When Emmanuel had put all things in readiness to bid Diabolus battle, he sent again to know of the town of Mansoul if in peaceable manner they would yield themselves.  They then, together with Diabolus, their king, called a council of war, and resolved on certain propositions that should be offered to Emmanuel.

Now, there was in the town of Mansoul an old man, a Diabolonian, and his name was Mr. Loath-to-Stoop, a stiff man in his way, and a great doer for Diabolus; him, therefore, they sent, and put into his mouth what he should say.  But none of his proposals would Emmanuel grant—­all his ensnaring propositions were rejected, and Mr. Loath-to-Stoop departed.

Then was an alarm sounded, and the battering-rams were played, and the slings whirled stones into the town amain, and thus the battle began.  And the word was at that time “Emmanuel.”  First Captain Boanerges made three assaults, most fierce, one after another, upon Eargate, to the shaking of the posts thereof.  Captain Conviction also made up fast with Boanerges, and both discovering that the gate began to yield, they commanded that the rams should still be played against it.  But Captain Conviction, going up very near to the gate, was with great force driven back, and received three wounds in the mouth.  Nor did Captain Good-hope nor Captain Charity come behind in this most desperate fight, for they too so behaved at Eyegate that they had almost broken it quite open.  And this took away the hearts of many of the Diabolonians.  As for Will-be-will, I never saw him so daunted in my life, and some say he got a wound in the leg.

When the battle was over Diabolus again attempted to make terms by proposing a surrender on the condition that he should remain in the town as Emmanuel’s deputy, and press upon the people a reformation according to law; but Emmanuel replied that nothing would be regarded that he could propose, for he had neither conscience to God nor love to the town of Mansoul.  Diabolus therefore withdrew himself from the walls to the fort in the heart of the town, and, filled with despair of retaining the town in his hands, resolved to do it what mischief he could; for, said he, “Better demolish the place and leave it a heap of ruins than that it should be a habitation for Emmanuel.”

Knowing the next battle would issue in his being master of the place, Emmanuel gave out a royal commandment to all his men of war to show themselves men of war against Diabolus and all Diabolonians, but favourable and meek to the old inhabitants of Mansoul.  Then, after three or four notable charges, Eargate was burst open, and the bolts and bars broken into a thousand pieces.  Then did the prince’s trumpets sound, the captains shout, the town shake, and Diabolus retreat to his hold.  And there was a great slaughter till the Diabolonians lay dead in every corner—­though too many were yet alive in Mansoul.  Now, the old recorder and my lord Understanding, with some others