Adenochoiradelogia, or, An anatomick-chirurgical treatise of glandules & strumaes or, Kings-evil-swellings : together with the royal gift of healing, or cure thereof by contact or imposition of hands, performed for above 640 years by our Kings of England continued with their admirable effects, and miraculous events, and concluded with many wonderful examples of cures by their sacred touch / all which are succinctly described by John Browne.

THE Royal Gift of Healing.

CHAP. I. The Origination of this Healing Method proved.

THat England hath her particu∣lar Diseases, as well as any other Country or Nation whatsoever, is so great a Truth, that no considerate Man can deny. And to view those many Di∣stempers which have lately crept into the World (altogether unknown to the Ancients) especially with us in Europe; as the French Pox, Scurvy, Rickets, Struma's, or Kings Evil, Swellings so commonly called, may well put a strange Face upon the Earth: Their proper Reasons and Causes being as yet lock'd up from Humane Understanding. The truth is, whether these do happen by vicissi∣tudes of Things, Sins of the People,

ill Habits, or worse Constitutions, we cannot so easily satisfie. Sure I am, Sin is as great a procurer of this, as it is of any of the former Diseases; for we daily see it sporting its self slighly under several Disguises to afflict the Sons of Men.

But having in my former Treatises been more large as touching this, I shall presume, with hopes to offer, that there is no Christian so void of Religion and Devotion, as to deny a Gift of Healing: A Truth as clear as the Sun, continued and maintained by a continual Line of Christian Kings and Governors, fed and nou∣rished with the same Christian Milk, which Divine Healing Faculty did a∣rise from the first time of Christianity, having thence been derived from the great God of Heaven and Earth.

Hence may we presume to take a view, and behold the great Monarch implanting Soveraign Dignity on his Earthly Majesty; giving him his Laws, making him his Vicegerent, guarding his Tongue, preserving his Lips, bles∣sing his Hands with this Salutiferous Gift, and defending his Body from outward Injuries and private Plot∣tings.

Thus we read, Prov. 16. Di∣vination lodgeth in the Kings lips, in Judgment shall not his mouth err, much less his heart, which is governed and directed by the Almighty: For as the division of Waters, so is the heart of the King in the hand of the Lord. And in another place, where there is plen∣ty of Wisdom, it appears as the health of the Nation, much more in a wise King, as the Foundation and Basis of his People: For we are daily Witnes∣ses of those great and Divine favors which are transmitted from above to his Sacred Majesty, ever denyed to his Subjects, as being too High and Holy for their reach and capacity. Thus Nature her self doth by a Chain of Causes carry us up to the acknow∣ledgment of a Deity, by bringing e∣very thinking Man to an Original of every successful Individual by course of Generation.

And as to this great Gift of Healing, peculiarly given to his Gracious Ma∣jesties Royal hand, by the reception of the Holy Oyl which at his Inaugu∣ration he made use of, and which en∣titled him the Soveraign of our Nati∣on. Where I shall further satisfie, that

England and France, as to their Kings, had the honor of receiving this Holy Oyl with their Sacred Titles, they be∣ing generally anointed in three parts, as hath been well noted. As first, on their Heads, to signifie their Glory: Next, on their Breasts, to shew their Sanctity; and then on their Arms, to denote their Power. And from hence did arise the three equalizing Fames given to them, of being Holy, Sacred, and Divine. And from those early days, whose Power and Sanctity was ever given to their Sacred Persons; such Person whosoever should dare to strike upon the Sacred Ground on which they did tread, should lose his hand for this his presumption. And amongst the rest of his Divine Favors bestowed upon him, let this Sanative Faculty amongst all Mankind, be rec∣koned one, which doth denote both his Right, Title and Merit, and as a second Gift given from Heaven, by those many Thousands cured by him since his happy Restoration; and this acknowledged not only by the Per∣sons themselves who have been thus Cured, but by relation of Physicians and Chirurgions, and others through∣out

his universal Realms and Domi∣nions: all which in a great measure doth declare his excellent Charity which sweetens the Gift, as also his Piety and Clemency in granting poor Souls his Sacred and ready Touch.

We come now to prove the Origi∣nation of a Healing Faculty,* 1.1 and this is proved out of Corinth. 1. c. 12. v. 8, 9, 10. For to one is given by the Spirit the word of Wisdom: To another, the word of Knowledge by the same Spi∣rit: To another Faith by the same Spi∣rit: To another the gift of Healing by the same spirit: To another the working of Miracles: To another Prophesie: To an∣other the discerning of Spirits: To an∣other divers Gifts of Tongues: To an∣other the interpretation of Tongues. And this Scripture alone is enough to prove a Gift of Healing.

The next Question which hence will arise, is,* 1.2 Whether every one may pretend to this Gift, or whether it be distributive to all persons at all times, and in all places? And this is as readily answer'd as the former: For when our Saviour ascended up into Heaven, he gave Gifts unto men; as to some the Gift of Wisdom, to some the Gift of

Knowledge, to some Faith, and to o∣thers the Gift of Healing, and the like. And as in this no Man can affirm that he enjoys all the above-mentioned Qualities, so cannot any Man say that he is stript of all.

In the first Face therefore of the Primitive Church, as an Orient Gem, or Fulgent Adamant, did this Gift of Healing appear with splendor and ad∣mirable Form, so that the Church was perfum'd with its Divine Qualities, where was Wisdom declaring her self amongst the Learned, whil'st others did as readily demonstrate their great Knowledge; some shewing their Faith by their Works, others curing the Sick and the Lame: And whil'st some lent the World the sweetness of their Discourse, others as readily Prophesi∣fied of things to come. And thus ac∣cording to their variety of Gifts, they had diversity of Names given them: some being call'd Apostles, some Do∣ctors, and others Prophets: some ex∣celling in Virtue, others as richly qua∣lified in this Gift of Healing. Thus when poor indigent Souls had sought out Remedy from Physicians in vain, God in his own time sent them ease by

the assistance of his Holy Spirit, and made those rebellious Diseases which scorn'd Medicine, and trampled on the best of Remedies composed by the wisest Physician and most able Chirurgion, in a moment yield to Gods command, and retreat at His Majesties Sacred Touch.

And might there any Question arise about the first Physician which cured by Touch, the Answer is very ready:* 1.3 The first and last, the best and great∣est Recoverer of all Diseases is our Saviour Christ: For he ascended into Heaven, and gave gifts unto men: He past through Galilee and its neigh∣boring Nations, curing those which were opprest with evil Spirits, the which he discharged from them by his Virtue, and the Holy Spirit; and not only these, but such as were troubled with the Palsie, Leprosie, Lunacy, &c. Incurable by others, as you may see Luke 6. and Matth. 6. v. 14, 15, 16. When Jesus was come into Peters house, he saw his wifes mother laid sick of a fever; and he touched her hand, and the fever left her: and she arose and ministred unto them. And when the

evening was come, they brought him ma∣ny possessed with devils, and he cast out the evil spirit with his word, and heal∣ed all that were sick. And all this done without the help of Pharmacy, or composition of Medicine, for he cured by his own Virtue.

* 1.4And he departed from Galilee, and came into the coasts beyond Judea beyond Jordan, and great multitudes followed him,* 1.5 and he healed them: and the blind and the lame came to him in the Temple, and he healed them.* 1.6 And it came to pass, when he was in a certain city, be∣hold, a man full of the Leprosie, who see∣ing Jesus, fell on his face, saying, Lord, if thou wilt thou canst make me clean; and he put out his hand and touch'd him, saying, I will, be thou clean, and imme∣diatly the Leprosie departed from him. All which does declare the brightness and clearness of our blessed Saviours curing and healing of poor Souls.

* 1.7We next proceed to Apostles and pious Men, where may arise this Que∣stion (Whether this Healing Faculty was transmitted to them?) It is with∣out all contradiction that there were twelve which did share therein: But

whether others arising from them had this Gift conferr'd to them, and so transmitted to their Successors, will thus appear, from their being called into Society with them, Matth. 10. v. 8. Thus, When he called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power against un∣clean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness, and all manner of diseases. Acts 5. Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead. And that w^ch gives greater light to this Answer, is, That not only Peter, and Paul, and John, the sons of Zebedee were thus qualifi∣ed, but the other Apostles also; and by the hands of the Apostles were many signs and wonders done amongst the peo∣ple. And Mark 6. v. 7.13. And there came a multitude out of the cities round about unto Jerusalem, bringing sick folk, and they were healed. And he called unto him the twelve, and sent them forth two by two, and gave them power over unclean spirits, and they anointed with oyl many that were sick, and healed them. God Almighty▪ did wonderful works by the hands of Paul at his coming to Ephesus, so that from his Body were brought unto the sick, handkerchiefs, and aprons, and their diseases departed

from them, v. 12. And that of Pub∣lius's Father laying sick of a Fever and Disentery, Paul visiting him, Praying with him, and laying his hands on him, he was presently heal∣ed; which is evidence enough to convince the transmission of this Gift from our Saviour to his Apostles. They therefore who will presume to put limits to the Almighties Power, or fix his Favors to particular Seasons, Times, Persons, orders of Men, or diversity of Places, must be allowed so far different from acknowledging a Benevolent Deity, that they do both lessen his Power, and call in question his Authority and Soveraignty.

The Knowledge of Man dies with him, as well as his hours and his age; but this Almighty Gift doth continue to the very last Age of the World, so that we may affirm, That not on∣ly the great Apostles, but their Suc∣cessors, have been sharers in their most excellent Endowments, as well as in their Natures and Constitutions. This attending them as an expanded Pleasure of the Divine Will: for the Almighties hand is not shortned,

who saith, He will be with his to the end of the World: A Lesson too great for any Atheist to deny, and too good to be let slip without a Re∣verential acknowledgement.

CHAP. II. Herein is shewn what this Gift is, and when, and how often used.

OUr first Chapter looks but as the Rigging and Sails of a Ship which we are Lanching into: This gives us the dimensions and its proper uses, where we are to examine, Whe∣ther this Disease be naturally curable or incurable, not hitherto fully de∣scribed: And that we may not keep it too long upon the Sands, we shall find it the Gift of God which makes it sail thus universally throughout the World, Fetching and procuring Health by the Holy Spirit to the Sons of Men, by whose assistance, one Man may as well guide her in her Curative Passage as an hundred.

And as this is a Gift or Grace be∣stowed on Christians, given to them by the Holy Spirit for the Cure of one or many Diseases, and this by the Im∣position

of their Hands on them, and Prayers, and Gold put over their Necks, is a great Gift beyond all dis∣pute, and next to a Miracle done by any of the former Apostles. And that this comes from above, I hope no con∣siderate Man will deny: For sinful Man can only call Sin his own. S. Au∣gustine joyned to this Gift, Charity, Mercy, Clemency, and Sanctity; these being as the four Pedestals on which this Royal Gift doth fix its proper Ba∣sis: It is performed by the Holy Spirit, from whom doth proceed every good and perfect Gift; and this is not given to all Men, nor to all Church-men, for every Man hath his particular Gift al∣lowed him, and Health doth demon∣strate the particular nature of Causes arising from the habit and use of the Gift. God Almighty having an In∣finite, and Immense Goodness in him, not to be drained out by Time, or less'ned by the utmost of Age. As therefore in the early Times of the Church this Gift received much Ho∣nor; so because we do live in Times which do bear equal weight, and share with the like Diseases; I ought to bring again to life this Divine Gift,

sent by the Almighty to our Sacred Majesty, thus exercised as the last and best Remedy. To him therefore be given the greatest Reverence and Honor, to whom the greatest Venera∣tion is due.

* 1.8We come now to examine the Gift it self, what it is, as also in what times it was first used: And that I may enter the Scene without fear, Truth being my great General, I shall begin its de∣finition which the Apostle makes men∣tion of, Cor. 12. which declares both the efficacy and action thereof: For the greatest praise of this Gift con∣sists in the action thereof. Who there∣fore shall presume to make any fur∣ther▪ doubt, but acknowledge, that he which hath this admirable Gift in him,* 1.9 may make use thereof at his own will and pleasure, for the Curing of poor Mortals which shall approach his Royal Touch? Sure there is none but inconsiderate Men, which either can or will deny this Healing Faculty, or make any question of it, and that it is as plain as it is Hereditary, is as rea∣dy to be assented to. For it is laid down as a general Maxim amongst the

most grave Senators, That they which are best gifted, or do excel others ei∣ther in Art, Wisdom, Knowledge, O∣ratory, or the like, most excellent Qua∣lifications, these are confirm'd and e∣stablish'd upon them as Divine Habits running in their Veins, and excellent Qualifications going along with them throughout the whole course of their lives, and transmitted more or less to their succeeding Generations. And although these may seem strange to the Man less knowing, yet every In∣genuous and considerate Person which hath the rules of Understanding in him, will find, That Wisdom doth lodge in the Kings lips, and that the words of the Wise are as goads and nails fastned by the Masters of Assem∣blies: In the same manner, he that hath Faith, and is best instructed for the doing and understanding of all things, hath a greater degree of Divi∣nity implanted in him. Heb. 11. v. 32, 33. Thus by faith, the Fathers of old did overcome Kingdoms. And what shall I say more? for the time would fail me to tell of Gideon, and of Barack, and of Sampson, and of Jepthae, and of David also, and of Samuel and the

Prophets, who through Faith subdu∣ed Kingdoms, wrought Righteous∣ness, obtained Promises, stopt the mouths of Lions, &c. Faith being like Virtue, evermore active: And such as the habit of Humane Body is, such Fruits usually we shall find it yield, either to its excellency or de∣merit. But as to this Virtue of Heal∣ing, and the like sublime Qualificati∣ons, as of Prophesying, Gifts of Tongues, examination of Spirits, these do rise much higher than the former; for this puts Man upon the thinking and considering part. Thus when pious and good Men are stirred up by the Divine Spirit, they open Mi∣racles themselves, and puts advantage to the best of Thoughts. Amongst these may I well place this most ad∣mirable Healing Gift of our Dread Soveraign, appearing herein as a fixt Star in the midst of his People, or as a greater Light among the lesser distri∣buting according to his own will and pleasure, of this his Curative Facul∣ty, to his poor miserable and diseased Subjects of all Ages, Sexes, Orders and Degrees whatsoever,* 1.10 by which they are stript from their Diseases, and re∣relieved

from their Pangs, and this not palliated or dismist for a while, or done by chance or good fortune, but he cures by deliberate and serious con∣sultation, prepared thereunto by the Almighty Power transmitting his Ho∣ly Spirit for the better accomplish∣ment thereof.

They must needs therefore be al∣lowed no good Subjects, who dare deny this Sanative Faculty, which so many thousands have received even to a Miracle. And without doubt amongst the worst of Mankind, it must be allowed an Act of Grace, and a great and pious condescention of his Gracious Majesty thus to give ease and relief to every sick and lame Per∣son, by his Sacred and gracious Touch, wherein and whereby we may see the Almighty revealing many things to his, which are denyed to others; which doth implant a greater Know∣ledge in them, and yet they do not enjoy all Science, the perfection of the Divinity whereof he reserves to himself: Neither are they ignorant or unknown to him, for were they so, where would be their familiarity with the Holy Spirit, by whom this great

work is performed: for so oft as they have therewith been concerned, they could foreshew many things to come, as conversions of Republicks, ruines of Kingdoms, Death of Nobles, and many other the like Observations. This Healing Faculty is always pre∣sent with and in the Almighty,* 1.11 his will consenting to his Soveraigns pleasure, and in the prosecution there∣of: and this is very useful and profit∣able, being conducted by a Divine motion or instigation of the Holy Spi∣rit. For the Almighty hath given Mans will its certain limits, and hath circumscribed bounds thereto.* 1.12 But as touching this Divine Qualification of Healing, whence it cometh, and what the efficient Cause thereof is, whether proceeding from the naked discourse of the words used at the Ceremony, or the Solemnity of the Pious and Religious action, or of any created Virtue arising hence, I shall presume to offer this as a Foundation against all Dispute whatsoever.* 1.13 That no Miracle, howsoever glorious, which we ever saw, read, or heard of, was ever done by an inherent Vir∣tue created in Man alone, not this of

His Majesties Royal Healing, procu∣ring and affording hereby this Health to the Sick, which we daily see and find they do hereby purchase and en∣joy: But there is and must be God Almighties hand going along with it, for no Mortals Virtue, or Piety, or Power, hath strength or efficacy e∣nough in it to perform this Soveraign sanative Faculty: Nor can the Cere∣monies or Vestments any wise effect the same; for as to these, those which were carried to Paul (viz.) the hand∣kerchiefs and aprons, were only signs and tokens for begetting and confirm∣ing the Faith of those who were cured in Paul's absence. And for a more clear understanding hereof, this Gift which he received from the Al∣mighty, was not fixed or tyed to his Body, and so much the less dispensa∣ble to the sick people which thus came to him for help, or sent to him, and which saw him not: But God wrought these Miracles by his hands, and his hand was the only Instrument by which this great Work was perform∣ed, whil'st his Maker was the great Agent thereof: Much less could the Ceremonies and Vestments procure

this which are put upon it: Gods Hand is the hand of Health, and his Arm wants no strength to perform every kind of Cure beyond humane capacity: The which Peter well knew, when he tells us of a Man, which was lame from his mothers womb▪ Acts 3. who seeing Peter and John about go∣ing into the Temple, asked an alms; and Peter fastning his eyes on him with John, said, Look on us: In the name of Jesus of Nazareth rise up and walk; and he took him by the right hand and lifted him up, and immediatly his feet and ancle bones received strength, and went into the temple praising God. And although Peter, through Gods assist∣ance, did give this great cure to this Cripple, yet primarily he received this Divine Power from above, before any effect could be wrought. And that also is very remarkable, Acts 9. when Peter did pass through all Quar∣ters, arriving at Lidda, where he saw Aeneas, who had kept his bed eight years, and was sick of the palsie, and Peter said unto him, Aeneas, Jesus Christ make thee whole,* 1.14 arise, and make thy bed, and he arose immediatly.

This shews the great Gift of the

Almighty, performed by the lesser in∣strument Man, even as the Sun is no ways lessened in its splendor by the light of the Moon, or lesser Stars: For thus Man doth receive this Gift from the Divine Giver, as the Moon and lesser Stars do borrow their light from the Sun: For the Almighty doth dis∣play and communicate his Gifts to Mankind, whose Rays are implanted in his mind, clear'd up, and freed from all cloudiness, there to be kept in him as his choicest Treasures and Di∣vine Qualifications. Thus therefore Man must be allowed the Organ and Instrument, God himself the chief Agent and Master of the Operation, Man being his servant, which receives the honor and glory thereof: and by this Divine and Humane conjunction, thus most excellently agreeing toge∣ther, this most admirable Healing Fa∣culty is thus produced for the benefit, advantage, ease and cure of many thousands of poor, miserable, sick, lame, and distempered people.

CHAP. III. Whether Diseases Curable or Incurable.

WHat the Struma is, or Kings Evil, so commonly called from the Kings healing thereof by his Sacred Touch, I have already satisfied in my second Book, wherein is shewn both its Definition, Causes, Presages, &c. For the unravelling this skain, spun out of so many fine threds, in which are found many knots about curing Diseases curable or incurable: We must begin to unty it in its proper place, by examining its Age and Diu∣turnity. Thus Paul, when he cured the Father of Publius of a Disentery and Fever, the Cure was admirable, although both the Diseases naturally curable: for a Fever we see, be it ne∣ver so vexatious, its forc'd to quit its station by true Physick and a right method used. The Disentery also is as readily conquered and by the like

means. When our Blessed Saviour also cured the Palsie, or the Hemor∣rhagy: No man can deny but that both these Diseases in themselves are curable, but our Saviour cured these by his own Power, which by others were not to be performed but by pro∣per means, and therefore this ought not to be allowed an ordinary way of Healing.

Hence Christ forbids not the curing of the Sick by the hands of Christian Kings, Princes and Governors,* 1.15 who do follow his Rules by Prayer and Im∣position of Hands: For we have read of many Holy and Pious people who have cured Diseases after several man∣ners, and where any thing of a Divine Influence is implanted, what should deny the hand thereof to declare the same? and although this Disease is natural, no question but this Method is supernatural, the which may be made good by Historical Illustrations. For as this Struma, or Kings Evil Swelling is a popular Disease (bred out of Matter and Blood, sent into the Glandules, and therein making a fur∣ther bulk according to the Quantity

of Matter sent thither) and sparing neither Age or Sex, and yet curable if any man considers its nature well; unless it be suffer'd to run into a great extream, whose Malice bids defiance to all Cure, the time being neglected which might more mildly have given it its dispatch: and since its Curable∣ness or Incurableness consists in its Matter, it must needs truckle to him who hath this Divine Gift of Healing transmitted to him. And as a further ad∣vantage to the clearing of this Point, we never see his Sacred Majesty en∣quiring into the age of the diseased, or the Disease it self, being relative ei∣ther to youth or old age, Men, Wo∣men or Children, rich or poor, all which he cures by his Sacred Hand; with some Ceremonies and Prayers therewith annexed for the Poor thus waiting on him for their Health and Recovery: The which I have had the Honor of being an eye-witness in the Place and Quality which his Sacred Majesty hath been pleased to confer on me, as one of his Chirurgions at∣tending at this great Solemnity, where I must, with St. Augustine, presume to Offer, that this great Gift of his

may well compare with a Miracle and we ought to give it the same name, if not allow it the nature thereof, when we shall see so many Diseased People come from all parts of the World, even tired out of their Lives by their Distempers, and perplex'd with troublesome Swellings, thus rea∣dily to gain Victory over them, and become sound, and stript from all their enormous Swellings; and this with extraordinary speed, only by the ap∣plication of his Sacred Hand, and this seen to be done without, and beyond all expectation of the poor People themselves, their Friends or Relati∣ons: their Faith being as a great In∣gredient to this Composition. All which may well enough come within the Pale of a Miracle, being done be∣yond our knowledge and the course of Nature.

St. Augustine,* 1.16 Lib. 6. Contr. Faust. cap. 3. doth there thus distinguish be∣tween Nature and Miracle in its dis∣criminancy. We commonly call that Nature which is known by its course and custom: On the contrary, when God works or makes any thing be∣yond this, this properly comes under

the notion of Miracle. Under which last, this Gift of Healing may well take place, whose miraculous Efficacy, although there may be some inequa∣lity with it with Miracles, yet the Dignity thereof is to be admired, and the use and benefit thereof being not much unlike, they should bear alike date with us.

Christ tells his Apostles, That those who believe in him, the works which he did, they shall also do, and greater than those: and whatsoever they shall ask in my Name, that I will do, that the Fa∣ther may be glorified in the Son. A∣mongst the rest of Miracles, may be reckoned the falling back of the Sun, and the standing still of the Moon; both which do declare the Divine Will and Omnipotent Power of the Almighty. But to give sight to the Blind, to make the Lame walk, to give Life to the dead, and cure to the sick of their Diseases, and this only by the Imposition of Hands, is much greater: wherein is shewn a greater Measure of Divinity, which ought to be reckoned amongst the greatest of Miracles.

Rarefaction and Densation of Air,

or resolution of the same into drops, by the Prayers of Moses and Elias, is a thing very great and stupendious: Yet this is no Miracle. To give Health to Struma's, to help the Paralytick, and to discharge and banish other Diseases, may not seem strange to a knowing Physician, and to an able Chirurgion, where a curative Method is used ac∣cording to Art: But to Heal by the Touch, or by Contact, and by Devo∣tion of Prayers, to procure Health to the Sick, and to banish Diseases from poor Mortals without the help of Me∣dicine; and this done immediatly, this ought not to come much beneath a Miracle.

CHAP. IV. How long this hath been in use, and when began to flourish.

THat the apostles have had this gift bestowed on them, hath alrea∣dy been shewn and made good: And that their Successors have been sharers therein with them, may be cleared as bright as the Sun. For no Age of Chri∣stians, by the light of Examples, hath ever been without it, although some Ages hath had it more frequently than others, and the Repetition of its ad∣mirable Effects hath frequently evin∣ced and made this good. That we may therefore satisfie all Objections, and prevent Calumny where ever it may meet or offer its self, we shall in∣troduce some Examples of long con∣tinuance.* 1.17

St. Augustine writes, That few Mi∣racles hapned in his time, neither were they permitted to last long which so

hapned. Thus he writes, Lib. de vera Religione, cap. 25. in these words, Lest the Soul should evermore hunt after vi∣sible things, and Humanity in its search should hereby grow cold therewith, and its novelty. This is true, that until their hands were put to be Baptized, they never thus received the Holy Spirit: By which they enjoyed these Gifts of Tongues of all Nations, or arrived at the Shadow or Trancision of the Teachers of Christ: By which the Sick were thus healed, the which then hapned, and then afterwards ceased. But our curative Gift runs not along in this Stream, and if we look into the Times of St. Augustine, we shall find admirable effects gaining strength in the times of the Apostles, even to the Age of Simeon, in whose time the Church appeard incorrupt, and as a pure Virgin: and after him, it carried the same vigor to the suc∣cessors thereof. For as Eusebius wit∣nesseth, The Divine Spirits did ex∣ercise themselves in his times, and shewed their admirable Virtues and excellent Qualifications, even to the times of Adrianus, under Antoninus and Marcus Aurelius, then Governors; by

which it abundantly appears of what value and esteem this ancient Virtue of Healing was in former Ages. Irenaeus, who lived a little after Tertullian, fol∣lowed a long time in these Gifts: Thus Irenaeus, altho a Lad, heard Polycarpus in Asia: Polycarpus also a Disciple of the Evangelist St. John, maintained the same Gift of Healing, the which he thus expresses, Lib. 5. We have heard many Brethren in the Church, having the Gifts of Prophesie, and of Healing, and of Speaking universal Tongues by the Spirit, producing and bringing many things to view, obscured and hid from former Ages, for use and explaining the Mysteries of God according to the par∣ticipation of the same Spirit; as also Lib. 2. cap. 58. Some of these having in them the Knowledge of things to come, and of Visions, and of Prophe∣tick Sayings; and others of curing the Sick and Lame of their Diseases, by laying their Hands on them, and so re∣covering them.

Its numberless to tell the Gifts of these from God throughout the World, done in the Name of Je∣sus Christ, not by Invocation of evil Spirits, or Inchantment, or black and

dark Curiosity, but by pure, clear, and clean Prayers made to him, who directs us in every thing▪ and gives a Blessing and Success to this Under∣taking of his own Anointed, which have been obtained above 600 years; all which may be made good by the clearest light imaginable, and shall more fully shew it self in its proper place.

When Origen saw all these Divine and admirable Gifts perpetuated and continued in the Church, and that as clear as the brightest Light, the Eyes of all People being open to see and vindicate the Truth thereof, against any Opponent whatsoever, he thus replies thereupon:

These Miracles, (saith he) are to be examined by cer∣tain rules of Judgment, lest they bring Damnation unto men, or cor∣rection to their manners: That we may distinguish between those done by the help of Satan, from those which are performed by a pure and pious mind, adorned with the Di∣vine Spirit; some may enter and offer here, that in the Bloody times of the Church, when it laid under Persecution for near 300 years, all

these Gifts or most of them continu∣ed in vigor, but when it once aba∣ted of its Flame and Troubles, it lost of its power and efficacy, and be∣came more sparing in its appearance to mankind.

It would be an infi∣nite, as well as troublesom task, to bring all things into number, omitting St. Athanasius, who lived in the time of the Nicene Council, and one of the same Judgment, where he num∣bers Basilius, Lib. 6. de Spiritu Sancto, where he writes the Gifts of the Holy Spirit to be, Delight, Joy, Peace, Goodness, Prudence, Wisdom, Coun∣sel, the Gift of Healing, &c. But who is more curious in the search thereof than St. Basil? And if any will still doubt of these Gifts, and of their perspicuousness, he is to be brought into a mean; and if credit therefore cannot be given to St. Augustine, or St. Basil, both evermore accounted good and pious Men; or to Origine or Tertullian, who were ever esteemed men of great Learning; nor to Ire∣naeus, or others of his Faith and Be∣lief, the Faith of all History must pe∣rish. And if we cannot lend our cre∣dence to these worthy Church-men, in

whose times these great Miracles were wrought, we may as well slacken and tye up our Faith to any other thing whatsoever. I know, and do expect that this Assertion will not go off smoothly, or pass by the blasts of the Envious without a Reprimand, but must take as much contradiction as their pleasures shall think best to put upon it; yet in this I shall think my self happy, that I have a Cure for their evil Breaths, when I shall offer no Authority but such as hath ever∣more been accounted faithful and praise-worthy in their Generations. And in order thereunto, I would wil∣lingly know, who ever was a more Luculent Author than Divus Hieroni∣mus, or a more happy witness than blest St. Augustine? who more hap∣py in their times for Prediction of ad∣mirable effects of theirs and their for∣mer times? all their Books being fil∣led with Wise Sayings, and cherish∣ed with Worthy Examples; neither could any thing lie hid in the dark, which ever arrived at the light of their Writings.

Kind Reader, What hath thus been produced by Example, shews that it

must be a Holy and good Man, which is to perform this Cure, which is not to be performed without a Divine Pleasure.

* 1.18But a Question may also a∣rise: Whether our Sacred Majesty did consult his Phsicians, before he applyed his Hands to the Sick, and did take their Opinions about the same?

* 1.19In Answer whereunto, There was no need hereof, since the great Physici∣an of Heaven and Earth being herein Invoked, and the Holy Jesus joyned therewith; to both which the Holy Spirit being interposed, what should or could hinder this Divine efficacy of a Sanative Faculty?

* 1.20Some also will start another Que∣stion, which is: Whether His Majesty doth Cure that by his Gracious Touch, which hath baffled both Physicians and Chirurgions in their Ʋndertakings, and hereby sending health to the Sick, which Art and Skill could never arrive at or pro∣cure?

* 1.21And in Answer to this, St. Hillaries

Oration shall be sufficient, where he saith, God working with him, he performs both great and small Cures by his Ser∣vants, and by his or their Faith and Prayers to the Son of God, they do receive the same, who tells them, What∣soever they shall ask in his Name, shall be given unto them. A blind Woman being brought to this St. Hillary, who had a long time laid under this miser∣able condition, even till she had spent her whole stock on Physicians and Chirurgions: He tells her, If that which she had thus consumed had been given to the poor, Jesus the true Physi∣cian would have made her well. She still earnestly begging and entreating his mercy, he spit on her Eyes, and presently she became whole. And the more and greater Faith is given to this Sanative Power arising from the Holy Spirit, the greater Efficacy and Virtue it carries with it. Thus much of Hieronimus the great Man writ of Antoninus and Hillarion, who arrived near at his Age; for he lived about 78 or 79 years, as Prosper testi∣fies in his Chronicle. St. Augustine out-lived him much about that time, being as witnesses of his great praise:

for should we enquire into his Con∣versation, we shall find his Authority much esteemed as to its verity, whose Judgment was sharp, whose Wit ac∣cute and subtile, even to a Miracle, both in the knowledge and events of admirable Effects: No man need be ashamed in following so good a Ge∣neral, who hath been so curious a Searcher into this matter which I have presumed to discourse of. Another sort of People there are, who put us upon answering a fourth Question.

* 1.22Wherefore are not those Miracles which have been performed by the Preachers and Pious Men of former times still continued?

* 1.23The Answer for such is ready and easie: It was necessary the World should be taught Credence, that it might be brought into a state of Be∣lief, into which every one ought to enquire for Beliefs sake, for there are many Miracles done attested by them; amongst which is that reckoned as one, Of Christs ascention into Heaven with the same Flesh, as he did arise: And this is beyond all denyal; and

this was done, that it might be belie∣ved it was done: and they who did give a more lively Faith thereto, had a greater share of Light thereof given to them? St. Augustine is seen to men∣tion this egregious Miracle in several places, and particularly in his Book of Retractions, cap. 4. & De Unitate Eccles. cap. 16. where he thus expres∣seth it: Throughout the whole World where our Communion went, there were such and so many admirable Gifts of Healing delivered and revealed to the sick; where amongst the rest is rec∣koned the blind Man of Millain, who for many years together had lost his sight, and then again recovered the same. But we leave Italy and come to Africa; and here at Carthage, a∣mongst many other Histories, I shall set down that of St. Augustine, which he mentioneth of a Religious and in∣nocent Woman, who having a Cancer in her Breast not curable by Medicine, and so judged to be taken off by Hip∣pocrates his Rule; and she being here∣at much concern'd, she threw her self wholly into the Hands of her Maker, as her last and best Physician: This Woman being admonish'd in her sleep

to come to the Penticost, as the cu∣stom of that Country was, to be Ba∣ptiz'd; and being there Baptized, sig∣nifying the same by the sign of the Cross, she recovered her health: Some while after, the Physician who pro∣nounced her Incurable, meeting her in so good condition, and being desi∣rous to know how she conquer'd this her terrible Distemper, the which he supposed would have speedily rob'd her of her Life; she telling him her method she made use of, giving thanks for her happy success, he rather con∣temns the same, than joyns in thanks for her great Recovery: such being the Pride and Opinions of some ill Men, that although they see some things done before their Eyes, they have scarce Faith enough to believe them, or Civility sufficient to acknowledge them: Not declaring with St. Augu∣stine, That the Almighty is more glorifi∣ed hereby, by shewing his wonderful and miraculous Methods to the Sons of men. I should be too tedious and volumi∣nous, should I reckon up these Histo∣ries of St. Augustine, relating to these strange and wonderful ways of Cure: those of Bassus of Hippomenes; of the

young Man grieved with the Palsie; of Paulus and Palladia, who both were troubled with a Trembling over all their parts. And that he might not seem erronious herein in his Histories, he gives every of them their proper names, and proper places: And hence this Holy Father concludes, That out of so many accidents, many Miracles have been performed by the Almigh∣ty, by and through such Instruments as he shall please to appoint, and when he pleaseth: That a more ready con∣gratulation may be given to the Al∣mighty, he adviseth, That those who have thus received their health, should let the World see what great things he hath done for them, and to re∣cord the same, that future Ages may behold and admire his Wisdom and Goodness to poor Mortals. Let us therefore, Christians, who do live un∣der the best of Princes, and in the perfect Light of his Wonders, yield Praise, Thanks, and due Obedience to him for the same; and not with the ingrateful Man, think and suppose these things Fictitious. For who can be so blind, seeing these things daily done and made good, as to deny the

truth thereof, but should rather, ac∣cording to St. Augustines example, tri∣umph in these Works done in England, the which ought rather to be regi∣stred than forgotten: That succeed∣ing Generations may behold the Ex∣amples of the wonderful Cures which hath been performed before their days, by the Sacred Hand of our Blessed Soveraigns.* 1.24 Possidoneus in Vit. August. cap. 18.29, 30. thus writes of St. Augustine, That when he was af∣flicted with his last distemper, there came a Woman with a sick Man to him, and desired that he would touch him that he might be cured: He being told in his sleep, That if he went to St. Augustine the Bishop, and he laid his hands upon him, he should be re∣lieved of his Disease. Upon his com∣ing to St. Augustine, he tells him, If he would please to touch him he should be whole: St. Augustine, it is said, laying his hands on him, he went home sound and cured of his Disease. And Possidoneus writes this as one of St. Augustines great Miracles: He dyed the fifteenth of September, Anno Christi 430. but left this Gift of Healing be∣hind him; for we shall find, after his

time, this still flourished and encreas∣ed; for from his time even to Justinus the old Emperor, that is to say, to the five hundred and eighteenth year of our Saviour,* 1.25 it ran in the same stream near eighty years, in which many and wonderful Gifts of Healing were ex∣ercised, as History doth fully satisfie; and so continued even to the seventh Age, that is, the Six hundred and tenth year of Christ, even to the Coun∣cil of Nice. We shall not trouble you with any other methods and by-ways used for Cures, taken up in these days by evil Spirits, or unclean Pseudo∣mungers, rather naming the Virtues and Divine Gifts of Pious and Holy Men. And that this Virtue hath been transmitted through all Ages of the World, not only Africa bears wit∣ness, but our Asia, called Europe, can testifie the same. And as the Meridi∣an and Orient times were illustrated by these Gifts bestowed on the ser∣vants of God above 670 years and upwards, so also our Occidental times do receive the same by the Septen∣trional Light. And our Britain can as well speak of this, as any Age or Country whatsoever: for out of Pro∣sperus

his Authority it appears, that Germanus the Bishop of Auocerre was sent into Britain from Celestine. Con∣stantius saith, that this Germanus and Lupus Bishops of Troys (seeing all wea∣ther fair to willing minds) were both Men of such Learning and Holy Lives, that a grave Father of their Time, called Lupus, the Father of Fathers, and the Bishop of Bishops, and yet but a Second to Germanus the Prin∣cipal, much resembling Paul and Bar∣nabas. They being sent as two Le∣gates into Britain, as the Chief and Principal of the rest; these by their great Learning and Virtue did sweet∣en a great part of the Country with their Doctrine, and confirmed the Or∣thodox Faith, and made many of the Pelagians, whose Religion, or rather way of Worship, w^ch they had former∣ly used, to revolt from that which they had formerly taken up, and reclaimed the Erronious Preaching in Fields and High-ways; and as the Kings presence did make a Court, so theirs did make a Church. For at this time Pelagius, which was a Britain, and had secured many Disciples to himself which came out thence, and infected the People

with the Pelagian Heresie, did begin to lessen both in his number and re∣putation. For God Almighty, as it were by a wonderful Compendium, did confirm the Catholick Faith, by shew∣ing a Miracle performed by a Man of the Tribunative Power, who coming into Church with his Wife, and having his Daughter blind for about ten years, they carryed her to the Priests, where they joyned in Prayers with her Parents for her Recovery (whil'st on the contrary the Pelagians waiting to see the success) Germanus after ha∣ving invoked the Holy Trinity, the Daughter immediatly was seen cured in the publick view of all the By-stan∣ders.

Constantius remembers, that in the last Legation of this Germanus com∣ing into this Isle, that Elephias a great Man hapned in his way, and plac'd his Son, who although in the flower of his Age, had his Members wither∣ed, his Knee contracted, and could not walk by reason of this contracted dryness which hapned in his Ham: this Germane made him presently to set down, and did extend the contracted parts, and gave him a speedy cure, so

that his dryness received moisture, and the Nerves regained their proper fun∣ctions: The Son return'd to his Fa∣ther, the People hereat were all ama∣zed, and the Catholick Faith by this means grew very firm and stable in the Breasts of all Men. This Gift of Ger∣manus, as I have said, was founded on the Orthodox Faith, which both easi∣ly and readily did confound its Ene∣mies the Pelagians. This Pelagius al∣so as he was a Britain by birth, was by some called Morgan; and every Man, as Dr. Fuller writes in his Ecclesiastical History, is born a Pelagian, naturally proud of his Power, and needs little Art to make him think well of himself, and Britain only bred him, and he himself begot and bred his Heresie; and in this, our Island is as happy as unfortunate, for as it bred him it op∣posed his Errors; even as the best Fa∣ther may have an unhappy Child, who by the fore-sight of his Sons extrava∣gancy may quit him from his favor, and so give no countenance to his evil Courses. And that which is almost as great a Miracle, is that one relates of him, The same day that Pelagius was born in Britain, St. Augustine was born

in Africk: The Almighty sending both the Poison and the Alexapharmick together into the World, in one and the same hour or day.

I shall not presume to appear so cu∣rious, as to look into the course of Gods thus confirming his Truth with such Seals and Miracles done in the Church; we ought rather to consult the Scriptures, which are the proper Fountains of Truth.

But to pretermit many Authorities with which I could easily swell up this Discourse,* 1.26 I proceed to the time of Gregory the Great, who writes, That he saw Holy Men working Miracles by many Virtues, as cleansing the Lepers, casting out Devils, healing the Sick by touching them, and Prophesying by the Spirit of Prophesie: and he brings John to the example of some of these; one of which, was the blind Man which he cured; another was one born Lame and Dumb at Constan∣tinople; yet all Ages of the Church did not receive the purity of the Scri∣ptures, nor charity of Learned Men. Whence I cannot be so readily brought

to believe, but rather demur to their sayings, and the frequent miraculous Performances which are said to be done by St. Augustine and his Compa∣nions, of which both Gregory and Beda makes mention; neither can I believe all the Miracles said to be done by him, but shall rather joyn in Opinion with Dr. Fuller, who saith, That he who believes all which St. Au∣gustine and his Companions are said to have done, had need to have a hard Plate in his Front that reports it, and he a soft place in his Head which be∣lieves it: Many Miracles said to be done by him, being rather but lightly to be touch'd, lest by long handling they come to be crush'd, and so vanish either into Smoak or Vapor. Let King Edward the Single and Famous be our English Hero, and the Glory of Mi∣racles about this time of the Church, be alone had in Veneration, of whom I shall more enlarge in its proper place.

* 1.27Here St. Malachias, the Bishop of Armach, of whom St. Bernard writes in his life-time, is said to perform many Miracles, the which he acted not

according to the form and method of former times: For if we read him a∣right, we shall find, he neither want∣ed Prophesie or Revelation, nor the Gift of Healing, nor changing of Minds, nor raising the Dead. And St. Bernard doth place him before his Companions, for he is said, in one day the Diocess of Constantinianus, to cure eleven which were Blind, and ten Lame Creatures. And if Antoninus may be believ'd, the true Witness of these Times, the Miracles of the Four∣teenth Age of St. Bernard, and St. Ka∣tharine of Senens there Recorded, are plainly said to be incredible: Let their Faith be according to their Authors. As to the main thereof, this I can af∣firm, as all the Miracles said to be done by them may in no means be allowed false, but somewhat of Truth may go along with them, yet what part there∣of which is so, is so intermix'd with falshood, that it is no easie matter to distinguish between them: And as I shall not much pin my Faith upon their Miracles, so will I not detract from the Virtue of Gods Servants, or rather the Finger of God working by them.

All Ages have had their false and seducing Lights of Faith in them, by which we have seen the infinite shapes of Vizards, Prodigies, and Romantick Stories most excellently delineated; all which were designed to cheat the foolish, and to bring the illiterate into the ready Knowledge and Worship of unknown Gods. Hence had our ma∣nifold Idolatry its first Birth and Be∣ginning: hence followed the Wor∣shipping of Idols, Invocating of dead Souls, Adoration of Statues, sending Indulgences from their dead Caves, and the like unheard of Fallacies. Hath not England its miraculous way of Healing, and in this do we meet any of these Figments go along with it, or concern'd with any part thereof? Doth not St. Augustine himself say, That all Saints have not this Sanative Power given them, nor all the Gifts of Divination, more than the Gift of Prophesying, and the like. St. Chri∣sostome doth shew some signs hereof, and answers the Question when he faith, Signs are made that Men here∣by might be brought to believe: and he further enquires, Why in the times

of the Apostles these signs were made, and not in his time; he resolves this likewise, when he saith, By how much the more certain and necessary these things are, the less Faith they do car∣ry with them; and by how much the Argument is the more certainly de∣monstrated, by so much the value of its Faith is detracted: therefore Signs in presence are not to be done. And this for certain we may aver, that all Miracles are not fully ceased, as may be proved both by Ancient and Mo∣dern Authority: For Centur. 4. Lib. 2. Cap. 3. This is not to be past with si∣lence, saith Magdeburgensis, that the Apostles did affirm the Gifts of exter∣nal Miracles, should reach all Ages: for without doubt, amongst the rest these would foreshew the Evangelical Doctrines being confirmed: But they do not mention this Healing Faculty amongst the rest of their Ministerial Functions: I exhort therefore, that sup∣plications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for Kings, and all that are in authori∣ty, &c. 1 Tim. 13. But Paul was the first which first taught this great Art

of Healing, as you may see, 1 Cor. 12. which was not distributed to all alike, for all have not this given to them. Thus much thereof from Ecclesiastical Hi∣stories: it is most probable this still doth continue amongst us, yet it is not allowed as a Miracle, nor brought in∣to the same Number, nor Species, nor Dignity: It is a great Gift, and no vulgar one, not proper to all sorts of Men; not to those of the Church, although otherwise gifted▪ But is a Gift confirmed on Christian Kings, whose Patrimonial Virtue of Sanative Power doth run in the Roy∣al Line, who do peaceably possess the same to them and their Heirs, holding the same of the Almighty in chief; and this may not much come beneath an External Miracle, the Church calls it. The inward be∣ing allowed the Spiritual Miracles, and these are performed in all places, and at all times, by Administring of the Word, the Prayers of Holy Men, by the virtue of our Blessed Saviour, and this dispensed by the Holy Spi∣rit; amongst which are reckoned the raising from the Dead, the keeping

up the Church against the Devil and all his machinations, and all those its evil Agents, who make it their bu∣siness to create rents in the same, and rob it of its pristine Vigor and Ex∣cellency.

CHAP. V. In this is shewn the Universality of its Cure, without any re∣spect either to Age, Sex, Temper, or Constitution.

HItherto hath our Discourse kept company with its Witnesses, which hath plentifully declared its long continuance; and this attested as well by the light of Examples, as by the fulness of Reasons, to take off all Calumny that dare interpose upon this Soveraign and Royal Gift. This Gift and its use evermore keeping time together, and are neither to be dis∣joyned or discluded by time or place: If therefore we would defend the Truth thereof, we ought to consider the Qualities of the Persons thus gift∣ed, what kind of Men they are, how well Qualified, with what Holiness endowed, with what Faith exercised, with what Manners instituted, with

what Religion pollished, with what Dignity adorned, and with what ex∣cellent Virtues cherished? all which do declare the ascent of their Honor; being as so many steps to their heighth of perfection, every of which do con∣center in the search of the Cause by which they do arrive at this Sanative Faculty. Its credible also that Eth∣nicks, and Antichrist, and with him Antichristians and Hereticks, and ill Christians, somtimes have been seen making Signs and Prodigious things. But such as do the same in the light, and in the view of the Church, must needs be of the number of the Faith∣ful, being in the order of pious Men, and such as do observe Religion in its true order and decency. And Grego∣ry doth affirm this as a reason of the same, when he saith, Every fair work doth adorn the House of God: And then he adds, We have seen Holy men doing great and wonderful Things, as cleansing the Lepers, casting out De∣vils, curing the Sick and Lame by the Touch, and the like. These somtimes being shewn and done by persons of another rank, Matth. 7. who shall in Christs name be said to cast out evil

Spirits, and yet keep the same Spirit within themselves: And this Gregory justifies when he saith, Many come, and say they do work Miracles in Christs Name, many in the name of Antichrist; and of these Tribes are many false Prophets, and many work∣ers in the Dark, who dare not venture at the light of the Sun their miracu∣lous proceedings.

* 1.28And as we allow all Pagans, Infi∣dels and Atheists, to be out of the pale of our Church, so we shall find both clean and unclean Spirits in it. And whatsoever this black kind of pretend∣ed Curers may do, I am sure whatso∣ever is thus done, is compleated by the Devil their Tutor: Of this kind was the Magick of the Gentiles, writ by St. Augustine. And without all doubt, This Master of Black Art inter∣posing with these his Pupils, can work wonderful things. Suetonius is not to be contemned, who declares, That Vespasian the Emperor did restore sight to the Blind man of Alexandria, and made the Lame walk. But Cornelius Tacitus with more truth denies the Position; for this Cure was procured

by ill method, affirming, That those Diseases which are in their own Nature curable, do require and deserve less of Diabolical Art to assist them. This Evil named by Tertullian, was a Dis∣ease wholly generated from the Evil Spirit, the which falling in one of his Eyes, and into one of his Feet, did hinder the use of his Members; and therefore the means which hurt him, was found to be the best Remedy to cure him.

Satan is a wonderful Artist, and a great Professor of admirable Opera∣tions: The same may be said of Anti∣christ and his followers, all which are not to be reckoned in the same day with the sublime gifts of good Men. Magicians and Antichristians do work much after one and the same method, but neither of them after the good Rules of pious and good Christians. For as St. Augustine writes, Magicians do work Miracles one way, good Men another way; ill Men only by Demo∣niacal Contract,* 1.29 good Men by publick Justice, evil Men under the resemblance of the same. Ill men do work Mira∣cles in the sanctity of the Church, not in the sanctity of the Person, for con∣firming

and establishing of his Faith: The which also is imitated by the worst sort of Men, but in another form and manner. Gregory tells us, That Cor∣poral Miracles do somtimes shew San∣ctity, not make it, but Spiritual Gifts wrought in the Mind, do not shew the Virtue of Life, but do form it: But this is scarce the property of any Saint. And St. Augustine doth give a very good reason for the same, when he saith, These Miracles are not given to all Holy men: Nor are the infirm to be deceived, for in these acts are great∣er good things shewn, than in the works of Justice, to which Eternal Life is compared. Peter the Apostle raised the Dead, Simon Magus did many Wonders which were beyond many Christians power and skill to ar∣rive at or attain. But whence had they this? Their names were writ in Heaven. In Miracles the curiosity of the Eye is desired, but this is not from the Fa∣ther. The true Rule therefore of Miracles is this, If God gives the power of doing good to any one, let him prosecute the same and prosper in the action. These being given accord∣ing to the will which can and will do

what he pleaseth: In former times we have shewed that this Gift was bestow∣ed on Pious and Religious Men, of which sort in those times were great plenty to be found. But our succeed∣ing Ages have much lessened in the number thereof: For in our days, not only paucity of People are thus gifted, but the Gift it self is celebrated and known of use by its effects by very few; and those which are seen thus to enjoy them are the Heads of the Church, and the chief Rulers of Na∣tions and People; as Kings, Princes, and Governors.

CHAP. VI. Whether Kings and Queens of England, as Nursing Fathers and Mothers were thus parti∣cularly qualified with this Gift of Healing? and whether the French King doth cure by Stroaking the Evil, as well as our Kings of England?

KING Ptolomy asking the Que∣stion of his Wife Interpreter, In what occasions a King should chief∣ly exercise himself? The Answer was thus given: To know those things which formerly have been done; to read Books of those matters which daily do offer themselves; and to en∣quire after those things which do most conduce to a Kingdoms Preservation: All which three do most happily cen∣ter in this Gracious and Salutiferous Operation. For here may we see his Majesty exercising his Royal Hand by

performing what hath been done by His Royal Predecessors: At which So∣lemnity are read divers Prayers which call down a Blessing on his Sacred Touch; and that nothing can con∣duce more to a Kingdoms Preservati∣on, than the free Gift of this benign Charity by which they are kept in Health, no man of sense can or will dispute or disprove. Our Discourse hath hitherto satisfied us of several Gifts given to diversity of Men, some of which have been allowed more ex∣traordinary than others, yet all found useful to Mankind; and how these have been performed, we have cleared by Historical Illustrations. And be∣cause every Age, Sex or Orders of Men have had in them somwhat more ex∣celling Faculties than others, these Gifts being given according to the Divine Will and Pleasure of the Al∣mighty: Thus we see our calling, Cor. 1.1. whereof not many wise after the flesh, not many mighty, not many nobles are called. And that this Gift is given to Kings, as Sons of the Church, and to Queens as Daughters thereof, is shewn by Isaiah, Isa. 60.16. Thou shalt suck the milk of the Gentiles,

and shalt suck the breasts of Kings: and Isa. 49.23. Kings shall be their nursing Fathers, and Queens their nursing Mo∣thers. Out of every part of the Earth, God will take some of his People particularly to himself, and will set up his Standard amongst them, by which they shall declare the Power of the Almighty, which doth bestow this admirable Gift on them. And this Prophet doth extend the same to Islands and to Kingdoms, when he saith, Bring the Islands unto me, and let the Nations tend from afar off: As the Poet hath it, Divisos Orbe Britan∣nos. And since there is nothing more apparent since the opening of the Church, than that it is adorned with many noble and excellent Ornaments, sure I am, where Kings and Queens are planted as its Heads, it must far excel all other Churches which are destitute of their Royal Presence. That there∣fore which happens in the whole Fi∣gure of the Body, although it hath most delicate Hands and Feet, and had therewith joyned the goodliness and beauty of many other parts, yet un∣less the Face, Eyes, Mouth, and other parts, did carry the like symmitry and

proportion of parts therewith; these would but deform the whole, and les∣sen the beauty and esteem of the rest.

The same use may be made of the Christian Church,* 1.30 if some of its Deni∣zens be endowed with this or that ex∣traordinary Gift, or furnished with more Virtue or Grace, or greater Gifts from the Almighty, who should by the same appear as greater Lights, and more eminent amongst the smaller and lesser Lights thereof; unless these Men who are thus supereminently gift∣ed and qualified, do declare and present the same to view by a more strict and exact way of living, they do only make way for the lesser Lights to out-shine them. This enters the Dis∣course by the by, that all Men might understand, that out of this heap of Celestial Graces, the Almighty doth bestow the best and richest Mercies and Plenty of Divine Gifts upon his Principal Men and Primary Women;* 1.31 viz. To Kings and Queens he transmits the same, whose Persons are Sacred with him. Thus on Joshua he bestow∣ed Fortitude and Courage; Meekness

he gave to Moses; an Heroick Spirit to Deborah; Magnitude and magna∣nimity for a time to Saul; to David a heart according to his own heart; Judgment to King Solomon his Son: To the chief Elders also he gave di∣vers Gifts; and out of his plentiful stock of favors, he did distribute va∣riety of Gifts to diversity of Men.

Thus to Constantinus he gave the Gift of proclaiming the first of the E∣vangelick Emperors, commanded by him to his Successors: To Theodosius he gave power to entrench and envi∣ron Religion, as with a quick Hedge, made and confirmed by a knot of Po∣litick Law, which had heretofore been shaken with the various Storms and troublesom Tempests of Heresies. To Christian Kings, and Princes, and Queens, he hath given this Sanative Faculty, by which both their and their Subjects Faith might the better be con∣firmed, and be more gloriously com∣mended to succeeding Generations. But every one hath his proper Gift and Talent allowed and afforded him, and some have more than others thereof; and some of these are more particular∣ly attributed to particular Persons and

Places. Thus our Kings of England, and the French Kings, do only Cure the Struma or Evil, denyed to all o∣ther Kings, Princes, Potentates, and Emperors whatsoever. Guido tells us, That the French King in his time cured this by his Touch only, some Divine Virtue going along therewith; he li∣ved in the time 1348. under the Bishop Clement the Sixth. But our English Histories do procure a better memory he••eof, and do give it a lon∣ger Being and Continuance with us, the which both the French, Italians, and others, have already declared. And John Tagnultius writes also in his Chirurgick Institutions, That the most Christian King, endowed with this Divine Gift, doth cure many Scrophu∣lous Tumors by his Touch only. And further he saith, That King Edward also, as Histories do report, did by his Touch cure the same, some Prayers and Hymns being used and recited thereat: This Tagnultius was a French Man: an Italian doth also acknow∣ledge the same. Laurentius also re∣ports, That when Francis the first King of France was kept Prisoner in Spain, notwithstanding his Exile, he

daily cured multitudes of poor people of this Disease, according to this Epi∣gram made of him,

Hispanos inter sanat Rex Chaeradas estque. Captivus superis gratus, ut ante fuit.

The whole Medicinal Virtue not be∣ing affixt to his prosperity but to his person, this continuing with him his whole Life.

And this we must affirm for our Bri∣tish Glory (where every good Coun∣try-man ought to contribute towards the Reputation of his Native Soil) that by how much the Faith of Christ was taken sooner into the World by Bri∣tains, than it was by the French; by so much in all likelyhood, this gift of Healing had its more early appearance in England than it had in France. For Britains were converted to the Faith, made good by Gelda, in the time of Joseph of Arimathea, and in the time of King Lucius, and Elutherius the Arch-Bishop, who writ in the Year 167. Ye have received of late, through Gods mercies, in the Kingdom of Bri∣tain,

the Law and the Faith of Christ; ye have with you within your Realm, both parts of the Scriptures; and ac∣cording to the Prophet which was a King: O God give Judgment unto the King, and Righteousness unto the Kings Son. And Tertullian further saith, Those places of the Britains to which the Romans could not approach, were subject unto Christ, although it is not certain who first Preached the Gospel to them, nor whether they were Greeks or Latines. The first of the French Kings was Clodovaeus, who lived in the Three hundredth year and upwards after Christ, as appears by the Faith of Worthy History: Its very proba∣ble, that our Kings in the earlier times of the Church, did receive these great and wonderful Gifts from God him∣self, and did exercise the same in their Dominions: and it was then an old saying, That the Kingdom of England was the Kingdom of God.

The French Kings* 1.32 (whose whole Provinces were evermore subject to the Jurisdiction of our Kings of England) did only borrow this Sanative and Sa∣lutiferous Faculty from the Primitive

Power of our English Kings, under whose Government most of the French Provinces were once subjected. For it appears by uncontroulable Argu∣ments and Evidences, that both the Crowns of England and of France have for many years been invested with this Miraculous Gift: so that our Eng∣lish Kings are the eldest Brothers there∣of, and had this in its first possession: For if St. Lewis King of France, of whom we have already made men∣tion, who was contemporary with our King Henry the Third, was the first of that Royal Race which healed the Evil; his Cradle was more than 160 years after the Coffin of our Edward the Confessor,* 1.33 as most Authors have very well observed; from whom, as is abovesaid, our Kings do derive this most Excellent and Divine Gift at this day by constant Succession, as witness Andrew Chasne a French Author, and several others of their own Country∣men.

The truth is, dark and obscure was the Morning of Healing, till cleared up by the bright Sunshine of Edward the Confessor; and Polydorus doth declare many admirable Virtues which

he had in him; and some Authors do write, and amongst the rest, the Monks of his time had too heavy a hand in spicing his Life with Miracles, making the relation thereof too hot for any Gust of moderate belief. There is no question but that there are many things recorded of this great Man which do carry abundance of truth in them; but again, many other things are re∣ported of him, which with safety of truth are not to come within the rule of a general acceptation; and amongst the rest this may serve as one, That he was declared King by consent of his Parliament, when as yet he was in his Mothers Womb, his Father ha∣ving many other Sons alive, the holy Monk Brightwold of Glassenbury de∣ploring their loss, had in Vision this Edward, then an Exile, presented un∣to him by the Apostle Saint Peter him∣self, who then anointing him King in his sight, telling him his Reign should be peaceable, and Twenty three years for continuance: Brightwold being yet unsatisfied who should next suc∣ceed, demanded the Resolution, and was by Peter answered, That the King∣dom of England was Gods own King∣dom,

for whose Successors himself would provide: with such vain Pre∣dictions our otherwise true Stories of him are overcharged, that Comineus being hereby therewith moved, seem∣ed to tax the English with over-much credulity that way. As to this great Man's Birth, he was born at Islip in Oxfordshire, and was Son of King E∣theldred, Queen Emma being his Mo∣ther, who by her Maternal affection sent him into Normandy to Duke Ri∣chard her Brother, to rescue him from all Domestick Quarrels; and before the dead Corps of his Father was in∣terred, with a general consent of the Nobles, he was chosen King: his Co∣ronation was at Winchester, the Cele∣bration of which was performed by Edsine Archbishop of Canterbury, up∣on Easter-day 1040. he being then towards forty years of age, and was in number the 37th Monarch of Eng∣land, where he Reigned with that Justice and Clemency, that he obtain∣ed the Venerable Name of Saint, and is distinguished from the other Ed∣wards by the Title of Confessor; and that he designed his Crown should continue in the English Blood, he

sent for Edward his Nephew, the Son of Edward Ironside, who so long kept out of England, that he was called Outlaw, and him he intended Heir to the English Crown, had not hasty Death prevented, and put a stop to his Inclinations: He Reigned Twen∣ty three years and six months, and died the fourth of January 1066.

And now as to his excellent Deeds; He appeared in the World not like a Mortal Creature, his Miracles and Presages much keeping resemblance with those of the Apostles, the which here to assert, were to fill up whole Leaves with a needless surcharge, and create a suspition of other great and admirable things done by him. He was famous for many personal Mira∣cles, the which he is said to have en∣tailed as an Hereditary Virtue on his Successors the Kings of England, only with this condition, That they do support and maintain the Christian Faith, as to the cure of this Struma, or the Disease commonly called The Kings-Evil; the which Disease this King cured only by his laying his hands on the sick party; and this hath ever since continued in the Princely

Line, where the Scepter hath been weighed by Gods Vicegerent. But as to the Origination of this Cure, there is still much controversie kept up amongst the Learned,* 1.34 some num∣bring the same amongst 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, whose reason is not to be shewn; others do bring it to the power of fancy, and an exalted imagination. Thus when a poor Creature who never saw the presence of a King, shall behold his Princely and Royal Hand with a cha∣ritable confidence and touch to chase away his troublesome and loathsome Swellings; to see a Hand so humble, of an Arm so high, shew such conde∣scention; of a King so great to stroak the Sores of so mean, and low, and despicable a Subject; to see Him who sits in his Royal Chair, vouchsafe his Presence and helping Hand, where many or most of his Subjects would both stop their Nostrils, and shut their Eyes at, as scorning to come near them; this may well raise and enlarge the Pa∣tients fancy, summoning his Spirits to assist Nature for the encountring this Disease with the utmost might.

Other Learned Men, and amongst these particularly Casper Peucerus, al∣though acquitting this Cure from Dia∣bolical Conjuration, yet taxes the same as guilty of Superstition; and with him all such others do lessen the brightness thereof, who do or dare quarrel at the Ceremonies used at this Healing; being either displeased at the Collect read here, as nothing relating to this purpose, or unresolved at the efficacy of the Gold put about the Pa∣tients neck, or secretly unsatisfied there∣with: All which Exceptions must needs fall to the ground, when it shall be a∣vowed and made good▪ that notwith∣standing the omission of such Cere∣monies (being nearer kin to the Solem∣nity than assistance to the Cure) the bare Hands of our Kings having oft effected the same to a Miracle. Some there are again who make this a clear Miracle, with Gods own Finger put into the Healing hands; so that when the Art of Physick is nonplust, and Chirurgery tyed up, and all other hu∣mane means baffled, that then this Dis∣ease which was made by the hand of God, should be thus cured by the

hand of his Vicegerent, doth not come much beneath one.

The truth is, I would willingly see what should give any denial to any reasonable Man hereof, since we find every Vegetable hath its virtue and energy given to it, and allowed it: And that neither Stones, Metals, Wa∣ters, or Herbs themselves, and the like, do but shew forth and declare the honor of their Maker, by shew∣ing us their various Virtues, and di∣vers distributive uses for the good of all Mankind. And why should we Men, and Christians, and true Deni∣zens of the Church of England, be so narrow Soul'd as not to conceive, that Christian Men, the most noble of all Corporeal Creatures; and Kings, the most of Christians; and Kings of Great Britain, the first-fruits of all Christian Kings, should not receive this Chri∣stian peculiar Priviledge and Sanative Power; whereof daily instances do give us a greater light of the truth thereof. And here we may see the difference between Papists and ill Pro∣testants: the first courting these Mi∣racles, even in their Embrio, and be∣fore

they come at any appearance of Birth, greedy to catch hold at the very empty shadows and resemblances thereof, whil'st the ill-natur'd Prote∣stant and Dissenter are so far from gi∣ving credence to the truth thereof, which every day manifests to their eyes, that they bend that little Faith they have utterly against it, be it brought to them by the purest Light and brightest Reason. This Royal Gift hath been preserved in the Royal Line, and maintained by thesame above 640 Years and upwards, and is seen every day more and more to flourish amongst us, to the ease, comfort and relief, of many thousands of poor Souls: If therefore there be any that can pretend to have had an earlier pos∣session thereof than we have, they must be of a more ancient Standing, and they must take it (as the School hath it) from God himself: and from the first of Christianity to its eldest spin∣ning.

As to the exercise of this Gift, Eil∣redus Rhivalensis doth very well re∣member it, in the time of Edward the Confessor, as may be seen in Vit. Ed∣vard. Confessor. ex Manuscript. Celeber.

Antiquar. Cambden. Westmonast. who hath there writ of his Miracles with no sparing Pen: Hence did Miracles encrease, Signs multiplyed, and more sublimely declared for the merits of Kings and Princes, the hand of the Omnipotent taking them by the hand. And amongst the rest, he writes of a young Woman newly married, who met with a double disadvantage, as having her face deformed with this Disease, & Barrenness for sometimes de∣priving her of her Breeding hopes; un∣der her Fauces was indeed a new Birth of unheard of Swellings, which made a strange and monstrous shape in her Face, turning her blood into matter, by putrifying Humors lodged under its Cutis, whence oft times were Worms seen to proceed, which afforded a moist, noisom and unpleasing smell; this Disease begot ill Humors in her Husband, and her Barrenness lessened his affection to her; she lived very un∣happily with him, proved a trouble to her Parents, strange to her self, and uneasie to her Friends by this ama∣zing change of Aspect, as also by the loathsome smell she ever carryed about her: Hence contempt, sorrow and

pining, were the only Companions she enjoyed: Physicians seldom being seen ready of giving their time and skill where plenty does not satisfie their pains, and from these she had but lit∣tle comfort; she being thus rob'd of all hopes of Cure, and stript from every appearance of amendment: The great Physician of the World, most ready to shew his skill, when humanity had given over the Disease as irrecover∣able, She begs of the Almighty after this manner: Lord, Loose me from this trouble! The Woman being in a Dream, she thought that she was com∣manded to be brought to the Palace by a Vision which she saw, and to trust in the Kings Touch; the which if she were once touch'd by him, and wash'd, and signed, she should receive Cure: The Woman being awakened, and pre∣senting her self to the King in the sight of the By-standers, before whom she laid open her condition, he prayeth for her Health; and being overcome with Piety and Pity towards her, neither minds the Filth or the Stench, but lay∣ing his hands on her, and putting the Sign of the Cross upon her, and the like; all which being done, the Cutis

presently rent, the Worms turned out with Matter, the Swellings abated, the Pain ceased, and she in a very short time, to all admiration, happily cu∣red. And that nothing may be want∣ing to extol this Kings Glory, This Woman is said after this to become fruitful, and by her bearing Children to her Husband, did reconcile his love to her. This Eilredus writes in the a∣bovesaid Book, amongst the rest of the Histories of this great King who lived in the same time with this Woman.

* 1.35Unto whom shall we most likely re∣semble, or presume to compare our Dread Soveraign King Charles the Se∣cond, King of Great Britain, France, and Ireland, Defender of the Faith, &c. who sits as the great Moderator of our English Isle: The great Parent of our Health and Safety, and the Royal Well-wisher of our Lives and For∣tunes as to our Prosperity and plentiful Enjoyment, who hath as far excelled his Predecessors in this Sanative Facul∣ty, as King Edward did his Ancestors; who as he was given to us for our health, and the health of our Nation, so in this Curative Faculty he out∣shines

all the World. And as he takes in him the Ruling Power of his People, by which he governeth by an Heredi∣tary Right from his Royal Ancestors, so he confirms the same to us by this Balsamick and Sanative Power, deri∣ved to him from his Royal Forefathers inherent in him: By which he helps and relieves all such Poor as do or may approach his Royal Touch.

Fortune hath her greater and smal∣ler Regalities, as we have shewn,* 1.36 con∣sidering either its State or Republick, or the felicity of the Church therein: for what is more admirable, than to see a Prince excelling his People in Wis∣dom, Prudence, Conduct, and the like, who is not only their Delight, but also of him which made him; who doth not only sway and rule his own Nations in Peace and Tranquility, but by his Advice and Councel doth keep and preserve all others in Amity and Concord? And what can be said more for the Fame of a Nation, than that England hath a Soveraign, which for above thirty odd years, hath Reign∣ed with Glory and Renown, hath Ruled it both in Peace and in War,

both by Sea and Land, in which he hath not only defended and protected his own from their Enemies, but also kept them safe from all Foreign danger and hazard? And in this Religious Work (which hath taken up our whole Discourse) is not so much of his Maje∣sty shewn, as of his Divinity. For this is the great gift of the Divine Majesty, and is every where found worthy of a Divine Progeny, and of a Royal Un∣ction, who by right of both, to which his Sacred Rights and Priviledges be∣ing annexed and consecrated to him, he doth in a moment send ease to the Sick, and restore health to the Diseas∣ed. And I presume, there is no good principled Man, or any so vain and inconsiderate, who having a little more sense than a Brute in him, or that only desires to live upon contradiction to all Sense, Reason, or to any thing that is good, will ever deny the same or ap∣pear a Dissenter thereto, since it is the Kings Right, as his peculiar Priviledge given to him: By which his Royal Scepter doth flourish in his Sacred Hand, and his Princely Person gains more Veneration and Honor than his Predecessors.

And because I have been oft conver∣sant, and attending at many of these laudible Operations, having waited on his Sacred Person both at publick and private Healings, as one of his meanest Chirurgions, where I have seen many thousands of poor Souls touch'd and cured by his Sacred Hand (and as a more particular account hath lately been given in, that he hath healed a∣bove Six thousand this very last year) I am obliged both by Duty and Con∣science to give my Faith to his Royal Touch, seeing the daily and innu∣merable effects thereof: Many of which, as if amazed at the speedy farewel of their Diseases, have imme∣diatly been cured to admiration, even in the Presence, before they have got out of the Banquetting-house at White-Hall, where his Majesty doth most usually heal; and some, although brought in Lame and Blind, yet have within a very little and short space of time, recovered their Limbs and gained their Sight, as will plentiful∣ly be made good by divers Exam∣ples in our last Chapter. And what∣soever Opinion some men may have

of our Prince and of our Religion we do profess in England, as also of his great Piety, Charity and Clemen∣cy; yet this I will not be afraid to affirm to any Man, of what averse∣ness soever, That when both in Town and Country, the best Physi∣cians and Chirurgions have been con∣sulted for curing the Sick troubled with this Evil Disease, and their best Skill and utmost Art hath been exer∣cised, and yet proved useless and of none effect, such afterwards who have come and obtained his Majesties Gracious Touch, their Diseases have been seen immediatly to vanish, as be∣ing afraid of approaching his Royal Touch. If he therefore were not the right Heir to the Crown (which I hope the worst of Mankind dare not pretend to confute) and conducted thither by Divine Authority, and e∣stablish'd in his Throne by the Al∣mighty Power, these wonderful ef∣fects would not so apparently be seen performed by him: For this Work carries more of Divinity than Majesty in it, and is wholly the Gift of Divine Majesty; and when both

these meet together, and Center in their right Lines, you will ever find a Divine Blessing interposing.

And as a farther acknowledgment of His Majesties success herein, al∣though I may, perhaps, by the best of Authority, give as full an account of Struma's as any before me, as to a Curative Method; Yet when I con∣sider his Majesties gracious Touch, I find my self readily nonplust, and shall ever affirm, That all Chirurgi∣ons whatsoever must truckle to the same, and come short of his marvel∣lous and miraculous method of Heal∣ing; and for further manifestation hereof, I do humbly presume to as∣sert, That more Souls have been Heal∣ed by His Majesties Sacred Hand in one Year, than have ever been cured by all the Physicians and Chirurgions of his three Kingdoms ever since His happy Restauration. Whereas should an Usurper or Tyrant surreptitiously, by Pride and Bloody Massacre, forci∣bly enter his Royal Throne and touch at the same Experiment, you'l ne∣ver see such happy success; as tryed by the late Usurper Cromwell in the late Rebel¦lious

Times, Influences flow from thence, he having no more right to the Healing Power, than he had to the Regal Jurisdiction: His Tryal rather chequering and darkning the bright Rays hereof and so bringing it into Obscurity, than affording it any ap∣pearance of Light. Let no Man there∣fore presume to lay violent hands on Gods Anointed, he having from Hea∣ven, as a particular Mark and signal Token, this Curative Faculty transmit∣ted to him, and implanted in him as a Seal of his Mercy, Clemency, Good∣ness, Providence, Omnipotence, and Truth thereof. And let this Healing Virtue of our King, amongst our Eng∣lish, bear the time of a Miracle, if not allowed to keep equal pace and touch with the same.

CHAP. VII. Part of the Manner and Form of the Healing; wherein is de∣monstrated the Kings Excellent Piety, Humility, and Clemency in Curing Strumaes, with the Ceremonies thereto.

WE come now to shew the Man∣ner and Form of His Maje∣sties Gracious Healing, wherein we shall present the Ceremonies thereat used; in which Discourse, we must acknowledge His Religion, Piety, Charity, Clemency and Humility, ap∣pearing as so many Gems belonging to His Royal Person; into whose So∣veraign Hand, above all His People, is this most Divine Gift setled and confirmed, the which He exerciseth as frequently as He pleaseth, being ei∣ther supplicated thereto by some of

His Nobles, or of the Poor themselves who are thus afflicted, which He per∣forms both by publick and private Healings: And as a signal favour of Him herein, He never makes any ex∣ceptions of Persons, being either Young or Old, Rich or Poor, Beau∣tiful or Deformed, every of which do receive a like share of His Sacred Touch.

And that none may approach His Royal Presence but such as are really troubled with the Evil, several Offi∣cers are appointed for this great Ce∣remony; amongst the first of which are His Majesties Chirurgeons in wait∣ing, who are to take in Certificates, and deliver out Tickets in order to a Healing or Healings; where this fol∣lowing method is to be observed.

No Patient having this Disease should come to the Chirurgeons for a Ticket, without he or she brings with them a Certificate, signed and sealed under the Ministers and Church-wardens Hands that they were never before Toucht by his Sacred Majesty. And that no Person whatever may lose their labour, as a very proper Expe∣riment by way of prevention for the

future of any further Cheats by coun∣terfeit Certificates and the like, great care would be taken of the method of Certificates, and their form: for as these are the only proper Instruments to procure Tickets, so they should also come with that just conduct which may defend the Bearer, and preserve the Kings Gold. Wherefore I presume to offer, If Printed Blank Certificates were sent to every Bishop of his Dio∣cess, and these signed with their own Hands and Sign Manual, and thence communicated to every Surrogate throughout his Diocess, who at their several Meetings & Visitations should acquaint their Brother-Ministers there∣of, or distribute of the same to them, that such who have the Evil may have their Names certified therein, toge∣ther with the Ministers and Church-wardens Hands and Seals likewise, and the Name or Names of such diseased Persons entred in their Church-Regi∣ster-Book, with the day of the month, and the date of the year when such Certificate was delivered out. This would be an infallible Remedy against all counterfeit Certificates whatever. And although this may at first view

seem to carry trouble in it, yet being once put into practice, it will prove both very easie, and of great service to the King and Country.

And to prevent all tiresome Jour∣neys, and tedious Travels of many indigent and sick people, who do venture to march many hundred of miles not really having this Disease, save only on their own supposition; for a more ready piece of service to these, to bring them to a shorter pas∣sage, they should do well to go to some Neighbouring Physician and Chirurgeons, and get them to search and examine them, to know whether their Disease be the Evil, or not: and if they find it so, to signifie the same under their Hands in the aforesaid Certificate; so that this Certificate may very well be allowed of double use and advantage, as by giving ease and satisfaction to the Patient, and quiet to the Chirurgeon; the one sa∣tisfying that the Patient never before this came to crave His Majesties Touch, the other confirming the Disease by Men of Art to the Chirurgeon in wait∣ing.

This being cleared thus far, the Chirurgeon in Waiting should or ought to keep a Register-Book, where every Parties Name is to be kept Al∣phabetically therein, and their Certi∣ficates fill'd up. This Book also will shew its self of great service and satis∣faction to other succeeding Chirurge∣ons: for as Chirurgeons are no more Immortal than other Men, so we shall find that People do not always inha∣bit and dwell in one place, or part of the World; and he that perhaps might have lived this year in one County, may the next year live in another; and since where-ever he lives, if he has the Evil, and be not cured thereof, and may in one Coun∣ty gain a Certificate, and by that, Gold; so in another place where he goes to dwell, he may endeavour to procure another Certificate, and by this cheat the King of a second piece; a trick not now to be learnt by many, but rather studied by divers, who look more after the Gold than the Cure: for prevention of this, where any suspected person shall come to the Chirurgeon, for the cure of such Cheats, he may look over the Alpha∣bet

in his Book, and there see if he can find the Name of him whom he may or shall suspect therein. I know of no other way imaginable to pre∣vent this Cheat; and if there were such who can find out a better, they would do great service to the Nati∣on.

Another advantage he will have hereby, when by this true account-keeping he may satisfie both His Ma∣jesty and the whole World how many are yearly Healed by His Sacred Hand.

Thus far have I presumed to clear the method for poor Peoples making ready for their Journey towards their being healed: But after this, great care would be taken, (when they are arrived at their Happy Port, as I may well call it, it being the only aim they had in all their Travel) to meet with a quick dispatch, in order to their speedy return, and not to be kept so long in Town till both their Money and Credit is gone, (which God knows amongst the generality of these sort is not much nor great) and there∣fore doth both require and merit a short, ready, and speedy dispatch.

But as the case now is, its harder to approach the Chirurgeon, than obtain a Touch; and more tiresome for them to wait day after day upon him, whose chief business should be to attend their coming, than it was to get every thing in readiness for his dispatch of them. But there may be a convenient Reme∣dy found out for this Evil also, which is as bad, if not worse, than the for∣mer: Could His Majesties Pleasure be known of his times of Healings for Summer, I mean at Whitehal, Windsor, and the like, publick Notice ought to be given hereof in the Gazette, by which all people may readily under∣stand His Majesties Pleasure of Heal∣ing, and the times thereof, after which none should dare to presume any fur∣ther trouble. This being done, as an absolute cure to delay, or any sinister blind way of management, if His Ma∣jesty would be graciously pleased to appoint some place in Whitehal, or other place, for the performance of this Service, where a Physitian and two Chirurgeons ought always to at∣tend to view, examine, and dispatch the poor, diseased, and maimed peo∣ple; and there, after having His Ma∣jesties

order for a Healing, acquaint them thereof, and when they are to wait to be healed: This I am confi∣dent will be found an excellent, as well as joyful method to the poor peo∣ple, and a great deal of ease as well as satisfaction to the Chirurgion, and prove a signal remedy of lessening the ill opinion the Chirurgion goes under at their continual and tedious wait∣ings at his House, and abate somwhat of the hard censure is put upon him by several people.

In Winter also, when his Majesty touches altogether at White-Hall, the same method should be maintain'd, and His Majesties pleasure understood a∣bout it, which may easily be known by the former directions, and the Sick with abundance of ease be conducted to His Majesties presence to be Heal∣ed.

It would also be well, that the whole World might take notice how many, and what great Cures have been performed by the King, as I have al∣ready offered, and how they have ar∣rived at a better state of health. And here may we very well bring in an∣other great mistake of several People,

who when they have received His Ma∣jesties Gracious Touch, that this there∣fore must be doubled upon them, and their Gold must as readily be changed, else their Cure must consequently be ineffectual, the Kings Majesty not be∣ing allowed capable of curing them, without he observes and complies with their Humors and abominable Fancies: a confidence only grounded upon uncertainty, and kept up with immutability: a Distemper which ought to be inspected as to its cure, as much as the Evil it self; for its conse∣quence is dangerous and deceivable; for here we have an Anguis in herbis, which doth both readily and greedily feed upon the glittering change of Gold: and this Legerdemane trick is finely performed, by putting the Change upon his Majesty, and yet this with a dishonest Man is not easily found out or discovered, but where Truth, Justice, and an honest Resolu∣tion maintains the Principles, and in∣habits in the Center a perfect detesta∣tion of such things does readily ap∣pear.

I would gladly see any Man of sense de∣ny the easiness of the assertion, who may

at a very little hole perceive how a Man, whose humor does closely salute advantage, and whose mind does keep company with self-preservation and in∣terest, looking still forwards to the yellow glittering Metal, to purchase to himself an advantageous parcel of Gold in time, by taking leave of changing an old piece of Gold for a new Ticket; or as I may say, cheat∣ing the King of his first Medal, by giving a new Ticket for a second: These things I have heard were in use very frequent formerly, and it were well if they be not by some to this day yet put in practice. A Remark in this Point I hope is enough, for I dare presume to aver and offer, that there is nothing which does more im∣pose upon his Majesties Sacred Honor, or upon the welfare of them who come to receive the Blessing, as well as the benefit of his Healing, than the lessening this Royal Virtue communi∣cated to his Sacred Hand by the Al∣mighty, than for such who should pay all Obedience and Veneration thereto, either to obstruct the same if possibly, or abuse to it by their dark sinister or purblind bribery: As a Cure there∣fore

for this also, if His Sacred Maje∣sty shall be graciously pleased to allow any poor Soul a second Touch, let him or her, or whoever they be, bring up their own Gold to the King, and put a new Silk Ribbon into it, which if he pleases to put over them, will be sufficient for them without any further charge of Gold.

There are another sort of People who makes it their study to cheat the King of his Gold, who having been Touch'd and received their Gold, are ready to sell and part with it; and were this not true, and very common∣ly put in practice, without all question His Majesties touching Medals would not be so frequently seen and found in Gold-Smiths shops; and since these Cheats are too apparent, great care ought to be made as to their Inspecti∣on; wherefore I presume to offer, that having, as I have already mentioned, a Physician and two Chirurgions rea∣dy to inspect and examine people, such Cheats will not easily be detected, for as the Proverb saith, Plus vident oculi quam oculus; and the Names of all peo∣ple being set down in an Alphabetical order and method, the King cannot

so easily be cheated, nor his Chirur∣gions, whose care it should be to pre∣vent the same, be either deluded or questioned. Thus much as to the Chi∣rurgions Office and Duty.

The next Person which comes in order, is Clerk of the Closet to His Majesty, who is the only proper Per∣son for keeping of His Majesties Gold used both at private as well as pub∣lick Healings, he being Check to the Chirurgion. The great Master of this Office, is the Right Reverend Father in God, Nathaniel Lord Bishop of Durham, who always being in wait∣ing, doth present to His Majesties Sa∣cred Hand upon his Knees, such Gold as is delivered out to every diseased per∣son: Under whom Mr. Tho: Donkelly, His Majesties Closet-keeper, doth also attend with Gold on his Arms ready strung, and likewise doth present the same to the Clerk of the Closet; his Office being also to take an account from the Chirurgion how many Me∣dals hath at every Healing been dis∣posed of by His Majesty, and to have the same signified under the hand of the chief Chirurgion in Writing in

his Register Book, which he keeps on purpose for the same use, with the day of the Month and the date of the Year, and the numbers of them that have been Healed: He also, as I am well informed, doth give a Receipt to the Exchequer for all the Gold he receives, to ballance the Privy Purse; so that from his Office a true and just account may yearly be given in, how much Gold the King doth expend on this charitable Office, and how much is annually received for this purpose, a draught of which ever since his being in this place, I have with his careful assistance, given at the end of our Dis∣course of the Evil.

Thus much of these Persons and their Places.

The Tickets being delivered out, His Majesty does generally appoint his day of Healing, of which the Chirur∣gion is to acquaint those who are to be Touch'd, the which for the most part does happen on Sundays; but whe∣ther on Sundays or other Days, it matters not much, the effects of his Cure being as good at one time as at another. The Day being come, be∣fore His Majesty doth approach to His

Royal Chair,* 1.37 which is generally after Morning Prayers, the Chief Officer of the Yeomen of the Guard doth place the sick People in very convenient or∣der for their approaching the King without trouble or noise: The which done, His Majesty enters his Royal Chair uncovered, at whose beginning there are generally two Chaplains at∣tending: One of which reading the Ceremonies appointed for this Service, His Majesty all the while being sur∣rounded by his Nobles, and many o∣ther Spectators: The sick and diseased People being kept back by the Chi∣rurgions till the appointed time, where after having made three Obeisancies, they do bring them up in order. The chief in waiting delivers them one by one to the King to be Touch'd; the which done, the other takes him or her from him, and this method is used throughout the whole number which comes to be Healed.

The whole Method is as followeth. The Chaplain thus begins: The Gospel written in the 16th Chapter of St. Mark at vers. 14. Jesus appeared unto the ele∣ven as they sat at meat, and cast in their teeth their unbelief, and hardness of

heart, because they had not believed them which had seen that he was risen again from the dead. And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the Gospel to all creatures, he that believeth and is baptized shall be saved, and he that believeth not shall be damned: all these tokens shall follow them that believe. In my name they shall cast out devils, they shall speak with new tongues, they shall drive away serpents. And if they drink any deadly thing,* 1.38 it shall not hurt them. They shall lay their hands on the sick, and they shall recover. The which Saying is continued between every Healing of His Sacred Majesty, till all the Sick be touch'd by him; the which being finish'd, he begins this follow∣ing part.

So when the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received into Heaven, and is on the right hand of God. And they went forth and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirm∣ing the Word with miracles following. The which done, he begins the Go∣spel written in the first Chapter of St. John, ver. the first: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with

God, and God was the Word; the same was in the beginning with God, all things were made by it, and without it was no∣thing made which was made: in it was life, and the life was the light of men, and the light shined in the darkness, and the darkness comprehended it not. There was sent a man from God, whose name was John, the same came as a witness, to bear witness of the light, that all men, through him might believe. He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. Here the Chirurgions come up the second time, making their three Obeisances as formerly, where the Clerk of the Closet on his Knees doth deliver to the King his Gold ready strung upon a white Silk Ribbond; and when these following words come to be read, the King puts over the Gold.

* 1.39That Light was the true Light, which lightneth every man which cometh into the World.

This running through the whole course of the Ceremony, which words are continually repeated between eve∣ry one which receives the Gold. This

being finished, These following words are read: He was in the world, and the world was wade by him, and the world knew him not; he came amongst his own, and his own received him not; but as many as received him, to them he gave power to be made sons of God: even them that believed on his name, which were born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor yet of the will of man, but of God. And the same Word became flesh, and dwelt amongst us, and we saw the glory of it, as the glory of the only begot∣ten Son of the Father, full of Grace and Truth.

This being finished, the Chaplains, with the rest of the People on their knees, do pronounce these Prayers.

Vers. Lord have mercy upon us.

Resp. Lord have mercy upon us.

Vers. Christ have mercy upon us.

Resp. Christ have mercy upon us.

Vers. Lord have mercy upon us.

Resp. Lord have mercy upon us.

Then the Chaplains read the Com∣mon Prayer; viz.

Our Father which art in Heaven, hal∣lowed be thy Name. Thy Kingdom come. Thy will be done in Earth as it is in Hea∣ven. Give us this day our daily Bread. And forgive us our trespasses as we for∣give them that trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation. But deliver us from evil. Amen.

* 1.40Vers. O Lord save thy servants.

Resp. Which put their trust in thee.

Vers. Send help unto them from above.

Resp. And evermore mightily defend them.

Vers. Help us, O God our Saviour.

Resp. And for the glory of thy Name deliver us, be merciful to us sinners for thy Names sake.

Vers. O Lord, hear our Prayers.

Resp. And let our cry come unto thee.

* 1.41

O Almighty God, who art the Giver of all health, and the aid of them that seek to thee for succor. We call upon thee for thy help and goodness, merciful∣ly to be shewed to these thy servants, that they being healed of their infirmities, may give thanks to thee in thy Holy

Church. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ,* 1.42 and the Love of God, and the Fellow∣ship of the Holy Ghost, be with us all evermore. Amen.

This being finished, His Majesty having by my Lord Chamberlain, or in his absence the Vice-Chamberlain, and two other Nobles, brought up Linnen, and the Bason and Ewer to wash his Hands, He takes leave of the people, and they joyfully and thank∣fully do every one return home, prai∣sing God and their good King; and when this method is apparent to all men, and carries in it the greatest truth imaginable, what man of Sense, Re∣ligion or Honesty can there be, which shall dare to deny the truth and effi∣cacy thereof, being both glorious and praise-worthy? considering that the Liturgy used therein is holy, the simplicity and reverence of the Cere∣monies thereof being performed with all decency, the person who performs this being hereto constituted by a Di∣vine permission, performing it with∣out any appearance of superstition;

the Author of the whole Work being the Holy Spirit, and this Gift arising thence with both its use and fruit. Here's nothing but Benediction, and Prayers for the recovery of the Sick, Imposition of Hands, and Contraction of Health, the same Ceremony used as is used at Baptism, the putting over the Gold being but as a Sacred Gift and Pledge of His Charity. In the whole, there is nothing but God wor∣shipped, Christ venerated, and poor Christians cured, without any Fig∣ments or Cheats of Black Arts, Invo∣cations of Evil Spirits, Characters, or the like delusions, all which I hope may not come short of an English Mi∣racle. How therefore should all true English-men, and Sons of the Church, adore, and have in high reverence that great Soveraign, who can give ease to the Diseased, by his Touching such as are not only despicable to view, but fetid to smell, who makes no difference, as I have already shewn, between Great and Small, Peer and Peasant, Delicate or Deformed? What therefore can there be which might not make the most Ungrateful Man change his rude temper, and sweeten

it with a better belief? Let all the World therefore admire our English Monarch, who can by His Salutife∣rous Gift distribute Health and Com∣fort to all His diseased Subjects, not performing this in corners, but in the publick view of all His Subjects, in his Royal Palace, and in places appoint∣ed for Divine Worship, and in the Holy Sanctuary. And this I hope may be a convincing Argument enough against any Gainsayer or Dis∣senter whatsoever, who are neither kind to themselves, or civil to others.

CHAP. VIII. This shews the Certainty of its Events, and the Admirable Ef∣fects of its Cure.

THe truth is, this great Gift of Healing doth call the Christians Faith, and also Humane Reason into consent therewith; for without these do march together, the Events will not answer expectation. And in truth would be against God himself as well as His Sacred Majesty, to wish for Health, and not preserve the memory of those great Cures done by Him; to read their Names thus cured, and com∣mended to Posterity, if Faith did not march along with it: For what is worse than to bury the knowledge of the re∣membrance of Favours done? the only black mark of Ingratitude, and nothing more kind than to allow the

memorable Cures done: For what is Piety but a willing consent thereto in its Parents? and what more kind than to allow the same to the Father of our Nation? Our Faith doth there∣fore command our keeping in memo∣ry the Health we receive from our Gracious Soveraign, and to register the same in our belief; since we find these Diseases do no more spare the proud Citizen, than the despicable Country-man, and that both these have found benefit by His Majesties Gracious Hand, is as clear as the Sun that shines: Hath not the French,* 1.43 Dutch, Scotch, Irish, Welsh, and Eng∣lish, been all happy partakers of the benefit of His Majesties Gracious Touch? Hath there been scarce any City, Town or Country which cannot speak well of His Curative Faculty? Has there or is there scarce a Street in this Populous City, that hath not found the benefit of His Sacred Hand? And yet as if this Disease did get a new Birth by Conversation, it meets the King where-ever He goes, with as much vigour and plenty as if the work were now to begin. And as a very strange remark hereof, although I do

believe near half the Nation hath been Toucht and Healed by His Sacred Ma∣jesty since His Happy Restauration; yet upon any new appearance of a fresh Healing, they are seen to come in afresh, and as fast as if not one had yet been Toucht by Him: A thing as strange as monstrous!

To my own knowledge I have known many perfectly cured the first time,* 1.44 they having been Touched by His Sacred Majesty. Others again ha∣ving been seen healed upon His second Touch, which could not receive the same benefit the first time. Some again having received His Majesties gracious Touch, and losing their Gold, their Distemper has De Novo seized them again; and these also upon gaining a second Touch, and new Gold, their Diseases have been seen utterly to have been chased away, and they them∣selves perfectly cured.

Now as to particular times and sea∣sons of Healings, as Good-Friday, and the like,* 1.45 which do carry a strong Faith with some people, who unless they can be Toucht by the King that time, their belief is so weak and tender, that they do presume and suppose any

other time in the year is not so fitting, or do or can carry the same efficacy. But to these delicate sort of people,* 1.46 who I am subject to believe are as wa∣vering in their Faith as they are in their Opinions; and unless the Al∣mighty will please so far to condes∣cend as in every degree to answer their Humours, by working more than an ordinary Miracle in them, they may with abundance of ease be brought to think that there is little or no effect of cure in the whole. A sin I am sure it is to tie the Almighty to particular times and seasons, and therefore not to be accounted (amongst Men of sense) to have more efficacy than at other times.

And to put stop to another old re∣ceived Opinion of the Gold;* 1.47 which is, If the King doth not find, and give the Gold, as well as put the same over their Necks, this will not answer expectation, some of these sort putting a higher esteem upon the Gold, than upon the Hand that put it about their Necks. But all such may know that this Gold thus used and imployed, is no more than a resemblance of Health, for the Cure has oft been seen done

without any Gold at all given, some∣times the same has been performed only by Silver, as shall be made good by several Examples in the last Chap∣ter.

Another sort of people also there are,* 1.48 who if they can procure the fa∣vour from the Chirurgeon to procure them a second Touch, they must like∣wise have their Gold also changed, (some effect of which I have already toucht at) as if the later Gold had any more effect in it than the former, they both coming from one and the same Royal Hand; an unnecessary trouble, as little efficacious, and per∣haps more deceitful. And that Gold is not the great Ingredient in this Cure, may easily be thus proved, by calling into remembrance the Rebel∣lious Times, when Tyrants turned this once happy Nation into an Anar∣chy of Confusion, and by their un∣lawful upset High Court of Justice, or rather Injustice, forced the best of Kings, where He was wont to shew the Grandure of His Majesty due to Princes, there to make His Funeral Pulpit, laying down the Sacred Tro∣phies of His Greatness, whereon the

Ensigns of Renown had formerly been planted, by their cursed Hands, and compell'd to quit His three Nations by their most cursed and barbarous Cruciations; and yet all this done under pretence of Devotion and San∣ctity, bringing Him under their Ty∣rannical Judgment, to submit to their bold and bloody Assassination; in whose horrid Massacre, and after whose inhumane and barbarous De∣collation, its pretious Blood left not its vigour which it kept whilst it was warm in His Purple Veins, being ei∣ther taken up by Handkerchiefs, or collected by other things, with which these Strumous Swellings being but touched, or therewith concerned, they have seen suddainly to vanish and disappear: and this also shall be made good by some Observations thereof in my last Chapter. And if His Royal Corps, stript from Life, was thus accompanied with this Divine and Heavenly Virtue, what shall we think and say of the Action perform∣ed by the Life, as by the Blest and Sacred Hands of our Dread Sove∣raign? Besides, if the Virtue did wholly lodge in the Gold, I would

have such as give this great Reputa∣tion to the same, to make tryal of a piece of their own Gold, in putting the same about their own Necks, and see then if this will in any measure answer their desired ends: The suc∣cess I leave to them who shall shew their folly as well as give themselves trouble to make such a tryal there∣of.

These two may be very well gran∣ted convincing Arguments enough to prove the truth hereof: for this of His Majesties pretious Blood was seen done, and known to be performed in the midst of the Kings Enemies, and in those times when Trayterous Usurpers took leave to enter the Royal Throne; where not only the troublesome Mobile, but the rigid Masters of Presbytery and Indepen∣dency, were so far from agreeing and consenting to His Majesties Healing Faculty, that the little Faith they had, they employed to confound the same: such were the great Reverence these Rebellious Tribes gave to this Divine Virtue. And in this I may presume positively to affirm, that such as do not give Credance to the

King as Gods Vicegerent, and to the many thousands cured thus by Him, they do, ever did, and ever shall be thought to give as little belief to God Himself, let His Miracles be never so many, or never so great, such being their churlish Humour, and ill com∣posed Dispositions.

To the believing Man, I shall pro∣duce Saint Chrysostom's words, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, That according to their proportion of Faith they do, may, and shall be great Sharers in this Sanative Faculty. And as a farther Confirmation of the same, he saith, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 that is, Tantum influit quantum inve∣nerit Oblatum sibi fidei vasculum.

Thus every unbelieving Man may rest satisfied, that without he brings Faith enough with him, and in him, that His Majesty hath Virtue enough in His Touch to Heal him, his expe∣ctation will not be answered: where∣as the Man of Faith, who confides on the same, will as readily find the be∣nefit of the same. And although this method doth not always answer ex∣pectation,

yet its Effects are wonder∣ful, and its Cure most frequent, as is and hath been sufficiently and satisfa∣ctorily made good. And this may appear as a Vindication of the Cer∣tainty of its Events, as also of the Admirability of the Effects of His Ma∣jesties Sanative Power.

CHAP. IX. Several Doubts resolved about this Curative Method, made by Atheists, Sadducees, and ill conditioned Pharisees.

SInce there is nothing so excel∣lent in its nature, or opinion of Men, or blest by good Men, and held in admiration by the Reli∣gious Men, but may be blasted by the envious breath of the wicked and ill natur'd Man, and so made either the subject of their scorn, or yield a sower taste of their malevolent Hu∣mor: I shall in this Chapter endea∣vor to allay their fury, and somwhat blunt and abate the edge of their ca∣lumny which they have evermore been ready to put upon this Sanative Fa∣culty. And in undertaking hereof, I hope I have made some on-set already: but lest this should not be prevalent enough to conquer their incredulity,

I shall offer this as a farther Answer: Whereas there are some who do whol∣ly deny the substance of the Action, and presume to call the thing in que∣stion;* 1.49 and others, who do not so much blame the thing it self, as the substance thereof and its Ceremonies, bringing hereby the whole Operation under Superstition, whil'st others by spleen, disdain, ridicule, and private injury, will needs put a blind upon this most excellent Operation, altho confirmed to them by Ocular Demon∣stration as clear as the Sun; and are not to be brought to the belief there∣of, although they see it done before their eyes, no ways allowing a Divine Power going along therewith, it be∣ing performed by Man. To what an Age of Incredulity are we arrived at, where resolution, spleen, and injury, shall confirm a Mans opposition to the very light of Reason and Truth it self? where we shall have Men bid defiance to His Majesties humility which he shews in this Operation; to his Piety and pious bounty which he liberally bestows on his Diseased Sub∣jects, and to the Cures thus daily performed by his Sacred Hand, who

do daily study to ore-thwart, dis∣pute, contradict, and speak ill of this Divine and most Excellent Qualifica∣tions, rather than give Faith, Reve∣rence, or a just Acknowledgment thereto. And as a close to their black lips, I will presume to offer, That when the most Learned have worthi∣ly, and with all reverence writ here∣of, and have neither been ashamed nor afraid to proclaim to all the world the many miraculous Cures which have been thus performed by His Sa∣cred Majesties Hand, and for many hundred of Years kept up by the Princely Line, their Incerdulity may well be called into question, not ha∣ving validity enough in it to ballance those weighty and great Opinions which ever have, and still do main∣tain the same: And where I have as a guard to my Opinion, the best of An∣tiquity opposing the greatest Scruples that can be made as to this matter, seeing some so extraordinary hot for lessening wholly any Virtue in the Gold or Silver, or the like, which shall be put about the Patients necks, and abominate the use thereof with all their hearts, in any other but in

their own possession: Where this yet hath been used by the Kings Sacred Hand, we have found it of admirable use and advantage.

Others as readily do cry out against the Ceremonies,* 1.50 being as little pleas∣ed therewith as the former, when they shall please to vouchsafe, allowing them of some use in displaying a good and Religious Mans life, and yet are not willing to grant this of any effica∣cy in this Healing Faculty; whereas they may, or ought to know, that the Word of God is as great an Alexi∣pharmick herein, in working this Cu∣rative Effect: The saying therefore of a certain Form of Word- at this Heal∣ing, is not to be condemned, unless we will blame the word of Faith by our Impiety: For Faith comes by hear∣ing, and hearing by the Word of God, as Rom. 10. ver. 6. But the Righte∣ousness which is of Faith speaketh in this wise: Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. Thus therefore the legitimate use of the Di∣vine Word, is to be joyn'd with a right Faith. But because I am sure I shall meet some even opposing the

thing it self, knowing there be too many who cannot in their natures ei∣ther speak well of any body, or of any thing, unless brought to their test and approbation, and so despise all Virtues; speaking evil of Angels, Saints, and the Almighty himself; laughing at his blessed People, evil treating his Anointed and their Dread Soveraign; mocking the Holy Spi∣rit, and affronting his Gifts, Miracles, Scriptures, Sacraments, and all other Ecclesiastical Ceremonies and Rights, which do not keep equal pace with their humor and fancy: A sort of which we read of in Phil. 3. cap. 18. who are there called, The enemies of the Cross of Christ, whose end is destru∣ction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory their shame, who mind earthly things: Should we to these bring the brightest Truth, fetch'd even from Heaven it self; they are so naturally enclined to contradiction, that they will believe them to be in the dark: That you may with more ease bring an Atheist to believe there is a God, than these to give Faith to the excellent works which are daily done by our

Saered Majesty at this day by his Sacred Touch.

There are another sort of Crea∣tures, who are inward enemies to this Sanative Gift, evermore doubting of its clearness; and these do hug them∣selves in opposing and contradicting all such as shall speak well thereof. Of which sort may Casper Peucerus be well reckoned one, of whom we have already given you an account, both as to his Religion, and unhappy Opi∣nion. And I believe we have too many more of his Opinion at this day, who should they see our Soveraign heal, and exercise the same Gift daily, yet this their cursed Opinion and Humor sticks so close to them, that they will scarce give it leave to breath, or gain any reputation a∣mongst them: And although it may get footing into a more favorable O∣pinion amongst some of them, that all this is done without any Inchantment, or ill and black methods used, yet they do receive it with that tender∣ness, that it must gain upon them by degrees, and takes sometime before

they can work them into any belief thereof. And since it doth require no easie task either to please or con∣fute these Adversaries as to the Fact it self, who cannot assent to the manner of performing thereof, although ha∣ving less reason to dissent from the same: These following Reasons, I hope, may in some measure make the task neither so uneasie as may be ex∣pected. Thus therefore this Healing Faculty is not produced, ex semine, by an Ingenite Faculty which may be produced with the nature thereof, as many Physical Virtues are thence de∣rived, and by similitude of Bodies and Manners taking their first Idaea's thence, as one Body being productive out of another, but no Soul thus produced out of another, every Man generating his like in Specie, not in dividual Quality. Such therefore who would thus press down with op∣position this Healing Faculty, have less need to doubt of that which the Learned hath so highly writ thereof, and maintained as in the Inaugurated Rights of the Kings of England and of France. Since God himself is he that createth Kings, and Anoints their

Royal Hands with the Sacred Oyl, as with a Royal Balsamick Virtue, by which doth arise other Gifts of For∣titude, Councel, Prudence, and Go∣vernance like Christian Kings, as well as in this of Healing. Peucerus un∣kindly calls this, The admirable pastimes of Events, at which I wonder more, than at his other odd Perswasion, whereas there is such a distance be∣tween them of Miracles, and the Di∣vine Gifts of Healing (not only at∣tested by us, but by all our Neigh∣boring Nations) that our English have that perfect abhorrence there∣to, that we are as much purged and cleansed from the same, as the House of God with Hezechia and Josias was purified from all its corruptions. But what need I bring Examples to confute this ridiculous Opinion of his, since we find that he himself doth fall to the ground, and acts in the dark? Let us therefore recede from this one ex∣tream, to prevent our falling into an∣other, by keeping the middle way. Peucerus only fell from Augerius, even as the Meteologer doth from the Phi∣losopher, and both from true Theo∣logy. Augerius Ferrerius de Gordonis

saith, That he and other Physicians being much addicted to the Supersti∣tion of Charms, which were preva∣lent against Bleeding, and other Cho∣nical Distempers, having in them the Faculty of curing intermitting Fevers, and many other Diseases of that sort, thus proceeds therein. The event of which Cure is not to be taken from the Characters, nor from the Chatm only, but this working such power in our minds, that we therewith com∣plying, this gets fancy also to joyn therewith, by which it gains ground of the Distemper and overcomes it. Thus one Man acting by the power of Perswasion, he gains on the Man on which he thus acts, with which he does powerfully proceed in the same; he joyning therewith, and giving a coadjutant Faith to the Operation thus performed, the intended design does take a speedy effect; and thus working by Characters or Enchant∣ment, or the like, for curing of A∣gues, and the Patients therewith so troubled, they believing they shall hereby be cured, the Disease hath suddenly been seen to vanish, and they acquitted from their Distemper to

admiration. Confidence and Per∣swasion being two great Assistants in this Curative Method, especially a∣mongst the illiterate and unlearned, where Opinion having once got pos∣session amongst such as to their Charms and Characters, there's no farther need of outward Applications, these in themselves leaving satisfactory Argu∣ments amongst these sort of People to work their effects. But leaving these dark and black methods thus general∣ly used amongst the ignorant, and less knowing: With his favor, known Miracles may be brought to light by the strength of the mind.

And lest I may seem tedious in ma∣king good my reason for the same, as to this Healing Faculty: This is not a gift of Nature, but of Grace, nei∣ther does it live in Man but in his Ma∣ker; not in human confidence as these Charms and Characters, but in the power of Faith derivative from the Almighty. Moreover, our Gracious Soveraign doth acquit all idle pre∣tences whatsoever hereto, by neither questioning their Faith who come to be healed, nor asks their Belief about the same; he only prays for them,

blesses them with his Sacred Touch, gives them his Gold, and thus doth impart health unto them; from which clear consequence, such as the Faith of them is who thus are touched by him, his Curative Effects does most clearly evince and demonstrate. Ge∣nebrard of Paris is very nice in allow∣ing this Gift of Healing to the Kings of England, when he says, Some of them have exercised this Healing Vir∣tue: But he would have been much kinder, and a better Master of Gene∣rosity, would he have been pleased to shew the difference between those which had this, and those which want∣ed the same. But I need not to tra∣vel far for an answer ready minted for him, which partly falls in one of his own Country-men, which hapned a∣bout the midst of Queen Elizabeths Reign, after Pope Pius had let flown his Excommunication against her: There was a stiff Roman Catholick (as they do delight to call themselves) who being cast into Prison,* 1.51 and in a high measure visited with the Kings Evil, and having with pain and ex∣pence long used the advice of Physi∣cians without any success, at length

humbly addressed himself to the Queens Majesty, through whom, by Gods assistance, he was compleatly cured; and being demanded what news, I perceive, saith he, now at last by plain experience, that the Excom∣munication denounced by the Pope against Her Majesty, is of none effect, seeing God hath blessed her with so great and miraculous a virtue, as Dr. Tooker hath it in Charismate, cap. 6. pag. 92. And as a second satisfaction to this French-man, he tells us ano∣ther History of a Maid, when the Queen being in Glocestershire, and many poor People afflicted with this Disease, who in uncivil Crowds did so press upon her Majesty, that she let fall these words, Alass poor People, I cannot, I cannot cure you, it is God a∣lone who can do it. The which words some ill affected persons did interpret, as her utter renouncing of this Divine Gift: whereas she only removed her Subjects Eyes from her self, to desire their looking up to Heaven. Before she left the place, she was pleased to admit a general Healing; amongst which, the afore-mentioned Maid be∣ing Touch'd by Her Sacred Hand,

went away immediatly recovered and healed from her Disease. And where∣as there is no need of Miracles, when the Truth of the Scriptures do shew the Dogmata Fidei, our Christian Faith not being founded on demolish∣ing of Churches, or dead Martyrs, nor in Murdering of Men, these be∣ing accounted by us as no Faith, and if any to be allowed, but as an impi∣ous Faith: But by ours we do give honor to the memory of Martyrs who dyed for the same; we do not wor∣ship their Pictures with St. Augustine, but can look upon them with respect; we do not damn the Faith of Signs, for Signs do not much conduce to the confirmation of Errors, but ra∣ther to the glory of God and his worship.

This Divine Function is performed without any seducing Method: The King gives freely, not calling the An∣gels to witness, nor sinking so low as others do, to perform the same by Black Art or Inchantment; he does it with a pure Heart, in the presence of the Almighty who knows all things, without Superstition, curing all that approach his Royal Touch. And this

I may frankly presume to aver, ne∣ver any of his Predecessors have ever exercised it more, or more willingly and freely, whose wonderful Effects and certainty of Cures, we must and shall acknowledge as long as we can speak, and tell our Children thereof, that they may relate what wonders have been performed by his Sacred Hand to their succeeding Generati∣ons.

CHAP. X. Several Examples of Miraculous Cures performed by His Maje∣sties Sacred Touch.

ANd that no Man may say the Nut will not be worth crack∣ing when he finds good Meat there∣in; as our Discourse hath hitherto gi∣ven you a taste of the truth of this Healing Faculty, so this comes like a happy Commander, bringing up the Reer; wherein shall be shewn part of those Gleanings which I have gathered up from the large and fertile Crop of Strumous Persons, and these cured by the Majestick Power of the Kings Sacred Hands. And since it cannot reasonably be expected that I should gradually proceed from Edward the Confessor, even to the time of our Dread Soveraign, which would per∣haps be a Task more troublesome than

desirous, so I am sure of greater bulk than I designed or intended. And that I may not live altogether upon the suffering point, I would gladly know of any contrary Humour, which of our Kings of England did ever go without it, that lawfully arrived at the Crown? my present Discourse not reaching any Usurper, or Tyrannical Governour. But passing these by, as we begin from Edward the Confessor, we ought to bear Record of some of his Miraculous Methods said to be done by him: And here, as some sort of Men were not wanting to give too high a Character of his Deeds, so the meanest Act which was performed by him, was not let fall without an ho∣nourable Reverence. Amongst some of which we read of a poor Man who chanced to come to him,* 1.52 one who might have stockt an Hospital with Maladies, whose sight made all By∣standers commiserate his condition; the Sick Man had a strong Fancy and a bold Face, who desired the King himself to carry him on his back to the Church, on assurance (as he said) that he thereby should be recovered. The good King grants his desire, and

this Royal Porter bears him into the Church, where so strange an altera∣tion is said to happen, that although he was carried in on all four, he de∣parted thence streight, and upon two; and it is said the Church into which he was thus carried was St. Peters in Westminster, built by him on this oc∣casion. Next to St. Peter he is said to be much in favour with St. John the Apostle, who is reported to have appeared unto him in the shape of a begging Pilgrim; the King not ha∣ving present Money to supply his wants, did pluck off his Ring from his Finger, and bestowed it upon him, by virtue of which Ring given he is said to perform many and great Mi∣racles. The same Ring some years af∣ter is said to be sent him back again by two Pilgrims out of Palestine; and if any do doubt of the truth hereof, they are desired to repair to Havering, a Town in Essex, so called as they say from this Ring, where, by the Inha∣bitants, satisfaction will be given.

This great and most Pious Prince being dead, Harold the Son of Earl Goodwin next succeeded him, who

assumed the Throne, and was Crown∣ed King by Aldred, Archbishop of York, next to whom was William the Conquerour, from whom began the Computation of our Kings of England. I might after him name his Son Willi∣am the Second, and so proceed to Henry the First, King Stephen, Henry the Second, Richard, John, the Ed∣wards, and others, so to the time of Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth; but since I can find by no Authority that this Sanative Faculty have been ever wanting, or removed from the Princely Line, I shall presume to take leave, and begin with Queen Eliza∣beth, where amongst many other Cures done by her Sacred Hand, take these following as they appear, the first two whereof I have already described in the foregoing Chapter of the French-man, and the other of Gloce∣ster, the which I do here forbear to mention to prevent Tautology.

Dr. Tooker also tells us of one John Capel of Exon, the Son of an honest Citizen, and a Daughter of the same Person, both troubled with the Evil, and both quitted from their Distem∣pers by her Majesties gracious Touch.

Another of his is of a Maid, who was of the ancient Family of the Tur∣bervils, who was for ten years trou∣bled with this Evil Disease, she being Toucht for the same, also recovered: he afterwards beholding her Gold gone from her Neck, demanded of her the reason thereof? she tells him her necessity compell'd her to sell it, and yet she remained well, whence He, as other wise Men, have conje∣ctured that the Gold given is only as the Kings Charitable Token, and no more, for she lived many years after very well, without any relapse. Yet this does not always so succeed, for I have seen many upon the loss of their Gold, their Evil has come afresh, and proved troublesome, as shall be made good by many Examples following. Many thousands are reported to have been cured of this Disease in her hap∣py Reign; King James succeeded her, and continued the same Sanative Pow∣er in his Life-time. After whom was Charles the First of ever blessed Me∣mory, who performed these Cures in a very strange and miraculous man∣ner, with and without Gold, by his Prayer and Benediction only, by his

Sacred Touch, as also by his Sacred and precious Blood. Of each of which in their Order, where for remark, blessing and cure, none ever of his Predecessors were able to be named in the hour with him. I begin with that wonderful and miraculous Cure done by him at Winchester, only by his Prayer, related to our Dread So∣veraign, and his Brother his Royal Highness James Duke of York at Win∣chester-Colledge, by Doctor John Nicho∣las, Warden of the Colledge this last Summer, where I had the Honour not only to hear it, but afterwards saw the Bottle. This following History I had from the aforesaid Doctor under his own Hand, sent me in a Letter from my very good Friend Mr. Shadrack Lyne, Apothecary of the same place, and is as followeth.

Winton. Octob. 31. 1682.

Sir,

SInce my return from those Jour∣nies, which of late I have un∣dertaken on my Colledge Affairs, Mr. Lyne hath minded me to send you a Relation of that most eminent Cure of the Kings Evil in this City, by the Prayers of King Charles the First. The Person that labored un∣der that Infirmity, was Robert Cole, well known in Winton, being a pub∣lick Inn-keeper, first of the Three Crowns, next of the Katherine Wheel, both Houses near the Colledge of that place: 'Twas evident to all per∣sons that he was highly Diseased, and great Scars remained as evidences of it after the Cure: His Throat was the place of his Soars, where there were great Wounds, and the encrease of them gave the Man daily and just fears, that the passages for his Breath could not long continue whole and useful, he sought for relief by a Me∣dicinal Water, which he received from an Apothecary of Sarum (I think he told me his name was Hand∣cock)

but as he, when alive, assured me, although the washing with that Water did keep the Wounds clean, yet it did not stop the increase nor the pains: He then in dispair of all other help but from His Majesties Touch, endeavored to procure that means of Gods mercy. But it being in the time when that Sacred Person was removed from the Isle of Wight, and brought through Winton (where this object of Charity dwelt) in or∣der to the last of his Sufferings. There were Soldiers, Guards and Spies, sufficient for to prevent such a gracious Act, and those had malice enough to have hindred that Mar∣tyrs doing good if they could. The poor distressed Man, on bended knees, at that time in the presence made several Exclamations, and pressed nearer to the King that he might procure notice from him, pray∣ing still loudly, God save the King: which provok'd those inhumane At∣tendants, to deal with the Petitioner as they did with their Soveraign, barbarously: They strook him, re∣moved him, and allowed him no opportunity to come within the good

Kings reach: The only effect was, that the importunate cries of him which was impatient to be denyed the last hopes of ease and life, made the good Prince observe him; and since he could not be hindred from reaching him with his Prayers, he gave the weak and now dispairing Man his Blessing, in the like words to these: Friend, I see thou art not permitted to come near me, and I cannot tell what thou wouldest have, but God bless thee, and grant thy desire; after which, the dis∣eased Man without the Kings stroak∣ing, was forced to return to the Li∣quor that he had formerly washt his Soars with: But although the Bot∣tle that he kept it in had been secu∣red in a Cup-board, and is to this day without any crack in it, yet the Water was much wasted: The next day he found a greater decrease in the Liquor, and so daily until it was dryed up. At length, the Bottle became scabbed in its sides, and ma∣ny Botches appeared in it, the gla∣zing of the Bottle breaking off through the round bubbles or botches that arose in the Earth: And

as these effects appeared in the Ear∣then Vessel, the Face and Throat of the Patient healed with equal speed. I my self knew the Man so whole, that the Scars were the greatest te∣stimony that he ever suffered by that Disease. He was ever after freed from any running issue, or pain, un∣less at one time, when (as he told me) a Gentlewoman that saw the Bottle, attempted to pick off some of those Excrescences that budded out of its sides: After this, the pla∣ces that had been affected in his Throat gave him new trouble and grief, but nothing was vented there, which being over, he lived above twenty years in ease, and in that Sickness of which he died, the Kings Evil had no share.

This practice of the Gentlewo∣man, and the fear of those times, made this R. Cole conceal the Bottle as much as he might do, lest it should be injured after he found his Face had a sympathy with it, or lest the Powers then domineering should demand it from him, he preserved it in a Woollen Bag, and although it might have been of great advantage

to his Profession to have exposed it to his Customers, yet he regarded his Safety more than his Profit, and concealed it with all the Art he could; so that it was not seen but when an intimate Acquaintance ex∣torted that respect from him, with good assurance that it should not be roughly handled; he being dead, the Bottle is until this day in the Hands of his Widow here in Winton, where there are many other Wit∣nesses of this which you receive now from

Your very faithful Servant, JO. NICHOLAS.

At the same time I had this follow∣ing at the Colledge of Winton, given me by a Person of Quality: Of two men, both Father and Son, either of them being troubled with the Evil: The Father was touch'd by the late King and received Gold; the Son ne∣ver was touch'd, neither did he ever receive any. The effect hereof was as followeth: The Father being di∣stempered and ill, keeps the Gold a∣bout his own neck, which kept him in health, and gave him speedy ease and relief: The Son falling ill, he borrows his Fathers Gold from his neck, and puts it about his own, which likewise gave him ease and relief. The Father after this by leaving his Gold, had his Distemper seized him afresh, and then took the Gold again, and this made it as readily vanish. And thus by the intercourse or change of Gold from Father to Son, and from Son to Father, whoever of them kept the Gold, was defended against any new approach or appearance of his Distemper; and this was kept and maintained by them for many years together.

Another, not much unlike this, I had from John Hebden Esq whose Mother being healed by King Charles the First, of blessed memory, did in a very short time recover, and was healed of her Disease. She after this going over into Russia, where she af∣terwards dwelt, met there with one Mr. Heath, a Russia Merchant, who was likewise so extraordinarily trou∣bled with the Evil, that he was said to be near eaten up with the same: And although he made all the means he possibly could to get over to Eng∣land, to come to be touch'd by His late Sacred Majesty for the same, yet the illness of the Weather, and the badness of the Season prevented his designs. The great thing here re∣markable is this, Madam Hebden lend∣ing this Merchant her Gold which she received from the King, and he for some time wearing the same about his neck, within a very small time after the use thereof, he found benefit, and upon his continuance of the same in use, he very speedily amended, and became so well, that he had no farther need of His Majesties Touch. The Lady her self is now alive, and ready

to attest the truth hereof, as I had it from her Sons own hand.

Mr. Foster, now an Inhabitant in Windsor, when he was about six years of Age, and perfectly blind for a∣bout two years, so that he could nei∣ther see Sun, Moon, Fire or Candle, who being perplexed also with many Scrophulous or Evil Swellings about his Throat, and many others seizing his Face, Arm, Hands and Fingers; and after having spent much mony with Physicians and Chirurgions, to little purpose, was after all this brought to his late Sacred Majesty to be Healed, by the benefit whereof, within fourteen days, he presently re∣covered his sight; and his Swellings which did frequently run into Suppu∣ration and healed in several parts of his Body, were as speedily dryed up, and he hath ever since remained sound without any appearance of relapse. This I had from himself this last Sum∣mer at Windsor, who I am certain will be ever ready to maintain the Truth thereof to his dying minute.

There was a Woman Quaker which lived at Guilford in Surry, who being so perfectly blind, that she was rob'd of all light and sight: She coming to Hampton-Court, where our late King was then a Prisoner, to be touch'd by His Sacred Majesty; so soon as she re∣ceived the same, or within less than an hour after the reception thereof, she went down to the Kings kitchin, and did there tell the number of Spits which were turning upon the Range, and did there fall down upon her knees, praying to God to forgive her for those evil thoughts she formerly had of her good King, by whom she had receiv'd this great Blessing. Mr. John Stephens of the Kings Back∣stairs, was an eye-witness of every part hereof, he being then at the O∣peration, and afterwards seeing her in the Kitchin: At this time the King did only put over her Neck a Silver Two pence, strung in a white Silk Ribband; and this may prove, that other Metal used and imployed by the Sacred Hand, does the same as Gold. All People which did here come to be touch'd had only Silver given to them, and yet most of them

known to be cured; and such as fail'd thereof, hapned chiefly from their un∣belief and incredulity. Mr. Henry Ewer, four years of age, was brought by the former Mr. Stephens to be touch'd by His late Sacred Majesty at Hampton-Court at the same time; his Eyes being so sore and ill-affected, that he could not look upon any Fire, or behold the light of the Sun or Moon, they were so weak and troublesom to him: within a Month or six Weeks after his being healed by the King, he was seen perfectly discharged from his pain, and recovered to admiration, and lived many years free from all trouble: Both these Mr. Stephens is ready to maintain, if at any time he may be questioned about the same.

Mr. Halford, one of His Majesties Heralds, tells me this following of one Helena Payne of Windsor, who having the Evil in that measure as it made her Blind; this bred from a great Rhume and defluxion of her Eyes, with which she was perplexed for se∣veral years together. King Charles the First being then a Prisoner in Windsor, and commanded thence by

the Regicides to London; this poor Woman press'd to be touch'd by His Sacred Majesty as he was passing over the Bridge, and presumed to take hold of his Coat, humbly supplica∣ting His Majesties Sacred touch: The good King tells her he had no Gold; she still begs for Christ Jesus sake, that he would grant her His gracious Touch; the which she having recei∣ved, within three days after she grew well and recovered, and did after that retain her Sight to her dying day.

Another old Man came to my Lodg∣ings at Windsor this last Summer, who told me, That he having been Lame for several Years together, so that he could neither go or stand; he being brought to our late King, of Blessed Memory, to be touch'd at Windsor, he thereupon soon amended, and re∣covered his strength to that capacity as I then saw him in, and hath had the use of his Limbs ever since to admira∣tion.

Mr. Presgrave, one of His Maje∣sties Serjeants at Arms, told me this

following remarkable History of a Gentlewoman, who was troubled for several years with the Evil, who also had divers running Soars about her Arm, she being a Nonconformist and Dissenter from our Church, and ha∣ving very little Faith of His Majesties Touch; but at length, by very great perswasions of her Friends who had found benefit thereof, by their earnest perswasions did gain of her, if possible, to procure His Majesties Touch for the same. This being in the time of our late King, of Blessed Memory, when he was at Hampton-Court; she goes thither and was healed by him, she having received His Majesties gra∣cious Touch, and a piece of Silver a∣bout her Neck, immediatly grew bet∣ter, and within a small time after∣wards perfectly recovered, so that her Soars dryed up, and she acquitted from all running Issues. But as a very strange Remark hereof, upon the day of our Blessed Soveraigns cruel Mar∣tyrdom, her Sores broke out afresh, she being in the Country and hearing no∣thing of the same: But within a small while after they healed up again, and she appeared very well without any appearance of Relapse.

Mr. Seymour Bowman sent these two remarkable Histories in a Letter to me; the which, because I design to Print nothing but Truth, I do here present the Reader with a true Copy of the same: The truth of which he is ever ready to justifie.

Sir,

TO add to that great Treasure which I understand you are Inriching the World with, give me leave to contribute two Mites, which may be thus far grateful to you, be∣cause they are upon my own know∣ledge. In the Year _____ _____ when the great Treaty was between the late King and Parliament at the Isle of Wight (whether my occasions then called me) His Majesty coming home one Evening from the Treaty-house, a Daughter of one Mr. Stephens (I think his name was) a Citizen of Winchester, was touch'd for the Evil in her Eye, which as soon as His Ma∣jesty had done he went to Prayers, (Dr. Hinchman and Dr. Sanderson, since Bishops of London and Lincoln, officiating) in which time her Eye flew open; at which she her self be∣ing

surprized, told her Mother, who joyfully at the end of Prayers pro∣claimed it as a Miracle; upon hearing whereof, I asked the Girl about it, she told me she had been blind more than a Fortnight, and Mr. Serjeant Paynter, then chief Chirurgeon in Waiting, assur'd me he look'd upon her Eye to be in great danger. By this time it arriv'd at His Majesties Ear, who came to the Girl as I stood by her, and in my hearing ask'd her how long her Eye had been closed; she answered, above a Fortnight: Do you see now, said the King? to which she replyed (putting her hand on her other Eye) I see your Majesty; I see any thing about the Room; at which His Majesty pausing awhile, with a kind of Venerable admiration, took her by the hand and kiss'd her.

At my return from the Island, I lodged at Calshot-Castle (which is a∣bout the mid-way to Southampton) with my Friend Captain Peter Bettes∣worth, then Governor, who shewed me a young Man, whom he told me had been infirm with the Evil in his Thigh for nine years, that it was very unpleasant to behold, the Flesh being

rotted away to the very bone, so that more than two pounds of flesh (by computation) could not equal one Thigh with the other, and for three years he went with Crutches; so that when he went to the Island to be touched, it was very troublesom for him to go in or out of the Boat, as both himself, his Father and Mother acquainted me. This very night after the King had Touched him, and put a shilling about his Neck which he brought with him, and shewed me, his Tents, which were of a very great bigness, fell out of his Wounds, and could not be kept in: In three days he quitted his Crutches, and made use of a Staff only. In three Weeks he was able to play at Nine pins and run after his Bowl, and in less than a year he went to New-found-land as a Sea-man.

Sir, If you please to insert these a∣mongst the rest of your Miranda, I do assure you they are undoubtedly true, upon the knowledge of,

Sir,

Your affectionate Friend and Servant, Seymour Bowman.

Dukes-head Bedford∣street, Dec. 16. 82.

From Mrs. Booky near Charing-Cross London, I had this following of one Mrs. West, the Daughter of Sir John Jacob, who being extraordinarily af∣flicted with the Evil, and perplexed with many running Sores when she was young, and having spent several Hundreds of Pounds upon Physitians, Chirurgeons, and the like, all which pretended to give her Cure, which never being effected, (her Mother be∣ing very willing to use all means for her recovery, having no great Opi∣nion of His Majesties Sacred Touch;) but Sir John her Father seeing all their Remedies failed, and small hopes of amendment could be expected by their Methods, resolves to use all imaginable means to procure His late Majesties Sacred Touch for her, by waiting on Him when He was at Holm∣by-House in order to the same. The which he having obtained of His Sa∣cred Majesty, bringing with him his own Gold, which the good King was pleased to put over her Neck; she leaving off her Plaisters she formerly made use of, and keeping her Sores clean as she was directed by His Ma∣jesties Order, her Sores soon healed

of themselves, and she speedily grew strong and well, who for some time had been so weak and infirm, that she could scarce stand or go. Some years after, she leaving off her Gold, her Disease seized her afresh, by gathering again in one of her Eyes, which pro∣ved both very painful and trouble∣some, her Head swelling also to a ve∣ry vast bigness, and in few days she grew perfectly blind again. Her Fa∣ther seeing this strange and frightful change, enquires the reason thereof, and finding her not wearing the Gold about her Neck which had been given her, did attribute this new and fresh appearance of pain and swelling to her want of the same. And although it was some time before the Gold could be found, he not knowing at present what was become thereof; yet by diligent search afterwards finding it again, and he putting it over her Neck, and she wearing the same, her Swellings suddainly vanished, she re∣covered her sight, and has the use of both her Eyes to this day, being in perfect health.

This following was sent me from a very good Friend of Mr. Bowmans.

Mr. Browne,

HEaring you are Publishing a Book of the strange Cures done by His late and present Majesty concerning the Evil, give me leave to acquaint you with a remarkable Cure done upon my own Son, about three years of age, the Disease being so in his Eyes and Face, that he ap∣peared troublesome to the Behold∣ers, and a very uneasie Object to himself: But he being toucht with a Handkerchief dipt in the late Kings Blood, lent him by one Major Gouge, a Commander then in the Parliament Army, he was in 14 days perfectly cured of his Disease. And this I aver under my Hand,

ROGER TƲRNER.

From my House in Cur∣siters-Alley, Octob. 27. 1682.

This Letter was brought me by a very good Friend, and a Person of Quality, who desired my inserting of the same.

I proceed now to some of those marvellous Cures done by His late Majesties precious Blood, where at this day, as true Devoters to His Sa∣cred Memory, there are many that have affirmed wonderful Cures per∣formed by the same. And one re∣mark hereof, is that of a Woman at Deptford near London, who was cured of her blindness, and many other In∣firmities, she only being Toucht with a Handkerchief which had been di∣stained with His late Majesties preci∣ous Blood.

Dr. Francis Thompson, D. D. and Chaplain in Ordinary to His Majesty, gives me this following Observation under his own Hand▪ where he writes, That being at Hadham with Mr. King, one of His Majesties Pensioners, and going thither to Sir Richard Atkins his House, where he observing a good Picture of a young Lady, Sir Richard told him it was one of his Daughters deceased, of whom he had a very re∣markable

Story to tell him, which was as follows: That a little before the Kings Restauration, his Daughter ha∣ving a Swelling in her upper Lip, for which he had consulted several of the most eminent Physicians of the City of London, who at last concluded it to be the Evil, and advised him to go to the King then at Breda or Brussels, to be cured; whereupon preparing for his Voyage, he hapned to discourse Sir Orlando Bridgeman's Lady, who intimated to him, that there were hopes of the Kings saving him his in∣tended Journy; and that however in the mean time, she would accommo∣date him with a Handkerchief or Cloath dipt in His Sacred Majesties Blood, which had done several Cures, which certainly could do his Daugh∣ter no hurt, and if he would pro∣mise to restore it, she would lend him it, to see if it might succeed accord∣ingly with his Daughter as it had with others; upon which he received the same, and his Daughter frequently tapping her Lip therewith about a week or ten days, or thereabouts, by Gods blessing, and the use thereof, she was perfectly cured to admiration.

From Sir John Pettus I had this fol∣lowing of Madam Bowyar, who ha∣ving for many years been troubled with the Evil, and finding no ease by any Medicine whatsoever, she not having the happiness to come at our late Sacred King, of Blessed Memory, to be Touch'd: and understanding of his barbarous Martyrdom design∣ed, she used all imaginable means, and applyed her best Interest to gather or collect a little of his pretious Blood; the which she having obtained in a piece of Tiffany, did wear the same about her Neck, and within a very small time after her use of the same, she was perfectly discharged from her Disease, and hath ever since continued well, and is still alive to confirm the truth thereof: And when she had found this great efficacy thereof on her self, she lent several pieces of the fame, which had been likewise distain∣ed with this pretious Blood, and where ever they were applyed to Kings Evil Swellings, they were seen suddenly to retreat; and such as made use thereof, were as speedily and suc∣cessively cured to admiration.

Since my reception of the afore∣named History from Dr. Thompson, I had this his Letter sent me, wherein as a farther vindication of the for∣mer, he gives me two others, as fol∣lows;

Sir,

ACcording to your desire, I send you in brief the Import of what we discoursed, abridg'd of some Circumstances; viz. That I being with Mr. King, one of His Majesties Prisoners at Sir Richard Atkins his House, when at Hadham: He told us, That one of His Daughters had a Swelling on her upper Lip, which the eminent Physicians of London conclu∣ded was the Evil, and accordingly advised him to repair then to the King at Brussels (or Breda) for Cure. But while he was preparing for his Voyage, he hapned to receive a Cloth dipt in the late Kings Blood, from the Right Honorable the Lady Bridgman (being famous for many Cures) whereby his Daughters Swel∣ling was perfectly abated within a Week or ten Days, by Gods Bles∣sing, only upon her frequent tap∣ping

the affected place with the said Cloth. Since I told you this, I had it confirmed by my Lady Bridgman in Person, and by another parallel in∣stance; That in a few days it cu∣red a young Lady near related to her Ladyship (whose name must be supprest) of a Swelling also on her upper Lip, by dabbing it only with the same Sacred Gore, being a little wetted therewith.

To which I may add, what I lately heard from an honest Loyal Citizen, of very good reputation in St. Lau∣rence Lane, that a person went from his House so blinded with the Evil, that he could not discern a Door-place in the Room, when he went out of it, and yet that very After∣noon walked without direction from White-Hall to his house, after he had been touched by his present Majesty, whom God long preserve; and that he knew several others touched, and every one cured.

This is all at present from,

Sir,

Your assured Friend and hum∣ble Servant, Francis Thompson.

From my House in Silver∣street near Wood∣street, London, Dec. 21. 1682.

There was a Scotch Merchant, who made it his business every Spring and Fall to bring People from Scotland and Newcastle, troubled with the Evil, to the King where ever he was in his Troubles; as at Brussels, Breda, Bru∣ges, Anwerp, and the like; and before his return from the King, he general∣ly acquainted Serjeant Haynes of His Majesties Chappel (from whom I had this observation) how those Persons were which he carryed back with him, after they had been Touch'd: A∣mongst the rest of which, he related this remarkable Story, of one amongst the rest that came who was refused a Ticket by the Chief Chirurgeon then in Waiting (where he assured him, that all such who had obtained His Majesties Touch, received Cure there∣with): But this poor Man being de∣nyed the Touch of the King, by rea∣son of the Chirurgeons not giving him a Ticket, telling him, He had more need of an Hospital than of His Majesties Favor; affirming, That his Disease had more of the Pox than of the Evil in it: And he making great complaint to Serjeant Haynes of his

hard measure, with many protestations of his Innocency with all or any Wo∣man-kind, and that he should think himself utterly undone if he might not receive the honor of his Majesties Touch with the rest of his Compani∣ons, desiring nothing more, they all bringing their own Gold with them. The Serjeant having more pity on him than the Chirurgion, made his application to Dr. Erles on his behalf, that he would please to move the King for his being Healed; the which having done, and the King granting his desire, The next time the Mer∣chant came to the King with fresh Peo∣ple, he acquainted the Serjeant, that this poor man was perfectly recover∣ed; and although his face was so mon∣strous to view, and accompanied with many deplorable and fetid Ulcers, that he was forced to cover them with green Silk, yet he received that great measure of health by His Sacred Ma∣jesty, as any one could expect to enjoy.

When the King was at Brussels, there was a Daughter or two of the Marquess of Carasceens, who was Go∣vernor

of the Spanish Netherlands, which were brought to be healed by the King for their Evil; both which, within a very little space of time after the reception thereof recovered to admiration: At the same time Ser∣jeant Haynes told me, That not only Scotch, Irish, English, but several French, Spanish, Dutch, and Walloons, who were troubled with this Disease, were all healed by his excellent Heal∣ing Faculty.

From Dr. William Payne of Winton, I had this following Narration sent me under his own hand: That he be∣ing to wait upon Dr. Erles, Lord Bi∣shop of Sarum, and discoursing of the Evil, Dr. Erles told him, That when he was in Holland with the King, there was brought on a Bed a very in∣firm Woman, so weakned with that Disease, that they were all unwilling to suffer her to be brought to His Ma∣jesties presence: The Chirurgeons were very much against it also, and Dr. Erles himself did much disswade it, lest she should dye under His Ma∣jesties hand, as was very much feared. But upon the Womans earnest desire,

they did acquaint His Majesty with her condition and with her request: His Majesty was pleased to permit her to be brought in, and did touch her, none ever thinking to see her alive a∣gain. Dr. Erles, a few days after walking in the streets, did meet this Woman with a large Basket of Fruit upon her head; he enquired of her the way to some place whither he had occasion to go: The Woman knowing him because he did attend at her Healing, did presently set down her Basket of Fruit, and said, M••yn Heer, Meyn Heer, God bless your good King, and God bless you, I am the Wo∣man that was brought to your King to be Touch'd such a day, naming the time, and see how God hath blest me with success beyond all hopes, that I am so soon perfectly well and strong as you now see me. This Dr. Payne had from Dr. Erles own mouth, and doth attest the Relation thereof to be true, as he shall answer before God. And as a second Vindication hereof, when I read the same to the aforemen∣tioned Mr. Serjeant Haynes, he tells me he can justifie the truth hereof, he

at the same time waiting upon Dr. Erles beyond Sea.

A poor Man that came out of Eng∣land to Bruges to be touch'd in Flan∣ders for the Evil, by the King when he was there, having a neck as big as four or five necks, and his Head very monstrous: He being touch'd by His Sacred Majesty, and washing himself with the Water. By that time this Man reached Rotterdam, onwards on his Journy to his return for England, staying there two or three days, he sent a Letter thence to Mr. Serjeant Knight then in waiting, that he was discharged from his Swellings, his Neck abated of his Tumor, and by the advantage of his Touch, he re∣ceived perfect health and cure. Mr. Tho: Morley, Avenor to his Royal Highness the Duke of York, gave me this Observation, being both an Eye∣witness of this Touch, as also of the Letter sent to Mr. Knight being then at Bruges.

I could mention many other Cures performed by His Sacred Majesty in his Exile beyond Sea; but I now pro∣ceed to several Cures acted by Him since His happy Restauration.

After the Kings Return from abroad, and entring His Royal Throne, where there were frequent Healings at His first coming, as sometimes three in a week, and these in great multitudes, as six hundred at a time, Mr. Serje∣ant Haynes tells me he hath observed amongst the rest that many which have been brought perfectly blind to the King to be Toucht, who having received the same, have been seen sud∣dainly cured, and freed from their Di∣stempers.

One Mr. Edwards, in the Parish of Curry-rivall in Somersetshire, who be∣ing sorely afflicted with the Evil, that both the sides of his Face were Scro∣phulated and Ulcerated, he being hereby not only made a sad spectacle to view, but his Eyes also made blind therewith, so much that he could scaree see the Sun or Moon, he coming up to London at His Majesties happy Restauration, in order to be healed

by His Sacred Majesty, within six weeks after His reception of the same, he was seen so whole, that his Eyes regain'd a perfect sight, and his Face was covered with new Flesh like that of a young Child, and lived many years afterwards without any relapse. This I had from Mr. Alford of His Ma∣jesties Chappel, who will always be ready to make good the same.

Mr. Butler Minister tells me of a Country-man, who having a Daugh∣ter very much troubled with the E∣vil, she being about twelve years of age, about the time of His Majesties first coming into England, she being for some time made blind therewith, this Country-man getting her Toucht by our Sacred King, she no sooner received the same, but her Eyes im∣mediately opened, she looked upon the King, and that very hour she was touched she received cure, and hath ever since continued in perfect health. This he had from the Father of the Child who was thus miraculously cu∣red.

The same Mr. Butler tells me, that within a small time after our Kings coming into England, Elias Ashmole

Esq Comptroler of the Excise, ac∣quainted him with this following Ob∣servation, of one Arrice Evans, who then went generally by the name of Evans the Prophet, who being trou∣bled with a very despicable and blast∣ed Face, so that it was not only nau∣seous to view, but very fetid of smell, he coming to Mr. Ashmole to request the favour of his getting him toucht by His Majesty for the same, he utter∣ly refused it, not thinking him a fit person to approach His Majesties Pre∣sence; and being stript of all hope or advantage from him, as also from ma∣ny others which he had endeavoured to procure: He being utterly denyed the attaining the favour of the Kings Presence by any interest of Friends, at last resolves with himself (with an as∣sured Faith, that if His Majesty did but touch him he should speedily re∣cover) to attend the Kings coming by him in the usual Walks he takes in St. James's Park; the King at length com∣ing that way, his Face being covered with a Red Cloath, the which he lift∣ed up till he saw the King near him, which he afterwards letting fall down, cries out, I am 'Rise Evans. The

King coming nearer him with his At∣tendants which waited on Him, some of them told His Majesty that he was His Majesties Prophet; the King com∣ing at him, he kneels down, and cries, God bless Your Majesty: The good King gives him His Hand to Kiss, and he rubbing his ulcerated and scabbed Nose therewith, which was plentiful∣ly stockt with purulent and fetid mat∣ter: within two days after his recep∣tion of His Majesties sacred favour, the abovesaid Mr. Ashmole saw this E∣vans cured, and his ulcered Nose dry∣ed up and healed. This Mr. Butler tells me he had it from Mr. Ashmole's own mouth.

From Mrs. Watson in Kingstreet Westminster, I received this of her own Daughter, who was so severely af∣flicted with the Evil, and her Swel∣lings did arise to that bulk, that they very oft threatned her suffocation, by too close compressing the Windpipe, she using several means, and all fruit∣less, at length gets her toucht by our Sacred King; and when all other re∣medies fail'd her, at His first touch her Swellings abated, she found speedy ease and relief, and within a short time

perfectly was cured and discharged from her Fears and Tumours.

From John Plummer Esq of Wind∣sor I had this, of his own Child, who being put to Nurse to one Harsnetts Wife of New-Windsor, who was her self troubled with the Evil, after his Child had for some time suckt her Milk, she suckt her Distemper there∣with also: The Child being Toucht the last Summer by the King for its Distemper, did immediately recover thereupon. The great remark here∣of is this, That when the Child left the Nurses Breast, she her self fell ill, and grew weak, and for want of her being Toucht as well as the Child, she died of the same Distemper with∣in a small while after the Child had left her.

Mr. George Peryn, Gentleman-Har∣binger to His Majesty, gives me this Observation of a Maid coming from Portsmouth, the Kings Builders Daugh∣ter, who was so miserably afflicted with the Evil, and a Person so deplo∣rable to view, that she affrighted her Spectators; she coming to Windsor to be Toucht, and getting to see the King at Dinner, her Face being un∣covered,

and she being taken notice of, was forc'd speedily to quit her place. This sad Object being within few days Toucht by our Sacred King, she suddainly amended after it, and her Face grew so whole, (which was furnished with many Ulcers) that there were but very few marks left of her former miserable aspect.

From the Earl of Starling I had this following, who told me his second Son being much troubled with a Scro∣phulous Swelling in his upper lip, ha∣ving had the best advice he could pro∣cure from the most eminent Physicians and Chirurgeons to consult and ad∣vise about the same, they not giving him any appearance of Cure, advised his Lordship to get his Son Toucht by the King for the same; the which some small while after he obtained: he no sooner received His Majesties Touch, but received immediate ease therewith, and he hath remained well ever since.

From the Mayor of Wickham I had this, who having a Son about five years of age very much troubled with the Evil, that he was blind, and could not see, with a hard Swelling on his

upper Lip, and finding no good by all other means he used, he brought his Son to Windsor to be Touched; which so soon as he had received, his Eyes amended, the Swelling of his Lip abated, and he in a very short time restored to health, the which he hath ever since enjoyed without any relapse.

Sir Roger Hasnet, eldest Serjeant at Arms to His Majesty, tells me of a Child of six years of age, who having several Evil Swellings about her Neck and Throat, and so perfectly blind that she could neither see the light of the Candle, Fire, or Sun, she coming to Whitehal to be Toucht, she having been formerly Touched and lost her Gold, her Distemper seising her again, upon her second Healing by His Ma∣jesty, and new Gold given, her Swel∣lings speedily vanished, and within two hours were seen to leave her, and in fourteen days she was perfect∣ly restored to her former health. Sir Roger undertook her second Touch, and saw the effects thereof, and will satisfie any man which may question the truth thereof.

Mr. Thomas, Clerk of His Majesties Kitchin, acquainted me with this fol∣lowing remarkable Observation, which was of a poor Girl which came out of the North miserably afflicted with the Evil, to be Toucht by His Sacred Ma∣jesty; she was so perfectly blind that she was lead to Whitehal, having no sight at all: she having been healed by the King, the Film which covered and obstructed her sight did immedi∣ately break: after her Touching, she askt her Mother, Whether she were her Mother? telling her she could see her. After this she went without any help out of the Banquetting-House at Whitehal, and within a little while af∣ter the Healing, he saw this Child play with other Children before the mo∣ving Wardrobe at Whitehal; and this he is ready to confirm as well as af∣firm.

John Hebden Esq tells me his La∣dy, who after a long time having made use of Physicians and Chirur∣geons to little purpose, and being by their methods brought so low, that she was not able to go or stand for two or three months together, she being brought in a Chair to the Ban∣quetting-House

at Whitehal to be heal∣ed by His Sacred Majesty for the Evil, she no sooner received the same, but immediately found a very great change in her self, and with the reception thereof she likewise received a new strength therewith, so that she walk∣ed without any help to the Banquet∣ting-House Door, which could not stir or go for two or three months before, and amended speedily upon it, and she in a very short time arrived at that degree of health, that she grew eve∣ry day stronger, and is now as well as ever she was in her whole life.

He likewise at the same time ac∣quainted me of a Neighbouring Fa∣natick of his at Battersey, who having five Children, and all of them trou∣bled with the Evil at once, the Pa∣rents using several means, but all pro∣ving ineffectual, one of these Chil∣dren being got Toucht by His Sacred Majesty, by His means did immediate∣ly recover of her distemper: all the other for want of the same blessing and benefit, died of the like Dis∣ease.

Sir Lionel Waldens Son tells me of one Markham, who having several Running Sores under his Arm, whence issued out much stinking matter, and a very large Swelling on his Face, he being several years so weak that he could neither go or ride, he be∣ing Touched by the King at Wind∣sor, in less than fourteen days he was discharged from his Swellings, his run∣ning Sores dried up, and he hath ever since continued well and sound.

From Mr. Robert Muryell of Cam∣bridge I had this following, concern∣ing his Brother who there lived, who having for several years been trou∣bled with Strumous Swellings along his Neck and Throat, he being heal∣ed by the King at Newmarket, his Swellings speedily vanished, and hath ever since continued in health, and that this Distemper hath for many years gone along in the Family: he told me of fifteen of his Relations which were afflicted with the Evil, and every one cured by His Majesties gracious Touch; and amongst the rest he likewise assured me that one of his Brethren, who was a Student

in Trinity-Colledge Cambridge, who leaving off his Gold, his Swellings did speedily shew themselves; but no sooner was his Gold put on again, but they were likewise found as rea∣dily to vanish.

Mr. Thomas Dunckly, belonging to His Majesties Closet, assures me that one Mrs. Dorothy Philips, who was miserably vexed with the Evil for ma∣ny years, and had a very large Stru∣mous Swelling in her left Breast, which afterwards turned to a Scrophulous Ulcer, so large, that he told me he could put his hand thereinto, she be∣ing in a very weak and deplorable condition, not able for above six months together to bring her Wast∣coat together; and when she had ti∣red all the Physitians and Chirurge∣ons she made use of about her Dis∣ease, she by Dr. Barwick was advised to go to be healed by the King; Mr. Dunckly gets her Toucht, which hap∣ned on a Friday; the Munday fol∣lowing she went down to Loughbur∣row in Leicestshire, and returned back in a month very well and cured, with∣out any outward application, or in∣ward Physick, and is at this day

very well, living at the Old Change in London.

Dr. Johnson of Brantry, Rural Dean of Bocking, sending another poor Wo∣man to Mr. Dunckly, in order to his getting her Touch'd by the King for the Evil, which Woman was perfectly blind therewith for above four Months before, so as she was led up and down about the House by her Mother; and whenever she went to Church, her Mother was forc'd to lead her thither: This Woman, with∣in a Month after she had been healed by His Majesty, she regain'd her Sight, and was in that happy condition, that she evermore led her Mother after∣wards to Church.

Mr. John Stephens of His Majesties Back-stairs, acquaints me of a Gun-Smith in Winchester, who being a Quaker, and very much troubled with the Evil in his Neck, he coming to him to desire the procuring him a Ticket, in order to his being heal∣ed by the King: No sooner had this Quaker this Ticket given him, but he tells Mr. Stephens his Faith was so

small, that he did not believe the Kings Touch could much help him, or that there was any Power or Virtue therein, but resolved notwithstand∣ing to make use of his Favor. This Quaker no sooner sees the King, but his Spirits immediately raised to a higher degree of Faith, and begot a greater belief in him, telling Mr. Stephens that his mind was quite al∣tered, and he was certain His Maje∣sty would heal him. This Quaker, within less than 48 hours after his being Touch'd, was very much a∣mended, and before he could get home, was wholly discharged from his Swellings in his Neck: and as a publick acknowledgment to Almigh∣ty God for his great Cure, he went to the Cathedral Church at Winchester the first Sunday following, to pay his publick Thanks: And when he heard the King prayed for, he was taken notice of being more concern'd than at any other part of the Prayers, by lifting up his Hands as a greater and more sincere acknowledgment of the extraordinary Blessing he lately re∣ceived, and is and hath ever since re∣mained a true Son of the Church.

Marmaduke Ling, in the Parish of North-Petherton in Somersetshire, being a School-fellow of the same Mr. John Stephens, did likewise desire him to procure a Ticket (from Mr. Serjeant Paynter then chief Chirurgeon in waiting) for him, he having so large a Scrophulous Swelling in his Face, being very hard, and monstruously extended, that he scared knew him; he being touched by his Sacred Ma∣jesty, within 14 days after his Swel∣ling grew soft, and every day became more and more pliable, so that in six Weeks time it was like the other side of his Face: And in two years after Mr. Stephens saw him in Somersetshire there perfectly well. This and the for∣mer, he is ready to make good, when ever asked thereof.

A Servant-maid of my Mother-in-laws▪ living at Enfield, who having a very ill constitution of Body, ac∣companyed with many Scrophulated Swellings, and Evil Ulcers, and run∣ning Sores in both her Legs, being both very noysom and foetid; she ha∣ving made use of many Chirurgions

and others, but without any relief; asking my advice, I ordered her to come up to London to be Touch'd by the King for the same; the which she no sooner received, but found imme∣diate ease, her running Soars soon dry∣ed up, and in a small while her Swel∣lings abated; she leaving off her Gold, her Swellings began to appear again, as also a new vent of running, and she her self became disordered: She craving my advice the second time, I ordred her evermore to keep her Gold about her Neck, and ever since she followed my advice, she has had no further appearance of running Issue, Relapse, or Trouble.

A Nonconformists Wife, having more Faith in her than her unbeliev∣ing Husband, being very much trou∣bled with the Evil, was brought to the King, in my waiting this last Sum∣mer at Windsor, to be Touch'd; who although she daily desired her Hus∣band she might come before, she was evermore denyed the same, he tel∣ling her it was a piece of Superstition, and that there was no more Virtue in the Kings Touch than in another

Mans: Her Husbands occasions cal∣ling him to take a Journy, she resolves, if possible, to be healed by the King, and was brought into the Presence, she not being able to walk up. I have it for certain, That as her Faith was stronger than her Husbands, so the Effects thereof were as prevalent, whereupon she presently amended, and received great help and comfort. I should be evermore of this Wo∣mans belief, had I been in her condi∣tion, and should always desire with Dr. Fuller, that I might gain the favor of His Majesties Sacred Touch, and the happiness of being Healed by him; where I ought also to joyn gratitude to God the Author, and all humble thanks to His Sacred Majesty the In∣strument of my recovery.

I having the great Honor of first waiting on His Sacred Majesty at his Chappel Royal at Windsor on my Knee, at which time was above forty miserable and charitable objects of Charity, as both Scotch, Welsh, Irish, and English, which were troubled with the Evil; many or most of which did find present ease and cure:

Amongst the rest, I shall presume to present this as a publick Remark of that days Healing; which was in a Child about six or seven years old, being one of His Majesties Carriers at Windsor, who having a very large Swelling of his Neck, which was but little before brought to Mr. James Mo∣lins, His Majesties Chirurgeon, and me to behold; we both advised a Cau∣stick to be applyed thereto, the Matter which being therein contained being deeply lodged: But without follow∣ing our advice, this healing hapning a few days after, I gave him a Ticket in order to his Childs being Touch'd; the which the Child having received, the Swelling the very next day did break, and Matter daily issued thence which lessened its bulk, and in a short time I saw the Child perfectly whole, and discharged from the Swelling.

A young Child of Mr. Bradlyes, near Charing-Cross, being by me brought to the King to be healed at a private Healing at White-Hall, amongst some others, where I only waited; being troubled with the Evil in her Eyes, which proved very troublesom and

irksome to her, very near spoiling her sight, and who could scarce get any Nutriment into her Mouth, which ve∣ry oft threatned her suffocation: This Child within six days after her being touched by the King, her sight amend∣ed, the hot Rheum in her Eyes aba∣ted, and her Mouth, which was so troublesome to her, became well, and she in a very short space perfectly cured.

Mr. James Hollyer, the Son of the famous Mr. Tho. Hollyer Chirurgeon, and my Master, who being troubled with the Evil, and having several run∣ning Ulcers which could not be cured by his Fathers best Art, all imagina∣ble means proving ineffectual, he be∣ing at length touched by our Sacred King, his Sores suddainly dryed up, and never any appearance of relapse have since hapned to him.

Elizabeth Williams having the Evil in her Eyes for many years, which made them sore by their continual gleet, for which she had used many Medicines to little purpose, she being Toucht by the King for the same, did presently find ease, speedily recover∣ed, and continues now in health.

Benjamin Fuller having a cold Tu∣mour which seized his Elbow, in so much that he could not lift his Hand to his Mouth, nor remove it from any place without the assistance of his other, he having received His Maje∣sties gracious Touch, did speedily amend, and became very well soon after he had received the same.

Henry Onsly in St. Thomas Hospital had very large Ulcers about him like Honey-Combs, which gave him that pain that he took no rest for many days and nights; that very day he was Toucht by the King for his Di∣stemper, he found ease, slept well that night, his Sores soon healed up, and he to admiration hath ever since continued well and sound.

Carington Bransell, a poor Seaman, who having a cold Swelling in his Hands, that all the Tendons and Li∣gaments thereof were supposed there∣by to be foul, he upon receiving His Majesties gracious Touch, recovered from his Swellings by its abating and lessening it self every day, and in a short time after used his Hand, and grew perfectly well. These five last I had from the abovesaid Mr. Molins's

Kinsman, left me under his Hand, and sent me from his Master.

Dr. Eaton tells me of two Women walking together near Oxford, which had lately come from London, with the Daughter of one of them, who had for some time been perfectly blind with the Evil, That day she received His Majesties Touch, she at Dinner so well recovered her sight, that she ha∣ving a Handkerchief shewn her, she could tell what it was: These two Women told the Doctor with abun∣dance of Joy this History, with thanks for the great blessing the Daughter lately received by His Majesties Sacred Hand.

There's also another remarkable Observation brought to me of our Soveraign's late Touch here at White∣hal, just before he went to Newmar∣ket this last Meeting, where amongst the rest, a Child of an Innkeepers in Holborn, having for some considerable time been perfectly blind, so that she could neither see Sun or Moon, or the Light, who upon His Majesties gracious Touch, the same Child re∣covered her sight, the which she keeps, and is very well at the writing hereof.

One Thomas Costland, (as another remark of His Majesties favour) living near Oxford, and having many Stru∣mous Swellings about his Neck, for which he had been touched and cu∣red; but upon leaving off his Gold, his Swellings seized him afresh: the Gold being new strung, and put again about his Neck, his Swellings suddain∣ly abated, and he to his dying day continued ever after in health, without any appearance of relapse. This also I received from the aforesaid Doctor Eaton.

From Dr. White I had this follow∣ing of a Woman in La••••born in Berk∣shire, who being so grievously trou∣bled with the Evil, that it made her so blind, that she could not see cross the Table; she having been toucht for the same by the King, within less than fourteen days she recovered her sight, so that she could distinguish between every one at the Table; and she eve∣ry day so mightily amended, that in a short space of time she perfectly re∣gained her sight to admiration.

From Madam Waterman, His Ma∣jesties late Physicians Lady, I had this following Observation of a Person of Quality, who was much troubled with the Evil in her Eyes, as also many running Soars behind her Ears; for the curing both of which, all ima∣ginable means were used before (His Majesties happy Restauration) by the most eminent Physicians and Chyrur∣geons in London: She by all their skill and advice no whit growing better, but having some appearance of help by longer use of their Medicines, and did purchase greater hopes than she expected, at length advanced to a very great measure of Cure; but this continued no long time: Some Years after His Majesties happy return into England, her Distemper seized afresh in her Eyes, and by my Lady Ivyes ad∣vice used several Remedies (who for some miles was sent for to advise a∣bout the same) but she using several means to as little effect as the former, she being evermore compell'd to keep in the dark, or close place, where she could not endure the sight of the light, not being able to walk in or out of the House without leading, no

ways capable of enduring the light of the Sun or Fire, or the very appear∣ance of Day. This Lady being touch∣ed by our Sacred King, within two days after could endure the light without trouble; and in a Weeks time she received that miraculous Change (that she without any further help) could walk abroad by her self without any help or assistance, and hath ever since continued free from a∣ny further Distemper, although it hath been above fifteen or sixteen Years since she received his Majesties gracious Touch.

The aforesaid Lady tells us like∣wise of Sir Nicholas Tucks two Chil∣dren, who both were also much troub∣led with the Evil; the one with run∣ning Soars behind her Ears, which were not to be cured by the utmost of Art; the other with soar Eyes, and an extraordinary Rhume: Both these being touch'd by His Sacred Majesty the last Summer at Windsor, recei∣ved immediate Cure; as I had from the above-mention'd Ladies own Lips.

The Daughter also of the Honor∣ed Dr. Waterman, being much troub∣led with the Evil in her Throat, and Swelling, which proved very trou∣blesom to her, so that for some time she was not able to hold up her Head, or move the same without pain; she likewise being touch'd for the same by His Sacred Majesty, within a few days after it, she much amended, and hath ever since continued well: But she, upon leaving off her Gold for some time, she felt new Pains and Swellings, but no sooner had she put the same Gold on again, but her Pain and Swelling abated, and found as speedy a Recovery, as the want of the same gave her fresh fears of its return.

This following I received also from the aforesaid Mistress Elizabeth Bookey, which was of a near Relation of her own, of a Child of about two years old, who having very many troubles upon her, as Fevers, Agues, Vomit∣ings, and other Illness about that time of her Age; for which advice being askt from the most eminent Physici∣ans, one amongst the rest judged it to

be an Evil humor cruising about her Body; others were of another Opi∣nion, she being for some time kept under the Physicians hands for some years; about the seventh Year of her age, the Humor gathered afresh upon or very near her left Breast, which was so violent that it drew the child crook∣ed, and made her to bend like a Bow: this sore was opened and drest by an eminent Chirurgeon of our City of London; it being for some time kept open, at length healed up of a sud∣dain, but it very quickly gathered again inwardly: The Relations then remembring the opinion of one of the most eminent Physicians who had for∣merly been consulted, & that he suppo∣sed it to be an Evil humor, or the same Humor that begets the same Disease, used all imaginable means of having her Touch'd by the King: But he that had the most immediate care of her, said it was the Evil, and if it were, it was not Touching that could help her, but it must be other means that must effect her Cure. The Relations not being herewith satisfied, they car∣ried the Child to Mr. Serjeant Knight, Serjeant Chirurgion to His Majesty,

who was of opinion that it was not the Evil: A year or two after, this Distemper seized her Eyes, where she met with such a violent Rhume, that it not only blistered her Eyes, but made Scars also in her Face: They made their second Address then to His Majesties Chirurgeon, who seeing the Disease so apparently discovered its self, that she had a Ticket, and was touch'd by His Sacred Majesty; the which she no sooner had received, but she immediatly found ease in her Eyes, and hath continued very well for these last ten years together, ex∣cept upon leaving off her Gold, where∣upon she saith she hath met with some small ilness in her Eyes, which upon putting her Gold on again, hath as suddenly vanished.

The Healing before the Kings last meeting at New-market, which was in March, before he left the City there was a very poor Country Woman brought in a Chair to be healed, which could neither go nor stand: His Majesty affording her His Royal Touch, she suddenly thereupon a∣mended; the day following she was

able to walk about the Room; and in two days after she was so perfectly recovered, that she went into the Country freed from her former Sick∣ness, and discharged from her Scro∣phulated Swellings.

At the same Healing another young Woman which was very near blind, and very much disturbed with Stru∣mous Swellings, and had also several running Soars about her, she being touch'd then also by the King, recei∣ved perfect Remedy by the Royal Fa∣vor of his Sacred Hand. Both these, I my self was Eye-witness of, and therefore do confidently assert the truth thereof.

Being in the Society of many Per∣sons of Quality, I had this remarkahle following Observation from an emi∣nent Person of this strange Cure. A Nonconformists Child in Norfolk, be∣ing troubled with Scrophulous Swel∣lings, the late deceased Sir Thomas Brown of Norwich being consulted a∣bout the same, His Majesty being then at Breda or Bruges, he advised the Parents of the Child to have it carry∣ed

over to the King (his own Method being used ineffectually:) the Father seemed very strange at his advice, and utterly denyed it, saying, The Touch of the King was of no greater efficacy than any other Mans. The Mother of the Child adhering to the Doctors ad∣vice, studied all imaginable means to have it over, and at last prevailed with her Husband to let it change the Air for three Weeks or a Month; this being granted, the Friends of the Child that went with it, unknown to the Father, carried it to Breda, where the King touch'd it, and she returned home perfectly healed. The Child being come to its Fathers House, and he finding so great an alteration, en∣quires how his Daughter arrived at this Health, the Friends thereof as∣sured him, that if he would not be an∣gry with them, they would relate the whole Truth; they having his promise for the same, assured him they had the Child to the King to be touch'd at Breda, whereby they apparently let him see the great benefit his Child re∣ceiv'd thereby. Hereupon the Fa∣ther became so amazed, that he threw off his Nonconformity, and exprest

his thanks in this method; Farewel to all Dissenters, and to all Nonconfor∣mists: If God can put so much Virtue into the King's Hand as to Heal my Child, I'll serve that God and that King so long as I live with all Thank∣fulness.

The following Letter came very lately to my Hands, which I shall here insert verbatim.

Mr. Brown,

I Am informed that you are Pub∣lishing a Treatise of The Royal Gift of Healing; and knowing that many are of the Opinion that there can be no benefit received without a strong belief, &c. Therefore pray to your many Obligations, add one more, by inserting this in your Book, viz. I was very much afflicted with the Di∣stemper vulgarly known by the Name of the Kings-Evil, from seven years of age, until the time that I received His Majesties most gracious Touch: I was so much afflicted with it, that at some times my Face would be so Tume∣fied, that I could hardly see out,

or speak plain: my Cheeks and Neck were full of Glandules, and I had such a running Ulcer in my upper Lip, that at some times it appear'd like a Hare-Lip, and in a very bad condition I continued from the year 1648, until the year 1662, at which time all my Friends advised me to get the Favour of being Toucht: but I believing no further than I could see demonstrated, though none could exceed me in Loy∣alty, I refused to go: but in a short time after I had some Business of ano∣ther Nature to go to London, which having soon after I came perfected, I did not dare go home again without being Toucht, because I made that the pretence of my Journey. So then I went to some Friends in London, who gave me Recommendations to Mr. Serjeant Knight, who gave me a Ticket, and I waited upon His Majesty as I was directed, and received His Divine Touch; which had so good effect upon me, that in two or three days I was very much at ease; and by that time I got home, which was within a fortnight, I was perfectly well, to the great Glory of God, the Eternal Ho∣nour of His Sacred Majesty, and the

Lawful Heirs of the Crown, whom God preserve. Amen. Sir, When I have the Happiness to Kiss your Hand, you shall have a more parti∣cular account from

Your Humble Servant, Philip Williams.

From my House at the Globe in Whites-Alley in Chancery-Lane London, Dec. 10. 1683.

A poor Country-woman came with her three Sisters from Oxford, to be healed by His Majesty in the Week be∣fore last Easter: this Object of Chari∣ty came to my House in a very mise∣rable condition, and was as well by Serjeant Pyle, His Majesties Serjeant Chirurgeon, as my self, viewed, and

her Distemper was concluded by both not to be the Evil; her Legs were both extraordinarily blistered; her Stomach was so weak, that she for some days could not eat any Dyet. I being upon pure Charity perswaded by her earnest Intreaties and Requests to have her Toucht, the which on her bended Knees she humbly requested, with that perfect assurance, that could she attain it, she should certainly gain her Cure; she at the publick Healing at Whitehal was Toucht by His Maje∣sty: that very night she eat two Eggs, that for above ten days before nause∣ated any Dyet. The day following she was Toucht again, and with it she received His Majesties Gold: upon which her Sores and Blisters in her Legs dryed up, she speedily thereup∣on amended, and within a very few days to admiration was perfectly re∣trieved from her Disease, and to this day is a visible Object of His Maje∣sties great Cure, (the beginning and ending of which I saw) to His Sacred Thanks and Glory.

From Mr. Whitacre of Winchester I had this following, of a Child of one Mr. Harbins of the same place, who

being perfectly blind with the Evil, and she being Toucht by His Sacred Majesty for the same at Whitehal, she immediately received great benefit thereby, and recovered her sight to that great degree, that walking the same day along with her Mother by the Maypole in the Strand, she askt her Mother what that long Pole was for? which she thankt God she then perfectly saw, and hath continued ve∣ry well ever since.

Elizabeth Dewolders of Flushing in Zealand, was touched by the King for the Evil about thirteen years since, who having many running Sores about her Neck, soon after her touching she immediately received benefit, and within a little while after her Sores perfectly dryed up. I saw this Wo∣man my self, who came with her Si∣ster who was troubled with the Evil to be Toucht this instant October at Whitehal, and she is perfectly healed, and hath continued so ever since.

William Luke of East-Packham in Kent, a Blacksmith, who having the Evil very much in his Eyes, was toucht by the King for the same, and recei∣ved immediate benefit thereby: he

was toucht about Easter, and every year about the same time he meets with a fresh return hereof: he comes about forty miles, and every year he gains the Kings Touch, he receives Cure therewith, and goes home very well, and follows his Calling. This I had from Mr. Doublebrook, who is one of His Majesties Yeoman-Ushers, and who always brings him to the King to be Toucht.

From Mr. Millart, one of the Yeo∣man-Ushers to the Yeomen of the Guard, I had this, of a poor Woman who was his next Neighbour, who being so grievously troubled with run∣ning Sores about her Neck, that she was near wasted and consumed to no∣thing, she was brought in a Chair to the King to be Toucht, and immedi∣ately found benefit thereby, and with∣in a short time after she returned home to Breda in Brabant perfectly recovered, and since that sent him a Letter, with thanks, of her continu∣ing well to this hour.

From Mr. Doublebrook I had this fol∣lowing also, of a Woman who came from Virginia, whose Nose was almost eaten away with the Evil, and her

Eyes consumed with that Humour, she being brought by him to the King to be Toucht, immediately received be∣nefit thereby, and returned to Vir∣ginia since, and as a token of Thanks to him, she sent him a Pair of Gloves, with a Letter, wherein she certified him that she was recovered from her Disease, and was perfectly healed. This he received from her within a year and a half after, from Virginia.

I might have introduced many more Examples of the great Cures which have been performed by the Sacred Hands of our Kings and Queens: but I hope these may be sufficient to satisfie the reasonable Man.

May our Blessed SAVIOUR there∣fore, the great Physician of the Soul and Body, evermore add many years to our Sacred Majesties Age, that he may always appear more glorious, as the Rising Sun over his People, dif∣fusing of his Healing Rays: May For∣tune and Glory be ever the Fruit and Pleasure of his Sacred Person: And may he ever be himself free from all such Sickness and Diseases as he cures in others; whose Health is the Health of his Nations, and whose Life is the

Life of his Kingdoms: And as the great KING of Kings hath hitherto mi∣raculously preserved his Defender of the Faith, so may He evermore keep Him from the Malice of his evil Sub∣jects Tongues, and from the sickly Contagion of their ill Manners. May the Preserver of Mankind furnish his Royal Person continually with a strong Army, a faithful People, a flou∣rishing Nation, a peaceful Church, a serene Sea, an invincible Throne, and happy Islands; that as all the World doth pay Tribute to our Soveraign's great Name, so they may also reve∣rence his Divine Healing Nature.

Notes

• * 1.1

  The Ori∣gination of Heal∣ing pro∣ved.
• * 1.2

  Whether every one may pre∣tend to this Gift.
• * 1.3

  Christ the first Au∣thor of Healing.
• * 1.4

  Matth. 19. & 21. v. 14.
• * 1.5

  Matth. 21.
• * 1.6

  Acts & Luke 6. 5.12.
• * 1.7

  Whether Apostles and Reli∣gious men had this Gift of Healing.
• * 1.8

  The Defi∣nition of this Gift.
• * 1.9

  The fre∣quent use thereof.
• * 1.10

  Its dura∣tion pro∣ved.
• * 1.11

  Gods as∣sisting hand gives perfecti∣on to the Cure.
• * 1.12

  The effi∣cient cause of Heal∣ing.
• * 1.13

  Whether this be in Man, or derivative from God.
• * 1.14

  God the Agent, Man the Instru∣ment.
• * 1.15

  Apostles and good Christians allowed in former times to cure Dis∣eases.
• * 1.16

  The Dif∣ference between Nature and Mi∣racle.
• * 1.17

  Its long continu∣ance by Testimo∣ny of Au∣thorities.
• * 1.18

  Quest.
• * 1.19

  Answ,
• * 1.20

  Quest.
• * 1.21

  Answ.
• * 1.22

  Quest.
• * 1.23

  Answ.
• * 1.24

  St. Augu∣stines way of Curing declared by Possi∣doneus.
• * 1.25

  Frequen∣cy of Mi∣racles to the 518 and 600 year of Christ, proved by History. vid. Hook∣er.
• * 1.26

  Some Cures wrought in the Church, and after the time of Gre∣gory.
• * 1.27

  Its Anti∣quity pro∣ved by au∣thority of the An∣cients and Moderns.
• * 1.28

  Fallacies & cheats, imposters & witch∣crafts, fil∣ling up evil Spi∣rits to procure Cures.
• * 1.29

  If any Miracle wrought, this to be attribut∣ed to the Church.
• * 1.30

  Many Gifts gi∣ven to Men.
• * 1.31

  Peculiar Gifts to Kings and Queens.
• * 1.32

  The French King had this Gift after the English.
• * 1.33

  Edward the Con∣fessor the Curer of Strumacs.
• * 1.34

  Divers O∣pinions about this Gift.
• * 1.35

  Our Gra∣cious King doth ex∣cel his an∣cestors herein.
• * 1.36

  This Gift given him at his In∣augurati∣on.
• * 1.37

  The Ce∣remonies laudable.
• * 1.38

  Where the infirm Persons are pre∣sented to the King on their knees, the King lays his hands upon them.
• * 1.39

  Here a∣gain they are pre∣sented to the King, add the King puts the Gold about their necks.
• * 1.40

  These An∣swers thereto be made by them that come to be healed.
• * 1.41

  Then the Chaplain reads this Prayer following.
• * 1.42

  Here he concludes.
• * 1.43

  The admi∣rable Ef∣fects of His Maje∣sties Heal∣ing to all Persons of the World.
• * 1.44

  Some cu∣red the first time. Others not cured till the second Touch. Some sel∣ling their Gold, their Dis∣ease hath seized them afresh.
• * 1.45

  As to the Healing on Good-Friday.
• * 1.46

  The rea∣son of some not being cured.
• * 1.47

  The put∣ting over the Gold only a to∣ken of Charity.
• * 1.48

  About changing the Gold.
• * 1.49

  Various Opinions as to this Cure,
• * 1.50

  The use of the ce∣remonies.
• * 1.51

  See Tooker
• * 1.52

  History.