Note 188 — ON THE VIRTUES OF The Royal Touch.
Reading edition
Louis XVI. of France went through this ceremony, as appears from the Formule of his Coronation, published at the time, A. D. 1775. Louis XV. touched no less than 2000 persons, and Louis XIV. upwards of 2500.
Gemelli(the famous Traveller) gives an account of 1600 persons being presented for this purpose to Louis XIV. on Easter Sunday 1686. Every Frenchman received 15 sous, and every Foreigner 30.
In "De mirabili Strumas Sanandi vi solis Galliæ Regibus Christianissimis Divinitus concessa. Authore Andreâ Laurentio, Regis Consiliario et Medico Primario, 1609," is a very curious Print, representing King Henry IV. touching for the Evil; in which are introduced many Patients and Officers of the Court.
The French confined their expression to the word Touch, though we use the term Heal.