A wedding ring of gold, rubbed on a stye upon the eyelid, used to be esteemed a sovereign remedy; but, if I mistake not, it must be applied nine times.
CHARLES II.
In January 1683, the following Proclamation was ordered to be published in every Parish in the Kingdom[215].
"At the Court at Whitehall, 9th of January 1683. Present, the King's Most Excellent Majesty; Lord Keeper, Lord Privy Seal, Duke of Ormond, Duke of Beaufort, Earl of Oxford, Earl of Huntingdon, Earl of Bridgewater, Earl of Peterborow, Earl of Chesterfield, Earl of Clarendon, Earl of Bathe, Earl of Craven, Earl of Nottingham, Earl of Rochester, Lord Bishop of London, Mr. Secretary Jenkins, Mr. Chancellor of the Duchy, Lord Chief Justice Jeffryes, Mr. Godolphin. Whereas, by the grace and blessing of God, the Kings and Queens of this Realm, by many ages past, have had the happiness, by their sacred Touch, and invocation of the name of God, to cure those who are afflicted with the disease called the King's Evil; and his Majesty, in no less measure than any of his Royal Predecessors, having had good success therein; and, in his most gracious and pious disposition, being as ready and willing as any King or Queen of this Realm ever was, in any thing to relieve the distresses and necessities of his good subjects; yet, in his princely wisdom, foreseeing that in this (as in all other things) order is to be observed, and fit times are necessary to be appointed for the performing of this great work of charity, his Majesty was therefore this day pleased to declare in Council his Royal will and pleasure to be, That (in regard heretofore the usual times of presenting such persons for this purpose have been prefixed by his Royal Predecessors) the times of public healings shall from henceforth be from the Feast of All-Saints, commonly called Alhallow-tide, till a week before Christmas; and after Christmas, until the first day of March, and then to cease till the Passion-week, being times most convenient, both for the temperature of the season, and in respect of contagion, which may happen in this near access to his Majesty's sacred Person. And when his Majesty shall at any time think fit to go any progress, he will be pleased to appoint such other times for healing as shall be most convenient. And his Majesty doth hereby accordingly order and command, that, from the time of publishing this his Majesty's order, none presume to repair to his Majesty's Court to be healed of the said disease, but only at or within the times for that purpose hereby appointed as aforesaid. And his Majesty was farther pleased to order, that all such as shall hereafter come or repair to the Court for this purpose, shall bring with them certificates, under the hands and seals of the parson, vicar, or minister, and of both or one of the churchwardens of the respective parishes where they dwell, and from whence they come, testifying, according to the truth, that they have not, at any time before, been touched by his Majesty, to the intent to be healed of their disease. And all ministers and churchwardens are hereby required to be very careful to examine into the truth before they give such certificates; and also to keep a register of all certificates they shall from time to time give. And, to the end that all his Majesty's loving subjects may the better take knowledge of this his Majesty's command, his Majesty was pleased to direct, that this Order be read publicly in all parish-churches, and then be affixed to some conspicuous place there; and for that end the same be printed, and a convenient number of copies sent to the Most Reverend Father in God the Lord Archbishop of Canterbury, and the Lord Archbishop of York, who are to take care that the same be delivered to all parishes within their respective provinces.
Loyd.
"London, printed by the Assigns of John Bill, deceased, and by Henry Hills, Printers to the King's Most Excellent Majesty."
A regular Notice to the same effect was published by authority in the London Gazette.
In 1684, John Browne, Sworn Chirurgeon in Ordinary to the King's Most Excellent Majesty, published a work, not now easily to be met with, except in the Libraries of the curious; and perhaps, for its general subjects, exploded at this day, as the fashion of physick has much altered, as well as many new and important discoveries been made, since it was written. It is in three Books. The Titles to the three Books are—1. "Adenochoiradelogia; or, an Anatomick-Chyrurgical Treatise of Glandules and Strumaes, or King's 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, one of His Majesty's Chyrurgeons in Ordinary, and Chyrurgeon of his Majesty's Hospital; published with His Majesty's Royal Approbation: Together with the Testimony of many eminent Doctors and Chyrurgeons. Sold by Samuel Lowndes, over-against Exeter Change in the Strand." 2. "Chæradelogia; or an Exact Discourse of Strumaes, or King's Evil Swellings; wherein are discovered their Names and Natures, Differences, Causes, Signs, Presages, and Cure, in that modest and plain Dress, that the meanest capacity may hereby find out the Disease." 3. Charisma Basilicon; or, the Royal Gift of Healing Strumaes, or King's Evil, Swellings, by Contact or Imposition of the Sacred Hands of our Kings of England and of France, given them at their Inaugurations. Shewing the Gift itself, and its continued Use, declaring all Persons Healed thereby, without any respect either to their Age, Sex, Temper, or Constitution; with the Manner, Form, and Ceremonies thereof; and divers general Rules for the meanest capacity to find out the Disease. The best expedient to prevent poor People from unnecessary Journeys. The whole concluded with above Sixty admirable Cures, performed with and without Gold, by His Majesty's Benediction; by His Late Majesty's precious Blood; and the like." Prefixed to the work is a portrait of Browne, engraved by R. White, inscribed "Johannes Browne, Regis Britannici necnon Nosocomii sui Chirurgus Ordinarius;" and a curious frontispiece, also engraved by White, entitled "The Royal Gift of Healing," representing Charles II. seated on his Throne, surrounded by his Court, touching for the King's Evil.
This ceremony seems to have been in high vogue during this reign. "The King gives freely," says Mr. Browne, "not calling the Angels 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, that never any of his Predecessors have ever exercised it more, or more willingly or freely, whose wonderful effects, and certainty of cure, we must and shall ever acknowledge[216]."
This is followed by accounts of about 70 "wonderful and miraculous cures, performed by his Majesty's Sacred Hands;" and also by "An Account of the Number of Persons touched for the King's Evil, from May 1660 to September 1664, from the Registers kept by Thomas Haynes, Esq. Serjeant of the Chapel Royal; from which I shall copy the totals of each year:
| 1660 | 6725 |
| 1661 | 4619 |
| 1662 | 4275 |
| 1663 | 4667 |
| 1664 | 3335 |