Doubters The unbe liever never fights the Doubters. Now, those that went out against the Doubters The drew up into a body before the plain, and marched put to flight. on to bid them battle. But the Doubters, remembering their last success, made a retreat, not daring to stand the shock, but fled from the Prince's men wherefore they pursued them, and in their pursuit slew many, but they could not catch them all. Now, those that escaped went some of them home; and the rest by fives, nines, and seventeens, like wanderers, went straggling up and down the country, where they upon the barbarous people shewed and exercised many of their Diabolonian actions: nor did these people rise up in arms against them, but suffered themselves to be enslaved by them. They would also after this shew themselves in companies before the town of Mansoul, but never to abide in it; for if Captain Credence, Captain Good-Hope, or Captain Experience did but shew themselves, they fled. Those that went out against the Blood-men did as they were commanded: they forbore to slay any, but sought to compass them about. But the Blood-men, when they saw that no Emmanuel was in the field, concluded also that no Emmanuel was in Mansoul; wherefore they, looking upon what the captains did to be, as they called it, a fruit of the extravagancy of their wild and foolish fancies, rather despised them than feared them. But the captains, minding their business, at last did compass them round; they also that had routed the Doubters came in amain to their aid: so, in fine, after some little struggling, (for the Blood-men also would have run for it, only now it was too late; for though they are mischievous and cruel where The Bloodtaken, and men are how. They are brought to the Prince and found to be of three sorts. 1 Tim. 1. 13- 21. John 8. 40, 41-43, etc. they can overcome, yet all Blood-men are chickenhearted men when they once come to see themselves matched and equalled,)-so the captains took them, and brought them to the Prince. Now, when they were taken, had before the Prince, and examined, he found them to be of three several counties, though they all came out of one land. 1. One sort of them came out of Blind-man-shire, and they were such as did ignorantly what they did. 2. Another sort of them came out of Blindzeal-shire, and they did superstitiously what they did. 3. The third sort of them came out of the town of Malice, in the county of Envy, and they did what they did out of spite and implacableness. For the first of these, namely, they that came out of Blind-man-shire, when they saw where they were, and against whom they had fought, they trembled and cried, as they stood before him; and as many of these as asked him mercy, he touched their lips with his golden sceptre. They that came out of Blind-zeal-shire, they did not as their fellows did; for they pleaded that they had a right to do what they did, because Mansoul was a town whose laws and customs were diverse from all that dwelt thereabout. Very few of these could be brought to see their evil; but those that did, and asked mercy, they also obtained favour. Now, they that came out of the town of Malice, that is in the county of Envy, they neither wept, nor disputed, nor repented, but stood gnawing their tongues before him for anguish and madness, because they could not have their will upon Mansoul. Now, these last, with all those of the other two sorts that did not unfeignedly ask pardon for their faults,—those he made to enter into sufficient bond to answer for what they had done against Mansoul, and against her King, at the great and general assizes to be holden for our Lord the King, where he himself should appoint, for the country and kingdom of Universe. So they became bound, each man for himself, to come in when called upon to answer before our Lord the King for what they had done as before. And thus much concerning this second army that was sent by Diabolus to overthrow Mansoul. But there were three of those that came from the land of Doubting, who, after they had wandered and ranged the country a while, and perceived that they had escaped, were so hardy as to thrust themselves, knowing that yet there were in the town Diabolonians,—I say, they were so hardy as to thrust themselves into Mansoul among them. (Three, did I say? I think there were four.) Now, to whose house should these Diabolonian Doubters go, but to the house of an old Diabolonian in Mansoul, whose name was Evil-Questioning, a very great enemy he was to Mansoul, and a great doer among the Diabolonians there. Well, to this EvilQuestioning's house, as was said, did these Diabolonians come; (you may be sure that they had directions how to find the way thither ;) so he made them welcome, pitied their misfortune, and succoured them with the best that he had in his What sort of Doubters they were. Talk betwixt the Doubters and old Evil Questioning. house. Now, after a litttle acquaintance, (and it Then said Evil-Questioning to them, "How from the east to the west has done more service for our prince Diabolus, than has my Lord Incredulity, will be a hard question for you to answer. But had they catched him, they would for certain have hanged him; and we promise you, hanging is but a bad business." Then said the old gentleman, "I would that all the ten thousand Doubters were now well armed in Mansoul, and myself at the head of them; I would see what I could do." "Ay," said they, "that would be well if we could see that; but wishes, alas! what are they?" and these words were spoken aloud. "Well," said old Evil-Questioning, "take heed that you talk not too loud; you must be quat and close, and must take care of yourselves while you are here, or, I will assure you, you will be snapped." "Why?" quoth the Doubters. "Why!" quoth the old gentleman; "why! because both the Prince and Lord Secretary, and their captains and soldiers, are all at present in town; yea, the town is as full of them as ever it can hold. And besides, there is one whose name is Will-be-will, a most cruel enemy of ours, and him the Prince has made keeper of the gates, and has commanded him that, with all the diligence he can, he should look for, search out, and destroy all, and all manner of Diabolonians. And if he lighteth upon you, down you go, though your heads were made of gold." And now, to see how it happened, one of They are the Lord Will-be-will's faithful soldiers, whose name was Mr Diligence, stood all this while listening under old Evil-Questioning's eaves, and heard all the talk that had been betwixt him X overheard. |