Then the Prince arose from the place where he was, and took with him such of his men of war as were fittest for that expedition, and marched up the street of Mansoul to the old Recorder’s house.

Now, the Prince himself was clad all in armour of gold, and so he marched up the town with his standard borne before him; but he kept his countenance much reserved all the way as he went, so that the people could not tell how to gather to themselves love or hatred by his looks.  Now, as he marched up the street, the townsfolk came out at every door to see, and could not but be taken with his person and the glory thereof, but wondered at the reservedness of his countenance; for as yet he spake more to them by his actions and works than he did by words or smiles.  But also poor Mansoul, (as in such cases all are apt to do,) they interpreted the carriage of Emmanuel to them as did Joseph’s brethren his to them, even all the quite contrary way.  ‘For,’ thought they, ’if Emmanuel loved us, he would show it to us by word of carriage; but none of these he doth, therefore Emmanuel hates us.  Now, if Emmanuel hates us, then Mansoul shall be slain, then Mansoul shall become a dunghill.’  They knew that they had transgressed his Father’s law, and that against him they had been in with Diabolus, his enemy.  They also knew that the Prince Emmanuel knew all this; for they were convinced that he was an angel of God, to know all things that are done in the earth; and this made them think that their condition was miserable, and that the good Prince would make them desolate.

‘And,’ thought they, ’what time so fit to do this in as now, when he has the bridle of Mansoul in his hand?’ And this I took special notice of, that the inhabitants, notwithstanding all this, could not—­no, they could not, when they see him march through the town, but cringe, bow, bend, and were ready to lick the dust of his feet.  They also wished a thousand times over that he would become their Prince and Captain, and would become their protection.  They would also one to another talk of the comeliness of his person, and how much for glory and valour he outstripped the great ones of the world.  But, poor hearts, as to themselves, their thoughts would chance, and go upon all manner of extremes.  Yea, through the working of them backward and forward, Mansoul became as a ball tossed, and as a rolling thing before the whirlwind.

Now, when he was come to the castle gates, he commanded Diabolus to appear, and to surrender himself into his hands.  But, oh! how loath was the beast to appear! how he stuck at it! how he shrank! how he cringed! yet out he came to the Prince.  Then Emmanuel commanded, and they took Diabolus and bound him fast in chains, the better to reserve him to the judgment that he had appointed for him.  But Diabolus stood up to entreat for himself that Emmanuel would not send him into the deep, but suffer him to depart out of Mansoul in peace.