A breife narration of the possession, dispossession, and, repossession of William Sommers and of some proceedings against Mr Iohn Dorrell preacher, with aunsweres to such obiections as are made to prove the pretended counterfeiting of the said Sommers. Together with certaine depositions taken at Nottingham concerning the said matter.

THou shalt here receive (Gentle Reader) a short narration of a large matter, together with certaine de∣positions taken at Nottingham, tending to the mani∣festation of a marvelous work of God, latelie shewed among vs; written (as it seemeth) by some frend of this cause, and of the witnesses thereof: to staie if it maie be the malice of some, and rashnes of others, who will not be reclamed from impug∣ning, or baselie esteeming of this glorious work, a greatter then which, hath skarcelie bene heard of (saving performed in like cases) eyther in our dayes, or in the dayes of our fore fathers for manie yeares. Yf it were particularlie ād fullie discovered (as we wish it might be) howe strangelie this William Sommers came to be possessed by meanes of a witch in Worcester shire, who sent a wicked spirit into him, witch he called Lucie: ho∣we he was tormēted during his possession: howe the foule spi∣rit raged, and the Lord Iesus prevailed at his dispossession: howe he was subtillie tempted, ād estsoones repossessed: howe extraordinarelie he hath caried himselfe since his dispossession: howe the Devill hath busied himselfe against the servant of Christ Iesus, who was the chife meanes of the dispossession: and howe some persons trulie other wise fearing God, have bene incredulous, some vppon one fansie, and some vppon an other: speaking Iere. 23. 16. by vision out of their owne heart, ād not from the Lords mouth: or els giving credit to this work, and the witnesses thereof have not taken it to heart, much les vouchsafed to visit, comfort, and releive them, or to vse some la∣wefull meanes, and mediation to our godlie Magistrates, (as they should) in the behalfe of the men of God theyr brethren whom God hath honoured to suffer for the testimonie of this his holie truth: Yf (I saie) all these things were fullie disco∣vered, and well weighed, doubtles a man must needes be asto∣nished, and expect a rarer event of these things then can be yet conceived. By the waie the providēce of our mercifull and hea∣venlie father is to be wiselie observed, ād with greate humilitie to be reuerenced, that he hath suffered this matter to becalled in

question, and for so long time to be ventilated, and sifted into as it hath bene. Doubtles, as we haue experience of our dul∣nes in apprehending, and profitablie meditating vppon other maruelous acts of the Lord dailie shewed before our eies, so if this work had not bene mightilie impugned, we should also haue negligentlie slipped it ouer, and the residue of like nature of late performed, without yeelding such due honour to God, and to the powerfull exercises of prayer and fasting, as apper∣taineth. Albeit God thus turneth the rage of man to his glo∣rie, yet I would advise them who slaunder this work, ād perse∣cute the servāthes of God, without cause, to take hede least they be found evē fighters against God. For he that sitteth in the heaven sees their devises, and laughes them to skorne and they, and all theyr conspiracies, plots slaunderingh, and re∣velingh shall consume like a snaile that melteth but this migh¦tie work, seing it is of God, and was without question a deede done according to the witnes giuen vnto it, cannot be reversed or destroied but mager the malice, and subtiltie of the De∣vill though M^r Dorrell should be consumed to ashes the truth thereof shall breake forth as the light, and the glorie thereof as a burning lamp. God hath lighted a candle, not in a cor∣ner, but hath advanced it as it were on a candelstick in the heart, or center of our land that the beames thereof might shi∣ne forth, and give light to all the Realme. It is not in theyr power (though it hath bene given out by a greate man among them, that seeing they have taken it in hand they will have the credit of it) altogether to eclipse, or whollie to hide it vnder abus hell when they have had theyr swinge but a litle, they wilbe ashamed of theyr owne follie. Nowe till the time appointed be expired, let all faithfull hearted men beware, least they take Gods name in vaine by baselie esteeming of this mightie work or beare false witnes against theyr neighbours, in crediting lying rumours against those men of God who doe nowe, or hereafter shall suffer in this holie cause. I praie, consider with me a litle these circumstances, and procedings, and indiffe∣rentlie

judge wihth whom the right standeth. M^r Dorrell and M^r Moore who are nowe imprisoned for giving testimonie to this truth, have bene both of them for manie yeares aproved godlie ministers, just, and simple hearted men, fearing God, of good reputation among the best Christians, and painfull preachers where they lived. God hath marvelouslie blessed theyr joint labours in dispossessing seven persons together in Lamashire: which is so notorious, and free from challenge, as the enimies to this Action of Nottingham dare not once to call yt into question. The Papists take knowledge of the pos∣session, and dispossession in Lamashire: but they would fay∣ne have vs beleyve that theyr seminarie Preists were the one∣lie actors: Yea this phansie hath takē such impressiō in them, that some of them have not doubted to saie, if it can be proved that M^r Moore, and M^r Dorrell did performe that work, they would disclayme theyr religion, and imbrace ours. They that have accused, and prosecuted, against M^r Dorrell be men that have blasphemed the Scriptures, Popish persons, and knowen enimies to the preaching of the Gospell. The wrath of God is allreadie gone forth against one of M^r Dorrells gre∣attest enimies, namelie M^r Sale Officiall of Wesson whose child is latelie vexed whith an evill spirit: bycause (as his wife reporteth) he hath bene adversarie to M^r Dorrell. The pro∣cedings against him, and others have bene verie violent. He was put to silence by the Arch-Bishop of York whithout fufficient cause warranted by lawe: ād as if this had bene too litle to be deprived of the vse of his ministerie, and of his live∣lihode, having a wife, and five children: he was called before the Commissioners of Canterburie province: ād without hea∣ring, or examining his cause was sodainlie cōmitted. Brought before the seate of justice: they who at the same time gave gent∣le audience to Papists. Arrians, Atheists, and blasphemers, would not permit him to speake anie thing almost in his owne defense: but (as though he had bene the most dānable wretch in the world) before anie conviction exceedinglie reviled him.

Iudges became parties, pleaders, and accusers: Some stor∣med that anie should be present as witnesses to their doings: They would not suffer one of the depositions to be read before them: the Commissioners, and deponents, were contempt∣vouslie rejected: charge given that no copies of the depositiōs should be divulged. Committance was threatned to diverse, onely bycause they tooke acquaintance which M^r Moore. saying none ought to be countenanced, that was disgraced be∣fore them. M^r Dorrell having but one copie of the depositions, he delivered it vnto them for theyr satis-faction, and though they gave him promise that it should be returned, when his wife required it, they menaced her to Bridewell. There hath bene running to the court to forestall the Lords, and Ladies of honour, and to hinder the preferring of petitions in M^r Dor∣rels behalfe to the right honorable Lords of the privie Coun∣sell. And bycause Thomas Darling a boie of Burton vppon Trent of the age of 15. Yeares, or thereabouts had bene dispos∣sessed by prayer vppon advise taken from M^r Dorrell, (as ap∣peareth by a booke published some yeares agoe): in hatred of M^r Dorrell the bookes were called in, and the printer impri∣soned as if he had published a fined matter. M^r Bainbridge, a Gentleman of good reckoning in Darbie shire was requi∣red by the Bishop of London to shewe his opinion touching the sayd Darling, he answered it was the common voice of the countrie, which he beleyved to be true, that he was in deede possessed, and dispossessed: the Bishop told him in great an∣ger but that if he had not heard well of him, he would clap him in prison for so saying. Thus having delt whith the printer, and M^r Bainbridge, then he thought meete to examine the matter: belike to see whether he had done well or not, thus to determine, and then to heare. So he sent a Pursivant for the boye of Barton. The Pursivant having receyved 40.^s. of the boyes frends: the boye was kept in the Bishop of Londons house: and committed to the tuition of M^r Harsenet who la∣telie had bene vomited out of Cambridge for his erroneous

opinions. None of the boies frends might be suffered to co∣me vnto him. He was allured by promises: terrified by thre∣atnings: as that he should be hanged as the Burgonion was whom they shewed vnto him, hāging at Londō, all a daie long for a murder: Also that he should be whipped, and laid in Newegate. He was close prisoner in a chamber two dayes, the boie of Nottingham appointed for his keeper, who with the prophane serving men were alwaies skorning at him be∣ing a straunger among them: letters were contrived in Mr Dorrells name vnto him willing him to acknowledge a coun∣terfeyt possession: and letters were returned by him whereyn he protested the truth, and would not in anie sort be removed from it. All this was practized to heape shame, if it might be vpon Mr Dorrell: but when they percived that the power of God in the boie was stronger then the malice of Satan, they let him goe: but I doe not heare that the 40. shillings was a∣gaine restored. Not finding anie help herein to prove M^r Dor∣rell a practitioner in conterfeyting whith this boye of Bur∣ton, a Commission was directed to five persons in Notting∣ham, (Satan could not have wished better): that is to the verie same men who have persecuted M^r Dorrell at Nottin∣gham, York, and London ever since this matter came in que∣stion. This was to encounter the former depositions taken by vertue of a Commission awarded from York as is set forth in this treatise. It fell out that Robert Cooper the Clerk of S^t Maries in Nottingham caused the 94. Psalme to be song before these Commissioners sate in Commission, which being done of purpose, or vnawares, (I knowe not) but sure it is, it so galled them, bycause it describeth the like practizes of old as they nowe had in hand, that the poore man was fetch vp to London for this heinous fact. These proper Commissio∣ners refused such as were willing to justifie the truth vppon theyr othes, they picked out whom they listed, and wrote what pleased them▪ When they were to examine M^r Aldridge, and his Curate they caused them to sweare that they would

not reveale vnto anie others the things whereof they should be deposed. What goodlie stuffe they have returned, time and malice will make knowne vnto vs. Yet all this being not suf∣ficient to obscure, and suppresse the work of God, if anie man about Nottingham doe saie that Sommers was possessed, and dispossessed, he is threatned to be bound to the good beha∣viour. Behold and wonder at the violence of these men. Doe ye thinck that if they had a good matter in hand▪ they would be halfe so zealous. O Lord, (if it be thy good will) open theyr eies, and turne theyr hearts that they maie see and comprehēd this great and wonderfull work wich thou hast done among vs, that the faith of vs all maie be strengthned, our loue to thee and thine Embassadours increased▪ Satan confounded, and our sinfull liues amended to the great praise of thy holie name and our everlastin comfort in Christ Iesus. Amen.

G. CO.