tfi The J^atural Hiftory 



rifhing Kingdom, having been fignally bleftby divers and undoubt^ 

 ed Experiments of healing that Difeafe. 



126. Before they touch for this diftemper, they have always 

 Prayers read futable to the occafion, both which when performed, 

 the King forthwith beftows on every Patient, a piece of Angel- 

 gold pur pofely coined, and put upon a white ribbon to be hung a- 

 bout the neck ; which as long as worn preferves the virtue of the 

 touch, though Dr. Tooker will have it only, Sanitate fymb wlum in- 

 choate, & Eleemojyn* facr<e monumentum 1 , i. e. a mark that the 

 Cure is already begun, and a lading memorial of the Kings chari- 

 ty and piety to the poor patients. 



127. However it be, that this was the cuftom ab initio, I take 

 to be plain from that piece of Gold of King Edward the Confeffbr, 

 Tab. 16. Fig. 5. found in St. Giles's field in the Suburbs ofOxon. 

 having the initial letters of his name over the hinder part of the 

 head, and two fmall holes through it, as if defigned to be hung 

 on a ribbon for the purpofe above-mention'd, the holes being 

 ftrengthened with Gold Wire fattened round them, and to the 

 piece it felf, much after the fafhion of the eye of a mans doublet, 

 as exa&ly defcribed in the Figure, utfupra' which piece was lent 

 me by that courteous Gentleman Sir John Roleman Baronet, in 

 whofe poffeflion it now remains at his Houfe near Northam- 

 pton. 



128. From King Edward the Confeffbr s being born at 1/lip, 'tis 

 eafie to colleft, that his Father King JEthelred muft neceffarily 

 have had a Royal Seat there, as in all probability likewife at Hed- 

 dington near Oxford; for though Tradition now goes, that it was 

 but the Nurfery of the Kings Children, whereof there remains 

 yet upon the place fome figns of foundations in a Field near the 

 Town, called Court-cloje ; yet it is plain, that King JEthelred did 

 fomtimes at leaft refide there himfelf, for he concludes a Char- 

 ter, or fome fuch like Injirument, wherein he grants Privileges to 

 the Nionaftery of St. Fridefwide here in Oxon. of his own Refio- 

 ration, in Englifh thus, C^tSllJntilegetDajJiDit^at^eDinton, and 

 after in Latin, Scripta fuit hdec Cedula juffu prxfati Regit in villa 



Regia qu< appellatur, die oftavarum beati Andre* Apofloli, 



hi* confencientibu* p quifubtm notati videntur. Ego /Ethel- 



redus Rex hoc privilegium, (frc k . 



* Gul.Tookpri CharifmafivedonumSanatitmitjReg.Aiig.ccclitMconccflum- k Monafticon Anglican. Vol. 

 y inter addenda, t>w- 08+. 



129. Be- 



