Well, the drum was
beat, and the Diabolonians were gathered together.
Then said Diabolus, 'O ye stout Diabolonians, be it known unto you,
that there is treachery hatched against us in the rebellious town
of Mansoul; for albeit the town is in our possession, as you see,
yet these miserable Mansoulians have attempted to dare, and have
been so hardy as yet to send to the court to Emmanuel for help.
This I give you to understand, that ye may yet know how to carry it
to the wretched town of Mansoul. Wherefore, O my trusty
Diabolonians, I command that yet more and more ye distress this
town of Mansoul, and vex it with your wiles, ravish their women,
deflower their virgins, slay their children, brain their ancients,
fire their town, and what other mischief you can; and let this be
the reward of the Mansoulians from me, for their desperate
rebellions against me.'
This, you see, was the charge; but something stepped in betwixt
that and execution, for as yet there was but little more done than
to rage.
Moreover, when Diabolus had done thus, he went the next way up to
the castle gates, and demanded that, upon pain of death, the gates
should be opened to him, and that entrance should be given him and
his men that followed after.
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