The Holy War | Page 8

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,