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.

The third Aduertisement; Shewing that it hath beene a custome among Romish Priests, willingly to deceiue the people by counterfeit Acts and Reports.

HOw shall this bee newes to Any, who hath beene acquainted with some of their owne Au∣thors? One confessing,* 1.1 that People are deceiued by false miracles, deuised by Priests, and such as adhere vnto them. A second,* 1.2 remembring (as hee himselfe saith) with griefe some Historians, abusing the credu∣litie of the people, by relating the miracles of Saints. A third inueighing against the prodigalitie of some vaine Reports of false miracles. A fourth,* 1.3 and also a

fift partly scorning,* 1.4 and partly abborring their fa∣bulous relations, and vaine forgeries of Miracles. These confessions may setue for the present.

We need not be inquisitiue into Examples fetcth from other Countries, concerning the iuggling tricks of the Friars of former times, which haue beene detected to their shame; nor yet of a late* 1.5 Ad∣mirable Historie (as they call it) of notable Exor∣cismes, performed at Saint Baume in France, which will hereafter bewray it selfe by its owne contradi∣ctions: because our owne halfe Isle, euen little En∣gland, will be found to abound as much with varie∣tie of false Miracles, as Africke with Monsters. For here hath beene seene a Maid with a miraculous A∣pron, casting little flashes of lightning in the darke (for this also was a worke of darknesse) and easily done by an artificiall tincture of Sulphure. Not long after (which the World gazed at) they pro∣duced the Image of Garnet the Iesuite in a straw: wherein there was nothing more wonderfull, than that any should account it miraculous, it being (by the confession, vpon oath, of such Recusants as had kept it) no more like Garnets face than any other mans; and so little exceeding the power of man (therefore no Miracle,) as that a young youth ad∣dicted to the arte of limbing did then draw (and that more perfectly) a number of such like, in the huskes of eares of Wheat, in one day.

The Booke intituled, A Declaration of egregious Impostures practized by Romish Priests, setteth forth whole Pageants of counterfeit Exorcismes; one vpon Sara Williams, another vpon her sister, Fris∣wood

Williams, a third vpon Anne Smith, a fourth vpon Richard Mayne Gentleman, a fift vpon one Marwood, the seruant of that Babington, who was executed for treason. The Priests, who are recko∣ned as Agents in these feats, are named to haue beene Master Dibdaile, Master Sherwood, Master Cornelius, Master Stampe, Master Edmonds, alias Weston, Master Dryland, Master Terrill, Master Tal∣lice, Master Ballard, with others; and in conclusi∣on, all miraculous Exorcists, by the confessions (vpon oath) of foure of the parties themselues that were exoreized: albeit it was proued to be nothing but deceitfull cunning, and plaine cosenage.

Although these and the like pranks haue beene often hissed of the Stage, for stale and grosse forge∣ries, yet notwithstanding haue they aduentured to publish that, which they call A faithfull Relation of their proceedings, in exorcizing the Boy of Bilson,* 1.6 as possessed of the Deuill. Which Relation who so readeth, shall thinke that hee hath seene a Comedie, wherein the Actors, which present themselues, are these; A craftie old man, teaching the feats and pranks of counterfeiting a person Demoniacall and possessed of the Deuill; the next, a most docible, subtle, and expert young Boy, farre more dextrous in the Practique part, than his Master was in the Theorie; after him appeare three Romish Priests, the Authors of seducement, conjuring their onely imaginarie Deuils, which they brought with them; and lastly, a Chorus of credulous people easily sedu∣ced, not so much by the fubtletie of those Priests, as by their owne sottishnesse; which will hereaf∣ter be better manifested.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Lyrain Dam.
• * 1.2

  Melchior Canus loc. Theol.
• * 1.3

  Eras. ante lib. Consess. Aug.
• * 1.4

  Agrippa de Ʋa∣nit. scient. Ʋiucs in Aug. de Ciuit. Dei, l. 22. c. 8.
• * 1.5

  Histoire admi∣rable de la pos∣session & con∣uersion d'vne Penitente, se∣duite par vn Magicien, &c. conduite a la S. Baume poury estre exorcizee, l'An 1610. soubz l'autorite du R.P. F. Seba∣slien Michaelis, Prieur de couent Royal de la S. Magdaleine a S. Maximin, &c. A la Reyne Re∣gente, Paris 1613. auec pri∣uilege du Roy. It was transla∣ted into En∣glish, accor∣ding to the o∣riginall Copie, by W.B. and printed, Anno 1613. which Edition is here after obserued. Printed, Anno Domini 1603.
• * 1.6

  See this Rela∣tion whole, in the end of this Treatise.