The Holy War – John Bunyan

to hang in doubt before them, so that, for some considerable time, they
neither knew what rest, or ease, or peace, or hope meant.[8]
Nor did the Prince himself, as yet, abide in the town of Mansoul, but in
his royal pavilion in the camp, and in the midst of his Father's forces. So at a
time convenient, he sent special orders to Captain Boanerges to summons
Mansoul, the whole of the townsmen, into the castle-yard, and then and
there, before their faces, to take my Lord Understanding, Mr. Conscience,
and that notable one, the Lord Will-be-will, and put them all three in ward,
and that they should set a strong guard upon them there, until his pleasure
concerning them were further known. The which orders, when the captains
had put them in execution, made no small addition to the fears of the town of
Mansoul; for now, to their thinking, were their former fears of the ruin of
Mansoul confirmed. Now, what death they should die, and how long they
should be in dying, was that which most perplexed their heads and hearts.
Yea, they were afraid that Emmanuel would command them all into the
deep, the place that the prince Diabolus was afraid of; for they knew that
they had deserved it. Also to die by the sword in the face of the town, and in
the open way of disgrace, from the hand of so good and so holy a prince,
that, too, troubled them sore. The town was also greatly troubled for the men
that were committed to ward, for that they were their stay and their guide,
and for that they believed that if those men were cut off, their execution
would be but the beginning of the ruin of the town of Mansoul.[9] Wherefore
what do they, but together with the men in prison, draw up a petition to the
Prince, and sent it to Emmanuel by the hand of Mr. Would-live. So he went
and came to the Prince's quarters, and presented the petition; the sum of
which was this:--
'Great and wonderful Potentate, victor over Diabolus, and conqueror of
the town of Mansoul, We, the miserable inhabitants of that most woful
corporation, do humbly beg that we may find favour in thy sight, and
remember not against us former transgressions, nor yet the sins of the chief
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