Books: The Holy War
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John Bunyan >> The Holy War
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The answer made my Lord Mayor look black in the face; it troubled,
it perplexed, it rent him sore. And now he began again to see what
it was to be familiar with Diabolonians, such as Mr. Carnal-
Security was. When he saw that at court, as yet, there was little
help to be expected, either for himself or friends in Mansoul, he
smote upon his breast, and returned weeping, and all the way
bewailing the lamentable state of Mansoul.
Well, when he was come within sight of the town, the elders and
chief of the people of Mansoul went out at the gate to meet him,
and to salute him, and to know how he sped at court. But he told
them his tale in so doleful a manner, that they all cried out, and
mourned, and wept. Wherefore they threw ashes and dust upon their
heads, and put sackcloth upon their loins, and went crying out
through the town of Mansoul; the which, when the rest of the
townsfolk saw, they all mourned and wept. This, therefore, was a
day of rebuke and trouble, and of anguish to the town of Mansoul,
and also of great distress.
After some time, when they had somewhat refrained themselves, they
came together to consult again what by them was yet to be done; and
they asked advice, as they did before, of that reverend Mr. Godly-
Fear, who told them that there was no way better than to do as they
had done, nor would he that they should be discouraged at all with
that they had met with at court; yea, though several of their
petitions should be answered with nought but silence or rebuke:
'For,' said he, 'it is the way of the wise Shaddai to make men wait
and to exercise patience, and it should be the way of them in want,
to be willing to stay his leisure.
Then they took courage, and sent again and again, and again, and
again; for there was not now one day, nor an hour that went over
Mansoul's head, wherein a man might not have met upon the road one
or other riding post, sounding the horn from Mansoul to the court
of the King Shaddai; and all with letters petitionary in behalf of,
and for the Prince's return to Mansoul. The road, I say, was now
full of messengers, going and returning, and meeting one another;
some from the court, and some from Mansoul; and this was the work
of the miserable town of Mansoul, all that long, that sharp, that
cold and tedious winter.
Now if you have not forgot, you may yet remember that I told you
before, that after Emmanuel had taken Mansoul, yea, and after that
he had new modelled the town, there remained in several lurking
places of the corporation many of the old Diabolonians, that either
came with the tyrant when he invaded and took the town, or that had
there, by reason of unlawful mixtures, their birth and breeding,
and bringing up. And their holes, dens, and lurking places were
in, under, or about the wall of the town. Some of their names are
the Lord Fornication, the Lord Adultery, the Lord Murder, the Lord
Anger, the Lord Lasciviousness, the Lord Deceit, the Lord Evil-eye,
the Lord Blasphemy, and that horrible villain, the old and
dangerous Lord Covetousness. These, as I told you, with many more,
had yet their abode in the town of Mansoul, and that after that
Emmanuel had driven their prince Diabolus out of the castle.
Against these the good Prince did grant a commission to the Lord
Willbewill and others, yea, to the whole town of Mansoul, to seek,
take, secure, and destroy any or all that they could lay hands of,
for that they were Diabolonians by nature, enemies to the Prince,
and those that sought to ruin the blessed town of Mansoul. But the
town of Mansoul did not pursue this warrant, but neglected to look
after, to apprehend, to secure, and to destroy these Diabolonians.
Wherefore what do these villains but by degrees take courage to put
forth their heads, and to show themselves to the inhabitants of the
town. Yea, and as I was told, some of the men of Mansoul grew too
familiar with some of them, to the sorrow of the corporation, as
you yet will hear more of in time and place.
Well, when the Diabolonian lords that were left perceived that
Mansoul had, through sinning, offended Emmanuel their Prince, and
that he had withdrawn himself and was gone, what do they but plot
the ruin of the town of Mansoul. So upon a time they met together
at the hold of one Mr. Mischief, who was also a Diabolonian, and
there consulted how they might deliver up Mansoul into the hands of
Diabolus again. Now some advised one way, and some another, every
man according to his own liking. At last my Lord Lasciviousness
propounded, whether it might not be best, in the first place, for
some of those that were Diabolonians in Mansoul, to adventure to
offer themselves for servants to some of the natives of the town;
'for,' said he, 'if they so do, and Mansoul shall accept of them,
they may for us, and for Diabolus our Lord, make the taking of the
town of Mansoul more easy than otherwise it will be.' But then
stood up the Lord Murder, and said, 'This may not be done at this
time; for Mansoul is now in a kind of a rage, because by our
friend, Mr. Carnal-Security, she hath been once ensnared already,
and made to offend against her Prince; and how shall she reconcile
herself unto her lord again, but by the heads of these men?
Besides, we know that they have in commission to take and slay us
wherever they shall find us; let us, therefore, be wise as foxes:
when we are dead, we can do them no hurt; but while we live, we
may.' Thus, when they had tossed the matter to and fro, they
jointly agreed that a letter should forthwith be sent away to
Diabolus in their name, by which the state of the town of Mansoul
should be showed him, and how much it is under the frowns of their
Prince. 'We may also,' said some, 'let him know our intentions,
and ask of him his advice in the case.'
So a letter was presently framed, the contents of which were
these:-
'To our great lord, the Prince Diabolus, dwelling below in the
infernal cave:
'O great father, and mighty Prince Diabolus, we, the true
Diabolonians yet remaining in the rebellious town of Mansoul,
having received our beings from thee, and our nourishment at thy
hands, cannot with content and quiet endure to behold, as we do
this day, how thou art dispraised, disgraced, and reproached among
the inhabitants of this town; nor is thy long absence at all
delightful to us, because greatly to our detriment.
'The reason of this our writing unto our lord, is for that we are
not altogether without hope that this town may become thy
habitation again; for it is greatly declined from its Prince
Emmanuel; and he is uprisen, and is departed from them: yea, and
though they send, and send, and send, and send after him to return
to them, yet can they not prevail, nor get good words from him.
'There has been also of late, and is yet remaining, a very great
sickness and fainting among them; and that not only upon the poorer
sort of the town, but upon the lords, captains, and chief gentry of
the place, (we only who are of the Diabolonians by nature remain
well, lively, and strong,) so that through their great
transgression on the one hand, and their dangerous sickness on the
other, we judge they lie open to thy hand and power. If,
therefore, it shall stand with thy horrible cunning, and with the
cunning of the rest of the princes with thee, to come and make an
attempt to take Mansoul again, send us word, and we shall to our
utmost power be ready to deliver it into thy hand. Or if what we
have said shall not by thy fatherhood be thought best and most meet
to be done, send us thy mind in a few words, and we are all ready
to follow thy counsel to the hazarding of our lives, and what else
we have.
'Given under our hands the day and date above-written, after a
close consultation at the house of Mr. Mischief, who yet is alive
and hath his place in our desirable town of Mansoul.'
When Mr. Profane (for he was the carrier) was come with his letter
to Hell-Gate Hill, he knocked at the brazen gates for entrance.
Then did Cerberus, the porter, for he is the keeper of that gate,
open to Mr. Profane, to whom he delivered his letter, which he had
brought from the Diabolonians in Mansoul. So he carried it in, and
presented it to Diabolus his lord, and said, 'Tidings, my lord,
from Mansoul, from our trusty friends in Mansoul.'
Then came together from all places of the den Beelzebub, Lucifer,
Apollyon, with the rest of the rabblement there, to hear what news
from Mansoul. So the letter was broken up and read, and Cerberus
he stood by. When the letter was openly read, and the contents
thereof spread into all the corners of the den, command was given
that, without let or stop, dead-man's bell should be rung for joy.
So the bell was rung, and the princes rejoiced that Mansoul was
likely to come to ruin. Now, the clapper of the bell went, 'The
town of Mansoul is coming to dwell with us: make room for the town
of Mansoul.' This bell therefore they did ring, because they did
hope that they should have Mansoul again.
Now, when they had performed this their horrible ceremony, they got
together again to consult what answer to send to their friends in
Mansoul; and some advised one thing, and some another: but at
length, because the business required haste, they left the whole
business to the prince Diabolus, judging him the most proper lord
of the place. So he drew up a letter as he thought fit, in answer
to what Mr. Profane had brought, and sent it to the Diabolonians
that did dwell in Mansoul, by the same hand that had brought theirs
to him; and these were the contents thereof:-
'To our offspring, the high and mighty Diabolonians that yet dwell
in the town of Mansoul, Diabolus, the great prince of Mansoul,
wisheth a prosperous issue and conclusion of those many brave
enterprises, conspiracies, and designs, that you, of your love and
respect to our honour, have in your hearts to attempt to do against
Mansoul. Beloved children and disciples, my Lord Fornication,
Adultery, and the rest, we have here, in our desolate den,
received, to our highest joy and content, your welcome letter, by
the hand of our trusty Mr. Profane; and to show how acceptable your
tidings were, we rang out our bell for gladness; for we rejoiced as
much as we could, when we perceived that yet we had friends in
Mansoul, and such as sought our honour and revenge in the ruin of
the town of Mansoul. We also rejoiced to hear that they are in a
degenerated condition, and that they have offended their Prince,
and that he is gone. Their sickness also pleaseth us, as does also
your health, might, and strength. Glad also would we be, right
horribly beloved, could we get this town into our clutches again.
Nor will we be sparing of spending our wit, our cunning, our craft,
and hellish inventions to bring to a wished conclusion this your
brave beginning in order thereto.
'And take this for your comfort, (our birth, and our offspring,)
that shall we again surprise it and take it, we will attempt to put
all your foes to the sword, and will make you the great lords and
captains of the place. Nor need you fear, if ever we get it again,
that we after that shall be cast out any more; for we will come
with more strength, and so lay far more fast hold than at the first
we did. Besides, it is the law of that Prince that now they own,
that if we get them a second time, they shall be ours for ever.
'Do you, therefore, our trusty Diabolonians, yet more pry into, and
endeavour to spy out the weakness of the town of Mansoul. We also
would that you yourselves do attempt to weaken them more and more.
Send us word also by what means you think we had best to attempt
the regaining thereof: namely, whether by persuasion to a vain and
loose life; or, whether by tempting them to doubt and despair; or,
whether by blowing up of the town by the gunpowder of pride, and
self-conceit. Do you also, O ye brave Diabolonians, and true sons
of the pit, be always in a readiness to make a most hideous assault
within, when we shall be ready to storm it without. Now speed you
in your project, and we in our desires, to the utmost power of our
gates, which is the wish of your great Diabolus, Mansoul's enemy,
and him that trembles when he thinks of judgment to come. All the
blessings of the pit be upon you, and so we close up our letter.
'Given at the pit's mouth, by the joint consent of all the princes
of darkness, to be sent, to the force and power that we have yet
remaining in Mansoul, by the hand of Mr. Profane, by me, Diabolus.'
This letter, as was said, was sent to Mansoul, to the Diabolonians
that yet remained there, and that yet inhabited the wall, from the
dark dungeon of Diabolus, by the hand of Mr. Profane, by whom they
also in Mansoul sent theirs to the pit. Now, when this Mr. Profane
had made his return, and was come to Mansoul again, he went and
came as he was wont to the house of Mr. Mischief, for there was the
conclave, and the place where the contrivers were met. Now, when
they saw that their messenger was returned safe and sound, they
were greatly gladded thereat. Then he presented them with his
letter which he had brought from Diabolus for them; the which, when
they had read and considered, did much augment their gladness.
They asked him after the welfare of their friends, as how their
Lord Diabolus, Lucifer, and Beelzebub did, with the rest of those
of the den. To which this Profane made answer, 'Well, well, my
lords; they are well, even as well as can be in their place. They
also,' said he, 'did ring for joy at the reading of your letter, as
you well perceived by this when you read it.'
Now, as was said, when they had read their letter, and perceived
that it encouraged them in their work, they fell to their way of
contriving again, namely, how they might complete their Diabolonian
design upon Mansoul. And the first thing that they agreed upon was
to keep all things from Mansoul as close as they could. 'Let it
not be known, let not Mansoul be acquainted with what we design
against it.' The next thing was, how, or by what means, they
should try to bring to pass the ruin and overthrow of Mansoul; and
one said after this manner, and another said after that. Then
stood up Mr. Deceit, and said, 'My right Diabolonian friends, our
lords, and the high ones of the deep dungeon, do propound unto us
these three ways.
'1. Whether we had best to seek its ruin by making Mansoul loose
and vain.
'2. Or whether by driving them to doubt and despair.
'3. Or whether by endeavouring to blow them up by the gunpowder of
pride and self-conceit.
'Now, I think, if we shall tempt them to pride, that may do
something; and if we tempt them to wantonness, that may help. But,
in my mind, if we could drive them into desperation, that would
knock the nail on the head; for then we should have them, in the
first place, question the truth of the love of the heart of their
Prince towards them, and that will disgust him much. This, if it
works well, will make them leave off quickly their way of sending
petitions to him; then farewell earnest solicitations for help and
supply; for then this conclusion lies naturally before them, "As
good do nothing, as do to no purpose."' So to Mr. Deceit they
unanimously did consent.
Then the next question was, But how shall we do to bring this our
project to pass? and it was answered by the same gentleman--that
this might be the best way to do it: 'Even let,' quoth he, 'so
many of our friends as are willing to venture themselves for the
promoting of their prince's cause, disguise themselves with
apparel, change their names, and go into the market like far
country-men, and proffer to let themselves for servants to the
famous town of Mansoul, and let them pretend to do for their
masters as beneficially as may be; for by so doing they may, if
Mansoul shall hire them, in little time so corrupt and defile the
corporation, that her now Prince shall be not only further offended
with them, but in conclusion shall spue them out of his mouth. And
when this is done, our prince Diabolus shall prey upon them with
ease: yea, of themselves they shall fall into the mouth of the
cater.'
This project was no sooner propounded, but was as highly accepted,
and forward were all Diabolonians now to engage in so delicate an
enterprise: but it was not thought fit that all should do thus;
wherefore they pitched upon two or three, namely, the Lord
Covetousness, the Lord Lasciviousness, and the Lord Anger. The
Lord Covetousness called himself by the name of Prudent-Thrifty;
the Lord Lasciviousness called himself by the name of Harmless-
Mirth; and the Lord Anger called himself by the name of Good-Zeal.
So upon a market-day they came into the market-place, three lusty
fellows they were to look on, and they were clothed in sheep's
russet, which was also now in a manner as white as were the white
robes of the men of Mansoul. Now the men could speak the language
of Mansoul well. So when they were come into the market-place, and
had offered to let themselves to the townsmen, they were presently
taken up; for they asked but little wages, and promised to do their
masters great service.
Mr. Mind hired Prudent-Thrifty, and Mr. Godly-Fear hired Good-Zeal.
True, this fellow Harmless-Mirth did hang a little in hand, and
could not so soon get him a master as the others did, because the
town of Mansoul was now in Lent, but after a while, because Lent
was almost out, the Lord Willbewill hired Harmless-Mirth to be both
his waiting man and his lackey: and thus they got them masters.
These villains now being got thus far into the houses of the men
of Mansoul, quickly began to do great mischief therein; for, being
filthy, arch, and sly, they quickly corrupted the families where
they were; yea, they tainted their masters much, especially this
Prudent-Thrifty, and him they call Harmless-Mirth. True, he that
went under the visor of Good-Zeal, was not so well liked of his
master; for he quickly found that he was but a counterfeit rascal;
the which when the fellow perceived, with speed he made his escape
from the house, or I doubt not but his master had hanged him.
Well, when these vagabonds had thus far carried on their design,
and had corrupted the town as much as they could, in the next place
they considered with themselves at what time their prince Diabolus
without, and themselves within the town, should make an attempt to
seize upon Mansoul; and they all agreed upon this, that a market-
day would be best for that work; for why? Then will the townsfolk
be busy in their ways: and always take this for a rule, when
people are most busy in the world, they least fear a surprise. 'We
also then,' said they, 'shall be able with less suspicion to gather
ourselves together for the work of our friends and lords; yea, and
in such a day, if we shall attempt our work, and miss it, we may,
when they shall give us the rout, the better hide ourselves in the
crowd, and escape.'
These things being thus far agreed upon by them, they wrote another
letter to Diabolus, and sent it by the hand to Mr. Profane, the
contents of which were these:-
'The lords of Looseness send to the great and high Diabolus from
our dens, caves, holes, and strongholds, in and about the wall of
the town of Mansoul, greeting:
'Our great lord, and the nourisher of our lives, Diabolus--how glad
we were when we heard of your fatherhood's readiness to comply with
us, and help forward our design in our attempts to ruin Mansoul,
none can tell but those who, as we do, set themselves against all
appearance of good, when and wheresoever we find it.
'Touching the encouragement that your greatness is pleased to give
us to continue to devise, contrive, and study the utter desolation
of Mansoul, that we are not solicitous about: for we know right
well that it cannot but be pleasing and profitable to us to see our
enemies, and them that seek our lives, die at our feet, or fly
before us. We therefore are still contriving, and that to the best
of our cunning, to make this work most facile and easy to your
lordships, and to us.
'First, we considered of that most hellishly cunning, compacted,
threefold project, that by you was propounded to us in your last;
and have concluded, that though to blow them up with the gunpowder
of pride would do well, and to do it by tempting them to be loose
and vain will help on, yet to contrive to bring them into the gulf
of desperation, we think will do best of all. Now we, who are at
your beck, have thought or two ways to do this: first we, for our
parts, will make them as vile as we can, and then you with us, at a
time appointed, shall be ready to fall upon them with the utmost
force. And of all the nations that are at your whistle, we think
that an army of doubters may be the most likely to attack and
overcome the town of Mansoul. Thus shall we overcome these
enemies, else the pit shall open her mouth upon them, and
desperation shall thrust them down into it. We have also, to
effect this so much by us desired design, sent already three of our
trusty Diabolonians among them; they are disguised in garb, they
have changed their names, and are now accepted of them; namely,
Covetousness, Lasciviousness, and Anger. The name of Covetousness
is changed to Prudent-Thrifty, and him Mr. Mind has hired, and is
almost become as bad as our friend. Lasciviousness has changed his
name to Harmless-Mirth, and he is got to be the Lord Willbewill's
lackey; but he has made his master very wanton. Anger changed his
name into Good-Zeal, and was entertained by Mr. Godly-Fear; but the
peevish old gentleman took pepper in the nose, and turned our
companion out of his house. Nay, he has informed us since that he
ran away from him, or else his old master had hanged him up for his
labour.
'Now these have much helped forward our work and design upon
Mansoul; for notwithstanding the spite and quarrelsome temper of
the old gentleman last mentioned, the other two ply their business
well, and are likely to ripen the work apace.
'Our next project is, that it be concluded that you come upon the
town upon a market-day, and that when they are upon the heat of
their business; for then, to be sure, they will be most secure, and
least think that an assault will be made upon them. They will also
at such a time be less able to defend themselves, and to offend you
in the prosecution of our design. And we your trusty (and we are
sure your beloved) ones shall, when you shall make your furious
assault without, be ready to second the business within. So shall
we, in all likelihood, be able to put Mansoul to utter confusion,
and to swallow them up before they can come to themselves. If your
serpentine heads, most subtile dragons, and our highly esteemed
lords can find out a better way than this, let us quickly know your
minds.
'To the monsters of the infernal cave, from the house of Mr.
Mischief in Mansoul, by the hand of Mr. Profane.'
Now all the while that the raging runagates and hellish
Diabolonians were thus contriving the ruin of the town of Mansoul,
they (namely, the poor town itself) was in a sad and woeful case;
partly because they had so grievously offended Shaddai and his Son,
and partly because that the enemies thereby got strength within
them afresh; and also because, though they had by many petitions
made suit to the Prince Emmanuel, and to his Father Shaddai by him,
for their pardon and favour, yet hitherto obtained they not one
smile; but contrariwise, through the craft and subtilty of the
domestic Diabolonians, their cloud was made to grow blacker and
blacker, and their Emmanuel to stand at further distance.
The sickness also did still greatly rage in Mansoul, both among the
captains and the inhabitants of the town; and their enemies only
were now lively and strong, and likely to become the head, whilst
Mansoul was made the tail.
By this time the letter last mentioned, that was written by the
Diabolonians that yet lurked in the town of Mansoul, was conveyed
to Diabolus in the black den, by the hand of Mr. Profane. He
carried the letter by Hell-Gate Hill as afore, and conveyed it by
Cerberus to his lord.
But when Cerberus and Mr. Profane did meet, they were presently as
great as beggars, and thus they fell into discourse about Mansoul,
and about the project against her.
'Ah! old friend,' quoth Cerberus, 'art thou come to Hell-Gate Hill
again? By St. Mary, I am glad to see thee!'
Prof. Yes, my lord, I am come again about the concerns of the town
of Mansoul.
Cerb. Prithee, tell me what condition is that town of Mansoul in
at present?
Prof. In a brave condition, my lord, for us, and for my lords, the
lords of this place, I trow for they are greatly decayed as to
godliness, and that is as well as our heart can wish; their Lord is
greatly out with them, and that doth also please us well. We have
already also a foot in their dish, for our Diabolonian friends are
laid in their bosoms, and what do we lack but to be masters of the
place! Besides, our trusty friends in Mansoul are daily plotting
to betray it to the lords of this town; also the sickness rages
bitterly among them; and that which makes up all, we hope at last
to prevail.'
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