O my trusty Diabolonians, I command that yet more and more ye diftrefs this town of Manfoul, and vex it with your wiles, ravish their women, deflower their virgins, flay their children, brain their ancients, fire their town, and what other mischief you can; and let this be the reward of the Manfoulians from me, for their desperate rebellions against me.

This you fee was the charge, but fomething flept in betwixt that and the execution, for as yet there was but little more than to rage..

· Moreover, when Diabolus had done thus, he went the next way up to the caftle gates, and demanded that upon pain of death the gates fhould be opened to him, and that entrance should be given him, and his men that followed after. To whom Mr. Godly-fear replied, (for he it was that had the charge of that gate), That the gate fhould not be opened unto him, nor to the men that followed after him. He faid, moreover, That Manfoul, when the had fuffered a while, fhould be made perfect, ftrengthened, fettled.

Satan cannot abide faith.

Then faid Diabolus, Deliver me then

the men that have petitioned against me, efpecially Captain Credence, that carried it to your Prince, deliver that varlet into my hands, and I will depart from the town.

Then up starts a Diabolonian, whofe name was Mr. Fooling, and faid, My lord offereth you fair, it is better for you that one man perish, than that your whole Manfoul fhould be undone.

But Mr. Godly-fear made this reply, How long will Manfoul be kept out of the dungeon, when the hath given up her faith to Diabolus? As good lofe the town as lofe Captain Credence; for if one be gone, the other must follow. But to that Mr. Fooling faid nothing.

Then did my Lord Mayor reply, and faid, O thou devouring tyrant, be it known unto thee, we fhall bearken to none of thy words, we are refolved to refift thee as long as a captain, a man, a fling, and a tone to throw at thee fhall be found in the town of Manfoul. But Diabolus answered, Do you hope, do you wait, do you look for help and deliverance? You have fent to Emmanuel, but your wickedness flicks too close in your skirts, to let innocent prayers come out of your lips. Think you that you fhall be prevailers and profper in this defign? You will fail in your wish, you will fail in your attempts; for it is not only I, but your Erumanuel is againft you. Yea,

it is he that hath fent me againft you to fubdue you; for what then do you hope, or by what means will you escape?

The Lord Mayor's fpeech juft at the time of the return of Cap

Then faid the Lord Mayor, we have finned indeed, but that shall be no help to thee, for our Emmanuel bath faid it, and that in great faithfulnefs," And him that cometh to me I will in no wife caft out." He hath alfo told us, (O! our enemy), That all manner of fin and blafphemy thall be forgiven to the fons of men. Therefore we dare not defpair, but will look for, wait for, and hope for deliverance Itill.

tain Credence.

Now by this time Captain Credence was returned, and come from the court from Emmanuel, to the caitle of Manfoul; and he returned to them with a packet. So my Lord Mayor hearing that Captain Credence was come, withdrew himself from the noife of the roaring of the tyrant, and left him to yell at the wall of the town, or against the gates of the cattle. So he came up to the captain's lodgings, and faluting him, he afked him of his welfare, and what was the beft news at court? But when he asked Captain Credence that, the water flood in his eyes. Then faid the Captain, Cheer up, my Lord, for all will be well in time: And with that he first produced his packet, and laid it by, but that the Lord Mayor and the reft of the captains took for a fign of good tidings. Now a feafon of grace being come, he fent for all the captains. and elders of the town that were here and there in their lodgings in the cattle, and upon their guard, to let them know that Captain Credence was returned from the court, and that he had fomething in general, and fomething in fpecial to communicate to them. So they all came up to him, and faluted him, and asked him conceroing his jour ney, and what was the best news at the court? And he anfwered them as he had done the Lord Mayor before, That all would be well at laft. Now when the captain bad thus faluted them, he opened his packet, and thence did draw out his feveral notes for thofe that he had fent for. And the firit note was for my Lord Mayor, wherein was fignified,

A note for my
Lord Mayor.

That the Prince Emmanuel had taken it well that my Lord Mayor had been fo true and trully in his office, and the great concerns that lay upon him for the town and people of Manfoul. Alfo he bade him to know, that

he had been bold for his Prince Emmanuel, and had engaged fo faithfully in his caufe against Diabolus. He alfo fignified at the close of his letter, that he fhould fhortly receive his reward.

A note for Lord
Will-be-will.

The fecond note that came out was for the noble Lord Will-be-will, wherein there was fignified, That his Prince Emmanuel did well underftand how valiant and courageous he had been for the honour of his Lord, now in his abfence, and when his name was under contempt by Diabolus. There was fignified alfo, that his Prince had taken it well that he had been fo faithful to the town of Manfoul, in his keeping fo ftrict a hand and eye over, and fo ftrict a rein upon the necks of the Diabolonians that did ftill lie lurking in their feveral holes in the famous town of Manfoul.

He fignified moreover, how that he underflood that my Lord had, with his own hand, done great execution upon fome of the chief of the rebels there, to the great difcouragement of the adverfe party, and to the good example of the whole town of Manfoul; and that shortly his Lordship fhould have his reward.

The third note came out for the Subordinate Preacher,

A note to the
Subordinate
Preacher

wherein was fignified, That his Prince took it well from him that he had fo honeftly and fo faithfully performed his office, and executed the truft committed to him by his Lord, while he exhorted, rebuked, and fore-warned Manfoul according to the laws of the town. He fignified moreover, that he took it well at his hand, that he called to fafting, to fackcloth and afhes, when Manfoul was under her revolt. Also that he called for the aid of the Captain Boanerges to help in fo weighty a work. And that shortly also he should receive his reward.

A note for Mr.
Godly-fear.

The fourth note came out for Mr. Godly-fear, wherein his Lord thus fignified, That his Lordship obferved, that he was the only true man in Manfoul that detected Mr. Carnalfecurity, as the only one that through his fubtilty and cunning had obtained for Diabolus a defection and decay of goodness in the bleffed town of Manfoul. Moreover his Lord gave him to understand, that he ftill remembered his tears and mourning for the ftate of Manfoul. It was alfo obferved by the fame note, That his Lord took notice of his detecting of this Mr. Carnal

fecurity,

fecurity, at his own table among the guests, in his own houfe, and that in the midlt of his jollinefs, even while he was feeking to perfect his villanies against the town of Manfoul. Emmanuel alfo took notice, that this Reverend perfon, Mr. Godly-fear, flood (toutly to it at the gates of the castle, against all the threats and attempts of the tyrant, and that he had put the townfmen in a way to make their petition to their Prince, fo as that he might accept thereof, and as that they might obtain an anfwer of peace : And that therefore fhortly he fhould receive his reward.

A note for the town of Man

foul.

After all this, there was yet produced a note which was written to the whole town of Manfoul, whereby they perceived that their Lord took notice of their fo often repeating of petitions to him; and that they should fee more of the fruits of fuch their doings in time to come." Their Prince did alfo therein tell them, That he took it well that their heart and mind now. at laft abode fixed upon him and his ways, though Diabolus had made fuch inroads upon them; and that nei ther flatteries on the one hand, nor hardships on the other, could make them yield to ferve his cruel defigns. There was alfo inferted at the bottom of this note, That his Lordship had left the town of Mansoul in the hands of the Lord Secretary, and under the conduct of Captain Credence, faying, Beware that you yet yield yourselves unto their governance, and in due time you fhall receive your reward.

So after the brave Captain Credence had delivered. his notes to those to whom they belonged, he retired himfelf to my Lord Secretary's lodgings, and there fpends time in converfing with him; for they two were very great one with another, and did indeed know more how things would go with Manfoul, than did all the townsmen befides. The Lord Secretary alfo loved the Captain Credence dearly; yea, many a good bit was fent him from my Lord's table; alfo he might have a fhew of countenance when the reft of Manfoul lay under the clouds. So after fome time for converfe was spent, the Captain_betook himself to his chamber for reft. But it was not long after but my Lord did fend for the Captain again; fo the Captain came to him, and they greeted one another with the usual falutations. Then faid the Captain to the Lord Secretary, What hath my Lord to fay to his fervant? So the Lord Secretary took him, and had him

Captain Credence made the Lord's lieutenant over all the forces in Manfoul.

afide, and after a fign or two of more favour, he faid, I have made thee the Lord's lieutenant over all the forces in Manfoul; fo that from this day forward all men in Manfoul fhall be at thy word, and thou fhalt be he that fhall lead in, and fhall lead out Manfoul. Thou shalt therefore manage, according to thy place, the war for thy Prince, and for the town of Manfoul, against the force and power of Diabolus, and at thy command fhall the reft of the captains be.

1

Now the townfmen began to perceive what intereft the Captain had, both with the court, and alfo with the Lord Secretary in Manfoul; for no man before could speed when fent, nor bring fuch good news from Emmanuel as he. Wherefore, what do they, after fome lamentation that they made no more ufe of him in their diftreffes, but fend by their Subordinate Preacher to the Lord Secretary to defire him, that all that ever they were and had, might be put under the government, care, cuftody, and conduct of Captain Credence.

So their Preacher went and did their errand, and received this anfwer from the mouth of his Lord, That Captain Credence should be the great doer in all the King's army, against the King's enemies, and alfo for the welfare of Manfoul. So he bowed to the ground, and thanked his Lordship, and returned and told his news to the townsfolks. But all this was done with all imaginable fecrecy, because the foes had yet great ftrength in the town. But,

To return to our Itory again: When Diabolus faw himfelf thus boldly confronted by the Lord Mayor, and perceived the floutnefs of Mr. Godly-fear, he fell into a rage, and forthwith called a council of war, that he might be revenged on Manful. So all the princes of the pit came together, and old Incredulity at the head of them, with all the captains of the army. So they confult what to do. Now the effect and conclufion of the council that day was, how they might take the caftle; because they could not conclude themselves mafters of the town fo long as that was in the poffeffion of their enemies. So one advised this way, and another advised that; but when they could not agree in their verdict, Apollyon, that prefident of the council, (tood up, and thus he began: My brotherhood, quoth, he, I have two things to propound

you; and my first is this: Let us withdraw our