’O our Lord, and Sovereign Prince Emmanuel, the potent, the long-suffering Prince! grace is poured into thy lips, and to thee belong mercy and forgiveness, though we have rebelled against thee.  We, who are no more worthy to be called thy Mansoul, nor yet fit to partake of common benefits, do beseech thee, and thy Father by thee, to do away our transgressions.  We confess that thou mightest cast us away for them; but do it not for thy name’s sake:  let the Lord rather take an opportunity, at our miserable condition, to let out his bowels and compassions to us.  We are compassed on every side, Lord; our own backslidings reprove us; our Diabolonians within our town fright us; and the army of the angel of the bottomless pit distresses us.  Thy grace can be our salvation, and whither to go but to thee we know not.

’Furthermore, O gracious Prince, we have weakened our captains, and they are discouraged, sick, and, of late, some of them grievously worsted and beaten out of the field by the power and force of the tyrant.  Yea, even those of our captains, in whose valour we did formerly use to put most of our confidence, they are as wounded men.  Besides, Lord, our enemies are lively, and they are strong; they vaunt and boast themselves, and do threaten to part us among themselves for a booty.  They are fallen also upon us, Lord, with many thousand doubters, such as with whom we cannot tell what to do; they are all grim-looked and unmerciful ones, and they bid defiance to us and thee.

’Our wisdom is gone, our power is gone, because thou art departed from us; nor have we what we may call ours but sin, shame, and confusion of face for sin.  Take pity upon us, O Lord, take pity upon us, thy miserable town of Mansoul, and save us out of the hands of our enemies.  Amen.’

This petition, as was touched afore, was handed by the Lord Secretary, and carried to the court by the brave and most stout Captain Credence.  Now he carried it out at Mouth-gate, (for that, as I said, was the sally-port of the town,) and he went and came to Emmanuel with it.  Now how it came out, I do not know; but for certain it did, and that so far as to reach the ears of Diabolus.  Thus I conclude, because that the tyrant had it presently by the end, and charged the town of Mansoul with it, saying, ’Thou rebellious and stubborn-hearted Mansoul, I will make thee to leave off petitioning.  Art thou yet for petitioning?  I will make thee to leave.’  Yea, he also knew who the messenger was that carried the petition to the Prince, and it made him both to fear and rage.

Wherefore he commanded that his drum should be beat again, a thing that Mansoul could not abide to hear:  but when Diabolus will have his drum beat, Mansoul must abide the noise.  Well, the drum was beat, and the Diabolonians were gathered together.