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but on being interrogated he “utterly denyed the same.” Some 
had advised Gilbert to have prayers read, but this was not done, 
no doubt to the great relief of the bishop’s ideas of propriety. 
The repute of the child’s powers seems to have grown with time, 
as for the first four years or so he touched but twenty only, but 
from the spring to September in this year, 1637, there came 
eight or nine every Monday, and from the beginning of September 
there came sometimes thirty, sometimes forty at a time, besides 
those who accompanied them, and this not only from Somerset, 
but from “divers other counties.” Amongst these were many 
persons of “ quality,” and so numerous was the assemblage that 
the inns, ale-houses, and private houses in and about Presley were 
entirely filled. A book was kept of the names and conditions of 
all who came; and if this should happen to be at Wells it would 
be a curious and interesting record. 
As to the success of the child’s work, opinions differed, whilst 
some asserted that many were cured, others said but few benefited. 
John Norton, the first touched before the christening, as also 
Rebecca who was touched next after that event, both acknow- 
ledged that they were eased within a short time; Norton’s wen 
abated and Rebecca’s broke and healed ; and both considered this 
the result of the touch. 
Others who had been touched agreed that they “ within a while 
after grew better,” but would not in their “ misconceit and mis- 
takinge” consider the medicines they may have before taken, nor 
the state or ripeness of the abscess at the time they were touched. 
They grew well after the touching, and of course the touching 
was the immediate cause. Some however were not a “ whitt” 
better, and it seemed that the boy had “ touched” his mother for 
a swelling in her feet, ‘‘ but did noe good at all.” It was forgotten 
here that the cure was for the Evil, and it by no means followed 
that every swelling would or could be benefited. Then came the 
important question, whether the father had received money or 
gifts for the boy’s work, or “contracted for any by himself or 
