The Holy War – John Bunyan

Diabolus to make a retreat. But I cannot tell how, but the brave Captain
Credence, Captain Good-hope, and Captain Experience, as they were upon
the pursuit, cutting down, and following hard after the enemy in the rear,
Captain Credence stumbled and fell, by which fall he caught so great a hurt
that he could not rise till Captain Experience did help him up, at which their
men were put in disorder; the captain also was so full of pain that he could
not forbear but aloud to cry out; at this the other two captains fainted,
supposing that Captain Credence had received his mortal wound: their men
also were more disordered, and had no list to fight. Now Diabolus being very
observing though at this time as yet he was put to the worst, perceiving that a
halt was made among the men that were the pursuers, what does he but
taking it for granted that the captains were either wounded or dead; he
therefore makes at first a stand, then faces about, and so comes up upon the
Prince's army with as much of his fury as hell could help him to, and his hap
was to fall in just among the three captains, Captain Credence, Captain
Good-hope, and Captain Experience, and did cut, wound, and pierce them so
dreadfully, that what through discouragement, what through disorder, and
what through the wounds that now they had received, and also the loss of
much blood, they scarce were able, though they had for their power the three
best hands in Mansoul, to get safe into the hold again.
Now, when the body of the Prince's army saw how these three captains
were put to the worst, they thought it their wisdom to make as safe and good
a retreat as they could, and so returned by the sally-port again, and so there
was an end of this present action.[3] But Diabolus was so flushed with this
night's work, that he promised himself, in few days, an easy and complete
conquest over the town of Mansoul; wherefore, on the day following, he
comes up to the sides thereof with great boldness, and demands entrance, and
that forthwith they deliver themselves up to his government. The
Diabolonians too, that were within, they began to be somewhat brisk, as we
shall show afterward.
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