V. Adjuva nos, Deus salutaris noster. R. Et propter gloriam nominis tui, Domine, libera nos. V. Nihil proficiat inimicus in nobis. R. Et Filius iniquitatis non apponat nocere nobis. V. Fiat misericordia tua, Domine, super nos. R. Quemadmodum speravimus in te. V. Exurge, Christe, adjuva nos. R. Et libera nos propter nomen tuum. R. Et cum Spiritu tuo. Hic Exorcista surgens, dicat Sequentia Evangelia: In illo tempore: Recumbentibus undecim discipulis apparuit illis Jesus: et exprobravit incredulitatem [continued as in in Office of Henry VII] eorum sequentibus signis. V. Dominus vobiscum. R. Et cum Spiritu tuo. In principio erat Verbum, et Verbum erat apud Deum, et Deus erat Verbum... [continued as in Office of Henry VII] plenum gratiae et veritatis. V. Domine, exaudi orationem meam. R. Et clamor meus ad te veniat. Oratio. Domine Jesu Christe, Qui dedisti Apostolis tuis virtutem et potestatem super infirmos et languores: Ut infirmos curarent: Mortuos suscitarent: Leprosos mundarent: Daemones ejicerent: Confirma in me hanc gratiam, quamvis indignus, et miser peccator sim. Et non respicias ad innumerabilia peccata mea: Sed sicut consuevisti peccatorum misereri, et preces humilium exaudire, propter magnam misericordiam tuam, ita me nunc exaudire digneris: Et sicut exaudisti latronem in Cruce; ita me nunc exaudire digneris clamantem ad te contra istum spiritum vexantem hunc famulum tuum N. ut in nomine sancto tuo terribili, ipsum expellere valeam: Qui cum Patre et Spiritu Sancto vivis et regnas in saecula saeculorum. Amen. The effort of Henry VII to breathe life into the dry bones of the ancient rite seems to have done but little to enhance its popularity during the reign of Henry VIII. A brief abridgement of a typical entry from his Privy Purse Expenses may serve to illustrate this point. Thus a total of 59 persons only was touched in three years. The custom of suspending the ceremony during the hot weather seems to have been already observed in some measure, most of the exceptions to the rule being noted as occurring away from London. Sundays and festivals, too, have ceased to be specially appropriated to the ceremony. Cavendish has given an account of Cardinal Wolsey's embassy to Francis I in 1527 A. D., which illustrates the greater popularity of the royal touch at the Court of France: And at his [Francis'] coming into the bishop's palace at Amiens, where he intended to dine with my Lord Cardinal, there sat within a cloister about two hundred persons diseased with the King's Evil, upon their knees. And the King, or ever he went to dinner, provised every of them with rubbing them and blessing them with his bare hands, being bareheaded all the while; after whom followed his almoner distributing of money unto the persons diseased. And that done, he said certain prayers over them, and then washed his hands, and so came up into his chamber to dinner, where as my lord dined with him. . . . Here there is clear mention of the giving of alms. 1 1 Life of Wolsey, ed. Singer, 1825, vol. i. p. 104. Meantime, the medical conception of the King's Evil seems to have undergone some modification. Hitherto multiplication and enlargement of glands has constituted scrofula, but to Andrew Boorde suppurating sinuses appear to be the outstanding feature. Here, at least, is the semblance of independent opinion based on clinical observation and experience, however imperfect, in place of blind subservience to authority. Boorde was medical attendant to Thomas, eighth Duke of Norfolk, Lord President of the Council and uncle of Anne Boleyn, and by him was recommended to the notice of Henry VIII, who employed him much in State business, but not, so far as is known, in a medical capacity. In the Breviary of Health, published in 1547 A. D., but written during the lifetime of Henry VIII, it is written: The 236 Capytle doth shewe of the Kynges evyl. Morbus regius be the latyn wordes. In englysh it is named ye Kinges Evyll, which is an evyl sicknes or impediment. The cause of this impedimente. This impediment doth come of the corruption of humours reflectyng more to a particular place than to unyversall places, and it is much like to a fystle for if it be made whole in one place it wyl break out in another place. A remedy. For this matter let every man make frendes to the Kynges Majestie, for it doth pertaine to a King to help this infyrmyte by the grace the which is given to a Kynge anoynted, but for as much as some men doth judge divers tymes a fistle or a french pocke to be the Kynges evyll, in such matters it behoveth not a Kinge to medle withal except it be throw and of his bountiful goodness to give his pytiful and gracious counsell. For Kynges and Kynges sonnes and other noble men hath been eximiouse physicians as it appeareth more largelyer in the Introduction of Knowledge a boke of my makynge beynge a pryntynge with Robert Coplande, |