Part 13 (1/2)
”Goodman Shaw,” said one to his neighbour, ”what think you of Master Hamnet Hyde to-day?”
The man addressed shook his head sadly before he answered.
”Methinks we shall not have many more sermons from him unless he alters greatly.”
The curate, it should be stated, had preached that morning.
”Thou art right, goodman,” went on the first speaker, ”but it comes into my mind that there is one remedy he has not yet tried, which it were worth his while to put to the test. Someone should suggest it to him.”
”And what is that, pray?” ”Why, the Royal Touch. Let him visit the King, and be touched for the evil. There was a pedlar called on my dame but yestereen, and he told a great tale of the marvellous cures wrought by His Majesty King James, G.o.d bless him. Why should not our curate journey up to London, and get the King to remove his sickness?”
”Why not, indeed. Thou hast spoken wisely.”
It should be mentioned that in those days the cure of disease by the patient being ”touched” by the Royal fingers was widely believed in.
It was a.s.serted that kings were specially endowed by G.o.d with the power of healing by touch; and of all the monarchs who ever ruled in England, none were believed to have received this truly royal gift in such abundance as that Most High and Mighty Prince, James the First.
A suggestion of the sort mentioned by the gossip was not likely, therefore, to be neglected, and accordingly the idea was laid pertinently before the curate, who eventually made up his mind to seek the royal remedy. With this object in view, he mounted his horse, and, attended by his friends, journeyed southward to see the king. Before setting out on the journey, he commended himself to G.o.d, for the roads were infested with highwaymen, and it was a perilous venture to travel from Longdendale to London at that time. There was a goodly congregation in the old church at Mottram, and from the heart of every wors.h.i.+pper there went up a fervent prayer for the curate on the occasion of the last service specially held before his departure.
On the morrow the whole village was early astir, for it was known that the curate would that morning set out upon his journey; and a numerous array of villagers gathered in the street before the parson's door as the hour of departure drew nigh.
[Ill.u.s.tration: MOTTRAM CHURCH AND VILLAGE CROSS.]
”Fare thee well, good Master Hamnet,” cried one; ”G.o.d prosper thy journey.”
”If the king but touch thee thou art surely healed,” said another.
”Look well to thy pistols, parson,” quoth a third. ”'Twere a pity not to put to good service the weapons G.o.d hath placed in our hands. And, of a truth, there be many rogues upon the road.”
”Be sure the beds whereon thou sleepest are well aired,” put in an old dame. ”Nothing aggravates the sickness like a damp bed.”
And so with numerous manifestations of good will, the st.u.r.dy Mottram folk sped their parson upon his journey.
Now, after safely pa.s.sing the many perils of the road, Master Hyde arrived at Greenwich in due course and, securing an audience of the King, was touched by His Majesty upon the 22nd day of May, 1610. There was a crowd of sufferers gathered about the Royal Palace, many of whom, like the curate, had travelled from a distance, and they cried aloud for joy when the King came amongst them. They fell upon their knees before him; and, with a gracious smile and many words of comfort, the monarch pa.s.sed through the crowd, touching each patient as he pa.s.sed, and breathing a prayer for their welfare. Immediately the fingers touched the patient, the royal virtue pa.s.sed into the frame of the sufferer, and he was instantly healed. Then the crowd gave thanks to G.o.d and his Majesty, and with glad hearts set out for their homes.
It is needless to dwell long over the homecoming of good Master Hamnet. The news of his return was heralded abroad, and when he entered the village, the people flocked about him, throwing up their caps and cheering l.u.s.tily, so that he returned like some great conqueror to his own.
After his return, he not only showed his grat.i.tude by rendering public thanks to G.o.d for the wonderful cure performed upon him, but in order that future generations might know of the Divine goodness, and the King's most excellent kindness, he inscribed the following pa.s.sage in the parish register of Mottram, where it may be read to this day.
”Anno Dni, 1610. Md. that uppon the 22nd daie of Maie, 1610, I, Hamnet Hyde, of Mottram clerke was under the King's most excellent Matie. his hands (for the evill) and att Greenewiche was healed. On wch. daie three years itt is requyred by his Matie. that the ptie so cured shoulde returne (if G.o.d pmitt) to render thanks bothe to G.o.d and His Matie.
G.o.d save Kinge James, p. me. Hamnettum Hyde, cleric.u.m.”
Hamnet Hyde lived several years after this miraculous cure. He died in 1617, and was buried at Mottram on the 3rd January, 1617-18. The entry in the register written by his father is as follows:
”1617-18, January 3rd. Hamnet Hyde, my sonn, buried--.”
Parson John Hyde survived his son Hamnet nearly 20 years, for he continued Vicar of Mottram until the year 1637, being buried on the 17th March in that year. He left direction concerning his burial in his will as follows: ”In the name of G.o.d. Amen. The 13th February, 1633, I John Hyde, Vicar of Mottram, in the County of Chester, Clerk, being aged. My body to be buried in due and decent manner under the stone where my late father lyeth buryed, in the Chancell of the Parish Church of Mottram, adjoining to the tomb of Mr. John Picton, late parson there.” etc., etc.
It may be added in conclusion that the sovereigns of England claimed and frequently exercised the power of healing certain diseases by touch. The curing of scrofula, or the ”King's Evil,” as it was called, was practised by Henry VII, Henry VIII., and Queen Elizabeth; and was also very extensively carried on by those believers in the ”Divine Right” theory--the Stuart Kings. The ”cure by touch” was believed in as late as the time of Queen Anne. The ”Form of Healing” occurs in the older prayer books, especially those of the 17th century.