The Holy War – John Bunyan

I told you but now that they of the King's army had this winter sent three
times to Mansoul, to submit herself.
First. The first time the trumpeter went, he went with words of peace,
telling of them, 'That the captains, the noble captains of Shaddai, did pity and
bewail the misery of the now perishing town of Mansoul; and were troubled
to see them so much to stand in the way of their own deliverance.' He said,
moreover, 'That the captains bid him tell them, that if now poor Mansoul
would humble herself, and turn, her former rebellions and most notorious
treasons should, by their merciful King, be forgiven them, yea, and forgotten
too.' And having bid them 'beware that they stood not in their own way, that
they opposed not themselves, nor made themselves their own losers,' he
returned again into the camp.
Second. The second time the trumpeter went, he did treat them a little
more roughly. For after sound of trumpet, he told them, 'That their
continuing in their rebellion did but chafe and heat the spirit of the captains,
and that they were resolved to make a conquest of Mansoul, or to lay their
bones before the town walls.'
Third. He went again the third time, and dealt with them yet more
roughly; telling of them, 'That now, since they had been so horribly profane,
he did not know--not certainly know--whether the captains were inclining to
mercy or judgment; only,' said he, 'they commanded me to give you a
summons to open the gates unto them.' So he returned, and went into the
camp.
These three summons, and especially the two last, did so distress the
town, that they presently called a consultation; the result of which was this,
that my Lord Will-be-will should go up to Ear-gate, and there, with sound of
trumpet, call to the captains of the camp for a parley. Well, the Lord Will-be-
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