At whatever time the power first
manifested itself is of little importance; and through whatever royal
line it descended need not trouble those alive, seeing, we are
assured, the virtue perished with the last British sovereign of the
House of Stuart. But, to return to the manner of curing the king's
evil, we shall give, as an instance, the method pursued by Charles II.
of England, Scotland, and Ireland, when healing any of his subjects:--

On 14th May 1664 a notice was given that his sacred Majesty would
continue the healing of his people for the evil during the remainder
of that month, and then cease doing so until Michaelmas. His Majesty
sat in state in the banqueting house, and the chirurgeons led the sick
to the throne; there, the invalids kneeling, the monarch stroked their
bodies with his hands. The ceremony being concluded, a chaplain in
attendance said, "He put his hands upon them, and healed them." These
words were repeated as every one was touched. After all the diseased
persons were operated on, another chaplain, kneeling, delivered gold
angels, attached to white ribbons, to his Majesty, who suspended one
about the neck of every one to whom his healing virtue had gone forth.
Prayers being said for the sick, the ceremony concluded by his Majesty
washing his hands in a basin brought to him by the lord chamberlain
and comptroller of the household.

If a monarch could not be found to cure the king's evil, it might have
been effected by the touch of a seventh son, between whom and his
eldest brother no daughter had come to swell the family circle. And
the virtue of healing by laying on of hands existed in particular
noble families of untainted blood.

CHAPTER XLIX.

Precious Stones regarded as Objects of uncommon
Virtue--Extravagance in Jewellery accounted
for--Significance in relation to Gems--Abraham's
Precious Stones--Altars called Living Stones--The Urim
and Thummim--Rod of Moses--Charmed Rings--Sacred Rings
and Belts--Sacred Cairns, etc.--Destiny and Fate--The
Month of one's Nativity has connection with one or
other of the Precious Stones--Examples adduced--Kings
of England hallowing Rings--Ring preserved in
Westminster Abbey--Cramp Rings--Various Stones of
great Virtue--Iona Relics--The Green Stone of Arran--A
Crystal kept by ancient Priests as a Charm--A
Conjuring Beryl--Prophetic Stones--The Coronation
Stone o