A Brief Apology Proving the Possession of William Sommers, List of depositions – Errata
A brief of the depoſitions taken at Notingham, the 20. of March 1597. by vertue of a commiſsion from the Archb. of York and others hir Maieſties hie Commiſſioners, before 12. Commiſſioners of worſhip, proving that William Somers of Nottingham, of th'age of 20. yeres, was poſſeſſed by Sathan, and did not counterfeit as ſome pretend.
1 THat there ſeemed to runne along his legg, and thence into his toe, bellie, throat, tongue, cheeke, eie, and other partes, a lūpe ſometimes bigger or leſſer then an egge beeing ſoft. Depoſed by
Thom. Hayes, art. 1.
Rob. Aldridge, art. 2
Williā Hinde, art. 3.
Tho. Weſtfield, art. 4
Ioane Pie, artic. 6.
Willi. Lāgford, art. 5
Iohn Strelley, art. 12
Richard Mee, art. 13
Iohn Pare, artic. 15.
Iohn Clerk, artic. 16
Williā Hunt, art. 17.
2 The lumpe beeing in his legg, it was heauie, and inflexible like yron. Depoſ. by
Iohn Strelley, art. 12
Ioane Pie, artic. 6.
Eliz. Milward, art. 14
Iohn Clerk, artic. 16
3 He had ſuch extraordinarie ſtrēgth, that ſometimes 3. 4. 5. 6. or moe were ſcarſe able to rule him. Depoſed by
Rob. Aldridg, art. 2.
Ioane Pie, artic. 6.
Iohn Wood, art. 111
Iohn Strelley, art. 12
Richard Mee, art. 13
Willi. Lāgſord, art. 5
4 When 4. or 5. ſtrugled with him, ſo as they were wearied, he did not ſweat, pante, or chāgecolour. Depoſed by
William Langforde, artic. 9.
Richard Mee, art. 13
Iohn Wood, art. 11.
5 He walowed, gnaſhed with his teeth, ſtared with his eies, & fomed at his mouth exceſſiuelie, hauing neither eate nor drunke all the day before, as Langford depoſ.
Robert Aldridge, articu. 2.
Willi. Aldred, art. 5.
Iohn Strelley, art. 12
Richard Mee, art. 13.
William Langforde, artic. 9.
6 Ther ſeemed to runne vnderunder the couerlet where hee lay, as it were kittlinges, to the number of foure or fiue Depoſed by
Robert Aldridge, artic. 2.
Ioane Pie, artic. 6.
Thom. Gray, art 10
7 His face and mouth fearfullie diſtorted, one lipp toward one eare, and another toward th'other, depoſed by
William Aldred, artic. 5.
Ioane Pie, artic. 6.
Richard Mee, art. 13
8 His face turned directlie backward, not moving his body at all, Depoſed by
Richard Mee, art. 13
Ioane Pie, artic. 6.
9 His necke doubled vnderunder him, Depoſed by
Richard Mee, art. 13
10 His bodye doubled, his head betweene his legges, ſuddely plucked round like a round browne loafe: hee was caſt vp like a ball from the bed 3. or 4. tymes togither, half a yard hic, depo. by
Ioane Pie, artic. 6.
11 Beeing caſt into the fire, where he lay ſometimes againſt the walls & irō barrs of the chimney with great violence, he receiued no appearance of hurt at all, de. by
Ioane Pie, artic. 6.
Iohn Strelley, art. 12
Richard Mee, art. 13
12 His body ſemed to be extended to the height of the taleſt man, whē once he endeuoured to hang himſelf, Depoſed by
Ioane Pie, artic. 6.
13 That hee tolde of diuers things done in his abſence, without notice giuegive by any perſon, Depoſed by
Elizabeth Milward, artic. 13
Ioane Pie, artic. 6.
14 Strange ſpeeches vttered by him in his fits, in a ſtrang voice, as, that hee was his, that he was God, Chriſt, & a King: that he made baptiſme: I wil vſe W. So. tonge and members for 3. dayes: Ego ſum Rex, ego ſum Deus: That there was no God, that he was King and Prince of darkenes. And in ſaying the Lordes prayer, could not ſay, leade vsus not into temptation, but lead vsus into temptation. Alſo before Maiſter Dorrell had ſeene him, he ſaid, Dorrel comes, Dorrell comes, he will hauehave me out, but I will come againe, for Notingham & Lenton are iolly townes for mee: Depoſed by
Robert Aldred, art. 2.
Richard Newton, artic. 5.
Richard Mee, art. 1…
Elizabeth Milward, artic. 14.
15 Being recouered out of his fitts, he knew not what he had ſaide or done: Depoſed by
Iohn Wood, art. 11.
Ioane Pie, artic. 6.
16 In his fitts ſtrange ſmelles were in the place where hee lay, ſometymes like brimſtone, ſomtimes very ſweet: Depoſed by
Ioane Pie, art. 6.
Richard Mee, art. 1…
17 A ſtraung knocking perceitted about his bed, in his fitts: both his feet & hands beeing helde vnmoveable: Depoſed by
Robert Aldred, art. …
Ioane Pie, artic 6.
Elizabeth Milward, artic. 14.
Iohn Parc, artic. 15.
18 Hee did crie hideouſlie, ſometimes like a bull, bear, ſwine, and in a ſmall voyce vnpoſſible to be coūtetfeited: Depoſed by
William Langford, artic. 9.
Robert Aldridg, artic. 2.
Richard Mee, art. 1…
19 His legge would be crooked with his falles, and remaine vnflexible: Depo. by
Richard Mee, artic. 13.
Thomas Haics, artic. 4.
20 He ſpake in a continued ſpeeche, his mouth beeing wide open, his tōgue drawn into his throat, neither his lipps nor chaps moouinge: Depoſed by
Richard Newton, artic. 7.
Henry Nuſiey, art. 6.
Ioane Pie, art. 6.
Iohn Strelly, art. 12.
21 He ſpake a quarter of an houre, his mouth beeing ſhut cloſe: Depoſed by
William Hunt, artic. 17.
22 In his fittes 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, & chaū ged colour in his fitts: Depoſed by
William Hinde, ar. …
Thomas Weſtfield, artic 4.
Richard Mee, art 13.
Folio 8. Lin 38. libero tenemento add ſuo.
End of the text · John Darrell, A Brief Apology Proving the Possession of William Sommers (1599)