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
by John Bunyan · English · Gutenberg #395 · 560,676 chars · public domain (US)
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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: John Bunyan
Release date: January 1, 1996 [eBook #395]
Most recently updated: May 29, 2017
Language: English
Other information and formats: www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/395
Credits: Transcribed from the 1907 Religious Tract Society edition by David Price
*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 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 ***
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 th
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