CHAP. 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 Feelgate, 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 Petition, is favourably received, and made Lord-lieutenant of all the Forces.

WELL,

7ELL, 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 The captains camp of Diabolus, and this must be consult to fall done in the night, and there was the upon the enemy. folly of Mansoul (for the night is always the best for the enemy, but the worst for Mansoul to fight in), but yet they would do it, their courage was so high; their last victory also still stuck in their memories.

They fight in the night.

Who lead the

van.

The night appointed being come, the prince's brave captains cast lots who should lead the van in this new and desperate expedition against Diabolus, 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 resided 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

How they fall on.

They fight bravely.

and his men, being expertly accustomed to nightwork, took the alarm presently, and were as ready to give the 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 enemies carriages, and waited when he should receive some prey. The prince's captains fought it stoutly, beyond what indeed could be expected they should; they wounded 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 hard after the enemy in the rear, Captain Credence stumbled Captain Cre- and fell, by which fall he caught so dence hurt. great a hurt, that he could not rise, 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 The rest of the more disordered, and had no mind to fight. Now Diabolus being very observing, though at this time as yet he was put to the worst, perceiving that an 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 about, and so comes up upon the. prince's army with as much of his fury as hell could help him to, and

captains faint.

Diabolus takes courage.

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 blood, they scarce were able (though they had for their power the three best hands in Mansoul) to get safe into the town again.

The prince's forces beaten.

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'.

the town.

Diabolus was so flushed with this night's work, that he promised himself in a few Diabolus flushed. 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, He demands and that forthwith they deliver themselves up to his government (the Diabolonians too that were within began to be somewhat brisk, as we shall shew afterwards), but the valiant lord-mayor replied, that what he got he must get by force; for as long as ImThe mayor's manuel their prince was alive, (though he at present was not so with them as they wished,) they could never consent to yield Mansoul up to another.

answer.

1 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.

will's speech.

The Lord Will-be-will then stood up, and said, "Diabolus, thou master of the den, Brave Will-be- and enemy to all that is good, we poor inhabitants of the town 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 chuse 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 2."

This brave speech of the Lord Will-be-will, with that also of the lord-mayor, somewhat abated the boldness of Diabolus, though it kindled the fury of his rage. It also encouraged The captains the townsmen and captains; yea, it encouraged. was as a plaister 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

2 Whatever temporary advantage Satan may gain over a gracious soul, 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.

the success that he had obtained, to draw up to the walls, and demand entrance, as he did, was in season, and also advantageous.

Will-be-will's gallantry.

The Lord Will-be-will also played the man within, for while the captains and soldiers were in the field, he was in arms in the town, and where-ever by him there was a Diabolomian 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 Pragmatick, 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.

This brave act of my lord somewhat revenged the wrong done by Diabolus to the captains, and also let them know, that Mansoul was not to be parted with, for the loss of a victory Nothing like faith to crush or two; wherefore the wing of the ty rant was clipt again, as to boasting, I mean, in comparison of what he would have done

Diabolus.