Chapter X: Introduction (4)

"Whatever is to be said in favour of its being appropriated to
the eldest Descendant of the first branch of the Royal Line of
the Kings of France, England, &c. I have _myself_ seen a very
remarkable instance of such a cure, which could not possibly be
ascribed to the Royal _Unction_. One Christopher Lovel, born at
Wells in Somersetshire, but when he grew up residing in the City
of Bristol, where he got his living by labour, was extremely
afflicted for many years with that distemper, and such a flow
of the scrophulous humour, that, though it found a vent by five
running sores about his breast, neck, and arms, there was such
a tumour on one side of his neck, as left no hollow between his
cheek and the upper part of his left shoulder, and forced him
to keep his head always awry. The young man was reduced, by
the virulence of the humour, to the lowest state of weakness;
appeared a miserable object in the eyes of all the inhabitants
of that populous city; and, having for many years tried all
the remedies which the art of physic could administer, without
receiving any benefit, resolved at last to go _abroad_ to be
touched. He had an uncle in the place, who was an old seaman,
and carried him from Bristol, at the end of August, A. D. 1716,
along with him to Cork in Ireland, where he put him on board a
ship that was bound to St. Martin's in the Isle of Ree. From
thence Christopher made his way first to Paris, and thence to
the place where he was touched, in the beginning of November
following, by the eldest lineal Descendant of a race of Kings,
who had, indeed, for a long succession of ages, cured that
distemper by the _Royal Touch_. But this descendant and next
heir of their blood had not, at least at that time, been crowned
or _anointed_. The usual effect, however, followed: from the
moment that the man was touched and invested with the narrow
riband, to which a small piece of silver was pendant, according
to the rites prescribed in the office appointed by the Church
for that solemnity, the humour dispersed insensibly, his sores
healed up, and he recovered strength daily, till he arrived
in perfect health, in the beginning of January following, at
Bristol, having spent only four months and some few days in his
voyage. There it was, and in the week preceding St. Paul's fair,
that I saw the man, in his recovered vigour of body, without
any remains of his complaint, but what were to be seen in the
red scars then left upon the five places where the sharp humour
had found a vent, but which were otherwise entirely healed, and
as sound as any other part of his body. Dr. Lane, an eminent
physician in the place, whom I visited on my arrival, told me of
this cure, as the most wonderful thing that ever happened; and
pressed me as well to see the man upon whom it was performed,
as to talk about his case with Mr. Samuel Pye, a very skilful
surgeon, and I believe still living in that city, who had tried
in vain, for three years together, to cure the man by physical
remedies. I had an opportunity of doing both; and Mr. Pye, after
dining together, carrying me to the man, I examined and informed
myself fully of all particulars, relating as well to his illness
as his cure; and found upon the whole, that if it is not to be
deemed miraculous, it at least deserved the character given it
by Dr. Lane, of being one of the most wonderful events that has
ever happened."