The Holy War – John Bunyan

common custom of princes? do they use to show such kind of favours to
traitors? No! this is only peculiar to Shaddai, and unto Emmanuel. his
Son.[2]
Now morning drew on apace, wherefore the Lord Mayor, the Lord Willbe-will,
and Mr. Recorder came down to the market-place at the time that the
Prince had appointed, where the townsfolk were waiting for them; and when
they came, they came in that attire and in that glory that the Prince had put
them into the day before, and the street was lightened with their glory. So the
Mayor, Recorder, and my Lord Will-be-will drew down to Mouth-gate,
which was at the lower end of the market- place, because that of old time
was the place where they used to read public matters. Thither therefore they
came in their robes, and their tabret went before them. Now the eagerness of
the people to know the full of the matter was great.
Then the Recorder stood up upon his feet, and first beckoning with his
hand for a silence, he read out with loud voice the pardon. But when he came
to these words, 'The Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious, pardoning
iniquity, transgression, and sin'(Exo 34:6); and to these, 'all manner of sin
and blasphemy shall be forgiven,' &c. (Mark 3:28); they could not forbear
but leap for joy. For this you must know, that there was conjoined herewith
every man's name in Mansoul; also the seals of the pardon made a brave
show.[3]
When the Recorder had made an end of reading the pardon, the
townsmen ran up upon the walls of the town, and leaped and skipped thereon
for joy; and bowed themselves seven times with their faces towards
Emmanuel's pavilion, and shouted out aloud for joy, and said, Let Emmanuel
live for ever! Then order was given to the young men in Mansoul, that they
should ring the bells for joy. So the bells did ring, and the people sing, and
the music go in every house in Mansoul.[4]
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