lOno] THE KINGS EVIL. 285 



a little, went out again on foot, and took a walk through 

 Newmarket, and to a short distance out of the town. His 

 highness did the same, and appeared again at court in the 

 evening." 



On the morning of the loth his Serene Highness paid a 

 visit to Sir John Russel, at Chippenham, returning to New- 

 market at noon. " Before entering the town he alighted from 

 his carriage, and went on foot with his attendants to the 

 king's residence, where he was introduced into his majesty's 

 chamber, who was waiting there till everything necessary was 

 prepared for the ceremony, which he is accustomed to perform 

 publicly every Friday, that of touching for the king's evil, 

 according to the ancient usage of the first Catholic kings of 

 England, which was handed clown to their successors, con- 

 tinued after the apostacy, and preserved to the time of the 

 present king. When his majesty was informed that all was 

 ready, he went from his chamber into a room adjoining, where 

 was placed on a table a cushion, on which lay the prayer- 

 book, appointed by the Anglican ritual, for the use of his 

 majesty. As soon as he appeared, at a signal given by him, 

 the two assistant ministers, dressed in their surplices, began 

 the prayers with a great appearance of devotion ; his highness 

 standing, while they were read, in another room, from which, 

 when the service was finished, he passed into the room in 

 which those who were afflicted with the King's Evil, were 

 assembled, for the purpose of observing the ceremony, from 

 the side of the door which led into the room. A carpet was 

 spread upon the floor, and upon it was a seat, on which the 

 king seated himself, and certain invocations in the English 

 language, taken from the prayer-book, having been read by 

 one of the ministers, his majesty began the ceremony of 

 touching the patients in the part affected. These were con- 

 ducted into the king's presence, one at a time, and as they 

 knelt before him, he touched them with both his hands ; after 

 which, without interfering with the others who came after 

 them, each returned to his former situation. This being over, 

 the minister, kneeling with all the bystanders, the king alone 

 remaining seated, repeated some other prayers ; after which, 



