‘Furthermore, my lords,’ quoth he, ’you very well know that it is not easy for a people to be filled with our things, and not to have some of our Diabolonians as retainers to their houses and services.  Where is a Mansoulian that is full of this world, that has not for his servants and waiting-men, Mr. Profuse, or Mr. Prodigality, or some other of our Diabolonian gang, as Mr. Voluptuous, Mr. Pragmatical, Mr. Ostentation, or the like?  Now these can take the castle of Mansoul, or blow it up, or make it unfit for a garrison for Emmanuel, and any of these will do.  Yea, these, for aught I know, may do it for us sooner than an army of twenty thousand men.  Wherefore, to end as I began, my advice is, that we quietly withdraw ourselves, not offering any further force, or forcible attempts, upon the castle, at least at this time; and let us set on foot our new project, and let us see if that will not make them destroy themselves.’

This advice was highly applauded by them all, and was accounted the very masterpiece of hell, namely, to choke Mansoul with a fulness of this world, and to surfeit her heart with the good things thereof.  But see how things meet together!  Just as this Diabolonian council was broken up, Captain Credence received a letter from Emmanuel, the contents of which were these:  That upon the third day he would meet him in the field in the plains about Mansoul.  ‘Meet me in the field!’ quoth the Captain; ’what meaneth my lord by this?  I know not what he meaneth by meeting me in the field.’  So he took the note in his hand, and did carry it to my Lord Secretary, to ask his thoughts thereupon; for my Lord was a seer in all matters concerning the King, and also for the good and comfort of the town of Mansoul.  So he showed my Lord the note, and desired his opinion thereof.  ‘For my part,’ quoth Captain Credence, ‘I know not the meaning thereof.’  So my lord did take and read it and, after a little pause, he said, ’The Diabolonians have had against Mansoul a great consultation to-day; they have, I say, this day been contriving the utter ruin of the town; and the result of their council is, to set Mansoul into such a way which, if taken, will surely make her destroy herself.  And, to this end, they are making ready for their own departure out of the town, intending to betake themselves to the field again,’ and there to lie till they shall see whether this their project will take or no.  But be thou ready with the men of thy Lord, (for on the third day they will be in the plain,) there to fall upon the Diabolonians; for the Prince will by that time be in the field; yea, by that it is break of day, sun-rising, or before, and that with a mighty force against them.  So he shall be before them, and thou shalt be behind them, and betwixt you both their army shall be destroyed.’