their slings at the enemies, for that gate stood somewhat ascending, so that the placing of them here, and the letting of them fly from that place, did much execution against the tyrant's army; wherefore for these causes with others, Diabolus sought, if possible, to stop up Mouth-gate with dirt.

Now, as Diabolus was busy and industrious in preparing to make his assault upon the town of Mansoul without, so the captains and soldiers in the corporation were as busy in preparing within; they mounted their slings, they set up their banners, they sounded their trumpets, and put themselves in such order as was judged most for the annoyance of the enemy, and for the advantage of Mansoul, and gave their soldiers orders to be ready at the sound of trumpet for war.

The Lord Will-be-will also, he took the charge of watching against the rebels within, and to do what he could to take them while without, or to stifle them within their caves, dens, and holes in the town-wall of Mansoul. And, to speak the truth of him, ever since he did penance for his fault, he has shewed as much honesty and bravery of spirit, as any in Mansoul; for he took one Jolly and his brother Griggish, the two sons of his servant Harmless-mirth, for to that day, tho' the father was committed to ward, the sons had a dwelling in the house of my Lord; I say, he took them, and with his own hand put them to the cross. And this was the reason why be hanged them up after their father was put into the hands of Mr. Trueman the jaoler; they, his sons, began to play their pranks, and to be tickling and toying with the daughters of their lord; nay, it was jealoused that they were too familiar with them, the which was brought to his Lordship's ear. Now his Lordship being unwilling unadvisedly to put any man to death, did not suddenly fall upon them, but set watch and spies to see if the thing was true, of which he was

soon informed, for his two servants, whose names were Find-out and Tell-all, catched them together in an uncivil manner more than once or twice, and went and told their Lord. So when my Lord Will-be-will had sufficient ground to believe the thing was true, he takes the two young Diabolians, for such they were, (for their father was a Diabolian born) and has them to Eye-gate, where he raised a very high cross just in the face of Diabolus; and of his army, and there be hanged the young villains, in defiance to Captain Past-hope, and the horrible standard of the tyrant.

Now this christian act of the brave Lord Will-bewill did greatly abash Captain Past-hope, discouraged the army of Diabolus, put fear into the Diabolian runagades in Mansoul, and put strength and courage into the Captains that belonged to Emanuel the Prince; for they without did gather, and that by this very act of my Lord, that Mansoul was resolved to fight, and that the Diabolians within the town could not do such things as Diabolus had hopes they would. Nor was this the only proof of the brave Lord Will-be-will's honesty to the town, nor of his loyalty to his Prince, as will afterwards appear.

Now when the children of Prudent-thrifty, who dwelt with Mr. Mind, (for Thrift left children with Mr. Mind, when he was also committed to prison), and their names were Gripe and Rake-all, (these begat of Mr. Mind's bastard daughter, whose name was Mrs. Holdfast-to-bad,) I say, when his children perceived how the Lord Will-be-will had served them that dwelt with him, what do they but, lest they should drink of the same cup, endeavour to make their escape; but Mr. Mind being wary of it, took them and put them in hold in his house till morning (for this was done over night) and remembering that by the law of Mansoul all Diabolians were te die, and to be sure they were at least by

Dd

father's

father's side such, and some say by mother's side too; what does he but takes them, and puts them in chains, and carries them to the self-same place where my Lord hanged his two before, and there he hanged them.

The townsmen also took great encouragement at this act of Mr. Mind, and did what they could to have taken some more of these Diabolian troublers of Mansoul; but at that time the rest lay so close, that they could not be apprehended; so they set against them a diligent watch, and went every man to his place.

I told you a little before, that Diabolus and his army were somewhat abashed and discouraged at the sight of what my Lord Will-be-will did, when he hanged up these two young Diabolians; but his discouragement quickly turned itself into furious madness and rage against the town of Mansoul, and fight it he would.. Also the townsmen and captains within, they had their hopes and their expectations heightened, believing at last the day would be theirs, so they feared them the less. Their subordinate preacher too, made a sermon about it, and he took that theme for his text, Gad, a troop shall overcome him, but he shall overcome at the last. Whence he shewed, that though Mansoul should be sorely put to it at the first, yet the victory should most certainly be Mansoul's at the last; Gen. lxix. 19.

So Diabolus commanded that his drummer should beat a charge against the town, and the captains also that were in 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 of Diabolus came down to the town to take it, and the captains in the castle, with the slingers at Mouth-gate 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

replied with horrible objections, and the terribleness of their drum; but the town made answer with the flapping 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 Emanuel 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 Emanuel's engine shot. In the town some were hurt, and some were greatly wounded. Now the worst on't was, a chirurgeon was scarce in Mansoul, for that Emanuel at present was absent, Rev. xxii. 2. Psa. xxxviii. 5. Howbeit, with the leaves of a tree the wounded were kept from dying; yet their wounds did greatly putrify, and some did grievously stink. townsmen these were wounded, to wit,

Of the

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 subordinate preacher also, he 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,

Captain Rage he was wounded, and so was Captain Cruel.

Captain Damnation was made to retreat, and to intreuch himself further off of Mansoul ; the standard also of Diabolus was beaten down, and his standardbearer Captain Much-hurt, had his brains beat out with

a sling

a sling-stone, to the, no little grief and shame of his Prince Diabolus.

Many of the Doubters were slain outright, though enough of them were left alive to make Mansoul shake and totter. Now the victory that day being turned to Mansoul, did put great valour into the townsmen and captains, and did cover Diabolus's camp with a cloud, but with all it made them far more furious. 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 Diabolians, 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 'twas he, if you remember, that brought the three fellows to Diabolus, whom the Diabolians took out of Captain Boanerges's companies, and that persuaded them to list themselves under the tyrant, to fight against the army of Shaddai; my Lord Will-be-will did also take a notable Diabolian, whose name was Loosefoot; this Loosefoot was a scout to the vagabonds in Mansoul, and that did use 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 gaoler, with a commandment to keep them in irons; for he intended then to have them out to be crucified, when it would be 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