Then said the Secretary to them, 'What petition is it that you
would have me draw up for you?' But they said, 'Our Lord knows
best the state and condition of the town of Mansoul; and how we are
backslidden and degenerated from the Prince: thou also knowest who
is come up to war against us, and how Mansoul is now the seat of
war. My Lord knows, moreover, what barbarous usages our men,
women, and children have suffered at their hands; and how our
homebred Diabolonians do walk now with more boldness than dare the
townsmen in the streets of Mansoul. Let our Lord therefore,
according to the wisdom of God that is in him, draw up a petition
for his poor servants to our Prince Emmanuel.' 'Well,' said the
Lord Secretary, 'I will draw up a petition for you, and will also
set my hand thereto.' Then said they, 'But when shall we call for
it at the hands of our Lord?' But he answered, 'Yourselves must be
present at the doing of it; yea, you must put your desires to it.
True, the hand and pen shall be mine, but the ink and paper must be
yours; else how can you say it is your petition? Nor have I need
to petition for myself, because I have not offended.
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