Books: The Holy War

J >> John Bunyan >> The Holy War

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Now this Christian act of the brave Lord Willbewill did greatly
abash Captain Past-Hope, discouraged the army of Diabolus, put fear
into the Diabolonian runagates in Mansoul, and put strength and
courage into the captains that belonged to Emmanuel, 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 Diabolonians
within the town could not do such things as Diabolus had hopes they
would. Nor was this the only proof of the brave Lord Willbewill'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 he begat
of Mr. Mind's bastard daughter, whose name was Mrs. Hold-fast-
Bad;)--I say, when his children perceived how the Lord Willbewill
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 Diabolonians were to die, (and to be
sure they were at least by 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 selfsame 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
Diabolonian troublers of Mansoul; but at that time the rest lay so
squat and 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
Willbewill did, when he hanged up those two young Diabolonians; 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 showed, that though Mansoul should be sorely put to it at
the first, yet the victory should most certainly be Mansoul's at
the last.

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 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 the which the townsmen refreshed themselves, and
the captains made ready for another assault.

The captains of Emmanuel 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 Emmanuel's engine-
shot. In the town, some were hurt, and some were greatly wounded.
Now, the worst of it was, a chirurgeon was scarce in Mansoul, for
that Emmanuel at present was absent. Howbeit, with the leaves of a
tree the wounded were kept from dying; yet their wounds did greatly
putrefy, and some did grievously stink. Of the townsmen, these
were wounded, namely, 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
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.

Many also 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 withal 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 Willbewill also was not idle, but did notable service
within against the domestics, or the Diabolonians that were in the
town, not only by keeping 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
fellows to Diabolus, whom the Diabolonians 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
Willbewill did also take a notable Diabolonian, whose name was
Loose-Foot: this Loose-Foot 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. True-Man, 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 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 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 should
offer, to prove themselves men.

Mr. Conscience, the preacher, he also did his utmost to keep all
his good documents alive upon the hearts of the people of Mansoul.

Well, awhile 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 done in the night; and there
was the 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.

So 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, to Captain Experience, and to Captain
Good-Hope, to lead the forlorn hope. (This Captain Experience the
Prince created such when himself did reside 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 enemy's 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 the
brave Captain Credence, Captain Good-Hope, and Captain Experience,
as they were upon the pursuit, cutting down, and following hard
after the enemy in the rear, Captain Credence stumbled and fell, by
which fall he caught so great a hurt, that he could not rise till
Captain Experience did help 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 disordered, and had no list to
fight. Now Diabolus being very observing, though at this time as
yet he was put to the worst, perceiving that a halt was made among
the men that were the pursuers, what does he but, taking it for
granted that the captains were either wounded or dead, he therefore
makes at first 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 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 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 hold 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 this present
action. But Diabolus was so flushed with this night's work, that
he promised himself, in 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 to his government.
The Diabolonians, too, that were within, they began to be somewhat
brisk, as we shall show afterward.

But the valiant Lord Mayor replied, that what he got he must get by
force; for as long as Emmanuel, their Prince, was alive, (though he
at present was not so with them as they wished,) they should never
consent to yield Mansoul up to another.

And with that the Lord Willbewill stood up, and said, 'Diabolus,
thou master of the den, 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
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 also 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 shall 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 a war against thee.'

This brave speech of the Lord Willbewill, with that also of the
Lord Mayor, did somewhat abate the boldness of Diabolus, though it
kindled the fury of his rage. It also succoured the townsmen and
captains; yea, it was as 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 Willbewill also did play the man within; for while the
captains and soldiers were in the field, he was in arms in the
town, and wherever 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, and
the Lord Murmur; several also of the meaner sort he did sorely
maim; 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 Willbewill 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 did somewhat revenge the wrong done by
Diabolus to the captains, and also did let them know that Mansoul
was not to be parted with for the loss of a victory or two;
wherefore the wing of the tyrant was clipped 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 should bend all their force against Feel-gate,
and attempt to break into the town through that. The word that
then he did give to his officers and soldiers was Hell-fire.
'And,' said he, 'if we break in upon them, as I wish we do, either
with some, or with all our force, let them that break in look to
it, that they forget not the word. And let nothing be heard in the
town of Mansoul but, "Hell-fire! Hell-fire! Hell-fire!"' The
drummer was also to beat without ceasing, and the standard-bearers
were to display their colours; the soldiers, too, were to put on
what courage they could, and to see that they played manfully their
parts against the town.

So when night was come, and all things by the tyrant made ready for
the work, he suddenly makes his assault upon Feel-gate, and after
he had awhile struggled there, he throws the gate wide open: for
the truth is, those gates were but weak, and so most easily made to
yield. When Diabolus had thus far made his attempt, he placed his
captains (namely, Torment and No-Ease) there; so he attempted to
press forward, but the Prince's captains came down upon him, and
made his entrance more difficult than he desired. And, to speak
truth, they made what resistance they could; but the three of their
best and most valiant captains being wounded, and by their wounds
made much incapable of doing the town that service they would, (and
all the rest having more than their hands full of the doubters, and
their captains that did follow Diabolus,) they were overpowered
with force, nor could they keep them out of the town. Wherefore
the Prince's men and their captains betook themselves to the
castle, as to the stronghold of the town: and this they did partly
for their own security, partly for the security of the town, and
partly, or rather chiefly, to preserve to Emmanuel the prerogative-
royal of Mansoul; for so was the castle of Mansoul.

The captains therefore being fled into the castle, the enemy,
without much resistance, possess themselves of the rest of the
town, and spreading themselves as they went into every corner, they
cried out as they marched, according to the command of the tyrant,
'Hell-fire! Hell-fire! Hell-fire!' so that nothing for a while
throughout the town of Mansoul could be heard but the direful noise
of 'Hell-fire!' together with the roaring of Diabolus's drum. And
now did the clouds hang black over Mansoul, nor to reason did
anything but ruin seem to attend it. Diabolus also quartered his
soldiers in the houses of the inhabitants of the town of Mansoul.
Yea, the subordinate preacher's house was as full of these
outlandish doubters as ever it could hold, and so was my Lord
Mayor's, and my Lord Willbewill's also. Yea, where was there a
corner, a cottage, a barn, or a hogstye, that now was not full of
these vermin? Yea, they turned the men of the town out of their
houses, and would lie in their beds, and sit at their tables
themselves. Ah, poor Mansoul! now thou feelest the fruits of sin,
yea, what venom was in the flattering words of Mr. Carnal-Security!
They made great havoc of whatever they laid their hands on; yea,
they fired the town in several places; many young children also
were by them dashed in pieces; and those that were yet unborn they
destroyed in their mothers' wombs: for you must needs think that
it could not now be otherwise; for what conscience, what pity, what
bowels of compassion can any expect at the hands of outlandish
doubters? Many in Mansoul that were women, both young and old,
they forced, ravished, and beastlike abused, so that they swooned,
miscarried, and many of them died, and so lay at the top of every
street, and in all by-places of the town.

And now did Mansoul seem to be nothing but a den of dragons, an
emblem of hell, and a place of total darkness. Now did Mansoul lie
almost like the barren wilderness; nothing but nettles, briars,
thorns, weeds, and stinking things seemed now to cover the face of
Mansoul. I told you before, how that these Diabolonian doubters
turned the men of Mansoul out of their beds, and now I will add,
they wounded them, they mauled them, yea, and almost brained many
of them. Many did I say, yea most, if not all of them. Mr.
Conscience they so wounded, yea, and his wounds so festered, that
he could have no ease day nor night, but lay as if continually upon
a rack; but that Shaddai rules all, certainly they had slain him
outright. Mr. Lord Mayor they so abused that they almost put out
his eyes; and had not my Lord Willbewill got into the castle, they
intended to have chopped him all to pieces; for they did look upon
him, as his heart now stood, to be one of the very worst that was
in Mansoul against Diabolus and his crew. And indeed he hath shown
himself a man, and more of his exploits you will hear of
afterwards.

Now, a man might have walked for days together in Mansoul, and
scarcely have seen one in the town that looked like a religious
man. Oh, the fearful state of Mansoul now! now every corner
swarmed with outlandish doubters; red-coats and black-coats walked
the town by clusters, and filled up all the houses with hideous
noises, vain songs, lying stories, and blasphemous language against
Shaddai and his Son. Now also those Diabolonians that lurked in
the walls and dens and holes that were in the town of Mansoul, came
forth and showed themselves; yea, walked with open face in company
with the doubters that were in Mansoul. Yea, they had more
boldness now to walk the streets, to haunt the houses, and to show
themselves abroad, than had any of the honest inhabitants of the
now woful town of Mansoul.

But Diabolus and his outlandish men were not at peace in Mansoul;
for they were not there entertained as were the captains and forces
of Emmanuel: the townsmen did browbeat them what they could; nor
did they partake or make stroy of any of the necessaries of
Mansoul, but that which they seized on against the townsmen's will:
what they could, they hid from them, and what they could not, they
had with an ill-will. They, poor hearts! had rather have had their
room than their company; but they were at present their captives,
and their captives for the present they were forced to be. But, I
say, they discountenanced them as much as they were able, and
showed them all the dislike that they could.

The captains also from the castle did hold them in continual play
with their slings, to the chafing and fretting of the minds of the
enemies. True, Diabolus made a great many attempts to have broken
open the gates of the castle, but Mr. Godly-Fear was made the
keeper of that; and he was a man of that courage, conduct, and
valour, that it was in vain, as long as life lasted within him, to
think to do that work, though mostly desired; wherefore all the
attempts that Diabolus made against him were fruitless. I have
wished sometimes that that man had had the whole rule of the town
of Mansoul.

Well, this was the condition of the town of Mansoul for about two
years and a half: the body of the town was the seat of war, the
people of the town were driven into holes, and the glory of Mansoul
was laid in the dust. What rest, then, could be to the
inhabitants, what peace could Mansoul have, and what sun could
shine upon it? Had the enemy lain so long without in the plain
against the town, it had been enough to have famished them: but
now, when they shall be within, when the town shall be their tent,
their trench and fort against the castle that was in the town; when
the town shall be against the town, and shall serve to be a defence
to the enemies of her strength and life: I say, when they shall
make use of the forts and town-holds to secure themselves in, even
till they shall take, spoil, and demolish the castle,--this was
terrible! and yet this was now the state of the town of Mansoul.

After the town of Mansoul had been in this sad and lamentable
condition, for so long a time as I have told you, and no petitions
that they presented their Prince with, all this while, could
prevail, the inhabitants of the town, namely, the elders and chief
of Mansoul, gathered together, and, after some time spent in
condoling their miserable state and this miserable judgment coming
upon them, they agreed together to draw up yet another petition,
and to send it away to Emmanuel for relief. But Mr. Godly-Fear
stood up and answered, that he knew that his Lord the Prince never
did nor ever would receive a petition for these matters, from the
hand of any whoever, unless the Lord Secretary's hand was to it;
'and this,' quoth he, 'is the reason that you prevailed not all
this while.' Then they said they would draw up one, and get the
Lord Secretary's hand unto it. But Mr. Godly-Fear answered again,
that he knew also that the Lord Secretary would not set his hand to
any petition that himself had not an hand in composing and drawing
up. 'And besides,' said he, 'the Prince doth know my Lord
Secretary's hand from all the hands in the world; wherefore he
cannot be deceived by any pretence whatever. Wherefore my advice
is that you go to my Lord, and implore him to lend you his aid.'
(Now he did yet abide in the castle, where all the captains and
men-at-arms were.)

So they heartily thanked Mr. Godly-Fear, took his counsel, and did
as he had bidden them. So they went and came to my Lord, and made
known the cause of their coming to him; namely, that since Mansoul
was in so deplorable a condition, his Highness would be pleased to
undertake to draw up a petition for them to Emmanuel, the Son of
the mighty Shaddai, and to their King and his Father by him.

Then said the Secretary to them, 'What petition is it that you
would have me draw up for you?' But they said, 'Our Lord knows
best the state and condition of the town of Mansoul; and how we are
backslidden and degenerated from the Prince: thou also knowest who
is come up to war against us, and how Mansoul is now the seat of
war. My Lord knows, moreover, what barbarous usages our men,
women, and children have suffered at their hands; and how our
homebred Diabolonians do walk now with more boldness than dare the
townsmen in the streets of Mansoul. Let our Lord therefore,
according to the wisdom of God that is in him, draw up a petition
for his poor servants to our Prince Emmanuel.' 'Well,' said the
Lord Secretary, 'I will draw up a petition for you, and will also
set my hand thereto.' Then said they, 'But when shall we call for
it at the hands of our Lord?' But he answered, 'Yourselves must be
present at the doing of it; yea, you must put your desires to it.
True, the hand and pen shall be mine, but the ink and paper must be
yours; else how can you say it is your petition? Nor have I need
to petition for myself, because I have not offended.' He also added
as followeth: 'No petition goes from me in my name to the Prince,
and so to his Father by him, but when the people that are chiefly
concerned therein do join in heart and soul in the matter, for that
must be inserted therein.'

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