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 sixt Aduertisement; Discouering their doctrine of Mentall Reseruation, which we may iustly suspect to be the art of concea∣ling their deceits, whensoeuer they abuse men by their false reports,

THeir Mentall Reseruation is (as they define it) a mixt Proposition, part in speech, and part in minde: as when a Priest, being in any danger to be discouered, is examined whether hee be a Ro∣mish Priest? who notwithstanding doth answere; I am no Romish Priest, (retayning in his minde this clause) To tell it vnto you; (or) that you may know, or the like: and the latter clause of the minde (say

they) maketh the words, I am no Priest, (otherwise false in themselues) to be true, as it were one Pro∣position. And thus they thinke to auoyd the guilt of a lie.

This Sophistrie did Master Garnet teach in wri∣ting, and practized it egregiously in the Tower: and this Master Parsons did vehemently defend, which other Priests vsed as a Gygas Ring, to become inuisible to men; that no Examiner could espie any of their Priest-hoods.

If they thinke it lawfull thus cunningly to e∣quiuocate, for the preseruation of their owne bo∣dies, and the bodies of others, will they not iudge it necessary, for the gaining of mens soules, trowe we? What credit then shall wee giue vnto such re∣ports, which they shall falsly inuent, to draw men vnto their Religion, by saying (as they haue most falsly done) such a Protestant Bishop died in the Ro∣mish faith; or such a Boy was exorcized and dispos∣sessed of the Deuill, by the helpe of a Romish Priest? Or such a vision of our Lady appeared vnto me, tel∣ling me that I cannot take the Oath of Allegeance, without mortall sinne? To these men we obiect, Are you so vnconscionable as to lye thus? They readily will answere vs, we lye not, for we did equiuocate. As for example, He died a Catholike, (reseruing) for ought that you shall know: and the Boy was dispossessed by a Priest (reseruing) if dispossessed: And the blessed Virgin appeared vnto me, (reseruing) but only in my conceit. This being the professed guile and deceit of these kind of men, we haue iust cause not to be∣leeue them.