88 
As to Heaven’s Master of the Horse, 
So to his Grace of Monmouth trots 
A filly foal that had the Bots ; 
But had you seen the skittish jade, 
You would have thought her drunk or mad, 
For at first dash his hand she seized, 
Much was th ‘ambitious Hero pleased. 
The witch her dam had set her fancy 
Agog upon this chyromancy.” 
Another ballad is entitled :— 
“ A Canto on the new Miracle wrought by the Duke of Monmouth, 
curing a young Wench of the King’s Evil, as it is related at large by 
B. Harris in his Prot(estant) Intelligencer, publish’d Friday, Jany 7, 
1681.” (8.8. fol., 1681.) 
Here we are told the :—- 
© Great mountebank of our sick state 
* * * 
Long in his fist the Leprous drab 
Paddled and pored familiar scab.” 
The girl being pleased, * 
“To touch a prince though in disguise ” 
Much less a Prince so kind and civil.” 
At Taunton, when there later on his fatal expedition, the Duke 
having assumed the title of King, touched openly as by right 
divine. At his trial he was charged with “exercising the 
functions of Royal dignity, and with having touched children for 
the Evil at Taunton ;” or as it was put at the trial in Scotland, 
where he was charged as the Duke of Buccleugh as having with 
thousands in “open rebellione invadit the toune of Tauntone, 
and ther the said laite Duke of Buckleugh did usurp the style of 
King and touched for the Evil.” 
King James, as may be supposed, claimed fully all his 
prerogatives and touched weekly, sometimes oftener. In 
April, 1686, he announced that he should discontinue this 
during the summer, except on special necessary occasions, or 
when on his progress, The progress for this year commenced 
