Touching for the King’s Evil

On 6 July 1660 John Evelyn watched Charles II begin to touch for the King’s Evil, the scrofula that the royal touch was believed to cure. Seated under his canopy of state in the Banqueting House, the king stroked the faces of the sick as they knelt before him, while a chaplain read that he put his hands upon them and healed them. Each was then given an angel of gold strung on a white ribbon, which the king hung round their necks himself. Prayers for the sick and a blessing followed, and a basin, ewer and towel were brought for the king.