The Devil

The Devil (from Greek: διάβολος or diábolos) is believed in many religions, myths and cultures to be a supernatural entity that is the personification of evil and the enemy of God and humankind. The nature of the role varies greatly, ranging from being an effective opposite force to the creator god, locked in an eons long struggle for human souls on what may seem even terms, to being a comical figure of fun or an abstract aspect of the individual human condition.

God and the Devil are usually portrayed as fighting over the souls of humans, with the Devil seeking to lure people away from God and into Hell. The Devil commands a force of evil spirits, commonly known as demons.

The Devil in "Clash of Arms"
Niccolo dello Bosco was an Italian spice merchant at the castle of Thunder-ten-tronckh in Westphalia during one of its renowned biennial tournaments. He was a small, skinny, excitable man who, when not travelling, lived in the forest outside Firenze. While not of a noble birth, he was armigerous, with his coat of arms as "gules a fess or between three frogs proper".

He chanced to meet Magister Stephen de Windesorein a tavern and the two began to discuss heraldry. Magister Stephen was surprised at dello Bosco's knowledge and, while he offered no overt offence, dello Bosco became angered over his disdain of him. De Windesore also became angry and challenged dello Bosco to a contest. Each would take turns asking a question of the other until someone could not answer making the other the victor.

The "battle" went on into the night, and the two returned to de Windesore's room at the inn. After several hours, dello Bosco announced he was tired of the battle, and asked de Windesore what arms the devil bore. Magister Stephen replied that only the devil knew that. Instantly dello Bosco revealed that he was in fact the devil, and carried Magister Stephen to Hell. The Englishmen was briefly amused to learn that the Devil's coat of arms was "gules a fess or between three frogs proper".