A Brief Apology Proving the Possession of William Sommers, Title page – Dedication
A BRIEF APOLOGIE PROVING THE POSSESSION OF WILLIAM SOMMERS.
Written by IOHN DORRELL, a faithful Miniſter of the Goſpell: but publiſhed without his knowledge, With a Dedicatorie Epiſtle diſcloſing ſome diſordered procedings againſt the ſaide IOHN DORRELL.
Quod in religionem committitur, in omnium fertur iniuriam.
1599.
To the right Honourable St Thomas Eggerton Knight, L. Keeper of the great Seale of England, Sr Iohn Popham Knight, L. chief Iuſtice of England: Sir William Periam Knight, Lord chief Baron of th' Eſchequer, and other the moſt reuerend Iudges of the Common Lawes of Englande.
MY LL. I doe not doubt, but your HH. hauehave hearde of the poſſeſſion & diſpoſſeſſion of VVilliam Summors, a youth of Notinghā, but in what ſence theſe thinges hauehave bene carried vntounto you, by reaſon of the manifolde varieties of reportes ſpred abroad, it may be well doubted. Wherefore to the end, that your HH. might take knowledge of the trueth herein, and according to your knowledge by that hie authoritie deriued vntounto you from her Sacred Maieſtie, for the gouernement of hir ſubiectes, according to your accuſtomed iuſtice and integritie, iuſtifie the trueth, & diſcountenance the contrarie: I hauehave therfore preſumed to preferre vntounto your LL. this plaine Apologeticall treatiſe, penned by Maiſter Iohn Dorrell, a principall partie in this matter, but publiſhed altogither without his priuitie or conſent therein.
The maine point of the controuerſie 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, can not almoſt fall out to bee decided among the ſonnes of men, namelie touchinge the malice of Satan, and maruellous authoritie of our Lorde IESVS. They that imagine Summer was not poſſeſſed, but did counterfeit, doe by conſequence and indirectlie denie the malice of Satan, & the Soueraintie of our Sauiour in this action. But if it fall out contrarie, that hee was poſſeſſed and diſpoſſeſſed in deed, what their ſinne is, and what their reward ſhall be that blaſpheme this great worke of God, I leaue to the ſecret iudgement of the great day, when they that now iudge, ſhall be iudged. Onelie, hereby it is euident, that ſo manie hie or lowe as profeſſe them ſelues Chriſtians, are greatlie intereſſed in this matter, that ſo much concerneth Chriſt their Maiſter: and ought therefore informe them ſelues herein, in aſmuch as what ſoeuer is done againſt the Head, muſt needes ſtrecht vntounto the Members.
Now, euerie matter of fact (as this is) moſt vſuallie is determined by the othes of men: It is therefore to bee reſpected what hath bene & may be proued by the depoſitions of credible men, touching this matter.
By cōmiſſion from the Archbiſh of York, directed to 12. eſpeciall *Iohn Therold Eſq. hie Sheriff of Nottinghan. Sir Iohn Biron Knight. Iohn Stanop. Robert Markham. Rich. Parkins Eſ. Peter Clerk, Maior of Noting. Archd. Walton. Miles Leigh, offic. Ioh. Treton, Iohn Brown. Rob. Evington, and Tho. Bolton, preachers.perſons neare to Notingham, 17. witneſſes were depoſed, who directlie proue ſuch admitable things to be done or ſuffered by the ſaide Summer, that neither Art nor Nature can compaſſe the like. Beſides theſe 17. the names of others to the number of 60. or thereabouts, were taken in writing, readie 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 ſitts, ſo as he wallowed with his body ſtretched out at length with an exceeding ſwiftnes from one ende of the rowme where they ſate vntounto another, and being pulled by the cares and pricked with pinnes in his legg and hande, of purpoſe to trie whether he had any feeling or not, yet he remayning ſenceleſſe, and no bloud following, thē they thought it needleſſe to proceed any further
Namely, Miles Laigh, Ioh. Tretō Tho. Bolton.At the ſame time there was ſeene to three of the Commiſſioners onelyonly (the rowme being alſo full of people) a black dogge running about Sum. head as he laye before them ſnuffing at his mouth, which the three Commiſſioners ſuppoſed to hauehave bene a dogge in deed, and that others had ſeene him as well as they, which was not ſo. To this viſion accordeth the ſpeech which Som. vttered when the Commiſſioners willed him to declare vntounto them, who had perſwaded him to ſay he did counterfeit, wherevnto (being interrupted as it ſeemed by the Deuill) he ſtutteringlie anſwered, That the blacke dogge which brought him the bag of golde, did bidde him ſay ſo.
To ſecond the trueth of the extraordinarie handling of this Som. Maiſter Treton, Maiſter Brown, and Maiſter Ivington, commiſſioners, M. Hilderſham, M. More, and M. Brinceſley, all godly preachers, and ſome of them of great renowme for learning and grauiue, beſides manie Gentlemen and others of good credite, volūtatilie hauehave offred to teſtifie the trueth in the premiſſes, but they hauehave bene reiected & ſharplie cenſured. Petitions hauehave bene 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 obteined, no not much as patient audience, or any iudiciall courſe of proceeding.
On the other ſide, the bare report of Som that he did counterfeit, and was inſtructed therevnto by M. Darrell (though it bee impoſſible to be true without the impeachment of the othes of infallible witneſſes) is helde for authenticall, & long libells or legendis drawen thervpon, which may be confuted by manifold witneſſes, if they might be heard. But as if it were more then high treaſon to affirme the contrarie to that which one man relying vponupon Som. relation hath auouched 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 authoritie in the common wealth, their learning, grauitie, and approued credite, 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 priuie Chamber M. Fulk Crowill.to giuegive ſpeciall commaundement, that the cauſe receiue indifferent hearing.
If the boyes wordes be of ſuch credite that none may impugn them, why ſhould not his words ſealed at other times with othes and exec…ations be of like value? After his diſpoſſeſſion & repoſſeſſion, being ſometimes come to him ſelfe, he voluntarily with his own hand writinge (which is yet to be ſeene) ſheweth how it came to paſſe that he was induced to giuegive out that he had bene a coū terfeit, not vponupon any ground of the trueth, but by the threates of Satan and his inſtruments. His own wordes are theſe: Being at *A houſe of correction in Notinghars.Sent Iones, there came vntounto me a thing like vntounto a Dogg, and ſaid vntounto me, And if I would conſent vntounto him & ſay that I was a coūterfeit, he would giuegive me a bagge of golde, and if I woulde not, hee woulde make me be hanged, or elſe he would teare mee in peeces: Note this.And if I would, I ſhould doe any thing that I would take in hand. And he would come to me like a Mouſe, & would * an aſſe hee meaneth.helpe me. And there came to me a thing like a Naſs, and ſaid, if I would not ſay that I was a Counterfeit, hee would caſt me into the well, and ſo went away. And Nicholaies Shepand ſaid, and if I were in a fitt againe, hee would fetch a paire of Knipknapes & a roape, & he would make me *cōfeſſ. that he was a coūterfetconfeſſe, or elſe hang me. And Iohn Couper and Shepeard ſaid, and if I would ſaye, that I was a Counterfait, that Maiſter Mēre and the Aldermene would giuegive M. Maior.me ten pound, and I ſhould ſet vp any trade what I would, and I had better ſay that I was a Counterfeit, & liue like a man, then to hauehave nothing. For if I ſhould ſaye, that I was not a Counterfeit, and goe into the Clergies haude, I ſhould hauehave nothing. Out of which words of his, may be obſerued, that this apparition of the Dogge, conſorteth with that which the three Commiſſioners aforeſaid did ſee, and Som. did vtter in the audience of diuers: Alſo that the Deuill and his agents conſpire in one complott againſt this mighty worke of the Lorde Ieſus. Laſtlie, that it is no maruell though Som. delude the vnbeleeuers by ſome rare actions, ſeeing the Deuill promiſed to helpe him in any thing he would take in hande. Thus Som. is confuted by Som. him ſelfe.
Yet becauſe experience hath proued that this Som. is a viz. to his M. &c. knowne by the name of Frier. H.villanous wretch, and hath diſcredited him ſelfe to his friends by ſundrie lewd practiſes of theeuerie and knauerie ſince the Biſh. of L. was poſſeſſed of him (whiche yet are concealed as Secreta imperij, Matters of State, and may not be ſpoken of in any caſe) therfore for more ſuretie leaſt theſe prankes ſhould be diſcloſed, Commiſſions hauehave bene addreſſed into Notingham, to gather better ground for theſe ſurmiſes. But contrarie to the commendable courſe of proceedings vnderunder your LL. in the Commiſsions ſent to Noting.courts of Iuſtice, thoſe Commiſſions hauehave bene directed to the maine Aduerſaries and informers againſt the defendant: he not ioyning in commiſſion with them, not hauing knowledge when they were graunted, or when or where they were to be ſitt vponupon. The witneſſes that voluntarilie offred to be depoſed for the trueth, were repulſed: all partiall perſons that could be thought vppon, were preſently called. Such as were vnwillinge to depoſe, to ſatisſie their malice, were threatned to be ſent Katherine Wright.to London, and one was put in feare that ſhe ſhould be burned, becauſe ſhee would not falſelie depoſe againſt hir knowledge. Theſe and ſuch like exorbitant courſes (tedious to be recounted) hauehave bene vſed: eueryevery tearme and vacation (for the ſpace of a yeare) yeelding ſtraung example of newe greeuance. To omit many particulars. OnelyOnly I commend one or two particulars to your LL. conſideration. Thomas Gray of Langloy in the Countie of Leiceſter, Eſquier, hauing bin heretofore Maiſter vntounto Som. was by the Biſh. of Lond. &c. although the Gentleman was bold to tel him, that his dealing ſhould bee made knowen vntounto his betters likewiſe. Whereas Maiſter Darrell had bene imployed about the diſpoſſeſſing of Thomas Darling of Burton vponupon Trent, into whō one Alice Goodridg had ſent her familiar Spirit called Minnie (as hir ſelfe confeſſed, and for the ſame was cō demned as a witch by the Queenes Iuſtices, accordinge as in the Treatiſe following is declared) Now to the end there might bee gained ſome ſupplement of proofe to giuegive colour to the pretended counterfeiting betwene M. Darrell and Som. the ſaid Darling and others hauehave bin examined vponupon their othes by the aforenamed Biſh. & drawen to confeſſe contrarie to the trueth, as them ſelues hauehave auouched, that Darling was a meere counterfeit, and was neither poſſeſſed nor bewitched. Whereby the iudgment giuen by the Queenes Iuſtices againſt the ſaid Alice, for bewitching of Darling, is directly deſeated & impeached, eſpeciallie, if Sentence ſhould be giuen herein. For if Darling did counterfeit, then hee was not bewitched: and if he was not bewitched, then was the iudgement and execution againſt Alice Goodridge erroniouſly and wrongfullie awarded. Whether this practiſe may ſtande with the ſtatute of Proviſion and Premunire, and with the honour which is due to the Temporall Courts, your LL. wiſdomes 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 proceedinges, and that in a matter concerning Chriſt our common Sauiour, contrarie to the Royall commaundement of our moſt gracious and ſoucraine Lady the Queenes Maieſtie, hir Iawes and lawfull liberties of hir loyall ſubiects, you ſee what cauſe I hauehave to exhiblie this ſhort Apologie vntounto your LL. humblie crauing that you would allowe ſome ſpare time to read it ouer: aſſuring my ſelfe, that though it be penned in ſimplicitie without colours and pompe of humane learning, yet it will leaue ſuch impreſſion in you, as you will not onelyonly incline to the cauſe, but alſo by your authoritie, cleare it of ſcandall.
It wilbe (perhaps) obiected, that by publiſhing this A cunning praectiſe to intitle the ſtate to priuate abuſes.Treatiſe, I goe about to raiſe mutinies among ye Queenes ſubiectes, or to diſcredite the Eccleſiaſticall ſta…e, or hir Maieſties commiſſion for eccleſiaſticall cauſes, which neuer came within the intention of my purpoſe. All mutinies either among the Subiectes or againſt my deare Soveraine, I deteſt from my hart to the loweſt hell. And if one eccleſiaſticall perſon among the Commiſſioners be chalenged before your LL. who are his betters, and equall in commiſſion, and hauehave authoritie to redreſſe his abuſes, what is this to the Eccleſiaſticall eſtate or hie Ʋnskilfull men are neuer good Iuſticers.Commiſſion, which ought to bee honoured of all loyall ſubiectes? Againe, although by the meanes of the foreſaid partie (as being vnacquainted and ignorant how to proceed orderlie in matter of Iuſtice) it hath bene alreadie Sentenced before hearing.giuen out, for this yeare laſt paſt, that all is counterfait and Dorrell a couſener, as if he had bene deliberatelie heard, the witneſſes on both ſides indifferentlie Diſcrete Iuſticers chide not before the partie be cōuicted.examined and produced, and the Sentence in fine iudicially and ſolemnly pronounced, yet in verie trueth the matter depondeth "vndecided: Therefore I truſt that without offence, we not being admitted to informe your LL. according to the courſe of ordinarie proceedinges, Inauditi tanquam innocē tes percunt.may ſomewhat extraordinarilie in duetifull ſubmiſſion, endeuour to arreſt iudgement, which being ſo vnduelie followed, cannot be lawfull.
Thus referring the conſideration of theſe thinges to your HH. I beſeeche the Lord almightie, to continue & increaſe your cares for the ſeruice of hir Maieſtie, the benefite of this Church and common Wealth, to the enlargement of all true honour to your ſelues with comfort at the time of your death, a bleſſed memorie after life, and eternall happineſſe to your bodies and ſoules in the life to come for euermore. AMEN.
Nullus liber homo capiatur vel impriſonetur, aut diſſeiſietur de libero tonemēto, vel libertatibus, vel liberis Enquire Whether this royall law doeth not bind a Biſhopconſuetudinibus ſuis, aut utlagetur aut exuletur, aut aliquo modo deſtruatur nec ſuper eum ibimus, nec ſuper eum mittenius, niſi per legale iudioium parium ſuorum, vel per legam tortae. Nulli vendemus, nulli negabimus, aut differemus iuſtitiam aut rectum.
Magna Carta. Cap. 29.