On touching for the king's evil / by Henry Barnes.

  • Barnes, Henry
Date:
1895
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: On touching for the king's evil / by Henry Barnes. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

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    HE touched them. Rev : Crown, beneath it rose and thistle entwined, and they were healed. The medal is not perforated. I am doubtful if this kind of token was used at the healing services. See Notes and Queries, 7th S. vii, '89, p. 84. Recently I visited the coin department in the British Museum and examined the Touch pieces. They have one of Charles II. in gold, of James II. one in gold and one in silver, one of James III. in gold, and one of Anne in gold, said to have been the one which belonged to Dr. Johnson. In the collection of Mr. Hawkins, F.S.A., there is one of the Cardinal of York as Henry IX., but it is doubtful if he ever exercised or even claimed the power of healing. Through the courtesy of the Council of the Royal Archaeological Institute I have been per- mitted to reproduce the illustration of the touch tokens in this gentleman's possession which appeared in vol. x. of the Archaeological Journal. I am not aware of the existence of any touch pieces in Cumberland or Westmor- land, but I think it probable that some may exist in private collections. With the aid of the illustration and of the full description of the pieces given above I am in hopes that hitherto unrecognised tokens may be identified, and if such should be the case, I hope that they may find a resting place in Tullie House, Carlisle, where I am sure they would find a welcome from its honorary curator, Chancellor Ferguson. There are several cases of local interest in which the royal touch has been obtained for residents in Cumberland or Westmorland, and this makes me think it possible that some unrecognised tokens may exist in private collections. Among the lists of collections for briefs in the Registers of Crosthwaite Church, near Kendal, Mr. Wilson, our invaluable and energetic secre- tary, informs me that the following entries occur. 1629, 14 Feby. Given to John Rig of Staveley who hath the King's Evil to go vp to be cured thereof 1/-. Given
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