under the power and government of Diabolus, (and so long it was
under him, as it was obedient to him, which was even until by a war
it was rescued out of his hand,) so long my Lord Mayor was rather
an impediment in, than an advantage to the famous town of Mansoul.

As for Mr. Recorder, before the town was taken, he was a man well
read in the laws of his king, and also a man of courage and
faithfulness to speak truth at every occasion; and he had a tongue
as bravely hung as he had a head filled with judgment. Now, this
man Diabolus could by no means abide, because, though he gave his
consent to his coming into the town, yet he could not, by all the
wiles, trials, stratagems, and devices that he could use, make him
wholly his own. True, he was much degenerated from his former
king, and also much pleased with many of the giant's laws and
service; but all this would not do, forasmuch as he was not wholly
his. He would now and then think upon Shaddai, and have dread of
his law upon him, and then he would speak against Diabolus with a
voice as great as when a lion roareth. Yea, and would also at
certain times, when his fits were upon him, (for you must know that
sometimes he had terrible fits,) make the whole town of Mansoul
shake with his voice: and therefore the now king of Mansoul could
not abide him.

Diabolus, therefore, feared the Recorder more than any that was
left alive in the town of Mansoul, because, as I said, his words
did shake the whole town; they were like the rattling thunder, and
also like thunder-claps. Since, therefore, the giant could not
make him wholly his own, what doth he do but studies all that he
could to debauch the old gentleman, and by debauchery to stupefy
his mind, and more harden his heart in the ways of vanity. And as