ABSTRACT
In 1597, the possession and dispossession of William Sommers brought Nottingham to its knees. Nottingham was a populous conservative township ripe for conflict between the Puritans and the established local authority, with the Sommers case providing the igniting spark. Sommers proved to be the most controversial of Darrell’s exorcisms, as the young man became a pawn to advance the competing interests of various parties. Consequently, Sommers’ possession was eventually called into question with many denouncing him as a fraud. It is in this historical context that Darrell ascended to the height of his prominence, emerging as a catalyst for spiritual and canonical reform within the early modern English Church.
This chapter outlines the conclusion to Darrell’s exorcism ministry in 1597–8, detailing how the town of Nottingham became the target of Godly reformation. Sommers’ possession emerges as the most significant case study of the Darrell Controversy, initiating the High Commission into his exorcism ministry. This case illustrates how possession and witchcraft were processed in the English court system, along with the partisan interests that shaped these judicial proceedings. While this period witnesses Darrell at the height of his influence, his activities subsequently attracted the attention of the London Church authorities, leading to his downfall.
