Drayton Beauchamp, Jan. 22. 1851.
_Touching for the Evil_ (Vol. iii., p. 42.).--I have seen an illuminated
MS. containing the form of prayer in use previous to the Reformation. As
far as I remember, the MS. in question must have been of the fifteenth
century. Where it may now be found I am not aware. At the time of my seeing
it, it was in the possession of Mr. Toovey of Piccadilly.
A somewhat curious field for inquiry on this subject is opened by a passage
in Voltaire's _Siecle de Louis XIV_. Speaking of James II. touching for the
evil while in exile at the French court, he says--
"Soit que les Rois Anglais se soient attribue ce singulier privilege,
comme pretendans a la couronne de la France; soit que cette ceremonie
soit etablie chez eux depuis le temps du premier Edouard."
Have we any evidence of the ceremony having been performed by any French
monarchs? I am not aware of any.