Then the Diabolonians who yet dwelt in Mansoul sent letters to Diabolus, who promised to come to their assistance for the ruin of the town with twenty thousand Doubters.  Diabolus suddenly making an assault on Feelgate, the gate was forced and the prince’s men were compelled to betake themselves to the castle as the stronghold of the town, leaving the townsmen open to the ravages of the Doubters.  Still the castle held out, and more urgent petitions to Emmanuel, carried by Captain Credence, brought at last the assurance that he would come presently to the relief of the town.

Indeed, before that time Diabolus had thought it wise to withdraw his men from the town to the plain; but here the Doubters, being caught between the defenders of the city and the rescuing army of Emmanuel, were slain to the last man, and buried in the plains.

Even yet Diabolus was not satisfied with his defeat, but determined on a last attempt upon the town, his army being made up of ten thousand Doubters and fifteen thousand Blood-men, all rugged villains.  But Mr. Prywell discovered their coming, and they were put to route by the prince’s captains, the Blood-men being surrounded and captured.

And so Mansoul arrived at some degree of peace and quiet, and her prince also abode within her borders.  Then the prince appointed a day when he should meet the whole of the townsmen in the market-place, and they being come together, he said, “Now, my Mansoul, I have returned to thee in peace, and thy transgressions against me are as if they had not been.  Nor shall it be with thee as in former days, but I will do better, for thee than at the beginning.

“Yet a little while, and I will take down this famous town of Mansoul, street and stone, to the ground, and will set it up in such strength and glory in mine own country as it never did see in the kingdom where now it is placed.  There, O my Mansoul, thou shalt be afraid of murderers no more, of Diabolonians no more.  There shall be no more plots, nor contrivances, nor designs against thee.  But first I charge thee that thou dost hereafter keep more white and clean the liveries which I gave thee.  When thy garments are white, the world will count thee mine.  And now that thou mayest keep them white I have provided for thee an open fountain to wash thy garments in.  I have oft-times delivered thee, and for all this I ask thee nothing but that thou bear in mind my love.  Nothing can hurt thee but sin, nothing can grieve me but sin, nothing make thee pause before thy foes but sin.  Watch!  Behold, I lay none other burden upon thee—­hold fast till I come!”

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The Pilgrim’s Progress