Don't touch me!

Continuing looking at coins and health last week we looked at touch pieces and howthey fell out of favour with William III but were still used by the Jacobites. This week Iwant to go back to earlier in the Seventeenth Century.

Touching ceremonies were very popular at the French court and it is possible thatCharles I may have been influenced by his French queen to carry on the traditionthat his Scottish father, James I disapproved of. Under Charles the ceremonybecame so popular that people tried to go back in for a second go. The authoritiesinsisted that candidates had to get a certificate from a pastor and royal authority toshow that they were first timers.

Charles legitimised the ceremony by adding a service of healing to the official prayerbook. He also banned anyone who was not him from attempting to cure ill people bytouching. It was all part of a propaganda plot to prove he had divine backing. Therewere instances of accredited healing miracles. A former Puritan called Lord Poulett'sdaughter was cured and he became a strong supporter of the Royalists.

In 1642 the king was forced by the Civil War to move his court to Oxford. Eventhough there was fighting going on Parliament granted passes to people to travelalong the river Thames to Oxford with sick children to be touched in the hope of acure. In 1643 there was petition from people wanting their king back to London forthe touching. This too was a piece of propaganda, possibly from moderates wantingto mediate a settlement.

After the Civil War when Charles was in captivity in Northamptonshire and then onthe Isle of Wight the touching ceremonies continued but was unable to hand outcoins. The public brought their own ribbons and souvenirs for him to touch. Stories ofCharles curing the lame and blind built up an image of a Christ like King andeventual martyr.

After his execution there was a scrabble for his mementos and clothes dipped inroyal blood. After Charles' death an enterprising businessman set out tours to thecontinent for people who wanted to be cured by Charles II in exile. He was anenthusiastic "toucher" in more than one way" One of his illegitimate offspring, theDuke of Monmouth, later tried to seize the crown. One of the charges against himwas he pretended to use the Royal touch.

To read the Wikpedia entry on Charles I, see:
Charles I of England(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_I_of_England)

To read the earlier E-Sylum article, see:
THE ROYAL TOUCH AND SOCIAL DISTANCING(https://www.coinbooks.org/v23/esylum_v23n22a12.html)