the napkins were moreover changed. At another table in the same
room sat his Excellency the Lord General, the Duke of Buckingham,
the Marquis of Ormond, the Earl of Oxford, Earl of Norwich, Earl
of St. Albans, Lords De la Ware, Sands, Berkeley, and several
other of the nobility, with knights and gentlemen of great
quality. Sir John Robinson, alderman of London, proposed his
majesty's health, which was pledged standing by all present. His
majesty was the while entertained with a variety of rare music.
This supper was given on the 16th of June; and a couple of weeks
later, on the 5th of July, the king went "with as much pompe and
splendour as any earthly prince could do to the greate Citty
feast, the first they had invited him to since his returne."

But whilst entertainments were given, and diversions occupied the
town, Charles was called upon to touch for the evil, an
affliction then most prevalent throughout the kingdom. According
to a time-honoured belief which obtained until the coming of
George I., when faith in the divinity of kings was no longer
possible to the most ignorant, the monarch's touch was credited
with healing this most grievous disease. Majesty in those days
was sacred, and superstition rife. Accordingly we read in
MERCURIUS PUBLICUS that, "The kingdom having for a long time, by
reason of his majesty's absence, been troubled with the evil,
great numbers flocked for cure. Saturday being appointed by his
majesty to touch such as were so troubled, a great company of
poor afflicted creatures were met together, many brought in
chairs and baskets; and being appointed by his majesty to repair
to the banqueting house, the king sat in a chair of state, where
he stroked all that were brought to him, and then put about each
of their necks a white ribbon with an angel of gold on it. In