The foes of Mansoul
did also now begin to promise themselves the town for a possession:
there was no great difference now betwixt Mansoulians and
Diabolonians: both seemed to be masters of Mansoul. Yea, the
Diabolonians increased and grew, but the town of Mansoul diminished
greatly. There were more than eleven thousand men, women, and
children that died by the sickness in Mansoul.
But now, as Shaddai would have it, there was one whose name was Mr.
Prywell, a great lover of the people of Mansoul. And he, as his
manner was, did go listening up and down in Mansoul to see, and to
hear, if at any time he might, whether there was any design against
it or no. For he was always a jealous man, and feared some
mischief sometime would befal it, either from the Diabolonians
within, or from some power without. Now upon a time it so
happened, as Mr. Prywell went listening here and there, that he
lighted upon a place called Vilehill, in Mansoul, where
Diabolonians used to meet; so hearing a muttering, (you must know
that it was in the night,) he softly drew near to hear; nor had he
stood long under the house-end, (for there stood a house there,)
but he heard one confidently affirm, that it was not, or would not
be long before Diabolus should possess himself again of Mansoul;
and that then the Diabolonians did intend to put all Mansoulians to
the sword, and would kill and destroy the King's captains, and
drive all his soldiers out of the town.
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