A True Relation OF The grievous handling of WILLIAM Summer OF NOTTINGHAM, Being possessed with a devil. showing How he was first taken, and how lamentably from time to time he was tormented and afflicted.  
Published by John Darrel, Minister of the Word of God.  
Printed at London by Tho. Harper. 1641.   

The History of William Summer.  
WIlliam Summer of Nottingham, son in law to Robert Cowper of the said town, and by trade of life a Musician, about 8. or 9 years past, as he journeyed from Bellyn in the County of Wigorne, (where he than dwelled with one M. Anthony Brackenbery) to Bramsgrove, a market town in that shire, accompanied with an old woman dwelling in the said Bellyn, found an hat with a copper band: the woman requiring the same, he gave her the hat, though unwillingly, but the band he utterly refused to give, supposing it to be of gold: whereupon she threatening him, said, That it had been as good for him to have given it her. After this, in the night he saw a strange light in the chamber where he lay, which cast him into a great fear, and thus he continued frighted for a time. Shortly after M. Brackenbery his master removed to Holme, near to Newark upon Trent, in the County of Nottingham, being there sent about his Master's business unto Newark, in the way as he went thither, he was suddenly thrown into a ditch, some 8. yards distant from the high way wherein he went; after he had lain there a certain time, he got up and went forward in his journey, but by that he had gone a very little way further, he was taken again and cast into a thorn bush about 60. yards distant from the high way: but how he came into it or the ditch he knew not. In these two places he lay for the space of some 4. hours, as he perceived after by the time of the day. Notwithstanding this let, to Newark he went, when in his return he drew near Holme he began to be sick: from sickness he came to carry himself after that strange manner by fits, that his master supposed him to play the counterfeit, and thereupon he whipped him. But notwithstanding all the whipping was used (which he felt not at all) he continued after that same manner, and was more strangely handled every day then other; at length it well appeared to be some strange visitation and hand of God, whereupon his master procured one in the ministry to come to him, he being for the space of 3. weeks or thereabouts a continual trouble, and his master not knowing by what means to procure his amendment, sent him accompanied with 3. persons to Nottingham to his mother, being then a widow: whilst he was at Holme he heard something say unto him, that upon such a day he would leave him, and not come to him (so far as I remember he said) until the end of 6. years. Now after he had been 5. weeks at Nottingham afflicted after his accustomed and strange manner, and that the said appointed day was come, he indeed amended in the judgement of man, and so continued: inso much that shortly after he was bound prentice to one Thomas Porter of Nottingham, a Weaver and Musician; who after gave over his trade of weaving, and betook himself wholly to the other, from whom the said William Summer did twice run away.  
His foresaid master Thomas Porter sent him to Walton in Darbishire, the now dwelling house of Sir William Bowes, to a sister of his wife's there named Mary Milwood. In his going thither there met him in Blackwell Moor at a deep coalpit hard by the high way side, an old woman (as he thought) who asked him where he dwelled, and whither he was going, without any more words. About a mile and half further (he having gone forward a journeying pace without stay) she met him again, and passed by him without any words. The next day he returning from Walton homewards, she met him at the aforesaid pit, and asked him how he did? saying further, I must have a penny from thee. He answered, that he had no money. Thou hast (quoth she) Mary Milwood gave thee 2. pence, I will have a penny of it or I will throw thee into this pit, and break thy neck. Hereupon for fear, she giving him 2. pence, he gave her 3. pence which indeed had been given him by the said Mary. After this she put her hand to a bag she had about her, and taking thence a piece of bread with butter spread on it, bade him eat it. He refusing, she threatened him again to throw him into the pit and break his neck if he would not eat it. Whereupon (greatly against his will, and for fear) he did eat it, and in the eating it seemed as sweet as any honey. She said moreover unto him, Dost thou not know Katherine Wright? No, qooth he. She is my neighbour (said she) and she and I will come to Nottingham one of these days, and see how thou dost. Then a cat (as the boy thought) leapt up into her bosom, the which she embraced, and with her arms clasped it unto her, and thus they parted each from other.  
The said Summer (being at Nottingham in the house of his master Thomas Porter) did use such strange and idle kind of gestures, in laughing, dancing, and such like light behaviour, that he was suspected to be mad: sundry times he refused all kind of meat for a long space together, in so much as he did seem thereby to pine away: sometimes he shaked as if he had had an ague: there was heard a strange noise or flapping from within his body: he was often seen to gather himself on a round heap under his bed clothes, and being so gathered to bounce up a good height from the bed: also to beat his head and other parts of his body against the ground and bedstead, in such earnest manner, and so violently, that the beholders did fear that thereby he would have spoiled himself, if they had not by strong hand restrained him, and yet thereby received he no hurt at all. In most of his fits he did swell in his body, and in some of them did so greatly exceed therein, as he seemed to be twice so big as his natural body. Oft also was he seen to have a certain variable swelling or lump to a great bigness, swiftly running up and down between the flesh and skin, through all the parts of his body: and many times when that swelling was, these or the like words were heard out of his mouth, I will go out at his eyes, or ears, or toes: at which speeches the said swelling evidently appearing i● such parts, did immediately remove and vanish away. This swelling did not only run from eye to eye▪ from cheek to cheek, and up and down along still in the body, but besides being now in the one leg, presently it would be in the other, and so of the arms in like manner: and look in which arm or leg it stayed (as often it did for a certain space) the same member was inflexible and exceedingly heavy, as it had been so much iron. Thus it went with him, though not in all, yet in many of his fits, wherein over and besides these things, he was strangely handled, for suddenly (if he were standing when the fit came) he would be cast headlong upon the ground, or fall down, drawing then his lips awry, gnashing with his teeth, wallowing and foaming. In sundry of his fits he did utter so strange and fearful schrieking as cannot be uttered by man's power, and was of such strength as sometimes 4. or 5 men, though they had much advantage against him by binding of him to a chair, yet could they not rule him: and in showing that strength he was not perceived to pant or blow, no more than if he had not strained nor struggled at all. Sometimes he cried extremely, so as tears came from him in great abundance: presently after he would laugh aloud and shrill, his mouth being shut close. And being demanded concerning those accidents, he protested he knew of no such matter, neither felt he any pain. Moreover, he was oftentimes cast into the fire, some bare part of his body also lying in the fire, and yet was not burned; and sometimes cast violently against the ground, and against the wall or posts of the house, without any hurt of his body, and did many ways seek to destroy himself; by reason whereof they were driven to take away his knife, girdle, garters, &c. yea with the sheet of his bed he had like to have strangled himself. Whereupon, as also through the increasing of his fits, they were constrained to watch him continually, even day and night. His behaviour generally towards all that came, was very pleasant, most impudent also and shameless, with much uncleanness. His speeches were usually vain, delivered in very sc●ffing manner and many times filthy and unclean, very unfit once to be named, or blasphemous, swearing most fearfully, using one bloody oath after another: sometimes saying, I am God, and sometimes, There is no GOD.  
Being moved to say the Lord's Prayer, when he came to these words, Lead us not into temptation, he would say, Lead us into temptation: Divers fond speeches did he use to interrupt them that prayed for him. Many strange speeches also were uttered by him, not in his own name, but as spoken by an evil spirit possessing him: upon occasion of some question or speech used by some in their simplicity and ignorance: as, That his D●m● had sent him, that his name was L●●ye, that he was King, that he was Prince of darkness. You think I have no power of him, yet I can use his tongue, his teeth, lips, hands, legs, his body and all parts of him. And as the spirit named each part, he used it. And this speech with the action was very common: Was I (said he to one John Wiggin) never in heaven? Yea, quoth he, but God for thy pride threw thee down into hell, there to remain. One John Sherwood charging him to tell who sent him thither, he answered, a woman. He charged him again to tell where she dwelled: he answered, in Worcestershire. Whether is she living or dead? Dead said he. Wherefore did she send thee? For a hat and hatband. Then the boy, when the fit was done, was questioned with concerning these things: where unto he returned for answer, that which is set down in the beginning of this story, which he had concealed until that time. Hereunto I might add certain direct answers he made in Latin to those speeches which in Latin were used unto him: a little Greek he also spoke, being ignorant in those languages, altogether in the one, and understanding little or nothing in the other.  
In going thus with the boy, I was importuned in his behalf, first by two letters, after by another from the Maior, and thereupon I went unto him. At when & about the time I condescended to go, (being 14. miles off him) he spoke thereof to them which were about him: So when I was come to Nottingham, he instantly told the same, and foretold my coming unto him when I drew near the house, as he had also foretold M. Aldridge (the Preacher of the town) his coming at sundry times.  
Towards that evening I came, he seemed to be si●ke, and his sickness greatly to increase upon him, so as they feared he would have died, or had been dead: for he lay an hour with his face and hands black, cold as ice, no breath being perceived to come from him. Whereupon I was no sooner light, but tidings hereof was brought to me by one of the neighbour women Joane pie by name, who came purposely from him to signify the same unto me. To whom I answered, that was the mere act or operation of the devil, and that the boy was nothing less than either dead, or in danger thereof. Forthwith with her I went to him, whom we found very lively, and in one of his accustomed Fits, many being present with him.  
My speech I carried for a season doubtfully; but after a while perceiving how it was with him, I did assure him that he was possessed, and had in that body of his a devil, and withal did so frame the words of my mouth, as might best serve to prepare and stir him up to a spiritual fight against Satan, or resistance of him in faith. This evening he acted many sins by signs and gestures, most lively representing and shadowing them out unto us: as namely, brawling, quarrelling, fighting, swearing, robbing by the high ways, picking and cutting of purses, burglary, whoredom, pride both in men and women, hypocrisy, sluggishness in hearing the Word, drunkenness, gluttony, also dancing with the toys thereto belonging, the manner of antic dances, the games of dicing and carding, the abuse of the viol, with other instruments. At the end of sundry of these he laughed exceedingly, divers times clapping his hands on his thighs for joy: And at the end of some of them, as killing and stealing, he showed how he brought them to the gallows, making a sign thereof. During this time, which continued about an hour, as he was altogether silent, so was he most active, though his eyes were closed; and in many things he did, there was great and necessary use of sight. In a word, these things were in such lively and orient colours painted out (as I may say) unto us that were present, being to the number of some sixty, that I for my own part, (and I am persuaded the rest of the beholders are of my mind) do verily think, that it is not in the skill and power of man to do the like. Whilst we were recommending him and his grievous estate to the Lord, and entreating his Majesty in his behalf, he uttered these words: I must be gone.  
The next day being the Lord's day, I came not at him until about 3 a clock in the afternoon, (finding company with him) at which time I used some speech, wherein I endeavoured to prepare both him and his Master's family, as also his parents (whom that judgement principally concerneth) unto the holy exercise the day after to be performed. Towards evening much people resorted to the house, than some words of exhortation were used by myself, for the sanctifying of so many of us, whose spirits God should stir up, to join in that solemn service and worship of God to be performed on the day following. As the night and day before he had little or no rest from Satan afflicting him: so this evening, and all the night long, he handled him more extremely than before. At this time among other things the spirit retorted his tongue into his throat, and this he did often, whereupon many looked with a candle into his mouth, where they could see no tongue nor part of it, only in his throat they beheld the root thereof, he uttered often these words, For corn, for corn, with a few more thereunto appertaining, noting the unsatiable desire of gain, or raising the price of corn in corn men. This night was spent by some well disposed people, in reading and praying. This evening I requested the Minister of that Congregation, M. Aldridge, M. Aldred, and M. Halam, Pastors of two several towns near acjoyning unto Nottingham, to join with me on the morrow in the ministration of the Word and Prayer: whereunto they condescended. And this I did the rather, that thereby I might proclaim and make known unto all men, that as I have no special or greater gift herein then the rest of my brethren: so neither do I arrogate or challenge any such thing to myself.  
In the morning many of us were assembled together in the next convenient and seemly room to the place of his abode. The boy was brought with strange and fearful shriekings, by six or seven strong men, who had all of them enough ado to bring him, and laid him on a couch in the midst of us. M. Aldridge began, and after prayer proceeded to the interpretation of the 4. of Hosea, the two first verses. When he had finished, myself entreated of that story set down in the 9 of Mark, from verse 14. until the 30. where 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 Satan, having little no rest at all, so as the same for vexation by the spirit, far exceeded any of the days before. His torments in his fits were most grievous and fearful to behold, wherein his body being swelled, was tossed up and down. In these fits his strength was very great, so as being held down with five strong men, he did notwithstanding all their strength, against their wills, rise and stand upright on his feet. He was also continually torn in very fearful manner, and disfigured in his face; wherein sometimes his lips were drawn awry, now to the one side, now to the other. Sometimes his face and neck distorted to the right and to the left hand, yea sometimes writhe to his back. Sometimes he thrust out his tongue very far and big, and sometimes turned backwards into his throat, gaping so wide that we might afar off perceive it. Now he gnashed, with his teeth, now he foamed like to the Horse or boar, roaping down to his breast, notwithstanding there was one purposely standing by with a cloth ever and anon to wipe it away▪ Not to say any thing of his fearful staring with his eyes, and incredible gaping.  
This day, notwithstanding he was so held, as is aforesaid, he went about to have choked and so destroyed himself: speeches he used none, save once in a great voice, corn. And when I applied that speech of our Saviour, All things are possible to him that believeth; he used these words, Thou liest. Divers times he scriked or cried aloud in a strange and supernatural manner: sometimes he roared fearfully like a bear, and cried like a swine.  
Towards the evening, as I was treating of these words, than the spirit cried and rent him sore, and came out, and he was as one dead, insomuch that many said he is dead. The boy was rent▪ sore indeed, cried, and that aloud. Then the people which were present, as men astonished, and with the grievous sight, & 〈◊〉 unspeakable, affected in the bowels of compassion towards him, breaking then hitherto continued silence, cried out all at once, as it were with one voice unto the Lord, to have mercy upon him: and within a quarter of an hour (they and he still crying aloud) he held down on a bed by 5 men, and offering as though he would have vomited, was on the sudden violently cast, and his body there with turned, so as his face lay downwards to the ground, and at the bed's feet, and his back upward, with his feet on the bed's head; and thus be lay as if he had been dead for a season. Thus we have heard not only how it went with Summer 〈◊〉 the time of his possession, and at and little before his dispossession, but also how and by what means I came unto him, and being there, carried myself in thi● present action.  
FINIS.