Books: The Holy War
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John Bunyan >> The Holy War
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And just now, while Diabolus was speaking these words to Mansoul,
Tisiphone shot at Captain Resistance, where he stood on the gate,
and mortally wounded him in the head; so that he, to the amazement
of the townsmen, and the encouragement of Diabolus, fell down dead
quite over the wall. Now, when Captain Resistance was dead, (and
he was the only man of war in the town,) poor Mansoul was wholly
left naked of courage, nor had she now any heart to resist. But
this was as the devil would have it. Then stood forth he, Mr. Ill-
pause, that Diabolus brought with him, who was his orator; and he
addressed himself to speak to the town of Mansoul; the tenour of
whose speech here follows:-
'Gentlemen,' quoth he, 'it is my master's happiness that he has
this day a quiet and teachable auditory; and it is hoped by us that
we shall prevail with you not to cast off good advice. My master
has a very great love for you; and although, as he very well knows,
that he runs the hazard of the anger of King Shaddai, yet love to
you will make him do more than that. Nor doth there need that a
word more should be spoken to confirm for truth what he hath said;
there is not a word but carries with it self-evidence in its
bowels; the very name of the tree may put an end to all controversy
in this matter. I therefore, at this time, shall only add this
advice to you, under and by the leave of my lord;' (and with that
he made Diabolus a very low congee;) 'consider his words, look on
the tree and the promising fruit thereof; remember also that yet
you know but little, and that this is the way to know more: and if
your reasons be not conquered to accept of such good counsel, you
are not the men that I took you to be.'
But when the townsfolk saw that the tree was good for food, and
that it was pleasant to the eye, and a tree to be desired to make
one wise, they did as old Ill-pause advised; they took and did eat
thereof. Now this I should have told you before, that even then,
when this Ill-pause was making his speech to the townsmen, my Lord
Innocency (whether by a shot from the camp of the giant, or from
some sinking qualm that suddenly took him, or whether by the
stinking breath of that treacherous villain old Ill-pause, for so I
am most apt to think) sunk down in the place where he stood, nor
could be brought to life again. Thus these two brave men died--
brave men, I call them; for they were the beauty and glory of
Mansoul, so long as they lived therein; nor did there now remain
any more a noble spirit in Mansoul; they all fell down and yielded
obedience to Diabolus; and became his slaves and vassals, as you
shall hear.
Now these being dead, what do the rest of the townsfolk, but, as
men that had found a fool's paradise, they presently, as afore was
hinted, fall to prove the truth of the giant's words. And, first,
they did as Ill-pause had taught them; they looked, they considered
they were taken with the forbidden fruit; they took thereof, and
did eat; and having eaten, they became immediately drunken
therewith. So they open the gate, both Ear-gate and Eye-gate, and
let in Diabolus with all his bands, quite forgetting their good
Shaddai, his law, and the judgment that he had annexed, with solemn
threatening, to the breach thereof.
Diabolus, having now obtained entrance in at the gates of the
town, marches up to the middle thereof, to make his conquest as
sure as he could; and finding, by this time, the affections of the
people warmly inclining to him, he, as thinking it was best
striking while the iron is hot, made this further deceivable speech
unto them, saying, 'Alas, my poor Mansoul! I have done thee indeed
this service, as to promote thee to honour, and to greaten thy
liberty; but, alas! alas! poor Mansoul, thou wantest now one to
defend thee; for assure thyself that when Shaddai shall hear what
is done, he will come; for sorry will he be that thou hast broken
his bonds, and cast his cords away from thee. What wilt thou do?
Wilt thou, after enlargement, suffer thy privileges to be invaded
and taken away, or what wilt resolve with thyself?'
Then they all with one consent said to this bramble, 'Do thou reign
over us.' So he accepted the motion, and became the king of the
town of Mansoul. This being done, the next thing was to give him
possession of the castle, and so of the whole strength of the town.
Wherefore, into the castle he goes; it was that which Shaddai built
in Mansoul for his own delight and pleasure; this now was become a
den and hold for the giant Diabolus.
Now, having got possession of this stately palace or castle, what
doth he but makes it a garrison for himself, and strengthens and
fortifies it with all sorts of provision, against the King Shaddai,
or those that should endeavour the regaining of it to him and his
obedience again.
This done, but not thinking himself yet secure enough, in the next
place he bethinks himself of new modelling the town; and so he
does, setting up one, and putting down another at pleasure.
Wherefore my Lord Mayor, whose name was my Lord Understanding, and
Mr. Recorder, whose name was Mr. Conscience, these he put out of
place and power.
As for my Lord Mayor, though he was an understanding man, and one
too that had complied with the rest of the town of Mansoul in
admitting the giant into the town, yet Diabolus thought not fit to
let him abide in his former lustre and glory, because he was a
seeing man. Wherefore he darkened him, not only by taking from him
his office and power, but by building a high and strong tower, just
between the sun's reflections and the windows of my lord's palace;
by which means his house and all, and the whole of his habitation,
were made as dark as darkness itself. And thus, being alienated
from the light, he became as one that was born blind. To this, his
house, my lord was confined as to a prison; nor might he, upon his
parole, go farther than within his own bounds. And now, had he had
a heart to do for Mansoul, what could he do for it, or wherein
could he be profitable to her? So then, so long as Mansoul was
under the power and government of Diabolus, (and so long it was
under him, as it was obedient to him, which was even until by a war
it was rescued out of his hand,) so long my Lord Mayor was rather
an impediment in, than an advantage to the famous town of Mansoul.
As for Mr. Recorder, before the town was taken, he was a man well
read in the laws of his king, and also a man of courage and
faithfulness to speak truth at every occasion; and he had a tongue
as bravely hung as he had a head filled with judgment. Now, this
man Diabolus could by no means abide, because, though he gave his
consent to his coming into the town, yet he could not, by all the
wiles, trials, stratagems, and devices that he could use, make him
wholly his own. True, he was much degenerated from his former
king, and also much pleased with many of the giant's laws and
service; but all this would not do, forasmuch as he was not wholly
his. He would now and then think upon Shaddai, and have dread of
his law upon him, and then he would speak against Diabolus with a
voice as great as when a lion roareth. Yea, and would also at
certain times, when his fits were upon him, (for you must know that
sometimes he had terrible fits,) make the whole town of Mansoul
shake with his voice: and therefore the now king of Mansoul could
not abide him.
Diabolus, therefore, feared the Recorder more than any that was
left alive in the town of Mansoul, because, as I said, his words
did shake the whole town; they were like the rattling thunder, and
also like thunder-claps. Since, therefore, the giant could not
make him wholly his own, what doth he do but studies all that he
could to debauch the old gentleman, and by debauchery to stupefy
his mind, and more harden his heart in the ways of vanity. And as
he attempted, so he accomplished his design: he debauched the man,
and by little and little so drew him into sin and wickedness, that
at last he was not only debauched, as at first, and so by
consequence defiled, but was almost (at last, I say) past all
conscience of sin. And this was the farthest Diabolus could go.
Wherefore he bethinks him of another project, and that was, to
persuade the men of the town that Mr. Recorder was mad, and so not
to be regarded. And for this he urged his fits, and said, 'If he
be himself, why doth he not do thus always? But,' quoth he, 'as
all mad folks have their fits, and in them their raving language,
so hath this old and doating gentleman.'
Thus, by one means or another, he quickly got Mansoul to slight,
neglect, and despise whatever Mr. Recorder could say. For, besides
what already you have heard, Diabolus had a way to make the old
gentleman, when he was merry, unsay and deny what he in his fits
had affirmed. And, indeed, this was the next way to make himself
ridiculous, and to cause that no man should regard him. Also now
he never spake freely for King Shaddai, but also by force and
constraint. Besides, he would at one time be hot against that at
which, at another, he would hold his peace; so uneven was he now in
his doings. Sometimes he would be as if fast asleep, and again
sometimes as dead, even then when the whole town of Mansoul was in
her career after vanity, and in her dance after the giant's pipe.
Wherefore, sometimes when Mansoul did use to be frighted with the
thundering voice of the Recorder that was, and when they did tell
Diabolus of it, he would answer, that what the old gentleman said
was neither of love to him nor pity to them, but of a foolish
fondness that he had to be prating; and so would hush, still, and
put all to quiet again. And that he might leave no argument
unurged that might tend to make them secure, he said, and said it
often, 'O Mansoul! consider that, notwithstanding the old
gentleman's rage, and the rattle of his high and thundering words,
you hear nothing of Shaddai himself;' when, liar and deceiver that
he was, every outcry of Mr. Recorder against the sin of Mansoul was
the voice of God in him to them. But he goes on, and says, 'You
see that he values not the loss nor rebellion of the town of
Mansoul, nor will he trouble himself with calling his town to a
reckoning for their giving themselves to me. He knows that though
you were his, now you are lawfully mine; so, leaving us one to
another, he now hath shaken his hands of us.
'Moreover, O Mansoul!' quoth he, 'consider how I have served you,
even to the uttermost of my power; and that with the best that I
have, could get, or procure for you in all the world: besides, I
dare say that the laws and customs that you now are under, and by
which you do homage to me, do yield you more solace and content
than did the paradise that at first you possessed. Your liberty
also, as yourselves do very well know, has been greatly widened and
enlarged by me; whereas I found you a penned-up people. I have not
laid any restraint upon you; you have no law, statute, or judgment
of mine to fright you; I call none of you to account for your
doings, except the madman--you know who I mean; I have granted you
to live, each man like a prince in his own, even with as little
control from me as I myself have from you.'
And thus would Diabolus hush up and quiet the town of Mansoul, when
the Recorder that was, did at times molest them: yea, and with
such cursed orations as these, would set the whole town in a rage
and fury against the old gentleman. Yea, the rascal crew at some
times would be for destroying him. They have often wished, in my
hearing, that he had lived a thousand miles off from them: his
company, his words, yea, the sight of him, and specially when they
remembered how in old times he did use to threaten and condemn
them, (for all he was now so debauched,) did terrify and afflict
them sore.
But all wishes were vain, for I do not know how, unless by the
power of Shaddai, and his wisdom, he was preserved in being amongst
them. Besides, his house was as strong as a castle, and stood hard
by a stronghold of the town: moreover, if at any time any of the
crew or rabble attempted to make him away, he could pull up the
sluices, and let in such floods as would drown all round about him.
But to leave Mr. Recorder, and to come to my Lord Willbewill,
another of the gentry of the famous town of Mansoul. This
Willbewill was as high-born as any man in Mansoul, and was as much,
if not more, a freeholder than many of them were; besides, if I
remember my tale aright, he had some privileges peculiar to himself
in the famous town of Mansoul. Now, together with these, he was a
man of great strength, resolution, and courage, nor in his occasion
could any turn him away. But I say, whether he was proud of his
estate, privileges, strength, or what, (but sure it was through
pride of something,) he scorns now to be a slave in Mansoul; and
therefore resolves to bear office under Diabolus, that he might
(such an one as he was) be a petty ruler and governor in Mansoul.
And, headstrong man that he was! thus he began betimes; for this
man, when Diabolus did make his oration at Ear-gate, was one of the
first that was for consenting to his words, and for accepting his
counsel at wholesome, and that was for the opening of the gate, and
for letting him into the town; wherefore Diabolus had a kindness
for him, and therefore he designed for him a place. And perceiving
the valour and stoutness of the man, he coveted to have him for one
of his great ones, to act and do in matters of the highest concern.
So he sent for him, and talked with him of that secret matter that
lay in his breast, but there needed not much persuasion in the
case. For as at first he was willing that Diabolus should be let
into the town, so now he was as willing to serve him there. When
the tyrant, therefore, perceived the willingness of my lord to
serve him, and that his mind stood bending that way, he forthwith
made him the captain of the castle, governor of the wall, and
keeper of the gates of Mansoul: yea, there was a clause in his
commission, that nothing without him should be done in all the town
of Mansoul. So that now, next to Diabolus himself, who but my Lord
Willbewill in all the town of Mansoul! nor could anything now be
done, but at his will and pleasure, throughout the town of Mansoul.
He had also one Mr. Mind for his clerk, a man to speak on every way
like his master: for he and his lord were in principle one, and in
practice not far asunder. And now was Mansoul brought under to
purpose, and made to fulfil the lusts of the will, and of the mind.
But it will not out of my thoughts what a desperate one this
Willbewill was when power was put into his hand. First, he flatly
denied that he owed any suit or service to his former prince and
liege lord. This done, in the next place he took an oath, and
swore fidelity to his great master Diabolus, and then, being stated
and settled in his places, offices, advancements, and preferments,
oh! you cannot think, unless you had seen it, the strange work that
this workman made in the town of Mansoul.
First, he maligned Mr. Recorder to death; he would neither endure
to see him, nor hear the words of his mouth; he would shut his eyes
when he saw him, and stop his ears when he heard him speak. Also
he could not endure that so much as a fragment of the law of
Shaddai should be anywhere seen in the town. For example, his
clerk, Mr. Mind, had some old, rent, and torn parchments of the law
of Shaddai in his house, but when Willbewill saw them, he cast them
behind his back. True, Mr. Recorder had some of the laws in his
study; but my lord could by no means come at them. He also thought
and said, that the windows of my old Lord Mayor's house were always
too light for the profit of the town of Mansoul. The light of a
candle he could not endure. Now nothing at all pleased Willbewill
but what pleased Diabolus his lord.
There was none like him to trumpet about the streets the brave
nature, the wise conduct, and great glory of the king Diabolus. He
would range and rove throughout all the streets of Mansoul to cry
up his illustrious lord, and would make himself even as an abject,
among the base and rascal crew, to cry up his valiant prince. And
I say, when and wheresoever he found these vassals, he would even
make himself as one of them. In all ill courses he would act
without bidding, and do mischief without commandment.
The Lord Willbewill also had a deputy under him, and his name was
Mr. Affection, one that was also greatly debauched in his
principles, and answerable thereto in his life: he was wholly
given to the flesh, and therefore they called him Vile-Affection.
Now there was he and one Carnal-Lust, the daughter of Mr. Mind,
(like to like,) that fell in love, and made a match, and were
married; and, as I take it, they had several children, as Impudent,
Blackmouth, and Hate-Reproof. These three were black boys. And
besides these they had three daughters, as Scorn-Truth and Slight-
God, and the name of the youngest was Revenge. These were all
married in the town, and also begot and yielded many bad brats, too
many to be here inserted. But to pass by this.
When the giant had thus engarrisoned himself in the town of
Mansoul, and had put down and set up whom he thought good, he
betakes himself to defacing. Now there was in the market-place in
Mansoul, and also upon the gates of the castle, an image of the
blessed King Shaddai. This image was so exactly engraven, (and it
was engraven in gold,) that it did the most resemble Shaddai
himself of anything that then was extant in the world. This he
basely commanded to be defaced, and it was as basely done by the
hand of Mr. No-Truth. Now you must know that, as Diabolus had
commanded, and that by the hand of Mr. No-Truth, the image of
Shaddai was defaced, he likewise gave order that the same Mr. No-
Truth should set up in its stead the horrid and formidable image of
Diabolus, to the great contempt of the former King, and debasing of
his town of Mansoul.
Moreover, Diabolus made havoc of all remains of the laws and
statutes of Shaddai that could be found in the town of Mansoul; to
wit, such as contained either the doctrines of morals, with all
civil and natural documents. Also relative severities he sought to
extinguish. To be short, there was nothing of the remains of good
in Mansoul which he and Willbewill sought not to destroy; for their
design was to turn Mansoul into a brute, and to make it like to the
sensual sow, by the hand of Mr. No-Truth.
When he had destroyed what law and good orders he could, then
further to effect his design, namely, to alienate Mansoul from
Shaddai her King, he commands, and they set up his own vain edicts,
statutes, and commandments, in all places of resort or concourse in
Mansoul, to wit, such as gave liberty to the lusts of the flesh,
the lusts of the eyes, and the pride of life, which are not of
Shaddai, but of the world. He encouraged, countenanced, and
promoted lasciviousness, and all ungodliness there. Yea, much more
did Diabolus to encourage wickedness in the town of Mansoul; he
promised them peace, content, joy, and bliss, in doing his
commands, and that they should never be called to an account for
their not doing the contrary. And let this serve to give a taste
to them that love to hear tell of what is done beyond their
knowledge afar off in other countries.
Now Mansoul being wholly at his beck, and brought wholly to his
bow, nothing was heard or seen therein but that which tended to set
up him.
But now he, having disabled the Lord Mayor and Mr. Recorder from
bearing of office in Mansoul, and seeing that the town, before he
came to it, was the most ancient of corporations in the world, and
fearing, if he did not maintain greatness, they at any time should
object that he had done them an injury; therefore, I say, (that
they might see that he did not intend to lessen their grandeur, or
to take from them any of their advantageous things,) he did choose
for them a Lord Mayor and a Recorder himself, and such as contented
them at the heart, and such also as pleased him wondrous well.
The name of the Mayor that was of Diabolus' making was the Lord
Lustings, a man that had neither eyes nor ears. All that he did,
whether as a man or an officer, he did it naturally, as doth the
beast. And that which made him yet the more ignoble, though not to
Mansoul, yet to them that beheld and were grieved for its ruin,
was, that he never could favour good, but evil.
The Recorder was one whose name was Forget-Good, and a very sorry
fellow he was. He could remember nothing but mischief, and to do
it with delight. He was naturally prone to do things that were
hurtful, even hurtful to the town of Mansoul, and to all the
dwellers there. These two, therefore, by their power and practice,
examples, and smiles upon evil, did much more grammar and settle
the common people in hurtful ways. For who doth not perceive that
when those that sit aloft are vile and corrupt themselves, they
corrupt the whole region and country where they are?
Besides these, Diabolus made several burgesses and aldermen in
Mansoul, such as out of whom the town, when it needed, might choose
them officers, governors, and magistrates. And these are the names
of the chief of them: Mr. Incredulity, Mr. Haughty, Mr. Swearing,
Mr. Whoring, Mr. Hard-Heart, Mr. Pitiless, Mr. Fury, Mr. No-Truth,
Mr. Stand-to-Lies, Mr. False-Peace, Mr. Drunkenness, Mr. Cheating,
Mr. Atheism--thirteen in all. Mr. Incredulity is the eldest, and
Mr. Atheism the youngest of the company.
There was also an election of common councilmen and others, as
bailiffs, sergeants, constables, and others; but all of them like
to those afore-named, being either fathers, brothers, cousins, or
nephews to them, whose names, for brevity's sake, I omit to
mention.
When the giant had thus far proceeded in his work, in the next
place, he betook him to build some strongholds in the town, and he
built three that seemed to be impregnable. The first he called the
Hold of Defiance, because it was made to command the whole town,
and to keep it from the knowledge of its ancient King. The second
he called Midnight Hold, because it was built on purpose to keep
Mansoul from the true knowledge of itself. The third was called
Sweet-Sin Hold, because by that he fortified Mansoul against all
desires of good. The first of these holds stood close by Eye-gate,
that, as much might be, light might be darkened there; the second
was built hard by the old castle, to the end that that might be
made more blind, if possible; and the third stood in the market-
place.
He that Diabolus made governor over the first of these was one
Spite-God, a most blasphemous wretch: he came with the whole
rabble of them that came against Mansoul at first, and was himself
one of themselves. He that was made the governor of Midnight Hold
was one Love-no-Light; he was also of them that came first against
the town. And he that was made the governor of the hold called
Sweet-Sin Hold was one whose name was Love-Flesh: he was also a
very lewd fellow, but not of that country where the other are
bound. This fellow could find more sweetness when he stood sucking
of a lust than he did in all the paradise of God.
And now Diabolus thought himself safe. He had taken Mansoul, he
had engarrisoned himself therein; he had put down the old officers,
and had set up new ones; he had defaced the image of Shaddai, and
had set up his own; he had spoiled the old law books, and had
promoted his own vain lies; he had made him new magistrates, and
set up new aldermen; he had builded him new holds, and had manned
them for himself: and all this he did to make himself secure, in
case the good Shaddai, or his Son, should come to make an incursion
upon him.
Now you may well think, that long before this time, word, by some
one or other, could not but be carried to the good King Shaddai,
how his Mansoul, in the continent of Universe, was lost; and that
the runagate giant Diabolus, once one of his Majesty's servants,
had, in rebellion against the King, made sure thereof for himself.
Yea, tidings were carried and brought to the King thereof, and that
to a very circumstance.
At first, how Diabolus came upon Mansoul (they being a simple
people and innocent) with craft, subtlety, lies, and guile. Item,
that he had treacherously slain the right noble and valiant
captain, their Captain Resistance, as he stood upon the gate with
the rest of the townsmen. Item, how my brave Lord Innocent fell
down dead (with grief, some say, or with being poisoned with the
stinking breath of one Ill-Pause, as say others) at the hearing of
his just lord and rightful prince, Shaddai, so abused by the mouth
of so filthy a Diabolian as that varlet Ill-Pause was. The
messenger further told, that after this Ill-Pause had made a short
oration to the townsmen in behalf of Diabolus, his master; the
simple town, believing that what was said was true, with one
consent did open Ear-gate, the chief gate of the corporation, and
did let him, with his crew, into a possession of the famous town of
Mansoul. He further showed how Diabolus had served the Lord Mayor
and Mr. Recorder, to wit, that he had put them from all place of
power and trust. Item, he showed also that my Lord Willbewill was
turned a very rebel, and runagate, and that so was one Mr. Mind,
his clerk; and that they two did range and revel it all the town
over, and teach the wicked ones their ways. He said, moreover,
that this Willbewill was put into great trust, and particularly
that Diabolus had put into Willbewill's hand all the strong places
in Mansoul; and that Mr. Affection was made my Lord Willbewill's
deputy in his most rebellious affairs. 'Yea,' said the messenger,
'this monster, Lord Willbewill, has openly disavowed his King
Shaddai, and hath horribly given his faith and plighted his troth
to Diabolus.'
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