[299b] That Francis touched for the evil is said to be averred by Servetus, in his 1st edition of Ptolemy’s Geography. Of its success, indeed, we are told that he appeared far from being a believer, but it was not the only instance of his unbelief or incredulity. He often disbelieved what others firmly credited; for which the bloody reformer Calvin made him pay very dearly, at last, without the gates of Geneva.
[300a] Nor does it appear that it belonged exclusively to certain christian potentates; for, long before there were any such, it had been ascribed to the pagan emperors Vespasian and Hadrian, who are said, by their touch, to have restored sight to the blind; and the fact seems as well established as any of the accounts of cures effected by the touch of our christian and English monarchs.
[300b] See Occasional Thoughts on the Power of curing the King’s Evil, ascribed to the Kings of England—superadded to Werenfel’s Dissertation upon superstition in natural things. Lond. 1748.
[301a] Carte, 1. 357.
[301b] Carte adds, that archbp. Bradwardine, Lord Chancellor Fortescue, and other grave authors, give the like testimony in behalf of the cure, as well as the practice, by that prince’s successors:—[Richard I, John, Henry III, and the three Edwards, we may suppose.] Carte, as before.
[302a] Occasional Thoughts, as before, 58.
[302b] Ibid.
[303] Though some, perhaps, would choose to ascribe that gift, virtue, or power, rather to the throne, as the infallibility of the pope has, by one of our old satirists, been ascribed to the papal chair, in some such lines as the following,
If the devil himself should get there,
Although he be full of all evil,
Yet such is the virtue in Peter’s old chair,
He would be an infallible devil.
[304] Occasional Thoughts, as before, p. 60—also New. An. Reg. 13, [180]—It does not appear, who among Henry’s bishops, or ecclesiastics drew up this new office for his use: but we find that it went in the manner and form following—First, the king, kneeling, shall say, “In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.” And as soon as he hath said that, he shall say, Give the blessing. The chaplain kneeling before the king, and having a stole about his neck, shall answer and say, “The Lord be in your heart, and in your lips, to confess all your sins. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.” Or else he shall say, “Christ hear us. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.” Then by and by the king shall say, “I confess to God, to the blessed virgin Mary, to all the saints, and to you, that I have sinned in thought, word, and deed, through my fault: I pray holy Mary and all the saints of God to pray for me.” The chaplain shall answer and say, “Almighty God have mercy on you, and pardon you all your sins, deliver you from all evil, and confirm you in good, and bring you to everlasting life. Amen. The almighty and merciful Lord grant you absolution and remission of all your sins, time for repentance and amendment of life, with the grace and comfort of his holy spirit. Amen.” This done the chaplain shall say, The Lord be with you. The king shell answer, And with thy spirit. The chaplain, Part of the Gospel according to St. Mark. The king shall answer, Glory to thee O Lord. The chaplain reads the gospel, “Last he appeared to those eleven as they sat at the table: and he exprobated their incredulity and hardness of heart, because they did not believe them that had seen him risen again. And he said to them: going into the whole world, preach the Gospel to all creatures. He that believeth and is baptized, shall be saved: but he that believeth not shall be condemned. And them that believe these signs shall follow: in my name, shall they cast out devils, they shall speak with new tongues. Serpents shall they take up, and if they drink any deadly thing it shall not hurt them; they shall impose hands upon the sick and they shall be whole.” Which last clause, (They shall impose &c.) the chaplain repeats as long as the king is handling the sick person. And in the time of repeating the aforesaid words (they shall impose &c.) the clerk of the closet shall kneel before the king, having the sick person on the right hand, and the sick persons shall also kneel before the king; and the king shall lay his hand upon the sore of the sick person. This done the chaplain shall make an end of the Gospel. “And so our Lord Jesus, after he spake unto them, was assumpted into heaven, and sate on the right hand of God. But they going forth preached every where; our Lord working withal, and confirming the word with signs which followed.” Whilst this is reading, the chirurgeon shall lead away the sick person from the king. And after the Gospel the chaplain shall say, The Lord be with you. The king shall answer, And with thy spirit. The chaplain, The beginning of the Gospel according to St. John. The king, Glory to thee O Lord. The chaplain then shall say the Gospel following, [i.e. the first words of John’s Gospel, ending at verse 9th.] It was the true light which lightneth every man that cometh into this world. Which last clause, (It was the true light, &c.) shall be restated so long as the king shall be crossing the sort of the sick person, with an angel of gold noble, and the sick person to have the same angel hang’d about his neck, and to wear it until he be full whole. This done, the chirurgion shall lead away the sick person as he did before, and then the chaplain shall make an end of the gospel [i.e. read on from verse the 9th, where he left off before, to the end of verse 14.] Then the chaplain shall say, The Lords name be praised. The King shall answer, Now and for ever. Then shall the chaplain say this collect following, praying for the sick person or persons: O Lord hear my prayer. The king shall answer. And let my cry come unto thee. The chaplain, Let us pray. “Almighty and everlasting God, the eternal health of them that believe; graciously hear us for thy servants for whom we implore the aid of thy mercy, that their health being restored to them, they may give thee thanks in thy church, through Christ our Lord. Amen.”