Page:History of the life & sufferings of the Rev. John Welch (1).pdf/20

 While Mr. Welch was minister in one of these French villages, upon an evening a certain popish friar travelling through the country, because he could not find lodging in the whole village, addressed himself to Mr. Welch's house for one night. The servants acquainted their master and he was content to receive this guest. The family had supped before he came, and so the servants convoyed the friar to his chamber, and after they had made his supper, they left him to his rest. There was but a timber partition betwixt him and Mr. Welch, and after the friar had slept his first sleep, he was surprized with the hearing of a silent, but constant whispering noise, at which he wondered very much, and was not a little troubled with it.

The next morning he walked in the fields, where he chanced to meet with a country man, when saluting him because of his habit, asked him where he lodged that night? The friar answered he had lodged with the hugenot minister. Then the country man asked him what entertainment he had ? The friar answered, Very bad; for, said he I always held there were devils haunting these ministers houses, and I am persuaded there was one with me this night, for I heard a continued whisper all the night over, which I believe was no other thing, than the minister and the devil conversing together. The country man told him, he was much mistaken, and that it was nothing else, but the minister at his night prayer. O, said the friar does the minister pray any ? Yes, more than any man in France, answered the country man, and you please to stay another night with him you may be satisfied. The friar got home to Mr. Welch's house, and pretending indisposition, entreated another night's lodging, which was granted him.