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immediate disrepute, on his making, in one of his notes, a bold assertion, the substance of which shall be here given :

"Whatever is to be said in favour of its being appropriated to the eldest Descendant of the first branch of the Royal Line of the Kings of France, England, &c. I have myself seen a very remarkable instance of such a cure, which could not possibly be ascribed to the Royal Unction. One Christopher Lovel, born at Wells in Somersetshire, but when he grew up residing in the City of Bristol, where he got his living by labour, was extremely afflicted for many years with that distemper, and such a flow of the scrophulous humour, that, though it found a vent by five running sores about his breast, neck, and arms, there was such a tumour on one side of his neck, as left no hollow between his cheek and the upper part of his left shoulder, and forced him to keep his head always awry. The young man was reduced, by the virulence of the humour, to the lowest state of weakness; appeared a miserable object in the eyes of all the inhabitants of that populous city; and, having for many years tried all the remedies which the art of physic could administer, without receiving any benefit, resolved at last to go abroad to be touched. He had an

uncle in the place, who was an old seaman, and carried him from Bristol, at the end of August, A. D. 1716, along with him to Cork in Ireland, where he put him on board a ship that was bound to St. Martin's in the

Isle of Ree. From thence Christopher made his way first to Paris, and thence to the place where he was touched, in the beginning of November following, by the eldest lineal Descendant of a race of Kings, who had, indeed, for a long succession of ages, cured that distemper by the Royal Touch. But this descendant and next heir of their blood had not, at least at that time, been crowned or anointed. The usual effect, however, followed: from the moment that the man was touched and invested with the narrow riband, to which a small piece of silver was pendant, according to the rites prescribed in the office appointed by the Church for that solemnity, the humour dispersed insensibly, his sores healed up, and he recovered strength daily, till he arrived in perfect health, in the beginning of January following, at Bristol, having spent only four months and some few days in his voyage. There it was, and in the week preceding St. Paul's fair, that I saw the man, in his recovered vigour of body, without any remains of his complaint, but what were to be seen in the red scars then left upon the five places where the sharp humour had found a vent, but which were otherwise entirely healed, and as sound as any other part of his body. Dr. Lane, an eminent physician in the place, whom I visited on my arrival, told me of this cure, as the most wonderful thing that ever happened; and pressed me as well to see the man upon whom it was performed, as to talk about his case with Mr. Samuel Pye, a very skilful

surgeon, and I believe still living in that city, who had tried in vain, for three years together, to cure the man by physical remedies. I had an opportunity of doing both; and Mr. Pye, after dining together, carrying me to the man, I examined and informed myself fully of all particulars, relating as well to his illness as his cure; and found upon the whole, that if it is not to be deemed miraculous, it at least deserved the character given it by Dr. Lane, of being one of the most wonderful events that has ever happened."

APPENDIX, No. I.

The Ceremonies for the Healing of them that be diseased with the King's Evil, as they were practised in the time of King Henry VII*.

Rubrick.—First, the King, kneeling, shall begin, and

say,

In nomine Patris, et Filii, et Spiritûs Sancti. Amen.

Rubrick.-And so soon as He hath said

that, He shall say, Benedicite.

Rubrick. The Chaplain, kneeling before the King, having a stole about his neck, shall answer, and

say,

Dominus sit in corde tuo et labiis tuis, ad confitendum omnia peccata tua, in nomine Patris, et Filii, et Spiritûs Sancti. Amen. Rubrick. Or else to say,

Jesus nos exaudiat, in nomine Patris, et Filii, et Spiritûs Sancti.

* Published by Command of King Charles II.; and printed by Henry Hills, Printer to the King's Most Excellent Majesty, for his Household and Chapel, 1696.

Rubrick. Then by and by the King shall say, Confiteor Deo, Beatæ Mariæ Virgini, Omnibus Sanctis, et Vobis, quia peccavi nimis in cogitatione, locutione, et opere, mea culpa [sic.] Precor Sanctam Mariam, omnes Sanctos Dei, et Vos, orare pro me.

and

Rubrick.-The Chaplain shall answer,

say,

Misereatur Vestri Omnipotens Deus, et demittat Vobis omnia peccata Vestra, liberet Vos ab omni malo, salvet et confirmet in bono, et ad vitam perducat æternam. Amen.

Absolutionem et Remissionem omnium peccatorum Vestrorum, spatium veræ pœnitentiæ, et emendationem vitæ, gratiam et consolationem Sancti Spiritûs, tribuat Vobis omnipotens et misericors Dominus. Amen. Rubrick. This done, the Chaplain shall say, Dominus Vobiscum.

Rubrick.-The King shall answer,
Et cum Spiritu tuo.

Rubrick.-The Chaplain.

Sequentia Sancti Evangelii secundùm Mar

cum.

Rubrick.—The King shall answer.
Gloria tibi, Domine.

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