them as by any means you can lay hands on; but for you that go out against the Blood-men, slay them not, but take them alive."

Accordingly, at the time appointed, betimes in the morning, the captains went out as they were commanded against the enemies. Captain GoodHope, Captain Charity, and those that were joined with them, as Captain Innocent, and Captain Experience, went out against the Doubters; and Captain Credence, and Captain Patience, with Captain Self-Denial, and the rest that were to join with them, went out against the Blood-men.

Now, those that went out against the Doubters, drew up in a body before the plain, and marched on to win the 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 showed and exercised many of their Diabolonian actions upon the barbarous people; nor did these people rise up in arms against them, but suffered themselves to be enslaved by them. They would The unbeliever also after this, show themselves in companies before the town doubter. of Mansoul, but never to abide it; for if Captain Credence, Captain GoodHope, or Captain Experience did but show themselves, they fled.

never fights the

Those that were against the Blood-men, did as they were commanded; they forebore to slay any, but sought to compass them about. But the Blood-men, when they saw that no Emanuel was in the field, concluded also that no Emanuel 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 than feared them. But the captains, minding their business, at last compassed them round; they also that had routed the Doubters, came in amain to their aid: so, in fine, after some struggling, (for the Blood-men also would have run for it, only now it was too late; for though they are mischievous and cruel when they can overcome, yet all Blood-men are chicken-hearted men, when they once come to see themselves matched and equalled,) so, I say, 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.

ΙΙ

1. One sort of them came out of Blind-man-shire, and they were such as did ignorantly what they did.

2. Another sort of them came out of Blind-zeal-shire, and they did superstitiously what they did.

1 Tim. i. 13-15. Matt. v. 44.

Luke vi. 22.

John xvi. 1, 2.
Acts ix. 5, 6.

Rev. ix. 20, 21.
John viii. 40,
41-43, etc.

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, to wit, they that came out of Blindman-shire, when they saw where they were, and against whom they had fought, trembled, and cried as they stood before him; and as many of those as asked him mercy, he touched their lips with his golden sceptre.

They that came out of Blind-zeal-shire, did not as their fellows, for they pleaded that they had a right to do what they did, because Mansoul was a town whose laws and customs were diverse from all that dwelt thereabouts; very few of these could be brought to see their evil, but those that did, and asked mercy, they also obtained favour.

Now, they that came out of the town of Malice, that is in the county of Envy, they neither wept nor disputed, but stood gnawing of their tongues before him for anguish and madness, because they could not have their will upon Mansoul. Now those last, with all those of the other two sorts that unfeignedly asked 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 before.

The day of judgment.

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 awhile, and perceived that they had escaped, were so hardy as to thrust themselves, knowing that yet there were in the town some who took part with Diabolus,—I say, they were so hardy as to thrust themselves into Mansoul among them. (Three, did I say? I think there were four.) Now, to whose house should these Diabolonian Doubters go but to the house of an

old Diabolonian in Mansoul, whose name was Evil-Questioning, a very great enemy he was to Mansoul, and a great doer among the Diabolonians there. Well, to this Evil-Questioning's house, as was said, did these Diabolonians come; (you may be sure that they had directions how to find.

their way thither.) So he made them welcome, pitied their misfortune, and succoured them with the best he had in his house. Now, after a little acquaintance, and it was not long before they had that, this Evil-Questioning asked the Doubters if they were all of a town, (he knew that they were all of one kingdom;) and they answered, "No, nor of one shire neither; for I," said one, "am an Election-Doubter;" "I," said another, "am a Vocation-Doubter;" then said the third, "I am a Salvation-Doubter;" and the fourth said he was a Grace-Doubter. "Well," quoth the old gentleman, "be of what shire you will, I am persuaded that you are town-boys: you have the very length of my foot, are one with my heart, and shall be welcome to me." So they thanked him, and were glad that they had found themselves an harbour in Mansoul.

Then said Evil-Questioning to them, "How many of your company might there be that came with you to the siege of Mansoul?" And they answered, "That there were but ten thousand Doubters in all, for the rest of the army consisted of fifteen thousand Blood-men. These Blood-men,"

to

quoth they," border upon our country; but, poor men! we hear they were every one taken by Emanuel's forces." "Ten thousand!" quoth the old gentleman, "I'll promise you that's a round company. But how came it pass, since you were so mighty a number, that you fainted and durst not fight your foes ?" "Our general," said they, "was the first man that ran for it." "Pray," quoth their landlord, "who was that your cowardly general ?" "He was once the Lord Mayor of Mansoul," said they: "but pray call him not a cowardly general, for whether any from the east to the west has done more service for our Prince Diabolus, than has my Lord Incredulity, will be a hard question for you to answer. But had they catched him, they would for certain have hanged him, and we promise you hanging is but a bad business.”

Then said the old gentleman, "I would that all the ten thousand Doubters were now all 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 ye talk not too loud; you must be quiet 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 it can hold. And besides, there is one whose name is Will-be-will, a most cruel enemy of ours, and him the Prince hath 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 be made of gold."

And now, to see how it happened, one of the Lord Will-be-will's faithful soldiers, whose name was Mr. Diligence, stood all the while listening under old Evil-Questioning's eaves, and heard all the talk that had been betwixt him and the Doubters that he entertained under his roof.

This soldier was a man that my lord had much confidence in, and that he loved dearly; and that both because he was a man of courage, and also a man that was unwearied in seeking after Diabolonians to apprehend them.

Now this man, as I told you, heard all the talk that was between old