Thus they buried in the plains about Mansoul the election
doubters, the vocation doubters, the grace doubters, the
perseverance doubters, the resurrection doubters, the
salvation doubters, and the glory doubters; whose captains
were Captain Rage, Captain Cruel, Captain Damnation, Captain
Insatiable, Captain Brimstone, Captain Torment, Captain No-
Ease, Captain Sepulchre, and Captain Past-Hope; and old
Incredulity was, under Diabolus, their general. There were
also the seven heads of their army; and they were the Lord
Beelzebub, the Lord Lucifer, the Lord Legion, the Lord
Apollyon, the Lord Python, the Lord Cerberus, and the Lord
Belial. But the princes and the captains, with old
Incredulity, their general, did all of them make their
escape: so their men fell down slain by the power of the
Prince's forces, and by the hands of the men of the town of
Mansoul. They also were buried as is afore related, to the
exceeding great joy of the now famous town of Mansoul. They
that buried them buried also with them their arms, which were
cruel instruments of death: (their weapons were arrows,
darts, mauls, firebrands, and the like). They buried also
their armour, their colours, banners, with the standard of
Diabolus, and what else soever they could find that did but
smell of a Diabolonian doubter.
Now when the tyrant had arrived at Hell-Gate Hill, with his
old friend Incredulity, they immediately descended the den,
and having there with their fellows for a while condoled
their misfortune and great loss that they sustained against
the town of Mansoul, they fell at length into a passion, and
revenged they would be for the loss that they sustained
before the town of Mansoul. Wherefore they presently call a
council to contrive yet further what was to be done against
the famous town of Mansoul; for their yawning paunches could
not wait to see the result of their Lord Lucifer's and their
Lord Apollyon's counsel that they had given before; for their
raging gorge thought every day, even as long as a short for
ever, until they were filled with the body and soul, with the
flesh and bones, and with all the delicates of Mansoul. They
therefore resolve to make another attempt upon the town of
Mansoul, and that by an army mixed and made up partly of
doubters, and partly of blood-men. A more particular account
now take of both.
The doubters are such as have their name from their nature,
as well as from the land and kingdom where they are born:
their nature is to put a question upon every one of the
truths of Emmanuel; and their country is called the land of
Doubting, and that land lieth off, and farthest remote to the
north, between the land of Darkness and that called the
'valley of the shadow of death.' For though the land of
Darkness, and that called 'the valley of the shadow of
death,' be sometimes called as if they were one and the self-
same place, yet indeed they are two, lying but a little way
asunder, and the land of Doubting points in, and lieth
between them. This is the land of Doubting; and these that
came with Diabolus to ruin the town of Mansoul are the
natives of that country.
The blood-men are a people that have their name derived from
the malignity of their nature, and from the fury that is in
them to execute it upon the town of Mansoul: their land lieth
under the dog-star, and by that they are governed as to their
intellectuals. The name of their country is the province of
Loath-good: the remote parts of it are far distant from the
land of Doubting, yet they do both butt and bound upon the
hill called Hell-Gate Hill. These people are always in
league with the doubters, for they jointly do make question
of the faith and fidelity of the men of the town of Mansoul,
and so are both alike qualified for the service of their
prince.
Now of these two countries did Diabolus, by the beating of
his drum, raise another army against the town of Mansoul, of
five-and-twenty thousand strong. There were ten thousand
doubters, and fifteen thousand blood-men, and they were put
under several captains for the war; and old Incredulity was
again made general of the army.
As for the doubters, their captains were five of the seven
that were heads of the last Diabolonian army, and these are
their names: Captain Beelzebub, Captain Lucifer, Captain
Apollyon, Captain Legion, and Captain Cerberus; and the
captains that they had before were some of them made
lieutenants, and some ensigns of the army.
But Diabolus did not count that, in this expedition of his,
these doubters would prove his principal men, for their
manhood had been tried before; also the Mansoulians had put
them to the worst: only he did bring them to multiply a
number, and to help, if need was, at a pinch. But his trust
he put in his blood-men, for that they were all rugged
villains, and he knew that they had done feats heretofore.
As for the blood-men, they also were under command and the
names of their captains were, Captain Cain, Captain Nimrod,
Captain Ishmael, Captain Esau, Captain Saul, Captain Absalom,
Captain Judas, and Captain Pope.
1. Captain Cain was over two bands, namely, the zealous and
the angry blood-men: his standard-bearer bare the red
colours, and his scutcheon was the murdering club.
2. Captain Nimrod was captain over two bands, namely, the
tyrannical and encroaching blood-men: his standard-bearer
bare the red colours, and his scutcheon was the great
bloodhound.
3. Captain Ishmael was captain over two bands, namely, the
mocking and scorning blood-men: his standard-bearer bare the
red colours, and his scutcheon was one mocking at Abraham's
Isaac.
4. Captain Esau was captain over two bands, namely, the
blood-men that grudged that another should have the blessing;
also over the blood-men that are for executing their private
revenge upon others: his standard-bearer bare the red
colours, and his scutcheon was one privately lurking to
murder Jacob.
5. Captain Saul was captain over two bands, namely, the
groundlessly jealous and the devilishly furious blood-men:
his standard-bearer bare the red colours, and his scutcheon
was three bloody darts cast at harmless David.
6. Captain Absalom was captain over two bands, namely, over
the blood-men that will kill a father or a friend for the
glory of this world; also over those blood-men that will hold
one fair in hand with words, till they shall have pierced him
with their swords: his standard-bearer did bear the red
colours, and his scutcheon was the son pursuing the father's
blood.
7. Captain Judas was over two bands, namely, the blood-men
that will sell a man's life for money, and those also that
will betray their friend with a kiss: his standard-bearer
bare the red colours, and his scutcheon was thirty pieces of
silver and the halter.
8. Captain Pope was captain over one band, for all these
spirits are joined in one under him: his standard-bearer bare
the red colours, and his scutcheon was the stake, the flame,
and the good man in it.
Now, the reason why Diabolus did so soon rally another force,
after he had been beaten out of the field, was, for that he
put mighty confidence in this army of blood-men; for he put a
great deal of more trust in them than he did before in his
army of doubters; though they had also often done great
service for him in the strengthening of him in his kingdom.
But these blood-men, he had proved them often, and their
sword did seldom return empty. Besides, he knew that these,
like mastiffs, would fasten upon any; upon father, mother,
brother, sister, prince, or governor, yea upon the Prince of
princes. And that which encouraged him the more was, for
that they once did force Emmanuel out of the kingdom of
Universe; 'And why,' thought he, 'may they not also drive him
from the town of Mansoul?'
So this army of five-and-twenty thousand strong was, by their
general, the great Lord Incredulity, led up against the town
of Mansoul. Now Mr. Prywell, the scoutmaster-general, did
himself go out to spy, and he did bring Mansoul tidings of
their coming. Wherefore they shut up their gates, and put
themselves in a posture of defence against these new
Diabolonians that came up against the town.
So Diabolus brought up his army, and beleaguered the town of
Mansoul; the doubters were placed about Feel-gate, and the
blood-men set down before Eye-gate and Ear-gate.
Now when this army had thus encamped themselves, Incredulity
did, in the name of Diabolus, his own name, and in the name
of the blood-men and the rest that were with him, send a
summons as hot as a red-hot iron to Mansoul, to yield to
their demands; threatening, that if they still stood it out
against them, they would presently burn down Mansoul with
fire. For you must know that, as for the blood-men, they
were not so much that Mansoul should be surrendered, as that
Mansoul should be destroyed, and cut off out of the land of
the living. True, they send to them to surrender; but should
they so do, that would not stench or quench the thirsts of
these men. They must have blood, the blood of Mansoul, else
they die; and it is from hence that they have their name.
Wherefore these blood-men he reserved while now that they
might, when all his engines proved ineffectual, as his last
and sure card be played against the town of Mansoul.
Now, when the townsmen had received this red-hot summons, it
begat in them at present some changing and interchanging
thoughts; but they jointly agreed, in less than half an hour,
to carry the summons to the Prince, the which they did when
they had writ at the bottom of it, 'Lord, save Mansoul from
bloody men!'
So he took it, and looked upon it, and considered it, and
took notice also of that short petition that the men of
Mansoul had written at the bottom of it, and called to him
the noble Captain Credence, and bid him go and take Captain
Patience with him, and go and take care of that side of
Mansoul that was beleaguered by the blood-men. So they went
and did as they were commanded: the Captain Credence went and
took Captain Patience, and they both secured that side of
Mansoul that was besieged by the blood-men.
Then he commanded that Captain Good-hope and Captain Charity,
and my Lord Willbewill, should take charge of the other side
of the town. 'And I,' said the Prince, 'will set my standard
upon the battlements of your castle, and do you three watch
against the doubters.' This done, he again commanded that
the brave captain, the Captain Experience, should draw up his
men in the market-place, and that there he should exercise
them day by day before the people of the town of Mansoul.
Now this siege was long, and many a fierce attempt did the
enemy, especially those called the blood-men, make upon the
town of Mansoul; and many a shrewd brush did some of the
townsmen meet with from them, especially Captain Self-Denial,
who, I should have told you before, was commanded to take the
care of Ear-gate and Eye-gate now against the blood-men.
This Captain Self-Denial was a young man, but stout, and a
townsman in Mansoul, as Captain Experience also was. And
Emmanuel, at his second return to Mansoul, made him a captain
over a thousand of the Mansoulians, for the good of the
corporation. This captain, therefore, being an hardy man,
and a man of great courage, and willing to venture himself
for the good of the town of Mansoul, would now and then sally
out upon the blood-men, and give them many notable alarms,
and entered several brisk skirmishes with them, and also did
some execution upon them; but you must think that this could
not easily be done, but he must meet with brushes himself,
for he carried several of their marks in his face; yea, and
some in some other parts of his body.
So, after some time spent for the trial of the faith, and
hope, and love of the town of Mansoul, the Prince Emmanuel
upon a day calls his captains and men of war together, and
divides them into two companies; this done, he commands them
at a time appointed, and that in the morning very early, to
sally out upon the enemy, saying: 'Let half of you fall upon
the doubters, and half of you fall upon the blood-men. Those
of you that go out against the doubters, kill and slay, and
cause to perish so many of them as by any means you can lay
hands on; but for you that go out against the blood-men, slay
them not, but take them alive.'
So, at the time appointed, betimes in the morning, the
captains went out as they were commanded, against the
enemies. Captain Good-Hope, Captain Charity, and those that
were joined with them, as Captain Innocent and Captain
Experience, went out against the doubters; and Captain
Credence, and Captain Patience, with Captain Self-Denial, and
the rest that were to join with them, went out against the
blood-men.
Now, those that went out against the doubters drew up into a
body before the plain, and marched on to bid them battle.
But the doubters, remembering their last success, made a
retreat, not daring to stand the shock, but fled from the
Prince's men; wherefore they pursued them, and in their
pursuit slew many, but they could not catch them all. Now
those that escaped went some of them home; and the rest by
fives, nines, and seventeens, like wanderers, went straggling
up and down the country, where they upon the barbarous people
showed and exercised many of their Diabolonian actions: nor
did these people rise up in arms against them, but suffered
themselves to be enslaved by them. They would also after
this show themselves in companies before the town of Mansoul,
but never to abide in it; for if Captain Credence, Captain
Good-Hope, or Captain Experience did but show themselves,
they fled.
Those that went out against the blood-men did as they were
commanded: they forbore to slay any, but sought to compass
them about. But the blood-men, when they saw that no
Emmanuel was in the field, concluded also that no Emmanuel
was in Mansoul; wherefore they, looking upon what the
captains did to be, as they called it, a fruit of the
extravagancy of their wild and foolish fancies, rather
despised them than feared them. But the captains, minding
their business, at last did compass them round; they also
that had routed the doubters came in amain to their aid: so,
in fine, after some little struggling, (for the blood-men
also would have run for it, only now it was too late; for
though they are mischievous and cruel, where they can
overcome, yet all blood-men are chicken-hearted men, when
they once come to see themselves matched and equalled,) - so
the captains took them, and brought them to the Prince.
Now when they were taken, had before the Prince, and
examined, he found them to be of three several counties,
though they all came out of one land.
1. One sort of them came out of Blind-man-shire, and they
were such as did ignorantly what they did.
2. Another sort of them came out of Blind-zeal-shire, and
they did superstitiously what they did.
3. The third sort of them came out of the town of Malice, in
the county of Envy, and they did what they did out of spite
and implacableness.
For the first of these, namely, they that came out of Blind-
man-shire, when they saw where they were, and against whom
they had fought, they trembled and cried, as they stood
before him; and as many of these as asked him mercy, he
touched their lips with his golden sceptre.
They that came out of Blind-zeal-shire, they did not as their
fellows did; for they pleaded that they had a right to do
what they did, because Mansoul was a town whose laws and
customs were diverse from all that dwelt thereabouts. Very
few of these could be brought to see their evil; but those
that did, and asked mercy, they also obtained favour.
Now, they that came out of the town of Malice, that is in the
county of Envy, they neither wept, nor disputed, nor
repented, but stood gnawing their tongues before him for
anguish and madness, because they could not have their will
upon Mansoul. Now these last, with all those of the other
two sorts that did not unfeignedly ask pardon for their
faults, - those he made to enter into sufficient bond to
answer for what they had done against Mansoul, and against
her King, at the great and general assizes to be holden for
our Lord the King, where he himself should appoint for the
country and kingdom of Universe. So they became bound each
man for himself, to come in, when called upon, to answer
before our Lord the King for what they had done as before.
And thus much concerning this second army that was sent by
Diabolus to overthrow Mansoul.
But there were three of those that came from the land of
Doubting, who, after they had wandered and ranged the country
a while, and perceived that they had escaped, were so hardy
as to thrust themselves, knowing that yet there were in the
town Diabolonians, - I say, they were so hardy as to thrust
themselves into Mansoul among them. (Three, did I say? I
think there were four.) Now, to whose house should these
Diabolonian doubters go, but to the house of an old
Diabolonian in Mansoul, whose name was Evil-Questioning, a
very great enemy he was to Mansoul, and a great doer among
the Diabolonians there. Well, to this Evil-Questioning's
house, as was said, did these Diabolonians come (you may be
sure that they had directions how to find the way thither),
so he made them welcome, pitied their misfortune, and
succoured them with the best that he had in his house. Now,
after a little acquaintance (and it was not long before they
had that), this old Evil-Questioning asked the doubters if
they were all of a town (he knew that they were all of one
kingdom), and they answered: 'No, nor not of one shire
neither; for I,' said one, 'am an election doubter:' 'I,'
said another, 'am a vocation doubter:' then said the third,
'I am a salvation doubter:' and the fourth said he was a
grace doubter. 'Well,' quoth the old gentleman, 'be of what
shire you will, I am persuaded that you are down, boys: you
have the very length of my foot, are one with my heart, and
shall be welcome to me.' So they thanked him, and were glad
that they had found themselves an harbour in Mansoul.
Then said Evil-Questioning to them: 'How many of your company
might there be that came with you to the siege of Mansoul?'
and they answered: 'There were but ten thousand doubters in
all, for the rest of the army consisted of fifteen thousand
blood-men. These blood-men,' quoth they, 'border upon our
country; but, poor men! as we hear, they were every one taken
by Emmanuel's forces.' 'Ten thousand!' quoth the old
gentleman; 'I will promise you, that is a round company. But
how came it to pass, since you were so mighty a number, that
you fainted, and durst not fight your foes?' 'Our general,'
said they, 'was the first man that did run for it.' 'Pray,'
quoth their landlord, 'who was that, your cowardly general?'
'He was once the Lord Mayor of Mansoul,' said they: 'but pray
call him not a cowardly general; for whether any from the
east to the west has done more service for our prince
Diabolus, than has my Lord Incredulity, will be a hard
question for you to answer. But had they catched him, they
would for certain have hanged him; and we promise you,
hanging is but a bad business.' Then said the old gentleman,
'I would that all the ten thousand doubters were now well
armed in Mansoul, and myself at the head of them; I would see
what I could do.' 'Ay,' said they, 'that would be well if we
could see that; but wishes, alas! what are they?' and these
words were spoken aloud. 'Well,' said old Evil-Questioning,
'take heed that you talk not too loud; you must be quat and
close, and must take care of yourselves while you are here,
or, I will assure you, you will be snapped.' 'Why?' quoth
the doubters. 'Why!' quoth the old gentleman; 'why! because
both the Prince and Lord Secretary, and their captains and
soldiers, are all at present in town; yea, the town is as
full of them as ever it can hold. And besides, there is one
whose name is Willbewill, a most cruel enemy of ours, and him
the Prince has made keeper of the gates, and has commanded
him that, with all the diligence he can, he should look for,
search out, and destroy all, and all manner of Diabolonians.
And if he lighteth upon you, down you go, though your heads
were made of gold.'
And now, to see how it happened, one of the Lord Willbewill's
faithful soldiers, whose name was Mr. Diligence, stood all
this while listening under old Evil-Questioning's eaves, and
heard all the talk that had been betwixt him and the doubters
that he entertained under his roof.
The soldier was a man that my lord had much confidence in,
and that he loved dearly; and that both because he was a man
of courage, and also a man that was unwearied in seeking
after Diabolonians to apprehend them.
Now this man, as I told you, heard all the talk that was
between old Evil-Questioning and these Diabolonians;
wherefore what does he but goes to his lord, and tells him
what he had heard. 'And sayest thou so, my trusty?' quoth my
lord. 'Ay,' quoth Diligence, 'that I do; and if your
lordship will be pleased to go with me, you shall find it as
I have said.' 'And are they there?' quoth my lord. 'I know
Evil-Questioning well, for he and I were great in the time of
our apostasy: but I know not now where he dwells.' 'But I
do,' said his man, 'and if your lordship will go, I will lead
you the way to his den.' 'Go!' quoth my lord, 'that I will.
Come, my Diligence, let us go find them out.'
So my lord and his man went together the direct way to his
house. Now his man went before to show him his way, and they
went till they came even under old Mr. Evil-Questioning's
wall. Then said Diligence, 'Hark! my lord, do you know the
old gentleman's tongue when you hear it?' 'Yes,' said my
lord, 'I know it well, but I have not seen him many a day.
This I know, he is cunning; I wish he doth not give us the
slip.' 'Let me alone for that,' said his servant Diligence.
'But how shall we find the door?' quoth my lord. 'Let me
alone for that, too,' said his man. So he had my Lord
Willbewill about, and showed him the way to the door. Then
my lord, without more ado, broke open the door, rushed into
the house, and caught them all five together, even as
Diligence his man had told him. So my lord apprehended them,
and led them away, and committed them to the hand of Mr.
Trueman, the gaoler, and commanded, and he did put them in
ward. This done, my Lord Mayor was acquainted in the morning
with what my Lord Willbewill had done over night, and his
lordship rejoiced much at the news, not only because there
were doubters apprehended, but because that old Evil-
Questioning was taken; for he had been a very great trouble
to Mansoul, and much affliction to my Lord Mayor himself. He
had also been sought for often, but no hand could ever be
laid upon him till now.
Well, the next thing was to make preparation to try these
five that by my lord had been apprehended, and that were in
the hands of Mr. Trueman, the gaoler. So the day was set,
and the court called and come together, and the prisoners
brought to the bar. My Lord Willbewill had power to have
slain them when at first he took them, and that without any
more ado; but he thought it at this time more for the honour
of the Prince, the comfort of Mansoul, and the discouragement
of the enemy, to bring them forth to public judgment.
But, I say, Mr. Trueman brought them in chains to the bar; to
the town-hall, for that was the place of judgment. So, to be
short, the jury was panelled, the witnesses sworn, and the
prisoners tried for their lives: the jury was the same that
tried Mr. No-Truth, Pitiless, Haughty, and the rest of their
companions.
And, first, old Questioning himself was set to the bar for he
was the receiver, the entertainer, and comforter of these
doubters, that by nation were outlandish men: then he was bid
to hearken to his charge, and was told that he had liberty to
object, if he had ought to say for himself. So his
indictment was read: the manner and form here follows.
'Mr. Questioning, Thou art here indicted by the name of Evil-
Questioning, an intruder upon the town of Mansoul, for that
thou art a Diabolonian by nature, and also a hater of the
Prince Emmanuel, and one that hast studied the ruin of the
town of Mansoul. Thou art also here indicted for
countenancing the King's enemies, after wholesome laws made
to the contrary: for, 1. Thou hast questioned the truth of
her doctrine and state: 2. In wishing that ten thousand
doubters were in her: 3. In receiving, in entertaining, and
encouraging of her enemies, that came from their army unto
thee. What sayest thou to this indictment? art thou guilty
or not guilty?'
'My lord,' quoth he, 'I know not the meaning of this
indictment, forasmuch as I am not the man concerned in it;
the man that standeth by this charge accused before this
bench is called by the name of Evil-Questioning, which name I
deny to be mine, mine being Honest-Inquiry. The one indeed
sounds like the other; but, I trow, your lordships know that
between these two there is a wide difference; for I hope that
a man, even in the worst of times, and that, too, amongst the
worst of men, may make an honest inquiry after things,
without running the danger of death.'
Then spake my Lord Willbewill, for he was one of the
witnesses: 'My lord, and you the honourable bench and
magistrates of the town of Mansoul, you all have heard with
your ears that the prisoner at the bar has denied his name,
and so thinks to shift from the charge of the indictment.
But I know him to be the man concerned, and that his proper
name is Evil-Questioning. I have known him, my lord, above
these thirty years, for he and I (a shame it is for me to
speak it) were great acquaintance, when Diabolus, that
tyrant, had the government of Mansoul; and I testify that he
is a Diabolonian by nature, an enemy to our Prince, and a
hater of the blessed town of Mansoul. He has, in times of
rebellion, been at and lain in my house, my lord, not so
little as twenty nights together, and we did use to talk
then, for the substance of talk, as he and his doubters have
talked of late: true, I have not seen him many a day. I
suppose that the coming of Emmanuel to Mansoul has made him
change his lodgings, as this indictment has driven him to
change his name; but this is the man, my lord.'
Then said the court unto him, 'Hast thou any more to say?'
'Yes,' quoth the old gentleman, 'that I have; for all that as
yet has been said against me, is but by the mouth of one
witness; and it is not lawful for the famous town of Mansoul,
at the mouth of one witness, to put any man to death.'
