A Brief Apology Proving the Possession of William Sommers
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Logan West
(with David Jonescue and Alex Sarrouf)
www.puritansearch.org
A BRIEF APOLOGIE PROVING THE POSSESSION OF WILLIAM SOMMERS.
Written by JOHN DORRELL, a faithful Minister of the Gospel: but published without his knowledge, With a Dedicatorie Epistle disclosing some disordered proceedings against the said JOHN DORRELL.
Quod in religionem committitur, in omnium fertur iniuriam.
1599.
To the right Honorable St Thomas Eggerton Knight, L. Keeper of the great Seal of England, S r John Popham Knight, L. chief Justice of England: Sir William Periam Knight, Lord chief Baron of th' Exchequer, and other the most reverend Judges of the Common Laws of England.
M Y LL. I do not doubt, but your HH. have heard of the possession & dispossession of William Summors, a youth of Notinghā, but in what sense these things have been carried unto you, by reason of the manifold varieties of reports spread abroad, it may be well doubted. Wherefore to the end, that your HH. might take knowledge of the truth herein, and according to your knowledge by that hie authority derived unto you from her Sacred Majesty, for the government of hir subjects, according to your accustomed justice and integrity, justify the truth, & discountenance the contrary: I have therefore presumed to prefer unto your LL. this plain Apologetical treatise, penned by Master John Dorrell, a principal party in this matter, but published altogether without his privity or consent therein.
The main point of the controversy is, Whether William Summers was possessed and dispossessed, yea or no. Whereby there is called into question a matter of fact, a greater then which, cannot almost fall out to be decided among the sons of men, namely touching the malice of Satan, and marvelous authority of our Lord JESUS. They that imagine Summer was not possessed, but did counterfeit, do by consequence and indirectlie deny the malice of Satan, & the Soueraintie of our Savior in this action. But if it fall out contrary, that he was possessed and dispossessed in deed, what their sin is, and what their reward shall be that blaspheme this great work of God, I leave to the secret judgment of the great day, when they that now judge, shall be judged. Onelie, hereby it is evident, that so many hie or low as profess them selves Christians, are greatly interested in this matter, that so much concerneth Christ their Master: and ought therefore inform them selves herein, in as much as whatsoever is done against the Head, must needs strecht unto the Members.
Now, every matter of fact (as this is) most usually is determined by the oaths of men: It is therefore to be respected what hath been & may be proved by the depositions of credible men, touching this matter.
By commission from the Archbish of York, directed to 12. especial persons near to Nottingham, 17. witnesses were deposed, who directly prove such admitable things to be done or suffered by the said Summer, that neither Art nor Nature can compass the like. Besides these 17. the names of others to the number of 60. or thereabouts, were taken in writing, ready to be deposed of the same and the like. But the Commissioners being wearied with examinations of witnesses, & seeing Summer before their faces violentlie cast into one of his sits, so as he wallowed with his body stretched out at length with an exceeding swiftness from one ende of the room where they sat unto another, and being pulled by the cares and pricked with pins in his leg and hand, of purpose to try whether he had any feeling or not, yet he remaining senseless, and no blood following, thē they thought it needless to proceed any further
At the same time there was seen to three of the Commissioners only (the room being also full of people) a black dog running about Sum. head as he lay before them snuffing at his mouth, which the three Commissioners supposed to have been a dog in deed, and that others had seen him as well as they, which was not so. To this vision accordeth the speech which Som. uttered when the Commissioners willed him to declare unto them, who had persuaded him to say he did counterfeit, whereunto (being interrupted as it seemed by the Devil) he stutteringlie answered, That the black dog which brought him the bag of gold, did bid him say so.
To second the truth of the extraordinary handling of this Som. Master Treton, Master Brown, and Master Ivington, commissioners, M. Hildersham, M. More, and M. Brincesley, all godly preachers, and some of them of great renown for learning and grauiue, besides many Gentlemen and others of good credit, volūtatilie have offered to testify the truth in the premisses, but they have been rejected & sharply censured. Petitions have been made for copyes of the allegations and depositions against this matter, and for awarding of new Cōmissions to indifferent persons for more full satisfaction: but hitherto none of these could be obtained, no not much as patient audience, or any judicial course of proceeding.
On the other side, the bare report of Som that he did counterfeit, and was instructed thereunto by M. Darrell (though it be impossible to be true without the impeachment of the oaths of infallible witnesses) is held for authentical, & long libels or legendis drawn thereupon, which may be confuted by manifold witnesses, if they might be heard. But as if it were more then high treason to affirm the contrary to that which one man relying upon Som. relation hath avouched to the L. Archb of Canterb and it may be to your LL. & other personages of hie estate to be true, all witnesses without respect of their authority in the common wealth, their learning, gravity, and approved credit, are scornfullie contemned, or insolentlie charged to medle no more in this matter, although it hath pleased hir most excellent Maiestic, by one of the Gentlemen of hir privy Chamber to give special commandment, that the cause receive indifferent hearing.
If the boys words be of such credit that none may impugn them, why should not his words sealed at other times with oaths and exec • ations be of like value? After his dispossession & repossession, being sometimes come to him self, he voluntarily with his own hand writing (which is yet to be seen) showeth how it came to pass that he was induced to give out that he had been a counterfeit, not upon any ground of the truth, but by the threats of Satan and his instruments. His own words are these: Being at Sent Jones, there came unto me a thing like unto a Dogg, and said unto me, And if I would consent unto him & say that I was a counterfeit, he would give me a bag of gold, and if I would not, he would make me be hanged, or else he would tear me in pieces: And if I would, I should do anything that I would take in hand. And he would come to me like a Mouse, & would help me. And there came to me a thing like a Nass, and said, if I would not say that I was a Counterfeit, he would cast me into the well, and so went away. And Nicholaies Shepand said, and if I were in a fit again, he would fetch a pair of Knipknapes & a roape, & he would make me confess, or else hang me. And John Couper and Shepeard said, and if I would say, that I was a Counterfeit, that Master Mēre and the Aldermene would give me ten pound, and I should set up any trade what I would, and I had better say that I was a Counterfeit, & live like a man, then to have nothing. For if I should say, that I was not a Counterfeit, and go into the Clergies haude, I should have nothing. Out of which words of his, may be observed, that this apparition of the Dog, consorteth with that which the three Commissioners aforesaid did see, and Som. did utter in the audience of diverse: Also that the Devil and his agents conspire in one complott against this mighty work of the Lord Jesus. Lastly, that it is no marvel though Som. delude the unbelievers by some rare actions, seeing the Devil promised to help him in anything he would take in hand. Thus Som. is confuted by Som. him self.
Yet because experience hath proved that this Som. is a villanous wretch, and hath discredited him self to his friends by sundry lewd practices of theeuerie and knavery since the Bish. of L. was possessed of him (which yet are concealed as Secreta imperij, Matters of State, and may not be spoken of in any case) therefore for more surety least these pranks should be disclosed, Commissions have been addressed into Nottingham, to gather better ground for these surmises. But contrary to the commendable course of proceedings under your LL. in the courts of Justice, those Commissions have been directed to the main Adversaries and informers against the defendant: he not joining in commission with them, not having knowledge when they were granted, or when or where they were to be sit upon. The witnesses that voluntarily offered to be deposed for the truth, were repulsed: all partial persons that could be thought upon, were presently called. Such as were unwilling to depose, to satissie their malice, were threatened to be sent to London, and one was put in fear that she should be burned, because she would not falselie depose against hir knowledge. These and such like exorbitant courses (tedious to be recounted) have been used: every term and vacation (for the space of a year) yielding strange example of new greeuance. To omit many particulars. Only I commend one or two particulars to your LL. consideration. Thomas Gray of Langloy in the County of Leicester, Esquire, having been heretofore Master unto Som. was by the Bish. of Lond. &c. although the Gentleman was bold to tell him, that his dealing should be made known unto his betters likewise. Whereas Master Darrell had been employed about the dispossessing of Thomas Darling of Burton upon Trent, into whō one Alice Goodridg had sent her familiar Spirit called Minnie (as hir self confessed, and for the same was condemned as a witch by the Queens Justices, according as in the Treatise following is declared) Now to the end there might be gained some supplement of proof to give color to the pretended counterfeiting between M. Darrell and Som. the said Darling and others have been examined upon their oaths by the aforenamed Bish. & drawn to confess contrary to the truth, as them selves have avouched, that Darling was a mere counterfeit, and was neither possessed nor bewitched. Whereby the judgment given by the Queens Justices against the said Alice, for bewitching of Darling, is directly deseated & impeached, especially, if Sentence should be given herein. For if Darling did counterfeit, then he was not bewitched: and if he was not bewitched, then was the judgment and execution against Alice Goodridge erroneously and wrongfully awarded. Whether this practice may stand with the statute of Provision and Premunire, and with the honor which is due to the Temporal Courts, your LL. wisdoms cā best determine. Or if it be not in case of Premunire, it is an abuse which your LL. being now acquainted therwithall, will see redressed.
By this short recapitulation of indirect proceedings, and that in a matter concerning Christ our common Savior, contrary to the Royal commandment of our most gracious and soucraine Lady the Queens Majesty, hir Iawes and lawful liberties of hir loyal subjects, you see what cause I have to exhiblie this short Apology unto your LL. humbly craving that you would allow some spare time to read it over: assuring myself, that though it be penned in simplicity without colors and pomp of human learning, yet it will leave such impression in you, as you will not only incline to the cause, but also by your authority, clear it of scandal.
It will be (perhaps) objected, that by publishing this Treatise, I go about to raise mutinies among y e Queens subjects, or to discredit the Ecclesiastical sta • e, or hir Majesty's commission for ecclesiastical causes, which never came within the intention of my purpose. All mutinies either among the Subiectes or against my dear Soveraine, I detest from my heart to the lowest hell. And if one ecclesiastical person among the Commissioners be challenged before your LL. who are his betters, and equal in commission, and have authority to redress his abuses, what is this to the Ecclesiastical estate or hie Commission, which ought to be honored of all loyal subjects? Again, although by the means of the foresaid party (as being unacquainted and ignorant how to proceed orderlie in matter of Justice) it hath been already given out, for this year last past, that all is counterfeit and Dorrell a cousener, as if he had been deliberatelie heard, the witnesses on both sides indifferently examined and produced, and the Sentence in fine judicially and solemnly pronounced, yet in very truth the matter depondeth "undecided: Therefore I trust that without offense, we not being admitted to inform your LL. according to the course of ordinary proceedings, may somewhat extraordinarilie in dutiful submission, endeavor to arrest judgment, which being so vnduelie followed, cannot be lawful.
Thus referring the consideration of these things to your HH. I beseech the Lord almighty, to continue & increase your cares for the service of hir Majesty, the benefit of this Church and common Wealth, to the enlargement of all true honor to yourselves with comfort at the time of your death, a blessed memory after life, and eternal happiness to your bodies and souls in the life to come for evermore. AMEN.
Magna Carta. Cap. 29.
That William Sommers did not counterfeit a possession, but was in deed stranglie and snpernaturally afflicted by the operation of Satan (as we verily think) actually possessing him.
I N the Gospel there are diverse signs set down of Satan his actual possessing one, as cryinge, gnashinge the teeth, wallowing, foaming, extraordinary & supernatural strength, supernatural knowledge, with sundry others to the number of 18. but these and every of the rest, have been seen in Summer, it must needs therefore be, that Satan possessed him: for where the proper sign, or signs of a thing is, there is also the thing signified thereby: where smoke is, there is fire.
That he was dispossessed, the signs thereof confirm: which are, Crying aloud, renting sore, & lying as dead: these were seen and heard at the instant of his deliverance.
Against this it is objected, That he hath only counterfeited a possession, being thereunto schooled by me.
To the former part thereof I answer, That sundry of these things, which have ben done, or rather suffered by him, are such, as are impossible to be counterfeited, that is to be done by any art of man how cunning soever he be: as the extraordinary & supernatural Actions or passions of his body, strength and knowledge.
1 There hath been seen and felt a swelling which did run through all the partes of his body: in some parte of his body it was of the bigness of an egg, in some other bigger or lessen: being now in the one arm, it would be forth with in th' other, and so of the legs: it was seen in his forehead and other partes of his face, yea in his tongue. Being in his eye or toe, & he uttering these words, I will go out at his eye, or, I will go out at his toe, it was seen presently to vanish, or remove out of that place.
2 When this Swelling was in his arm or legs & made any stay there, as often it did, then, and during that time, the same member was as heavy and inflexible as so much iron.
3 His body was of that exceedinge weight, that diverse at once could scarcely lift him.
4 He fomed abundantly (like unto the horsse) and that for an hour together, so as it roped down all along on his breast, and yet ever and anon was wiped away.
5 In his fit neither did the temples of his head, nor the pulses of his hands beat or move.
6 He lay for the space of an hour as if he had been dead, cold as ye, his face and hands black, no breath being perceived to come from him.
7 Being oftentimes cast into the fire, with his hands sometimes in the fire, sometimes his face, lyeing there also a while, He was not burnt at all.
8 He did speak distinctly with a continual speech for a quarter of an hour, his mouth being shut close.
9 He spake with his mouth wide open, yea his tongue tetorted into his throat, and namely these words: Ego sum Deus, ego sum Rex: that is, J am God, I am King. Whichhe retortinge was usual with him, and so done, as no parcel of his tongue was to be seen in his mouth.
10 He was in his fits without feeling to the judgment of those which saw him. Pinnes being thrust deep into sundry parts of his body (sometimes up to the head,) he stirred not at all, neither did any blood issue at the places so pricked.
His Strength was often such, that 3. 4. 5. sometimes 6. men could not rule him. Three men for an hour together sweating & laboring much, he struggling with them, was not perceived to pant, or blow: yea scarselio to take breath: he holding his finger upright: a man of great stregth could not bend it towards the palm of his hand, nor hold and keep it downo when it was bended.
His Knowledge was such, that by vettue thereof he told of those things which were done and spoken diverse miles of him at the same instant they fell out, and foretold things to come. From hence also it was that diuinelike he continued his speech in expounding the Creed for an hour together.
Herevnto add that most rare accident, That under the Couerlet where he lay, there were certain things sometime four or five at one instant stirring & moving under our hands as if they had ben kittlings, whelps, or such living creatures: the couerlet being fuddenly cast up, they vanished away: but thrown down, they were presently there again, and this continued about ten days and nights by times.
The first of these hath been deposed by 11. the Teste some by 4. by 5. and some by more or less witnesses, these few excepted where this mark (x) is, which notwithstanding are as true as the rest, and to be deposed.
There are besides these diverse others, as the drawing of his mouth awry, sometimes to th' one ear, sometimes to th' other: the setting of his face against his back: a violent beating of his face & head to the ground, and the casting of himself headlong against the walls, and posts of the house, so as one would have thought he would have spoiled or bruised him self greatly thereby, yet received he no hurt at all: the gathering of himself of a rouud heap, & boūsing up a good height being so geathered, a strange voice which was sensibly heard to come out of his body: his unnatural swelling, his body being twice so big as naturally it is, and his strange wallowing or swift rolling of him self, with his body stretched out to his full length.
If these things, most strange and admirable, can be done by any human skill, I deny not but that he may be a counterfeit: but until that shall appear, I must needs subscribe them to some supernatural power, & that is the Devil: for some cause of these rare effects must be had, & that must be either natural or supernatural, but a natural cause hereof cannot be given, of necessity therefore there must be some supernatural, which was an evil spirit possessing him, for the reason aforesaid.
Against these impossibilities much is said, but let the same be well examined by the premisses as a rule, and it will manifest the same maketh nothing against us.
But the main thing that is objected for the proof of his dissembling is his own confession.
Thereto I answer, that no man cūfessing or reporting any impossibility, of himself is to be credited, which Sommers doeth in this report of him self. If Som. should say that he (by good footemanship) hath gone on foot in one day from Barwick to Dover, none would believe him: why then do any credit him in this his confession? for it is no more possible for him to go that journey in that time, then by his own will & power to do those things which are about specified, which he in saying he hath coūterfeited affirmeth he hath done. If this be a certain truth, that these things he could not possibly do, which all men may grant, then forasmuch as 20. witnesses or thereabout, have upon their oaths ascribed the same unto him, or some other power in, or by him, it must necessarily and inevitablie follow, that if they have sworn truly, and the hundred say truly which daily bear witness thereto, and are ready to depose the same, if they might be called, then he is a Iyar in saying he counterfeited: Choose now whether you will believe W. Som. or this other company. If he say crvelie, they are perjured: for upon their oaths they have avouched these things by him, which cannot possibly be coūterfeited. And if they swear truly, he lieth 〈◊◊◊〉 he dissembled. And here we 〈◊〉 •• member that the questiō is not ••• there Som. did (or suffered) the thing above specified, as whether he had such a variable swelling, running up and down along his body, and so of the rest. For that such things were seen in him, is already deposed by many: that therefore is out of all question, & most true, except they be perjured, which is most uncharitable to conceive, and dangerous to affirm, but the state of our controversy or question is whether Som. himself by some sleight or cunninge of his, did thē: or (that being impossible) some other power in or by him: they therefore that go from this point, speak nothing to the matter or against it.
Secondly, the means whereby this confession was compassed, are to be considered of: First thorough the malice of some, Som. was charged (but most unjustly) to have bewitched one Sterland to death, whereupon he was called before the Major & Aldermen of Nottingham, by thē for a time imprisoned, so as his father in law entered bond for his appearance at the Assizes.
2 To this ende Satan visibly appearing unto him (as his usual manner is to those he possesseth) sometime promised him gold, and that he would be at hand to do those things for him he had done howsoever he would have him, if he would say he had coūterfeited: at other times threatened to pul him in pieces if he would not say so. 3. For the obtaining thereof Couper and Shepherd (two most lewd and evil disposed persons) threatened him: the one to whip him, the other to pinch him with a pair of pincers, as appeareth both by Som. confession and their own vpō their oaths before 12 Commissioners. These baits thus laid by Satan & wicked men, caught him, for presently after & not before, he made the cursed confession of coūterfeiting: & no marvel, these things well considered, though he used his tongue against the truth and God him self and the great work which he had wrought for him, seeing that thereby he should not only escape (as he no doubt thought) that which Satan threatened, and have that he promised, which he hath hitherto performed: but also to avoid the present punishment. his keepers threatened to inflict upon him, &, which was most of all, thereby he should save his life: for he in saying he had dissembled, was thereby freed from all suspicion (or rather that malicious & false accusation) of witchcraft, and thereupon made not so much as any appearance before the Judge of Assise: Whereas undoubtedly if he had stood to the truth, and never acknowledged any coūterfeiting, he had been arraigned and sore laid at for his life. Now the proverb is, life is sweet: and who (almost) will not make a lie for the saving of his life? If then any ask the question why he should say he counterfeited, if it were not so? he hath his answer here, for hereby we may plainly see, that there was in carnal reason much to lead him to that confession, though it was altogether against the truth.
3. As before so after he had made this wretched confession, and stood in it for the space of a month, he acknowledged that he never counterfeited, yea in wretched manner he hath betaken him self body and soul to the Devil, if ever he dissembled, and this he did for x. days, during which time the work of God was manifest, and that by the confession of the greatest adversary. Now seeing he hath said both ways, and varied so often, even four times. For first he said and protested, that he did not counterfeit, thē, that he did dissemble, after again that he did not, and lastly, he saith & faceth it out, that he did counterfeit: Why should we rather believe him affirming then denying, seeing (I say) he hath said both ways and alike times of both: yea who that is wise will give credit to such a double and false tongue? Considering also howe notoriouslie wicked he is: For take him at the best, and as himself and others would fain have you: He is an infamous deceauer, having feigned to be possessed with a Devil, and thereby (if it were so) profaned the holy word of God, and the holy exercise of prayer and fasting: besides he is as notorious a liar as ever was heard or read of, and by consequent the child of the Devil, yea not only a liar but a forsworn wretch, for he hath sworn both ways: lastly, he is an horrible blasphemer, for he hath said that there is no God, and sometimes these words, I am God, as is deposed. These things considered, do not they greatly forget themselves which will have Will. Som. a counterfeiter, and myself to have taught him, because Will. So. saith so? Is it not a strange thing that whatsoever this graceless boy saith shall be held for truth: If he say he hath Counterfeited, it must be so, though God and men affirm the contrary, and reason it self say, it is not possible so to be. When he for pretence hereof allegeth many false, foolish, and absurd things, not once worthy the hearing or answering, they are received for true & invincible arguments thereof. If he say, Jo. Dorrell. taught him, and for show thereof allege many things as false as false can be, which Io. Dorrell offereth, and is as well able to prove them false, as to prove it true that ever he was in the Gatehouse, yet that must needs be true. In a word, if Som. and he alone say many things for his dissembling a possession, and my schooling him, though against him, & that he saith, Many, even hundreds affirm the contrary, & above 20. have sworn that which proveth the same, and among those some were learned & reverend men, of great wisdom and godliness: yet behold Will. Som. is believed before them all, What marvel is it thē though he be credited and his word, & oath received before mine, though I be a Minister of Christ Jesus, & such (by the grace of God) as they which seeking advantage against me, can find none: yet in a word you shall hear what I say in mine own defense.
First, besides that upon mine oath I have denied that I taught him, which indeed should suffice both the law of God, and that law by which I am to be judged (except there were some further proof then Som. accusation, as there is not) I affirm and reason for myself thus: That forasmuch as the aforesaid strange accidents which were seen in him, cannot possibly be taught or learned by any, It is impossible therefore that I should have instructed him therein. 2. He was so straungly handled a month before I set eye on him, how thē is it possible that he should have been taught by me? For whereas it is alleged against me, that for 4. years or more he & I had our secret meetings (let that be proved that to my knowledge I ever saw him before the sift of November 1597. which was but 2. days before his dispossession) and I refuse no punishment: and before I did see him, I was importuned thereunto by diverse letters, whereof one came from the Major. I am able also to prove by good witness that I was not desired thither by any direct or indirect means from myself: now let everyone judge, whither it is not likely that I would not have winded myself into the action by some devise or other, if I had had any such abomination in hand as is laid to my charge. Moreover, Som. saith, that when he, to this said end, repaired to me (I mean, to be taught) he came frō one Mr Grayes of Langly (with whō as he saith he then dwelt) to Ashby de la zouche, where I then dwelt, as he affirmeth, & in a park there we met, and this our meeting began about 4. years past. Now the truth is that he was gone 2. or 3. years frō Mr. Grayes, before I came to dwell at Ashby, & 5. years before our pretended meeting, for it is ix. years or therabouts, since he went frō M. Grayes, and but 6. years since I went to Ashby. And during my abode at Ashby, he never dwelled in that coūtry wherein Ashby standeth, nor nearer it, then Notinghā is, which is 14. miles distant, and frō whence he himself doth not say y t ever he came to me: Thus then the case standeth, the lying youth having charged me with instructing him, and being charged thereupon of necessity where & when we met to that end, and not knowing what place to name, at length he bethought him of his dwellinge sometimes with the aforesaid gentlemā, & mine at Ashby: & having none other he named the aforesaid place, because then as he thought, we dwelt within 5. miles one of another, but therein he was deceived, as is already by oth proved: this his accusatiō therefore is manifestly false. But admit he had dwelt with M r Gray when I dwelt at Ashby, doth that so greatly cōfirm our meeting in the park, and my instructing him there: & yet besides his bare oth (who is such as we hear, and hath sworn the contrary) there is nothing to strengthen his accusation but this, yea, this is all that is laid to my chardge, save that he addeth that vpō the 6. and 7. of November 97. at Nottingham I acted his tricks unto him, which I have offered (and still do) to disprove by a multitude of witnesses. And is it not to be wondered at, that such an open and notorious liar, as this boy is, should prevail so long and so far against a Preacher of the Gospel, by so palpable a lie and false accusation as this is. Further more So. his own tale herein doeth so vary, that his accusatiō can deserve no credit at all, for to some he reported that he being at Nottingham, vexed with a strange collike, through much going into the water, I should dome to him thither from Ashby, and persuade him to say that he was possessed, & that so we first became acquainted. To others he said, that the first time that he became acquainted with me, was when I was with Katherino Wright in Darbishire, which was about 12. years past, at which time he was some 8. years old, unfit as any mā would think, to communicate such a matter unto. Furthermore he told the Bishop of London (as it may apappeare by one of the articles) that our first meeting & acquaintance was in the streets at Ashby, I talking with 2. strangers, and that about Katherine Wright forsooth, who departing vpō his coming, we two (as he saith) went into the fields together. And now he saith, that our first acquaintance was in an alehouse at Ashby, among other boys: Which allegacions as they severally confute one another, so I am well able (helped by circumstances) to confute thē all: wherein if I fail, yea further if I make not mine innocence and righteousness herein manifest as the day light at midday, so that I may be heard and have leave to produce my proofs, as I trust in time I shall, then let me be held guilty, & dealt with accordingly. In the mean season I will use 2. reasons more in the defense both of the work of God, and myself. If So. counterfeited, & was instructed thereunto by me, thē in all reason the same is true of Th. Darling of Burton, & of those 7. in Lancashire, for they were all handled alike, & I dealt with them all, and they were all helped by the same means, that is, prayer & fasting but that is not so, as God and they will bear me witness: yea, it is a thing abhorring frō common sense, so to conceive of thē; Som. therefore hath nor counterfeited, nor I instructed him. Against those 7. in Lācashire nothing is objected, but of Darling it is said that he also coūterfeited. I answer, that that cā not possibly be: for in the book which is printed concerning him, it is reported that he (being a boy of 13. years of age) was of that strength that 2. strong men could not hold him down, or rule him. And in another place, that 3. men could scarslie do it, which is impossible to counterfeit, for no man can add anything to his strength by coūterfeiting. 2. It is said here in sundry places, that his arms & shoulder bones were in many of his fits thrust out of joint, and indeed this hath been seen and felt many a time, and by many who are ready to depose it. Now besides the painfulnes, how is it possible that he should thrust his bones out of their iointes, and in again, and presently after use his arms all one, as if no such thing had been done, I cannot conceive nor think any other. 3. It is there reported, in his traunces he uttered certain speeches there mentioned, with his mouth wide open, which is impossible to be donne by man. Moreover, the Witch Alice Goodridge by name, sundry times confessed, that she mistaking Tho. Darling for one Sherrats boy, sent her familiar or spirit in form of a dog (party coloured, redd and white) called Mynny, to torment him in his body, and that she had caused his vexation: & further that at hir sending of him, she strained all hir body, & vomited, bidding hir Minny to go and do so to the boy, who returning, said, he had done so. Now the truth is, that besides the child was most fearfullie tormented in and thorough all the partes of his body, he was much troubled with vomiting, & making show thereof. It is also to be remembered, that she named the time, place, occasion, and the words she used, when she sent the Devil to vex and torment him in his body, as appeareth pag. 26. Herevpō this Alice Goodridge was committed to Derby jail, indicted, arraigned, by the Jury found guilty thereof, and by the Judge sentence given of hir to imprisonment: where shortly after she died. These things considered to say that Darling coūterfeited, is not only to deny the truth of the book printed, which (for the substance of it) hath ben offered to be confirmed by the oaths of a great many, as is still, if by authority they shall be thereunto called, but to condemn also besides the Jury, the Judge, if not of injustice, yet of simplicity. Besides, if the boy conterfeited, what an intolerable abusing of Judge, Justices of peace, and Jury is there? And why is not that counterfeiting boulted out by some of the Wor in that County, and the parties therein offending punished according to their deserts? But it may be there is none so wise in that coast. Let them send then to Nottingham, and crave help frō some there: they that found out Somer his dissimulation, can (no doubt) do as much for Darling too, if they would but take the pains to make diligent search and inquiry into it. My second reason is this: If Som. be a counterfeit, & I have taught him, then undoubtedly Marie Cooper his sister is such, and hath also confederated with us herein, for she cannot only do some of his tricks (as they call them) but besides, for a time began hir fits whē he ended his: he in like sort following her, having their sits by course, and this they did, although they were in several rooms, as I am able, & offer now to prove by a multitude of witnesses. But hereof as she will clear me, so it hath not hitherto been said, that she hath any hand in this counterfeit accusation, why then do any charge that upon me? For she in all reason is (at least) as surely confederate with him as I, or any private Christian: And therefore also I undertook not the means for So. his dispossession, till I had three other Preachers to join with me: yea I am persuaded that the faithful prayers of the parties friends may prevail with God in this case: though no Preacher be present, as in the dispossession of Thom. Darling it was evident. Only this I hold, that one being possessed, prayer & fasting is to be used for the casting out of Satan, as a means appointed of God to that end. And this I doubt not, but I am able to prove by the holy scriptures, & further to confirm by the testimonies of ancient and late Writers, and by the practice of the Church in all ages, & the good success thereof.
1 And whereas many cōceyue of this matter as a Miracle, and thereupon speak hardly of it, because miracles are ceased, they are therein (by their patience) as I take it, greatly deceived. To cast out Devils by a word, so as one no sooner commandeth the spirit to go out, but sorthwith he departeth, as Christ and his Apostles did, is not only a miracle, but of them the greatest: but by the means of prayer and fasting to drive out Satan, or rather to entreat Christ (to whom all power is given in heaven & in earth) to cast Satan forth is no miracle, because of the said means, for whatsoener is brought to pass by means, is no miracle, because of the said means, be it never so wonderful, as might be shown (but for brevities sake) in a thousand instances. This is mirandum, non miraculum, that is a wonderful work, but not a wonder. 2. When Satan is cast out, the Church (or any member of it) worketh no miracle, for that she cannot in the using of the means, be assured to prevail. For although the assurance is, or may be great in this case, yet we cannot be sure that the party shall be delivered, the means being used, because GOD is at liberty to bless the means he hath appointed to this, or that end, and to withhold & to keep back his blessing from it: and in this latter case, what will any means profit or prevail. As touching my opinions herein, and matter of learning, I submit myself to the judgment of the learned, as one most ready to give ear unto them, if they shall inform me better. And as concerning the matters of fact, and other things reported by me, If I prove them not ttue in whole and in parte, Let Som. be held for a Counterfeit, and myself his instructor, and both of us condingely punished.
Act. 25. 16.
A brief of the depositions taken at Nottingham, the 20. of March 1597. by ver tue of a commission from the Archb. of York and others hir Majesty's hie Commissioners, before 12. Commissioners of worship, proving that William Somers of Nottingham, of th'age of 20. years, was possessed by Satan, and did not counterfeit as some pretend.
1 THat there seemed to run along his leg, and thence into his toe, belly, throat, tongue, cheek, eye, and other partes, a lūpe sometimes bigger or lesser then an egg being soft. Deposed by
- Thom. Hayes, art. 1.
- Rob. Aldridge, art. 2
- Williā Hind, art. 3.
- Tho. Westfield, art. 4
- Joan Pie, artic. 6.
- Willi. Lāgford, art. 5
- John Strelley, art. 12
- Richard Mee, art. 13
- John Pare, artic. 15.
- John Clerk, artic. 16
- Williā Hunt, art. 17.
2 The lump being in his leg, it was heavy, and inflexible like iron. Depos. by
- John Strelley, art. 12
- Joan Pie, artic. 6.
- Eliz. Milward, art. 14
- John Clerk, artic. 16
3 He had such extraordinary strength, that sometimes 3. 4. 5. 6. or moe were scarce able to rule him. Deposed by
- Rob. Aldridg, art. 2.
- Joan Pie, artic. 6.
- John Wood, art. 111
- John Strelley, art. 12
- Richard Mee, art. 13
- Willi. Lāgsord, art. 5
4 When 4. or 5. struggled with him, so as they were wearied, he did not sweat, pante, or chāgecolour. Deposed by
- William Langforde, artic. 9.
- Richard Mee, art. 13
- John Wood, art. 11.
5 He walowed, gnashed with his teeth, stared with his eyes, & fomed at his mouth excessiuelie, having neither eat nor drunk all the day before, as Langford depos.
- Robert Aldridge, articu. 2.
- Willi. Aldred, art. 5.
- John Strelley, art. 12
- Richard Mee, art. 13.
- William Langforde, artic. 9.
6 Ther seemed to run under the couerlet where he lay, as it were kittlinges, to the number of four or five Deposed by
- Robert Aldridge, artic. 2.
- Joan Pie, artic. 6.
- Thom. Gray, art 10
7 His face and mouth fearfullie distorted, one lipp toward one ear, and another toward the other, deposed by
- William Aldred, artic. 5.
- Joan Pie, artic. 6.
- Richard Mee, art. 13
8 His face turned directly backward, not moving his body at all, Deposed by
- Richard Mee, art. 13
- Joan Pie, artic. 6.
9 His neck doubled under him, Deposed by
- Richard Mee, art. 13
10 His body doubled, his head between his legs, suddely plucked round like a round brown loaf: he was cast up like a ball from the bed 3. or 4. times together, half a yard hic, depo. by
- Joan Pie, artic. 6.
11 Being cast into the fire, where he lay sometimes against the walls & irō bars of the chimney with great violence, he received no appearance of hurt at all, de. by
- Joan Pie, artic. 6.
- John Strelley, art. 12
- Richard Mee, art. 13
12 His body seemed to be extended to the height of the talest man, whē once he endeavored to hang himself, Deposed by
- Joan Pie, artic. 6.
13 That he told of diverse things done in his absence, without notice give by any person, Deposed by
- Elizabeth Milward, artic. 13
- Joan Pie, artic. 6.
14 Strange speeches uttered by him in his fits, in a strang voice, as, that he was his, that he was God, Christ, & a King: that he made baptism: I will use W. So. tongue and members for 3. days: Ego sum Rex, ego sum Deus: That there was no God, that he was King and Prince of darkness. And in saying the Lord's prayer, could not say, lead us not into temptation, but lead us into temptation. Also before Master Dorrell had seen him, he said, Dorrel comes, Dorrell comes, he will have me out, but I will come again, for Nottingham & Lenton are jolly towns for me: Deposed by
- Robert Aldred, art. 2.
- Richard Newton, artic. 5.
- Richard Mee, art. 1 •
- Elizabeth Milward, artic. 14.
15 Being recovered out of his fits, he knew not what he had said or done: Deposed by
- John Wood, art. 11.
- Joan Pie, artic. 6.
16 In his fits strange smelles were in the place where he lay, sometimes like brimstone, sometimes very sweet: Deposed by
- Joan Pie, art. 6.
- Richard Mee, art. 1 •
17 A strange knocking perceitted about his bed, in his fits: both his feet & hands being held vnmoveable: Deposed by
- Robert Aldred, art. •
- Joan Pie, artic 6.
- Elizabeth Milward, artic. 14.
- John Parc, artic. 15.
18 He did cry hideouslie, sometimes like a bull, bear, swine, and in a small voice impossible to be coūtetfeited: Deposed by
- William Langford, artic. 9.
- Robert Aldridg, artic. 2.
- Richard Mee, art. 1 •
19 His leg would be crooked with his falls, and remain vnflexible: Depo. by
- Richard Mee, artic. 13.
- Thomas Haics, artic. 4.
20 He spake in a continued speech, his mouth being wide open, his tongue drawn into his throat, neither his lips nor chaps moouinge: Deposed by
- Richard Newton, artic. 7.
- Henry Nusiey, art. 6.
- Joan Pie, art. 6.
- John Strelly, art. 12.
21 He spake a quarter of an hour, his mouth being shut close: Deposed by
- William Hunt, artic. 17.
22 In his fits his pulses and temples did not beat: he lay for dead, cold as Ice: Deposed by
- William Langford, artic. 9.
- 〈◊〉 Milward, artic. 14.
23 His eye was black, & changed color in his fits: Deposed by
- William Hind, ar. •
- Thomas Westfield, artic 4.
- Richard Mee, art 13.
Folio 8. Lin 38. libero tenemento add suo.