Then said the Lord Mayor, ’We have sinned indeed; but that shall be no help to thee, for our Emmanuel hath said it, and that in great faithfulness, “and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.”  He hath also told us, O our enemy, that “all manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven” to the sons of men.  Therefore we dare not despair, but will look for, wait for, and hope for deliverance still.’

Now, by this time, Captain Credence was returned and come from the court from Emmanuel to the castle of Mansoul, and he returned to them with a packet.  So my Lord Mayor, hearing that Captain Credence was come, withdrew himself from the noise of the roaring of the tyrant, and left him to yell at the wall of the town, or against the gates of the castle.  So he came up to the captain’s lodgings, and saluting him, he asked him of his welfare, and what was the best news at court.  But when he asked Captain Credence that, the water stood in his eyes.  Then said the captain, ’Cheer up, my lord, for all will be well in time.’  And with that he first produced his packet, and laid it by; but that the Lord Mayor, and the rest of the captains, took for sign of good tidings.  Now a season of grace being come, he sent for all the captains and elders of the town, that were here and there in their lodgings in the castle and upon their guard, to let them know that Captain Credence was returned from the court, and that he had something in general, and something in special, to communicate to them.  So they all came up to him, and saluted him, and asked him concerning his journey, and what was the best news at the court.  And he answered them as he had done the Lord Mayor before, that all would be well at last.  Now, when the captain had thus saluted them, he opened his packet, and thence did draw out his several notes for those that he had sent for.

And the first note was for my Lord Mayor, wherein was signified:- That the Prince Emmanuel had taken it well that my Lord Mayor had been so true and trusty in his office, and the great concerns that lay upon him for the town and people of Mansoul.  Also, he bid him to know, that he took it well that he had been so bold for his Prince Emmanuel, and had engaged so faithfully in his cause against Diabolus.  He also signified, at the close of his letter, that he should shortly receive his reward.

The second note that came out, was for the noble Lord Willbewill, wherein there was signified:- That his Prince Emmanuel did well understand how valiant and courageous he had been for the honour of his Lord, now in his absence, and when his name was under contempt by Diabolus.  There was signified also, that his Prince had taken it well that he had been so faithful to the town of Mansoul, in his keeping of so strict a hand and eye over and so strict a rein upon the neck of the Diabolonians, that did still lie lurking in their several holes in the famous town of Mansoul.  He signified, moreover, how that he understood that my Lord had, with his own hand, done great execution upon some of the chief of the rebels there, to the great discouragement of the adverse party and to the good example of the whole town of Mansoul; and that shortly his lordship should have his reward.