After which all went to prayer again, which being ended (for during the time of prayer no noise or trouble was made, except once that a loud fearful youel was heard at a distance) the Devil with many threatnings boasted and terrified the lad Tom, who had come back that day with the Minister, that if he did not depart out of the house he would set all on fire.
The Minister answered and said, “The Lord will preserve the house and the lad too, seeing he is one of the family and hath God’s warrant to tarry in it.”
The Fiend answered, “He shall not get liberty to tarry; he was once put out already, and shal not abide here, though I should pursue him to the end of the world.”
The Minister replied, “The Lord will stop thy malice against him.”
And then they all went to prayer again, which being ended, the Devil said, “Give me a spade and a shovel, and depart from the house for seven days, and I will make a grave and ly down in it, and shall trouble you no more.”
The goodman answered, “Not so much as a straw shal be given thee through God’s assistance, even though that would do it.” The Minister also added, “God shal remove thee in due time.”
The Spirit answered, “I will not remove for you; I have my commission from Christ to tarry and vex this family.”
The Minister answered, “A permission thou hast indeed, but God will stop it in due time.”
The Devil replied, “I have, sir, a commission which perhaps will last longer than your own.”
The Minister died in the year 1655, in December. The Devil had told them that he had given his commission to Tom to keep.