foul." This bell, therefore, they did ring, because they did hope that they fhall have Manfoul again.

Now, when they had performed this their horrible ceremony, they got together again to confult what anfwer to fend to their friends in Manfoul; and fome advised one thing, and fome another: but at length, because the business required hafte, they left the whole management to the prince Diabolus, judging him the moft proper lord of the place. So he drew up a letter as he thought fit, in answer to what Mr Profane had brought, and fent it to the Diabolonians that did dwell in Mansoul, by the fame hand that had brought theirs to him. And this was the contents thereof.

To our offspring, the high and mighty Diabolonians, that yet dwell in the town of Manfoul, Diabolus, the great prince of Manfoul, wishes a profperous iffue and conclufion of thefe many brave enterprifes, confpiracies, and defigns, that you, of your love and refpect to our honour, have in your hearts to attempt to do against Manfoul.

BEL

ELOVED children and difciples, my Lord Fornication, Adultery, and the reft, we have here in our defolate den received, to our highest joy and content, your welcome letter, by the hand of our trufty Mr Profane. And, to fhew how acceptable your tidings were, we rang out our bell for gladness; for we rejoiced as much as we could, when we perceived that yet we had friends in Manfoul, and fuch as fought our honour and revenge in the town of Manfoul. We also rejoiced to hear that they are in a degenerated condition, and that they have offended their Prince, and he is gone. Their fickness also pleased us, as does also

your

4

your health, might, and ftrength. Glad alfo would we be, right horribly beloved, could we get this Town into our clutches again: nor will we be fparin.; of fpending our wit, our cunning, our craft, and hellish inventions, to bring to a wifhed conclufion this your brave beginning in order thereto.

"And take this for your comfort, (our birth and our offspring), that, shall we again furprise it and take it, we will attempt to put all your foes to the fword, and will make you the great lords and captains of the place. Nor need you fear (if ever we get it again) that we, after that, fhall be caft out any more; for we will come with more ftrength, and fo lay far more faft hold, than at the first we did. Befides, it is the law of that Prince Matt. xii. 43, that now they own, that, if we get them a fecond time, they fhall be ours for ever.

*44, 45.

"Do you, therefore, our trufty Diabolonians, yet more pry into, and endeavour to fpy out, the weakness of the town of Manfoul. We also would that you yourselves do attempt to weaken them more and more. Send us word alfo by what means you think we had beft attempt the regaining thereof; viz. whether by perfuafion to a vain and loofe life; or, whether by tempting them to doubt and defpair; or, whether by blowing up the Town by the gun-powder of pride and felf-conceit. Do you alfo, O ye brave Diabolonians and true fons of the Pit, be always in a readinefs to make a moft hideous affault within, when we shall be ready to ftorm it without. Now fpeed you in your project, and we in our defires, the utmoft power of our gates; which is the wifh of your great Diabolus, Mansoul's enemy, and him that trembles when he thinks of judg ment to come. All that the Pit can confer we wish upon you, and fo we clofe up our letter.

"Given at the Pit's mouth, by the joint confent of all the princes of darkness, to be fent (to the force and power that we have yet remaining in Manfoul) by the hand of Mr Profane,

By me DIABOLUS."

Flefh.

This letter, as we faid, was fent to Manfoul, to the Diabolonians that yet remained there, and that yet inhabited the wall, from the dark dungeon of Diabolus, by the hand of Mr Profane, by whom they also in Manfoul fent theirs to the Pit. Now when this Mr Profane had made his return, and was come to Manfoul again, he went and came, as he was wont, to the houfe of Mr Mischief; for there-Profane comes was the conclave, and the place where the home again. contrivers were met. Now, when they faw that their meffenger was returned safe and found, they were greatly gladded thereat. Then he prefented them his letter which he had brought from Diabolus for them; the which, when they had read and confidered, did much augment their gladness. They asked him after the welfare of their friends, as how their Lord Diabolus, Luci fer, and Beelzebub did, with the rest of those of the den. To which this Profane made anfwer, "Well, well, my Lords; they are well, even as well as can be in their place. They also, faid he, did ring for joy at reading of your letter, as you will perceive by this, when you read it."

Now, as was faid, when they had read their letter, and perceived that it encouraged them in their work, they fell to their way of contriving again, viz. how they might complete their Diabolonian scheme upon Manfoul. And the first thing that they agreed upon was, to keep all things from Manfoul as clofe as they could. Let it not be known, let not Manfoul be acquainted

with what we design against it. The next thing was, how, or by what means, they should try to bring to pafs the ruin and overthrow of Manfoul; and one faid. after this manner, and another faid after that. Then ftood up Mr Deceit, and faid, My right Diabolonian friends, our lords, and the high ones of the deep dungeon, do propound unto us these three ways:

1. Whether we had best to seek its ruin by making of Manfoul loofe and vain.

2. Or whether by driving them to doubt and defpair. 3. Or whether by endeavouring to blow them up by, the gun-powder of pride and felf-conceit.

Now, I think, if we fhall tempt them to pride, that we may do fomething; and, if we tempt them to wanTake heed tonnefs, that may help. But, in my mind, if Manfoul. we could drive them into defperation, that would knock the nail on the head; for then we should have them, in the first place, question the truth of the love of the heart of their Prince towards them, and that will difguft him much. This, if it works well, will make them leave off quickly their way of fending petitions to him; then farewell earneft folicitations for help and fupply; for then this conclufion lies naturally before them, "As good do nothing, as do to no purpose." So to Mr Deceit they unanimoufly did confent.

Then the next queftion was, But how fhall we do to bring this our project to pafs? And it was anfwered

Take heed by the fame gentleman, that this might Manfoul. be the best way to do it, "Even let (quoth he) fo many of our friends as are willing to venture themselves for the promoting of their prince's cause, difguife themselves with apparel, change their names, and go into the market like far-countrymen, and proffer to let themselves for fervants to the famous town of Man

foul

foul, and let them pretend to do for their mafters as be neficially as may be; for by fo doing they may, if Manfoul fhall hire them, in a little time fo corrupt and defile the Corporation, that her now Prince fhall be not only further offended with them, but, in conclufion, shall fpue them out of his mouth. And, when this is done, our prince Diabolus fhall prey upon them with ease: yea, of themselves they fhall fall into the mouth of the

eater.

This project was no fooner propounded, but was as highly accepted, and forward were now all Diabolonians to engage in fo delicate an enterprise: but it was not thought fit that all should do this; wherefore they pitched upon two or three, namely, the Lord Covetoufnefs, the Lord Lafcivioufnefs, and the Lord Anger. The Lord Covetoufnefs called himself by the name of Pru dent-thrifty, the Lord Lafcivioufnefs called himself by the name of Harmless-mirth, and the Lord Anger called himself by the name of Good-zeal.

So upon a market-day, they came into the market place; three lufty fellows they were to look upon, and they were cloathed in theep's ruffet, which was alfo now in a manner as white as were the white robes of the men of Manfoul. Now the men could fpeak the language of Manfoul well. So when they were come into the market-place, and had offered to let Manfoul. themselves to the townfmen, they were presently taken up; for they afked but little wages, and promised to do their masters great service.

Take heed

Mr Mind hired Prudent-thrifty, and Mr Godly-fear hired Good-zeal. True, this fellow Harmlefs-mirth did hang a little in hand, and could not fo foon get him a mafter as the others did, because the town of Manfoul was now in Lent; but after a while, because Take heed Lent was almoft out, the Lord Willbewill hi- Manfoul.