RELATIVE TO THE DUKE OF MARLBOROUGH.

355 ed in the first two letters. On the other hand, Mr. Barnard proved, that on the Sunday, when he faw the Duke in Hyde Park, he was on his way to Kensington, on particular business, by his father's order, fignified to him that very morning; that he accordingly went thither, and dined with his uncle, in company with feveral other perfons, to whom he related what had paffed between the Duke of Marlborough and him in the park: that his being afterwards in Weftminster Abbey was the effect of mere accident; that Mr. James Greenwood, his kinfman, who had lain the preceding night at his father's house, defired him to dress himself, that they might walk together in the Park; and he did not comply with his request till after much folicitation: that he propofed to enter the Park without paffing through the Abbey, but was prevailed upon by Mr. Greenwood, who expreffed a defire of seeing the newly-erected monument of General Hargrave; that as he had formerly communicated to his friend the strange circumftance of the Duke's speaking to him in Hyde-Park, Mr. Greenwood no fooner faw that Nobleman in the Abbey, than he gave notice to Mr. Barnard, who was very short-fighted, and that from his paffing them feveral times, concluded he wanted to speak with Mr. Barnard alone, he quitted him, and retired into the choir, that they might commune together without interruption. It likewife appeared, from undoubted evidence, that Barnard had often mentioned openly to his friends and acquaintance, the circumstances of what paffed between him and the Duke in the Park and in the Abbey; that his father was a man of unblemished reputation, and in affluent circumftances; that he himfelf was never reduced to any want, or fuch exigence as might impel him to any defperate methods of obtaining money; that his fidelity had been often tried, and his life always irreproachable. For thefe reafons he was acquitted of the

crime laid to his charge, and the mystery remains to this day undiscovered. After all, the author of these letters. does not feem to have had any real defign to extort money, because the scheme was very ill calculated for that purpose, and indeed could not possibly take effect, without the most imminent risk of detection. Perhaps his aim was nothing more than to gratify a petulance and peculiarity of humour, by alarming the Duke, exciting the curiofity of the public, puzzling the multitude, and giving rife to a thousand ridiculous conjectures. If any thing more was intended, and the Duke earnestly defired to know the extent of the fcheme, he might, when he clofetted the perfon fuspected, have encouraged him to a declaration, by promifing inviolable fecrecy on his word and honour, in which any man would have confided as a facred obligation. On the whole, it is furprising that the death of the Duke, which happened in the course of this year, was never attributed to the secret practices of this incendiary correfpondent, who had given him to understand, that his vengeance, though flow, would not be the lefs certain.

Particulars of the famous VALENTINE GREATRAKES, of AFFANE, Efq. in the County of Waterford, in Ireland, whe was accounted famous for curing feveral Diftempers by the Touch or Stroke of his Hands.

THIS

HIS extraordinary character was fon of William Greatrakes, Efq. of Affane, in the County of Waterford, by a daughter of Sir Edward Harris, Knt. one of the juftices of the King's-Bench, in Ireland, in the reign of King Charles. He was born at the above-mentioned place, Feb. 14, 1628, and received a claffical education at the free fchool at Lif more, where he continued till he was thirteen years of age, when he returned home, in order to prepare himself

for

& most Remarkable for Curing many Disorders by the Stroke or

Touch of his Hand only.

Pub. by Alar. 100, 16 Paternoster-row March 1-183.

VALENTINE GREATRAKES, E SQ.

357

for entering Trinity College, Dublin. At this time the rebellion broke out, and owing to the then diftracted state of the nation, he was obliged, with his mother (who had several other small children) to fly for refuge into England, where they were relieved by his uncle, Mr. Edward Harris; after whose death, young Greatrakes was committed to the care of Mr. John Daniel Getfeus, a German, and then minifter of Stoke-Gabriel in the county of Devon, who for feveral years inftructed him in theology, philofophy, &c. About the year 1634 he returned to his native country, but was so exceedingly affected by the miferable and reduced ftate it was in, that he retired to the castle of Caperquin, where he spent a year in serious contemplation on the viciffitudes of state and fortune. In the year 1649 he became lieutenant in the regiment of Roger, lord Broghill, afterwards earl of Orrery, then acting in Munfter against the Irish and papists; but, upon the regiment being disbanded (1656), he retired to his eftate at Affane, and was foon after appointed clerk of the peace for the county of Cork, and register for transplantation, and justice of the peace. About the year 1662, he began to conceive himself possessed of an extraordinary virtue, in being able to remove the king's evil, or other diseases, by touching or ftroking the parts affected with his hand. This imagination he concealed for fome time, but at last revealed it to his wife, who ridiculed the idea. Refolved however to make a trial, he began with one William Maher, who was brought to the house by his father for the purpose of receiving fome affiftance from Mrs. Greatrakes, as this lady was always ready to relieve the fick and indigent, as far as lay in her power. This boy was forely afflicted with the king's evil, but was, to all appearance cured, by Mr. Greatrakes laying his hands on the parts affected. Several other persons having appeared to be cured in the fame manner, of different dif orders, he acquired confiderable fame in his neighbour.

hood.