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47 records returned.

List of all Event assertions around a specific county

ID Short Description Date City Parish Current County Old county Nation
448

An Alderman of Nottingham, offended that William Sommers has accused his kinswoman Doll Freeman of being a witch, makes a counter-accusation against Sommers and has Sommers imprisoned for witchcraft himself.(Image 6)

Appears in:
Co., G.. A Breife Narration of the Possession, Dispossession, and, Repossession of William Sommers. Amsterdam: 1598, Image 6

1597, November Nottingham    Nottinghamshire  Nottinhamshire  England 
449

Williams Sommers is allegedly visited by the Devil while imprisoned. The Devil threatens to let him hang if he does not permit the Devil to re-possess him and say that he faked everything during his previous possession. Sommers agrees to this new compact, and the Devil possesses him once more.(Image 6)

Appears in:
Co., G.. A Breife Narration of the Possession, Dispossession, and, Repossession of William Sommers. Amsterdam: 1598, Image 6

1597, November Nottingham    Nottinghamshire  Nottinhamshire  England 
450

William Sommers is called before the Commissioners to be examined as part of the proceedings to determine whether his second possession has been faked. The High Sheriff demands in the name of God that Sommers tell the truth, triggering a violent fit. The Commission takes this opportunity to test how real the fit is, and have pins stuck deep into Sommers' hand and leg, but he remains senseless and the wounds do not bleed. When Sommers comes back to his senses, the Commission questions him on what they had done to him during the fit. He claims he recalls being stuck by pins, but little else, and shows the wrong hand when asked where he was pricked, and claims the hole in his other hand had been there before. When asked why he fell during his fit, Sommers replies that he had felt sick to his stomach.(Image 7)

Appears in:
Co., G.. A Breife Narration of the Possession, Dispossession, and, Repossession of William Sommers. Amsterdam: 1598, Image 7

1597, November Nottingham    Nottinghamshire  Nottinhamshire  England 
455

William Hynde gives deposition alleging that he saw William Sommers with swelling on his neck the size of a walnut that moved to his cheekbone and then to his eye, causing the eye and skin to turn black. The swelling trembled when touched.(Image 13)

Appears in:
Co., G.. A Breife Narration of the Possession, Dispossession, and, Repossession of William Sommers. Amsterdam: 1598, Image 13

1598, March 20 Nottingham    Nottinghamshire  Nottinhamshire  England 
872

John Darrell, a minister living in Ashbie de la Zouche, is summoned to Nottingham by the Mayor and Aldermen of Nottingham so that he may cure William Sommers of his possession, due to his reputation for restoring persons thusly afflicted.(Image 6)

Appears in:
Co., G.. A Breife Narration of the Possession, Dispossession, and, Repossession of William Sommers. Amsterdam: 1598, Image 6

1597, November 5 Nottingham    Nottinghamshire  Nottinhamshire  England 
873

A high Commission is gathered in order to determine whether William Sommers' second possession is counterfeit or not. John Darrell takes the names of threescore persons willing to give depositions on the matter. 17 of the threescore are sworn, examined and their depositions given for the Commission.(Image 7)

Appears in:
Co., G.. A Breife Narration of the Possession, Dispossession, and, Repossession of William Sommers. Amsterdam: 1598, Image 7

1597, November Nottingham    Nottinghamshire  Nottinhamshire  England 
898

Thomas Hays gives deposition alleging that he witnessed William Sommers having a violent fit. During this fit, Thomas Hays saw one of Sommers' legs bent crooked, and something run out if it and into the other leg. After, Sommers' belly swelled, and the swelling moved to his throat, tongue and base of his ear, now the size of an egg. Not knowing what to think of this, Hays went to Mr. Arkinson, and then Mr. Ebings and Mr. Aldridge. From conversing with all three, Hays determined that no illness but the Devil could be the cause of Sommers' affliction.(Image 12)

Appears in:
Co., G.. A Breife Narration of the Possession, Dispossession, and, Repossession of William Sommers. Amsterdam: 1598, Image 12

1598, March 20 Nottingham    Nottinghamshire  Nottinhamshire  England 
899

Robert Aldridge gives deposition alleging that he saw William Sommers naked with something the size of a mouse running up his right leg, then into his left leg, and then entering his belly. Sommers' belly swelled massively, then the swelling reduced to the size of a fist and moved to his breast, and moved from there to his neck and under his ear, where it remained at the size of a French walnut for a quarter hour. Aldridge heard a strange hollow voice insisting he belong to it, which he called a liar and replied that he was God's. Aldridge also said that Sommers acted strangely the rest of the day, and, when restrained, proved to have the strength of five men. Sommers' bed was also seen to shake and move, and a shape like five kittens moved under the coverlet.(Image 13)

Appears in:
Co., G.. A Breife Narration of the Possession, Dispossession, and, Repossession of William Sommers. Amsterdam: 1598, Image 13

1597, November 3 Nottingham    Nottinghamshire  Nottinhamshire  England 
905

William Aldred gives deposition on his participation in the exorcism of William Sommers performed by John Darrell. He alleges that he was among the 150 people who witnessed or became directly involved. Aldred says that he was invited to give a prayer, during which Sommers was tormented by fits. John Darrell gave the next prayer, during which Sommers' fits doubled in intensity, and Sommers menaced Darrell and had to be restrained. At the end of the exorcism, Aldred saw Sommers thrown grovelling onto a bed, and lay there as if dead. Darrell praised God and willed the watchers to be thankful, at which time Sommers was seen to thank God for his delivery from possession.(Image 13-14)

Appears in:
Co., G.. A Breife Narration of the Possession, Dispossession, and, Repossession of William Sommers. Amsterdam: 1598, Image 13-14

1598, March 20 Nottingham    Nottinghamshire  Nottinhamshire  England 
908

William Sommers, as alleged by Joan Pie in her deposition, was cast out of his chair by an unknown force and thrown towards the fire at noon on All Hallow's Eve. His head hit the iron grate and one hand landed in the fire. He was found to be so heavy that it took three or four people to pull him away from the fire. Afterwards, neither his hair nor his hand was found to be burnt. (Image 14)

Appears in:
Co., G.. A Breife Narration of the Possession, Dispossession, and, Repossession of William Sommers. Amsterdam: 1598, Image 14

1597, October 31 Nottingham    Nottinghamshire  Nottinhamshire  England 
912

William Sommers, as alleged by Joan Pie in her deposition, tried to reach a cloth on a line hung above his bed on All Hallow's Eve; when he could not, he seemed to suddenly grew taller than any man in town and got his chin over the line. His hands plucked at the line, but could not free it from his neck; the onlookers had to step in to save him from hanging. (Image 14)

Appears in:
Co., G.. A Breife Narration of the Possession, Dispossession, and, Repossession of William Sommers. Amsterdam: 1598, Image 14

1597, October 31 Nottingham    Nottinghamshire  Nottinhamshire  England 
914

William Sommers, as alleged by Joan Pie in her deposition, had a fit the night before John Darrell arrived in Nottingham, in which he was heard to say that Darrell was coming. Pie claims that no-one, including herself, knew Darrell was on his way, for Darrell had said in his most recent message that he wouldn't be in Nottingham until the next week.(Image 14)

Appears in:
Co., G.. A Breife Narration of the Possession, Dispossession, and, Repossession of William Sommers. Amsterdam: 1598, Image 14

1597, November 4 Nottingham    Nottinghamshire  Nottinhamshire  England 
916

William Sommers, as alleged by Joan Pie in her deposition, had many fits the day of John Darrell's arrival, leading up to his appearance in Nottingham. These fits were more extreme than those Sommers had previously experienced. He lay many times with his mouth open, and at one point was heard to say I will use William Sommers' tongue and members for three days," without moving his tongue or lips, but in his ordinary voice. An hour and a half before Darrell came into town, Sommers fell into a senseless fit such that Pie and the other onlookers thought he was surely dead, with his face black and his eyes bulging, and his limbs cold. This lasted a full hour, in which they tried to make him more comfortable and revive him with aquavitae.(Image 14-15)

Appears in:
Co., G.. A Breife Narration of the Possession, Dispossession, and, Repossession of William Sommers. Amsterdam: 1598, Image 14-15

1597, November 5 Nottingham    Nottinghamshire  Nottinhamshire  England 
918

Joan Pie gives deposition against William Sommers alleging that she visited Sommers many times to see the events that people said showed him to be possessed, and came away from it all satisfied that he was indeed possessed.(Image 13-15)

Appears in:
Co., G.. A Breife Narration of the Possession, Dispossession, and, Repossession of William Sommers. Amsterdam: 1598, Image 13-15

1598, March 20 Nottingham    Nottinghamshire  Nottinhamshire  England 
919

William Sommers, as alleged by Joan Pie in her deposition, was heard to say "I have but a small time now to stay, but I will shortly return" on John Darrell's arrival in Nottingham, and foretold of Darrell's arrival in the house though Darrell came in through the back.(Image 15)

Appears in:
Co., G.. A Breife Narration of the Possession, Dispossession, and, Repossession of William Sommers. Amsterdam: 1598, Image 15

1597, November 5 Nottingham    Nottinghamshire  Nottinhamshire  England 
920

William Sommers, as alleged by Joan Pie in her deposition, would often be accompanied by the smell of brimstone during his fits. (Image 15)

Appears in:
Co., G.. A Breife Narration of the Possession, Dispossession, and, Repossession of William Sommers. Amsterdam: 1598, Image 15

1597, October Nottingham    Nottinghamshire  Nottinhamshire  England 
921

William Sommers, as alleged by Joan Pie in her deposition, had a fit the week before John Dorrell came to town. During this fit, he laughed uncontrollably and then was thrown to the foot of the bed, his body folded in two. He was pulled into a heap and rolled into the bed, then cast up from the bed in a ball to a height of a half yard, and the coverlet wound tightly around his body. The bedclothes were so firmly wrapped that it took great effort to free him from them.(Image 13-14)

Appears in:
Co., G.. A Breife Narration of the Possession, Dispossession, and, Repossession of William Sommers. Amsterdam: 1598, Image 13-14

1597, October Nottingham    Nottinghamshire  Nottinhamshire  England 
922

William Sommers, as alleged by Joan Pie in her deposition, named witches after his deposition, including Millicent Horselie of Bridgeford. While Horselie was being examined, Sommers was heard to describe what was happening to her, though he was not present and those with him had no knowledge of the examination.(Image 15)

Appears in:
Co., G.. A Breife Narration of the Possession, Dispossession, and, Repossession of William Sommers. Amsterdam: 1598, Image 15

1597, November Nottingham    Nottinghamshire  Nottinhamshire  England 
928

William Sommers, as alleged by Joan Pie in her deposition, suffered a fit on Allhallowtide in which he had to be restrained; it took four or five women to hold him, and they could not keep him lying flat upon the ground. If he hadn't been held, he would have beaten his head and limbs upon the ground until he had caused himself great injury.(Image 14)

Appears in:
Co., G.. A Breife Narration of the Possession, Dispossession, and, Repossession of William Sommers. Amsterdam: 1598, Image 14

1597, November 1 Nottingham    Nottinghamshire  Nottinhamshire  England 
929

William Sommers, as alleged by Joan Pie in her deposition, would often have a swelling on his body during his fits, which would move on his feet from toe to toe, up his leg and body to his throat, ears and eyes, where his eyes would swell black.(Image 15)

Appears in:
Co., G.. A Breife Narration of the Possession, Dispossession, and, Repossession of William Sommers. Amsterdam: 1598, Image 15

1597, October Nottingham    Nottinghamshire  Nottinhamshire  England 
930

Richard Newton gives deposition against William Sommers alleging he saw Sommers have a fit, during which he spoke in Latin with his mouth open but without moving his lips or his tongue.(Image 15)

Appears in:
Co., G.. A Breife Narration of the Possession, Dispossession, and, Repossession of William Sommers. Amsterdam: 1598, Image 15

1598, March 20 Nottingham    Nottinghamshire  Nottinhamshire  England 
931

Henry Nussie gives deposition against William Sommers in which he claims to have seen Sommers speak words in Latin to John Wigan without moving his mouth or tongue.(Image 15)

Appears in:
Co., G.. A Breife Narration of the Possession, Dispossession, and, Repossession of William Sommers. Amsterdam: 1598, Image 15

1598, March 20 Nottingham    Nottinghamshire  Nottinhamshire  England 
932

William Sommers, as alleged by William Langford in his deposition, showed extraordinary strength when resisting restraint, but showed no signs of exertion and his limbs were found to be as cold and senseless as a dead man's; at this time, Sommers also made rhyme of Scripture, singing in a tiny voice unlike the normal singing voice Langford had heard from him many times before.(Image 15)

Appears in:
Co., G.. A Breife Narration of the Possession, Dispossession, and, Repossession of William Sommers. Amsterdam: 1598, Image 15

1598, February 17 Nottingham    Nottinghamshire  Nottinhamshire  England 
933

William Sommers, as alleged by William Langford in his deposition, had numerous fits the day of his dispossession, in which he gnashed his mouth, foamed abundantly, spoke in voices like those of a bull, a bear, and a small inhuman voice; at other points he became too heavy for five or six men to carry, and had a swelling move about his body until the time of his dispossession.(Image 15-16)

Appears in:
Co., G.. A Breife Narration of the Possession, Dispossession, and, Repossession of William Sommers. Amsterdam: 1598, Image 15-16

1597, November 7 Nottingham    Nottinghamshire  Nottinhamshire  England 
934

Thomas Gray gives deposition against William Sommers alleging he saw Sommers held down on the bed by his head and feet while a round lump moved and panted under the bed covers. Gray lay his hands on the lump and felt it move; when he clasped his hands together, the lump deflated as if pricked and reappeared on the other side of Sommers.(Image 16)

Appears in:
Co., G.. A Breife Narration of the Possession, Dispossession, and, Repossession of William Sommers. Amsterdam: 1598, Image 16

1597, December 3 Nottingham    Nottinghamshire  Nottinhamshire  England 
935

John Wood gives deposition against William Sommers alleging that he visited Sommers out of curiosity at the home of his friend Robert Cooper, clerk of St. Maries in Nottingham, where Sommers was being held. Wood witnessed Sommers having a fit, in which it took three or four lusty men to hold him down. Wood tried himself to restrain Sommers' arms, and could not. He noted that the fit lasted at least two full hours. Throughout, Sommers panted without seeming to breathe, and was hot to the touch but did not sweat or become red-faced.(Image 16)

Appears in:
Co., G.. A Breife Narration of the Possession, Dispossession, and, Repossession of William Sommers. Amsterdam: 1598, Image 16

1598, February 17 Nottingham    Nottinghamshire  Nottinhamshire  England 
936

John Wood gives deposition against William Sommers alleging that when he heard that Sommers had retracted his claim of possession, he questioned Sommers about whether he remembered Wood visiting him and what Wood had done at that time. Sommers said he did remember, and that Wood had nipped his finger with his thumbnail. Wood called him on the lie, and Sommers revised his story: Wood did not nip his finger, he bent the finger to see if Sommers had any feeling in the hand. Wood called this a lie as well, and Sommers replied that he could not in fact remember what Wood had done.(Image 16-17)

Appears in:
Co., G.. A Breife Narration of the Possession, Dispossession, and, Repossession of William Sommers. Amsterdam: 1598, Image 16-17

1598, February Nottingham    Nottinghamshire  Nottinhamshire  England 
937

John Strelley gives deposition against William Sommers alleging that he visited Sommers out of curiosity and found him to be having a fit in the presence of John Darrell and W. Aldred. During this fit, Sommers displayed such strength that Strelley and three other men together could hardly hold him. The four of them were breathing hard and sweating from the exertion, but Sommers did not.(Image 17)

Appears in:
Co., G.. A Breife Narration of the Possession, Dispossession, and, Repossession of William Sommers. Amsterdam: 1598, Image 17

1598, February 18 Nottingham    Nottinghamshire  Nottinhamshire  England 
938

Richard Mee claims he saw William Sommers having a violent fit, during which an unknown voice said that he would have his [Sommers'] right eye and then he would have his left eye." After this Sommers' left eye went black. (Image 17-18)

Appears in:
Co., G.. A Breife Narration of the Possession, Dispossession, and, Repossession of William Sommers. Amsterdam: 1598, Image 17-18

1597, November 6 Nottingham    Nottinghamshire  Nottinhamshire  England 
1968

William Sommers allegedly begins to have fits at the age of 19 or 20, claiming that he has been possessed by a wicked spirit. (Image 6)

Appears in:
Co., G.. A Breife Narration of the Possession, Dispossession, and, Repossession of William Sommers. Amsterdam: 1598, Image 6

1597, October Nottingham    Nottinghamshire  Nottinhamshire  England 
1969

On 7 November 1597, Darrell appoints the exercise of prayer and fasting so that Sommers might be dispossessed; the prayers are said by Darrell and a group totaling 150 people. ()

Appears in:
Co., G.. A Breife Narration of the Possession, Dispossession, and, Repossession of William Sommers. Amsterdam: 1598,

1597, November 7 Nottingham    Nottinghamshire  Nottinhamshire  England 
1970

William Power, John Pepper and John Cooper all allege that when John Darrell cast the Devil out of William Sommers, he neglected to appoint the Devil anywhere to go. William Power and John Pepper both add that Darrell claimed afterward to have sent the Devil into a herd of swine, while John Cooper says that Darrell claimed to have sent the Devil into Collwick Hill. Thus, since the Devil was not told where to go, he was free to repossess William Sommers as Sommers had claimed.(Image 19)

Appears in:
Co., G.. A Breife Narration of the Possession, Dispossession, and, Repossession of William Sommers. Amsterdam: 1598, Image 19

1597, November Nottingham    Nottinghamshire  Nottinhamshire  England 
1971

William Sommers, now dispossessed, alleges to discover witches in the town of Nottingham. He accuses Doll Freeman, kinswoman of an Alderman of Nottingham, of being a witch.(Image 6)

Appears in:
Co., G.. A Breife Narration of the Possession, Dispossession, and, Repossession of William Sommers. Amsterdam: 1598, Image 6

1597, November Nottingham    Nottinghamshire  Nottinhamshire  England 
1972

William Sommers alleges that his initial possession was faked, as per his agreement with the Devil at the time of his repossession.(Image 6-7)

Appears in:
Co., G.. A Breife Narration of the Possession, Dispossession, and, Repossession of William Sommers. Amsterdam: 1598, Image 6-7

1597, November Nottingham    Nottinghamshire  Nottinhamshire  England 
1973

William Sommers is brought back before the Commission to see if he would confess who had persuaded him to insist his initial possession was faked. Sommers tries to run up the stairs and throw himself over the gallery to break his neck, but is prevented. When questioned this time, he is treated more roughly than before, until the Commission and all present are satisfied that he is indeed possessed once again. Mr. Walter Archdeacon acknowledges that the finger of God must be upon the whole affair. There is rejoicing in Nottingham, as the Commission is said to have pleased God for the truth to have been so revealed.(Image 7)

Appears in:
Co., G.. A Breife Narration of the Possession, Dispossession, and, Repossession of William Sommers. Amsterdam: 1598, Image 7

1597 Nottingham    Nottinghamshire  Nottinhamshire  England 
1974

William Sommers is committed to the custody of certain residents of Nottingham after the Commission returns to Yorke, where he continues to be tormented by fits and tells of his ordeal to his captors. Sommers recounts how the Devil appeared to him in prison in the shape of a mouse, and that the Devil and certain persons urged him to say he had counterfeited his first possession, making promises to him should he do as they asked. His confessions are written down by some of his listeners.(Image 7)

Appears in:
Co., G.. A Breife Narration of the Possession, Dispossession, and, Repossession of William Sommers. Amsterdam: 1598, Image 7

1597 Nottingham    Nottinghamshire  Nottinhamshire  England 
1992

Thomas Westfield gives deposition alleging that he saw William Sommers with swelling behind his ear the size of a walnut that then moved to his eye where it reduced in size but caused a blackness in the eye. When Westfield touched the swelling, it moved, and the eye returned to its natural colour. Westfield witnessed the eye change colour eight more times.(Image 13)

Appears in:
Co., G.. A Breife Narration of the Possession, Dispossession, and, Repossession of William Sommers. Amsterdam: 1598, Image 13

1598, March 20 Nottingham    Nottinghamshire  Nottinhamshire  England 
1993

William Sommers, as alleged by Joan Pie in her deposition, would have a clapping or knocking in his bed no-one could discern the source of, and a motion as if kittens were crawling beneath the covers which his minders could not catch; during the knocking he would sometimes cry "now she comes, now she comes, now she will break my neck" and his neck would be thrown about.(Image 15)

Appears in:
Co., G.. A Breife Narration of the Possession, Dispossession, and, Repossession of William Sommers. Amsterdam: 1598, Image 15

1597, October Nottingham    Nottinghamshire  Nottinhamshire  England 
1994

John Strelley gives deposition against William Sommers alleging that he visited Sommers a second time, John Darrell and William Aldred there, and witnessed Sommers violently thrown from where he sat and hit his head against the chimney. After this, Sommers was laid out on the bed and suffered a fit, in which his neck bent double, one of his legs became tremendously heavy, and a swelling was seen to appear on various parts of his body. Strelley also witnessed Sommers gnash his teeth, foam at the mouth, and make a variety of strange noises.(Image 17)

Appears in:
Co., G.. A Breife Narration of the Possession, Dispossession, and, Repossession of William Sommers. Amsterdam: 1598, Image 17

1598, February 20 Nottingham    Nottinghamshire  Nottinhamshire  England 
1995

Elizabeth Milward gives deposition against William Sommers alleging that the day Mr. Darrell came to town, Sommers was extremely tormented. At this time, she saw Sommers lay senseless and cold without any discernible breath while his hands became unnaturally black. They gave him aquavitae and other things hoping to revive him, but could not, and he was so heavy he could not be moved. When he finally revived, his first words were "Darrel comes, he will have me out." She adds that the first time she called neighbors to help him, she heard a thumping or knocking from the bed, and putting a hand on the bed, felt it coming from a hollow place above his chest.(Image 18)

Appears in:
Co., G.. A Breife Narration of the Possession, Dispossession, and, Repossession of William Sommers. Amsterdam: 1598, Image 18

1597, November 5 Nottingham    Nottinghamshire  Nottinhamshire  England 
1996

John Pare gives deposition against William Sommers alleging that he came to Nottingham to pray for Sommers, and found Mr. Darrell, Mr. Aldridge and others there. They preached and prayed over Sommers through the afternoon, during which Pare saw Sommers grovelling face-down on the bed, and a swelling under his clothes the size of a mouse that moved all over his body. Pare also heard a knocking from the bed in several places at once, which could be felt when Pare put his hand on the bed and was found to be so low that there was no way Sommers could reach with his hand to do it.(Image 18)

Appears in:
Co., G.. A Breife Narration of the Possession, Dispossession, and, Repossession of William Sommers. Amsterdam: 1598, Image 18

1597, November 7 Nottingham    Nottinghamshire  Nottinhamshire  England 
1997

John Clerk gives deposition against William Sommers alleging that he heard Sommers in torment one day and went to see him at the home of Thomas Porter, finding him in a fit. During this fit, Sommers said to Edward Garland: "Edward Garland art thou here, how doe thy children, i will have one of them, even the youngest" to which Garland responded that he defied the Devil, that the Devil could have no power over him or his children. When Sommers came to his senses and was dressed to get out of bed, Clerk say a swelling the size of a rat at his breast. Clerk tried to grab the swelling and hold it, finding it to be as soft as a pillow, but it escaped his hand and wend down into Sommers' leg. When asked why he went to see Sommers, Clerk said that he did it to be persuaded after hearing of so many strange things and accidents.(Image 18-19)

Appears in:
Co., G.. A Breife Narration of the Possession, Dispossession, and, Repossession of William Sommers. Amsterdam: 1598, Image 18-19

1597, November 6 Nottingham    Nottinghamshire  Nottinhamshire  England 
1998

W. Hunt gives deposition against William Sommers alleging that he saw Sommers in a fit lying as if dead, speaking for a full quarter hour with his lips shut and without moving his mouth or jaws. Hunt also saw a lump the size of a walnut running about Sommers' face, forehead, eyes and to his ears.(Image 19)

Appears in:
Co., G.. A Breife Narration of the Possession, Dispossession, and, Repossession of William Sommers. Amsterdam: 1598, Image 19

1598, March 20 Nottingham    Nottinghamshire  Nottinhamshire  England 
2854

According to John Darrell, William Sommers said "there came vnto me a thing like vnto a Dogg, and said vnto me, And if I would consent vnto him & say that I was a cou[n]terfeit, he would giue me a bagge of golde, and if I woulde not, hee woulde make me be hanged, or else he would teare mee in peeces: 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 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." Sommers was also allegedly intimidated into confessing he faked his possession by John Cooper and Nicholas Shepherd.(5-8)

Appears in:
Darrel, John. A Brief Apologie Prouing the Possession of William Sommers. Middleburg: 1599, 5-8

1597 Nottingham    Nottinghamshire  Nottinhamshire  England 
2855

John Darrell presents his evidence that William Sommers' fits were caused by genuine possession. He cites numerous Biblical passages in which people exhibit similar phenomena and behaviors, then details the parts of Sommers' possession he believes are impossible to counterfeit, such as a swelling moving beneath his skin, weight beyond his size, foaming at the mouth, fits of corpse-like senselessness (including lack of breath and blackened extremities), speaking without his mouth open, numbness to pain, strange motions like kittens under the bedcovers, and unnatural strength. (6-8)

Appears in:
Darrel, John. A Brief Apologie Prouing the Possession of William Sommers. Middleburg: 1599, 6-8

1599 Nottingham    Nottinghamshire  Nottinhamshire  England 
2856

John Darrell questions the validity of William Sommer's confession of counterfeiting his possession, on the grounds that Sommers was charged with bewitching a man to death, that Satan is said to have appeared to him and offered him gold to confess, and that John Cooper and Nicholas Shepherd allegedly threatened him into the confession. Darrell also draws attention to Sommers' own retraction of his confession.(17-22)

Appears in:
Darrel, John. A Brief Apologie Prouing the Possession of William Sommers. Middleburg: 1599, 17-22

1599 Nottingham    Nottinghamshire  Nottinhamshire  England 
2871

John Darrell's defense alleges that Mary Cooper was in fact possessed, for "first Her belly was in the middst as it were divided, and raised vp of either side. 2. Out of her belly was heard sensibly a kinde of whoopping, and also a noyse much like the whurring of a cat. 3. Her belly suddenly swelled as if shee had bene halfe gone with childe, and so continued with little or no increase about a quarter of a yeare. 4. This swelling would be suddenly gone, & after a while be there againe. 5. Vpon and during this swelling she felt something (as it were quicke) stirr within her, which from the beginning she said was nothing like the stirring shee felt when before shee was with childe." She was allegedly delivered of lumps of flesh.(24-28)

Appears in:
Anonymous. The Trial of Maist. Dorrell. Unknown: 1599, 24-28

1599, May 26 Nottingham    Nottinghamshire  Nottinhamshire  England