登陆注册
15460600000068

第68章 Part 7(3)

'Besides,' quoth the subordinate preacher, 'I have received from this good truth-teller this one inkling further, that he understood by those that he overheard, that several letters have lately passed between the furies and the Diabolonians in order to our destruction.' When Mansoul heard all this, and not being able to gainsay it, they lift up their voice and wept. Mr. Prywell did also, in the presence of the townsmen, confirm all that their subordinate preacher had said.

Wherefore they now set afresh to bewail their folly, and to a doubling of petitions to Shaddai and his Son. They also brake the business to the captains, high commanders, and men of war in the town of Mansoul, entreating them to use the means to be strong, and to take good courage; and that they would look after their harness, and make themselves ready to give Diabolus battle by night and by day, shall he come, as they are informed he will, to beleaguer the town of Mansoul.

When the captains heard this, they being always true lovers of the town of Mansoul, what do they but like so many Samsons they shake themselves, and come together to consult and contrive how to defeat those bold and hellish contrivances that were upon the wheel by the means of Diabolus and his friends against the now sickly, weakly, and much impoverished town of Mansoul; and they agreed upon these following particulars:

1. That the gates of Mansoul should be kept shut, and made fast with bars and locks, and that all persons that went out, or came in, should be very strictly examined by the captains of the guards, 'to the end,' said they, 'that those that are managers of the plot amongst us, may, either coming or going, be taken; and that we may also find out who are the great contrivers, amongst us, of our ruin.'

2. The next thing was, that a strict search should be made for all kind of Diabolonians throughout the whole town of Mansoul; and that every man's house from top to bottom should be looked into, and that, too, house by house, that if possible a further discovery might be made of all such among them as had a hand in these designs.

3. It was further concluded upon, that wheresoever or with whomsoever any of the Diabolonians were found, that even those of the town of Mansoul that had given them house and harbour, should to their shame, and the warning of others, take penance in the open place.

4. It was, moreover, resolved by the famous town of Mansoul, that a public fast, and a day of humiliation, should be kept throughout the whole corporation, to the justifying of their Prince, the abasing of themselves before him for their transgressions against him, and against Shaddai, his Father.

It was further resolved, that all such in Mansoul as did not on that day endeavour to keep that fast, and to humble themselves for their faults, but that should mind their worldly employs, or be found wandering up and down the streets, should be taken for Diabolonians, and should suffer as Diabolonians for such their wicked doings.

5. It was further concluded then, that with what speed, and with what warmth of mind they could, they would renew their humiliation for sin, and their petitions to Shaddai for help;they also resolved, to send tidings to the court of all that Mr. Prywell had told them.

6. It was also determined, that thanks should be given by the town of Mansoul to Mr. Prywell, for his diligent seeking of the welfare of their town: and further, that forasmuch as he was so naturally inclined to seek their good, and also to undermine their foes, they gave him a commission of scout-master-general, for the good of the town of Mansoul.

When the corporation, with their captains, had thus concluded, they did as they had said; they shut up their gates, they made for Diabolonians strict search, they made those with whom any were found to take penance in the open place: they kept their fast, and renewed their petitions to their Prince, and Mr. Prywell managed his charge and the trust that Mansoul had put in his hands, with great conscience and good fidelity; for he gave himself wholly up to his employ, and that not only within the town, but he went out to pry, to see, and to hear.

And not many days after he provided for his journey, and went towards Hell-Gate Hill, into the country where the Doubters were, where he heard of all that had been talked of in Mansoul, and he perceived also that Diabolus was almost ready for his march, etc. So he came back with speed, and, calling the captains and elders of Mansoul together, he told them where he had been, what he had heard, and what he had seen.

Particularly, he told them that Diabolus was almost ready for his march, and that he had made old Mr. Incredulity, that once brake prison in Mansoul, the, general of his army; that his army consisted all of Doubters, and that their number was above twenty thousand. He told, moreover, that Diabolus did intend to bring with him the chief princes of the infernal pit, and that he would make them chief captains over his Doubters. He told them, moreover, that it was certainly true that several of the black den would, with Diabolus, ride reformades to reduce the town of Mansoul to the obedience of Diabolus, their prince.

He said, moreover, that he understood by the Doubters, among whom he had been, that the reason why old Incredulity was made general of the whole army, was because none truer than he to the tyrant; and because he had an implacable spite against the welfare of the town of Mansoul. Besides, said he, he remembers the affronts that Mansoul has given him, and he is resolved to be revenged of them.

But the black princes shall be made high commanders, only Incredulity shall be over them all; because, which I had almost forgot, he can more easily, and more dexterously, beleaguer the town of Mansoul, than can any of the princes besides.

同类推荐
热门推荐
  • 苍天武圣

    苍天武圣

    主角林立,一个家族的二少爷,十二岁成为武师,成为家族的天才,可是,却在一夜之间丧失武气成为废人,但他不忍心一生碌碌无为,得到一次奇遇,刻苦修炼,决定游历世间,成为武气大陆的主宰。
  • 总裁的魔女情人

    总裁的魔女情人

    顾不自己的上伤口,沈乐白赶紧捡起礼服装到手提袋里。顾墨琛从后视镜中看到沈乐白的一举一动,沈乐白竟然你这么珍惜这件礼服,这么想嫁给我哥,我偏偏不能如了你的愿。
  • 迷魂计

    迷魂计

    一线巨星杜宇离婚后过着苦行僧般的生活,感情生活成迷。外界盛传他与海云集团貌美如花的女老总有夫之妇景云儿有着说不清道不明的关系。而事实上,杜宇深爱着景云儿的闺蜜:另一位高知女老总王芳。可是造化弄人,娱乐圈的是是非非让爱人心碎。一次次的错过,一次次的彼此折磨,最终这对苦命鸳鸯是否能守得云开见月明,赢来爱情的春天?
  • 丑丫头也有春天之厨娘皇后

    丑丫头也有春天之厨娘皇后

    说我丑说我胖说我嫁不出去没人要,男票说我死胖子臭厨娘躺床上就像一块五花肉!爹妈骂我白痴没用赔钱货的死丫头!小三说我浑身上下都是炝锅的葱花油烟味,闻一下恶心半年!好好好,老娘惹不起躲得起,看我穿越到古代如何先征服男人的胃然后再征服男人的心。而且这个男人不是别人,是当朝皇帝大人!咸鱼也能翻身,丑厨娘也有春天!
  • The three Musketeers

    The three Musketeers

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 别天道

    别天道

    何为天?我为天!何为道?我为道!大山深林里走出的柔弱少年,看他如何颠覆世界创造未来!
  • 仙魔修真

    仙魔修真

    修真界,一个资质废材到极点的少年,机缘巧合下,得到一块神格碎片,一位生命至高神的神格碎片!!带着神格碎片修真,两个字,牛B!!
  • 南怡冰

    南怡冰

    集齐上古十大神器,五灵珠之路危险,南怡冰和伙伴碧水、林筱该如何面对。神秘的季向雨为何三番两次帮助南怡冰,他的目的到底是什么?菩提宫的上仙为何又次次阻止南怡冰取得神器?南怡冰又将如何选择?
  • 我坚信

    我坚信

    奥普拉温弗瑞的《我坚信》(what I know for sure)是奥普拉本人的文字第一次出版成书,是她在杂志《奥普拉》上专栏文字的精选结集。国内正版引进。在这本书里,奥普拉从一个记者朋友的提问开始,回顾自己一生的奋斗,她真诚地问自己,也真诚地回答,经过了这么多事情,我真正相信的是什么?永远会坚持的是什么?奥普拉一生的成就辉煌,也充满了坎坷。在这本书里,她直面内心的敏感和脆弱,回忆往事的波澜涌动,也回望生活的那些细腻的幸福瞬间。每一个关键词,都是一生奋斗坚持经验的总结。她说,她每天做的事情,都是在为阅读时间做准备。她觉得最幸福最平静的时间,就是坐在那棵大树下阅读。
  • 天下无赖

    天下无赖

    仙踪飘渺,无人得见,滚滚红尘,何人不欲长生。仙,有之,无之?纵然大道无情,又岂能挡住众生不度轮回之愿。登浩瀚云海,临九幽之地,或问道求长生,或逍遥于天地。何谓长生?何谓成仙?天地之间一股青烟。