416 CUKE BY Y E TOUCH. 



In support of this opinion, very deferentially advanced, I may 

 be permitted to cite a case recorded by Mr. Dicken, sergeant- 

 surgeon to Queen Anne. By reason of his position as ser- 

 geant-surgeon, it was a part of this gentleman's duty to select 

 and pass suitable candidates for the Queen's touch. 



Once upon a time, he relates, a certain woman applied to 

 him as a candidate for royal-hand imposition ; but not liking 

 her appearance, he was reluctant to make the presentation. 

 He judged from the individual's look that she only wanted 

 the gold, which, when obtained, she would be base enough 

 to hypothecate to Jew or Lombard perhaps sell outright.* 

 Pleading hard, however, this woman's request was granted. 

 The queenly touch being vouchsafed, and the gold presented, 

 behold, the cripple was healed ! 



Years passed, and the stricken one came again. The ser- 

 geant-surgeon, thoroughly up to his duty, recognised an old 

 face, and addressing the woman, said, ' I've seen thee before ;' 

 whereupon she fell upon her knees, owned the crime of sell- 

 ing the coin, pleaded for another, and vowed she would keep 

 it till the day of doom. As her symptoms were very bad, 

 the doctor, straining a point, introduced her a second time ; 

 whereupon another stroking, another medal, and another 

 cure. This case proves that in the instance cited the medal 

 had something at least to do with the cure. 



As a set-off, take one of different purport, Charles the 

 martyr being operator. The result distinctly proves that his 

 dread majesty's power of healing was so great as to be wholly 

 independent of the aid of an amulet : 



There was a certain Robert Cole, an innkeeper at Winton, 

 that was highly diseased with the king's evil. His majesty, 

 being about this time removed from the Isle of Wight, passed 

 through Winton, when this object of charity, pressing to come 

 near the sacred person, was prevented, and ill-treated by the 



* This feminine characteristic, I would remark, only applies to those 

 times. 



