[Satan’s Invisible World Contents]
ANNO 1612 one Monsieur Perreaud a Protestant Minister there, being from his own house one night, and his Wife being in bed, she was much troubled with noise, and din in the house: the next night, she felt somewhat that pulled the blankets from the bed; and the same night, all the Pewter Vessel, and Brass Candlesticks were thrown about the Room. The Minister coming home, was told this, who carefully searched every corner of the house before he went to bed, and secured all the Doors and Windows, to prevent suspicion of Imposture: He was scarce well in bed, when he heard a strange noise in the Kitchen, like the rowling of a great Iron Bullet, beating against a partition of Wanscot: upon this the Minister went to the Room, but found nothing; The next morning he made it known to the Elders of the Church, and a publick Notary, one Francis Tornous, who sate up with him every night till Midnight, but they heard nothing till September 20. At which time about nine a clock at night in the presence of all, who were there, the Devil began to whistle three or four tunes, with a loud and shril voice (though somewhat hoarse) which seemed to be about three or four steps from them, singing a little tune of five notes, which Birds are taught to whistle, and after, he often repeated this word Minister, Minister, to which Master Perreaud said, Yes indeed, I am a Minister, and servant of the living GOD, before whose Majestie thou tremblest. Said the other, I know nothing to the contrary. I have no need of thy testimony, sayes he. This being done, he says over with a loud voice, the Lords prayer, the Creed, the ten Commandments, and the morning and even Prayers, and sings the eighty and first Psalm. He told the Minister, that his Father had been poysoned, and named the man that did it. He told him, that as he came by his elder brothers house that night, he saluted him, and asked if he had any service to command him with to Mascon, to his brother: and told that they were very kind to him, and remembred their Love to the Minister. It was told him afterwards by those who were present, that a fellow of strange shape came riding on a very lean horse, hanging down his head and spake to that purpose. At another time the Devil began to mock GOD, and all Religion, and said over the Doxology, but skipped over the Second Person, and made a foul horrible, and detestable Equivocation upon the third Person. He also earnestly desired them to send for Mr. Du Chaffin the Popish Priest of St. Stevens Parish, to whom he would confess himself, and withal he desired him to bring some Holy Water along with him, for that (said he) will presently send me a packing. That great Mastiff (said he) dare not bark against me (this was the great House Dog) because I have made the sign of the Cross upon his head.
Then he fell a scoffing and jearing, and told how he did fall off the Ladder into the Ditch among the Frogs while the Savoyes, were scalding the walls of Geneva: and did most exactly imitate their croaking: At another time, he told them with a lamentable voice, that he had a mind to make his Latter-Will and Testament, and bid the Maid call for Mr. Tornous the publick Notary, and declared to him what Legacies he would leave, and to one present he said, he would bequeath five hundered pound; but he answered, I will have none of thy money, thy money perisheth with thee.
At another time, while he was speaking, a man who was present rushed into the place, whence the voice seemed to come, and searched it strictly, but found nothing except a small bottle, which he brought forth, at which the Devil fell a laughing, and said to him, I was told long since, that thou wast a fool, and I see now thou art one indeed, to believe that I am in the Bottle. I should be a greater Fool my self to go into it; for so I might be catched by stopping the mouth of the Bottle with ones Finger.
At another time, the Minister said to him, Go thou cursed into everlasting fire prepared for the Devil and his Angels, To whom he replyed in great wrath, Thou lyest I am not cursed, I hope yet for Salvation by the Death and passion of Jesus Christ.
The Devil threatned the Minister, that he would pull him out of his Bed by the feet, and pull the Blankets off him. He answered, I will lay me down and sleep, for the Lord maketh me to dwell in safety, thou canst have no power over me, but what is given thee from above. Whereupon he said, it is well for thee, it is good for thee. And at last he confessed, that he could not prevail against the Family because they did too much call on the name of God. And indeed it was observed, that as often as they kneeled down in prayer, the Devil left talking, and often said, while you are at your prayers, I’le go take a turn in the Street. But no sooner was prayer ended, but he began as before, which course he continued till the 25. of November, at which time he spake these last words, Alas, alas, I shall speake no more.
The Minister told Mr. Du-Moulin, that a grave Divine once coming to his house, and hearing the Devil speak profanly, rebuked him sharply for it. Whereupon the Devil answered, Minister, you are very Holy and Zealous in this Company, but you are not so when you were singing such a baudy song in such a Tavern. And having said this, he sang the same baudy song over before them again. The Divine said, it is true, Satan, I have been licentious in my younger years, GOD of his mercy hath given me repentance, and pardon for it, but for thy part, thou art hardned in sin, and shall never get Repentance nor Pardon. After this, the Devil said, O poor Hugonits (those of the reformed Religion) you shall suffer much within a few years; O what mischief is intended against you!
A Popish Officer, that belonged to a Court of Justice being a Lawyer, came out of curiosity to the Ministers house, to ask some Questions concerning many matters. The Minister forbad him; but he would not forbear. And after the Devil had resolved him many things, anent absent Friends, private Business, News and State affairs, and Questions in Law, he says to him, now Sir I have told you all, you have demanded, I must tell you next, what you demanded not, that at this same very time such a man (whom he named) is taking a word of your wife at home. And then he discovered many secrets and foul practises of the Lawyer. And at last sayes, Now Sir let me correct you for being so bold, as to question with the Devil, you should have taken the Ministers Counsel. Then upon a sudden, the whole Company saw the Lawyer drawn by the Arm into the midst of the room, where the Devil whirled him about, and gave him many turns with great swiftness, touching the ground only with his toe, and then threw him down upon the floor with great violence; and being taken up, and carried to his house, he lay sick and distracted a long time.
The last ten or twelve dayes, the Devil threw stones about the Ministers house continually, from morning to evening, and of great quantity, some of them being of two or three pound Weight. One of those dayes, the publick Notary Mr Tornous had a great stone thrown at him, which falling at his feet, he took up, and marked it with a coal, and threw it into the backside of the house: but presently the Devil threw it at him again. When he took it up, he found it to be very hot, thinking it had been in Hell, since he handled it last. The next day upon the 22 of December the Devil went quite away, and to morrow after, there was seen a great Viper going out of the Ministers house, which the Neighbours about seized upon with a pair of pincers, and carried it all over the town crying, here is the Devil that’s come out of the Ministers house. It was found by an Apothecary to be a true and natural Viper, a Serpent rarely seen in those countreys. Compare this with the twentieth and first Relation, and you will find a notable proof of the Wonderful kindness and mercy of GOD to these two Religious Ministers, and their Families.
