Books: The Holy War
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John Bunyan >> The Holy War
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So they did heartily agree with the sentence of the Lord, and a
petition was forthwith drawn up for them. But now, who should
carry it? that was next. But the Secretary advised that Captain
Credence should carry it; for he was a well-spoken man. They
therefore called for him, and propounded to him the business.
'Well,' said the captain, 'I gladly accept of the motion; and
though I am lame, I will do this business for you with as much
speed, and as well as I can.'
The contents of the petition were to this purpose
'O our Lord, and Sovereign Prince Emmanuel, the potent, the long-
suffering Prince! grace is poured into thy lips, and to thee belong
mercy and forgiveness, though we have rebelled against thee. We,
who are no more worthy to be called thy Mansoul, nor yet fit to
partake of common benefits, do beseech thee, and thy Father by
thee, to do away our transgressions. We confess that thou mightest
cast us away for them; but do it not for thy name's sake: let the
Lord rather take an opportunity, at our miserable condition, to let
out his bowels and compassions to us. We are compassed on every
side, Lord; our own backslidings reprove us; our Diabolonians
within our town fright us; and the army of the angel of the
bottomless pit distresses us. Thy grace can be our salvation, and
whither to go but to thee we know not.
'Furthermore, O gracious Prince, we have weakened our captains, and
they are discouraged, sick, and, of late, some of them grievously
worsted and beaten out of the field by the power and force of the
tyrant. Yea, even those of our captains, in whose valour we did
formerly use to put most of our confidence, they are as wounded
men. Besides, Lord, our enemies are lively, and they are strong;
they vaunt and boast themselves, and do threaten to part us among
themselves for a booty. They are fallen also upon us, Lord, with
many thousand doubters, such as with whom we cannot tell what to
do; they are all grim-looked and unmerciful ones, and they bid
defiance to us and thee.
'Our wisdom is gone, our power is gone, because thou art departed
from us; nor have we what we may call ours but sin, shame, and
confusion of face for sin. Take pity upon us, O Lord, take pity
upon us, thy miserable town of Mansoul, and save us out of the
hands of our enemies. Amen.'
This petition, as was touched afore, was handed by the Lord
Secretary, and carried to the court by the brave and most stout
Captain Credence. Now he carried it out at Mouth-gate, (for that,
as I said, was the sally-port of the town,) and he went and came to
Emmanuel with it. Now how it came out, I do not know; but for
certain it did, and that so far as to reach the ears of Diabolus.
Thus I conclude, because that the tyrant had it presently by the
end, and charged the town of Mansoul with it, saying, 'Thou
rebellious and stubborn-hearted Mansoul, I will make thee to leave
off petitioning. Art thou yet for petitioning? I will make thee
to leave.' Yea, he also knew who the messenger was that carried
the petition to the Prince, and it made him both to fear and rage.
Wherefore he commanded that his drum should be beat again, a thing
that Mansoul could not abide to hear: but when Diabolus will have
his drum beat, Mansoul must abide the noise. Well, the drum was
beat, and the Diabolonians were gathered together.
Then said Diabolus, 'O ye stout Diabolonians, be it known unto you,
that there is treachery hatched against us in the rebellious town
of Mansoul; for albeit the town is in our possession, as you see,
yet these miserable Mansoulians have attempted to dare, and have
been so hardy as yet to send to the court to Emmanuel for help.
This I give you to understand, that ye may yet know how to carry it
to the wretched town of Mansoul. Wherefore, O my trusty
Diabolonians, I command that yet more and more ye distress this
town of Mansoul, and vex it with your wiles, ravish their women,
deflower their virgins, slay their children, brain their ancients,
fire their town, and what other mischief you can; and let this be
the reward of the Mansoulians from me, for their desperate
rebellions against me.'
This, you see, was the charge; but something stepped in betwixt
that and execution, for as yet there was but little more done than
to rage.
Moreover, when Diabolus had done thus, he went the next way up to
the castle gates, and demanded that, upon pain of death, the gates
should be opened to him, and that entrance should be given him and
his men that followed after. To whom Mr. Godly-Fear replied, (for
he it was that had the charge of that gate,) that the gate should
not be opened unto him, nor to the men that followed after him. He
said, moreover, that Mansoul, when she had suffered awhile, should
be made perfect, strengthened, settled.
Then said Diabolus, 'Deliver me, then, the men that have petitioned
against me, especially Captain Credence, that carried it to your
Prince; deliver that varlet into my hands, and I will depart from
the town.'
Then up starts a Diabolonian, whose name was Mr. Fooling, and said,
'My lord offereth you fair: it is better for you that one man
perish, than that your whole Mansoul should be undone.'
But Mr. Godly-Fear made him this replication, 'How long will
Mansoul be kept out of the dungeon, when she hath given up her
faith to Diabolus! As good lose the town, as lose Captain
Credence; for if one be gone the other must follow.' But to that
Mr. Fooling said nothing.
Then did my Lord Mayor reply, and said, 'O thou devouring tyrant,
be it known unto thee, we shall hearken to none of thy words; we
are resolved to resist thee as long as a captain, a man, a sling,
and a stone to throw at thee shall be found in the town of
Mansoul.' But Diabolus answered, 'Do you hope, do you wait, do you
look for help and deliverance? You have sent to Emmanuel, but your
wickedness sticks too close in your skirts, to let innocent prayers
come out of your lips. Think you that you shall be prevailers and
prosper in this design? You will fail in your wish, you will fail
in your attempts; for it is not only I, but your Emmanuel is
against you: yea, it is he that hath sent me against you to subdue
you. For what, then, do you hope? or by what means will you
escape?'
Then said the Lord Mayor, 'We have sinned indeed; but that shall be
no help to thee, for our Emmanuel hath said it, and that in great
faithfulness, "and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast
out." He hath also told us, O our enemy, that "all manner of sin
and blasphemy shall be forgiven" to the sons of men. Therefore we
dare not despair, but will look for, wait for, and hope for
deliverance still.'
Now, by this time, Captain Credence was returned and come from the
court from Emmanuel to the castle of Mansoul, and he returned to
them with a packet. So my Lord Mayor, hearing that Captain
Credence was come, withdrew himself from the noise of the roaring
of the tyrant, and left him to yell at the wall of the town, or
against the gates of the castle. So he came up to the captain's
lodgings, and saluting him, he asked him of his welfare, and what
was the best news at court. But when he asked Captain Credence
that, the water stood in his eyes. Then said the captain, 'Cheer
up, my lord, for all will be well in time.' And with that he first
produced his packet, and laid it by; but that the Lord Mayor, and
the rest of the captains, took for sign of good tidings. Now a
season of grace being come, he sent for all the captains and elders
of the town, that were here and there in their lodgings in the
castle and upon their guard, to let them know that Captain Credence
was returned from the court, and that he had something in general,
and something in special, to communicate to them. So they all came
up to him, and saluted him, and asked him concerning his journey,
and what was the best news at the court. And he answered them as
he had done the Lord Mayor before, that all would be well at last.
Now, when the captain had thus saluted them, he opened his packet,
and thence did draw out his several notes for those that he had
sent for.
And the first note was for my Lord Mayor, wherein was signified:-
That the Prince Emmanuel had taken it well that my Lord Mayor had
been so true and trusty in his office, and the great concerns that
lay upon him for the town and people of Mansoul. Also, he bid him
to know, that he took it well that he had been so bold for his
Prince Emmanuel, and had engaged so faithfully in his cause against
Diabolus. He also signified, at the close of his letter, that he
should shortly receive his reward.
The second note that came out, was for the noble Lord Willbewill,
wherein there was signified:- That his Prince Emmanuel did well
understand how valiant and courageous he had been for the honour of
his Lord, now in his absence, and when his name was under contempt
by Diabolus. There was signified also, that his Prince had taken
it well that he had been so faithful to the town of Mansoul, in his
keeping of so strict a hand and eye over and so strict a rein upon
the neck of the Diabolonians, that did still lie lurking in their
several holes in the famous town of Mansoul. He signified,
moreover, how that he understood that my Lord had, with his own
hand, done great execution upon some of the chief of the rebels
there, to the great discouragement of the adverse party and to the
good example of the whole town of Mansoul; and that shortly his
lordship should have his reward.
The third note came out for the subordinate preacher, wherein was
signified:- That his Prince took it well from him, that he had so
honestly and so faithfully performed his office, and executed the
trust committed to him by his Lord, while he exhorted, rebuked, and
forewarned Mansoul according to the laws of the town. He
signified, moreover, that he took it well at his hand that he
called to fasting, to sackcloth, and ashes, when Mansoul was under
her revolt. Also, that he called for the aid of the Captain
Boanerges to help in so weighty a work; and that shortly he also
should receive his reward.
The fourth note came out for Mr. Godly-Fear, wherein his Lord thus
signified:- That his Lordship observed, that he was the first of
all the men in Mansoul that detected Mr. Carnal-Security as the
only one that, through his subtlety and cunning, had obtained for
Diabolus a defection and decay of goodness in the blessed town of
Mansoul. Moreover, his Lord gave him to understand, that he still
remembered his tears and mourning for the state of Mansoul. It was
also observed, by the same note, that his Lord took notice of his
detecting of this Mr. Carnal-Security, at his own table among his
guests, in his own house, and that in the midst of his jolliness,
even while he was seeking to perfect his villanies against the town
of Mansoul. Emmanuel also took notice that this reverend person,
Mr. Godly-Fear, stood stoutly to it, at the gates of the castle,
against all the threats and attempts of the tyrant; and that he had
put the townsmen in a way to make their petition to their Prince,
so as that he might accept thereof, and as they might obtain an
answer of peace; and that therefore shortly he should receive his
reward.
After all this, there was yet produced a note which was written to
the whole town of Mansoul, whereby they perceived--That their Lord
took notice of their so often repeating of petitions to him; and
that they should see more of the fruits of such their doings in
time to come. Their Prince did also therein tell them, that he
took it well, that their heart and mind, now at last, abode fixed
upon him and his ways, though Diabolus had made such inroads upon
them; and that neither flatteries on the one hand, nor hardships on
the other, could make them yield to serve his cruel designs. There
was also inserted at the bottom of this note--That his Lordship had
left the town of Mansoul in the hands of the Lord Secretary, and
under the conduct of Captain Credence, saying, 'Beware that you yet
yield yourselves unto their governance; and in due time you shall
receive your reward.'
So, after the brave Captain Credence had delivered his notes to
those to whom they belonged, he retired himself to my Lord
Secretary's lodgings, and there spends time in conversing with him;
for they too were very great one with another, and did indeed know
more how things would go with Mansoul than did all the townsmen
besides. The Lord Secretary also loved the Captain Credence
dearly; yea, many a good bit was sent him from my Lord's table;
also, he might have a show of countenance, when the rest of Mansoul
lay under the clouds: so, after some time for converse was spent,
the captain betook himself to his chambers to rest. But it was not
long after when my Lord did send for the captain again; so the
captain came to him, and they greeted one another with usual
salutations. Then said the captain to the Lord Secretary, 'What
hath my Lord to say to his servant?' So the Lord Secretary took
him and had him aside, and after a sign or two of more favour, he
said, 'I have made thee the Lord's lieutenant over all the forces
in Mansoul; so that, from this day forward, all men in Mansoul
shall be at thy word; and thou shalt be he that shall lead in, and
that shall lead out Mansoul. Thou shalt therefore manage,
according to thy place, the war for thy Prince, and for the town of
Mansoul, against the force and power of Diabolus; and at thy
command shall the rest of the captains be.'
Now the townsmen began to perceive what interest the captain had,
both with the court, and also with the Lord Secretary in Mansoul;
for no man before could speed when sent, nor bring such good news
from Emmanuel as he. Wherefore what do they, after some
lamentation that they made no more use of him in their distresses,
but send by their subordinate preacher to the Lord Secretary, to
desire him that all that ever they were and had might be put under
the government, care, custody, and conduct of Captain Credence.
So their preacher went and did his errand, and received this answer
from the mouth of his Lord: that Captain Credence should be the
great doer in all the King's army, against the King's enemies, and
also for the welfare of Mansoul. So he bowed to the ground, and
thanked his Lordship, and returned and told his news to the
townsfolk. But all this was done with all imaginable secrecy,
because the foes had yet great strength in the town. But to return
to our story again.
When Diabolus saw himself thus boldly confronted by the Lord Mayor,
and perceived the stoutness of Mr. Godly-Fear, he fell into a rage,
and forthwith called a council of war, that he might be revenged on
Mansoul. So all the princes of the pit came together, and old
Incredulity at the head of them, with all the captains of his army.
So they consult what to do. Now the effect and conclusion of the
council that day was how they might take the castle, because they
could not conclude themselves masters of the town so long as that
was in the possession of their enemies.
So one advised this way, and another advised that; but when they
could not agree in their verdict, Apollyon, that president of the
council, stood up, and thus he began: 'My brotherhood,' quoth he,
'I have two things to propound unto you; and my first is this. Let
us withdraw ourselves from the town into the plain again, for our
presence here will do us no good, because the castle is yet in our
enemies' hands; nor is it possible that we should take that, so
long as so many brave captains are in it, and that this bold
fellow, Godly-Fear, is made the keeper of the gates of it. Now,
when we have withdrawn ourselves into the plain, they, of their own
accord, will be glad of some little ease; and it may be, of their
own accord, they again may begin to be remiss, and even their so
being will give them a bigger blow than we can possibly give them
ourselves. But if that should fail, our going forth of the town
may draw the captains out after us; and you know what it cost them
when we fought them in the field before. Besides, can we but draw
them out into the field, we may lay an ambush behind the town,
which shall, when they are come forth abroad, rush in and take
possession of the castle.'
But Beelzebub stood up, and replied, saying: 'It is impossible to
draw them all off from the castle; some, you may be sure, will lie
there to keep that; wherefore it will be but in vain thus to
attempt, unless we were sure that they will all come out.' He
therefore concluded that what was done must be done by some other
means. And the most likely means that the greatest of their heads
could invent, was that which Apollyon had advised to before,
namely, to get the townsmen again to sin. 'For,' said he, 'it is
not our being in the town, nor in the field, nor our fighting, nor
our killing of their men, that can make us the masters of Mansoul;
for so long as one in the town is able to lift up his finger
against us, Emmanuel will take their parts; and if he shall take
their parts, we know what time of day it will be with us.
Wherefore, for my part,' quoth he, 'there is, in my judgment, no
way to bring them into bondage to us, like inventing a way to make
them sin. Had we,' said he, 'left all our doubters at home, we had
done as well as we have done now, unless we could have made them
the masters and governors of the castle; for doubters at a distance
are but like objections refelled with arguments. Indeed, can we
but get them into the hold, and make them possessors of that, the
day will be our own. Let us, therefore, withdraw ourselves into
the plain, (not expecting that the captains in Mansoul should
follow us,) but yet, I say, let us do this, and before we so do,
let us advise again with our trusty Diabolonians that are yet in
their holds of Mansoul, and set them to work to betray the town to
us; for they indeed must do it, or it will be left undone for
ever.' By these sayings of Beelzebub, (for I think it was he that
gave this counsel,) the whole conclave was forced to be of his
opinion, namely, that the way to get the castle was to get the town
to sin. Then they fell to inventing by what means they might do
this thing.
Then Lucifer stood up, and said: 'The counsel of Beelzebub is
pertinent. Now, the way to bring this to pass, in mine opinion, is
this: let us withdraw our force from the town of Mansoul; let us
do this, and let us terrify them no more, either with summons, or
threats, or with the noise of our drum, or any other awakening
means. Only let us lie in the field at a distance, and be as if we
regarded them not; for frights, I see, do but awaken them, and make
them more stand to their arms. I have also another stratagem in my
head: you know Mansoul is a market-town, and a town that delights
in commerce; what, therefore, if some of our Diabolonians shall
feign themselves far-country men, and shall go out and bring to the
market of Mansoul some of our wares to sell; and what matter at
what rates they sell their wares, though it be but for half the
worth? Now, let those that thus shall trade in their market be
those that are witty and true to us, and I will lay my crown to
pawn it will do. There are two that are come to my thoughts
already, that I think will be arch at this work, and they are Mr.
Penny-wise-pound-foolish, and Mr. Get-i'the-hundred-and-lose-i'the-
shire; nor is this man with the long name at all inferior to the
other. What, also, if you join with them Mr. Sweet-world and Mr.
Present-good; they are men that are civil and cunning, but our true
friends and helpers. Let these, with as many more, engage in this
business for us, and let Mansoul be taken up in much business, and
let them grow full and rich, and this is the way to get ground of
them. Remember ye not that thus we prevailed upon Laodicea, and
how many at present do we hold in this snare? Now, when they begin
to grow full, they will forget their misery; and if we shall not
affright them, they may happen to fall asleep, and so be got to
neglect their town watch, their castle watch, as well as their
watch at the gates.
'Yea, may we not, by this means, so cumber Mansoul with abundance,
that they shall be forced to make of their castle a warehouse,
instead of a garrison fortified against us, and a receptacle for
men of war. Thus, if we get our goods and commodities thither, I
reckon that the castle is more than half ours. Besides, could we
so order it that it shall be filled with such kind of wares, then
if we made a sudden assault upon them, it would be hard for the
captains to take shelter there. Do you not know that of the
parable, "The deceitfulness of riches choke the word"? and again,
"When the heart is over-charged with surfeiting and drunkenness,
and the cares of this life," all mischief comes upon them at
unawares?
'Furthermore, my lords,' quoth he, 'you very well know that it is
not easy for a people to be filled with our things, and not to have
some of our Diabolonians as retainers to their houses and services.
Where is a Mansoulian that is full of this world, that has not for
his servants and waiting-men, Mr. Profuse, or Mr. Prodigality, or
some other of our Diabolonian gang, as Mr. Voluptuous, Mr.
Pragmatical, Mr. Ostentation, or the like? Now these can take the
castle of Mansoul, or blow it up, or make it unfit for a garrison
for Emmanuel, and any of these will do. Yea, these, for aught I
know, may do it for us sooner than an army of twenty thousand men.
Wherefore, to end as I began, my advice is, that we quietly
withdraw ourselves, not offering any further force, or forcible
attempts, upon the castle, at least at this time; and let us set on
foot our new project, and let us see if that will not make them
destroy themselves.'
This advice was highly applauded by them all, and was accounted the
very masterpiece of hell, namely, to choke Mansoul with a fulness
of this world, and to surfeit her heart with the good things
thereof. But see how things meet together! Just as this
Diabolonian council was broken up, Captain Credence received a
letter from Emmanuel, the contents of which were these: That upon
the third day he would meet him in the field in the plains about
Mansoul. 'Meet me in the field!' quoth the Captain; 'what meaneth
my lord by this? I know not what he meaneth by meeting me in the
field.' So he took the note in his hand, and did carry it to my
Lord Secretary, to ask his thoughts thereupon; for my Lord was a
seer in all matters concerning the King, and also for the good and
comfort of the town of Mansoul. So he showed my Lord the note, and
desired his opinion thereof. 'For my part,' quoth Captain
Credence, 'I know not the meaning thereof.' So my lord did take
and read it and, after a little pause, he said, 'The Diabolonians
have had against Mansoul a great consultation to-day; they have, I
say, this day been contriving the utter ruin of the town; and the
result of their council is, to set Mansoul into such a way which,
if taken, will surely make her destroy herself. And, to this end,
they are making ready for their own departure out of the town,
intending to betake themselves to the field again,' and there to
lie till they shall see whether this their project will take or no.
But be thou ready with the men of thy Lord, (for on the third day
they will be in the plain,) there to fall upon the Diabolonians;
for the Prince will by that time be in the field; yea, by that it
is break of day, sun-rising, or before, and that with a mighty
force against them. So he shall be before them, and thou shalt be
behind them, and betwixt you both their army shall be destroyed.'
When Captain Credence heard this, away goes he to the rest of the
captains, and tells them what a note he had a while since received
from the hand of Emmanuel. 'And,' said he, 'that which was dark
therein hath my lord the Lord Secretary expounded unto me.' He
told them, moreover, what by himself and by them must be done to
answer the mind of their Lord. Then were the captains glad; and
Captain Credence commanded that all the King's trumpeters should
ascend to the battlements of the castle, and there, in the audience
of Diabolus and of the whole town of Mansoul, make the best music
that heart could invent. The trumpeters then did as they were
commanded. They got themselves up to the top of the castle, and
thus they began to sound. Then did Diabolus start, and said, 'What
can be the meaning of this? they neither sound Boot-and-saddle, nor
Horse-and-away, nor a charge. What do these madmen mean that yet
they should be so merry and glad?' Then answered one of themselves
and said, 'This is for joy that their Prince Emmanuel is coming to
relieve the town of Mansoul; and to this end he is at the head of
an army, and that this relief is near.'
The men of Mansoul also were greatly concerned at this melodious
charm of the trumpets; they said, yea, they answered one another,
saying, 'This can be no harm to us; surely this can be no harm to
us.' Then said the Diabolonians, 'What had we best to do?' and it
was answered, 'It was best to quit the town;' and 'that,' said one,
'ye may do in pursuance of your last counsel, and by so doing also
be better able to give the enemy battle, should an army from
without come upon us. So, on the second day, they withdrew
themselves from Mansoul, and abode in the plains without; but they
encamped themselves before Eye-gate, in what terrene and terrible
manner they could. The reason why they would not abide in the town
(besides the reasons that were debated in their late conclave) was,
for that they were not possessed of the stronghold, and 'because,'
said they, 'we shall have more convenience to fight, and also to
fly, if need be, when we are encamped in the open plains.'
Besides, the town would have been a pit for them rather than a
place of defence, had the Prince come up and inclosed them fast
therein. Therefore they betook themselves to the field, that they
might also be out of the reach of the slings, by which they were
much annoyed all the while that they were in the town.
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