The boy of Bilson: or, A true discouery of the late notorious impostures of certaine Romish priests in their pretended exorcisme, or expulsion of the Diuell out of a young boy, named William Perry, sonne of Thomas Perry of Bilson, in the county of Stafford, yeoman Vpon which occasion, hereunto is premitted a briefe theologicall discourse, by way of caution, for the more easie discerning of such Romish spirits; and iudging of their false pretences, both in this and the like practices.

Heare we then the Priests speake.

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helpe the child was, if they had sought medicine still in Israel, and not at Endor, and of Belzebub.

First then to shew how the Child grew thus to bee tormented, as I haue vnderstood it of his Parents, and haue heard the Child confirme it himselfe. The Boy returning homeward, from schoole, to Bilson in Staffordshire where hee dwelt, an old woman, vnknowne, met him, and taxed him, in that he did not giue her good time of the day, saying that he was a foule thing, and that it had been better for him if he had saluted her. At which words the Boy felt a thing to pricke him to the very heart.* 1.1 In fine, the Boy came home, lan∣guished some dayes, and at length grew into ex∣treme fits, that two or three, (though hee was a child of 12. yeeres of age) could hardly hold him. The Parents of the Child, seeing the extremity of the fits, and the misery and imminent danger of death euery houre the Child did lye in, mooued with tender compassion, sought helpe of Catholicks, and with cap and knee, by the meanes of some friends, did sollicit a zealous Gentleman; who o∣uercome with their earnest suit, did vse some prayers and lawfull exorcismes allowed by the Ca∣tholicke Church, with whose prayers the Child was eased something, and the force of the spiritu∣all Enemie abated. The Gentleman insisting to know how many was in him; to his thinking hee said, Three. Hee (good Gentleman) called away partly by the danger of the place, as also by his vr∣gent businesse,* 1.2 they sought and sent for a zealous Gentleman, whose zeale and vertues are sufficient∣ly

knowne, yea and acknowledged by Gods ene∣mies themselues. He moued with compassion came thither, vsed his best prayers and meanes that at that time he thought conuenient; very much wea∣kened the diuels force, and quelled the extreme fiercenesse of the fits. Yet hee, within a day or so, withdrew himselfe for the same cause; yet though absent in person, was most mindfull of his misery. In so much as he did negotiate with mee, in that I had been present many times in the like occasions, that I would see him, and make tryall whether hee were possessed, or obsessed. I was very vnwilling, yet ouercome by his intreaty, and the former mo∣tiues, I promised him to doe my best, and to see him within the space of one moneth: yet so I dis∣posed of my businesses, that I came thither in the space of a weeke, about Thursday before Corpus Christi day, where I did finde the Gentleman that requested me to come: and finding that they had vsed Sorceries of Witches, which made the Child offer violence to himselfe, wee would not meddle with him, till they had burned those Sorceries ap∣plyed to him, which they forthwith did fulfill. Whereupon we vsing the reading of the Litanies, and the holy Gospels, together with the Exorcisme of Saint Ambrose, when I came vnto those words that shewed the power that Saint Peter had ouer Simon Magus,* 1.3 and Saint Paul on the Magician Bariesus, the Child would bee so tormented, that three or foure could hardly hold him; which words tooke effect in manner as often as they were vsed. The other Gentleman call'd away, I was left alone,

till it pleased God the Gentleman that had first meddled with him, by great chance came thither. He and I both did our best, till Saturday about two of the clocke, at which time, vrgent occasions, though diuers wayes, called vs away: yet wee left holy water,* 1.4 also water properly against Witchcraft, and holy oyle: the first hauing that power, that it would make him speake, though dumbe, and his tongue turned into his throat; and the second that force, that being applyed in a little quantity vnto his legs and armes most grieuously contracted, that a strong man could hardly vnfold them, onely with the force of the holy oyle they would bee stretched forth as they were vvont. Wee intreated them in our absence, to vse the holy waters and oyle in his extremities, and that wee absent, would assist him the best that wee could in our prayers; which they continued: on Saturday, Sunday, and Munday, with extreme fits and heauings hee brought vp pinnes,* 1.5 wooll, knotted thred, thrums, rosemary, walnut leaues, feathers, &c. the which he still drinking of the blessed water, brought vp: and when hee could not speake, hee would make signes for that water, with the letting dovvne of vvhich, presently he recouered his speech. Well, on Thursday, being Corpus Christi day, about three or foure of the clocke I came againe, found the Child in great extremities, continually heauing vp, and in this time he had brought vp 11. pinnes, and a knitting needle folded vp in diuers folds. On Fri∣day next, he brought vp the last pinne. I told them that I vvas glad that hee brought vp most of those

things in my absence, that well they might see that really they came from him, and that it was no col∣lusion of vs. On Saturday night finding the Boy to my thinking somewhat obstinate; I, before the Parents, wished him not to be deluded by the E∣nemie, but that if he spake any thing within him, he would impart it to vs, that wee might counsell him for the best. A great while the Child would not heare vs, yet at length hee said, hee would not tell vs before all the company. I asking then to whom he would tell it, he answered, to your selfe, so the others would leaue you: hee gaue mee leaue after to signifie vnto his Parents, sisters, and bro∣thers thus much: First,* 1.6 that the spirit bade him not to hearken to me in any case. Secondly, that the Witch said, that shee would make an end of him, and that she would bring in othergates things into him, if it were not for me, whom she called a Ro∣guish P. Thirdly, shee said I destroyed all her good things. Fourthly, shee said, that though I should helpe him, yet shee would haue a saying to his brothers and sisters. Fifthly, hee desired mee to tarry with him vntill Munday, for when I should leaue him, he said hee should be torne in pieces: whereupon I, according to the prescript of the Thesaurus Exorcismorum, did blesse fire, and did burn those maleficialia, Sorceries, those filthy things that came from him; at smoke of which, and the fire thereof being temperate onely, and in a Cha∣fing-dish, and the smoke onely of Frankincense, he would vehemently cry out that he was killed, bur∣ned, and choked; though my owne selfe, and di∣uers

others were neerer to all then himselfe. At length hee seemed greatly to reioyce, and with great eagernesse dranke vp the smoke, saying that he saw his Enemies tormented. I wished him then to pray for the Witch, and for her conuersion from that wicked life;* 1.7 which he did: then the Child did declare that now hee was perfectly himselfe, and desired that his bookes, pennes, inke, clothes, yea that euery thing he had might be blessed; wishing his Parents, sisters, and brothers to blesse them∣selues, and to become Catholicks; out of which faith, by Gods grace, he said hee would neuer liue or dye. On Sunday also I exorcised him, but di∣uers Puritans resorting to him, I could not haue conueniency to come till towards night. All which day he had many fits, and I comming to him, lear∣ned of him that still while the Puritans were in place on Saturday,* 1.8 as also at other times, hee saw the diuell assault him in forme of a Black bird. Well, I persisted in exorcising him, left him very well speaking and merry, retired my selfe, hauing seene his meate and drinke blessed. They then af∣ter giuing him a Syllibub, the sugar whereof being not blessed, he presently at the taste thereof began grieuously to be tormented. Yea, though he loued flowers,* 1.9 yet if vnblest, hee would teare them in pie∣ces, and distinguish them from other; and vn̄∣blessed Raisins he would say were too big for his mouth. I was sent for, and I had not charged him long, but at each charge I did finde the diuell very much to tremble: I hoping of Gods especiall as∣sistance at that time, made the diuell to swell in his

mouth, in signe of his presence, and to expresse first by signe, how many were in him: which he did, holding vp three fingers. I caused them then, one by one, to descend into the great toe of the right foot, and at the entring thereof to shake it, and to stirre the legge; all which they did higher and higher, to signifie how one was greater then ano∣ther: then I caused the Boy to speake, who did ac∣knowledge that hee would liue and dye a Catho∣licke, wishing father, mother, and all his friends to serue God: then I called vp the chiefe Fiend, and did demand him to shew himselfe, who presently puts forth the Childs tongue, and swelled the end thereof. Then I (all being Protestants,* 1.10 sauing one Catholicke) commanded the diuell to shew by the sheet before him, how he would vse one dying out of the Romane Catholicke Church? who very vnwillingly, yet at length obeyed, tossing, pluck∣ing, haling, and biting the sheet, that it did make many to weepe and cry forth. Then I commanded him to shew how hee did vse Luther, Iohn Caluin, and Iohn Fox; which vnwillingly he did performe after the same manner, but in a fiercer sort. Then I commanded him to shew what power he had on a good Catholicke that dyed out of mortall sinne? hee thrust downe his armes, trembled, holding downe his head, and did no more. Heereupon the Parents were instant with me, presently and out of hand to helpe the Child. I told them that I did not doubt but by the power of Gods Church (on which I did onely relie, and not on any personall vertue of mine owne) to cast them out presently.

But I said,* 1.11 I did feare that the innocent Child was punished for the sins of his Parents, which might be for their lacke of beliefe; which is a sinne great enough, since without faith it is impossible to please God. Yet hereupon I said to his mother, Good woman, will you promise mee that you will become a Catholicke, if in your sight I cast out these diuels in forme of fire? shee answered, that she must consider of that: then said I, I am afraid this Child will not haue helpe; for, fearing the Child was punished for her lacke of beliefe, I doubted that the cause remaining, the effect also would remaine. Hereupon the Child gaue a great shrieke, began to be vehemently tormented, grew obstinate, in so much that I feared another diuell was entred. I exorcized him also a long time: but the diuell with the Childs voyce cryed, The Lord in heauen, the Lord in heauen. A long time I exorcized him, but still he was obstinate, crying out, Father, mother, helpe me, helpe me, saying that I killed him: and when I gently strooke him on the head with a soft ribbon blessed, he yelled forth that I kil∣led him, cursing me, saying, A poxe of God light on the P. saying moreouer, I will neuer bee conuerted; to which word a Protestant then by, that had seene all, replied, Thou wilt then do worse. Here I commanded the diuell that spake,* 1.12 to shew himselfe in the tongue, who comming forth as out of a trance, I asked him gently, whether he had vt∣tered any of these words? he vtterly denied to haue spoken them, asking forgiuenesse, saying, that it was not hee that spake them; and affirming, by

Gods grace, that he would be constant in the Ro∣mane Catholicke faith till death. Then I called vp the wicked spirit, tooke his oth, that with trem∣bling hee tendred to be obedient in all to lawfull Exorcists, and not to hinder the eating, drinking, or sleeping of the Child. Then it being almost three of the clocke in the morning, I retired to bed: the next day, being Munday, I came and told the Parents, that I had tarried there as long as I had promised, and as long as I well durst for dan∣ger, and as my promise to others would permit, but promised them to come againe as soone as I could. The father then offered me the Child to dispose of as I would. I told him I had no conue∣nient place for that purpose; but I said, that if hee would not deale with Witches and Sorcerers,* 1.13 I would come as often as I could. The father said, he would seeke of Witches, or of any other for help. I being sorry to heare his bad resolution, told him that I would not mingle God and the diuell together: and then got his promise that hee would not vse holy water and oyle blessed, if they meddled with Witches. Yet I heare, that he hath not complyend with his promise, in extremities of the Boyes fits, hauing recourse to blessed things, saying, he will course him with them. Well, the substance of all this I haue heere written, at my comming away I declared before three Prote∣stants, and the Childs Parents, desiring them, that if I did not say truth in all things, that they would challenge me therein. Then the Child being 〈◊〉〈◊〉 a sounding fit, anoynting him with holy oyle, 〈◊〉〈◊〉

bring him vnto himselfe, in so much that with a staffe he walked vp and downe; and since, hee did eate, drinke, sleepe, and walke, hauing onely short fits, as I am faithfully informed, yea till shortly af∣ter they entertained many Witches and Sorcerers; notwithstanding whose helpe sought in vaine, hee is more grieuously tormented then euer before. Here before my departure, the Parents of the child offering me money and gold, I refused it, thanking them, saying, If they would giue mee 20. pound, I would not haue one penny: Charging them that they should not indanger their owne soules, and the soule of the poore Boy, in seeking vnlawfull meanes. And thus on Munday was fortnight I left him: and the truth of this I must say with S. Paul, that God knowes in all this I doe not lye.

Thus desiring that all may succeed to Gods glory, the good of the Child, and the confusion of all Sorceries and Charmes, which in my heart and soule I detest, I leaue the Parents, Child, and thee, Christian Reader, to the mercy of God.

Iuly the first. 1620.

Non nobis Domine, non nobis, sed Nomini tuo da Gloriam.

Yours in charity, loue, or in any good office, J. W.

This Relation was published by the Priests themselues, and deliuered by one of them, called Master Wheeler, into the hands of Master Thomas Nechils Gent. a Recusant dwelling neer the aforenamed towne of Bilson: as appeareth by his owner confession, vpon oth, taken before the L. Bishop of Couen∣try and Lichfield; and added in the end of this Booke.

Notes

• * 1.1

  How the Boy came first to be possessed.
• * 1.2

  Two others meddied with him ere Jcame.
• * 1.3

  The diuell could not seduce Saint Peter and Saint Paul.
• * 1.4

  The vertue of holy water, and of holy oyle.
• * 1.5

  Strange things voyded.
• * 1.6

  The Boy tels what the diuell and Witch say in him.
• * 1.7

  The markable deuotion of the Child.
• * 1.8

  The force of ill company.
• * 1.9

  The power of blessed things.
• * 1.10

  A markable thing.
• * 1.11

  A coniecture why the Child might be pos∣sessed.
• * 1.12

  The Child being himselfe, denies all the diuell had vttered by his tongue.
• * 1.13

  The reason why J lest to come any more.