The Holy War – John Bunyan

This oration, made by old Incredulity, was seconded by desperate Willbe-will,
in words to this effect: 'Gentlemen, we have heard your demands,
and the noise of your threats, and have heard the sound of your summons,
but we fear not your force; we regard not your threats, but will still abide as
you found us. And we command you, that in three days' time you cease to
appear in these parts, or you shall know what it is once to dare offer to rouse
the lion Diabolus, when asleep in his town of Mansoul.'
The Recorder, whose name was Forget-good, he also added as
followeth: 'Gentlemen, my Lords, as you see, have, with mild and gentle
words, answered your rough and angry speeches; they have, moreover, in my
hearing, given you leave quietly to depart as you came. Wherefore, take their
kindness, and begone. We might have come out with force upon you, and
have caused you to feel the dint of our swords; but as we love ease and quiet
ourselves, so we love not to hurt or molest others.'[21]
Then did the town of Mansoul shout for joy; as if, by Diabolus and his
crew, some great advantage had been gotten of the captains. They also rang
the bells, and made merry, and danced upon the walls. Diabolus also
returned to the castle, and the Lord Mayor and Recorder to their place; but
the Lord Willbe- will took special care that the gates should be secured with
double guards, double bolts, and double locks and bars. And that Ear-gate
especially might the better be looked to--for that was the gate in at which the
King's forces sought most to enter--the Lord Will-be-will made one old Mr.
Prejudice, an angry and illconditioned fellow, captain of the ward at that
gate, and put under his power sixty men, called Deafmen;[22] men
advantageous for that service, forasmuch as they mattered no words of the
captains, nor of their soldiers.[23]
Notes:
1. The army of forty thousand terrors of the law was not so fearful as one
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