Diabolus.

the town sounded a charge against them, but they had no drum, they were trumpets of silver with which they sounded against them. Then they which were of the camp The battle begins of Diabolus came down to the town to take between Mansoul it, and the captains, in the castle, with the and the army of slingers at Mouthgate, played upon them amain. And now there was nothing heard in the camp of Diabolus but horrible rage and blasphemy; but in the town good words, prayer, and singing of psalms. The enemy replied with horrible objections, and the terribleness of their drum; but the town made answer with the slapping of their slings, and the melodious noise of their trumpets. And thus the fight lasted for several days together, only now and then they had some small intermission, in which the townsmen refreshed themselves, and the captains made ready for another assault.

The captains of Immanuel were clad in silver armour, and the soldiers in that which was of proof; the soldiers of Diabolus were clad in iron, which was made to give place to Immanuel's engine shot. In the town some were hurt, and some were greatly wounded. Now the worst of it was, a surgeon was scarce in Mansoul, for that Immanuel at this time was absent, Rev. xxli. 2, Ps. xxxviii. 5. Howbeit, with the leaves of a tree the wounded were kept from dyWho of Man- ing, yet their wounds greatly putrified, and soul were some did grievously stink. Of the townsmen wounded. these were wounded, to wit, my Lord Reason, he was wounded in the head. Another that was wounded, was the brave Lord-mayor; he was wounded in the eye. Another that was wounded was Mr. Mind; he received his wound about the stomach. The honest subordithoughts. nate preacher also received a shot not far off the heart, but none of these were mortal. Many also of the inferior sort were not only wounded, but slain outright. Now in the camp of Diabolus were wounded and slain a considerable number: for instance, camp of Diabo- Captain Rage was wounded, and so was Caplus were wound- tain Cruel. Captain Damnation was made to ed and slain. retreat, and intrench himself further off of Mansoul; the standard also of Diabolus was beaten down, and his standard-bearer, Captain Much-hurt, had his brains beat out with a sling-stone, to the no little grief and shame of his prince Diabolus.

Hopeful

Who in the

Many also of the Doubters were slain out-right, though enough of them were left alive to make Mansoul shake and The victory totter. Now the victory that day being turned turned that to Mansoul, put great valour into the townsmen day to Man- and captains, and covered Diabolus's camp with soul, &c. a cloud, but withal it made them far more furi

ous. So the next day Mansoul rested, and commanded that the bells should be rung, the trumpets also joyfully sounded, and the captains shouted round the town.*

My Lord Will-be-will also was not idle, but did notable service within against the domestics, or the Diabolonians, that were in the town, not only by keeping of them in awe; for he lighted on one at last whose name was Mr. Anything, a fellow of whom mention was made before, for it was he, if you remember, that brought the three My Lord Willfellows to Diabolus, whom the Diabolonians be-will taketh took out of Captain Boanerges's companies, and one Loose one Any-thing, and that persuaded them to list themselves foot, and comunder the tyrant, to fight against the army of mitteth them to Shaddai; my Lord Will-be-will also took a ward. notable Diabolonian, whose name was Loose-foot; this Loose-foot was a scout to the vagabonds in Mansoul, and used to carry tidings out of Mansoul to the camp, and out of the camp to those of the enemies in Mansoul: both these my lord sent away safe to Mr. Trueman the jailer, with a commandment to keep them in irons; for he intended then to have them out to be crucified, when it would be for the best to the corporation, and most for the discouragement of the camp of the enemies.†

My Lord-mayor also, though he could not stir about so much as formerly; because of the wound that he had lately received, yet gave he out orders to all that were the natives of Mansoul, to look to their watch and stand upon their guard, and, as occasion shall offer, to prove themselves men. Mr. Conscience the preacher also did his utmost to keep all his good documents alive upon the hearts of the people of Mansoul.

CHAPTER XV.

The inhabitants of Mansoul make a rash sortie on the enemy by night, but are repulsed with loss. Diabolus makes a desperate attack upon Feel-gate, which being weak, he forces, and his army of Doubters possess the town, committing much violence. The inhabitants agree to petition Immanuel, and obtain the assistance of the secretary. Captain Credence presents the peti tion, is favourably received, and made Lord lieutenant of all the forces.

WELL, a while after the captains and stout ones of the town of Mansoul agreed, and resolved upon a time to make a sally out upon the camp of Diabolus, and this must be

*By this battle we may understand the conflict that often takes place between faith and unbelief. The believer may be wounded, but shall not be slain.

† Any-thing means indifference about religion-a conformity, or opposition to it, as convenience requires. Loose-foot, may signify a careless walk and Conversation.

done in the night, and there was the folly of Mansoul (for The captains the night is always the best for the enemy, consult to fall but the worst for Mansoul to fight in,)but yet upon the enemy. they would do it, their courage was so high; their last victory also still stuck in their memories.

van.

fall on.

The night appointed being come, the prince's brave capThey fight in tains cast lots who should lead the van in this the night. new and desperate expedition against Diabolus, Who lead the and against his Diabolonian army; and the lot fell to Captain Credence and Captain Experience; Captain Good-hope led the forlorn-hope (this Captain Experience the prince created such when himself reHow they sided in the town of Mansoul;) so as I said, they made their sally out upon the army that lay in the siege against them; and their hap was to fall in with the main body of their enemies. Now Diabolus and his men, being expertly accustomed to night work, took the alarm presently, and were as ready to give them battle, as if they had sent them word of their coming. Wherefore to it they went amain, and blows were hard on every side; the hell-drum also was beat most furiously, while the trumpets of the prince most sweetly sounded. And thus the battle was joined, and Captain Insatiable looked to the enemie's carriages, and waited when he should receive some prey.

The prince's captains fought it stoutly, beyond what inThey fight deed could be expected they should; they woundbravely. ed many, they made the whole army of Diabolus to make a retreat. But I cannot tell how, but as the brave Captain Credence, Captain Good-hope, and Captain Experience, were upon the pursuit, cutting down and following Captain Cre- hard after the enemy in the rear, Captain Credence hurt. dence stumbled and fell, by which fall he caught so great a hurt, that he could not arise, till Captain Experience helped him up, at which their men were put in disorder; the captain also was so full of pain, that he could not forbear but aloud to cry out; at this the other two captains fainted, supposing that Captain Credence had received his mortal wound; their men also were more disorThe rest of the dered, and had no mind to fight. Now Diacaptains faint. bolus being very observing, though at this time as yet he was put to the worst, perceiving that a halt was made among the pursuers, what does he, but taking it for granted that the captains were either wounded or dead, he therefore at first makes a stand, then faces Diabolus takes about, and so comes up upon the prince's arpla ce. my with as much of his fury as hell could help him to, and his hap was to fall in just among the

three captains, Captain Credence, Captain Good-hope, and Captain Experience, and did cut, wound, and pierce them so dreadfully, that what through discouragement, what through disorder, and what through the wounds that now they had received, and also the loss of much The prince's blood, they scarce were able (though they had forces beaten. for their power the three best hands in Mansoul) to get safe into the town again. Now when the body of the prince's army saw how these three captains were put to the worst, they thought it their wisdom to make as safe and good a retreat as they could, and so returned by the sally port again, and so there was an end of the present action.* Diabolus was so flushed with this night's work, that he promised himself in a few days an easy and complete conquest over the town of Mansoul wherefore on the day following, he comes up to the sides thereof with great boldness, and demands entrance, and that forthwith they deliver themselves up He demands to his government (the Diabolonians too that the town. were within began to be somewhat brisk, as we shall show afterwards,) but the valiant lord-Mayor replied, that what he got he must get by force; for as long as Im- The mayor's manuel their prince was alive, (though he at answer. present was not so with them as they wished,) they could never consent to yield Mansoul up to another.

Diabolus flushed.

The Lord Will-be-will then stood up, and said, "Diabolus, thou master of the den, an enemy to all Brave Will-bethat is good, we poor inhabitants of the town will's speech of Mansoul are too well acquainted with thy rule and government, and with the end of those things that for certain will follow submitting to thee, to do it. Wherefore, though a while we were without knowledge, we suffered thee to take us (as the bird that saw not the snare fell into the hands of the fowler,) yet since we have been turned from darkness to light, we have also been turned from the power of Satan to God. And though through thy subtlety, and the subtlety of the Diabolonians within, we have sustained much loss, and also plunged ourselves into much perplexity, yet give up ourselves, lay down our arms, and yield to so horrid a tyrant as thou, we will not; die upon the place we choose rather to do. Besides, we have hopes that in time deliverance will come from court unto us, and therefore we yet will maintain war against thee.t

* The night of darkness and desertion was not a proper season for this exertion. This sally seems intended to describe the prevalence of a self confident spirit, which cannot issue well; for faith, hope, and experience are wounded.

Whatever temporary advantage Satan may gain over a gracious soul.

This brave speech of the Lord Will-be-will, with that also of the lord-mayor, somewhat abated the boldness of DiaboThe captains lus, though it kindled the fury of his rage. It encouraged. also encouraged the townsmen and captains; yea, it was a plaster to the brave Captain Credence's wound; for you must know that a brave speech now, when the captains of the town, with their men of war, came home routed, and when the enemy took courage and boldness at the success that he had obtained, to draw up to the walls, and demand entrance, as he did, was in season, and also advantageous.

The Lord Will-be-will also played the man within, for Will-be-will's while the captains and soldiers were in the gallantry. field, he was in arms in the town, and whereever by him there was a Diabolonian found, they were forced to feel the weight of his heavy hand, and also the edge of his penetrating sword; many therefore of the Diabolonians he wounded, as the Lord Cavil, the Lord Brisk, the Lord Pragmatic, the Lord Murmur; several also of the meaner sort he sorely maimed: though there cannot at this time an account be given you of any that he slew outright. The cause, or rather the advantage that my Lord Will-be-will had at this time to do thus, was, for that the captains were gone out to fight the enemy in the field. For now, thought the Diabolonians within, is our time to stir and make an uproar in the town; what do they therefore but quickly get themselves into a body, and fall forthwith to hurricaning in Mansoul, as if now nothing but whirlwind and tempest should be there: wherefore, as I said, he takes this opportunity to fall in among them with his men, cutting and slashing with courage that was undaunted; at which the Diabolonians with all haste dispersed themselves to their holds, and my lord to his place as before.

faith to

This brave act of my lord somewhat revenged the wrong done by Diabolus to the captains, and also let them know, Nothing like that Mansoul was not to be parted with, for the crush loss of a victory or two, wherefore the wing Diabolus of the tyrant was clipt again, as to boasting, I mean, in comparison, of what he would have done if the Diabolonians had put the town to the same plight to which he had put the captains.

Well, Diabolus yet resolves to have the other bout with Mansoul; for, thought he, since I beat them once, I may beat them twice: wherefore he commanded his men to be ready at such an hour of the night to make a fresh assault upon the town, and he gave it out in special, that they yet "the root of the matter remaining," it will not give place to him, or patiently endure the thoughts of returning under his hellish tyranny.