabolonians that are sturdy and
implacable, and that do already while I am with you, and that will yet
more when I am from you, study, plot, contrive, invent, and jointly
attempt to bring you to desolation, and so to a state far worse than that
of the Egyptian bondage; they are the avowed friends of Diabolus,
therefore look about you. They used heretofore to lodge with their
Prince in the Castle, when Incredulity was the Lord Mayor of this town;
but since my coming hither, they lie more in the outsides and walls, and
have made themselves dens, and caves, and holes, and strongholds therein.
Wherefore, O Mansoul! thy work, as to this, will be so much the more
difficult and hard; that is, to take, mortify, and put them to death
according to the will of my Father. Nor can you utterly rid yourselves
of them, unless you should pull down the walls of your town, the which I
am by no means willing you should. Do you ask me, What shall we do then?
Why, be you diligent, and quit you like men; observe their holes; find
out their haunts; assault them, and make no peace with them. Wherever
they haunt, lurk, or abide, and what terms of peace soever they offer
you, abhor, and all shall be well betwixt you and me. And that you may
the better know them from those that are the natives of Mansoul, I will
give you this brief schedule of the names of the chief of them; and they
are these that follow:—The Lord Fornication, the Lord Adultery, the Lord
Murder, the Lord Anger, the Lord Lasciviousness, the Lord Deceit, the
Lord Evil-Eye, Mr. Drunkenness, Mr. Revelling, Mr. Idolatry, Mr.
Witch-craft, Mr. Variance, Mr. Emulation, Mr. Wrath, Mr. Strife, Mr.
Sedition, and Mr. Heresy. These are some of the chief, O Mansoul! of
those that will seek to overthrow thee for ever. These, I say, are the
skulkers in Mansoul; but look thou well into the law of thy King, and
there thou shalt find their physiognomy, and such other characteristical
notes of them, by which they certainly may be known.
‘These, O my Mansoul, (and I would gladly that you should certainly know
it,) if they be suffered to run and range about the town as they would,
will quickly, like vipers, eat out your bowels; yea, poison your
captains, cut the sinews of your soldiers, break the bars and bolts of
your gates, and turn your now most flourishing Mansoul into a barren and
desolate wilderness, and ruinous heap. Wherefore, that you may take
courage to yourselves to apprehend these villains wherever you find them,
I give to you, my Lord Mayor, my Lord Willbewill, and Mr. Recorder, with
all the inhabitants of the town of Mansoul, full power and commission to
seek out, to take, and to cause to be put to death by the cross, all, and
all manner of Diabolonians, when and wherever you shall find them to lurk
within, or to range without the walls of the town of Mansoul.
‘I told you before that I had placed a standing ministry among you; not
that you have but these with you, for my first four captains who came
against the master and lord of the Diabolonians that was in Mansoul, they
can, and if need be, and if they be required, will not only privately
inform, but publicly preach to the corporation both good and wholesome
doctrine, and such as shall lead you in the way. Yea, they will set up a
weekly, yea, if need be, a daily lecture in thee, O Mansoul! and will
instruct thee in such profitable lessons, that, if heeded, will do thee
good at the end. And take good heed that you spare not the men that you
have a commission to take and crucify.
‘Now, as I have set before your eyes the vagrants and runagates by name,
so I will tell you, that among yourselves, some of them shall creep in to
beguile you, even such as would seem, and that in appearance are, very
rife and hot for religion. And they, if you watch not, will do you a
mischief, such an one as at present you cannot think of.
‘These, as I said, will show themselves to you in another hue than those
under description before. Wherefore, Mansoul, watch and be sober, and
suffer not thyself to be betrayed.’
When the Prince had thus far new modelled the town of Mansoul, and had
instructed them in such matters as were profitable for them to know, then
he appointed another day in which he intended, when the townsfolk came
together, to bestow a further badge of honour upon the town of Mansoul,—a
badge that should distinguish them from all the people, kindreds, and
tongues that dwell in the kingdom of Universe. Now it was not long
before the day appointed was come, and the Prince and his people met in
the King’s palace, where first Emmanuel made a short speech unto them,
and then did for them as he had said, and unto them as he had promised.
‘My Mansoul,’ said he, ‘that which I now am about to do, is to make you
known to the world to be mine, and to distinguish you also in your own
eyes, from all false traitors that may creep in among you.’
Then he commanded that those that waited upon him should go and bring
forth out of his treasury those white and glistening robes ‘that I,’ said
he, ‘have provided and laid up in store for my Mansoul.’ So the white
garments were fetched out of his treasury, and laid forth to the eyes of
the people. Moreover, it was granted to them that they should take them
and put them on, ‘according,’ said he, ‘to your size and stature.’ So
the people were put into white, into fine linen, white and clean.
Then said the Prince unto them, ‘This, O Mansoul, is my livery, and the
badge by which mine are known from the servants of others. Yea, it is
that which I grant to all that are mine, and without which no man is
permitted to see my face. Wear them, therefore, for my sake, who gave
them unto you; and also if you would be known by the world to be mine.’
But now! can you think how Mansoul shone? It was fair as the sun, clear
as the moon, and terrible as an army with banners.
The Prince added further, and said, ‘No prince, potentate, or mighty one
of Universe, giveth this livery but myself: behold, therefore, as I said
before, you shall be known by it to be mine.
‘And now,’ said he, ‘I have given you my livery, let me give you also in
commandment concerning them; and be sure that you take good heed to my
words.
‘First. Wear them daily, day by day, lest you should at sometimes appear
to others as if you were none of mine.
‘Second. Keep them always white; for if they be soiled, it is dishonour
to me.
‘Third. Wherefore gird them up from the ground, and let them not lag
with dust and dirt.
‘Fourth. Take heed that you lose them not, lest you walk naked, and they
see your shame.
‘Fifth. But if you should sully them, if you should defile them, the
which I am greatly unwilling you should, and the prince Diabolus will be
glad if you would, then speed you to do that which is written in my law,
that yet you may stand, and befall before me, and before my throne.
Also, this is the way to cause that I may not leave you, nor forsake you
while here, but may dwell in this town of Mansoul for ever.’
And now was Mansoul, and the inhabitants of it, as the signet upon
Emmanuel’s right hand. Where was there now a town, a city, a
corporation, that could compare with Mansoul! a town redeemed from the
hand, and from the power of Diabolus! a town that the King Shaddai loved,
and that he sent Emmanuel to regain from the Prince of the infernal cave;
yea, a town that Emmanuel loved to dwell in, and that he chose for his
royal habitation; a town that he fortified for himself, and made strong
by the force of his army. What shall I say, Mansoul has now a most
excellent Prince, golden captains and men of war, weapons proved, and
garments as white as snow. Nor are these benefits to be counted little,
but great; can the town of Mansoul esteem them so, and improve them to
that end and purpose for which they are bestowed upon them?
When the Prince had thus completed the modelling of the town, to show
that he had great delight in the work of his hands and took pleasure in
the good that he had wrought for the famous and flourishing Mansoul, he
commanded, and they set his standard upon the battlements of the castle.
And then,
First. He gave them frequent visits; not a day now but the elders of
Mansoul must come to him, or he to them, into his palace. Now they must
walk and talk together of all the great things that he had done, and yet
further promised to do, for the town of Mansoul. Thus would he often do
with the Lord Mayor, my Lord Willbewill, and the honest subordinate
preacher Mr. Conscience, and Mr. Recorder. But oh, how graciously, how
lovingly, how courteously, and tenderly did this blessed Prince now carry
it towards the town of Mansoul! In all the streets, gardens, orchards,
and other places where he came, to be sure the poor should have his
blessing and benediction; yea, he would kiss them, and if they were ill
he would lay hands on them, and make them well. The captains, also, he
would daily, yea, sometimes hourly, encourage with his presence and
goodly words. For you must know that a smile from him upon them would
put more vigour, more life, and stoutness into them, than would anything
else under heaven.
The Prince would now also feast them, and be with them continually:
hardly a week would pass but a banquet must be had betwixt him and them.
You may remember that, some pages before, we make mention of one feast
that they had together; but now to feast them was a thing more common:
every day with Mansoul was a feast-day now. Nor did he, when they
returned to their places, send them empty away, either they must have a
ring, a gold chain, a bracelet, a white stone, or something; so dear was
Mansoul to him now; so lovely was Mansoul in his eyes.
Second. When the elders and townsmen did not come to him, he would send
in much plenty of provision unto them; meat that came from court, wine
and bread that were prepared for his Father’s table; yea, such delicates
would he send unto them, and therewith would so cover their table, that
whoever saw it confessed that the like could not be seen in any kingdom.
Third. If Mansoul did not frequently visit him as he desired they
should, he would walk out to them, knock at their doors, and desire
entrance, that amity might be maintained betwixt them and him; if they
did hear and open to him, as commonly they would, if they were at home,
then would he renew his former love, and confirm it too with some new
tokens, and signs of continued favour.
And was it not now amazing to behold, that in that very place where
sometimes Diabolus had his abode, and entertained his Diabolonians to the
almost utter destruction of Mansoul, the Prince of princes should sit
eating and drinking with them, while all his mighty captains, men of war,
trumpeters, with the singing-men and singing-women of his Father, stood
round about to wait upon them! Now did Mansoul’s cup run over, now did
her conduits run sweet wine, now did she eat the finest of the wheat, and
drink milk and honey out of the rock! Now, she said, How great is his
goodness! for since I found favour in his eyes, how honourable have I
been!
The blessed Prince did also ordain a new officer in the town, and a
goodly person he was; his name was Mr. God’s-Peace: this man was set over
my Lord Willbewill, my Lord Mayor, Mr. Recorder, the subordinate
preacher, Mr. Mind, and over all the natives of the town of Mansoul.
Himself was not a native of it, but came with the Prince Emmanuel from
the court. He was a great acquaintance of Captain Credence and Captain
Good-Hope; some say they were kin, and I am of that opinion too. This
man, as I said, was made governor of the town in general, especially over
the castle, and Captain Credence was to help him there. And I made great
observation of it, that so long as all things went in Mansoul as this
sweet-natured gentleman would, the town was in most happy condition. Now
there were no jars, no chiding, no interferings, no unfaithful doings in
all the town of Mansoul; every man in Mansoul kept close to his own
employment. The gentry, the officers, the soldiers, and all in place
observed their order. And as for the women and children of the town,
they followed their business joyfully; they would work and sing, work and
sing, from morning till night: so that quite through the town of Mansoul
now nothing was to be found but harmony, quietness, joy, and health. And
this lasted all that summer.
But there was a man in the town of Mansoul, and his name was Mr.
Carnal-Security; this man did, after all this mercy bestowed on this
corporation, bring the town of Mansoul into great and grievous slavery
and bondage. A brief account of him and of his doings take as
followeth:—
When Diabolus at first took possession of the town of Mansoul, he brought
thither, with himself, a great number of Diabolonians, men of his own
conditions. Now among these there was one whose name was Mr.
Self-Conceit, and a notable brisk man he was, as any that in those days
did possess the town of Mansoul. Diabolus, then, perceiving this man to
be active and bold, sent him upon many desperate designs, the which he
managed better, and more to the pleasing of his lord, than most that came
with him from the dens could do. Wherefore, finding him so fit for his
purpose, he preferred him, and made him next to the great Lord
Willbewill, of whom we have written so much before. Now the Lord
Willbewill being in those days very well pleased with him, and with his
achievements, gave him his daughter, the Lady Fear-Nothing, to wife.
Now, of my Lady Fear-nothing, did this Mr. Self-Conceit beget this
gentleman, Mr. Carnal-Security. Wherefore, there being then in Mansoul
those strange kinds of mixtures, it was hard for them, in some cases, to
find out who were natives, who not, for Mr. Carnal-Security sprang from
my Lord Willbewill by mother’s side, though he had for his father a
Diabolonian by nature.
Well, this Carnal-Security took much after his father and mother; he was
self-conceited, he feared nothing, he was also a very busy man: nothing
of news, nothing of doctrine, nothing of alteration, or talk of
alteration, could at any time be on foot in Mansoul, but be sure Mr.
Carnal-Security would be at the head or tail of it: but, to be sure, he
would decline those that he deemed the weakest, and stood always with
them in his way of standing, that he supposed was the strongest side.
Now, when Shaddai the mighty, and Emmanuel his Son, made war upon
Mansoul, to take it, this Mr. Carnal-Security was then in town, and was a
great doer among the people, encouraging them in their rebellion, putting
them upon hardening themselves in their resisting the King’s forces: but
when he saw that the town of Mansoul was taken, and converted to the use
of the glorious Prince Emmanuel; and when he also saw what was become of
Diabolus, and how he was unroosted, and made to quit the castle in the
greatest contempt and scorn; and that the town of Mansoul was well lined
with captains, engines of war, and men, and also provision; what doth he
but slyly wheel about also; and as he had served Diabolus against the
good Prince, so he feigned that he would serve the Prince against his
foes.
And having got some little smattering of Emmanuel’s things by the end,
being bold, he ventures himself into the company of the townsmen, any
attempts also to chat among them. Now he knew that the power and
strength of the town of Mansoul was great, and that it could not but be
pleasing to the people, if he cried up their might and their glory.
Wherefore he beginneth his tale with the power and strength of Mansoul,
and affirmed that it was impregnable; now magnifying their captains and
their slings, and their rams; then crying up their fortifications and
strongholds; and, lastly, the assurances that they had from their Prince,
that Mansoul should be happy for ever. But when he saw that some of the
men of the town were tickled and taken with his discourse, he makes it
his business, and walking from street to street, house to house, and man
to man, he at last brought Mansoul to dance after his pipe, and to grow
almost as carnally secure as himself; so from talking they went to
feasting, and from feasting to sporting; and so to some other matters.
Now Emmanuel was yet in the town of Mansoul, and he wisely observed their
doings. My Lord Mayor, my Lord Willbewill, and Mr. Recorder were also
all taken with the words of this tattling Diabolonian gentleman,
forgetting that their Prince had given them warning before to take heed
that they were not beguiled with any Diabolonian sleight; he had further
told them that the security of the now flourishing town of Mansoul did
not so much lie in her present fortifications and force, as in her so
using of what she had, as might oblige her Emmanuel to abide within her
castle. For the right doctrine of Emmanuel was, that the town of Mansoul
should take heed that they forgot not his Father’s love and his; also,
that they should so demean themselves as to continue to keep themselves
therein. Now this was not the way to do it, namely, to fall in love with
one of the Diabolonians, and with such an one too as Mr. Carnal-Security
was, and to be led up and down by the nose by him; they should have heard
their Prince, feared their Prince, loved their Prince, and have stoned
this naughty pack to death, and took care to have walked in the ways of
their Prince’s prescribing: for then should their peace have been as a
river, when their righteousness had been like the waves of the sea.
Now when Emmanuel perceived that through the policy of Mr.
Carnal-Security the hearts of the men of Mansoul were chilled and abated
in their practical love to him,
First. He bemoans them, and, condoles their state with the Secretary,
saying, ‘Oh that my people had hearkened unto me, and that Mansoul had
walked in my ways! I would have fed them with the finest of the wheat;
and with honey out of the rock would I have sustained them.’ This done,
he said in his heart, ‘I will return to the court, and go to my place,
till Mansoul shall consider and acknowledge their offence.’ And he did
so, and the cause and manner of his going away from them was, that
Mansoul declined him, as is manifest in these particulars.
‘1. They left off their former way of visiting him, they came not to his
royal palace as afore.
‘2. They did not regard, nor yet take notice, that he came or came not to
visit them.
‘3. The love-feasts that had wont to be between their Prince and them,
though he made them still, and called them to them, yet they neglected to
come to them, or to be delighted with them.
‘4. They waited not for his counsels, but began to be headstrong and
confident in themselves, concluding that now they were strong and
invincible, and that Mansoul was secure, and beyond all reach of the foe,
and that her state must needs be unalterable for ever.’
Now, as was said, Emmanuel perceiving that by the craft of Mr.
Carnal-Security, the town of Mansoul was taken off from their dependence
upon him, and upon his Father by him, and set upon what by them was
bestowed upon it; he first, as I said, bemoaned their state, then he used
means to make them understand that the way that they went on in was
dangerous: for he sent my Lord High Secretary to them, to forbid them
such ways; but twice when he came to them, he found them at dinner in Mr.
Carnal-Security’s parlour; and perceiving also that they were not willing
to reason about matters concerning their good, he took grief and went his
way; the which when he had told to the Prince Emmanuel, he took offence,
and was grieved also, and so made provision to return to his Father’s
court.
Now, the methods of his withdrawing, as I was saying before, were thus:—
‘1. Even while he was yet with them in Mansoul, he kept himself close,
and more retired than formerly.
‘2. His speech was not now, if he came in their company, so pleasant and
familiar as formerly.
‘3. Nor did he, as in times past, send to Mansoul, from his table, those
dainty bits which he was wont to do.
‘4. Nor when they came to visit him, as now and then they would, would he
be so easily spoken with as they found him to be in times past. They
might now knock once, yea, twice, but he would seem not at all to regard
them; whereas formerly at the sound of their feet he would up and run,
and meet them halfway, and take them too, and lay them in his bosom.’
But thus Emmanuel carried it now, and by this his carriage he sought to
make them bethink themselves, and return to him. But, alas! they did not
consider, they did not know his ways, they regarded not, they were not
touched with these, nor with the true remembrance of former favours.
Wherefore what does he but in private manner withdraw himself, first from
his palace, then to the gate of the town, and so away from Mansoul he
goes, till they should acknowledge their offence, and more earnestly seek
his face. Mr. God’s-Peace also laid down his commission, and would for
the present act no longer in the town of Mansoul.
Thus they walked contrary to him, and he again, by way of retaliation,
walked contrary to them. But, alas! by this time they were so hardened
in their way, and had so drunk in the doctrine of Mr. Carnal-Security,
that the departing of their Prince touched them not, nor was he
remembered by them when gone; and so, of consequence, his absence not
condoled by them.
Now, there was a day wherein this old gentleman, Mr. Carnal-Security, did
again make a feast for the town of Mansoul; and there was at that time in
the town one Mr. Godly-Fear, one now but little set by, though formerly
one of great request. This man, old Carnal-Security, had a mind, if
possible, to gull, and debauch, and abuse, as he did the rest, and
therefore he now bids him to the feast with his neighbours. So the day
being come, they prepare, and he goes and appears with the rest of the
guests; and being all set at the table, they did eat and drink, and were
merry, even all but this one man: for Mr. Godly-Fear sat like a stranger,
and did neither eat nor was merry. The which, when Mr. Carnal-Security
perceived, he presently addressed himself in a speech thus to him:—
‘Mr. Godly-Fear, are you not well? You seem to be ill of body or mind,
or both. I have a cordial of Mr. Forget-Good’s making, the which, sir,
if you will take a dram of, I hope it may make you bonny and blithe, and
so make you more fit for us, feasting companions.’
Unto whom the good old gentleman discreetly replied, ‘Sir, I thank you
for all things courteous and civil; but for your cordial I have no list
thereto. But a word to the natives of Mansoul: You, the elders and chief
of Mansoul, to me it is strange to see you so jocund and merry, when the
town of Mansoul is in such woeful case.’
Then said Mr. Carnal-Security, ‘You want sleep, good air, I doubt. If
you please, lie down, and take a nap, and we meanwhile will be merry.’
Then said the good man as follows: ‘Sir, if you were not destitute of an
honest heart, you could not do as you have done and do.’
Then said Mr. Carnal-Security, ‘Why?’
_Godly_. Nay, pray interrupt me not. It is true the town of Mansoul was
strong, and, with a _proviso_, impregnable; but you, the townsmen, have
weakened it, and it now lies obnoxious to its foes. Nor is it a time to
flatter, or be silent; it is you, Mr. Carnal-Security, that have wilily
stripped Mansoul, and driven her glory from her; you have pulled down her
towers, you have broken down her gates, you have spoiled her locks and
bars.
And now, to explain myself: from that time that my lords of Mansoul, and
you, sir, grew so great, from that time the Strength of Mansoul has been
offended, and now he is arisen and is gone. If any shall question the
truth of my words, I will answer him by this, and suchlike questions.
‘Where is the Prince Emmanuel? When did a man or woman in Mansoul see
him? When did you hear from him, or taste any of his dainty bits?’ You
are now a feasting with this Diabolonian monster, but he is not your
Prince. I say, therefore, though enemies from without, had you taken
heed, could not have made a prey of you, yet since you have sinned
against your Prince, your enemies within have been too hard for you.
Then said Mr. Carnal-Security, ‘Fie! fie! Mr. Godly-Fear, fie!—will you
never shake off your _timorousness_? Are you afraid of being
sparrow-blasted? Who hath hurt you? Behold, I am on your side; only you
are for doubting, and I am for being confident. Besides, is this a time
to be sad in? A feast is made for mirth; why, then, do you now, to your
shame, and our trouble, break out into such passionate melancholy
language, when you should eat and drink, and be merry?’
Then said Mr. Godly-Fear again, ‘I may well be sad, for Emmanuel is gone
from Mansoul. I say again, he is gone, and you, sir, are the man that
has driven him away; yea, he is gone without so much as acquainting the
nobles of Mansoul with his going; and if that is not a sign of his anger,
I am not acquainted with the methods of godliness.
‘And now, my lords and gentlemen, for my speech is still to you, your
gradual declining from him did provoke him gradually to depart from you,
the which he did for some time, if perhaps you would have been made
sensible thereby, and have been renewed by humbling yourselves; but when
he saw that none would regard, nor lay these fearful beginnings of his
anger and judgment to heart, he went away from this place; and this I saw
with mine eye. Wherefore now, while you boast, your strength is gone;
you are like the man that had lost his locks that before did wave about
his shoulders. You may, with this lord of your feast, shake yourselves,
and conclude to do as at other times; but since without him you can do
nothing, and he is departed from you, turn your feast into a sigh, and
your mirth into lamentation.’
Then the subordinate preacher, old Mr. Conscience by name, he that of old
was Recorder of Mansoul, being startled at what was said, began to second
it thus:—
‘Indeed, my brethren,’ quoth he, ‘I fear that Mr. Godly-Fear tells us
true: I, for my part, have not seen my Prince a long season. I cannot
remember the day, for my part; nor can I answer Mr. Godly-Fear’s
question. I doubt, I am afraid that all is nought with Mansoul.’
_Godly_. Nay, I know that you shall not find him in Mansoul, for he is
departed and gone; yea, and gone for the faults of the elders, and for
that they rewarded his grace with unsufferable unkindness.
Then did the subordinate preacher look as if he would fall down dead at
the table; also all there present, except the man of the house, began to
look pale and wan. But having a little recovered themselves, and jointly
agreeing to believe Mr. Godly-Fear and his sayings, they began to consult
what was best to be done, (now Mr. Carnal-Security was gone into his
withdrawing-room, for he liked not such dumpish doings,) both to the man
of the house for drawing them into evil, and also to recover Emmanuel’s
love.
And, with that, that saying of their Prince came very hot into their
minds, which he had bidden them do to such as were false prophets that
should arise to delude the town of Mansoul. So they took Mr.
Carnal-Security (concluding that he must be he) and burned his house upon
him with fire; for he also was a Diabolonian by nature.
So when this was passed and over, they bespeed themselves to look for
Emmanuel their Prince; and they sought him, but they found him not. Then
were they more confirmed in the truth of Mr. Godly-Fear’s sayings, and
began also severely to reflect upon themselves for their so vile and
ungodly doings; for they concluded now that it was through them that
their Prince had left them.
Then they agreed and went to my Lord Secretary, (him whom before they
refused to hear—him whom they had grieved with their doings,) to know of
him, for he was a seer, and could tell where Emmanuel was, and how they
might direct a petition to him. But the Lord Secretary would not admit
them to a conference about this matter, nor would admit them to his royal
place of abode, nor come out to them to show them his face or
intelligence.
And now was it a day gloomy and dark, a day of clouds and of thick
darkness with Mansoul. Now they saw that they had been foolish, and
began to perceive what the company and prattle of Mr. Carnal-Security had
done, and what desperate damage his swaggering words had brought poor
Mansoul into. But what further it was likely to cost them they were
ignorant of. Now Mr. Godly-Fear began again to be in repute with the men
of the town; yea, they were ready to look upon him as a prophet.
Well, when the Sabbath day was come, they went to hear their subordinate
preacher; but oh, how he did thunder and lighten this day! His text was
that in the prophet Jonah: ‘They that observe lying vanities forsake
their own mercy.’ But there was then such power and authority in that
sermon, and such a dejection seen in the countenances of the people that
day, that the like hath seldom been heard or seen. The people, when
sermon was done, were scarce able to go to their homes, or to betake
themselves to their employs the week after; they were so sermon-smitten,
and also so sermon-sick by being smitten, that they knew not what to do.
He did not only show to Mansoul their sin, but did tremble before them,
under the sense of his own, still crying out of himself, as he preached
to them, ‘Unhappy man that I am! that I should do so wicked a thing!
That I, a preacher! whom the Prince did set up to teach to Mansoul his
law, should myself live senseless and sottishly here, and be one of the
first found in transgression! This transgression also fell within my
precincts; I should have cried out against the wickedness; but I let
Mansoul lie wallowing in it, until it had driven Emmanuel from its
borders!’ With these things he also charged all the lords and gentry of
Mansoul, to the almost distracting of them.
About this time, also, there was a great sickness in the town of Mansoul,
and most of the inhabitants were greatly afflicted. Yea, the captains
also, and men of war, were brought thereby to a languishing condition,
and that for a long time together; so that in case of an invasion,
nothing could to purpose now have been done, either by the townsmen or
field officers. Oh, how many pale faces, weak hands, feeble knees, and
staggering men were now seen to walk the streets of Mansoul! Here were
groans, there pants, and yonder lay those that were ready to faint.
The garments, too, which Emmanuel had given them were but in a sorry
case; some were rent, some were torn, and all in a nasty condition; some
also did hang so loosely upon them, that the next bush they came at was
ready to pluck them off.
After some time spent in this sad and desolate condition, the subordinate
preacher called for a day of fasting, and to humble themselves for being
so wicked against the great Shaddai and his Son. And he desired that
Captain Boanerges would preach. So he consented to do it; and the day
being come, and his text was this, ‘Cut it down, why cumbereth it the
ground?’ And a very smart sermon he made upon the place. First, he
showed what was the occasion of the words, namely, because the fig-tree
was barren; then he showed what was contained in the sentence, namely,
repentance, or utter desolation. He then showed, also, by whose
authority this sentence was pronounced, and that was by Shaddai himself.
And, lastly, he showed the reasons of the point, and then concluded his
sermon. But he was very pertinent in the application, insomuch that he
made poor Mansoul tremble. For this sermon, as well as the former,
wrought much upon the hearts of the men of Mansoul; yea, it greatly
helped to keep awake those that were roused by the preaching that went
before. So that now throughout the whole town, there was little or
nothing to be heard or seen but sorrow, and mourning, and woe.
Now, after sermon, they got together and consulted what was best to be
done. ‘But,’ said the subordinate preacher, ‘I will do nothing of mine
own head, without advising with my neighbour Mr. Godly-Fear. For if he
had aforehand understood more of the mind of our Prince than we, I do not
know but he also may have it now, even now we are turning again to
virtue.’
So they called and sent for Mr. Godly-Fear, and he forthwith appeared.
Then they desired that he would further show his opinion about what they
had best to do. Then said the old gentleman as followeth: ‘It is my
opinion that this town of Mansoul should, in this day of her distress,
draw up and send an humble petition to their offended Prince Emmanuel,
that he, in his favour and grace, will turn again unto you, and not keep
anger for ever.’
When the townsmen had heard this speech, they did, with one consent,
agree to his advice; so they did presently draw up their request, and the
next was, But who shall carry it? At last they did all agree to send it
by my Lord Mayor. So he accepted of the service, and addressed himself
to his journey; and went and came to the court of Shaddai, whither
Emmanuel the Prince of Mansoul was gone. But the gate was shut, and a
strict watch kept thereat; so that the petitioner was forced to stand
without for a great while together. Then he desired that some would go
into the Prince and tell him who stood at the gate, and what his business
was. So one went and told to Shaddai, and to Emmanuel his Son, that the
Lord Mayor of the town of Mansoul stood without at the gate of the King’s
court, desiring to be admitted into the presence of the Prince, the
King’s Son. He also told what was the Lord Mayor’s errand, both to the
King and his Son Emmanuel. But the Prince would not come down, nor admit
that the gate should be opened to him, but sent him an answer to this
effect: ‘They have turned their back unto me, and not their face; but now
in the time of their trouble they say to me, Arise, and save us. But can
they not now go to Mr. Carnal-Security, to whom they went when they
turned from me, and make him their leader, their lord, and their
protection now in their trouble; why now in their trouble do they visit
me, since in their prosperity they went astray?’
The answer made my Lord Mayor look black in the face; it troubled, it
perplexed, it rent him sore. And now he began again to see what it was
to be familiar with Diabolonians, such as Mr. Carnal-Security was. When
he saw that at court, as yet, there was little help to be expected,
either for himself or friends in Mansoul, he smote upon his breast, and
returned weeping, and all the way bewailing the lamentable state of
Mansoul.
Well, when he was come within sight of the town, the elders and chief of
the people of Mansoul went out at the gate to meet him, and to salute
him, and to know how he sped at court. But he told them his tale in so
doleful a manner, that they all cried out, and mourned, and wept.
Wherefore they threw ashes and dust upon their heads, and put sackcloth
upon their loins, and went crying out through the town of Mansoul; the
which, when the rest of the townsfolk saw, they all mourned and wept.
This, therefore, was a day of rebuke and trouble, and of anguish to the
town of Mansoul, and also of great distress.
After some time, when they had somewhat refrained themselves, they came
together to consult again what by them was yet to be done; and they asked
advice, as they did before, of that reverend Mr. Godly-Fear, who told
them that there was no way better than to do as they had done, nor would
he that they should be discouraged at all with that they had met with at
court; yea, though several of their petitions should be answered with
nought but silence or rebuke: ‘For,’ said he, ‘it is the way of the wise
Shaddai to make men wait and to exercise patience, and it should be the
way of them in want, to be willing to stay his leisure.
Then they took courage, and sent again and again, and again, and again;
for there was not now one day, nor an hour that went over Mansoul’s head,
wherein a man might not have met upon the road one or other riding post,
sounding the horn from Mansoul to the court of the King Shaddai; and all
with letters petitionary in behalf of, and for the Prince’s return to
Mansoul. The road, I say, was now full of messengers, going and
returning, and meeting one another; some from the court, and some from
Mansoul; and this was the work of the miserable town of Mansoul, all that
long, that sharp, that cold and tedious winter.
Now if you have not forgot, you may yet remember that I told you before,
that after Emmanuel had taken Mansoul, yea, and after that he had new
modelled the town, there remained in several lurking places of the
corporation many of the old Diabolonians, that either came with the
tyrant when he invaded and took the town, or that had there, by reason of
unlawful mixtures, their birth and breeding, and bringing up. And their
holes, dens, and lurking places were in, under, or about the wall of the
town. Some of their names are the Lord Fornication, the Lord Adultery,
the Lord Murder, the Lord Anger, the Lord Lasciviousness, the Lord
Deceit, the Lord Evil-eye, the Lord Blasphemy, and that horrible villain,
the old and dangerous Lord Covetousness. These, as I told you, with many
more, had yet their abode in the town of Mansoul, and that after that
Emmanuel had driven their prince Diabolus out of the castle.
Against these the good Prince did grant a commission to the Lord
Willbewill and others, yea, to the whole town of Mansoul, to seek, take,
secure, and destroy any or all that they could lay hands of, for that
they were Diabolonians by nature, enemies to the Prince, and those that
sought to ruin the blessed town of Mansoul. But the town of Mansoul did
not pursue this warrant, but neglected to look after, to apprehend, to
secure, and to destroy these Diabolonians. Wherefore what do these
villains but by degrees take courage to put forth their heads, and to
show themselves to the inhabitants of the town. Yea, and as I was told,
some of the men of Mansoul grew too familiar with some of them, to the
sorrow of the corporation, as you yet will hear more of in time and
place.
Well, when the Diabolonian lords that were left perceived that Mansoul
had, through sinning, offended Emmanuel their Prince, and that he had
withdrawn himself and was gone, what do they but plot the ruin of the
town of Mansoul. So upon a time they met together at the hold of one Mr.
Mischief, who was also a Diabolonian, and there consulted how they might
deliver up Mansoul into the hands of Diabolus again. Now some advised
one way, and some another, every man according to his own liking. At
last my Lord Lasciviousness propounded, whether it might not be best, in
the first place, for some of those that were Diabolonians in Mansoul, to
adventure to offer themselves for servants to some of the natives of the
town; ‘for,’ said he, ‘if they so do, and Mansoul shall accept of them,
they may for us, and for Diabolus our Lord, make the taking of the town
of Mansoul more easy than otherwise it will be.’ But then stood up the
Lord Murder, and said, ‘This may not be done at this time; for Mansoul is
now in a kind of a rage, because by our friend, Mr. Carnal-Security, she
hath been once ensnared already, and made to offend against her Prince;
and how shall she reconcile herself unto her lord again, but by the heads
of these men? Besides, we know that they have in commission to take and
slay us wherever they shall find us; let us, therefore, be wise as foxes:
when we are dead, we can do them no hurt; but while we live, we may.’
Thus, when they had tossed the matter to and fro, they jointly agreed
that a letter should forthwith be sent away to Diabolus in their name, by
which the state of the town of Mansoul should be showed him, and how much
it is under the frowns of their Prince. ‘We may also,’ said some, ‘let
him know our intentions, and ask of him his advice in the case.’
So a letter was presently framed, the contents of which were these:—
‘To our great lord, the Prince Diabolus, dwelling below in the infernal
cave:
‘O great father, and mighty Prince Diabolus, we, the true Diabolonians
yet remaining in the rebellious town of Mansoul, having received our
beings from thee, and our nourishment at thy hands, cannot with content
and quiet endure to behold, as we do this day, how thou art dispraised,
disgraced, and reproached among the inhabitants of this town; nor is thy
long absence at all delightful to us, because greatly to our detriment.
‘The reason of this our writing unto our lord, is for that we are not
altogether without hope that this town may become thy habitation again;
for it is greatly declined from its Prince Emmanuel; and he is uprisen,
and is departed from them: yea, and though they send, and send, and send,
and send after him to return to them, yet can they not prevail, nor get
good words from him.
‘There has been also of late, and is yet remaining, a very great sickness
and fainting among them; and that not only upon the poorer sort of the
town, but upon the lords, captains, and chief gentry of the place, (we
only who are of the Diabolonians by nature remain well, lively, and
strong,) so that through their great transgression on the one hand, and
their dangerous sickness on the other, we judge they lie open to thy hand
and power. If, therefore, it shall stand with thy horrible cunning, and
with the cunning of the rest of the princes with thee, to come and make
an attempt to take Mansoul again, send us word, and we shall to our
utmost power be ready to deliver it into thy hand. Or if what we have
said shall not by thy fatherhood be thought best and most meet to be
done, send us thy mind in a few words, and we are all ready to follow thy
counsel to the hazarding of our lives, and what else we have.
‘Given under our hands the day and date above-written, after a close
consultation at the house of Mr. Mischief, who yet is alive and hath his
place in our desirable town of Mansoul.’
When Mr. Profane (for he was the carrier) was come with his letter to
Hell-Gate Hill, he knocked at the brazen gates for entrance. Then did
Cerberus, the porter, for he is the keeper of that gate, open to Mr.
Profane, to whom he delivered his letter, which he had brought from the
Diabolonians in Mansoul. So he carried it in, and presented it to
Diabolus his lord, and said, ‘Tidings, my lord, from Mansoul, from our
trusty friends in Mansoul.’
Then came together from all places of the den Beelzebub, Lucifer,
Apollyon, with the rest of the rabblement there, to hear what news from
Mansoul. So the letter was broken up and read, and Cerberus he stood by.
When the letter was openly read, and the contents thereof spread into all
the corners of the den, command was given that, without let or stop,
dead-man’s bell should be rung for joy. So the bell was rung, and the
princes rejoiced that Mansoul was likely to come to ruin. Now, the
clapper of the bell went, ‘The town of Mansoul is coming to dwell with
us: make room for the town of Mansoul.’ This bell therefore they did
ring, because they did hope that they should have Mansoul again.
Now, when they had performed this their horrible ceremony, they got
together again to consult what answer to send to their friends in
Mansoul; and some advised one thing, and some another: but at length,
because the business required haste, they left the whole business to the
prince Diabolus, judging him the most proper lord of the place. So he
drew up a letter as he thought fit, in answer to what Mr. Profane had
brought, and sent it to the Diabolonians that did dwell in Mansoul, by
the same hand that had brought theirs to him; and these were the contents
thereof:—
‘To our offspring, the high and mighty Diabolonians that yet dwell in the
town of Mansoul, Diabolus, the great prince of Mansoul, wisheth a
prosperous issue and conclusion of those many brave enterprises,
conspiracies, and designs, that you, of your love and respect to our
honour, have in your hearts to attempt to do against Mansoul. Beloved
children and disciples, my Lord Fornication, Adultery, and the rest, we
have here, in our desolate den, received, to our highest joy and content,
your welcome letter, by the hand of our trusty Mr. Profane; and to show
how acceptable your tidings were, we rang out our bell for gladness; for
we rejoiced as much as we could, when we perceived that yet we had
friends in Mansoul, and such as sought our honour and revenge in the ruin
of the town of Mansoul. We also rejoiced to hear that they are in a
degenerated condition, and that they have offended their Prince, and that
he is gone. Their sickness also pleaseth us, as does also your health,
might, and strength. Glad also would we be, right horribly beloved,
could we get this town into our clutches again. Nor will we be sparing
of spending our wit, our cunning, our craft, and hellish inventions to
bring to a wished conclusion this your brave beginning in order thereto.
‘And take this for your comfort, (our birth, and our offspring,) that
shall we again surprise it and take it, we will attempt to put all your
foes to the sword, and will make you the great lords and captains of the
place. Nor need you fear, if ever we get it again, that we after that
shall be cast out any more; for we will come with more strength, and so
lay far more fast hold than at the first we did. Besides, it is the law
of that Prince that now they own, that if we get them a second time, they
shall be ours for ever.
‘Do you, therefore, our trusty Diabolonians, yet more pry into, and
endeavour to spy out the weakness of the town of Mansoul. We also would
that you yourselves do attempt to weaken them more and more. Send us
word also by what means you think we had best to attempt the regaining
thereof: namely, whether by persuasion to a vain and loose life; or,
whether by tempting them to doubt and despair; or, whether by blowing up
of the town by the gunpowder of pride, and self-conceit. Do you also, O
ye brave Diabolonians, and true sons of the pit, be always in a readiness
to make a most hideous assault within, when we shall be ready to storm it
without. Now speed you in your project, and we in our desires, to the
utmost power of our gates, which is the wish of your great Diabolus,
Mansoul’s enemy, and him that trembles when he thinks of judgment to
come. All the blessings of the pit be upon you, and so we close up our
letter.
‘Given at the pit’s mouth, by the joint consent of all the princes of
darkness, to be sent, to the force and power that we have yet remaining
in Mansoul, by the hand of Mr. Profane, by me, Diabolus.’
This letter, as was said, was sent to Mansoul, to the Diabolonians that
yet remained there, and that yet inhabited the wall, from the dark
dungeon of Diabolus, by the hand of Mr. Profane, by whom they also in
Mansoul sent theirs to the pit. Now, when this Mr. Profane had made his
return, and was come to Mansoul again, he went and came as he was wont to
the house of Mr. Mischief, for there was the conclave, and the place
where the contrivers were met. Now, when they saw that their messenger
was returned safe and sound, they were greatly gladded thereat. Then he
presented them with his letter which he had brought from Diabolus for
them; the which, when they had read and considered, did much augment
their gladness. They asked him after the welfare of their friends, as
how their Lord Diabolus, Lucifer, and Beelzebub did, with the rest of
those of the den. To which this Profane made answer, ‘Well, well, my
lords; they are well, even as well as can be in their place. They also,’
said he, ‘did ring for joy at the reading of your letter, as you well
perceived by this when you read it.’
Now, as was said, when they had read their letter, and perceived that it
encouraged them in their work, they fell to their way of contriving
again, namely, how they might complete their Diabolonian design upon
Mansoul. And the first thing that they agreed upon was to keep all
things from Mansoul as close as they could. ‘Let it not be known, let
not Mansoul be acquainted with what we design against it.’ The next
thing was, how, or by what means, they should try to bring to pass the
ruin and overthrow of Mansoul; and one said after this manner, and
another said after that. Then stood up Mr. Deceit, and said, ‘My right
Diabolonian friends, our lords, and the high ones of the deep dungeon, do
propound unto us these three ways.
‘1. Whether we had best to seek its ruin by making Mansoul loose and
vain.
‘2. Or whether by driving them to doubt and despair.
‘3. Or whether by endeavouring to blow them up by the gunpowder of pride
and self-conceit.
‘Now, I think, if we shall tempt them to pride, that may do something;
and if we tempt them to wantonness, that may help. But, in my mind, if
we could drive them into desperation, that would knock the nail on the
head; for then we should have them, in the first place, question the
truth of the love of the heart of their Prince towards them, and that
will disgust him much. This, if it works well, will make them leave off
quickly their way of sending petitions to him; then farewell earnest
solicitations for help and supply; for then this conclusion lies
naturally before them, “As good do nothing, as do to no purpose.”’ So to
Mr. Deceit they unanimously did consent.
Then the next question was, But how shall we do to bring this our project
to pass? and it was answered by the same gentleman—that this might be the
best way to do it: ‘Even let,’ quoth he, ‘so many of our friends as are
willing to venture themselves for the promoting of their prince’s cause,
disguise themselves with apparel, change their names, and go into the
market like far country-men, and proffer to let themselves for servants
to the famous town of Mansoul, and let them pretend to do for their
masters as beneficially as may be; for by so doing they may, if Mansoul
shall hire them, in little time so corrupt and defile the corporation,
that her now Prince shall be not only further offended with them, but in
conclusion shall spue them out of his mouth. And when this is done, our
prince Diabolus shall prey upon them with ease: yea, of themselves they
shall fall into the mouth of the cater.’
This project was no sooner propounded, but was as highly accepted, and
forward were all Diabolonians now to engage in so delicate an enterprise:
but it was not thought fit that all should do thus; wherefore they
pitched upon two or three, namely, the Lord Covetousness, the Lord
Lasciviousness, and the Lord Anger. The Lord Covetousness called himself
by the name of Prudent-Thrifty; the Lord Lasciviousness called himself by
the name of Harmless-Mirth; and the Lord Anger called himself by the name
of Good-Zeal.
So upon a market-day they came into the market-place, three lusty fellows
they were to look on, and they were clothed in sheep’s russet, which was
also now in a manner as white as were the white robes of the men of
Mansoul. Now the men could speak the language of Mansoul well. So when
they were come into the market-place, and had offered to let themselves
to the townsmen, they were presently taken up; for they asked but little
wages, and promised to do their masters great service.
Mr. Mind hired Prudent-Thrifty, and Mr. Godly-Fear hired Good-Zeal.
True, this fellow Harmless-Mirth did hang a little in hand, and could not
so soon get him a master as the others did, because the town of Mansoul
was now in Lent, but after a while, because Lent was almost out, the Lord
Willbewill hired Harmless-Mirth to be both his waiting man and his
lackey: and thus they got them masters.
These villains now being got thus far into the houses of the men of
Mansoul, quickly began to do great mischief therein; for, being filthy,
arch, and sly, they quickly corrupted the families where they were; yea,
they tainted their masters much, especially this Prudent-Thrifty, and him
they call Harmless-Mirth. True, he that went under the visor of
Good-Zeal, was not so well liked of his master; for he quickly found that
he was but a counterfeit rascal; the which when the fellow perceived,
with speed he made his escape from the house, or I doubt not but his
master had hanged him.
Well, when these vagabonds had thus far carried on their design, and had
corrupted the town as much as they could, in the next place they
considered with themselves at what time their prince Diabolus without,
and themselves within the town, should make an attempt to seize upon
Mansoul; and they all agreed upon this, that a market-day would be best
for that work; for why? Then will the townsfolk be busy in their ways:
and always take this for a rule, when people are most busy in the world,
they least fear a surprise. ‘We also then,’ said they, ‘shall be able
with less suspicion to gather ourselves together for the work of our
friends and lords; yea, and in such a day, if we shall attempt our work,
and miss it, we may, when they shall give us the rout, the better hide
ourselves in the crowd, and escape.’
These things being thus far agreed upon by them, they wrote another
letter to Diabolus, and sent it by the hand to Mr. Profane, the contents
of which were these:—
‘The lords of Looseness send to the great and high Diabolus from our
dens, caves, holes, and strongholds, in and about the wall of the town of
Mansoul, greeting:
‘Our great lord, and the nourisher of our lives, Diabolus—how glad we
were when we heard of your fatherhood’s readiness to comply with us, and
help forward our design in our attempts to ruin Mansoul, none can tell
but those who, as we do, set themselves against all appearance of good,
when and wheresoever we find it.
‘Touching the encouragement that your greatness is pleased to give us to
continue to devise, contrive, and study the utter desolation of Mansoul,
that we are not solicitous about: for we know right well that it cannot
but be pleasing and profitable to us to see our enemies, and them that
seek our lives, die at our feet, or fly before us. We therefore are
still contriving, and that to the best of our cunning, to make this work
most facile and easy to your lordships, and to us.
‘First, we considered of that most hellishly cunning, compacted,
threefold project, that by you was propounded to us in your last; and
have concluded, that though to blow them up with the gunpowder of pride
would do well, and to do it by tempting them to be loose and vain will
help on, yet to contrive to bring them into the gulf of desperation, we
think will do best of all. Now we, who are at your beck, have thought or
two ways to do this: first we, for our parts, will make them as vile as
we can, and then you with us, at a time appointed, shall be ready to fall
upon them with the utmost force. And of all the nations that are at your
whistle, we think that an army of doubters may be the most likely to
attack and overcome the town of Mansoul. Thus shall we overcome these
enemies, else the pit shall open her mouth upon them, and desperation
shall thrust them down into it. We have also, to effect this so much by
us desired design, sent already three of our trusty Diabolonians among
them; they are disguised in garb, they have changed their names, and are
now accepted of them; namely, Covetousness, Lasciviousness, and Anger.
The name of Covetousness is changed to Prudent-Thrifty, and him Mr. Mind
has hired, and is almost become as bad as our friend. Lasciviousness has
changed his name to Harmless-Mirth, and he is got to be the Lord
Willbewill’s lackey; but he has made his master very wanton. Anger
changed his name into Good-Zeal, and was entertained by Mr. Godly-Fear;
but the peevish old gentleman took pepper in the nose, and turned our
companion out of his house. Nay, he has informed us since that he ran
away from him, or else his old master had hanged him up for his labour.
‘Now these have much helped forward our work and design upon Mansoul; for
notwithstanding the spite and quarrelsome temper of the old gentleman
last mentioned, the other two ply their business well, and are likely to
ripen the work apace.
‘Our next project is, that it be concluded that you come upon the town
upon a market-day, and that when they are upon the heat of their
business; for then, to be sure, they will be most secure, and least think
that an assault will be made upon them. They will also at such a time be
less able to defend themselves, and to offend you in the prosecution of
our design. And we your trusty (and we are sure your beloved) ones
shall, when you shall make your furious assault without, be ready to
second the business within. So shall we, in all likelihood, be able to
put Mansoul to utter confusion, and to swallow them up before they can
come to themselves. If your serpentine heads, most subtile dragons, and
our highly esteemed lords can find out a better way than this, let us
quickly know your minds.
‘To the monsters of the infernal cave, from the house of Mr. Mischief in
Mansoul, by the hand of Mr. Profane.’
Now all the while that the raging runagates and hellish Diabolonians were
thus contriving the ruin of the town of Mansoul, they (namely, the poor
town itself) was in a sad and woeful case; partly because they had so
grievously offended Shaddai and his Son, and partly because that the
enemies thereby got strength within them afresh; and also because, though
they had by many petitions made suit to the Prince Emmanuel, and to his
Father Shaddai by him, for their pardon and favour, yet hitherto obtained
they not one smile; but contrariwise, through the craft and subtilty of
the domestic Diabolonians, their cloud was made to grow blacker and
blacker, and their Emmanuel to stand at further distance.
The sickness also did still greatly rage in Mansoul, both among the
captains and the inhabitants of the town; and their enemies only were now
lively and strong, and likely to become the head, whilst Mansoul was made
the tail.
By this time the letter last mentioned, that was written by the
Diabolonians that yet lurked in the town of Mansoul, was conveyed to
Diabolus in the black den, by the hand of Mr. Profane. He carried the
letter by Hell-Gate Hill as afore, and conveyed it by Cerberus to his
lord.
But when Cerberus and Mr. Profane did meet, they were presently as great
as beggars, and thus they fell into discourse about Mansoul, and about
the project against her.
‘Ah! old friend,’ quoth Cerberus, ‘art thou come to Hell-Gate Hill again?
By St. Mary, I am glad to see thee!’
_Prof._ Yes, my lord, I am come again about the concerns of the town of
Mansoul.
_Cerb._ Prithee, tell me what condition is that town of Mansoul in at
present?
_Prof._ In a brave condition, my lord, for us, and for my lords, the
lords of this place, I trow for they are greatly decayed as to godliness,
and that is as well as our heart can wish; their Lord is greatly out with
them, and that doth also please us well. We have already also a foot in
their dish, for our Diabolonian friends are laid in their bosoms, and
what do we lack but to be masters of the place! Besides, our trusty
friends in Mansoul are daily plotting to betray it to the lords of this
town; also the sickness rages bitterly among them; and that which makes
up all, we hope at last to prevail.’
Then said the dog of Hell-Gate, ‘No time like this to assault them. I
wish that the enterprise be followed close, and that the success desired
may be soon effected: yea, I wish it for the poor Diabolonians’ sakes,
that live in the continual fear of their lives in that traitorous town of
Mansoul.’
_Prof._ The contrivance is almost finished, the lords in Mansoul that
are Diabolonians are at it day and night, and the other are like silly
doves; they want heart to be concerned with their state and to consider
that ruin is at hand. Besides you may, yea, must think, when you put all
things together, that there are many reasons that prevail with Diabolus
to make what haste he can.
_Cerb._ Thou hast said as it is; I am glad things are at this pass. Go
in, my brave Profane, to my lords, they will give thee for thy welcome as
good a _coranto_ as the whole of this kingdom will afford. I have sent
thy letter in already.
Then Mr. Profane went into the den, and his lord Diabolus met him, and
saluted him with, ‘Welcome, my trusty servant: I have been made glad with
thy letter.’ The rest of the lords of the pit gave him also their
salutations. Then Profane, after obeisance made to them all, said, ‘Let
Mansoul be given to my lord Diabolus, and let him be her king for ever.’
And with that, the hollow belly and yawning gorge of hell gave so loud
and hideous a groan, (for that is the music of that place,) that it made
the mountains about it totter, as if they would fall in pieces.
Now, after they had read and considered the letter, they consulted what
answer to return; and the first that did speak to it was Lucifer.
Then said he, ‘The first project of the Diabolonians in Mansoul is likely
to be lucky, and to take; namely, that they will, by all the ways and
means they can, make Mansoul yet more vile and filthy: no way to destroy
a soul like this. Our old friend Balaam went this way and prospered many
years ago; let this therefore stand with us for a maxim, and be to
Diabolonians for a general rule in all ages; for nothing can make this to
fail but grace, in which I would hope that this town has no share. But
whether to fall upon them on a market-day, because of their cumber in
business, that I would should be under debate. And there is more reason
why this head should be debated, than why some other should; because upon
this will turn the whole of what we shall attempt. If we time not our
business well, our whole project may fail. Our friends, the
Diabolonians, say that a market-day is best; for then will Mansoul be
most busy, and have fewest thoughts of a surprise. But what if also they
should double their guards on those days? (and methinks nature and reason
should teach them to do it;) and what if they should keep such a watch on
those days as the necessity of their present case doth require? yea, what
if their men should be always in arms on those days? then you may, my
lords, be disappointed in your attempts, and may bring our friends in the
town to utter danger of unavoidable ruin.’
Then said the great Beelzebub, ‘There is something in what my lord hath
said; but his conjecture may, or may not fall out. Nor hath my lord laid
it down as that which must not be receded from; for I know that he said
it only to provoke to a warm debate thereabout. Therefore we must
understand, if we can, whether the town of Mansoul has such sense and
knowledge of her decayed state, and of the design that we have on foot
against her, as doth provoke her to set watch and ward at her gates, and
to double them on market-days. But if, after inquiry made, it shall be
found that they are asleep, then any day will do, but a market-day is
best; and this is my judgment in this case.’
Then quoth Diabolus, ‘How should we know this?’ and it was answered,
‘Inquire about it at the mouth of Mr. Profane.’ So Profane was called
in, and asked the question, and he made his answer as follows:—
_Prof._ My lords, so far as I can gather, this is at present the
condition of the town of Mansoul: they are decayed in their faith and
love; Emmanuel, their Prince, has given them the back; they send often by
petition to fetch him again, but he maketh not haste to answer their
request, nor is there much reformation among them.
_Diab._ I am glad that they are backward in a reformation, but yet I am
afraid of their petitioning. However, their looseness of life is a sign
that there is not much heart in what they do, and without the heart
things are little worth. But go on, my masters; I will divert you, my
lords, no longer.
_Beel._ If the case be so with Mansoul, as Mr. Profane has described it
to be, it will be no great matter what day we assault it; not their
prayers, nor their power will do them much service.
When Beelzebub had ended his oration, then Apollyon did begin. ‘My
opinion,’ said he, ‘concerning this matter, is, that we go on fair and
softly, not doing things in a hurry. Let our friends in Mansoul go on
still to pollute and defile it, by seeking to draw it yet more into sin
(for there is nothing like sin to devour Mansoul). If this be done, and
it takes effect, Mansoul, of itself, will leave off to watch, to
petition, or anything else that should tend to her security and safety;
for she will forget her Emmanuel, she will not desire his company, and
can she be gotten thus to live, her Prince will not come to her in haste.
Our trusty friend, Mr. Carnal-Security, with one of his tricks did drive
him out of the town; and why may not my Lord Covetousness, and my Lord
Lasciviousness, by what they may do, keep him out of the town? And this
I will tell you, (not because you know it not,) that two or three
Diabolonians, if entertained and countenanced by the town of Mansoul,
will do more to the keeping of Emmanuel from them, and towards making the
town of Mansoul your own, than can an army of a legion that should be
sent out from us to withstand him. Let, therefore, this first project
that our friends in Mansoul have set on foot, be strongly and diligently
carried on, with all cunning and craft imaginable; and let them send
continually, under one guise or another, more and other of their men to
play with the people of Mansoul; and then, perhaps, we shall not need to
be at the charge of making a war upon them; or if that must of necessity
be done, yet the more sinful they are, the more unable, to be sure, they
will be to resist us, and then the more easily we shall overcome them.
And besides, suppose (and that is the worst that can be supposed) that
Emmanuel should come to them again, why may not the same means, or the
like, drive him from them once more? Yea, why may he not, by their lapse
into that sin again, be driven from them for ever, for the sake of which
he was at the first driven from them for a season? And if this should
happen, then away go with him his rams, his slings, his captains, his
soldiers, and he leaveth Mansoul naked and bare. Yea, will not this
town, when she sees herself utterly forsaken of her Prince, of her own
accord open her gates again unto you, and make of you as in the days of
old? But this must be done by time, a few days will not effect so great
a work as this.’
So soon as Apollyon had made an end of speaking, Diabolus began to blow
out his own malice, and to plead his own cause; and he said, ‘My lords,
and powers of the cave, my true and trusty friends, I have with much
impatience, as becomes me, given ear to your long and tedious orations.
But my furious gorge, and empty paunch, so lusteth after a repossession
of my famous town of Mansoul, that whatever comes out, I can wait no
longer to see the events of lingering projects. I must, and that without
further delay, seek, by all means I can, to fill my insatiable gulf with
the soul and body of the town of Mansoul. Therefore lend me your heads,
your hearts, and your help, now I am going to recover my town of
Mansoul.’
When the lords and princes of the pit saw the flaming desire that was in
Diabolus to devour the miserable town of Mansoul, they left off to raise
any more objections, but consented to lend him what strength they could,
though had Apollyon’s advice been taken, they had far more fearfully
distressed the town of Mansoul. But, I say, they were willing to lend
him what strength they could, not knowing what need they might have of
him, when they should engage for themselves, as he. Wherefore they fell
to advising about the next thing propounded, namely, what soldiers they
were, and also how many, with whom Diabolus should go against the town of
Mansoul to take it; and after some debate, it was concluded, according as
in the letter the Diabolonians had suggested, that none were more fit for
that expedition than an army of terrible doubters. They therefore
concluded to send against Mansoul an army of sturdy doubters. The number
thought fit to be employed in that service was between twenty and thirty
thousand. So then the result of that great council of those high and
mighty lords was—That Diabolus should even now, out of hand, beat up his
drum for men in the land of Doubting, which land lieth upon the confines
of the place called Hell-Gate Hill, for men that might be employed by him
against the miserable town of Mansoul. It was also concluded, that these
lords themselves should help him in the war, and that they would to that
end head and manage his men. So they drew up a letter, and sent back to
the Diabolonians that lurked in Mansoul, and that waited for the
back-coming of Mr. Profane, to signify to them into what method and
forwardness they at present had put their design. The contents whereof
now follow:—
‘From the dark and horrible dungeon of hell, Diabolus with all the
society of the princes of darkness, sends to our trusty ones, in and
about the walls of the town of Mansoul, now impatiently waiting for our
most devilish answer to their venomous and most poisonous design against
the town of Mansoul.
‘Our native ones, in whom from day to day we boast, and in whose actions
all the year long we do greatly delight ourselves, we received your
welcome, because highly esteemed letter, at the hand of our trusty and
greatly beloved, the old gentleman, Mr. Profane. And do give you to
understand, that when we had broken it up, and had read the contents
thereof, to your amazing memory be it spoken, our yawning hollow-bellied
place, where we are, made so hideous and yelling a noise for joy, that
the mountains that stand round about Hell-Gate Hill, had like to have
been shaken to pieces at the sound thereof.
‘We could also do no less than admire your faithfulness to us, with the
greatness of that subtilty that now hath showed itself to be in your
heads to serve us against the town of Mansoul. For you have invented for
us so excellent a method for our proceeding against that rebellious
people, a more effectual cannot be thought of by all the wits of hell.
The proposals, therefore, which now, at last, you have sent us, since we
saw them, we have done little else but highly approved and admired them.
‘Nay, we shall, to encourage you in the profundity of your craft, let you
know, that, at a full assembly and conclave of our princes and
principalities of this place, your project was discoursed and tossed from
one side of our cave to the other by their mightinesses; but a better,
and as was by themselves judged, a more fit and proper way by all their
wits, could not be invented, to surprise, take, and make our own, the
rebellious town of Mansoul.
‘Wherefore, in fine, all that was said that varied from what you had in
your letter propounded, fell of itself to the ground, and yours only was
stuck to by Diabolus, the prince; yea, his gaping gorge and yawning
paunch was on fire to put your invention into execution.
‘We therefore give you to understand that our stout, furious, and
unmerciful Diabolus is raising, for your relief, and the ruin of the
rebellious town of Mansoul, more than twenty thousand doubters to come
against that people. They are all stout and sturdy men, and men that of
old have been accustomed to war, and that can therefore well endure the
drum. I say, he is doing this work of his with all the possible speed he
can; for his heart and spirit is engaged in it. We desire, therefore,
that, as you have hitherto stuck to us, and given us both advice and
encouragement thus far, you still will prosecute our design; nor shall
you lose, but be gainers thereby; yea, we intend to make you the lords of
Mansoul.
‘One thing may not by any means be omitted, that is, those with us do
desire that every one of you that are in Mansoul would still use all your
power, cunning, and skill, with delusive persuasions, yet to draw the
town of Mansoul into more sin and wickedness, even that sin may be
finished and bring forth death.
‘For thus it is concluded with us, that the more vile, sinful, and
debauched the town of Mansoul is, more backward will be their Emmanuel to
come to their help, either by presence or other relief; yea, the more
sinful, the more weak, and so the more unable will they be to make
resistance when we shall make our assault upon them to swallow them up.
Yea, that may cause that their mighty Shaddai himself may cast them out
of his protection; yea, and send for his captains and soldiers home, with
his slings and rams, and leave them naked and bare; and then the town of
Mansoul will of itself open to us, and fall as the fig into the mouth of
the eater. Yea, to be sure that we then with a great deal of ease shall
come upon her and overcome her.
‘As to the time of our coming upon Mansoul, we, as yet, have not fully
resolved upon that, though at present some of us think as you, that a
market-day, or a market-day at night, will certainly be the best.
However, do you be ready, and when you shall hear our roaring drum
without, do you be as busy to make the most horrible confusion within.
So shall Mansoul certainly be distressed before and behind, and shall not
know which way to betake herself for help. My Lord Lucifer, my Lord
Beelzebub, my Lord Apollyon, my Lord Legion, with the rest, salute you,
as does also my Lord Diabolus; and we wish both you, with all that you
do, or shall possess, the very self-same fruit and success for their
doing as we ourselves at present enjoy for ours.
‘From our dreadful confines in the most fearful pit, we salute you, and
so do those many legions here with us, wishing you may be as hellishly
prosperous as we desire to be ourselves. By the letter-carrier, Mr.
Profane.’
Then Mr. Profane addressed himself for his return to Mansoul, with his
errand from the horrible pit to the Diabolonians that dwelt in that town.
So he came up the stairs from the deep to the mouth of the cave where
Cerberus was. Now when Cerberus saw him, he asked how did matters go
below, about and against the town of Mansoul.
_Prof._ Things go as well as we can expect. The letter that I carried
thither was highly approved, and well liked by all my lords, and I am
returning to tell our Diabolonians so. I have an answer to it here in my
bosom, that I am sure will make our masters that sent me glad; for the
contents thereof are to encourage them to pursue their design to the
utmost, and to be ready also to fall on within, when they shall see my
Lord Diabolus beleaguering the town of Mansoul.
_Cerb._ But does he intend to go against them himself?
_Prof._ Does he! Ay! and he will take along with him more than twenty
thousand, all sturdy Doubters, and men of war, picked men from the land
of Doubting, to serve him in the expedition.
Then was Cerberus glad, and said, ‘And is there such brave preparations
a-making to go against the miserable town of Mansoul? And would I might
be put at the head of a thousand of them, that I might also show my
valour against the famous town of Mansoul.’
_Prof._ Your wish may come to pass; you look like one that has mettle
enough, and my lord will have with him those that are valiant and stout.
But my business requires haste.
_Cerb._ Ay, so it does. Speed thee to the town of Mansoul, with all the
deepest mischiefs that this place can afford thee. And when thou shalt
come to the house of Mr. Mischief, the place where the Diabolonians meet
to plot, tell them that Cerberus doth wish them his service, and that if
he may, he will with the army come up against the famous town of Mansoul.
_Prof._ That I will. And I know that my lords that are there will be
glad to hear it, and to see you also.
So after a few more such kind of compliments, Mr. Profane took his leave
of his friend Cerberus; and Cerberus again, with a thousand of their
pit-wishes, bid him haste, with all speed, to his masters. The which
when he had heard, he made obeisance, and began to gather up his heels to
run.
Thus, therefore, he returned, and went and came to Mansoul; and going, as
afore, to the house of Mr. Mischief, there he found the Diabolonians
assembled, and waiting for his return. Now when he was come, and had
presented himself, he also delivered to them his letter, and adjoined
this compliment to them therewith: ‘My lords, from the confines of the
pit, the high and mighty principalities and powers of the den salute you
here, the true Diabolonians of the town of Mansoul. Wishing you always
the most proper of their benedictions, for the great service, high
attempts, and brave achievements that you have put yourselves upon, for
the restoring to our prince Diabolus the famous town of Mansoul.’
This was therefore the present state of the miserable town of Mansoul:
she had offended her Prince, and he was gone; she had encouraged the
powers of hell, by her foolishness, to come against her to seek her utter
destruction.
True, the town of Mansoul was somewhat made sensible of her sin, but the
Diabolonians were gotten into her bowels; she cried, but Emmanuel was
gone, and her cries did not fetch him as yet again. Besides, she knew
not now whether, ever or never, he would return and come to his Mansoul
again; nor did they know the power and industry of the enemy, nor how
forward they were to put in execution that plot of hell that they had
devised against her.
They did, indeed, still send petition after petition to the Prince, but
he answered all with silence. They did neglect reformation, and that was
as Diabolus would have it; for he knew, if they regarded iniquity in
their heart, their King would not hear their prayer; they therefore did
still grow weaker and weaker, and were as a rolling thing before the
whirlwind. They cried to their King for help, and laid Diabolonians in
their bosoms: what therefore should a King do to them? Yea, there seemed
now to be a mixture in Mansoul; the Diabolonians and the Mansoulians
would walk the streets together. Yea, they began to seek their peace;
for they thought that, since the sickness had been so mortal in Mansoul,
it was in vain to go to handygripes with them. Besides, the weakness of
Mansoul was the strength of their enemies; and the sins of Mansoul, the
advantage of the Diabolonians. The foes of Mansoul did also now begin to
promise themselves the town for a possession: there was no great
difference now betwixt Mansoulians and Diabolonians: both seemed to be
masters of Mansoul. Yea, the Diabolonians increased and grew, but the
town of Mansoul diminished greatly. There were more than eleven thousand
men, women, and children that died by the sickness in Mansoul.
But now, as Shaddai would have it, there was one whose name was Mr.
Prywell, a great lover of the people of Mansoul. And he, as his manner
was, did go listening up and down in Mansoul to see, and to hear, if at
any time he might, whether there was any design against it or no. For he
was always a jealous man, and feared some mischief sometime would befal
it, either from the Diabolonians within, or from some power without. Now
upon a time it so happened, as Mr. Prywell went listening here and there,
that he lighted upon a place called Vilehill, in Mansoul, where
Diabolonians used to meet; so hearing a muttering, (you must know that it
was in the night,) he softly drew near to hear; nor had he stood long
under the house-end, (for there stood a house there,) but he heard one
confidently affirm, that it was not, or would not be long before Diabolus
should possess himself again of Mansoul; and that then the Diabolonians
did intend to put all Mansoulians to the sword, and would kill and
destroy the King’s captains, and drive all his soldiers out of the town.
He said, moreover, that he knew there were above twenty thousand fighting
men prepared by Diabolus for the accomplishing of this design, and that
it would not be months before they all should see it.
When Mr. Prywell had heard this story, he did quickly believe it was
true: wherefore he went forthwith to my Lord Mayor’s house, and
acquainted him therewith; who, sending for the subordinate preacher,
brake the business to him; and he as soon gave the alarm to the town; for
he was now the chief preacher in Mansoul, because, as yet, my Lord
Secretary was ill at ease. And this was the way that the subordinate
preacher did take to alarm the town therewith. The same hour he caused
the lecture bell to be rung; so the people came together: he gave them
then a short exhortation to watchfulness, and made Mr. Prywell’s news the
argument thereof. ‘For,’ said he, ‘an horrible plot is contrived against
Mansoul, even to massacre us all in a day, nor is this story to be
slighted; for Mr. Prywell is the author thereof. Mr. Prywell was always
a lover of Mansoul, a sober and judicious man, a man that is no tattler,
nor raiser of false reports, but one that loves to look into the very
bottom of matters, and talks nothing of news, but by very solid
arguments.
‘I will call him, and you shall hear him your own selves;’ so he called
him, and he came and told his tale so punctually, and affirmed its truth
with such ample grounds, that Mansoul fell presently under a conviction
of the truth of what he said. The preacher did also back him, saying,
‘Sirs, it is not irrational for us to believe it, for we have provoked
Shaddai to anger, and have sinned Emmanuel out of the town; we have had
too much correspondence with Diabolonians, and have forsaken our former
mercies: no marvel then, if the enemy both within and without should
design and plot our ruin; and what time like this to do it? The sickness
is now in the town, and we have been made weak thereby. Many a good
meaning man is dead, and the Diabolonians of late grow stronger and
stronger.
‘Besides,’ quoth the subordinate preacher, ‘I have received from this
good truth-teller this one inkling further, that he understood by those
that he overheard, that several letters have lately passed between the
furies and the Diabolonians in order to our destruction.’ When Mansoul
heard all this, and not being able to gainsay it, they lift up their
voice and wept. Mr. Prywell did also, in the presence of the townsmen,
confirm all that their subordinate preacher had said. Wherefore they now
set afresh to bewail their folly, and to a doubling of petitions to
Shaddai and his Son. They also brake the business to the captains, high
commanders, and men of war in the town of Mansoul, entreating them to use
the means to be strong, and to take good courage; and that they would
look after their harness, and make themselves ready to give Diabolus
battle by night and by day, shall he come, as they are informed he will,
to beleaguer the town of Mansoul.
When the captains heard this, they being always true lovers of the town
of Mansoul, what do they but like so many Samsons they shake themselves,
and come together to consult and contrive how to defeat those bold and
hellish contrivances that were upon the wheel by the means of Diabolus
and his friends against the now sickly, weakly, and much impoverished
town of Mansoul; and they agreed upon these following particulars:—
1. That the gates of Mansoul should be kept shut, and made fast with bars
and locks, and that all persons that went out, or came in, should be very
strictly examined by the captains of the guards, ‘to the end,’ said they,
‘that those that are managers of the plot amongst us, may, either coming
or going, be taken; and that we may also find out who are the great
contrivers, amongst us, of our ruin.’
2. The next thing was, that a strict search should be made for all kind
of Diabolonians throughout the whole town of Mansoul; and that every
man’s house from top to bottom should be looked into, and that, too,
house by house, that if possible a further discovery might be made of all
such among them as had a hand in these designs.
3. It was further concluded upon, that wheresoever or with whomsoever any
of the Diabolonians were found, that even those of the town of Mansoul
that had given them house and harbour, should to their shame, and the
warning of others, take penance in the open place.
4. It was, moreover, resolved by the famous town of Mansoul, that a
public fast, and a day of humiliation, should be kept throughout the
whole corporation, to the justifying of their Prince, the abasing of
themselves before him for their transgressions against him, and against
Shaddai, his Father. It was further resolved, that all such in Mansoul
as did not on that day endeavour to keep that fast, and to humble
themselves for their faults, but that should mind their worldly employs,
or be found wandering up and down the streets, should be taken for
Diabolonians, and should suffer as Diabolonians for such their wicked
doings.
5. It was further concluded then, that with what speed, and with what
warmth of mind they could, they would renew their humiliation for sin,
and their petitions to Shaddai for help; they also resolved, to send
tidings to the court of all that Mr. Prywell had told them.
6. It was also determined, that thanks should be given by the town of
Mansoul to Mr. Prywell, for his diligent seeking of the welfare of their
town: and further, that forasmuch as he was so naturally inclined to seek
their good, and also to undermine their foes, they gave him a commission
of scout-master-general, for the good of the town of Mansoul.
When the corporation, with their captains, had thus concluded, they did
as they had said; they shut up their gates, they made for Diabolonians
strict search, they made those with whom any were found to take penance
in the open place: they kept their fast, and renewed their petitions to
their Prince, and Mr. Prywell managed his charge and the trust that
Mansoul had put in his hands, with great conscience and good fidelity;
for he gave himself wholly up to his employ, and that not only within the
town, but he went out to pry, to see, and to hear.
And not many days after he provided for his journey, and went towards
Hell-Gate Hill, into the country where the Doubters were, where he heard
of all that had been talked of in Mansoul, and he perceived also that
Diabolus was almost ready for his march, etc. So he came back with
speed, and, calling the captains and elders of Mansoul together, he told
them where he had been, what he had heard, and what he had seen.
Particularly, he told them that Diabolus was almost ready for his march,
and that he had made old Mr. Incredulity, that once brake prison in
Mansoul, the general of his army; that his army consisted all of
Doubters, and that their number was above twenty thousand. He told,
moreover, that Diabolus did intend to bring with him the chief princes of
the infernal pit, and that he would make them chief captains over his
Doubters. He told them, moreover, that it was certainly true that
several of the black den would, with Diabolus, ride reformades to reduce
the town of Mansoul to the obedience of Diabolus, their prince.
He said, moreover, that he understood by the Doubters, among whom he had
been, that the reason why old Incredulity was made general of the whole
army, was because none truer than he to the tyrant; and because he had an
implacable spite against the welfare of the town of Mansoul. Besides,
said he, he remembers the affronts that Mansoul has given him, and he is
resolved to be revenged of them.
But the black princes shall be made high commanders, only Incredulity
shall be over them all; because, which I had almost forgot, he can more
easily, and more dexterously, beleaguer the town of Mansoul, than can any
of the princes besides.
Now, when the captains of Mansoul, with the elders of the town, had heard
the tidings that Mr. Prywell did bring, they thought it expedient,
without further delay, to put into execution the laws that against the
Diabolonians their Prince had made for them, and given them in
commandment to manage against them. Wherefore, forthwith a diligent and
impartial search was made in all houses in Mansoul, for all and all
manner of Diabolonians. Now, in the house of Mr. Mind, and in the house
of the great Lord Willbewill, were two Diabolonians found. In Mr. Mind’s
house was one Lord Covetousness found; but he had changed his name to
Prudent-Thrifty. In my Lord Willbewill’s house, one Lasciviousness was
found; but he had changed his name to Harmless-Mirth. These two the
captains and elders of the town of Mansoul took, and committed them to
custody under the hand of Mr. Trueman, the gaoler; and this man handled
them so severely, and loaded them so well with irons, that in time they
both fell into a very deep consumption, and died in the prison-house;
their masters also, according to the agreement of the captains and
elders, were brought to take penance in the open place to their shame,
and for a warning to the rest of the town of Mansoul.
Now, this was the manner of penance in those days: the persons offending
being made sensible of the evil of their doings, were enjoined open
confession of their faults, and a strict amendment of their lives.
After this, the captains and elders of Mansoul sought yet to find out
more Diabolonians, wherever they lurked, whether in dens, caves, holes,
vaults, or where else they could, in or about the wall or town of
Mansoul. But though they could plainly see their footing, and so follow
them by their track and smell to their holds, even to the mouths of their
caves and dens, yet take them, hold them, and do justice upon them, they
could not; their ways were so crooked, their holds so strong, and they so
quick to take sanctuary there.
But Mansoul did now with so stiff an hand rule over the Diabolonians that
were left, that they were glad to shrink into corners: time was when they
durst walk openly, and in the day; but now they were forced to embrace
privacy and the night: time was when a Mansoulian was their companion;
but now they counted them deadly enemies. This good change did Mr.
Prywell’s intelligence make in the famous town of Mansoul.
By this time, Diabolus had finished his army which he intended to bring
with him for the ruin of Mansoul; and had set over them captains, and
other field officers, such as liked his furious stomach best: himself was
lord paramount, Incredulity was general of his army, their highest
captains shall be named afterwards; but now for their officers, colours,
and scutcheons.
1. Their first captain was Captain Rage: he was captain over the election
doubters, his were the red colours; his standard-bearer was Mr.
Destructive, and the great red dragon he had for his scutcheon.
2. The second captain was Captain Fury: he was captain over the vocation
doubters; his standard-bearer was Mr. Darkness, his colours were those
that were pale, and he had for his scutcheon the fiery flying serpent.
3. The third captain was Captain Damnation: he was captain over the grace
doubters; his were the red colours, Mr. No-Life bare them, and he had for
his scutcheon the black den.
4. The fourth captain was Captain Insatiable; he was captain over the
faith doubters: his were the red colours, Mr. Devourer bare them, and he
had for a scutcheon the yawning jaws.
5. The fifth captain was Captain Brimstone: he was captain over the
perseverance doubters; his also were the red colours, Mr. Burning bare
them, and his scutcheon was the blue and stinking flame.
6. The sixth captain was Captain Torment: he was captain over the
resurrection doubters; his colours were those that were pale; Mr. Gnaw
was his standard-bearer, and he had the black worm for his scutcheon.
7. The seventh captain was Captain No-Ease; he was captain over the
salvation doubters; his were the red colours, Mr. Restless bare them, and
his scutcheon was the ghastly picture of death.
8. The eighth captain was the Captain Sepulchre: he was captain over the
glory doubters; his also were the pale colours, Mr. Corruption was his
standard-bearer, and he had for his scutcheon a skull, and dead men’s
bones.
9. The ninth captain was Captain Past-Hope; he was captain of those that
are called the felicity doubters; his standard-bearer was Mr. Despair;
his also were the red colours, and his scutcheon was a hot iron and the
hard heart.
These were his captains, and these were their forces, these were their
standards, these were their colours, and these were their scutcheons.
Now, over these did the great Diabolus make superior captains, and they
were in number seven: as, namely, the Lord Beelzebub, the Lord Lucifer,
the Lord Legion, the Lord Apollyon, the Lord Python, the Lord Cerberus,
and the Lord Belial; these seven he set over the captains, and
Incredulity was lord-general, and, Diabolus was king. The reformades
also, such as were like themselves, were made some of them captains of
hundreds, and some of them captains of more. And thus was the army of
Incredulity completed.
So they set out at Hell-Gate Hill, for there they had their rendezvous,
from whence they came with a straight course upon their march toward the
town of Mansoul. Now, as was hinted before, the town had, as Shaddai
would have it, received from the mouth of Mr. Prywell the alarm of their
coming before. Wherefore they set a strong watch at the gates, and had
also doubled their guards: they also mounted their slings in good places,
where they might conveniently cast out their great stones to the
annoyance of their furious enemy.
Nor could those Diabolonians that were in the town do that hurt as was
designed they should; for Mansoul was now awake. But alas! poor people,
they were sorely affrighted at the first appearance of their foes, and at
their sitting down before the town, especially when they heard the
roaring of their drum. This, to speak truth, was amazingly hideous to
hear; it frighted all men seven miles round, if they were but awake and
heard it. The streaming of their colours was also terrible and dejecting
to behold.
When Diabolus was come up against the town, first he made his approach to
Ear-gate, and gave it a furious assault, supposing, as it seems, that his
friends in Mansoul had been ready to do the work within; but care was
taken of that before, by the vigilance of the captains. Wherefore,
missing of the help that he expected from them, and finding his army
warmly attended with the stones that the slingers did sling, (for that I
will say for the captains, that considering the weakness that yet was
upon them by reason of the long sickness that had annoyed the town of
Mansoul, they did gallantly behave themselves,) he was forced to make
some retreat from Mansoul, and to entrench himself and his men in the
field without the reach of the slings of the town.
Now having entrenched himself, he did cast up four mounts against the
town: the first he called Mount Diabolus, putting his own name thereon,
the more to affright the town of Mansoul; the other three he called
thus—Mount Alecto, Mount Megara, and Mount Tisiphone; for these are the
names of the dreadful furies of hell. Thus he began to play his game
with Mansoul, and to serve it as doth the lion his prey, even to make it
fall before his terror. But, as I said, the captains and soldiers
resisted so stoutly, and did do such execution with their stones, that
they made him, though against stomach, to retreat, wherefore Mansoul
began to take courage.
Now upon Mount Diabolus, which was raised on the north side of the town,
there did the tyrant set up his standard, and a fearful thing it was to
behold; for he had wrought in it by devilish art, after the manner of a
scutcheon, a flaming flame fearful to behold, and the picture of Mansoul
burning in it.
When Diabolus had thus done, he commanded that his drummer should every
night approach the walls of the town of Mansoul, and so to beat a parley;
the command was to do it at nights, for in the daytime they annoyed him
with their slings; for the tyrant said, that he had a mind to parley with
the now trembling town of Mansoul, and he commanded that the drums should
beat every night, that through weariness they might at last, if possible,
(at the first they were unwilling yet,) be forced to do it.
So this drummer did as commanded: he arose, and did beat his drum. But
when his drum did go, if one looked toward the town of Mansoul, ‘Behold
darkness and sorrow, and the light was darkened in the heaven thereof.’
No noise was ever heard upon earth more terrible, except the voice of
Shaddai when he speaketh. But how did Mansoul tremble! it now looked for
nothing but forthwith to be swallowed up.
When this drummer had beaten for a parley, he made this speech to
Mansoul: ‘My master has bid me tell you, that if you will willingly
submit, you shall have the good of the earth; but if you shall be
stubborn, he is resolved to take you by force.’ But by that the fugitive
had done beating his drum, the people of Mansoul had betaken themselves
to the captains that were in the castle, so that there was none to
regard, nor to give this drummer an answer; so he proceeded no further
that night, but returned again to his master to the camp.
When Diabolus saw that by drumming he could not work out Mansoul to his
will, the next night he sendeth his drummer without his drum, still to
let the townsmen know that he had a mind to parley with them. But when
all came to all, his parley was turned into a summons to the town to
deliver up themselves: but they gave him neither heed nor hearing: for
they remembered what at first it cost them to hear him a few words.
The next night he sends again, and then who should be his messenger to
Mansoul but the terrible Captain Sepulchre; so Captain Sepulchre came up
to the walls of Mansoul, and made this oration to the town:—
‘O ye inhabitants of the rebellious town of Mansoul! I summon you in the
name of the Prince Diabolus, that, without any more ado, you set open the
gates of your town, and admit the great lord to come in. But if you
shall still rebel, when we have taken to us the town by force, we will
swallow you up as the grave; wherefore if you will hearken to my summons,
say so, and if not then let me know.
‘The reason of this my summons,’ quoth he, ‘is, for that my lord is your
undoubted prince and lord, as you yourselves have formerly owned. Nor
shall that assault that was given to my lord, when Emmanuel dealt so
dishonourably by him, prevail with him to lose his right, and to forbear
to attempt to recover his own. Consider, then, O Mansoul, with thyself,
wilt thou show thyself peaceable, or no? If thou shalt quietly yield up
thyself, then our old friendship shall be renewed; but if thou shalt yet
refuse and rebel, then expect nothing but fire and sword.’
When the languishing town of Mansoul had heard this summoner and his
summons, they were yet more put to their dumps, but made to the captain
no answer at all; so away he went as he came.
But, after some consultation among themselves, as also with some of their
captains, they applied themselves afresh to the Lord Secretary for
counsel and advice from him; for this Lord Secretary was their chief
preacher, (as also is mentioned some pages before,) only now he was ill
at ease; and of him they begged favour in these two or three things—
1. That he would look comfortably upon them, and not keep himself so much
retired from them as formerly. Also, that he would be prevailed with to
give them a hearing, while they should make known their miserable
condition to him. But to this he told them as before, that ‘as yet he
was but ill at ease, and therefore could not do as he had formerly done.’
2. The second thing that they desired was, that he would be pleased to
give them his advice about their now so important affairs, for that
Diabolus was come and set down before the town with no less than twenty
thousand doubters. They said, moreover, that both he and his captains
were cruel men, and that they were afraid of them. But to this he said,
‘You must look to the law of the Prince, and there see what is laid upon
you to do.’
3. Then they desired that his highness would help them to frame a
petition to Shaddai, and unto Emmanuel his Son, and that he would set his
own hand thereto as a token that he was one with them in it: ‘For,’ said
they, ‘my Lord, many a one have we sent, but can get no answer of peace;
but now, surely, one with thy hand unto it may obtain good for Mansoul.’
But all the answer that he gave to this was, ‘that they had offended
their Emmanuel, and had also grieved himself, and that therefore they
must as yet partake of their own devices.’
This answer of the Lord Secretary fell like a millstone upon them; yea,
it crushed them so that they could not tell what to do; yet they durst
not comply with the demands of Diabolus, nor with the demands of his
captain. So then here were the straits that the town of Mansoul was
betwixt, when the enemy came upon her: her foes were ready to swallow her
up, and her friends did forbear to help her.
Then stood up my Lord Mayor, whose name was my Lord Understanding, and he
began to pick and pick, until he had picked comfort out of that seemingly
bitter saying of the Lord Secretary; for thus he descanted upon it:
‘First,’ said he, ‘this unavoidably follows upon the saying of my Lord,
“that we must yet suffer for our sins.” Secondly, But,’ quoth he, ‘the
words yet sound as if at last we should be saved from our enemies, and
that after a few more sorrows, Emmanuel will come and be our help.’ Now
the Lord Mayor was the more critical in his dealing with the Secretary’s
words, because my lord was more than a prophet, and because none of his
words were such, but that at all times they were most exactly
significant; and the townsmen were allowed to pry into them, and to
expound them to their best advantage.
So they took their leaves of my lord, and returned, and went, and came to
the captains, to whom they did tell what my Lord High Secretary had said;
who, when they had heard it, were all of the same opinion as was my Lord
Mayor himself. The captains, therefore, began to take some courage unto
them, and to prepare to make some brave attempt upon the camp of the
enemy, and to destroy all that were Diabolonians, with the roving
doubters that the tyrant had brought with him to destroy the poor town of
Mansoul.
So all betook themselves forthwith to their places—the Captains to
theirs, the Lord Mayor to his, the subordinate preacher to his, and my
Lord Willbewill to his. The captains longed to be at some work for their
prince; for they delighted in warlike achievements. The next day,
therefore, they came together and consulted; and after consultation had,
they resolved to give an answer to the captain of Diabolus with slings;
and so they did at the rising of the sun on the morrow; for Diabolus had
adventured to come nearer again, but the sling-stones were to him and his
like hornets. For as there is nothing to the town of Mansoul so terrible
as the roaring of Diabolus’s drum, so there is nothing to Diabolus so
terrible as the well playing of Emmanuel’s slings. Wherefore Diabolus
was forced to make another retreat, yet further off from the famous town
of Mansoul. Then did the Lord Mayor of Mansoul cause the bells to be
rung, ‘and that thanks should be sent to the Lord High Secretary by the
mouth of the subordinate preacher; for that by his words the captains and
elders of Mansoul had been strengthened against Diabolus.’
When Diabolus saw that his captains and soldiers, high lords and
renowned, were frightened, and beaten down by the stones that came from
the golden slings of the Prince of the town of Mansoul, he bethought
himself, and said, ‘I will try to catch them by fawning, I will try to
flatter them into my net.’
Wherefore, after a while, he came down again to the wall, not now with
his drum, nor with Captain Sepulchre; but having all besugared his lips,
he seemed to be a very sweet-mouthed, peaceable prince, designing nothing
for humour’s sake, nor to be revenged on Mansoul for injuries by them
done to him; but the welfare, and good, and advantage of the town and
people therein was now, as he said, his only design. Wherefore, after he
had called for audience, and desired that the townsfolk would give it to
him, he proceeded in his oration, and said:—
‘Oh, the desire of my heart, the famous town of Mansoul! how many nights
have I watched, and how many weary steps have I taken, if perhaps I might
do thee good! Far be it, far be it from me to desire to make a war upon
you; if ye will but willingly and quietly deliver up yourselves unto me.
You know that you were mine of old. Remember also, that so long as you
enjoyed me for your lord, and that I enjoyed you for my subjects, you
wanted for nothing of all the delights of the earth, that I, your lord
and prince, could get for you, or that I could invent to make you bonny
and blithe withal. Consider, you never had so many hard, dark,
troublesome, and heart-afflicting hours, while you were mine, as you have
had since you revolted from me; nor shall you ever have peace again,
until you and I become one as before. But, be but prevailed with to
embrace me again, and I will grant, yea, enlarge your old charter with
abundance of privileges; so that your license and liberty shall be to
take, hold, enjoy, and make your own all that is pleasant from the east
to the west. Nor shall any of those incivilities, wherewith you have
offended me, be ever charged upon you by me, so long as the sun and moon
endure. Nor shall any of those dear friends of mine that now, for the
fear of you, lie lurking in dens, and holes, and caves in Mansoul, be
hurtful to you any more; yea, they shall be your servants, and shall
minister unto you of their substance, and of whatever shall come to hand.
I need speak no more; you know them, and have sometime since been much
delighted in their company. Why, then, should we abide at such odds?
Let us renew our old acquaintance and friendship again.
‘Bear with your friend; I take the liberty at this time to speak thus
freely unto you. The love that I have to you presses me to do it, as
also does the zeal of my heart for my friends with you: put me not
therefore to further trouble, nor yourselves to further fears and
frights. Have you I will, in a way of peace or war; nor do you flatter
yourselves with the power and force of your captains, or that your
Emmanuel will shortly come in to your help; for such strength will do you
no pleasure.
‘I am come against you with a stout and valiant army, and all the chief
princes of the den are even at the head of it. Besides, my captains are
swifter than eagles, stronger than lions, and more greedy of prey than
are the evening wolves. What is Og of Bashan! what is Goliath of Gath!
and what are an hundred more of them, to one of the least of my captains!
How, then, shall Mansoul think to escape my hand and force?’
Diabolus having thus handed his flattering, fawning, deceitful, and lying
speech to the famous town of Mansoul, the Lord Mayor replied to him as
follows: ‘O Diabolus, prince of darkness, and master of all deceit; thy
lying flatteries we have had and made sufficient probation of, and have
tasted too deeply of that destructive cup already. Should we therefore
again hearken unto thee, and so break the commandments of our great
Shaddai, to join in affinity with thee, would not our Prince reject us,
and cast us off for ever? And, being cast off by him, can the place that
he has prepared for thee be a place of rest for us? Besides, O thou that
art empty and void of all truth, we are rather ready to die by thy hand,
than to fall in with thy flattering and lying deceits.’
When the tyrant saw that there was little to be got by parleying with my
Lord Mayor, he fell into an hellish rage, and resolved that again, with
his army of doubters, he would another time assault the town of Mansoul.
So he called for his drummer, who beat up for his men (and while he did
beat, Mansoul did shake) to be in a readiness to give battle to the
corporation: then Diabolus drew near with his army, and thus disposed of
his men. Captain Cruel and Captain Torment, these he drew up and placed
against Feel-gate, and commanded them to sit down there for the war. And
he also appointed that, if need were, Captain No-Ease should come in to
their relief. At Nose-gate he placed the Captain Brimstone and Captain
Sepulchre, and bid them look well to their ward, on that side of the town
of Mansoul. But at Eye-gate he placed that grim-faced one, the Captain
Past-Hope, and there also now he did set up his terrible standard.
Now Captain Insatiable, he was to look to the carriages of Diabolus, and
was also appointed to take into custody that, or those persons and
things, that should at any time as prey be taken from the enemy.
Now Mouth-gate the inhabitants of Mansoul kept for a sally-port;
wherefore that they kept strong; for that it was it by and out at which
the townsfolk did send their petitions to Emmanuel their Prince. That
also was the gate from the top of which the captains did play their
slings at the enemies; for that gate stood somewhat ascending, so that
the placing of them there, and the letting of them fly from that place,
did much execution against the tyrant’s army. Wherefore, for these
causes, with others, Diabolus sought, if possible, to land up Mouth-gate
with dirt.
Now, as Diabolus was busy and industrious in preparing to make his
assault upon the town of Mansoul, without, so the captains and soldiers
in the corporation were as busy in preparing within; they mounted their
slings, they set up their banners, they sounded their trumpets, and put
themselves in such order as was judged most for the annoyance of the
enemy, and for the advantage of Mansoul, and gave to their soldiers
orders to be ready at the sound of the trumpet for war. The Lord
Willbewill also, he took the charge of watching against the rebels
within, and to do what he could to take them while without, or to stifle
them within their caves, dens, and holes in the town-wall of Mansoul.
And, to speak the truth of him, ever since he took penance for his fault,
he has showed as much honesty and bravery of spirit as any he in Mansoul;
for he took one Jolly, and his brother Griggish, the two sons of his
servant Harmless-Mirth, (for to that day, though the father was committed
to ward, the sons had a dwelling in the house of my lord,)—I say, he took
them, and with his own hands put them to the cross. And this was the
reason why he hanged them up: after their father was put into the hands
of Mr. True-Man the gaoler, they, his sons, began to play his pranks, and
to be ticking and toying with the daughters of their lord; nay, it was
jealoused that they were too familiar with them, the which was brought to
his lordship’s ear. Now his lordship being unwilling unadvisedly to put
any man to death, did not suddenly fall upon them, but set watch and
spies to see if the thing was true; of the which he was soon informed,
for his two servants, whose names were Find-Out and Tell-All, catched
them together in uncivil manner more than once or twice, and went and
told their lord. So when my Lord Willbewill had sufficient ground to
believe the thing was true, he takes the two young Diabolonians, (for
such they were, for their father was a Diabolonian born,) and has them to
Eye-gate, where he raised a very high cross, just in the face of
Diabolus, and of his army, and there he hanged the young villains, in
defiance to Captain Past-Hope, and of the horrible standard of the
tyrant.
Now this Christian act of the brave Lord Willbewill did greatly abash
Captain Past-Hope, discouraged the army of Diabolus, put fear into the
Diabolonian runagates in Mansoul, and put strength and courage into the
captains that belonged to Emmanuel, the Prince; for they without did
gather, and that by this very act of my Lord, that Mansoul was resolved
to fight, and that the Diabolonians within the town could not do such
things as Diabolus had hopes they would. Nor was this the only proof of
the brave Lord Willbewill’s honesty to the town, nor of his loyalty to
his Prince, as will afterwards appear.
Now, when the children of Prudent-Thrifty, who dwelt with Mr. Mind, (for
Thrift left children with Mr. Mind, when he was also committed to prison,
and their names were Gripe and Rake-All; these he begat of Mr. Mind’s
bastard daughter, whose name was Mrs. Hold-fast-Bad;)—I say, when his
children perceived how the Lord Willbewill had served them that dwelt
with him, what do they but, lest they should drink of the same cup,
endeavour to make their escape. But Mr. Mind, being wary of it, took
them and put them in hold in his house till morning; (for this was done
over night;) and remembering that by the law of Mansoul all Diabolonians
were to die, (and to be sure they were at least by father’s side such,
and some say by mother’s side too,) what does he but takes them and puts
them in chains, and carries them to the selfsame place where my lord
hanged his two before, and there he hanged them.
The townsmen also took great encouragement at this act of Mr. Mind, and
did what they could to have taken some more of these Diabolonian
troublers of Mansoul; but at that time the rest lay so squat and close,
that they could not be apprehended; so they set against them a diligent
watch, and went every man to his place.
I told you a little before, that Diabolus and his army were somewhat
abashed and discouraged at the sight of what my Lord Willbewill did, when
he hanged up those two young Diabolonians; but his discouragement quickly
turned itself into furious madness and rage against the town of Mansoul,
and fight it he would. Also the townsmen and captains within, they had
their hopes and their expectations heightened, believing at last the day
would be theirs; so they feared them the less. Their subordinate
preacher, too, made a sermon about it; and he took that theme for his
text, ‘Gad, a troop shall overcome him: but he shall overcome at the
last.’ Whence he showed, that though Mansoul should be sorely put to it
at the first, yet the victory should most certainly be Mansoul’s at the
last.
So Diabolus commanded that his drummer should beat a charge against the
town; and the captains also that were in the town sounded a charge
against them, but they had no drum: they were trumpets of silver with
which they sounded against them. Then they which were of the camp of
Diabolus came down to the town to take it, and the captains in the
castle, with the slingers at Mouth-gate, played upon them amain. And now
there was nothing heard in the camp of Diabolus but horrible rage and
blasphemy; but in the town good words, prayer, and singing of psalms.
The enemy replied with horrible objections, and the terribleness of their
drum; but the town made answer with the slapping of their slings, and the
melodious noise of their trumpets. And thus the fight lasted for several
days together, only now and then they had some small intermission, in the
which the townsmen refreshed themselves, and the captains made ready for
another assault.
The captains of Emmanuel were clad in silver armour, and the soldiers in
that which was of proof; the soldiers of Diabolus were clad in iron which
was made to give place to Emmanuel’s engine-shot. In the town, some were
hurt, and some were greatly wounded. Now, the worst of it was, a
chirurgeon was scarce in Mansoul, for that Emmanuel at present was
absent. Howbeit, with the leaves of a tree the wounded were kept from
dying; yet their wounds did greatly putrefy, and some did grievously
stink. Of the townsmen, these were wounded, namely, my Lord Reason; he
was wounded in the head. Another that was wounded was the brave Lord
Mayor; he was wounded in the eye. Another that was wounded was Mr. Mind;
he received his wound about the stomach. The honest subordinate preacher
also, he received a shot not far off the heart but none of these were
mortal.
Many also of the inferior sort were not only wounded but slain outright.
Now, in the camp of Diabolus were wounded and slain a considerable
number; for instance, Captain Rage, he was wounded, and so was Captain
Cruel. Captain Damnation was made to retreat, and to intrench himself
further off of Mansoul. The standard also of Diabolus was beaten down,
and his standard-bearer, Captain Much-Hurt, had his brains beat out with
a sling-stone, to the no little grief and shame of his prince Diabolus.
Many also of the doubters were slain outright, though enough of them were
left alive to make Mansoul shake and totter. Now the victory that day
being turned to Mansoul, did put great valour into the townsmen and
captains, and did cover Diabolus’s camp with a cloud, but withal it made
them far more furious. So the next day Mansoul rested, and commanded
that the bells should be rung; the trumpets also joyfully sounded, and
the captains shouted round the town.
My Lord Willbewill also was not idle, but did notable service within
against the domestics, or the Diabolonians that were in the town, not
only by keeping them in awe, for he lighted on one at last whose name was
Mr. Anything, a fellow of whom mention was made before; for it was he, if
you remember, that brought the three fellows to Diabolus, whom the
Diabolonians took out of Captain Boanerges’s companies, and that
persuaded them to list themselves under the tyrant, to fight against the
army of Shaddai. My Lord Willbewill did also take a notable Diabolonian,
whose name was Loose-Foot: this Loose-Foot was a scout to the vagabonds
in Mansoul, and that did use to carry tidings out of Mansoul to the camp,
and out of the camp to those of the enemies in Mansoul. Both these my
lord sent away safe to Mr. True-Man, the gaoler, with a commandment to
keep them in irons; for he intended then to have them out to be
crucified, when it would be for the best to the corporation, and most for
the discouragement of the camp of the enemies.
My Lord Mayor also, though he could not stir about so much as formerly,
because of the wound that he lately received, yet gave he out orders to
all that were the natives of Mansoul, to look to their watch, and stand
upon their guard, and, as occasion should offer, to prove themselves men.
Mr. Conscience, the preacher, he also did his utmost to keep all his good
documents alive upon the hearts of the people of Mansoul.
Well, awhile after, the captains and stout ones of the town of Mansoul
agreed and resolved upon a time to make a sally out upon the camp of
Diabolus, and this must be done in the night; and there was the folly of
Mansoul, (for the night is always the best for the enemy, but the worst
for Mansoul to fight in,) but yet they would do it, their courage was so
high; their last victory also still stuck in their memories.
So the night appointed being come, the Prince’s brave captains cast lots
who should lead the van in this new and desperate expedition against
Diabolus, and against his Diabolonian army; and the lot fell to Captain
Credence, to Captain Experience, and to Captain Good-Hope, to lead the
forlorn hope. (This Captain Experience the Prince created such when
himself did reside in the town of Mansoul.) So, as I said, they made
their sally out upon the army that lay in the siege against them; and
their hap was to fall in with the main body of their enemies. Now
Diabolus and his men being expertly accustomed to night-work, took the
alarm presently, and were as ready to give them battle, as if they had
sent them word of their coming. Wherefore to it they went amain, and
blows were hard on every side; the hell drum also was beat most
furiously, while the trumpets of the Prince most sweetly sounded. And
thus the battle was joined; and Captain Insatiable looked to the enemy’s
carriages, and waited when he should receive some prey.
The Prince’s captains fought it stoutly, beyond what indeed could be
expected they should; they wounded many; they made the whole army of
Diabolus to make a retreat. But I cannot tell how, but the brave Captain
Credence, Captain Good-Hope, and Captain Experience, as they were upon
the pursuit, cutting down, and following hard after the enemy in the
rear, Captain Credence stumbled and fell, by which fall he caught so
great a hurt, that he could not rise till Captain Experience did help him
up, at which their men were put in disorder. The captain also was so
full of pain, that he could not forbear but aloud to cry out: at this,
the other two captains fainted, supposing that Captain Credence had
received his mortal wound; their men also were more disordered, and had
no list to fight. Now Diabolus being very observing, though at this time
as yet he was put to the worst, perceiving that a halt was made among the
men that were the pursuers, what does he but, taking it for granted that
the captains were either wounded or dead, he therefore makes at first a
stand, then faces about, and so comes up upon the Prince’s army with as
much of his fury as hell could help him to; and his hap was to fall in
just among the three captains, Captain Credence, Captain Good-Hope, and
Captain Experience, and did cut, wound, and pierce them so dreadfully,
that what through discouragement, what through disorder, and what through
the wounds that they had received, and also the loss of much blood, they
scarce were able, though they had for their power the three best hands in
Mansoul, to get safe into the hold again.
Now, when the body of the Prince’s army saw how these three captains were
put to the worst, they thought it their wisdom to make as safe and good a
retreat as they could, and so returned by the sally-port again; and so
there was an end of this present action. But Diabolus was so flushed
with this night’s work, that he promised himself, in few days, an easy
and complete conquest over the town of Mansoul; wherefore, on the day
following, he comes up to the sides thereof with great boldness, and
demands entrance, and that forthwith they deliver themselves up to his
government. The Diabolonians, too, that were within, they began to be
somewhat brisk, as we shall show afterward.
But the valiant Lord Mayor replied, that what he got he must get by
force; for as long as Emmanuel, their Prince, was alive, (though he at
present was not so with them as they wished,) they should never consent
to yield Mansoul up to another.
And with that the Lord Willbewill stood up, and said, ‘Diabolus, thou
master of the den, and enemy to all that is good, we poor inhabitants of
the town of Mansoul are too well acquainted with thy rule and government,
and with the end of those things that for certain will follow submitting
to thee, to do it. Wherefore though while we were without knowledge we
suffered thee to take us, (as the bird that saw not the snare fell into
the hands of the fowler,) yet since we have been turned from darkness to
light, we have also been turned from the power of Satan to God. And
though through thy subtlety, and also the subtlety of the Diabolonians
within, we have sustained much loss, and also plunged ourselves into much
perplexity, yet give up ourselves, lay down our arms, and yield to so
horrid a tyrant as thou, we shall not; die upon the place we choose
rather to do. Besides, we have hopes that in time deliverance will come
from court unto us, and therefore we yet will maintain a war against
thee.’
This brave speech of the Lord Willbewill, with that also of the Lord
Mayor, did somewhat abate the boldness of Diabolus, though it kindled the
fury of his rage. It also succoured the townsmen and captains; yea, it
was as a plaster to the brave Captain Credence’s wound; for you must know
that a brave speech now (when the captains of the town with their men of
war came home routed, and when the enemy took courage and boldness at the
success that he had obtained to draw up to the walls, and demand
entrance, as he did) was in season, and also advantageous.
The Lord Willbewill also did play the man within; for while the captains
and soldiers were in the field, he was in arms in the town, and wherever
by him there was a Diabolonian found, they were forced to feel the weight
of his heavy hand, and also the edge of his penetrating sword: many
therefore of the Diabolonians he wounded, as the Lord Cavil, the Lord
Brisk, the Lord Pragmatic, and the Lord Murmur; several also of the
meaner sort he did sorely maim; though there cannot at this time an
account be given you of any that he slew outright. The cause, or rather
the advantage that my Lord Willbewill had at this time to do thus, was
for that the captains were gone out to fight the enemy in the field.
‘For now,’ thought the Diabolonians within, ‘is our time to stir and make
an uproar in the town.’ What do they therefore but quickly get
themselves into a body, and fall forthwith to hurricaning in Mansoul, as
if now nothing but whirlwind and tempest should be there. Wherefore, as
I said, he takes this opportunity to fall in among them with his men,
cutting and slashing with courage that was undaunted; at which the
Diabolonians with all haste dispersed themselves to their holds, and my
lord to his place as before.
This brave act of my lord did somewhat revenge the wrong done by Diabolus
to the captains, and also did let them know that Mansoul was not to be
parted with for the loss of a victory or two; wherefore the wing of the
tyrant was clipped again, as to boasting,—I mean in comparison of what he
would have done, if the Diabolonians had put the town to the same plight
to which he had put the captains.
Well, Diabolus yet resolves to have the other bout with Mansoul. ‘For,’
thought he, ‘since I beat them once, I may beat them twice.’ Wherefore
he commanded his men to be ready at such an hour of the night, to make a
fresh assault upon the town; and he gave it out in special that they
should bend all their force against Feel-gate, and attempt to break into
the town through that. The word that then he did give to his officers
and soldiers was Hell-fire. ‘And,’ said he, ‘if we break in upon them,
as I wish we do, either with some, or with all our force, let them that
break in look to it, that they forget not the word. And let nothing be
heard in the town of Mansoul but, “Hell-fire! Hell-fire! Hell-fire!”’
The drummer was also to beat without ceasing, and the standard-bearers
were to display their colours; the soldiers, too, were to put on what
courage they could, and to see that they played manfully their parts
against the town.
So when night was come, and all things by the tyrant made ready for the
work, he suddenly makes his assault upon Feel-gate, and after he had
awhile struggled there, he throws the gate wide open: for the truth is,
those gates were but weak, and so most easily made to yield. When
Diabolus had thus far made his attempt, he placed his captains (namely,
Torment and No-Ease) there; so he attempted to press forward, but the
Prince’s captains came down upon him, and made his entrance more
difficult than he desired. And, to speak truth, they made what
resistance they could; but the three of their best and most valiant
captains being wounded, and by their wounds made much incapable of doing
the town that service they would, (and all the rest having more than
their hands full of the doubters, and their captains that did follow
Diabolus,) they were overpowered with force, nor could they keep them out
of the town. Wherefore the Prince’s men and their captains betook
themselves to the castle, as to the stronghold of the town: and this they
did partly for their own security, partly for the security of the town,
and partly, or rather chiefly, to preserve to Emmanuel the
prerogative-royal of Mansoul; for so was the castle of Mansoul.
The captains therefore being fled into the castle, the enemy, without
much resistance, possess themselves of the rest of the town, and
spreading themselves as they went into every corner, they cried out as
they marched, according to the command of the tyrant, ‘Hell-fire!
Hell-fire! Hell-fire!’ so that nothing for a while throughout the town of
Mansoul could be heard but the direful noise of ‘Hell-fire!’ together
with the roaring of Diabolus’s drum. And now did the clouds hang black
over Mansoul, nor to reason did anything but ruin seem to attend it.
Diabolus also quartered his soldiers in the houses of the inhabitants of
the town of Mansoul. Yea, the subordinate preacher’s house was as full
of these outlandish doubters as ever it could hold, and so was my Lord
Mayor’s, and my Lord Willbewill’s also. Yea, where was there a corner, a
cottage, a barn, or a hogstye, that now was not full of these vermin?
Yea, they turned the men of the town out of their houses, and would lie
in their beds, and sit at their tables themselves. Ah, poor Mansoul! now
thou feelest the fruits of sin, yea, what venom was in the flattering
words of Mr. Carnal-Security! They made great havoc of whatever they
laid their hands on; yea, they fired the town in several places; many
young children also were by them dashed in pieces; and those that were
yet unborn they destroyed in their mothers’ wombs: for you must needs
think that it could not now be otherwise; for what conscience, what pity,
what bowels of compassion can any expect at the hands of outlandish
doubters? Many in Mansoul that were women, both young and old, they
forced, ravished, and beastlike abused, so that they swooned, miscarried,
and many of them died, and so lay at the top of every street, and in all
by-places of the town.
And now did Mansoul seem to be nothing but a den of dragons, an emblem of
hell, and a place of total darkness. Now did Mansoul lie almost like the
barren wilderness; nothing but nettles, briars, thorns, weeds, and
stinking things seemed now to cover the face of Mansoul. I told you
before, how that these Diabolonian doubters turned the men of Mansoul out
of their beds, and now I will add, they wounded them, they mauled them,
yea, and almost brained many of them. Many did I say, yea most, if not
all of them. Mr. Conscience they so wounded, yea, and his wounds so
festered, that he could have no ease day nor night, but lay as if
continually upon a rack; but that Shaddai rules all, certainly they had
slain him outright. Mr. Lord Mayor they so abused that they almost put
out his eyes; and had not my Lord Willbewill got into the castle, they
intended to have chopped him all to pieces; for they did look upon him,
as his heart now stood, to be one of the very worst that was in Mansoul
against Diabolus and his crew. And indeed he hath shown himself a man,
and more of his exploits you will hear of afterwards.
Now, a man might have walked for days together in Mansoul, and scarcely
have seen one in the town that looked like a religious man. Oh, the
fearful state of Mansoul now! now every corner swarmed with outlandish
doubters; red-coats and black-coats walked the town by clusters, and
filled up all the houses with hideous noises, vain songs, lying stories,
and blasphemous language against Shaddai and his Son. Now also those
Diabolonians that lurked in the walls and dens and holes that were in the
town of Mansoul, came forth and showed themselves; yea, walked with open
face in company with the doubters that were in Mansoul. Yea, they had
more boldness now to walk the streets, to haunt the houses, and to show
themselves abroad, than had any of the honest inhabitants of the now
woful town of Mansoul.
But Diabolus and his outlandish men were not at peace in Mansoul; for
they were not there entertained as were the captains and forces of
Emmanuel: the townsmen did browbeat them what they could; nor did they
partake or make stroy of any of the necessaries of Mansoul, but that
which they seized on against the townsmen’s will: what they could, they
hid from them, and what they could not, they had with an ill-will. They,
poor hearts! had rather have had their room than their company; but they
were at present their captives, and their captives for the present they
were forced to be. But, I say, they discountenanced them as much as they
were able, and showed them all the dislike that they could.
The captains also from the castle did hold them in continual play with
their slings, to the chafing and fretting of the minds of the enemies.
True, Diabolus made a great many attempts to have broken open the gates
of the castle, but Mr. Godly-Fear was made the keeper of that; and he was
a man of that courage, conduct, and valour, that it was in vain, as long
as life lasted within him, to think to do that work, though mostly
desired; wherefore all the attempts that Diabolus made against him were
fruitless. I have wished sometimes that that man had had the whole rule
of the town of Mansoul.
Well, this was the condition of the town of Mansoul for about two years
and a half: the body of the town was the seat of war, the people of the
town were driven into holes, and the glory of Mansoul was laid in the
dust. What rest, then, could be to the inhabitants, what peace could
Mansoul have, and what sun could shine upon it? Had the enemy lain so
long without in the plain against the town, it had been enough to have
famished them: but now, when they shall be within, when the town shall be
their tent, their trench and fort against the castle that was in the
town; when the town shall be against the town, and shall serve to be a
defence to the enemies of her strength and life: I say, when they shall
make use of the forts and town-holds to secure themselves in, even till
they shall take, spoil, and demolish the castle,—this was terrible! and
yet this was now the state of the town of Mansoul.
After the town of Mansoul had been in this sad and lamentable condition,
for so long a time as I have told you, and no petitions that they
presented their Prince with, all this while, could prevail, the
inhabitants of the town, namely, the elders and chief of Mansoul,
gathered together, and, after some time spent in condoling their
miserable state and this miserable judgment coming upon them, they agreed
together to draw up yet another petition, and to send it away to Emmanuel
for relief. But Mr. Godly-Fear stood up and answered, that he knew that
his Lord the Prince never did nor ever would receive a petition for these
matters, from the hand of any whoever, unless the Lord Secretary’s hand
was to it; ‘and this,’ quoth he, ‘is the reason that you prevailed not
all this while.’ Then they said they would draw up one, and get the Lord
Secretary’s hand unto it. But Mr. Godly-Fear answered again, that he
knew also that the Lord Secretary would not set his hand to any petition
that himself had not an hand in composing and drawing up. ‘And besides,’
said he, ‘the Prince doth know my Lord Secretary’s hand from all the
hands in the world; wherefore he cannot be deceived by any pretence
whatever. Wherefore my advice is that you go to my Lord, and implore him
to lend you his aid.’ (Now he did yet abide in the castle, where all the
captains and men-at-arms were.)
So they heartily thanked Mr. Godly-Fear, took his counsel, and did as he
had bidden them. So they went and came to my Lord, and made known the
cause of their coming to him; namely, that since Mansoul was in so
deplorable a condition, his Highness would be pleased to undertake to
draw up a petition for them to Emmanuel, the Son of the mighty Shaddai,
and to their King and his Father by him.
Then said the Secretary to them, ‘What petition is it that you would have
me draw up for you?’ But they said, ‘Our Lord knows best the state and
condition of the town of Mansoul; and how we are backslidden and
degenerated from the Prince: thou also knowest who is come up to war
against us, and how Mansoul is now the seat of war. My Lord knows,
moreover, what barbarous usages our men, women, and children have
suffered at their hands; and how our homebred Diabolonians do walk now
with more boldness than dare the townsmen in the streets of Mansoul. Let
our Lord therefore, according to the wisdom of God that is in him, draw
up a petition for his poor servants to our Prince Emmanuel.’ ‘Well,’
said the Lord Secretary, ‘I will draw up a petition for you, and will
also set my hand thereto.’ Then said they, ‘But when shall we call for
it at the hands of our Lord?’ But he answered, ‘Yourselves must be
present at the doing of it; yea, you must put your desires to it. True,
the hand and pen shall be mine, but the ink and paper must be yours; else
how can you say it is your petition? Nor have I need to petition for
myself, because I have not offended.’ He also added as followeth: ‘No
petition goes from me in my name to the Prince, and so to his Father by
him, but when the people that are chiefly concerned therein do join in
heart and soul in the matter, for that must be inserted therein.’
So they did heartily agree with the sentence of the Lord, and a petition
was forthwith drawn up for them. But now, who should carry it? that was
next. But the Secretary advised that Captain Credence should carry it;
for he was a well-spoken man. They therefore called for him, and
propounded to him the business. ‘Well,’ said the captain, ‘I gladly
accept of the motion; and though I am lame, I will do this business for
you with as much speed, and as well as I can.’
The contents of the petition were to this purpose
‘O our Lord, and Sovereign Prince Emmanuel, the potent, the
long-suffering Prince! grace is poured into thy lips, and to thee belong
mercy and forgiveness, though we have rebelled against thee. We, who are
no more worthy to be called thy Mansoul, nor yet fit to partake of common
benefits, do beseech thee, and thy Father by thee, to do away our
transgressions. We confess that thou mightest cast us away for them; but
do it not for thy name’s sake: let the Lord rather take an opportunity,
at our miserable condition, to let out his bowels and compassions to us.
We are compassed on every side, Lord; our own backslidings reprove us;
our Diabolonians within our town fright us; and the army of the angel of
the bottomless pit distresses us. Thy grace can be our salvation, and
whither to go but to thee we know not.
‘Furthermore, O gracious Prince, we have weakened our captains, and they
are discouraged, sick, and, of late, some of them grievously worsted and
beaten out of the field by the power and force of the tyrant. Yea, even
those of our captains, in whose valour we did formerly use to put most of
our confidence, they are as wounded men. Besides, Lord, our enemies are
lively, and they are strong; they vaunt and boast themselves, and do
threaten to part us among themselves for a booty. They are fallen also
upon us, Lord, with many thousand doubters, such as with whom we cannot
tell what to do; they are all grim-looked and unmerciful ones, and they
bid defiance to us and thee.
‘Our wisdom is gone, our power is gone, because thou art departed from
us; nor have we what we may call ours but sin, shame, and confusion of
face for sin. Take pity upon us, O Lord, take pity upon us, thy
miserable town of Mansoul, and save us out of the hands of our enemies.
Amen.’
This petition, as was touched afore, was handed by the Lord Secretary,
and carried to the court by the brave and most stout Captain Credence.
Now he carried it out at Mouth-gate, (for that, as I said, was the
sally-port of the town,) and he went and came to Emmanuel with it. Now
how it came out, I do not know; but for certain it did, and that so far
as to reach the ears of Diabolus. Thus I conclude, because that the
tyrant had it presently by the end, and charged the town of Mansoul with
it, saying, ‘Thou rebellious and stubborn-hearted Mansoul, I will make
thee to leave off petitioning. Art thou yet for petitioning? I will
make thee to leave.’ Yea, he also knew who the messenger was that
carried the petition to the Prince, and it made him both to fear and
rage.
Wherefore he commanded that his drum should be beat again, a thing that
Mansoul could not abide to hear: but when Diabolus will have his drum
beat, Mansoul must abide the noise. Well, the drum was beat, and the
Diabolonians were gathered together.
Then said Diabolus, ‘O ye stout Diabolonians, be it known unto you, that
there is treachery hatched against us in the rebellious town of Mansoul;
for albeit the town is in our possession, as you see, yet these miserable
Mansoulians have attempted to dare, and have been so hardy as yet to send
to the court to Emmanuel for help. This I give you to understand, that
ye may yet know how to carry it to the wretched town of Mansoul.
Wherefore, O my trusty Diabolonians, I command that yet more and more ye
distress this town of Mansoul, and vex it with your wiles, ravish their
women, deflower their virgins, slay their children, brain their ancients,
fire their town, and what other mischief you can; and let this be the
reward of the Mansoulians from me, for their desperate rebellions against
me.’
This, you see, was the charge; but something stepped in betwixt that and
execution, for as yet there was but little more done than to rage.
Moreover, when Diabolus had done thus, he went the next way up to the
castle gates, and demanded that, upon pain of death, the gates should be
opened to him, and that entrance should be given him and his men that
followed after. To whom Mr. Godly-Fear replied, (for he it was that had
the charge of that gate,) that the gate should not be opened unto him,
nor to the men that followed after him. He said, moreover, that Mansoul,
when she had suffered awhile, should be made perfect, strengthened,
settled.
Then said Diabolus, ‘Deliver me, then, the men that have petitioned
against me, especially Captain Credence, that carried it to your Prince;
deliver that varlet into my hands, and I will depart from the town.’
Then up starts a Diabolonian, whose name was Mr. Fooling, and said, ‘My
lord offereth you fair: it is better for you that one man perish, than
that your whole Mansoul should be undone.’
But Mr. Godly-Fear made him this replication, ‘How long will Mansoul be
kept out of the dungeon, when she hath given up her faith to Diabolus!
As good lose the town, as lose Captain Credence; for if one be gone the
other must follow.’ But to that Mr. Fooling said nothing.
Then did my Lord Mayor reply, and said, ‘O thou devouring tyrant, be it
known unto thee, we shall hearken to none of thy words; we are resolved
to resist thee as long as a captain, a man, a sling, and a stone to throw
at thee shall be found in the town of Mansoul.’ But Diabolus answered,
‘Do you hope, do you wait, do you look for help and deliverance? You
have sent to Emmanuel, but your wickedness sticks too close in your
skirts, to let innocent prayers come out of your lips. Think you that
you shall be prevailers and prosper in this design? You will fail in
your wish, you will fail in your attempts; for it is not only I, but your
Emmanuel is against you: yea, it is he that hath sent me against you to
subdue you. For what, then, do you hope? or by what means will you
escape?’
Then said the Lord Mayor, ‘We have sinned indeed; but that shall be no
help to thee, for our Emmanuel hath said it, and that in great
faithfulness, “and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.” He
hath also told us, O our enemy, that “all manner of sin and blasphemy
shall be forgiven” to the sons of men. Therefore we dare not despair,
but will look for, wait for, and hope for deliverance still.’
Now, by this time, Captain Credence was returned and come from the court
from Emmanuel to the castle of Mansoul, and he returned to them with a
packet. So my Lord Mayor, hearing that Captain Credence was come,
withdrew himself from the noise of the roaring of the tyrant, and left
him to yell at the wall of the town, or against the gates of the castle.
So he came up to the captain’s lodgings, and saluting him, he asked him
of his welfare, and what was the best news at court. But when he asked
Captain Credence that, the water stood in his eyes. Then said the
captain, ‘Cheer up, my lord, for all will be well in time.’ And with
that he first produced his packet, and laid it by; but that the Lord
Mayor, and the rest of the captains, took for sign of good tidings. Now
a season of grace being come, he sent for all the captains and elders of
the town, that were here and there in their lodgings in the castle and
upon their guard, to let them know that Captain Credence was returned
from the court, and that he had something in general, and something in
special, to communicate to them. So they all came up to him, and saluted
him, and asked him concerning his journey, and what was the best news at
the court. And he answered them as he had done the Lord Mayor before,
that all would be well at last. Now, when the captain had thus saluted
them, he opened his packet, and thence did draw out his several notes for
those that he had sent for.
And the first note was for my Lord Mayor, wherein was signified:—That the
Prince Emmanuel had taken it well that my Lord Mayor had been so true and
trusty in his office, and the great concerns that lay upon him for the
town and people of Mansoul. Also, he bid him to know, that he took it
well that he had been so bold for his Prince Emmanuel, and had engaged so
faithfully in his cause against Diabolus. He also signified, at the
close of his letter, that he should shortly receive his reward.
The second note that came out, was for the noble Lord Willbewill, wherein
there was signified:—That his Prince Emmanuel did well understand how
valiant and courageous he had been for the honour of his Lord, now in his
absence, and when his name was under contempt by Diabolus. There was
signified also, that his Prince had taken it well that he had been so
faithful to the town of Mansoul, in his keeping of so strict a hand and
eye over and so strict a rein upon the neck of the Diabolonians, that did
still lie lurking in their several holes in the famous town of Mansoul.
He signified, moreover, how that he understood that my Lord had, with his
own hand, done great execution upon some of the chief of the rebels
there, to the great discouragement of the adverse party and to the good
example of the whole town of Mansoul; and that shortly his lordship
should have his reward.
The third note came out for the subordinate preacher, wherein was
signified:—That his Prince took it well from him, that he had so honestly
and so faithfully performed his office, and executed the trust committed
to him by his Lord, while he exhorted, rebuked, and forewarned Mansoul
according to the laws of the town. He signified, moreover, that he took
it well at his hand that he called to fasting, to sackcloth, and ashes,
when Mansoul was under her revolt. Also, that he called for the aid of
the Captain Boanerges to help in so weighty a work; and that shortly he
also should receive his reward.
The fourth note came out for Mr. Godly-Fear, wherein his Lord thus
signified:—That his Lordship observed, that he was the first of all the
men in Mansoul that detected Mr. Carnal-Security as the only one that,
through his subtlety and cunning, had obtained for Diabolus a defection
and decay of goodness in the blessed town of Mansoul. Moreover, his Lord
gave him to understand, that he still remembered his tears and mourning
for the state of Mansoul. It was also observed, by the same note, that
his Lord took notice of his detecting of this Mr. Carnal-Security, at his
own table among his guests, in his own house, and that in the midst of
his jolliness, even while he was seeking to perfect his villanies against
the town of Mansoul. Emmanuel also took notice that this reverend
person, Mr. Godly-Fear, stood stoutly to it, at the gates of the castle,
against all the threats and attempts of the tyrant; and that he had put
the townsmen in a way to make their petition to their Prince, so as that
he might accept thereof, and as they might obtain an answer of peace; and
that therefore shortly he should receive his reward.
After all this, there was yet produced a note which was written to the
whole town of Mansoul, whereby they perceived—That their Lord took notice
of their so often repeating of petitions to him; and that they should see
more of the fruits of such their doings in time to come. Their Prince
did also therein tell them, that he took it well, that their heart and
mind, now at last, abode fixed upon him and his ways, though Diabolus had
made such inroads upon them; and that neither flatteries on the one hand,
nor hardships on the other, could make them yield to serve his cruel
designs. There was also inserted at the bottom of this note—That his
Lordship had left the town of Mansoul in the hands of the Lord Secretary,
and under the conduct of Captain Credence, saying, ‘Beware that you yet
yield yourselves unto their governance; and in due time you shall receive
your reward.’
So, after the brave Captain Credence had delivered his notes to those to
whom they belonged, he retired himself to my Lord Secretary’s lodgings,
and there spends time in conversing with him; for they too were very
great one with another, and did indeed know more how things would go with
Mansoul than did all the townsmen besides. The Lord Secretary also loved
the Captain Credence dearly; yea, many a good bit was sent him from my
Lord’s table; also, he might have a show of countenance, when the rest of
Mansoul lay under the clouds: so, after some time for converse was spent,
the captain betook himself to his chambers to rest. But it was not long
after when my Lord did send for the captain again; so the captain came to
him, and they greeted one another with usual salutations. Then said the
captain to the Lord Secretary, ‘What hath my Lord to say to his servant?’
So the Lord Secretary took him and had him aside, and after a sign or two
of more favour, he said, ‘I have made thee the Lord’s lieutenant over all
the forces in Mansoul; so that, from this day forward, all men in Mansoul
shall be at thy word; and thou shalt be he that shall lead in, and that
shall lead out Mansoul. Thou shalt therefore manage, according to thy
place, the war for thy Prince, and for the town of Mansoul, against the
force and power of Diabolus; and at thy command shall the rest of the
captains be.’
Now the townsmen began to perceive what interest the captain had, both
with the court, and also with the Lord Secretary in Mansoul; for no man
before could speed when sent, nor bring such good news from Emmanuel as
he. Wherefore what do they, after some lamentation that they made no
more use of him in their distresses, but send by their subordinate
preacher to the Lord Secretary, to desire him that all that ever they
were and had might be put under the government, care, custody, and
conduct of Captain Credence.
So their preacher went and did his errand, and received this answer from
the mouth of his Lord: that Captain Credence should be the great doer in
all the King’s army, against the King’s enemies, and also for the welfare
of Mansoul. So he bowed to the ground, and thanked his Lordship, and
returned and told his news to the townsfolk. But all this was done with
all imaginable secrecy, because the foes had yet great strength in the
town. But to return to our story again.
When Diabolus saw himself thus boldly confronted by the Lord Mayor, and
perceived the stoutness of Mr. Godly-Fear, he fell into a rage, and
forthwith called a council of war, that he might be revenged on Mansoul.
So all the princes of the pit came together, and old Incredulity at the
head of them, with all the captains of his army. So they consult what to
do. Now the effect and conclusion of the council that day was how they
might take the castle, because they could not conclude themselves masters
of the town so long as that was in the possession of their enemies.
So one advised this way, and another advised that; but when they could
not agree in their verdict, Apollyon, that president of the council,
stood up, and thus he began: ‘My brotherhood,’ quoth he, ‘I have two
things to propound unto you; and my first is this. Let us withdraw
ourselves from the town into the plain again, for our presence here will
do us no good, because the castle is yet in our enemies’ hands; nor is it
possible that we should take that, so long as so many brave captains are
in it, and that this bold fellow, Godly-Fear, is made the keeper of the
gates of it. Now, when we have withdrawn ourselves into the plain, they,
of their own accord, will be glad of some little ease; and it may be, of
their own accord, they again may begin to be remiss, and even their so
being will give them a bigger blow than we can possibly give them
ourselves. But if that should fail, our going forth of the town may draw
the captains out after us; and you know what it cost them when we fought
them in the field before. Besides, can we but draw them out into the
field, we may lay an ambush behind the town, which shall, when they are
come forth abroad, rush in and take possession of the castle.’
But Beelzebub stood up, and replied, saying: ‘It is impossible to draw
them all off from the castle; some, you may be sure, will lie there to
keep that; wherefore it will be but in vain thus to attempt, unless we
were sure that they will all come out.’ He therefore concluded that what
was done must be done by some other means. And the most likely means
that the greatest of their heads could invent, was that which Apollyon
had advised to before, namely, to get the townsmen again to sin. ‘For,’
said he, ‘it is not our being in the town, nor in the field, nor our
fighting, nor our killing of their men, that can make us the masters of
Mansoul; for so long as one in the town is able to lift up his finger
against us, Emmanuel will take their parts; and if he shall take their
parts, we know what time of day it will be with us. Wherefore, for my
part,’ quoth he, ‘there is, in my judgment, no way to bring them into
bondage to us, like inventing a way to make them sin. Had we,’ said he,
‘left all our doubters at home, we had done as well as we have done now,
unless we could have made them the masters and governors of the castle;
for doubters at a distance are but like objections refelled with
arguments. Indeed, can we but get them into the hold, and make them
possessors of that, the day will be our own. Let us, therefore, withdraw
ourselves into the plain, (not expecting that the captains in Mansoul
should follow us,) but yet, I say, let us do this, and before we so do,
let us advise again with our trusty Diabolonians that are yet in their
holds of Mansoul, and set them to work to betray the town to us; for they
indeed must do it, or it will be left undone for ever.’ By these sayings
of Beelzebub, (for I think it was he that gave this counsel,) the whole
conclave was forced to be of his opinion, namely, that the way to get the
castle was to get the town to sin. Then they fell to inventing by what
means they might do this thing.
Then Lucifer stood up, and said: ‘The counsel of Beelzebub is pertinent.
Now, the way to bring this to pass, in mine opinion, is this: let us
withdraw our force from the town of Mansoul; let us do this, and let us
terrify them no more, either with summons, or threats, or with the noise
of our drum, or any other awakening means. Only let us lie in the field
at a distance, and be as if we regarded them not; for frights, I see, do
but awaken them, and make them more stand to their arms. I have also
another stratagem in my head: you know Mansoul is a market-town, and a
town that delights in commerce; what, therefore, if some of our
Diabolonians shall feign themselves far-country men, and shall go out and
bring to the market of Mansoul some of our wares to sell; and what matter
at what rates they sell their wares, though it be but for half the worth?
Now, let those that thus shall trade in their market be those that are
witty and true to us, and I will lay my crown to pawn it will do. There
are two that are come to my thoughts already, that I think will be arch
at this work, and they are Mr. Penny-wise-pound-foolish, and Mr.
Get-i’the-hundred-and-lose-i’the-shire; nor is this man with the long
name at all inferior to the other. What, also, if you join with them Mr.
Sweet-world and Mr. Present-good; they are men that are civil and
cunning, but our true friends and helpers. Let these, with as many more,
engage in this business for us, and let Mansoul be taken up in much
business, and let them grow full and rich, and this is the way to get
ground of them. Remember ye not that thus we prevailed upon Laodicea,
and how many at present do we hold in this snare? Now, when they begin
to grow full, they will forget their misery; and if we shall not affright
them, they may happen to fall asleep, and so be got to neglect their town
watch, their castle watch, as well as their watch at the gates.
‘Yea, may we not, by this means, so cumber Mansoul with abundance, that
they shall be forced to make of their castle a warehouse, instead of a
garrison fortified against us, and a receptacle for men of war. Thus, if
we get our goods and commodities thither, I reckon that the castle is
more than half ours. Besides, could we so order it that it shall be
filled with such kind of wares, then if we made a sudden assault upon
them, it would be hard for the captains to take shelter there. Do you
not know that of the parable, “The deceitfulness of riches choke the
word”? and again, “When the heart is over-charged with surfeiting and
drunkenness, and the cares of this life,” all mischief comes upon them at
unawares?
‘Furthermore, my lords,’ quoth he, ‘you very well know that it is not
easy for a people to be filled with our things, and not to have some of
our Diabolonians as retainers to their houses and services. Where is a
Mansoulian that is full of this world, that has not for his servants and
waiting-men, Mr. Profuse, or Mr. Prodigality, or some other of our
Diabolonian gang, as Mr. Voluptuous, Mr. Pragmatical, Mr. Ostentation, or
the like? Now these can take the castle of Mansoul, or blow it up, or
make it unfit for a garrison for Emmanuel, and any of these will do.
Yea, these, for aught I know, may do it for us sooner than an army of
twenty thousand men. Wherefore, to end as I began, my advice is, that we
quietly withdraw ourselves, not offering any further force, or forcible
attempts, upon the castle, at least at this time; and let us set on foot
our new project, and let us see if that will not make them destroy
themselves.’
This advice was highly applauded by them all, and was accounted the very
masterpiece of hell, namely, to choke Mansoul with a fulness of this
world, and to surfeit her heart with the good things thereof. But see
how things meet together! Just as this Diabolonian council was broken
up, Captain Credence received a letter from Emmanuel, the contents of
which were these: That upon the third day he would meet him in the field
in the plains about Mansoul. ‘Meet me in the field!’ quoth the Captain;
‘what meaneth my lord by this? I know not what he meaneth by meeting me
in the field.’ So he took the note in his hand, and did carry it to my
Lord Secretary, to ask his thoughts thereupon; for my Lord was a seer in
all matters concerning the King, and also for the good and comfort of the
town of Mansoul. So he showed my Lord the note, and desired his opinion
thereof. ‘For my part,’ quoth Captain Credence, ‘I know not the meaning
thereof.’ So my lord did take and read it and, after a little pause, he
said, ‘The Diabolonians have had against Mansoul a great consultation
to-day; they have, I say, this day been contriving the utter ruin of the
town; and the result of their council is, to set Mansoul into such a way
which, if taken, will surely make her destroy herself. And, to this end,
they are making ready for their own departure out of the town, intending
to betake themselves to the field again,’ and there to lie till they
shall see whether this their project will take or no. But be thou ready
with the men of thy Lord, (for on the third day they will be in the
plain,) there to fall upon the Diabolonians; for the Prince will by that
time be in the field; yea, by that it is break of day, sun-rising, or
before, and that with a mighty force against them. So he shall be before
them, and thou shalt be behind them, and betwixt you both their army
shall be destroyed.’
When Captain Credence heard this, away goes he to the rest of the
captains, and tells them what a note he had a while since received from
the hand of Emmanuel. ‘And,’ said he, ‘that which was dark therein hath
my lord the Lord Secretary expounded unto me.’ He told them, moreover,
what by himself and by them must be done to answer the mind of their
Lord. Then were the captains glad; and Captain Credence commanded that
all the King’s trumpeters should ascend to the battlements of the castle,
and there, in the audience of Diabolus and of the whole town of Mansoul,
make the best music that heart could invent. The trumpeters then did as
they were commanded. They got themselves up to the top of the castle,
and thus they began to sound. Then did Diabolus start, and said, ‘What
can be the meaning of this? they neither sound Boot-and-saddle, nor
Horse-and-away, nor a charge. What do these madmen mean that yet they
should be so merry and glad?’ Then answered one of themselves and said,
‘This is for joy that their Prince Emmanuel is coming to relieve the town
of Mansoul; and to this end he is at the head of an army, and that this
relief is near.’
The men of Mansoul also were greatly concerned at this melodious charm of
the trumpets; they said, yea, they answered one another, saying, ‘This
can be no harm to us; surely this can be no harm to us.’ Then said the
Diabolonians, ‘What had we best to do?’ and it was answered, ‘It was best
to quit the town;’ and ‘that,’ said one, ‘ye may do in pursuance of your
last counsel, and by so doing also be better able to give the enemy
battle, should an army from without come upon us. So, on the second day,
they withdrew themselves from Mansoul, and abode in the plains without;
but they encamped themselves before Eye-gate, in what terrene and
terrible manner they could. The reason why they would not abide in the
town (besides the reasons that were debated in their late conclave) was,
for that they were not possessed of the stronghold, and ‘because,’ said
they, ‘we shall have more convenience to fight, and also to fly, if need
be, when we are encamped in the open plains.’ Besides, the town would
have been a pit for them rather than a place of defence, had the Prince
come up and inclosed them fast therein. Therefore they betook themselves
to the field, that they might also be out of the reach of the slings, by
which they were much annoyed all the while that they were in the town.
Well, the time that the captains were to fall upon the Diabolonians being
come, they eagerly prepared themselves for action; for Captain Credence
had told the captains over night, that they should meet their Prince in
the field to-morrow. This, therefore, made them yet far more desirous to
be engaging the enemy; for ‘You shall see the Prince in the field
to-morrow’ was like oil to a flaming fire, for of a long time they had
been at a distance: they therefore were for this the more earnest and
desirous of the work. So, as I said, the hour being come, Captain
Credence, with the rest of the men of war, drew out their forces before
it was day by the sally-port of the town. And, being all ready, Captain
Credence went up to the head of the army, and gave to the rest of the
captains the word, and so they to their under-officers and soldiers: the
word was ‘The sword of the Prince Emmanuel, and the shield of Captain
Credence;’ which is, in the Mansoulian tongue, ‘The word of God and
faith.’ Then the captains fell on, and began roundly to front, and
flank, and rear Diabolus’s camp.
Now, they left Captain Experience in the town, because he was yet ill of
his wounds, which the Diabolonians had given him in the last fight. But
when he perceived that the captains were at it, what does he but, calling
for his crutches with haste, gets up, and away he goes to the battle,
saying, ‘Shall I lie here, when my brethren are in the fight, and when
Emmanuel, the Prince, will show himself in the field to his servants?’
But when the enemy saw the man come with his crutches, they were daunted
yet the more; ‘for,’ thought they, ‘what spirit has possessed these
Mansoulians, that they fight us upon their crutches?’ Well, the
captains, as I said, fell on, and did bravely handle their weapons, still
crying out and shouting, as they laid on blows, ‘The sword of the Prince
Emmanuel, and the shield of Captain Credence!’
Now, when Diabolus saw that the captains were come out, and that so
valiantly they surrounded his men, he concluded that, for the present,
nothing from them was to be looked for but blows, and the dints of their
‘two-edged sword.’
Wherefore he also falls on upon the Prince’s army with all his deadly
force: so the battle was joined. Now who was it that at first Diabolus
met with in the fight, but Captain Credence on the one hand, and the Lord
Willbewill on the other: now Willbewill’s blows were like the blows of a
giant, for that man had a strong arm, and he fell in upon the election
doubters, for they were the life-guard of Diabolus, and he kept them in
play a good while, cutting and battering shrewdly. Now when Captain
Credence saw my lord engaged, he did stoutly fall on, on the other hand,
upon the same company also; so they put them to great disorder. Now
Captain Good-Hope had engaged the vocation doubters, and they were sturdy
men; but the captain was a valiant man: Captain Experience did also send
him some aid; so he made the vocation doubters to retreat. The rest of
the armies were hotly engaged, and that on every side, and the
Diabolonians did fight stoutly. Then did my Lord Secretary command that
the slings from the castle should be played; and his men could throw
stones at an hair’s breadth. But, after a while, those that were made to
fly before the captains of the Prince, did begin to rally again, and they
came up stoutly upon the rear of the Prince’s army: wherefore the
Prince’s army began to faint; but, remembering that they should see the
face of their Prince by-and-by, they took courage, and a very fierce
battle was fought. Then shouted the captains, saying, ‘The sword of the
Prince Emmanuel, and the shield of Captain Credence!’ and with that
Diabolus gave back, thinking that more aid had been come. But no
Emmanuel as yet appeared. Moreover, the battle did hang in doubt; and
they made a little retreat on both sides. Now, in the time of respite,
Captain Credence bravely encouraged his men to stand to it; and Diabolus
did the like, as well as he could. But Captain Credence made a brave
speech to his soldiers, the contents whereof here follow:—
‘Gentlemen soldiers, and my brethren in this design, it rejoiceth me much
to see in the field for our Prince, this day, so stout and so valiant an
army, and such faithful lovers of Mansoul. You have hitherto, as hath
become you, shown yourselves men of truth and courage against the
Diabolonian forces; so that, for all their boast, they have not yet much
cause to boast of their gettings. Now take to yourselves your wonted
courage, and show yourselves men even this once only; for in a few
minutes after the next engagement, this time, you shall see your Prince
show himself in the field; for we must make this second assault upon this
tyrant Diabolus, and then Emmanuel comes.’
No sooner had the captain made this speech to his soldiers, but one Mr.
Speedy came post to the captain from the Prince, to tell him that
Emmanuel was at hand. This news when the captain had received, he
communicated to the other field-officers, and they again to their
soldiers and men of war. Wherefore, like men raised from the dead, so
the captains and their men arose, made up to the enemy, and cried as
before, ‘The sword of the Prince Emmanuel, and the shield of Captain
Credence!’
The Diabolonians also bestirred themselves, and made resistance as well
as they could; but in this last engagement the Diabolonians lost their
courage, and many of the doubters fell down dead to the ground. Now,
when they had been in heat of battle about an hour or more, Captain
Credence lift up his eyes and saw, and, behold, Emmanuel came; and he
came with colours flying, trumpets sounding, and the feet of his men
scarce touched the ground, they hasted with that celerity towards the
captains that were engaged. Then did Credence wind with his men to the
townward, and gave to Diabolus the field: so Emmanuel came upon him on
the one side, and the enemies’ place was betwixt them both. Then again
they fell to it afresh; and now it was but a little while more but
Emmanuel and Captain Credence met, still trampling down the slain as they
came.
But when the captains saw that the Prince was come, and that he fell upon
the Diabolonians on the other side, and that Captain Credence and his
Highness had got them up betwixt them, they shouted, (they so shouted
that the ground rent again,) saying, ‘The sword of Emmanuel, and the
shield of Captain Credence!’ Now, when Diabolus saw that he and his
forces were so hard beset by the Prince and his princely army, what does
he, and the lords of the pit that were with him, but make their escape,
and forsake their army, and leave them to fall by the hand of Emmanuel,
and of his noble Captain Credence: so they fell all down slain before
them, before the Prince, and before his royal army; there was not left so
much as one doubter alive; they lay spread upon the ground dead men, as
one would spread dung upon the land.
When the battle was over, all things came into order in the camp. Then
the captains and elders of Mansoul came together to salute Emmanuel,
while without the corporation: so they saluted him, and welcomed him, and
that with a thousand welcomes, for that he was come to the borders of
Mansoul again. So he smiled upon them, and said, ‘Peace be to you.’
Then they addressed themselves to go to the town; they went then to go up
to Mansoul, they, the Prince, with all the new forces that now he had
brought with him to the war. Also all the gates of the town were set
open for his reception, so glad were they of his blessed return. And
this was the manner and order of this going of his into Mansoul:
First. As I said, all the gates of the town were set open, yea, the
gates of the castle also; the elders, too, of the town of Mansoul placed
themselves at the gates of the town, to salute him at his entrance
thither: and so they did; for, as he drew near, and approached towards
the gates, they said, ‘Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up,
ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in.’ And they
answered again, ‘Who is the King of glory?’ and they made return to
themselves, ‘The Lord, strong and mighty; the Lord mighty in battle.
Lift up your heads, O ye gates; even lift them up, ye everlasting doors,’
etc.
Secondly. It was ordered also, by those of Mansoul, that all the way
from the town gates to those of the castle, his blessed Majesty should be
entertained with the song, by them that had the best skill in music in
all the town of Mansoul: then did the elders, and the rest of the men of
Mansoul, answer one another as Emmanuel entered the town, till he came at
the castle gates, with songs and sound of trumpets, saying, ‘They have
seen thy goings, O God; even the goings of my God, my King, in the
sanctuary. So the singers went before, the players on instruments
followed after, and among them were the damsels playing on timbrels.’
Thirdly. Then the captains, (for I would speak a word of them,) they in
their order waited on the Prince, as he entered into the gates of
Mansoul. Captain Credence went before, and Captain Good-Hope with him;
Captain Charity came behind with other of his companions, and Captain
Patience followed after all; and the rest of the captains, some on the
right hand, and some on the left, accompanied Emmanuel into Mansoul. And
all the while the colours were displayed, the trumpets sounded, and
continual shoutings were among the soldiers. The Prince himself rode
into the town in his armour, which was all of beaten gold, and in his
chariot—the pillars of it were of silver, the bottom thereof of gold, the
covering of it was of purple, the midst thereof being paved with love for
the daughters of the town of Mansoul.
Fourthly. When the Prince was come to the entrance of Mansoul, he found
all the streets strewed with lilies and flowers, curiously decked with
boughs and branches from the green trees that stood round about the town.
Every door also was filled with persons, who had adorned every one their
fore-part against their house with something of variety and singular
excellency, to entertain him withal as he passed in the streets: they
also themselves, as Emmanuel passed by, did welcome him with shouts and
acclamations of joy, saying, ‘Blessed be the Prince that cometh in the
name of his Father Shaddai.’
Fifthly. At the castle gates the elders of Mansoul, namely, the Lord
Mayor, the Lord Willbewill, the subordinate preacher, Mr. Knowledge, and
Mr. Mind, with other of the gentry of the place, saluted Emmanuel again.
They bowed before him, they kissed the dust of his feet, they thanked,
they blessed, and praised his Highness for not taking advantage against
them for their sins, but rather had pity upon them in their misery, and
returned to them with mercies, and to build up their Mansoul for ever.
Thus was he had up straightway to the castle; for that was the royal
palace, and the place where his honour was to dwell; the which was ready
prepared for his Highness by the presence of the Lord Secretary, and the
work of Captain Credence. So he entered in.
Sixthly. Then the people and commonalty of the town of Mansoul came to
him into the castle to mourn, and to weep, and to lament for their
wickedness, by which they had forced him out of the town. So when they
were come, bowed themselves to the ground seven times; they also wept,
they wept aloud, and asked forgiveness of the Prince, and prayed that he
would again, as of old, confirm his love to Mansoul.
To the which the great Prince replied, ‘Weep not, but go your way, eat
the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions to them for whom nought
is prepared; for the joy of your Lord is your strength. I am returned to
Mansoul with mercies, and my name shall be set up, exalted, and magnified
by it.’ He also took these inhabitants, and kissed them, and laid them
in his bosom.
Moreover, he gave to the elders of Mansoul, and to each town officer, a
chain of gold and a signet. He also sent to their wives earrings and
jewels, and bracelets, and other things. He also bestowed upon the
true-born children of Mansoul many precious things.
When Emmanuel, the Prince, had done all these things for the famous town
of Mansoul, then he said unto them, first, ‘Wash your garments, then put
on your ornaments, and then come to me into the castle of Mansoul.’ So
they went to the fountain that was set open for Judah and Jerusalem to
wash in; and there they washed, and there they made their ‘garments
white,’ and came again to the Prince into the castle, and thus they stood
before him.
And now there was music and dancing throughout the whole town of Mansoul,
and that because their Prince had again granted to them his presence and
the light of his countenance; the bells also did ring, and the sun shone
comfortably upon them for a great while together.
The town of Mansoul did also now more thoroughly seek the destruction and
ruin of all remaining Diabolonians that abode in the walls, and the dens
that they had in the town of Mansoul; for there was of them that had, to
this day, escaped with life and limb from the hand of their suppressors
in the famous town of Mansoul.
But my Lord Willbewill was a greater terror to them now than ever he had
been before; forasmuch as his heart was yet more fully bent to seek,
contrive, and pursue them to the death; he pursued them night and day,
and did put them now to sore distress, as will afterwards appear.
After things were thus far put into order in the famous town of Mansoul,
care was taken, and order given by the blessed Prince Emmanuel, that the
townsmen should, without further delay, appoint some to go forth into the
plain to bury the dead that were there,—the dead that fell by the sword
of Emmanuel, and by the shield of the Captain Credence,—lest the fumes
and ill savours that would arise from them might infect the air, and so
annoy the famous town of Mansoul. This also was a reason of this order,
namely, that, as much as in Mansoul lay, they might cut off the name, and
being, and remembrance of those enemies from the thought of the famous
town of Mansoul and its inhabitants.
So order was given out by the Lord Mayor, that wise and trusty friend of
the town of Mansoul, that persons should be employed about this necessary
business; and Mr. Godly-Fear, and one Mr. Upright, were to be overseers
about this matter: so persons were put under them to work in the fields,
and to bury the slain that lay dead in the plains. And these were their
places of employment: some were to make the graves, some to bury the
dead, and some were to go to and fro in the plains, and also round about
the borders of Mansoul, to see if a skull, or a bone, or a piece of a
bone of a doubter, was yet to be found above ground anywhere near the
corporation; and if any were found, it was ordered, that the searchers
that searched should set up a mark thereby, and a sign, that those that
were appointed to bury them might find it, and bury it out of sight, that
the name and remembrance of a Diabolonian doubter might be blotted out
from under heaven; and that the children, and they that were to be born
in Mansoul, might not know, if possible, what a skull, what a bone, or a
piece of a bone of a doubter was. So the buriers, and those that were
appointed for that purpose, did as they were commanded: they buried the
doubters, and all the skulls and bones, and pieces of bones of doubters,
wherever they found them; and so they cleansed the plains. Now also Mr.
God’s-Peace took up his commission, and acted again as in former days.
Thus they buried in the plains about Mansoul the election doubters, the
vocation doubters, the grace doubters, the perseverance doubters, the
resurrection doubters, the salvation doubters, and the glory doubters;
whose captains were Captain Rage, Captain Cruel, Captain Damnation,
Captain Insatiable, Captain Brimstone, Captain Torment, Captain No-Ease,
Captain Sepulchre, and Captain Past-Hope; and old Incredulity was, under
Diabolus, their general. There were also the seven heads of their army;
and they were the Lord Beelzebub, the Lord Lucifer, the Lord Legion, the
Lord Apollyon, the Lord Python, the Lord Cerberus, and the Lord Belial.
But the princes and the captains, with old Incredulity, their general,
did all of them make their escape: so their men fell down slain by the
power of the Prince’s forces, and by the hands of the men of the town of
Mansoul. They also were buried as is afore related, to the exceeding
great joy of the now famous town of Mansoul. They that buried them
buried also with them their arms, which were cruel instruments of death:
(their weapons were arrows, darts, mauls, firebrands, and the like).
They buried also their armour, their colours, banners, with the standard
of Diabolus, and what else soever they could find that did but smell of a
Diabolonian doubter.
Now when the tyrant had arrived at Hell-Gate Hill, with his old friend
Incredulity, they immediately descended the den, and having there with
their fellows for a while condoled their misfortune and great loss that
they sustained against the town of Mansoul, they fell at length into a
passion, and revenged they would be for the loss that they sustained
before the town of Mansoul. Wherefore they presently call a council to
contrive yet further what was to be done against the famous town of
Mansoul; for their yawning paunches could not wait to see the result of
their Lord Lucifer’s and their Lord Apollyon’s counsel that they had
given before; for their raging gorge thought every day, even as long as a
short for ever, until they were filled with the body and soul, with the
flesh and bones, and with all the delicates of Mansoul. They therefore
resolve to make another attempt upon the town of Mansoul, and that by an
army mixed and made up partly of doubters, and partly of blood-men. A
more particular account now take of both.
The doubters are such as have their name from their nature, as well as
from the land and kingdom where they are born: their nature is to put a
question upon every one of the truths of Emmanuel; and their country is
called the land of Doubting, and that land lieth off, and farthest remote
to the north, between the land of Darkness and that called the ‘valley of
the shadow of death.’ For though the land of Darkness, and that called
‘the valley of the shadow of death,’ be sometimes called as if they were
one and the self-same place, yet indeed they are two, lying but a little
way asunder, and the land of Doubting points in, and lieth between them.
This is the land of Doubting; and these that came with Diabolus to ruin
the town of Mansoul are the natives of that country.
The blood-men are a people that have their name derived from the
malignity of their nature, and from the fury that is in them to execute
it upon the town of Mansoul: their land lieth under the dog-star, and by
that they are governed as to their intellectuals. The name of their
country is the province of Loath-good: the remote parts of it are far
distant from the land of Doubting, yet they do both butt and bound upon
the hill called Hell-Gate Hill. These people are always in league with
the doubters, for they jointly do make question of the faith and fidelity
of the men of the town of Mansoul, and so are both alike qualified for
the service of their prince.
Now of these two countries did Diabolus, by the beating of his drum,
raise another army against the town of Mansoul, of five-and-twenty
thousand strong. There were ten thousand doubters, and fifteen thousand
blood-men, and they were put under several captains for the war; and old
Incredulity was again made general of the army.
As for the doubters, their captains were five of the seven that were
heads of the last Diabolonian army, and these are their names: Captain
Beelzebub, Captain Lucifer, Captain Apollyon, Captain Legion, and Captain
Cerberus; and the captains that they had before were some of them made
lieutenants, and some ensigns of the army.
But Diabolus did not count that, in this expedition of his, these
doubters would prove his principal men, for their manhood had been tried
before; also the Mansoulians had put them to the worst: only he did bring
them to multiply a number, and to help, if need was, at a pinch. But his
trust he put in his blood-men, for that they were all rugged villains,
and he knew that they had done feats heretofore.
As for the blood-men, they also were under command and the names of their
captains were, Captain Cain, Captain Nimrod, Captain Ishmael, Captain
Esau, Captain Saul, Captain Absalom, Captain Judas, and Captain Pope.
1. Captain Cain was over two bands, namely, the zealous and the angry
blood-men: his standard-bearer bare the red colours, and his scutcheon
was the murdering club.
2. Captain Nimrod was captain over two bands, namely, the tyrannical and
encroaching blood-men: his standard-bearer bare the red colours, and his
scutcheon was the great bloodhound.
3. Captain Ishmael was captain over two bands, namely, the mocking and
scorning blood-men: his standard-bearer bare the red colours, and his
scutcheon was one mocking at Abraham’s Isaac.
4. Captain Esau was captain over two bands, namely, the blood-men that
grudged that another should have the blessing; also over the blood-men
that are for executing their private revenge upon others: his
standard-bearer bare the red colours, and his scutcheon was one privately
lurking to murder Jacob.
5. Captain Saul was captain over two bands, namely, the groundlessly
jealous and the devilishly furious blood-men: his standard-bearer bare
the red colours, and his scutcheon was three bloody darts cast at
harmless David.
6. Captain Absalom was captain over two bands, namely, over the blood-men
that will kill a father or a friend for the glory of this world; also
over those blood-men that will hold one fair in hand with words, till
they shall have pierced him with their swords: his standard-bearer did
bear the red colours, and his scutcheon was the son pursuing the father’s
blood.
7. Captain Judas was over two bands, namely, the blood-men that will sell
a man’s life for money, and those also that will betray their friend with
a kiss: his standard-bearer bare the red colours, and his scutcheon was
thirty pieces of silver and the halter.
8. Captain Pope was captain over one band, for all these spirits are
joined in one under him: his standard-bearer bare the red colours, and
his scutcheon was the stake, the flame, and the good man in it.
Now, the reason why Diabolus did so soon rally another force, after he
had been beaten out of the field, was, for that he put mighty confidence
in this army of blood-men; for he put a great deal of more trust in them
than he did before in his army of doubters; though they had also often
done great service for him in the strengthening of him in his kingdom.
But these blood-men, he had proved them often, and their sword did seldom
return empty. Besides, he knew that these, like mastiffs, would fasten
upon any; upon father, mother, brother, sister, prince, or governor, yea
upon the Prince of princes. And that which encouraged him the more was,
for that they once did force Emmanuel out of the kingdom of Universe;
‘And why,’ thought he, ‘may they not also drive him from the town of
Mansoul?’
So this army of five-and-twenty thousand strong was, by their general,
the great Lord Incredulity, led up against the town of Mansoul. Now Mr.
Prywell, the scoutmaster-general, did himself go out to spy, and he did
bring Mansoul tidings of their coming. Wherefore they shut up their
gates, and put themselves in a posture of defence against these new
Diabolonians that came up against the town.
So Diabolus brought up his army, and beleaguered the town of Mansoul; the
doubters were placed about Feel-gate, and the blood-men set down before
Eye-gate and Ear-gate.
Now when this army had thus encamped themselves, Incredulity did, in the
name of Diabolus, his own name, and in the name of the blood-men and the
rest that were with him, send a summons as hot as a red-hot iron to
Mansoul, to yield to their demands; threatening, that if they still stood
it out against them, they would presently burn down Mansoul with fire.
For you must know that, as for the blood-men, they were not so much that
Mansoul should be surrendered, as that Mansoul should be destroyed, and
cut off out of the land of the living. True, they send to them to
surrender; but should they so do, that would not stench or quench the
thirsts of these men. They must have blood, the blood of Mansoul, else
they die; and it is from hence that they have their name. Wherefore
these blood-men he reserved while now that they might, when all his
engines proved ineffectual, as his last and sure card be played against
the town of Mansoul.
Now, when the townsmen had received this red-hot summons, it begat in
them at present some changing and interchanging thoughts; but they
jointly agreed, in less than half an hour, to carry the summons to the
Prince, the which they did when they had writ at the bottom of it, ‘Lord,
save Mansoul from bloody men!’
So he took it, and looked upon it, and considered it, and took notice
also of that short petition that the men of Mansoul had written at the
bottom of it, and called to him the noble Captain Credence, and bid him
go and take Captain Patience with him, and go and take care of that side
of Mansoul that was beleaguered by the blood-men. So they went and did
as they were commanded: the Captain Credence went and took Captain
Patience, and they both secured that side of Mansoul that was besieged by
the blood-men.
Then he commanded that Captain Good-hope and Captain Charity, and my Lord
Willbewill, should take charge of the other side of the town. ‘And I,’
said the Prince, ‘will set my standard upon the battlements of your
castle, and do you three watch against the doubters.’ This done, he
again commanded that the brave captain, the Captain Experience, should
draw up his men in the market-place, and that there he should exercise
them day by day before the people of the town of Mansoul. Now this siege
was long, and many a fierce attempt did the enemy, especially those
called the blood-men, make upon the town of Mansoul; and many a shrewd
brush did some of the townsmen meet with from them, especially Captain
Self-Denial, who, I should have told you before, was commanded to take
the care of Ear-gate and Eye-gate now against the blood-men. This
Captain Self-Denial was a young man, but stout, and a townsman in
Mansoul, as Captain Experience also was. And Emmanuel, at his second
return to Mansoul, made him a captain over a thousand of the Mansoulians,
for the good of the corporation. This captain, therefore, being an hardy
man, and a man of great courage, and willing to venture himself for the
good of the town of Mansoul, would now and then sally out upon the
blood-men, and give them many notable alarms, and entered several brisk
skirmishes with them, and also did some execution upon them; but you must
think that this could not easily be done, but he must meet with brushes
himself, for he carried several of their marks in his face; yea, and some
in some other parts of his body.
So, after some time spent for the trial of the faith, and hope, and love
of the town of Mansoul, the Prince Emmanuel upon a day calls his captains
and men of war together, and divides them into two companies; this done,
he commands them at a time appointed, and that in the morning very early,
to sally out upon the enemy, saying: ‘Let half of you fall upon the
doubters, and half of you fall upon the blood-men. Those of you that go
out against the doubters, kill and slay, and cause to perish so many of
them as by any means you can lay hands on; but for you that go out
against the blood-men, slay them not, but take them alive.’
So, at the time appointed, betimes in the morning, the captains went out
as they were commanded, against the enemies. Captain Good-Hope, Captain
Charity, and those that were joined with them, as Captain Innocent and
Captain Experience, went out against the doubters; and Captain Credence,
and Captain Patience, with Captain Self-Denial, and the rest that were to
join with them, went out against the blood-men.
Now, those that went out against the doubters drew up into a body before
the plain, and marched on to bid them battle. But the doubters,
remembering their last success, made a retreat, not daring to stand the
shock, but fled from the Prince’s men; wherefore they pursued them, and
in their pursuit slew many, but they could not catch them all. Now those
that escaped went some of them home; and the rest by fives, nines, and
seventeens, like wanderers, went straggling up and down the country,
where they upon the barbarous people showed and exercised many of their
Diabolonian actions: nor did these people rise up in arms against them,
but suffered themselves to be enslaved by them. They would also after
this show themselves in companies before the town of Mansoul, but never
to abide in it; for if Captain Credence, Captain Good-Hope, or Captain
Experience did but show themselves, they fled.
Those that went out against the blood-men did as they were commanded:
they forbore to slay any, but sought to compass them about. But the
blood-men, when they saw that no Emmanuel was in the field, concluded
also that no Emmanuel was in Mansoul; wherefore they, looking upon what
the captains did to be, as they called it, a fruit of the extravagancy of
their wild and foolish fancies, rather despised them than feared them.
But the captains, minding their business, at last did compass them round;
they also that had routed the doubters came in amain to their aid: so, in
fine, after some little struggling, (for the blood-men also would have
run for it, only now it was too late; for though they are mischievous and
cruel, where they can overcome, yet all blood-men are chicken-hearted
men, when they once come to see themselves matched and equalled,)—so the
captains took them, and brought them to the Prince.
Now when they were taken, had before the Prince, and examined, he found
them to be of three several counties, though they all came out of one
land.
1. One sort of them came out of Blind-man-shire, and they were such as
did ignorantly what they did.
2. Another sort of them came out of Blind-zeal-shire, and they did
superstitiously what they did.
3. The third sort of them came out of the town of Malice, in the county
of Envy, and they did what they did out of spite and implacableness.
For the first of these, namely, they that came out of Blind-man-shire,
when they saw where they were, and against whom they had fought, they
trembled and cried, as they stood before him; and as many of these as
asked him mercy, he touched their lips with his golden sceptre.
They that came out of Blind-zeal-shire, they did not as their fellows
did; for they pleaded that they had a right to do what they did, because
Mansoul was a town whose laws and customs were diverse from all that
dwelt thereabouts. Very few of these could be brought to see their evil;
but those that did, and asked mercy, they also obtained favour.
Now, they that came out of the town of Malice, that is in the county of
Envy, they neither wept, nor disputed, nor repented, but stood gnawing
their tongues before him for anguish and madness, because they could not
have their will upon Mansoul. Now these last, with all those of the
other two sorts that did not unfeignedly ask pardon for their
faults,—those he made to enter into sufficient bond to answer for what
they had done against Mansoul, and against her King, at the great and
general assizes to be holden for our Lord the King, where he himself
should appoint for the country and kingdom of Universe. So they became
bound each man for himself, to come in, when called upon, to answer
before our Lord the King for what they had done as before.
And thus much concerning this second army that was sent by Diabolus to
overthrow Mansoul.
But there were three of those that came from the land of Doubting, who,
after they had wandered and ranged the country a while, and perceived
that they had escaped, were so hardy as to thrust themselves, knowing
that yet there were in the town Diabolonians,—I say, they were so hardy
as to thrust themselves into Mansoul among them. (Three, did I say? I
think there were four.) Now, to whose house should these Diabolonian
doubters go, but to the house of an old Diabolonian in Mansoul, whose
name was Evil-Questioning, a very great enemy he was to Mansoul, and a
great doer among the Diabolonians there. Well, to this
Evil-Questioning’s house, as was said, did these Diabolonians come (you
may be sure that they had directions how to find the way thither), so he
made them welcome, pitied their misfortune, and succoured them with the
best that he had in his house. Now, after a little acquaintance (and it
was not long before they had that), this old Evil-Questioning asked the
doubters if they were all of a town (he knew that they were all of one
kingdom), and they answered: ‘No, nor not of one shire neither; for I,’
said one, ‘am an election doubter:’ ‘I,’ said another, ‘am a vocation
doubter:’ then said the third, ‘I am a salvation doubter:’ and the fourth
said he was a grace doubter. ‘Well,’ quoth the old gentleman, ‘be of
what shire you will, I am persuaded that you are down, boys: you have the
very length of my foot, are one with my heart, and shall be welcome to
me.’ So they thanked him, and were glad that they had found themselves
an harbour in Mansoul.
Then said Evil-Questioning to them: ‘How many of your company might there
be that came with you to the siege of Mansoul?’ and they answered: ‘There
were but ten thousand doubters in all, for the rest of the army consisted
of fifteen thousand blood-men. These blood-men,’ quoth they, ‘border
upon our country; but, poor men! as we hear, they were every one taken by
Emmanuel’s forces.’ ‘Ten thousand!’ quoth the old gentleman; ‘I will
promise you, that is a round company. But how came it to pass, since you
were so mighty a number, that you fainted, and durst not fight your
foes?’ ‘Our general,’ said they, ‘was the first man that did run for
it.’ ‘Pray,’ quoth their landlord, ‘who was that, your cowardly
general?’ ‘He was once the Lord Mayor of Mansoul,’ said they: ‘but pray
call him not a cowardly general; for whether any from the east to the
west has done more service for our prince Diabolus, than has my Lord
Incredulity, will be a hard question for you to answer. But had they
catched him, they would for certain have hanged him; and we promise you,
hanging is but a bad business.’ Then said the old gentleman, ‘I would
that all the ten thousand doubters were now well armed in Mansoul, and
myself at the head of them; I would see what I could do.’ ‘Ay,’ said
they, ‘that would be well if we could see that; but wishes, alas! what
are they?’ and these words were spoken aloud. ‘Well,’ said old
Evil-Questioning, ‘take heed that you talk not too loud; you must be quat
and close, and must take care of yourselves while you are here, or, I
will assure you, you will be snapped.’ ‘Why?’ quoth the doubters.
‘Why!’ quoth the old gentleman; ‘why! because both the Prince and Lord
Secretary, and their captains and soldiers, are all at present in town;
yea, the town is as full of them as ever it can hold. And besides, there
is one whose name is Willbewill, a most cruel enemy of ours, and him the
Prince has made keeper of the gates, and has commanded him that, with all
the diligence he can, he should look for, search out, and destroy all,
and all manner of Diabolonians. And if he lighteth upon you, down you
go, though your heads were made of gold.’
And now, to see how it happened, one of the Lord Willbewill’s faithful
soldiers, whose name was Mr. Diligence, stood all this while listening
under old Evil-Questioning’s eaves, and heard all the talk that had been
betwixt him and the doubters that he entertained under his roof.
The soldier was a man that my lord had much confidence in, and that he
loved dearly; and that both because he was a man of courage, and also a
man that was unwearied in seeking after Diabolonians to apprehend them.
Now this man, as I told you, heard all the talk that was between old
Evil-Questioning and these Diabolonians; wherefore what does he but goes
to his lord, and tells him what he had heard. ‘And sayest thou so, my
trusty?’ quoth my lord. ‘Ay,’ quoth Diligence, ‘that I do; and if your
lordship will be pleased to go with me, you shall find it as I have
said.’ ‘And are they there?’ quoth my lord. ‘I know Evil-Questioning
well, for he and I were great in the time of our apostasy: but I know not
now where he dwells.’ ‘But I do,’ said his man, ‘and if your lordship
will go, I will lead you the way to his den.’ ‘Go!’ quoth my lord, ‘that
I will. Come, my Diligence, let us go find them out.’
So my lord and his man went together the direct way to his house. Now
his man went before to show him his way, and they went till they came
even under old Mr. Evil-Questioning’s wall. Then said Diligence, ‘Hark!
my lord, do you know the old gentleman’s tongue when you hear it?’
‘Yes,’ said my lord, ‘I know it well, but I have not seen him many a day.
This I know, he is cunning; I wish he doth not give us the slip.’ ‘Let
me alone for that,’ said his servant Diligence. ‘But how shall we find
the door?’ quoth my lord. ‘Let me alone for that, too,’ said his man.
So he had my Lord Willbewill about, and showed him the way to the door.
Then my lord, without more ado, broke open the door, rushed into the
house, and caught them all five together, even as Diligence his man had
told him. So my lord apprehended them, and led them away, and committed
them to the hand of Mr. Trueman, the gaoler, and commanded, and he did
put them in ward. This done, my Lord Mayor was acquainted in the morning
with what my Lord Willbewill had done over night, and his lordship
rejoiced much at the news, not only because there were doubters
apprehended, but because that old Evil-Questioning was taken; for he had
been a very great trouble to Mansoul, and much affliction to my Lord
Mayor himself. He had also been sought for often, but no hand could ever
be laid upon him till now.
Well, the next thing was to make preparation to try these five that by my
lord had been apprehended, and that were in the hands of Mr. Trueman, the
gaoler. So the day was set, and the court called and come together, and
the prisoners brought to the bar. My Lord Willbewill had power to have
slain them when at first he took them, and that without any more ado; but
he thought it at this time more for the honour of the Prince, the comfort
of Mansoul, and the discouragement of the enemy, to bring them forth to
public judgment.
But, I say, Mr. Trueman brought them in chains to the bar; to the
town-hall, for that was the place of judgment. So, to be short, the jury
was panelled, the witnesses sworn, and the prisoners tried for their
lives: the jury was the same that tried Mr. No-Truth, Pitiless, Haughty,
and the rest of their companions.
And, first, old Questioning himself was set to the bar for he was the
receiver, the entertainer, and comforter of these doubters, that by
nation were outlandish men: then he was bid to hearken to his charge, and
was told that he had liberty to object, if he had ought to say for
himself. So his indictment was read: the manner and form here follows.
‘Mr. Questioning, Thou art here indicted by the name of Evil-Questioning,
an intruder upon the town of Mansoul, for that thou art a Diabolonian by
nature, and also a hater of the Prince Emmanuel, and one that hast
studied the ruin of the town of Mansoul. Thou art also here indicted for
countenancing the King’s enemies, after wholesome laws made to the
contrary: for, 1. Thou hast questioned the truth of her doctrine and
state: 2. In wishing that ten thousand doubters were in her: 3. In
receiving, in entertaining, and encouraging of her enemies, that came
from their army unto thee. What sayest thou to this indictment? art thou
guilty or not guilty?’
‘My lord,’ quoth he, ‘I know not the meaning of this indictment,
forasmuch as I am not the man concerned in it; the man that standeth by
this charge accused before this bench is called by the name of
Evil-Questioning, which name I deny to be mine, mine being
Honest-Inquiry. The one indeed sounds like the other; but, I trow, your
lordships know that between these two there is a wide difference; for I
hope that a man, even in the worst of times, and that, too, amongst the
worst of men, may make an honest inquiry after things, without running
the danger of death.’
Then spake my Lord Willbewill, for he was one of the witnesses: ‘My lord,
and you the honourable bench and magistrates of the town of Mansoul, you
all have heard with your ears that the prisoner at the bar has denied his
name, and so thinks to shift from the charge of the indictment. But I
know him to be the man concerned, and that his proper name is
Evil-Questioning. I have known him, my lord, above these thirty years,
for he and I (a shame it is for me to speak it) were great acquaintance,
when Diabolus, that tyrant, had the government of Mansoul; and I testify
that he is a Diabolonian by nature, an enemy to our Prince, and a hater
of the blessed town of Mansoul. He has, in times of rebellion, been at
and lain in my house, my lord, not so little as twenty nights together,
and we did use to talk then, for the substance of talk, as he and his
doubters have talked of late: true, I have not seen him many a day. I
suppose that the coming of Emmanuel to Mansoul has made him change his
lodgings, as this indictment has driven him to change his name; but this
is the man, my lord.’
Then said the court unto him, ‘Hast thou any more to say?’
‘Yes,’ quoth the old gentleman, ‘that I have; for all that as yet has
been said against me, is but by the mouth of one witness; and it is not
lawful for the famous town of Mansoul, at the mouth of one witness, to
put any man to death.’
Then stood forth Mr. Diligence, and said, ‘My lord, as I was upon my
watch such a night at the head of Bad Street, in this town, I chanced to
hear a muttering within this gentleman’s house. Then, thought I, what is
to do here? So I went up close, but very softly, to the side of the
house to listen, thinking, as indeed it fell out, that there I might
light upon some Diabolonian conventicle. So, as I said, I drew nearer
and nearer; and when I was got up close to the wall, it was but a while
before I perceived that there were outlandish men in the house; but I did
well understand their speech, for I have been a traveller myself. Now,
hearing such language in such a tottering cottage as this old gentleman
dwelt in, I clapped mine ear to a hole in the window, and there heard
them talk as followeth. This old Mr. Questioning asked these doubters
what they were, whence they came, and what was their business in these
parts; and they told him to all these questions, yet he did entertain
them. He also asked what numbers there were of them; and they told him
ten thousand men. He then asked them, why they made no more manly
assault upon Mansoul; and they told him: so he called their general
coward, for marching off when he should have fought for his prince.
Further, this old Evil-Questioning wished, and I heard him wish, would
all the ten thousand doubters were now in Mansoul, and himself at the
head of them. He bid them also to take heed and lie quat; for if they
were taken they must die, although they had heads of gold.’ Then said
the court: ‘Mr. Evil-Questioning, here is now another witness against
you, and his testimony is full: 1. He swears that you did receive these
men into your house, and that you did nourish them there, though you knew
that they were Diabolonians, and the King’s enemies. 2. He swears that
you did wish ten thousand of them in Mansoul. 3. He swears that you did
give them advice to be quat and close, lest they were taken by the King’s
servants. All which manifesteth that thou art a Diabolonian; but hadst
thou been a friend to the King, thou wouldst have apprehended them.’
Then said Evil-Questioning: ‘To the first of these I answer, The men that
came into mine house were strangers, and I took them in; and is it now
become a crime in Mansoul for a man to entertain strangers? That I did
also nourish them is true; and why should my charity be blamed? As for
the reason why I wished ten thousand of them in Mansoul, I never told it
to the witnesses, nor to themselves. I might wish them to be taken, and
so my wish might mean well to Mansoul, for aught that any yet knows. I
did also bid them take heed that they fell not into the captains’ hands;
but that might be because I am unwilling that any man should be slain,
and not because I would have the King’s enemies as such escape.’
My Lord Mayor then replied: ‘That though it was a virtue to entertain
strangers, yet it was treason to entertain the King’s enemies. And for
what else thou hast said, thou dost by words but labour to evade and
defer the execution of judgment. But could there be no more proved
against thee but that thou art a Diabolonian, thou must for that die the
death by the law; but to be a receiver, a nourisher, a countenancer, and
a harbourer of others of them, yea, of outlandish Diabolonians, yea, of
them that came from far on purpose to cut off and destroy our
Mansoul—this must not be borne.’
Then said Evil-Questioning: ‘I see how the game will go: I must die for
my name, and for my charity.’ And so he held his peace.
Then they called the outlandish doubters to the bar, and the first of
them that was arraigned was the election doubter. So his indictment was
read; and because he was an outlandish man, the substance of it was told
him by an interpreter; namely, ‘That he was there charged with being an
enemy of Emmanuel the Prince, a hater of the town of Mansoul, and an
opposer of her most wholesome doctrine.’
Then the judge asked him if he would plead? but he said only this—That he
confessed that he was an election doubter, and that that was the religion
that he had ever been brought up in. And said, moreover, ‘If I must die
for my religion, I trow, I shall die a martyr, and so I care the less.’
_Judge_. Then it was replied: ‘To question election, is to overthrow a
great doctrine of the gospel, namely, the omnisciency, and power, and
will of God; to take away the liberty of God with his creature, to
stumble the faith of the town of Mansoul, and to make salvation to depend
upon works, and not upon grace. It also belied the word, and disquieted
the minds of the men of Mansoul; therefore by the best of laws he must
die.’
Then was the vocation doubter called, and set to the bar; and his
indictment for substance was the same with the other, only he was
particularly charged with denying the calling of Mansoul.
The judge asked him also what he had to say for himself?
So he replied: ‘That he never believed that there was any such thing as a
distinct and powerful call of God to Mansoul; otherwise than by the
general voice of the word, nor by that neither, otherwise than as it
exhorted them to forbear evil, and to do that which is good, and in so
doing a promise of happiness is annexed.’
Then said the judge: ‘Thou art a Diabolonian, and hast denied a great
part of one of the most experimental truths of the Prince of the town of
Mansoul; for he has called, and she has heard a most distinct and
powerful call of her Emmanuel, by which she has been quickened, awakened,
and possessed with heavenly grace to desire to have communion with her
Prince, to serve him, and to do his will, and to look for her happiness
merely of his good pleasure. And for thine abhorrence of this good
doctrine, thou must die the death.’
Then the grace doubter was called, and his indictment was read and he
replied thereto: ‘That though he was of the land of doubting, his father
was the offspring of a Pharisee, and lived in good fashion among his
neighbours, and that he taught him to believe, and believe it I do, and
will, that Mansoul shall never be saved freely by grace.’
Then said the judge: ‘Why, the law of the Prince is plain: 1. Negatively,
“not of works:” 2. Positively, “by grace you are saved.” And thy
religion settleth in and upon the works of the flesh; for the works of
the law are the works of the flesh. Besides, in saying as thou hast
done, thou hast robbed God of His glory, and given it to a sinful man;
thou hast robbed Christ of the necessity of His undertaking, and the
sufficiency thereof, and hast given both these to the works of the flesh.
Thou hast despised the work of the Holy Ghost, and hast magnified the
will of the flesh, and of the legal mind. Thou art a Diabolonian, the
son of a Diabolonian; and for thy Diabolonian principles thou must die.’
The court then, having proceeded thus far with them, sent out the jury,
who forthwith brought them in guilty of death. Then stood up the
Recorder, and addressed himself to the prisoners: ‘You, the prisoners at
the bar, you have been here indicted, and proved guilty of high crimes
against Emmanuel our Prince, and against the welfare of the famous town
of Mansoul, crimes for which you must be put to death, and die ye
accordingly.’ So they were sentenced to the death of the cross. The
place assigned them for execution, was that where Diabolus drew up his
last army against Mansoul; save only that old Evil-Questioning was hanged
at the top of Bad Street, just over against his own door.
When the town of Mansoul had thus far rid themselves of their enemies,
and of the troublers of their peace, in the next place a strict
commandment was given out, that yet my Lord Willbewill should, with
Diligence his man, search for, and do his best to apprehend what town
Diabolonians were yet left alive in Mansoul. The names of several of
them were, Mr. Fooling, Mr. Let-Good-Slip, Mr. Slavish-Fear, Mr. No-Love,
Mr. Mistrust, Mr. Flesh, and Mr. Sloth. It was also commanded, that he
should apprehend Mr. Evil-Questioning’s children, that he left behind
him, and that they should demolish his house. The children that he left
behind him were these: Mr. Doubt, and he was his eldest son; the next to
him was Legal-Life, Unbelief, Wrong-Thoughts-of-Christ, Clip-Promise,
Carnal-Sense, Live-by-Feeling, Self-Love. All these he had by one wife,
and her name was No-Hope; she was the kinswoman of old Incredulity, for
he was her uncle; and when her father, old Dark, was dead, he took her
and brought her up, and when she was marriageable, he gave her to this
old Evil-Questioning to wife.
Now the Lord Willbewill did put into execution his commission, with great
Diligence, his man. He took Fooling in the streets, and hanged him up in
Want-wit-Alley, over against his own house. This Fooling was he that
would have had the town of Mansoul deliver up Captain Credence into the
hands of Diabolus, provided that then he would have withdrawn his force
out of the town. He also took Mr. Let-Good-Slip one day as he was busy
in the market, and executed him according to law. Now there was an
honest poor man in Mansoul, and his name was Mr. Meditation, one of no
great account in the days of apostasy, but now of repute with the best of
the town. This man, therefore, they were willing to prefer. Now Mr.
Let-Good-Slip had a great deal of wealth heretofore in Mansoul, and, at
Emmanuel’s coming, it was sequestered to the use of the Prince: this,
therefore, was now given to Mr. Meditation, to improve for the common
good, and after him to his son, Mr. Think-Well; this Think-Well he had by
Mrs. Piety his wife, and she was the daughter of Mr. Recorder.
After this, my lord apprehended Clip-Promise: now because he was a
notorious villain, for by his doings much of the King’s coin was abused,
therefore he was made a public example. He was arraigned and judged to
be first set in the pillory, then to be whipped by all the children and
servants in Mansoul, and then to be hanged till he was dead. Some may
wonder at the severity of this man’s punishment; but those that are
honest traders in Mansoul, are sensible of the great abuse that one
clipper of promises in little time may do to the town of Mansoul. And
truly my judgment is, that all those of his name and life should be
served even as he.
He also apprehended Carnal-Sense, and put him in hold; but how it came
about, I cannot tell, but he brake prison, and made his escape: yea, and
the bold villain will not yet quit the town, but lurks in the Diabolonian
dens a days, and haunts like a ghost honest men’s houses a nights.
Wherefore, there was a proclamation set up in the market-place in
Mansoul, signifying that whosoever could discover Carnal-Sense, and
apprehend him and slay him, should be admitted daily to the Prince’s
table, and should be made keeper of the treasure of Mansoul. Many,
therefore, did bend themselves to do this thing, but take him and slay
him they could not, though often he was discovered.
But my lord took Mr. Wrong-Thoughts-of-Christ, and put him in prison, and
he died there; though it was long first, for he died of a lingering
consumption.
Self-Love was also taken and committed to custody; but there were many
that were allied to him in Mansoul, so his judgment was deferred. But at
last Mr. Self-Denial stood up, and said: ‘If such villains as these may
be winked at in Mansoul, I will lay down my commission.’ He also took
him from the crowd, and had him among his soldiers, and there he was
brained. But some in Mansoul muttered at it, though none durst speak
plainly, because Emmanuel was in town. But this brave act of Captain
Self-Denial came to the Prince’s ears; so he sent for him, and made him a
lord in Mansoul. My Lord Willbewill also obtained great commendations of
Emmanuel, for what he had done for the town of Mansoul.
Then my Lord Self-Denial took courage, and set to the pursuing of the
Diabolonians, with my Lord Willbewill; and they took Live-by-Feeling, and
they took Legal-Life, and put them in hold till they died. But Mr.
Unbelief was a nimble Jack: him they could never lay hold of, though they
attempted to do it often. He therefore, and some few more of the
subtlest of the Diabolonian tribe, did yet remain in Mansoul, to the time
that Mansoul left off to dwell any longer in the kingdom of Universe.
But they kept them to their dens and holes: if one of them did appear, or
happen to be seen in any of the streets of the town of Mansoul, the whole
town would be up in arms after them; yea, the very children in Mansoul
would cry out after them as after a thief, and would wish that they might
stone them to death with stones. And now did Mansoul arrive to some good
degree of peace and quiet; her Prince also did abide within her borders;
her captains, also, and her soldiers did their duties; and Mansoul minded
her trade that she had with the country that was afar off; also she was
busy in her manufacture.
When the town of Mansoul had thus far rid themselves of so many of their
enemies, and the troublers of their peace, the Prince sent to them, and
appointed a day wherein he would, at the market-place, meet the whole
people, and there give them in charge concerning some further matters,
that, if observed, would tend to their further safety and comfort, and to
the condemnation and destruction of their home-bred Diabolonians. So the
day appointed was come, and the townsmen met together; Emmanuel also came
down in his chariot, and all his captains in their state attending him,
on the right hand and on the left. Then was an oyes made for silence,
and, after some mutual carriages of love, the Prince began, and thus
proceeded:—
‘You, my Mansoul, and the beloved of mine heart, many and great are the
privileges that I have bestowed upon you; I have singled you out from
others, and have chosen you to myself, not for your worthiness, but for
mine own sake. I have also redeemed you, not only from the dread of my
Father’s law, but from the hand of Diabolus. This I have done because I
loved you, and because I have set my heart upon you to do you good. I
have also, that all things, that might hinder thy way to the pleasures of
paradise might be taken out of the way, laid down for thee for thy soul a
plenary satisfaction, and have bought thee to myself; a price not of
corruptible things, as of silver and gold, but a price of blood, mine own
blood, which I have freely spilled upon the ground to make thee mine. So
I have reconciled thee, O my Mansoul, to my Father, and entrusted thee in
the mansion houses that are with my Father in the royal city, where
things are, O my Mansoul, that eye hath not seen, nor hath entered into
the heart of man to conceive.
‘Besides, O my Mansoul, thou seest what I have done, and how I have taken
thee out of the hands of thine enemies: unto whom thou hadst deeply
revolted from my Father, and by whom thou wast content to be possessed,
and also to be destroyed. I came to thee first by my law, then by my
gospel, to awaken thee, and show thee my glory. And thou knowest what
thou wast, what thou saidst, what thou didst, and how many times thou
rebelledst against my Father and me; yet I left thee not as thou seest
this day, but came to thee, have borne thy manners, have waited upon
thee, and, after all, accepted of thee, even of my mere grace and favour;
and would not suffer thee to be lost, as thou most willingly wouldst have
been. I also compassed thee about, and afflicted thee on every side,
that I might make thee weary of thy ways, and bring down thy heart with
molestation to a willingness to close with thy good and happiness. And
when I had gotten a complete conquest over thee, I turned it to thy
advantage.
‘Thou seest, also, what a company of my Father’s host I have lodged
within thy borders: captains and rulers, soldiers and men of war, engines
and excellent devices to subdue and bring down thy foes; thou knowest my
meaning, O Mansoul. And they are my servants, and thine, too, Mansoul.
Yea, my design of possessing of thee with them, and the natural tendency
of each of them is to defend, purge, strengthen, and sweeten thee for
myself, O Mansoul, and to make thee meet for my Father’s presence,
blessing, and glory; for thou, my Mansoul, art created to be prepared
unto these.
‘Thou seest, moreover, my Mansoul, how I have passed by thy backslidings,
and have healed thee. Indeed I was angry with thee, but I have turned
mine anger away from thee, because I loved thee still, and mine anger and
mine indignation is ceased in the destruction of thine enemies, O
Mansoul. Nor did thy goodness fetch me again unto thee, after that I for
thy transgressions have hid my face, and withdrawn my presence from thee.
The way of backsliding was thine, but the way and means of thy recovery
was mine. I invented the means of thy return; it was I that made an
hedge and a wall, when thou wast beginning to turn to things in which I
delighted not. It was I that made thy sweet bitter, thy day night, thy
smooth way thorny, and that also confounded all that sought thy
destruction. It was I that set Mr. Godly-Fear to work in Mansoul. It
was I that stirred up thy conscience and understanding, thy will and thy
affections, after thy great and woful decay. It was I that put life into
thee, O Mansoul, to seek me, that thou mightest find me, and in thy
finding find thine own health, happiness, and salvation. It was I that
fetched the second time the Diabolonians out of Mansoul; and it was I
that overcame them, and that destroyed them before thy face.
‘And now, my Mansoul, I am returned to thee in peace, and thy
transgressions against me are as if they had not been. Nor shall it be
with thee as in former days, but I will do better for thee than at thy
beginning.
For yet a little while, O my Mansoul, even after a few more times are
gone over thy head, I will (but be not thou troubled at what I say) take
down this famous town of Mansoul, stick and stone, to the ground. And I
will carry the stones thereof, and the timber thereof, and the walls
thereof, and the dust thereof, and the inhabitants thereof, into mine own
country, even into a kingdom of my Father; and will there set it up in
such strength and glory, as it never did see in the kingdom where now it
is placed. I will even there set it up for my Father’s habitation; for
for that purpose it was at first erected in the kingdom of Universe; and
there will I make it a spectacle of wonder, a monument of mercy, and the
admirer of its own mercy. There shall the natives of Mansoul see all
that, of which they have seen nothing here: there shall they be equal to
those unto whom they have been inferior here. And there shalt thou, O my
Mansoul, have such communion with me, with my Father, and with your Lord
Secretary, as it is not possible here to be enjoyed, nor ever could be,
shouldest thou live in Universe the space of a thousand years.
‘And there, O my Mansoul, thou shalt be afraid of murderers no more; of
Diabolonians, and their threats, no more. There, there shall be no more
plots, nor contrivances, nor designs against thee, O my Mansoul. There
thou shalt no more hear the evil-tidings, or the noise of the Diabolonian
drum. There thou shalt not see the Diabolonian standard-bearers, nor yet
behold Diabolus’s standard. No Diabolonian mount shall be cast up
against thee there; nor shall there the Diabolonian standard be set up to
make thee afraid. There thou shalt not need captains, engines, soldiers,
and men of war. There thou shalt meet with no sorrow, nor grief, nor
shall it be possible that any Diabolonian should again, for ever, be able
to creep into thy skirts, burrow in thy walls, or be seen again within
thy borders all the days of eternity. Life shall there last longer than
here you are able to desire it should; and yet it shall always be sweet
and new, nor shall any impediment attend it for ever.
‘There, O Mansoul, thou shalt meet with many of those that have been like
thee, and that have been partakers of thy sorrows; even such as I have
chosen, and redeemed, and set apart, as thou, for my Father’s court and
city-royal. All they will be glad in thee, and thou, when thou seest
them, shalt be glad in thine heart.
‘There are things, O Mansoul, even things of my Father’s providing, and
mine, that never were seen since the beginning of the world; and they are
laid up with my Father, and sealed up among his treasures for thee, till
thou shalt come thither to enjoy them. I told you before, that I would
remove my Mansoul, and set it up elsewhere; and where I will set it,
there are those that love thee, and those that rejoice in thee now; but
how much more, when they shall see thee exalted to honour! My Father
will then send them for you to fetch you; and their bosoms are chariots
to put you in. And you, O my Mansoul, shall ride upon the wings of the
wind. They will come to convey, conduct, and bring you to that, when
your eyes see more, that will be your desired haven.
‘And thus, O my Mansoul, I have showed unto thee what shall be done to
thee hereafter, if thou canst hear, if thou canst understand; and now I
will tell thee what at present must be thy duty and practice, until I
come and fetch thee to myself, according as is related in the Scriptures
of truth.
‘First, I charge thee that thou dost hereafter keep more white and clean
the liveries which I gave thee before my last withdrawing from thee. Do
it, I say, for this will be thy wisdom. They are in themselves fine
linen, but thou must keep them white and clean. This will be your
wisdom, your honour, and will be greatly for my glory. When your
garments are white, the world will count you mine. Also, when your
garments are white, then I am delighted in your ways; for then your
goings to and fro will be like a flash of lightning, that those that are
present must take notice of; also their eyes will be made to dazzle
thereat. Deck thyself, therefore, according to my bidding, and make
thyself by my law straight steps for thy feet; so shall thy King greatly
desire thy beauty, for he is thy Lord, and worship thou him.
‘Now, that thou mayest keep them as I bid thee, I have, as I before did
tell thee, provided for thee an open fountain to wash thy garments in.
Look, therefore, that thou wash often in my fountain, and go not in
defiled garments; for as it is to my dishonour and my disgrace, so it
will be to thy discomfort, when you shall walk in filthy garments. Let
not, therefore, my garments, your garments, the garments that I gave
thee, be defiled or spotted by the flesh. Keep thy garments always
white, and let thy head lack no ointment.
‘My Mansoul, I have ofttimes delivered thee from the designs, plots,
attempts, and conspiracies of Diabolus; and for all this I ask thee
nothing, but that thou render not to me evil for my good; but that thou
bear in mind my love, and the continuation of my kindness to my beloved
Mansoul, so as to provoke thee to walk in thy measure according to the
benefit bestowed on thee. Of old, the sacrifices were bound with coords
to the horns of the altar. Consider what is said to thee, O my blessed
Mansoul.
‘O my Mansoul, I have lived, I have died, I live, and will die no more
for thee. I live, that thou mayest not die. Because I live, thou shalt
live also. I reconciled thee to my Father by the blood of my cross; and
being reconciled, thou shalt live through me. I will pray for thee; I
will fight for thee; I will yet do thee good.
‘Nothing can hurt thee but sin; nothing can grieve me but sin; nothing
can make thee base before thy foes but sin: take heed of sin, my Mansoul.
‘And dost thou know why I at first, and do still, suffer Diabolonians to
dwell in thy walls, O Mansoul? It is to keep thee wakening, to try thy
love, to make thee watchful, and to cause thee yet to prize my noble
captains, their soldiers, and my mercy.
‘It is also, that yet thou mayest be made to remember what a deplorable
condition thou once wast in. I mean when, not some, but all did dwell,
not in thy walls, but in thy castle, and in thy stronghold, O Mansoul.
‘O my Mansoul, should I slay all them within, many there be without, that
would bring thee into bondage; for were all these within cut off, those
without would find thee sleeping; and then, as in a moment, they would
swallow up my Mansoul. I therefore left them in thee, not to do thee
hurt (the which they yet will, if thou hearken to them, and serve them,)
but to do thee good, the which they must, if thou watch and fight against
them. Know, therefore, that whatever they shall tempt thee to, my design
is, that they should drive thee, not further off, but nearer to my
father, to learn thee war, to make petitioning desirable to thee, and to
make thee little in thine own eyes. Hearken diligently to this, my
Mansoul.
‘Show me, then, thy love, my Mansoul, and let not those that are within
thy walls, take thy affections off from him that hath redeemed thy soul.
Yea, let the sight of a Diabolonian heighten thy love to me. I came
once, and twice, and thrice, to save thee from the poison of those arrows
that would have wrought thy death: stand for me, thy Friend, my Mansoul,
against the Diabolonians, and I will stand for thee before my Father, and
all his court. Love me against temptation, and I will love thee
notwithstanding thine infirmities.
‘O my Mansoul, remember what my captains, my soldiers, and mine engines
have done for thee. They have fought for thee, they have suffered by
thee, they have borne much at thy hands to do thee good, O Mansoul.
Hadst thou not had them to help thee, Diabolus had certainly made a hand
of thee. Nourish them, therefore, my Mansoul. When thou dost well, they
will be well; when thou dost ill, they will be ill, and sick, and weak.
Make not my captains sick, O Mansoul; for if they be sick, thou canst not
be well; if they be weak, thou canst not be strong; if they be faint,
thou canst not be stout and valiant for thy King, O Mansoul. Nor must
thou think always to live by sense: thou must live upon my word. Thou
must believe, O my Mansoul, when I am from thee, that yet I love thee,
and bear thee upon mine heart for ever.
‘Remember, therefore, O my Mansoul, that thou art beloved of me: as I
have, therefore, taught thee to watch, to fight, to pray, and to make war
against my foes; so now I command thee to believe that my love is
constant to thee. O my Mansoul, how have I set my heart, my love upon
thee! Watch. Behold, I lay none other burden upon thee, than what thou
hast already. Hold fast, till I come.’
FOOTNOTES
{0} Unfortunately the illustrations are still in copyright in the UK
(where I live), and so have not been included. They will be included
when they come out of copyright in the UK.—DP.
*** End of this LibraryBlog Digital Book "The Holy war, made by King Shaddai upon Diabolus, for the regaining of the metropolis of the world; or, the losing and taking again of the town of Mansoul" ***
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