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 a love for his Son, as for himself, could not, at what he saw, but be greatly provoked and offended : wherefore what does he but take 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 horrid pits, never more to expect the least favour from his hands, but to abide the judgment that he had appointed, and that for ever and ever.*

1 Pet. v. 8.

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 be 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, to revenge themselves on him by spoiling that; at last they happened into this spacious country of Universe, and steered 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 and beautified it for himself. So when they had found the place, they shouted horribly for joy, and roared on it like as a lion on its 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 engage in, for the winning to themselves this famous town of Mansoul: and these four things were then propounded to be considered of :

And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved, in everlasting chains, under darkness, unto the judgment of the great day. Jude 6. + Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the Devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about seeking whom he may devour. 1 Pet. v. 8.

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 give out private orders to some of their companions, 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?

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 cause this advice to take place, it was added further, that if Mansoul was frightened, or did take the alarm, "it is impossible" said Diabolus (for he spoke now), "that we should take the town: for that none can enter into it without its own consent. Let, therefore, but a few, or but one, assault Mansoul, and, in my opinion," said Diabolus, "let me be he." Wherefore to this they all agreed; and then to the second proposal they came, namely,

II. Whether they had best to 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 with, before now, things that are invisible; they never did as yet see any of their fellow-creatures in so bad and rascally a condition as they: and this was the advice of the fierce Alecto. Then said Apollyon, "The advice is pertinent; for one of us appearing to them as we are now, must needs both beget and multiply such thoughts in them as will put them into a consternation of spirit, and necessitate them to put themselves upon their guard: and if so," said he, "then, as 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 is already given is safe: for, though the men of Mansoul have seen such things as we were once, yet hitherto they did never behold such things as we now are. And it is best, in my 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 his lordship should assume the body of one of those creatures that they of the town had dominion over: "for," quoth he, "those are not only familiar to them, but, being under them, they will never imagine that any 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. They then proceeded to the third thing, which was,

III.

Gen. iii. 1. Rev. xx. 1, 2.

Whether they had best show their inclinations, or the design of their coming to Mansoul or no?

This also was answered in the negative, because of the weight that was in their former reasons, to wit, for that Mansoul were a strong people, a strong people in a strong town, whose walls and gates were impregnable, (to say nothing of their castles,) 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 what time of the 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 will never be, and promising that to them which they shall never find this is the way to win Mansoul, and to make them willingly open their gates to us; yea, and desire us also to come in to them.

"And the reason why I think that this project will do, is, because the people of Mansoul are now 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

Now the serpent was more subtle than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden? Gen. iii. 1.

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, for it went as current down as doth the water down a steep descent; wherefore they go to consider of the last proposal, which was,

IV. 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 might 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 the council of war, rose up, and assayed to do as they had determined: they marched towards Mansoul, but all in a manner invisible, save only one; nor did he approach the town in his own likeness, but under the shape 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 perception. So, as I said, he came up with his train to the gate, and laid his ambuscade for captain Resistance, within bowshot 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 Will-be-will, 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 Will-be-will, when he looked over, and saw who stood at the gate, demanded what he was, and 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,