On superstitions connected with the history and practice of medicine and surgery / by Thomas Joseph Pettigrew.

Date:
1844
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: On superstitions connected with the history and practice of medicine and surgery / by Thomas Joseph Pettigrew. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh. The original may be consulted at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh.

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    date of April 22, 1647, it is recorded that “ Letters in- formed the great resort of people to the king to be cured of the king’s evil, whereupon the House ordered a decla- ration to be drawn to inform the people of the superstition of being touched by the king for the evil. And a letter of thanks ordered to the commissioners at Holmby.” Badger says* that this king i: excelled all his prede- cessors in the divine gift; for it is manifest beyond all contradiction, that he not only cured by his sacred touch, both with and without gold, but likewise perfectly effected the same cure by his prayer and benediction only.” In the State Paper Office there are preserved no less than eleven proclamations issued in the reign of Charles I, relating to the cure of the king’s evil. The first bears the date of June 18, 1626, and is entitled ‘ A Proclamation for the better ordering of those who repayre to the Court for their Cure of the Disease called the King’s Evill.’ It ordains that in future the seasons for such purpose should be at Easter and Michaelmas; the latter being substituted for Whitsuntide, as formerly practised, and this “ as times more convenient, both for the temperature of the season and in respect of any contagions which may happen in this neere accesse to his majesties person.” It also orders that those who repair to the court should bring with them certificates under the hands of the parson, vicar, or minis- ter and churchwardens of those parishes where they dwell, as to not having before been touched for the disease. And the proclamation is directed to be affixed in every market town. No. 2, June 17, 1628, is to the same effect, and * Cases of Cures of the King’s Evil, perfected by the Royal Touch I.oiid. 1748, 8vo, p. ‘27.