PRINTED BY M. BROWN, AT THE BIBLE, IN THE FLESH-MARKET.

M.DCC.XCII.

'

'IS ftrange to me, that they that love to tell

Things done of old, yea, and that de 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, like them, make what they will their own,
“ Till they know this, are to themselves unknown.

Of stories I well know there's diverse forts,
Some foreign, fome 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 ev'ry 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 this to trouble you ;
What here I say, fome 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

A 2

That

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 save ;
And how against him set that should her save :
Tea, 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 polleron,
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 the betook herself unto her arms,
Fought her Emmanuel, despis’d his charms ;t
Then I was there, and did rejoice to see
Diabolus and Mansoul so agree.

Let no man, 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 trumpet's

found,
And how his forces cover'd 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 mobiles without delay.

I saw the mounts cast up against the Town, And how the sings were plac'd to beat it down,