royall majesty, even by
divine inspiration and wonderfull worke and power of God, above man's
skill, arte and expectation."[81:1]

When, in 1603, on the death of Elizabeth, James VI of Scotland became
King of England with the title of James I, he was sceptical regarding
the efficacy of the Royal Touch. The Scotch ministers, whom he brought
with him, urged its abandonment as a superstitious ceremony; while his
English counsellors recommended its continuance, maintaining that a
failure so to do would amount to a debasing of royalty. Unwillingly
therefore he followed the advice of the latter.

We do not find many references to the prevalence of this custom in the
reign of Charles I, but there is evidence that it was in use at that
time. This is apparent in certain extracts from State Papers, relating
chiefly to medicine and pharmacy, published under the direction of the
Master of the Rolls, as follows:

April 10, 1631. John, Lord Poulett, sent a child, a little
girl, to the King, to be touched for the King's Evil, and she
has come home safely, and mends every day in health.

January 15, 1632. Godre, Bois, a Frenchman, prisoner in the
King's Bench, takes upon him to cure the King's Evil, and
daily a great concourse of people flocked to him, although it
is conceived that if such cures have been, it is rather by
sorcery and incantation than by any skill he has in physic.
_Endorsed:_ The Lord Chief Justice of the King's Bench is to
call him for examination, to be indicted for cosenage.

June 7, 1632. Sir Thomas Richardson, Lord Chief Justice of the
King's Bench, to the Council, thinks there is not sufficient
evidence to convict Bois Gaudre of cosenage or sorcery, but
thinks he has committed a contempt worth punishment, in taking
upon him to cure the King's Evil. He has imprisoned him, of
which he complains bitterly.

June 7, 1632. Examination of James Philip Gaudre, Knight of
St. Lazare, in France. Is a Frenchman, and has been in England
for seven years, chiefly at Sir Thomas Wolseley's house, whose
daughter he married, until two years past, he was arrested for
debt. By his experience in surgery, has recovered many poor
persons of the King's Evil, some before His Majesty touched
them, and some after. Never made any benefit by his skill,
other than sometimes those whom he had done good to would give