Books: The Holy War
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John Bunyan >> The Holy War
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At this summons the Mansoulians seemed to be at a stand, and knew
not what answer to make. Wherefore Diabolus forthwith appeared,
and took upon him to do it himself; and thus he begins, but turns
his speech to them of Mansoul.
'Gentlemen,' quoth he, 'and my faithful subjects, if it is true
that this summoner hath said concerning the greatness of their
King, by his terror you will always be kept in bondage, and so be
made to sneak. Yea, how can you now, though he is at a distance,
endure to think of such a mighty one? And if not to think of him
while at a distance, how can you endure to be in his presence? I,
your prince, am familiar with you, and you may play with me as you
would with a grasshopper. Consider, therefore, what is for your
profit, and remember the immunities that I have granted you.
'Farther, if all be true that this man hath said, how comes it to
pass that the subjects of Shaddai are so enslaved in all places
where they come? None in the universe so unhappy as they, none so
trampled upon as they.
'Consider, my Mansoul: would thou wert as loath to leave me as I
am loath to leave thee. But consider, I say, the ball is yet at
thy foot; liberty you have, if you know how to use it; yea, a king
you have too, if you can tell how to love and obey him.'
Upon this speech, the town of Mansoul did again harden their hearts
yet more against the captains of Shaddai. The thoughts of his
greatness did quite quash them, and the thoughts of his holiness
sunk them in despair. Wherefore, after a short consult, they (of
the Diabolonian party they were) sent back this word by the
trumpeter, That, for their parts, they were resolved to stick to
their king, but never to yield to Shaddai; so it was but in vain to
give them any further summons, for they had rather die upon the
place than yield. And now things seemed to be gone quite back, and
Mansoul to be out of reach or call, yet the captains who knew what
their Lord could do, would not yet be beat out of heart; they
therefore sent them another summons, more sharp and severe than the
last; but the oftener they were sent to, to reconcile to Shaddai,
the further off they were. 'As they called them, so they went from
them--yea, though they called them to the Most High.'
So they ceased that way to deal with them any more, and inclined to
think of another way. The captains, therefore, did gather
themselves together, to have free conference among themselves, to
know what was yet to be done to gain the town, and to deliver it
from the tyranny of Diabolus; and one said after this manner, and
another after that. Then stood up the right noble the Captain
Conviction, and said, 'My brethren, mine opinion is this:
'First, that we continually play our slings into the town, and keep
it in a continual alarm, molesting them day and night. By thus
doing, we shall stop the growth of their rampant spirit; for a lion
may be tamed by continual molestation.
'Secondly, this done, I advise that, in the next place, we with one
consent draw up a petition to our Lord Shaddai, by which, after we
have showed our King the condition of Mansoul and of affairs here,
and have begged his pardon for our no better success, we will
earnestly implore his Majesty's help, and that he will please to
send us more force and power, and some gallant and well-spoken
commander to head them, that so his Majesty may not lose the
benefit of these his good beginnings, but may complete his conquest
upon the town of Mansoul.'
To this speech of the noble Captain Conviction they as one man
consented, and agreed that a petition should forthwith be drawn up,
and sent by a fit man away to Shaddai with speed. The contents of
the petition were thus:-
'Most gracious and glorious King, the Lord of the best world, and
the builder of the town of Mansoul, we have, dread Sovereign, at
thy commandment, put our lives in jeopardy, and at thy bidding made
a war upon the famous town of Mansoul. When we went up against it,
we did, according to our commission, first offer conditions of
peace unto it. But they, great King, set light by our counsel, and
would none of our reproof. They were for shutting their gates, and
for keeping us out of the town. They also mounted their guns, they
sallied out upon us, and have done us what damage they could; but
we pursued them with alarm upon alarm, requiting them with such
retribution as was meet, and have done some execution upon the
town.
'Diabolus, Incredulity, and Willbewill are the great doers against
us: now we are in our winter quarters, but so as that we do yet
with an high hand molest and distress the town.
'Once, as we think, had we had but one substantial friend in the
town, such as would but have seconded the sound of our summons as
they ought, the people might have yielded themselves; but there
were none but enemies there, nor any to speak in behalf of our Lord
to the town. Wherefore, though we have done as we could, yet
Mansoul abides in a state of rebellion against thee.
'Now, King of kings, let it please thee to pardon the
unsuccessfulness of thy servants, who have been no more
advantageous in so desirable a work as the conquering of Mansoul
is. And send, Lord, as we now desire, more forces to Mansoul, that
it may be subdued; and a man to head them, that the town may both
love and fear.
'We do not thus speak because we are willing to relinquish the
wars, (for we are for laying of our bones against the place,) but
that the town of Mansoul may be won for thy Majesty. We also pray
thy Majesty, for expedition in this matter, that, after their
conquest, we may be at liberty to be sent about other thy gracious
designs. Amen.'
The petition, thus drawn up, was sent away with haste to the King
by the hand of that good man, Mr. Love-to-Mansoul.
When this petition was come to the palace of the King, who should
it be delivered to but to the King's Son? So he took it and read
it, and because the contents of it pleased him well, he mended, and
also in some things added to the petition himself. So, after he
had made such amendments and additions as he thought convenient,
with his own hand, he carried it in to the King; to whom, when he
had with obeisance delivered it, he put on authority, and spake to
it himself.
Now the King, at the sight of the petition, was glad; but how much
more, think you, when it was seconded by his Son! It pleased him
also to hear that his servants who camped against Mansoul were so
hearty in the work, and so steadfast in their resolves, and that
they had already got some ground upon the famous town of Mansoul.
Wherefore the King called to him Emmanuel, his Son, who said, 'Here
am I, my Father.' Then said the King, 'Thou knowest, as I do
myself, the condition of the town of Mansoul, and what we have
purposed, and what thou hast done to redeem it. Come now,
therefore, my Son, and prepare thyself for the war, for thou shalt
go to my camp at Mansoul. Thou shalt also there prosper and
prevail, and conquer the town of Mansoul.'
Then said the King's Son, 'Thy law is within my heart: I delight
to do thy will. This is the day that I have longed for, and the
work that I have waited for all this while. Grant me, therefore,
what force thou shalt in thy wisdom think meet; and I will go and
will deliver from Diabolus, and from his power, thy perishing town
of Mansoul. My heart has been often pained within me for the
miserable town of Mansoul; but now it is rejoiced, but now it is
glad,'
And with that he leaped over the mountains for joy, saying, 'I have
not, in my heart, thought anything too dear for Mansoul: the day
of vengeance is in mine heart for thee, my Mansoul: and glad am I
that thou, my Father, hast made me the Captain of their salvation.
And I will now begin to plague all those that have been a plague to
my town of Mansoul, and will deliver it from their hand.'
When the King's Son had said thus to his Father, it presently flew
like lightning round about at court; yea, it there became the only
talk what Emmanuel was to go to do for the famous town of Mansoul.
But you cannot think how the courtiers, too, were taken with this
design of the Prince; yea, so affected were they with this work,
and with the justness of the war, that the highest lord and
greatest peer of the kingdom did covet to have commissions under
Emmanuel, to go to help to recover again to Shaddai the miserable
town of Mansoul.
Then was it concluded that some should go and carry tidings to the
camp, that Emmanuel was to come to recover Mansoul, and that he
would bring along with him so mighty, so impregnable a force, that
he could not be resisted. But, oh! how ready were the high ones at
court to run like lackeys to carry these tidings to the camp that
was at Mansoul. Now, when the captains perceived that the King
would send Emmanuel his Son, and that it also delighted the Son to
be sent on this errand by the great Shaddai his Father, they also,
to show how they were pleased at the thoughts of his coming gave a
shout that made the earth rend at the sound thereof. Yea, the
mountains did answer again by echo, and Diabolus himself did totter
and shake.
For you must know, that though the town of Mansoul itself was not
much, if at all concerned with the project, (for, alas for them!
they were wofully besotted, for they chiefly regarded their
pleasure and their lusts,) yet Diabolus their governor was; for he
had his spies continually abroad, who brought him intelligence of
all things, and they told him what was doing at court against him,
and that Emmanuel would shortly certainly come with a power to
invade him. Nor was there any man at court, nor peer of the
kingdom, that Diabolus so feared as he feared this Prince; for, if
you remember, I showed you before that Diabolus had felt the weight
of his hand already; so that, since it was he that was to come,
this made him the more afraid.
Well, you see how I have told you that the King's Son was engaged
to come from the court to save Mansoul, and that his Father had
made him the Captain of the forces. The time, therefore, of his
setting forth being now expired, he addressed himself for his
march, and taketh with him, for his power, five noble captains and
their forces.
1. The first was that famous captain, the noble Captain Credence.
His were the red colours, and Mr. Promise bare them; and for a
scutcheon he had the holy lamb and golden shield; and he had ten
thousand men at his feet.
2. The second was that famous captain, the Captain Good-Hope. His
were the blue colours; his standard-bearer was Mr. Expectation, and
for his scutcheon he had the three golden anchors; and he had ten
thousand men at his feet.
3. The third was that valiant captain, the Captain Charity. His
standard-bearer was Mr. Pitiful: his were the green colours, and
for his scutcheon he had three naked orphans embraced in the bosom;
and he had ten thousand men at his feet.
4. The fourth was that gallant commander, the Captain Innocent.
His standard-bearer was Mr. Harmless: his were the white colours,
and for his scutcheon he had the three golden doves.
5. The fifth was the truly loyal and well-beloved captain, the
Captain Patience. His standard-bearer was Mr. Suffer-Long: his
were the black colours, and for a scutcheon he had three arrows
through the golden heart.
These were Emmanuel's captains; these their standard-bearers, their
colours, and their scutcheons; and these the men under their
command. So, as was said, the brave Prince took his march to go to
the town of Mansoul. Captain Credence led the van, and Captain
Patience brought up the rear; so the other three, with their men,
made up the main body, the Prince himself riding in his chariot at
the head of them.
But when they set out for their march, oh, how the trumpets
sounded, their armour glittered, and how the colours waved in the
wind! The Prince's armour was all of gold, and it shone like the
sun in the firmament; the captains' armour was of proof, and was in
appearance like the glittering stars. There were also some from
the court that rode reformades for the love that they had to the
King Shaddai, and for the happy deliverance of the town of Mansoul.
Emmanuel also, when he had thus set forwards to go to recover the
town of Mansoul, took with him, at the commandment of his Father,
fifty-four battering-rams, and twelve slings to whirl stones
withal. Every one of these was made of pure gold, and these they
carried with them, in the heart and body of their army, all along
as they went to Mansoul.
So they marched till they came within less than a league of the
town; there they lay till the first four captains came thither to
acquaint them with matters. Then they took their journey to go to
the town of Mansoul, and unto Mansoul they came; but when the old
soldiers that were in the camp saw that they had new forces to join
with, they again gave such a shout before the walls of the town of
Mansoul, that it put Diabolus into another fright. So they sat
down before the town, not now as the other four captains did, to
wit, against the gates of Mansoul only; but they environed it round
on every side, and beset it behind and before; so that now, let
Mansoul look which way it will, it saw force and power lie in siege
against it. Besides, there were mounts cast up against it. The
Mount Gracious was on the one side, and Mount Justice was on the
other. Further, there were several small banks and advance-
grounds, as Plain-Truth Hill and No-Sin Banks, where many of the
slings were placed against the town. Upon Mount Gracious were
planted four, and upon Mount Justice were placed as many, and the
rest were conveniently placed in several parts round about the
town. Five of the best battering-rams, that is, of the biggest of
them, were placed upon Mount Hearken, a mount cast up hard by Ear-
gate, with intent to break that open.
Now when the men of the town saw the multitude of the soldiers that
were come up against the place, and the rams and slings, and the
mounts on which they were planted, together with the glittering of
the armour and the waving of their colours, they were forced to
shift, and shift, and again to shift their thoughts; but they
hardly changed for thoughts more stout, but rather for thoughts
more faint; for though before they thought themselves sufficiently
guarded, yet now they began to think that no man knew what would be
their hap or lot.
When the good Prince Emmanuel had thus beleaguered Mansoul, in the
first place he hangs out the white flag, which he caused to be set
up among the golden slings that were planted upon Mount Gracious.
And this he did for two reasons: 1. To give notice to Mansoul that
he could and would yet be gracious if they turned to him. 2. And
that he might leave them the more without excuse, should he destroy
them, they continuing in their rebellion.
So the white flag, with the three golden doves in it, was hung out
for two days together, to give them time and space to consider; but
they, as was hinted before, as if they were unconcerned, made no
reply to the favourable signal of the Prince.
Then he commanded, and they set the red flag upon that mount called
Mount Justice. It was the red flag of Captain Judgment, whose
scutcheon was the burning fiery furnace; and this also stood waving
before them in the wind for several days together. But look how
they carried it under the white flag, when that was hung out, so
did they also when the red one was; and yet he took no advantage of
them.
Then he commanded again that his servants should hang out the black
flag of defiance against them, whose scutcheon was the three
burning thunderbolts; but as unconcerned was Mansoul at this as at
those that went before. But when the Prince saw that neither mercy
nor judgment, nor execution of judgment, would or could come near
the heart of Mansoul, he was touched with much compunction, and
said, 'Surely this strange carriage of the town of Mansoul doth
rather arise from ignorance of the manner and feats of war, than
from a secret defiance of us, and abhorrence of their own lives; or
if they know the manner of the war of their own, yet not the rites
and ceremonies of the wars in which we are concerned, when I make
wars upon mine enemy Diabolus.'
Therefore he sent to the town of Mansoul, to let them know what he
meant by those signs and ceremonies of the flag; and also to know
of them which of the things they would choose, whether grace and
mercy, or judgment and the execution of judgment. All this while
they kept their gates shut with locks, bolts, and bars, as fast as
they could. Their guards also were doubled, and their watch made
as strong as they could. Diabolus also did pluck up what heart he
could, to encourage the town to make resistance.
The townsmen also made answer to the Prince's messenger, in
substance according to that which follows:-
'Great Sir,--As to what, by your messenger, you have signified to
us, whether we will accept of your mercy, or fall by your justice,
we are bound by the law and custom of this place, and can give you
no positive answer; for it is against the law, government, and the
prerogative royal of our king, to make either peace or war without
him. But this we will do,--we will petition that our prince will
come down to the wall, and there give you such treatment as he
shall think fit and profitable for us.'
When the good Prince Emmanuel heard this answer, and saw the
slavery and bondage of the people, and how much content they were
to abide in the chains of the tyrant Diabolus, it grieved him at
the heart; and, indeed, when at any time he perceived that any were
contented under the slavery of the giant, he would be affected with
it.
But to return again to our purpose. After the town had carried
this news to Diabolus, and had told him, moreover, that the Prince,
that lay in the leaguer without the wall, waited upon them for an
answer, he refused, and huffed as well as he could; but in heart he
was afraid.
Then said he, 'I will go down to the gates myself, and give him
such an answer as I think fit.' So he went down to Mouth-gate, and
there addressed himself to speak to Emmanuel, (but in such language
as the town understood not,) the contents whereof were as follows:-
'O thou great Emmanuel, Lord of all the world, I know thee, that
thou art the Son of the great Shaddai! Wherefore art thou come to
torment me, and to cast me out of my possession? This town of
Mansoul, as thou very well knowest, is mine, and that by a twofold
right. 1. It is mine by right of conquest; I won it in the open
field; and shall the prey be taken from the mighty, or the lawful
captive be delivered? 2. This town of Mansoul is mine also by
their subjection. They have opened the gates of their town unto
me; they have sworn fidelity to me, and have openly chosen me to be
their king; they have also given their castle into my hands; yea,
they have put the whole strength of Mansoul under me.
'Moreover, this town of Mansoul hath disavowed thee, yea, they have
cast thy law, thy name, thy image, and all that is thine, behind
their back, and have accepted and set up in their room my law, my
name, my image, and all that ever is mine. Ask else thy captains,
and they will tell thee that Mansoul hath, in answer to all their
summonses, shown love and loyalty to me, but always disdain,
despite, contempt, and scorn to thee and thine. Now, thou art the
Just One and the Holy, and shouldest do no iniquity. Depart, then,
I pray thee, therefore, from me, and leave me to my just
inheritance peaceably.'
This oration was made in the language of Diabolus himself; for
although he can, to every man, speak in their own language, (else
he could not tempt them all as he does,) yet he has a language
proper to himself, and it is the language of the infernal cave, or
black pit.
Wherefore the town of Mansoul (poor hearts!) understood him not;
nor did they see how he crouched and cringed while he stood before
Emmanuel, their Prince.
Yea, they all this while took him to be one of that power and force
that by no means could be resisted. Wherefore, while he was thus
entreating that he might have yet his residence there, and that
Emmanuel would not take it from him by force, the inhabitants
boasted even of his valour, saying, 'Who is able to make war with
him?'
Well, when this pretended king had made an end of what he would
say, Emmanuel, the golden Prince, stood up and spake; the contents
of whose words follow:-
'Thou deceiving one,' said he, 'I have, in my Father's name, in
mine own name, and on the behalf and for the good of this wretched
town of Mansoul, somewhat to say unto thee. Thou pretendest a
right, a lawful right, to the deplorable town of Mansoul, when it
is most apparent to all my Father's court that the entrance which
thou hast obtained in at the gates of Mansoul was through thy lie
and falsehood; thou beliedst my Father, thou beliedst his law, and
so deceivedst the people of Mansoul. Thou pretendest that the
people have accepted thee for their king, their captain, and right
liege lord; but that also was by the exercise of deceit and guile.
Now, if lying, wiliness, sinful craft, and all manner of horrible
hypocrisy, will go in my Father's court (in which court thou must
be tried) for equity and right, then will I confess unto thee that
thou hast made a lawful conquest. But, alas! what thief, what
tyrant, what devil is there that may not conquer after this sort?
But I can make it appear, O Diabolus, that thou, in all thy
pretences to a conquest of Mansoul, hast nothing of truth to say.
Thinkest thou this to be right, that that didst put the lie upon my
Father, and madest him (to Mansoul) the greatest deluder in the
world? And what sayest thou to thy perverting knowingly the right
purport and intent of the law? Was it good also that thou madest a
prey of the innocency and simplicity of the now miserable town of
Mansoul? Yea, thou didst overcome Mansoul by promising to them
happiness in their transgressions against my Father's law, when
thou knewest, and couldest not but know, hadst thou consulted
nothing but thine own experience, that that was the way to undo
them. Thou hast also thyself, O thou master of enmity, of spite
defaced my Father's image in Mansoul, and set up thy own in its
place, to the great contempt of my Father, the heightening of thy
sin, and to the intolerable damage of the perishing town of
Mansoul.
'Thou hast, moreover, (as if all these were but little things with
thee,) not only deluded and undone this place, but, by thy lies and
fradulent carriage, hast set them against their own deliverance.
How hast thou stirred them up against my Father's captains, and
made them to fight against those that were sent of him to deliver
them from their bondage! All these things, and very many more,
thou hast done against thy light, and in contempt of my Father and
of his law, yea, and with design to bring under his displeasure for
ever the miserable town of Mansoul. I am therefore come to avenge
the wrong that thou hast done to my Father, and to deal with thee
for the blasphemies wherewith thou hast made poor Mansoul blaspheme
his name. Yea, upon thy head, thou prince of the infernal cave,
will I requite it.
'As for myself, O Diabolus, I am come against thee by lawful power,
and to take, by strength of hand, this town of Mansoul out of thy
burning fingers; for this town of Mansoul is mine, O Diabolus, and
that by undoubted right, as all shall see that will diligently
search the most ancient and most authentic records, and I will
plead my title to it, to the confusion of thy face.
'First, for the town of Mansoul, my Father built and did fashion it
with his hand. The palace also that is in the midst of that town,
he built it for his own delight. This town of Mansoul, therefore,
is my Father's, and that by the best of titles, and he that
gainsays the truth of this must lie against his soul.
'Secondly, O thou master of the lie, this town of Mansoul is mine.
'1. For that I am my Father's heir, his firstborn, and the only
delight of his heart. I am therefore come up against thee in mine
own right, even to recover mine own inheritance out of thine hand.
'2. But further, as I have a right and title to Mansoul by being my
Father's heir, so I have also by my Father's donation. His it was,
and he gave it me; nor have I at any time offended my Father, that
he should take it from me, and give it to thee. Nor have I been
forced, by playing the bankrupt, to sell or set to sale to thee my
beloved town of Mansoul. Mansoul is my desire, my delight, and the
joy of my heart. But,
'3. Mansoul is mine by right of purchase. I have bought it, O
Diabolus, I have bought it to myself. Now, since it was my
Father's and mine, as I was his heir, and since also I have made it
mine by virtue of a great purchase, it followeth that, by all
lawful right, the town of Mansoul is mine, and that thou art an
usurper, a tyrant, and traitor, in thy holding possession thereof.
Now, the cause of my purchasing of it was this: Mansoul had
trespassed against my Father; now my Father had said, that in the
day that they broke his law they should die. Now, it is more
possible for heaven and earth to pass away than for my Father to
break his word. Wherefore when Mansoul had sinned indeed by
hearkening to thy lie, I put in and became a surety to my Father,
body for body, and soul for soul, that I would make amends for
Mansoul's transgressions, and my Father did accept thereof. So,
when the time appointed was come, I gave body for body, soul for
soul, life for life, blood for blood, and so redeemed my beloved
Mansoul.
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