of the chief of the town, came together, and jointly agreed to draw up a petition, and send it to Emmanuel while he sat in the gate of Mansoul.  The contents of the petition were these:  “That they—­the old inhabitants of the deplorable town of Mansoul—­confessed their sin, and were sorry that they had offended his princely majesty, and prayed that he would spare their lives.”  Unto this petition he gave no answer.  After some time and travail the gate of the castle was beaten open, and so a way was made to go into the hold where Diabolus had hid himself.

Now, when he was come to the castle gates he commanded Diabolus to surrender himself into his hands.  But, oh, how loath was the beast to appear!  How he stuck at it!  How he shrunk!  How he cringed!  Then Emmanuel commanded, and they took Diabolus, and bound him first in chains, and led him to the market-place, and stripped him of his armour.  Thus having made Diabolus naked in the eyes of Mansoul, the prince commands that he shall be bound with chains to his chariot-wheels, and he rode in triumph over him quite through the town.  And, having finished this part of his triumph over Diabolus, he turned him up in the midst of his contempt and shame.  Then went he from Emmanuel, and out of his camp to inherit parched places in a salt land, seeking rest but finding none.

Now, the prince, having by special orders put my lord Understanding, Mr. Conscience, and my lord Will-be-will in ward, they again drew up a petition and sent it to Emmanuel by the hand of Mr. Would-Live, and this being unanswered, they used as their messenger Mr. Desires-Awake, and with him went Mr. Wet-Eyes, a near neighbour.  Then the prisoners were ordered to go down to the camp and appear before the prince.  This they did with drooping spirits and ropes round their necks.  But the prince gave them their pardon, embraced them, took away their ropes, and put chains of gold round their necks.  He also sent by the recorder a pardon for all the people of Mansoul.

Then the prince commanded that the image of Diabolus should be taken down from the place where it was set up, and that they should utterly destroy it without the town wall; and that the image of Shaddai, his father, should be set up again with his own.  Moreover, he renewed the charter of the city, and brought forth out of his treasury white glittering robes and granted to the people that they should put them on, so that they were put into fine linen, white and clean.  Then said the prince unto them, “This, O Mansoul, is my livery, and the badge by which mine are known from the servants of others.  Wear them if you would be known by the world to be mine.”

IV.—­The Downfall

But there was a man in the town named Mr. Carnal-Security, and he brought this corporation into great, grievous bondage.  When Emmanuel perceived that through the policy of Mr. Carnal-Security the hearts of men were chilled and abated in their practical love for him, he in private manner withdrew himself first from his palace, then to the gate of the town, and so away from Mansoul till they should more earnestly seek his face.