Episode 68, The Holy War. Mr. Prywell spied out what Diabolus and the lords of the pit were planning and brought word back to Mansoul. A diligent search was now underway to discover Diabolonians still dwelling among them. Now in the house of Mr. Mind, and in the house of the great Lord Willbewill, were two Diabolonians found. In Mr. Mine's house was one Lord Covetousness found, but he had changed his name to Prudent Thrifty. In my Lord Wilbywell's house, one Lasciviousness was found, but he had changed his name to Harmless Mirth. These two, the captains and elders of the town of Mansoul, took them and committed them to custody under the hand of Mr. Truman, the jailer. And Mr. Truman handled them so severely and chained them with iron so well that in time they both contracted pulmonary consumption and died in the prison house. According to the agreement of the captains and elders, their masters were also brought in to repent in the open place, to their shame, in order to serve as a warning to the rest of the town of Mansoul. Now this was the manner of repentance in those days. The offending persons were convinced of the evil of their doings, were admonished to openly confess their faults, and to strictly amend their lives. After this, the captains and elders of Mansoul still desired to find more Diabolonians wherever they lurked. whether in dens, caves, holes, vaults, or wherever else they could, in or about the wall or the town of Mansoul. Although they could plainly see their footprints and easily follow their tracks and smells to their holds, even to the mouths of the caves and dens, yet take them, hold them, and do justice upon them, they could not. For their Diabolonian ways were so crooked, their hold so strong, and they were so quick to take sanctuary there. But Mansoul now ruled over the remaining Diabolonians, with so firm a hand that these filthy ones were glad to shrink into corners. Time was when they dared walk openly and in the day, but now they were forced to embrace privacy and the night. Time was when a Mansoulian was their companion, but now they counted them deadly enemies. Mr. Prywell's intelligence made this good change in the famous town of Mansoul. By this time, Diabolus had finished assembling his army, the one which he intended to bring with him for the ruin of Mansoul. He had set over them captains and other field officers, such who liked his furious stomach best. He made himself Lord Paramount. Incredulity was general of his army. Their highest captains shall be named afterwards, but now for their officers, colors, and shields. Number one. The first captain was Captain Rage. He was captain over the election doubters. His were the red colors and his standard bearer was Mr. Destructive. He had the great red dragon for his shield. Number two, the second captain was Captain Fury. He was captain over the vocation doubters. His standard bearer was Mr. Darkness and his colors were those that were pale. He had for his shield the fiery flying serpent. Number three, the third captain was Captain Damnation, who was a captain over the Grey Stouters. His were the red colors and Mr. No-Life bore them. His shield was the dark den. Number four, the fourth captain was Captain Insatiable. he was captain over the faith doubters. His were the red colors, Mr. Devourer bore them, and he had for a shield the yawning jaws. Number five, the fifth captain was Captain Brimstone. He was captain over the Perseverance Doubters. His colors were also red, born by Mr. Burning. His shield was the blue and stinking flame. Number six, the sixth captain was Captain Torment. who was captain over the resurrection doubters. His colors were pale. Mr. Gnaw was his ancient bearer, and the black worm was his shield. Number seven, the seventh captain, was captain no ease. He was captain over the salvation doubters. His colors were red, Mr. Restless bore them, and his shield was the ghastly picture of death. Number eight, the eighth captain was the Captain Sepulchre. He was captain over the glory doubters. His were also the pale colors. Mr. Corruption was his ancient bearer, and he had for his shield a skull and dead men's bones. In verse 9, excuse me, number 9, the ninth captain was Captain Past Hope. He was captain of those who are called the Felicity Doubters. His ancient bearer was Mr. Despair. His also were the red colors, and his shield was a hot iron and the hard heart. These were his captains, and these were their forces. These were their standards. These were their colors, and these were their shields. Now over these the great Diabolus made superior captains, and they were seven in number, as namely the Lord Beelzebub, the Lord Lucifer, the Lord Legion, the Lord Apollyon, the Lord Python, the Lord Cerberus, and the Lord Belial. He set these seven over the captains with incredulity as Lord General. And Diabolus was king. Those officers and nobles without a command also, such as were like themselves, were some of them made captains of hundreds and some of them captains of more, and thus the army of incredulity was complete. So they set out from Hellgate Hill, where they had their rendezvous, and went upon their march with a straight course toward the town of Mansoul. Now, as was hinted before, the town had, as should I would have it, received the alarm of their coming from the mouth of Mr. Prywell. Therefore they set a strong watch at the gates and had also doubled their guards. They also mounted their slings in good places where they might conveniently cast out their great stones to annoy their furious enemy. Now the Diabolonians were who were in the town could not harm them as they had planned since Mansell was now awake. But alas, poor people, they were severely frightened at the first appearance of their foes and at their sitting down before the town, especially when they heard the roaring of their drum. This, to speak truth, was amazingly hideous to hear. It frightened all men seven miles round, that is, if they were awake to hear it. the streaming of their colors was also terrible and discouraging to behold. When Diabolus had come up against the town, first he had made his approach to Eargate and gave it a furious assault, supposing, as it seemed to him, that his friends in Mansoul had been ready to do the work within. But the vigilance of the captains had already taken care of that, therefore lacking the help he expected from them and finding his army warmly attended by the stones slung by the slingers. For I will say this of the captains, that considering the weakness Mansoul had suffered due to a long illness, they gallantly behaved themselves. Diabolus was forced to make some of his doubters retreat from Mansoul and to entrench himself and his men in the field just beyond the reach of the slings of the town. Now, having entrenched himself, he cast up four mounts against the town. The first he called Mount Diabolus, putting his own name on it. the more to frighten the town of Mansoul. The other three he called thus, Mount Electo, Mount Megara, and Mount Tisiphon, for these are the names of the dreadful furies of hell. Thus he began to play his game with Mansoul and to serve it as does the lion his prey, even to make it fall before his terror. But as I said, the captains and soldiers resisted so stoutly and did so by such execution with their stones that they made him, though against stomach, to retreat. For this reason, Mansoul began to be continued.