Narration of the Strange and Grievous Vexation by the Devil, Part 2 – Part 3
THE HISTORY OF SOMERS.
William Somers of Nottingham. now about the age of 22. yeares, ſonne in lawe to Robart Cowper of the ſaid towne, and by trad of life a muſitian: about 8 or 9 yeares paſt, as he iournyed from Bellyn in the countie of wigorn, (wher he then dwelt with one M Anthonie Brackenberie to Bramſgroue, a market towne in that ſhire accompanyed with an old woman dwelling in the ſaid Bellyn, found an hat with a copper band. the woman requiering the ſame, he gaue her the hat though vnwillingly, but the band he vtterly refuſed to giuegive, ſuppoſſing it to be of gould. wher vponupon ſhe threatning him ſaid that it had bene as good for him to hauehave giuen it her. After this in the night he ſaw a ſtrang light in the chamber wher he lay, which caſt him into a great feare. and thus he continued frighted for a time. ſhortlye after M. Brackenberic his maſter remoued to Holme, neare to Newark vponupon trēt in the countie of Nottingham being ther ſēt about his maſters buſines vntounto Newark in the way as he wēt thither, he was ſuddēly throwne into adicth, ſom 8 yards diſtāt from the high way wher in he wēt. after he had layen ther a certaine tim, he got vp & wēt forward in his iourney, but by that he had gone a very little way further he was taken agayne & caſt into a throne buſh about 60. yards diſtāt from the high way: but how he cam into it, or the ditch he knew not. in theſe two places he lay for the ſpace of ſom 4 houres, as he perceiued after by the tyme of the day. notwithſtanding this let, to Newark he went. when in his returne he drewe nere Holme he begane to be ſicke. from ſicknes he came to carie himſelf after that ſtrang manner by fyts, that his maſter ſuppoſed hym to playe the counterfeite, and theirvpon he whypped him. But notwithſtanding all the whipping was vſed (which he felt not at all) he continued after that ſame manner, and was more ſtranglie handled eueryevery daye then other. at length it well appeared to be ſome ſtrang viſitation and hand of God whervpon his maſter procured on in the miniſtrie to come to him, he being for the ſpace of 3 weekes or ther abouts a continuall trouble, and his maſter not knowing by what meaines to procure his amendment: ſent him accompanyed with 3 perſones to Nottingham to his mother being then a widowe. whilſte he was at Holme he hard ſomthinge ſay vntounto him, that vponupon ſuch a day he would leaue him, & not com vntounto him (ſoe far as I remember he ſaid) vntill the end of 6 yeares. Now after he had bene about 5 weekes at Nottingham afflicted after his accuſtomed and ſtrang manner, and that the ſaid apoynted day was come, he indeede amended in the iudgment of man, and ſoe continued: inſomuch that ſhortly after he was bound prentiſe to one Thomas Porter of Nottingham a weauer and muſition: who after gaue ouer his trade of weavinge▪ and betooke himſelfe wholly to the other, from whom the ſaid VVilliam Somers did twyſe rune awaye.
About the 20. day of March. 1596. his aforeſaid maiſter Thomas Porter ſent him to Walton in Darbyſhire the now dwelling houſe of Sir William Bowes to aſiſter of his wifes there named Mary Milwood. In his going thither ther met him in Blakewell more at a deep colepit hard by the high way ſide,by the manner of meeting the 2 time, and wordes vttered to him the 2 time, it ſhould ſeme rather to be the deuill in the liknes of an old woman an ould woman (as he thought) who aſked him where he dwelt and whithor he was going, without any more wordes. About a myle & half further (he hauing gon forward a iournying pace without ſtay) * ſhe met him agavn, and paſſed by him with out any words. The next day he retorning from Walton homewardes. ſhe met him at the aforeſaid pyt, and aſked him how he did? ſaying further, I muſt hauehave a penny of thee. he anſwered, that he had no monney, Thou haſt (quoth ſhe) Mary Millwood gaue thee. 2. pence, I will hauehave a penny of it or I will throwe thee into this pyt and breake thy neck. Herevpon for feare ſhe giuing him 2 pence he gaue hir 3 pence which indeed had ben giuen him by the ſaid Mary. After this ſhe put hir hand to a bag ſhe had about hir, and taking thence a peece of bread with butter ſpred on it, bad him eate it. He refuſing ſhe threatned hym againe, to throwe him into the pyt, and breake his neck, if hee would not eate it.This Kath Wright is a yong woman dwelling at a place called Bridgway lane not far diſtant from Blackwel more who about 14 yeres paſt being poſſeſed was by prayet deliuered but is ſince repoſſeſed whervpon (greatly againſt his wil and for feare) he did eat it, and in the eating it ſemed to him as ſweet as any honney. She ſaid moreouervnto hym Doeſt thou not knowe Katheryn Wright? no quoth hee, ſhe is my neighbor (ſaid ſhe) and ſhee and I will come to Notingham one of theis dayes, and ſee how thou doest. Then a catt (as the boy thought) leapt vp into her boſome, the which ſhe imbraced, and with hir armes claſpt it vntounto hir, and thus they parted each from other. About the begining of October. 1597. the ſaid Somers (being at Nottingham in the houſe of his maiſter Thomas Porter did vſe ſuch ſtrang and ydle. kinde of geſtures in laughing, dauncing & ſuch like lighte behauiour, that he was ſuſpected to be madd: ſundry times he refuſed all kynd of meate for a long ſpace togither, inſomuch as he did ſeeme therby to pyne away, ſomtimes he ſhaked as if he had had an ague there was hard a ſtrange noyſe or flapping from within his bodye he was often ſeene to gather himſelf on a round heape vnderunder his bed-cloathes: and being ſo gathered to bounſe vp a good height from the bed, alſo to beate his head and other parts of his body againſt the ground and bedſtead in ſuch earneſt manner and ſo violentlye that, the beholders did feare that thereby he woulde hauehave ſpoyled hymſelfe, if they had not by ſtrong hand reſtrayned hym: and yet thereby receyued he no hurt at all. In moſt of his fitts he did ſwell in his body and in ſome of them did ſo greatly exceede therein, as he ſeemed to be twice ſo byg as his naturall body. Oft alſo was hee ſeene to hauehave a certayne varyable ſwelling or lumpe to a greate bignes ſwiftlye running vp and doune betwene the fleſh and ſkyn through all the parts of his body: and many tymes when that ſwelling was, theis or the like words were hard out of his mouth. I will go out at his eyes or eares or toes at which ſpeaches the ſaid ſwelling euidently appearing in ſuch partes, did ymediatly remoue and vaniſh away. This ſwelling did not only run from eye to eye, from cheke to cheke, and vp & doune along ſtill in the body: but beſides being now in the one leg preſently it wold be in the other, and ſo of the armes in like manner: & looke in which arme or leg it ſtayed (as often it did for a certain ſpace) the ſame member was innexible and excedingly heauy as it had bene ſomuch iron. Thus it went with him though not in al, yet in mani of his fits wherī ouer and beſides theſe things, he was ſtrangely handled: for ſuddenlye (if he were ſtanding when the fyt came) he wold be caſt he…dlong vponupon the ground, or fall doune, drawing then his lips awry, gnaſhing with his teeth, wallowing and foming. In ſundry of his ſits he did vtter ſo ſtrang & fearfull ſcriking as cannot be vttered by mans power; and was of ſuch ſtrength as ſometimes 4 or 5 men though they had much aduantage againſt him by bynding of him to a chaire, yet could they not rule him: and in ſhewing that ſtrength he was not perceyued to pant or blowe, no more then if he had not ſtrayned his ſtrength, nor ſtrugled at all. Sometimes he cryed extreamly, ſo as teares came from him in great abundance: preſently after he would laughe aloude & ſhrill, his mouth being ſhutt cloſe. And being demaunded concerning thoſe accidentes, he proteſted he knewe of no ſuch mater, neither felt he any payne. Moreouer, he was often times caſt into the fyre ſome bare part of his body alſo lying in the fyer: and yet was not burned, and ſomtimes caſt violently againſt the ground, & agaynſte the wall or poaſtes of the houſe without any hurt of his body, & did many wayes ſeeke to deſtroy himſelfe: by reaſon whereof they were driuen to take away his knife, gyrdell, garters &c. yea with the ſheete of his bed he had like to hauehave ſtrangled hīmſelfe. wherevpon as alſo through the increaſing of his fits they were conſtreyned to watch hī continually euen day & night. His behauiour generally towardes all that came, was very pleaſant, moſt impudent alſo & ſhameleſſe with much vncleannes. His ſpeaches were vſually vaine, deliuered in very ſcoffing manner, and many times filthi and vncleane, yery vnfit once to be named,… like in my owne hearing… did Kat. VVright …eing poſſeſſed. or blaſphemous ſwearing moſt fearfully, vſing one blody oath after other: ſometimes ſaying I am god & ſomtimes there is no god. Being moued to ſay the lordes prayer, when he came to thes wordes leade vsus not into temptation. he would ſay leade vsus into temptation: diuers fond ſpeaches did he vſe to interrupt them that prayed for him. Many ſtrange ſpeaches alſo were vttered by him, not in his owne name, but as ſpoken by an euill ſpirit poſſeſſing him: vponupon occation of ſome queſtion or ſpeach vſed by ſome in ther ſimplicitie & ignorance: as that his dame had ſent him, that his name was Lucye, that he was king, that he was prince of darknes. you thinke I hauehave no power of him, yet I can vſe his tongue, his teeth, lyppes, handes, legges, his bodye and all partes of him. and as the ſpirit named each part, he vſed it. and this ſpeache with the action was verye common. was I? (ſaid he to one Iohn Wiggin) neuer in heauen? yea quoth he, but God for thy pryde thrwe thee downe into hell there to remayne. One Iohn Sherwood charging him to tell who ſent him thither, he anſweared a woman. he charged him againe to tell wher ſhee dwelt: he anſweared in Worceſter ſhire. whether is ſhee liuyng or dead? dead ſaid he. wherfore did ſhee ſend thee? for a hatt and hat band. Then the boye when the fite was done was queſtioned with, concernynge theſe thinges: wherevnto he returned for anſweare that which is ſet downe in the beginnynge of this ſtorye, which he had concealed vntyll that tyme. Herevnto I myght add certayne direct anſweares he mayde in lattyn to thoſe ſpeaches, which in lattin were vſed unto hym, a little greeke alſo he ſpeake, beynge ignorant in thoſe Languages, altogether in the one, and vnderſtandyng little or nothynge in the other.
In goyng thus with the boye, I was importined in his behalfe, firſt by two letteres, after by another from the Maior, and theirevpon I went vntounto hym. As when and about the tyme I condiſended to goe (beynge 14. myles of hym) he ſpeake theirof to them which were about hym: ſo when I was come to Nottingham, he inſtanſtlye tould the ſame, and foretould my comminge vntounto him when I drewe neare the houſe, as he had alſo foretould M Aldridge (the preacher of the towne) his comming at ſundrie times.
Towardes that evening I came being the 5 of Nouember, he ſeemed to be ſicke, and his ſicknes greatlye to increaſe vponupon him, ſoe as they feared he would hauehave dyed, or had bene dead, for he laye an hower with his face and handes blacke, cold as ice, noe breath being perceiued to come from him. whervpon I was noe ſoner light but tydinges hereof was brought to me, by one of they neighbour women Ioahn Pye by name, who came purpoſlye from hym to ſignifye the ſame vntounto me: to whom I anſweared, yt was the mere acte or operation of the Deuyll, and that the boye was nothinge leſſe then either dead or in daunger therof. Forthwith with her I went to hym, whom wee Found verye liulye and in one of hys accuſtomed Fytes, manye beyng preſent with hym.
My ſpeach I caried for a ſeaſon doubtfullie▪ but after a while perceiuynge how it was with hym, I dyd aſſure hym that he was Poſſeſſed, and had in that bodye of his a deuill, and withall did ſoe frame the wordes of my mouth, as might beſt ſerue to prepare and ſtir him vp to a ſperituall fight againſt ſatan, or reſiſtance of him in faith. This euen…g he acted many ſines, by ſigns & geſturs moſt liuly repreſenting and ſhawdoing them out vntounto vsus: as namlye brauling, quarriling fighting, ſwaring, robbing by the high wayes, picking and cutting of pur…es, burglarie, whordom, prid both in men and women, hypocriſie, ſlugiſhnes in hearing of the word, drunckennes, glotinye, alſo dauncing with the toyes thervnto belonging, the manner of antique dances, the games of dicing and carding, the abuſe of the viole with other inſtruments at the end of ſundrie of theſe he laughted excedingly, diuers times clapping his handes on his thighes for ioye: and at the end of ſome of them, as killing and ſtealing, he ſhewed how he brought them to the gallowes, making aſigne therof. during this time which continued about an houre, as he was altogether ſilent, ſo was he moſt actiue, though his eyes were cloſed, and in many things he did, ther was great and neceſſarie vſe of ſight. In a word, theſe thinges were in ſuch liuly and orient coloures painted out (as I may ſay) vntounto vsus that were preſent, being to the number of ſome 60. that I for my owne part (and I am perſwaded the reſt of the beholders are of my mynd) doe verily thinke, that it is not in the ſkile and power of man to doe the like. whilſt we were recommending him and his greuious eſtate to the Lord, and intreating his maieſtie in his behalfe, he vttered theſe wordes, I muſt begonne.
The next daye being the Lordes day I came not at him vntil about 3. a clocke in the afternoone, (finding company with him) at which time I vſed ſome ſpeach, wherin I indeuored to prepare both him & his maſters familye, as alſo his parents (whom that iudgment principallye concerneth,) vntounto the holye exerciſe the daye after to be performed. Towardes evening much people reſorted to the houſe, then ſome words of exhortation were vſed by my ſelfe, for the ſanctifiyng of ſoe manye of vsus, as whoſe ſpirites god ſhould ſtir vp, to ioyne in that ſolemne ſeruice and worſhip of god to be performed on the day following. as the night and day before he had litle or no reſt from ſatan aff…cting him: ſo this evening & all the night long he hand led him more extreamly then before at this time amōg other things the ſpirit retorted his tongue into his throat. and this he did often, whervpō many loked with a candle into his mouth, wher the could ſe no tongue nor part of it, only in his thoat they beheld the root therof. he vttered often theſ words, for corne, for corne, with a fewe more thervnto appertainīg, notīg the vnſatiable deſier of gaine or r…ayſing the price of corne in corne mē. this night was ſpēt by ſom well diſpoſed people in reading & praying. this euening I requeſted the miniſter of that congregatio M Aldridge & with him on M. Aldred & M. Halam Paſtors of 2 ſeuera…l towns neare adioyning vntounto Nott. to ioyne with me on the morrowe, in the miniſtratiō of the word and prayer, whervnto the condiſcended. And this I did the rather, that therby I might proclayme and make knowne vntounto all men, that as I hauehave no ſpeciall or greater guift herein then the reſt of my bretheren: ſo neither doe I arrogate, or challenge any ſuch thing to my ſelfe.
In the morning (being the 7 of Nouember) many of vsus were aſſembled together in the next conuenient and ſeemly roome to the place of his abode. The boy was brought with ſtrang and fearfull ſcrikings by. 6. or 7. ſtrong men, who had all of them inough adoe to bring him and layd on a couch in the midſt of vsus. M. Aldridg began and after prayer proceded to the interpretation of the. 4. of Hoſ. the two f…ſte verſes. when he had finiſhed, my ſelf intreated of that ſtory ſet doune in the. 9. of Marke, from verſe. 14, vntil the 30. wher the father bringing his poſſeſſed child to chriſt to be cured, had him healed accordingly. All this day he was continually vexed and tormented by Sathan, hauing little or no reſt at all, ſo as the ſame for vexation by the ſpirit far exceded any of the dayes before. His tormentes in his fittes were moſt greuous and feareful to behould, wherein his body being ſwelled, was toſſed vp and doune. In theis fits his ſtrength was very great ſo as being held doune wi…h 5. ſtrong men, he did notwithſtandinge all their ſtrength againſt their wils, riſe and ſtand vpright of his feete. He was alſo continually torne in very fearful manner. and diſfigured in his face: wherein ſomtimes his lips were draune awry, now to the one ſyde now to the other: ſomtimes his face and neck diſtorted, to the right and to the left hand, yea ſomtimes writhen to his back: ſomtimes he thruſt out his tongue very far and big, and ſomtimes turned backwardes into his throat, gaping ſo wide that we might afar of perceiue it: now he gnaſhed with his teeth: now he fomed like to the horſe or boare, roping doune to his breſt, notwithſtanding there was one purpoſely ſtanding by with a cloath euer and anon to wype it away, not to ſay any thing of his fearfull ſtaring with his eyes, and incredible gapinge:
This daye notwithſtanding he was ſo held as is aforſaid, hee went about to hauehave choaked and ſo deſtroyed himſelf: ſpeaches he vſed non, ſaue once in a great voyce, corne, and when I applyed that ſpeach of our Sauiour, all things are poſſible to him that beleeueth he vſed theis words thow lyeſt. Diuers times he ſcriched or cryed aloude in aſtrange and ſupernaturall manner: ſomtimes he roared fearfullye ly…e a beare, and cryed like a ſwyne.
Towardes the evening as I was treatyng of theſe wordes, then the ſpirit cryed, rent him ſore, and came out, and he was as one dead, inſomuch that manye ſayd he is dead, the boye was rent ſore indeede, cryed and that a loud. Then they people which were preſent, as men aſtoniſhed and with the greuyoues ſight and crye vnſpeakeable affected in the boweles of compaſſion towardes hym, breakyng ther hitherto continued ſilent, cryed out all at once: as it were with one voyce vntounto the Lord, to hauehave mercye vponupon hym: and within a quarter of an hower (they and he ſtill cryinge aloud) he held downe one a bed by 5 men, and offering as though he would hauehave vomyted, was one the ſudden violently caſt, & his body therwith turned, ſo as his face lay donwards to the ground & at the beds fete, & his backe vpward with his fete on the beds head, & thus he lay as if he had ben dead for a ſeaſō. Thus we hauehave hard not only how it wēt with Som. in the tim of his poſſeſſion, & at and a litle before his diſpoſſiō, but alſo how & by what meanes I came vntounto him, & being ther, caried my ſelfe in this preſent action.
Accordinge now to that in the goſpell, when the vncleane ſpirit is gone out of a man, Math. 21 43.he ſayeth to himſelfe, I will returne into myne houſe from whence I came, &c. it fell out here, for the vncleane ſpirit being gone out of Someres, returned and ſought to enter againe into him. And as for the compaſſing of his former habitation with the 7 in Lanchaſhire he viſiblely appered vntounto them, & for a ſeaſon moleſted them in thire bodies: even ſo did the ſpirit with Somers. The ſame night he was diſpoſſeſſed, as he lay in his bed, a thing like a rat patted one his mouth, and after crept doune along on his body, vntill it came to his priuye partes, from whence it vaniſhed away. Thus did the ſpirit many times and ſundry wayes, and about a quarter of a yeare after, recouered him and entered againe, as appereth by the ſignes of poſſeſſion, whervnto ſome of the 17. witneſſes after mentioned hauehave depoſed, as appeareth by the depoſitiones of diuers, if the tyme when the thinges wear done which they depoſed be obſerued. After this ſatan drewe the boy alſo vponupon whom the worke was wrought, to confeſe and affirme that he had diſſemled. And to bring this to paſſe (which paſſeth whatſoeeuer elſe could be imagined, to perſwade the world that he counterfeited) the old ſerpent ſo ordered the matter, that he was charged to hauehave be witched on Sterland to death, & brought theirvpon into the towns haul before the magiſtraits, by the meaines & procurement of M. Freeman, Sterlands wife & ſom of her neighbors cam with an accuſatiō of witchcraft agaīſt him, to wit, that vpō ſuch a day in Not. market Som. ſhould tread on the hele of the ſaid Sterland whervpon he ſhould preſently fall ſicke, and dyed 4 or 5 dayes after. Her neighbours they witneſed, that Starland being dead, his heele locked blacke, or ſome ſuch thing: Herevpon Som. was commited to priſon, but a litle after bailed. Not long after this, theſe magiſtrats, (under couler to fyn…e out this counterfeting) tooke this witch (forſoth) & it percaſe a counterfeyte, from his parents, and commited him to their houſe of correction, called St. Iones, & their to the coſtody of 2 moſt leud fellows: which no ſooner had him, but forthwith about thire worke the went: the one Iohn Couper threatning to whyp him, the other Nich. Shepard to pinch him with pincers, therby to drawe him (indeed) to confeſſe, that he had counterfeited, as appeareth by thire depoſitions. beſides, the aboue named Nott. magiſtrats promiſed him 10. l. and that he ſhould ſet vp any trade, ſo that he wold confeſe his diſſemling, as M Iakſon Alderman confeſſed in the towne haul before manye, but this ſaid he, they did in policy. Laſtly the deuill himſelfe viſiblie appeared vntounto him (as experirence hath taught he doth vſually to thoſe that he poſſeſſeth) promiſyng and threatning, and all to compaſe his confeſſion, which by theſe meaines he effected.
VVhen Som. had bene at St Iones vnderunder the cuſtodi of his ſaid kepers, about 3 days, & all thoſe meanes you hereof vſed▪ for the compaſing of a confeſſion of counterfeiting, he acknowledged that he had counterfeited, & therwithall was freed from all vexatiō in his body by the deuill, (then repoſſeſing him) which immediatly before and till then al the tym of his repoſſeſſion he had taſted, and many others beheld.
The caſe being thus, my ſelfe with others thought good, to procuer a commiſſion from the Arch B. of York, for the examining of ſuch as had ſene So. do or ſuffer, ſūdry things impoſſible to be counterfeted, for it was thought, that the depoſitions of men would be auailable to ouerthrow this wretched confeſſiō of his, whē percaſe the bare aſſertions of men would not. to this end a comiſſiō was graunted & directed to Io. Therrald eſquire (then) high ſherife of the counti… of Nott. S. Iohn Byron knight, Io Stanhop, Rob Markham, Rich. Perkins Eſquiers, Pet Clerk Mai of the towne of Nott. M Walton A…chdeacon of Darbiſhire, Miles Leigh officiall of Not. Io. Ireton, Io Browne, Rob. Evington, & Tho. B…ulton, miniſters & preachers of God word. Theſe comiſioners vponupon the 20. of march 1597. examīed 17. eueryevery of which depoſed more or les to ſom thīg don or ſuffered by So. which nether natur nor art can compaſe▪ as apeareth by ther depoſitiōs now in prīt. this don So. himſelfe was caled before the comiſſioners, & he who for the ſpace of a monethmonth before, even from the tym he ſaid he counterfeited vntil that preſent,who becauſe he was an aduerſari, was made a com…iſſione… &. with him 2 other, Pet. Clerk Ma…or, M…es Leigh officiall. had not at all ben vexed by ſatā in his body, as if he had had no ſuch geſſe nor inhabitāt no more then any other, (which cam frō the ſubtelty of the diuil, was viol…tli throwne doune, even as he was facing out his counterfeiting▪ & ſo oft & miſerably tormēted by the diuil, vntil both him ſelfe to the comſſiōers acknowledged, that he had not counterfited & the greateſt contēder for counterfeitīg, & enimy to the ſaid worke of god, M Wal. Arch. of Dar. & a comiſſiōer, that it was the finger of god. the diuers fits he had in the preſence of theſe comiſſioners, beſids the great violence offered vntounto him, he was in the firſt of them, thruſte deepe into the hand & leg with pins, but ſtirred not therat, neyther did any bloud iſſu at either of the places ſo pricked. The ſaid fit ended being demaunded what he had done▪ as alſo what had bene don vntounto him? he knew not of any thing, more or leſſe. At this time alſo his two kepers were enamyned, who for all their minſing acknowledged that on of them threatned to whypp him, the other to pinch him with pincers, which he called knipknaps. Thus the matter being manifeſt to the comiſſioners, partly by the depoſitions of men, partly by that themſelues ſawe and partly alſo by the confeſſion of Som. himſelf, they ſurceaſed to examine any further, and ſhortly after togither with the ſayd depoſitions, retorned to the Arch: B. of Yorke, no counterfeytīg. Now was Som. taken from his aforeſaid kepers, & committed to the cuſtody of one Edmond Garland where he was continually tormented of the diuel, & that more fearefully then euer before: wherby his repoſſeſſion & the lurking of the ſpirit was euident.
Confeſſing now that he neuer counterfeyted, (which alſo was manifeſt to thoſe that beheld his vexation by ſathan) & being thervpon demaunded, why he had before affirmed the contrary? as in wordes he rendred the reaſon thereof, ſo in writing himſelf ſet downe the ſame in theſe wordes folowing: which vnderunder his owne hande is yet to be ſeene.
Being at Sainct Iones there came vntounto me a thinge like vntounto a dog, and ſaid vntounto me, and if I wold conſent vntounto him and ſay that I was a counterfeite, he wolde give mee a bag of gould,ſay I counter feited. and if peeces: and if I * woulde I ſhould do any thing that I would tak in hand, and he wovld com to me lik a mouſe, and helpe me. And then came to mee a thinge like an aſſe, & ſaid that if I wold not ſay that I was a counterfeyt, he wold caſt me into the well, and ſo went away, And Nicholas Shepheard ſaid and if I were in a fitt againe, he wold fetch a paire of knipknaps and a rope, & he woulde make me confeſe, or els hang me, & Iohn Cowper & Shepheard ſaid, and if I wovld ſay that I was a counterfeyt, that Maiſter Maior & the Aldermen would giuegive me tenne pounds & I ſhould ſet vp any trad that I would and I had better ſay, that I was a counterfeyt and liue like a man, then to hauehave nothinge: for if I ſhould ſay that I were not a counterſeyt, & goe into the clergies hand, I ſhould hau… nothinge.
Somers being at Edm. Garlands was daylie in greuous manner tormē ted by the diuel, oft caſt into the fyer, but not burnt: and to let his other vexations go, was of extraordinary ſtrength and ſupernaturall knowledge: wherwith was made manifeſt that he was repoſeſſed notwithſtanding no ſuch thing had appeared for the ſpāce of a monneth before. But by that he had bene about, 10. dais at Ed: Garlands the Maior with ſome of the▪ Aldermen & M, Will: Gregory the towne clarke who at ſatans diſcouery before the, 12. commiſſioners were greatly abaſhed and confounded in them ſelues gathered hart to themſelues and incouraging one another, they ſent and procured that whereby they gott Sommers into theire owne poſſeſſion agayne, and this doubtles they did the more ſpeedily, for that (as I take it) they hard that we were purpoſed now to hauehave vſed the meaines for his diſpoſſeſſion publicklye in the Church, which they ſure feared would hauehave turned to ther great ſhame, who had ſoe hotly and openly contended for counterfeyting, They noe ſooner had him but he was at quyet, as if he had bene a counterfeite indeed, and nothing leſſe then a deuill within him. About a weeke after, (the aſſyſes being at Nott.) before the Lord Anderſon, Somers was called, ſaid he had counterfted, & being commaunded by my Lord Anderſon to do his tricks as ſome call them, he thrwe himſelfe downe: and then the ſpirit trifled, and ſo caried himſelfe, as might beſt make to perſwade thoſe preſent that he counterfeited: and it ſo as theirin (through the ouerruling hand of God, their was ſufficient to kepe man from that perſwaſion. for ſince twife in open court at Lambeth, by two no mayne aduerſaries then preſent, it hath bene ſaid, although to another end, that one of his leggs were as heauie, as if it had bene irone. ſhortly after to London he went, and dwelt with a barber in Eaſtſmithfeild, from whence he went to the Biſhope of London: wher after he had bene about a month, & my ſelfe ſomwhat longer in the Gathouſe for heriſie, he proceeded further, & added this to his former iniquitie, that I had taught him to counterfeit: which accuſatiō hath bene in ſuch ſort purſued againſt me, as is ſhewed in the ſeuerall treatiſes publiſhed by ſome frendes to the cauſe▪ the other charge of heriſie for which I was ſent to priſon ▪as appeareth by the warrant' lyinge in the duſt, neuer word beinge ſpoken therof vntill this daye, no not ſo much as the heriſie or heriticall opinion once named, that I ſhould hold and mayntayne.
FINIS
THE DOCTRIN OF THE POSSESSION AND DISPOSSESSION OF DEMONIAKES OVT OF THE VVORD OF GOD. PARTICVLERLY APPLIED VNTOUNTO SOMERS, AND THE REST OF THE PERSONS CONTROVERTED TOGETHER. with the vſe we are to make of the ſame.
We hauehave hard in the former treatyſe of 8. Perſons that weare vexed with euill ſpirits, viz. 7 in Lanchaſhire, and one at Nottinham: and of diuers ſtrange actiones or paſſions done or ſuffered by them. Now that the glory of God, & the edification of the chriſtian reader, (which two thinges only I hauehave aymed at: in the publiſhing of this ſtory,) may be the better furthered therby. I hauehave thought it neceſſarie to treate of theſe 3 thinges. 1. that all thoſe perſons were indeed poſſeſſed with vncleane ſpirits, and did not counterfeit apoſſeſſion, as is affyrmed by ſome. 2. That they were all (vndoubtedly) diſpoſſeſſed, and that by prayer and faſtinge, the meaines which God hath thervnto apoynted. 3. what is the holy and right vſe we ſhould all make of this rare and great worke of God: which eueryevery on ſhould ſpecially in the reading hereof ayme at, though it can not be attained, without the certaine knowledge of the two former poyntes.