The true and lively Pourtraicture of Valentine Greatrakes Esq. of Affane in the County of Waterford in the Kingdom of Ireland famous for curina several Diseases and distempers A BRIEF ACCOUNT OF Mr Valentine Greatrak's AND DIVERS OF THE Strange Cures By him lately Performed Written by himself in a LETTER Addressed to the Honourable Robert boil Esq Whereunto are annexed the Testimonials of several Eminent and Worthy Persons of the chief Matters of Fact therein Related LONDON Printed for J. Starkey at the Mitre in Fleetstreet between the Middle Temple-Gate and Temple-Bar 1666. LICENCED May 10. 1666. A LETTER to the Honourable ROBERT boil Esq Most Honourable and most Worthy Sir THough I had not the happiness formerly to have an acquaintance with you yet I was no stranger to your Worth and Virtue which have made you as much admired and reverenced abroad as honoured and beloved at home And therefore I have assumed the confidence to make this Address to your Honour whose Repute and Testimony to the World will be so powerful knowing your Wisdom Devotion and Learning to be so great that Truth may find belief God have Glory and his poor Instrument be justified before Men who hath no farther design in the distribution of that Talon which the All-healing God has entrusted him withal than the honour of his Maker and the good of his poor Fellow-creatures whose Distempers many of them neither Art nor Physic probably could reach which caused him cheerfully that he might not be found an unfaithful Steward to cast all his worldly pleasures and delights behind his back to run himself into the midst of all Diseases to make his house an Hospital and forsake his own interest and advantages to labour day and night and oftentimes run the hazard of his liberty and life by the crowds press steams and stinks of the multitudes and ulcerous persons which you can well witness few men can brook or undergo and what is worse than all this the scandalous and false Reports of lying Tongues which have caused him who never had the Ambition to publish himself to the World farther than by his deeds to write this Vindication in answer to a Pamphlet called by the Title of Wonders no Miracles wherein the Author a certain obscure Person one that never saw me nor knew any thing of me very confidently takes upon him to be my Herald and Confessor and to represent me in such black Characters as if I were so horrid a Monster that my very Name should affright the Reader Sir I never injured this Gentleman in Word or Deed in all my life and yet he who pretends himself to be a Minister of the Gospel is so extremely beyond the Rules of Charity invective against me But you know Sir if to be accused only be sufficient who can be found innocent I have enough of provocations given me to reflect but God be praised I have learned a better Lesson and shall return him good for evil if it lies in my power I beseech God I may never suffer as a Murderer or as a Thief or as an Evil-doer or as a Busie-man in other men's matters but if I suffer for doing good to persons in misery freely I hope I have no cause to be ashamed but to glorify God on this behalf who gave both the gift and mind to use it This Gentleman was the man as I am certainly informed that writ that Pamphlet Entitled The Countess of Bridgwaters Ghost for which he lay six months in Prison one would have thought this might have proved a sufficient warning to him to be more sober for the future who you may see was ashamed to fix his Name to his Book lest the Contents thereof though it might carry somewhat of Truth in it might totally be discredited for the Author's sake I do not instance in this Gentleman to shame him for that is no ways my design but so far to invalidate his Testimony that I may not be the worse thought of for his evil speaking who makes it his Trade to put forth Libels on any one so he may get but a little money from the Printer or those that employ him I pray God he may better make use of his Time and Parts hereafter and that he would take all rancour and malice out of his heart and give him the Spirit of Meekness Charity and Love for if we by't and devour one another we may chance to be consumed one of another For me to answer each particular Allegation of his would require too much time to be so ill spent and therefore I will overlook his calumnies desiring God to forgive him nor shall I render evil for evil or railing for railing only I shall instance in some few particulars for the satisfaction of the Reader who by those as by a Touchstone may try what metal the rest are made of And First In folio 14. he charges me to have writ to that Right Reverend and Pious Person the Lord Bishop of Chester with several other Instances which I shall make use of which are most if not every one of them feigned and false The words are as follow That he had a voice from Heaven assuring him first That he had a Power to cure the Kings-Evil and afterwards that he might cure all Diseases That he could not be quiet till he had undertaken it and that a Woman unknown to him had a Vision to come to him and that hereupon notwithstanding he was dissuaded by his Friends from the Practice and jeered out of the Imagination he had a constant Impulse to force him upon the several Experiments he had made till the whole Country thronged to him And this the Pamphleteer saith is what the Man saith for himself Now by this Testimonial of my Lord Bishop of Chester written with his own hand at his House in Tuthill-street which I herewith send you you may please to judge how misbecoming his pretence of a Clergyman he has acquitted himself in fathering such forgeries upon one of the Fathers of the Church whose Testimony he would have made use of to create a belief in the Reader and scandalise an innocent person The words are as follow Whereas in a late Book Entitled Wonders no Miracles the nameless Author hath thought fit to take notice of a Letter of Mr. Valentine Greatrak's directed to me wherein he is charged to avouch a Voice from Heaven twice heard by him by which he was employed to cure the Kings-evil and afterwards to cure all Diseases mention being made also of a Vision which a Woman had to come unto him etc. I cannot but so far do right to the said Mr. Greatrak's and disabuse all Readers of that Book as to Testify That the Letter which I received from him had no such Passages savouring of Phanaticism as a pretended Voice from Heaven and a Vision do import and that this is but one of many other falsities in that Book Apr. 27. 1666. Geo. Cestriens Next as to my Education in the ensuing part of my Letter you shall receive a Refutation sufficient to convince you of the untruth which this stranger to my Breeding charges me with Then passing by many other of his Assertions not worth the taking notice of nor having the least colour of truth in them I come to page 17. wherein he charges me with swearing by my Maker at Mr. Cressets house in Charter-house-yard an Oath which never was heard to come out of my mouth But if you observe the Author of that Report is as nameless as his Book and Mr. Cresset who with several others was present all the while I was in his House hearing of that falsehood fastened on me hath herewith also sent you his Testimonial to the contrary writ with his own hand in the following words Whereas in a Pamphlet lately Printed Entitled Wonders no Miracles the Author thereof charges Mr. Valentine Greatrak's to have sworn at my House in Charter-house-yard by his Maker I do hereby Testify That I was continually by him whilst he was in my House unless when he was in his Bed and went with him from my House to the Old-baily that day that the Author allegeth he did swear the said Oath and I did never hear him swear the same Oath nor any other whatsoever either on that said day or in my House nor at any other time or in any other place whatsoever Witness my Hand this 5th of May 1666. John Cressett Then he charges me in pag. ibid. with being a Good Fellow according to his sense and having converse with Women notoriously scandalous and also with many fallacies put upon poor people as to the place of my abode and several other Things as true as these To which my Answer is That there is no Person that knows me but will acquit me of being excessive either in Eating or Drinking neither was I ever charged or suspected till by this Gentleman who puts his Name to nothing nor seems to care what he says of Man Woman or Child to be incontinent with Women or to have to do with any but my Wife in all my Life-time Then as to the fallacies put upon poor people as to the place of my abode you yourself can acquit me of that calumny who have been pleased oftentimes to do me the Honour with several other Honourable Reverend and Worthy Persons to come to Lincolns-Inn-Fields whither for several Weeks I repaired five days in the Week where I laid my Hands on all that came without regard of Persons that People might not be disappointed in hunting me up and down And farther to show you the dis-ingenuity of this Person I went to him who was reported the Author of that Pamphlet with Dr. Whitchcot and Dr. Cudworth my honoured Friends who were pleased to afford me the favour of their Company and reasoned with the Gentleman about several Things he charged me with being guilty of in his Book and desired before them to know whether he knew me that he gave such a Character of me or whether this practice of his in slandering of a Stranger and an innocent person for aught he knew were according to the rule of the Gospel or that of Moral Honesty And also I told him that his carriage in this Affair could not but subject him to the censure of wise men who would lie inveighing in his Closet by judging and condemning what he knew not and denying the verity of what was obvious to all persons that had the curiosity of coming when as he might purchase the knowledge of truth by an ocular Testimony in repairing to the house which I frequented in Lincolns-Inn-fields where I promised to make way for him and to accommodate him with a convenient place and afterwards when he had informed himself he might be able to relate the truth of things to others since he had such an itching desire to Write At length the honest Gent. promised that he would come but never did fearing that by the glass of truth there he might discover the deformity of his carriage and be forced to a recantation But to proceed further In Page 20. he useth these words He takes nothing in public himself but it hath cost some good round sums of money to his Followers who are observed to be noted Projectors Jo. Terrill Gent. expending 100 l. to come at him James Birion 40 l. and William Fettyplace 60 l. etc. To this I Answer That he speaks Truth in saying that I take nothing in Public but in saying That it hath cost some good round sums of money to his Followers who are observed to be noted Projectors he says an unhandsome untruth known to many thousands for I never suffered nor would keep any Servant that I knew would take a farthing of any one that comes to me Nor have I any Follower but a simple Youth whom I never suffered to be a Doorkeeper to avoid scandal And as for Jo Terrill Ja. Birion and William Fettyplace I say I know them not by their Names nor did I ever hear of them but in his Book who is their Godfather I believe Then in the same page he saith I borrow money of my Patients though I take none in answer to which I call God of Heaven to witness I never borrowed so much as one farthing to the best of my remembrance in my life nor does he instance in one nor can any man living Then in the same page you may further observe how like a Deceiver he speaks What if it be proved that such as he have those that maintain them and hire them Patients and in the 21 page he chargeth me in these Terms And the dullest nose may smell the matter when he heareth this tradition of him That being a Member of an Independent Church He was excommunicated thence for pretending to the gift of Heaven and thereupon his Gift left him until being absolved he was readmitted at once to his Church-priviledge and his gift To which I answer That I never was a Member of an Independent Church in my life and so could not be excommunicated by them neither do I acknowledge any such Power in such a Church But passing by many of his Invectives which his own conscience if he has any cannot but smite him for being guilty of so many groundless and simple untruths I come to that of the 22. page where he says That its evident that this whole Affair is but a Cheat and that there is not a Man Woman or Child that may be trusted and are well known that is the better for him Which Reproach your Honour I am sure as well as thousands else knows to be otherwise and therefore I think it needless to say any thing more to this particular than to refer the Reader to the undeniable Testimonials following Then in Page 23. on which single Instance this Architect builds so large a Structure he says I Lanced a poor man troubled with a sore Knee in the  and that I pinched the poor man and the sore Gangrened and that if it had not been for the worthy Doctor Bevior Physician to that House and Mr. Harrison the Chirurgeon there had been Life and Limb lost and that when I heard of this I came to the man and would have been tampering with him but the man would not endure me charging me with his Blood if he had died and wishing me no more to delude the People To which I make this answer That true it is on the request of a poor man that came to me in the  I made a small incision a little above the pan of his Knee as I take it which was full of small concreted Juices like Measles and it may be as it is usual where there is any humour that the Place where the Orifice was did swell grow red and fiery as it must consequently before the Tumour comes to a suppuration which in laying my hands of it and spiting thereon would as it is usual immediately have ceased but that it came to a Gangreen or that the Doctor or Chirurgeon without dissecting the Limb so affected cured him afterwards carries so so great an improbability in it that any ingenious person cannot but abhor his Malice and Folly herein and whether the latter part of his charge be true I refer you to the testimony of Captain Cresset herein who was the only person present when I went to the poor man which I herewith send your Honour writ with his own hand as follows Whereas in a Pamphlet lately printed Entitled Wonders no Miracles the Author thereof amongst other his charges against Mr. Valentine Greatrak's layeth to his charge the spoiling of one of the Officers or Servants of the  and the endangering of his Life by making some incision in his Knee or Thigh that afterwards did gangrene and had like have cost him his life and further saith that when the said Valentine Greatrak's did come a second time to see him the said hurt person would not let him meddle with him but bid him go away and leave off fooling and charged his life or blood upon him if he should die I do hereby certify that I was with Mr. Greatrak's when he went to visit the said person hearing he was very ill and he used no such words or expressions but when Mr. Greatrak's told him that he doubted not but to allay the inflammation with his hand the said person desired Mr. Greatrak's to excuse him for the Doctor and Surgeon had been with him and applied Medicaments unto him and he durst not take them off for fear he should so far incur the displeasure of the said Doctor and Chirurgeon as that they should not come to him any more but thanked him for his kindness In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 5. of May 1666. John Cresset Then in page 25. he uses these words But his Jack-puddings I mean his Vouchers and Familiars who have been caught in fearful untruths about him & his acquaintance with Friars he speaking one thing and they another he saying he had not heard from such a man in eight years and one of his Followers showing a Letter he had in eight days from him He showing how he had cured one with a stroke and one of his Comrades ask the man unawares how his Pill Glister and Plaster wrought last night My answer to this is That he is the Jack-pudding that has told so many Fables which are so senseless that I will say no more of them nor hinder you or the Reader with making further Objections more than by giving an account of my life from my birth to this Instant which I will do God willing in sincerity and faithfulness knowing that God would be offended with me should I be guilty of speaking or publishing a falsehood and the world would quickly discover me The Reports of the world as well as the Author of the Pamphlet touching me and that Talon which God has entrusted me a worthless Instrument withal are so various and fabulous that I conceive myself in conscience bound to leave a Testimony of Truth behind me before I turn my face homewards and therefore I shall give your Honour and the World a brief and true Narrative of myself from my Birth to this instant and those wonderful things which God has been pleased in mercy to effect upon several persons by my hand I was born the 14th day of February 1628. I was the Son of William Greatrak's of Affane in the County of Waterford Esq one that had liberal Education and a competent Estate left him by his Father who was known to be a worthy Person and well esteemed in his Country a man looked upon to be of a generous spirit but one that had a mind above his fortune My Mother was the Daughter of Sir Edward Harris Knight one of his late Majesty's Justices of the King's Bench in the Kingdom of Ireland who had the reputation of a learned and a just Judge and this I dare say of her who died some few years passed for I do but justice to her memory she was a virtuous and discreet Woman an excellent Neighbour and a most indulgent and provident Parent she took a care of my Education my Father dying when I was tender in years which was briefly as follows First After I had learned to read I was sent to the Free-School of Lismore once famous which was erected by the Charity of your Father the late Earl of Cork where I spent my time till I was 13 years of age and had made such a proficiency in Learning that I was designed for the College the ensuing year but prevented therein by the late Rebellion in Ireland from whence I was forced with my Mother and several other small Children to fly for refuge hither into England and by the Charity of my Uncle Mr. Edm. Harris were relieved and provided for and had the Principles of Religion confirmed in me by him who was a Protestant and one of so severe a pious life that he devoted his whole time to the Service of God and the works of Charity He was one that in many years before his death was not known to speak an idle word or spend a vain hour In brief he was a Saint in his life and conversation and one whose memory I shall ever reverence and love but God in mercy to him who though in the world was not of the world was pleased after some few years to take him to himself out of this troublesome life who before his Departure left my Mother the third part of his Estate and me in a most solemn manner his Prayers and Blessing After his decease my Mother who had a special care of my Education for my further progress in Literature sent me to a learned and reverend man John Daniel Getseus an High-German Minister of Stock Gabriel in the County of Devon where I spent some years in studying Humanity and Divinity and found from his hands much favour and love for which kindness I pray God to recompense him and his Afterwards sumptâ virili Togâ I considered with myself that the fortune which my Mother enjoyed in England was very small to maintain herself and so many Children as she had who grew daily more expensive as we grew in years and thereupon I addressed myself to her resolving to lose my life with my fortune in Ireland or regain it who gave me her blessing and consent and so after some 5 or 6 years' absence I returned to my native Country which at that time was in a most miserable and deplorable state as you may well remember for than it was not as formerly a National Quarrel Irish against English and Protestants against Papists but there were high and strange divisions throughout the Kingdom English against English and Irish against Irish and Protestants and Papists joining hands in one Province against the Protestants of another which differences to me seemed so unnatural that I resolved not to intermeddle therein till the mist of confusion was over and so for refuge retired myself to the Castle of Caperquin where I spent a years time in contemplation and saw so much of the madness and wickedness of the world that my life became a burden to me and my Soul was as weary of this habitation of clay as ever the Galleyslave was of the Oar which brought my life even to the threshold of death so that my Legs had hardly strength to carry my enfeebled body about All company seemed irksome and distasteful to me so epidemically lewd blasphemous and sottish were many become that I saw the many and great Judgements of the Lord that the Kingdom groaned under had not reclaimed but Pharaoh-like hardened our Egyptian hearts which caused me seldom during that time to go from my Cell In the Year 49. as I take it some small time after the Rout at Dublin Oliver Cromwell then General of the Army after the taking of Tredagh sent part of his Army into Munster under the conduct of Colonel Robert Phaire but before his landing at Youghall Cork and Youghall had revolted from their obedience to their General the Earl of Inchequin than Lord Precedent of Munster under the Command of his Majesty who is ever to be honoured by all English for the eminent and faithful services done to the Protestants in the beginning of the late Rebellion there So that all or most of the English and Protestants joined with the said Colonel Phaire against the Irish and Papists their Interests as well as Judgements being opposite so that in a small time most of the Towns in Munster were reduced to Obedience and the Command of the Horse in the said Province was given to that Renowned and Worthy Person your Brother the Earl of Orrery in whose Regiment I was made a Lieutenant during all which time which was 6 years I will boldly say I never suffered Quarter to be broken nor violence offered to any that were in protection nor did I suffer any one under my Command to oppress or injure any that were in Quarter without bringing them to condign punishment nor did I permit any Women or Children to be killed though out of Protection where I had a power to restrain the fury of the Soldier In the Year 56. great part of the Army was disbanded and I among the rest and then I betook myself to a Country life and lived at Affane the habitation of my Ancestors where I have continued ever since and got by my Industry a livelihood out of the bowels of the Earth and daily employed many poor people to work and improved that little Estate which I had so that I bless God I lived as comfortably as he that had Thousands and daily relieved those that were in want and gave my Friends and Strangers a hearty welcome to what God in mercy had bestowed upon me who never coveted much nor denied myself and others the enjoyment of what I had But by the way Assoon as I was retired into the Country I was by the kindness and respect of the then Governor made Clerk of the Peace of the County of Cork and Register for Transplantation and Justice of the Peace In which Employment I studied so to acquit myself before God and Man in singleness and integrity of heart that to the comfort of my Soul and praise of God that directed me I can with confidence say I never took Bribe nor Reward from any man though I have had many and great ones offered me when I was Register for Transplantation nor did I ever connive at or suffer a Malefactor to go unpunished if the person were guilty of any notorious crime where I had a Power nor did I ever take the Fee belonging to my Office if I found the Person were injured or in want Nor did I ever commit any one for his Judgement or Conscience barely so it led him not to do any thing to the disturbance of the civil Peace of the Nation Nor did I take any thing for my Fee when he was discharged for I bless God he has taken away a persecuting Spirit from me who would persuade all men to be Protestants those Principles being most consonant to Truth and the Word of God in my Judgement and that Profession which I ever have been of and still am But Truth it is That when I was Justice of the Peace I endeavoured to convert as many Papists to Protestantism as I could and prevailed with many hundreds to go to Church for these two Reasons 1. For the good of their souls who lived in ignorance having no Priests in those days and being little the better for them now I conceive the Common People understanding little Latin 2. For the preservation of our own Bodies and Estates which I found by sad Experience as well as the rest of the poor Protestants of Ireland could never be secure whilst such dangerous Principles were instilled into them as these That there was no Faith to be had with Heretics and so it is lawful to make a prey of our lives and fortunes The Papists may deny that this is one of their Tenants but I am sure it was the practice of my Countrymen for whom I have this Charity That if they were not strangers to the word of God they would not run into such violent courses as they did Yet though there was Orders from the Power that then was to all Justices of the Peace for Transplanting all Papists that would not go to Church I never molested any one that was known or esteemed to be innocent but suffered them to continue in the English Quarters and that without prejudice So that I can truly say I never injured any man for his Conscience conceiving that aught to be informed and not enforced Besides Sir I have so far observed the immoderate courses of several that were in Power and Authority in those days amongst those different Judgements who have had their several turns at the Helm That they have driven Jehu-like when they have had the Reins of Authority in their hands and by their own fury destroyed themselves and interests God abhorring the violent and cruel-minded man Who would have all Knees bow to his Dagon or take occasion either to cashier or put them by their Employments as was the usual practice of the Army there in those days so that Charity had left Religion which too too many made a mere design to promote their Interests and Faction Thus one Faction destroyed another till at length they all lay down in sorrow and he that was most violent still came to the worst Thus far I have given you a brief account how I spent my time before I laid my hands on any and now I shall proceed to let you know how I have demeaned myself since with the circumstances and causes that moved me to attempt practices of this nature for which I have been judged and condemned by many and that as ignorantly as maliciously But blessed be God I have discharged a good Conscience in not burying that Talon which God so entrusted me withal and his mercy has shielded me from their Darts About four years since I had an Impulse or a strange persuasion in my own mind of which I am not able to give any rational account to another which did very frequently suggest to me that there was bestowed on me the gift of curing the Kings-Evil which for the extraordinariness of it I thought fit to conceal for some time but at length I communicated this to my Wife and told her That I did verily believe that God had given me the blessing of curing the Kings-Evil for whether I were in private or public sleeping or waking still I had the same Impulse but her reply was to me That she conceived this was a strange imagination but to prove the contrary a few days after there was one William Maher of Salterbridge in the Parish of Lissmore a Tenant of your Brothers the Right Honourable the Earl of Burlington and Cork that brought his Son William Maher to my house desiring my Wife to cure him who was a person ready to afford her Charity to her Neighbours according to her small skill in Chirurgery on which my Wife told me there was one that had the Kings-Evil very grievously in the Eyes Cheek and Throat whereupon I told her that she should now see whether this were a bare fancy or imagination as she thought it or the Dictates of God's Spirit on my heart and thereupon I laid my hands on the places affected and prayed to God for Jesus sake to heal him and then I bid the Parent two or three days afterwards to bring the Child to me again which accordingly he did and then I saw the Eye was almost quite whole and the Node which was almost as a big as a Pullet's Egg was suppurated and the throat strangely amended and to be brief to God's glory I speak it within a month discharged itself quite and was perfectly healed and so continues God be praised Then there came one Margaret Mac-shane of Ballinecly of the Parish of Lismore and a Tenant of your Brothers the Earl of Cork who had the Evil 7 years and upwards which had spread itself from the bottom of her stomach upwards all over to her throat neck and nose and so all over her back shoulders and armpits so that I could not see one place free from the Evil where you might put a sixpence and to speak the truth she looked so dreadfully and stunk so exceedingly that she would have affrighted and poisoned any one almost that saw or came near her whereupon I spoke to one Doctor Anthony a famous Physician then at my House desiring him to take commiseration on her for God's sake His reply was That she was eaten out with the Evil and that all the men in Ireland could do her no good whereupon I said I did believe that there was one that could do her good and cure her the Doctor demanded who that man was my answer was That through God's blessing I could but he slighted the matter saying if he saw that Person cured he would not question but I might heal all Diseases but I replied I was not of his opinion as to the latter part but said he should be convinced of the former which accordingly fell out God be praised for my hand suppurated the Nodes and drew and healed the Sores which formerly I could not have endured the sight of nor smell nor touched them without vomiting so great an aversion had I naturally to all wounds and sores so that the poor woman about six weeks afterwards came perfectly well to my house and so continues where Doctor Anthony was then also to see my Wife and gave God praise and me thanks who carried her to Doctor Anthony and told him That hence he might see that God could and did great things by poor and worthless Instruments and therefore he should not limit him for the future After this several people infected with the Evil came to me from several Counties and I stroked them and desired God out of his abundant mercy to heal them who blessed be his Name heard my Prayer and delivered them So that few or none unless those whose Bones were infected and eaten returned without their cure This course I kept for 3 years not meddling with any other Distempers about which time the Ague was very Epidemical whole Families being struck down with it when I found as formerly the same kind of Impulse within me suggesting that there was bestowed upon me the gift of curing the Ague This also I told to my Wife who could not be persuaded to it and the next day there came to my House a Neighbour's Wife who lived nigh Tallow-bridge a place well known to you by name Bateman the Naylors' Wife that is there who had a most violent Ague on whom I laid my hands and desired God Almighty to cure her who in mercy heard my Prayer and so the Ague run through her and she went away immediately perfectly cured of her Ague upon which her Husband and Children who were afflicted with the same disease applied themselves to me on whom I laid my hands in like manner with the same success and so many more came to me afterwards and were cured by God's great and wonderful power in the like nature Within some small time after this God was pleased by the same or the like Impulse to discover unto to me That he had given me the gift of healing which the morning following I told my Brother and Wife but neither of them could be prevailed with to believe it though for my own part I had a full assurance thereof within me This impulse I had the Sunday after Easter-day the 2d of April 65. early in the morning and the Wednesday ensuing I went to Cornet Deans about some occasions I had with him to Lismore where there came into his House to me a poor man that with a violent pain in his loins and flank went almost double and had also a most grievous Ulcerous Leg very black wherein were five Ulcers who desired me for God's sake that I would lay my hands on him and do him what good I could But by the way take notice That as God gave me the several gifts from time to time he always sent Patients that applied themselves to me for I never sought after any from the first moment to this very instant Whereupon I put my hand on his loins and flank and immediately run the pains out of him so that he was released and could stand upright without the least trouble Then I put my hand on his Ulcerous Leg which the Surgeons after they had showed all their skill on him told him it was perished at the bone and so must be cut off but that he wanted 3l to give one of them for his pains as he informed me which forthwith changed colour and became red and 3 of the 5 Ulcers closed up and the rest within a few hours afterwards so that he went out well that could hardly by the help of his staff craul in and within two days afterwards he fell to his Labour being a Mason by Trade and so continued several Months afterwards to my knowledge and to this instant for aught I know The man was a Yorkshire man one that the Right Honourable the Earl of Cork brought from thence and employed about the making of his Park-Wall nigh Lismore This and the former instances I relate unto you That you may not seek far for the confirmation of the Truth if you or others should distrust my Report The Thursday following I went to see Colonel Phaire at Cahirmony in the County of Cork who when I came told me he was vexed with an Ague my Reply was that through God's blessing I could cure him He told me that I was welcome and within an hour it would seize him who thought it impossible for him to live two fits more for after the cold fit his hot one continued for fourteen hours in that extremity that no Fever could be more violent accordingly as he had said his cold fit arrested him and then I bid him to give me his hand which he did and it pleased God that from that time his Fit left him so that he had it no more Then there came several People to his House troubled with several Diseases desiring me for God's sake to cure them at which passage I was much amazed not having told him nor any one but my Wife and Brother of the Impulse I had which was but the Sunday before some had the Ague several others the Falling-sickness others the Kings-Evil one the Fever some pains some Aches and lameness on whom I put my hands little thinking that the Pains would skip and fly from place to place till they did run out but that the persons might be cured without any such motion by the laying on of my hands and several nay most of all Diseases were immediately cured and those that came exceeding lame and so had continued for many years by their own Reports and others went well home rejoicing and praising God At which extraordinary appearance of God the Lord knows my soul was wrapped up with wonder and amazement and my heart filled with praises and thanksgivings to the Almighty and most merciful Lord God to whom be the Glory Power and Praise for evermore ascribed and certainly my heart melted into tears and has often since with this consideration That the Holy One of Israel among so many millions of men more pious more wise and more learned should make choice and use of so poor so vile and so contemptible a wretch as I am to be so peculiar an Instrument in his hand of showing mercy and deliverance to afflicted poor creatures Thus much I can say it was for no worth or sanctity of mine for I acknowledge mine iniquities and my sins are not hid from me and confess it is thy mercy in Jesus my blessed Saviour that I have not been consumed long since but preserved to this moment to the praises and glory of thy Name to whom my soul doth offer up daily as is most just and due new songs of Mercy and Deliverance on my own account and others to whom thou extendest thy bountiful favours These considerations Sir transport me carrying me from the Relation of what has been done by the Instrument to the commemoration and admiration of the first and principal Agent Jehovah But I know this Digression will not seem harsh in your ears whose heart like a well tuned Instrument is strung with Prayer and Praises and therefore I will take yet a further latitude before I return to the Narrative part of my discourse as to matter of fact by answering some few Queries or Objections which I have often heard from many which may not seem impertinent to be placed here That it may prove a Bridle to their tongues for the future The first Quaery is What need had God to cure Diseases in this Age of the world by any extraordinary means when as there is no new Doctrine to be expected or promulgated and many the like fond and confident assertions tending to this purpose To which I answer First They are not of God Almighty's Privy Council neither have they so much reason or Religion as confidence for if they had they would be more sober and less presumptuous than to interrogate what his mind or will is in doing what they see de facto done and so rather with humble thoughts admire and praise him whose mercy endureth for ever then expostulate the cause of things why and wherefore he has done it or made use of such Instruments as one quaeried of me at a Great Man's Table and would have reason wherefore God did make choice of me sooner than another to do things in an extraordinary manner or what it was he saw in me more than another man and many such Questions my Reply was a smile which was the best I could use in answering such fond Enquirers But by the way Sir Give me leave to presuppose 2 or 3 Reasons why or wherefore God should now cure diseases in an extraordinary manner The first is to convince this Age of Atheism which I am sorry to say it many of our pretended Wits I fear are falling into who make it their pastime to deride at Jesus and Christianity who cannot yet but believe Jesus to be God when they see pains and diseases to vanish and evil Spirits fly his Power as I have good cause to believe the Falling-sickness and other Distempers I have met withal sometimes to be which I intent upon another occasion to prove by such Reasons drawn from my own experience as may convince any man that is but a curious Observer and trusts not the Writings of men that speak but their thoughts in cases of this nature more than his own eyes or the eyes of faithful witnesses Next the goodness of God out of compassion to poor distressed man may make use of never so worthless an Instrument to magnify his own mercy and power as he did of a brazen Serpent in the wilderness that the glory and praise of all may be solely ascribed unto him who by a little dust and clay can cure and cause diseases to run through men which no Physic could move Next God may to abate the pride of the Papists that make Miracles the undeniable Manifesto of the truth of their Church make use of a Protestant to do such strange things in the face of the Sun which they pretend to do in Cells There may also other Reasons be given and such as may tend to God's glory but I shall decline mentioning of them lest I fall under the lash of unmerciful Pens and the censure of Critics knowing that Truth itself is sometimes better concealed than published In the next place many demand of me Why some are cured and not all and if this work were of God all would be cured To which Question I make this Answer That God may please to make use of such means by me as shall operate according to the disposition of the Patient and therefore cannot be expected to be like effectual in all They also demand further Why some are cured at once coming and not all and why the pains should fly immediately out of some and take such ambages in others and why it should go out of some at their eyes some at their fingers some at their toes some at their noses others at their ears or mouths To which I say If all these things could have a plain and rational account given of them than would there be no reason to account them strange Let them but tell me what substance that is which removes and goes out with so great expedition and it will be more easy to resolve their Questions but till then let them be silent and admire the works of God whose ways are past finding out and whose Majesty is not confined to time manner or measure Some will know of me why or how I do pursue some pains from place to place till I have chased them out of the Body by laying my hands on the outside of the  only as is usual and not all pains To which I answer That I and others have by frequent experience been abundantly satisfied that it is so though I am not able to give a reason why it should be so although I am apt to believe there are some pains which afflict men after the manner of Evil-Spirits which kind of pains cannot endure my hand nay not my glove but fly immediately though 6 or 8 Coats and Cloaks be put betwixt the party's body and my hand as at York-house the Lady Ranaloughs and divers other places since I came to London where many wise and learned men have been present as well as frequently in Ireland has been manifested Sir I hope you will pardon me when I relate to you my own Observations and what my Experience inclines me to believe in saying that I have met with several Instances which seemed to me to be Possessions by dumb Devils deaf Devils and talking Devils and that to my apprehension and others present several evil Spirits one after the other have been pursued out of a Woman and every one of them have been like to choke her when it came up to her Throat before it went forth and when the last was gone she was perfectly well and so continued There have been others that have fallen down immediately as soon as they have seen me which the Mayor of Worcester Colonel Birch Major wild and many hundreds both at Worcester and here and other places were eye-witnesses of many when they have but heard my voice and have been tormented in so strange a manner that no one that has been present could conceive it less than a Possession as I will instance in one at York-house where Sir John Hinton Colonel Talbot aed many others were present who had somewhat within her which would swell her Body to that excessive degree on a sudden as if it would burst her and then as soon as I put my hand on that part of her Body where it did rise up it would fly up to her Throat or some other place and then it would cause her neck to swell half so big again and then almost choke her then blind her and make her dumb and foam and sometimes fly into her hand and so contract and fasten it that neither Sir J. Hinton or any else that did try as there were many could with all their strength open one finger of her hand nor would it fly his hand in the least nor any other persons there till I put my hand on it or my glove nay I oftentimes brought it up into her Tongue by running my hand on her Body on the outside of her  up to her Throat which it has swollen in an instant nigh as big again and has been seen plainly to play from place to place and at length with great violence of belching which did almost choke her and force her eyes to start out of her head it went forth and so the Woman went away well Whether this were a natural Distemper let any one judge that is either a Divine a Philosopher or Physician I could instance you in forty as strange or stranger but I will go no further than London and places adjoining for instances of this nature Now Sir another Question hereon will arise which I have often times heard from others before I proceed and that is Whether this operation of my Hand proceeds from the Temperature of my Body or from a Divine Gift or from both To which I say That I have reason to believe that there is something in it of an extraordinary Gift of God The Reasons and Arguments which incline me to this belief are That I am very sensible of the particular time when this Gift was first bestowed on me before which time I had it not because having myself for several years together been most violently troubled with the headache though I have put my hand a thousand times to my head and held it it would neither remove nor run out the pains but since God gave my hand this Gift I have no sooner put it on my head where it was troubled but I have removed and run it out I have also oftentimes held my Friends heads formerly when they have been in violent pains with the headache but I never could hear them say their pain removed or ceased which now immediately it does in very many What the natural efficacy of effluvias may be I leave others to judge and I suppose no man will question but that an extraordinary Gift may be exercised by natural means or that God may confer in an extraordinary manner such a temper of Body upon a person as may by a natural efficacy produce these effects Only by the way I shall suggest to you an Experiment made at the House of that excellent Person your Sister the Lady Ranalaghs' where I tried to satisfy the curiosity of some there with a Napkin which I rubbed my breast withal and with my Shirt which I had pulled off being very hot whether that would remove the pains of a Woman which was in strange fits there as my glove being tried did oftentimes and it would not I could use many more Instances and answer several other Objections but I think that will be more proper hereafter and therefore I shall now return again to matter of fact by letting you know that great Multitudes from divers places resorted to me so that I could have no time to follow my own occasions nor enjoy the company of my Family and Friends whereupon I set 3 days in the week apart from 6. in the morning till 6. at night to lay my hands on all that came and so continued for some months at home But the multitudes which came daily were so great that the neighbouring Towns were not able to accommodate them whereon for the good of others I left my home and went to Youghall where great multitudes resorted to me not only of the Inhabitants but also out of England so that the Magistrates of the Town told me that they were afraid that some of the sick people that came to me out of England might bring the Infection into the place whereon I retired again to my house at Affane where as at Youghall I observed three days by laying my hands on all that came whatsoever the diseases were and many were cured and many were not so that my Stable Barn and Malt-house were filled with sick people of all diseases almost yet so great was the Providence of God that I do not remember that in all that time any one of my Family though I touched them in my house was ever infected by them neither did any of them though they herded all together infect one the other But this by the way The Dean of Lismore my reverend and worthy Friend by orders from the Bishop and Clergy hearing of Cures done in an extraordinary manner cited me to appear at the Court of Lismore to which Citation I gave Obedience and accordingly appeared desiring to know what they had to lay to my charge the answer of the Court was that they heard I had effected Cures in an extraordinary manner and therefore desired to know whether the report were true or no to which I answered That that doubt might easily be satisfied by coming one day to my House where they might have an ocular Testimony of Truth in that particular or that they might satisfy themselves by several that were without the Court that through God's blessing were restored by laying my hands on them from several infirmities and diseases which they formerly laboured under on which the Judge of the Court caused the Recorder to enter what I had said and took for granted that people were cured in an extraordinary way Then the Judge asked me where is your Licence for practising as all Physicians and Surgeons ought to have from the Ordinary of the Diocese my answer was that I knew no reason I had to take a Licence since I took no Reward from any one and that I knew no Law of the Nation which prohibited any person from doing what good he could to his Neighbours yet notwithstanding because I had no Licence neither would I take any not expecting any advantage by what I did I was prohibited from laying my hands on any for the future which Order I observed for two days but going to the Town of Copoqueen where there were many poor people that came out of England to me for several distempers which they laboured under and amongst the rest two that had the Falling-sickness who no sooner saw me but they fell into their fits immediately which caused so great compassion in me that I could not nor durst not deny them my help whereupon I put my hands on them and by the power of God restored them to their senses forthwith and pursued their Pains from place to place till they went out of them after that I fell to my former practice and observed the three days which I formerly set apart whereupon the Lord Bishop of the Diocese sent for me and toll me that he required me to lay my hands on no more within his Diocese but I answered his Lordship that I conceived that I transgressed no Law of God or man in doing the works of Charity and therefore I thought myself obliged thereby not to deny any man my help whilst God enabled me to do good that came to me And so I parted with his Lordship and returned to my own house where I persevered in my former practice both at home Dublin and elsewhere wheresoever my occasions called me till at length about January last at the request of the Right Honourable the Earl of Orrery I was persuaded to come over into England to the Right Honourable the Viscontess Conway who for many years had laboured under a most violent Headache which many of the ablest Physicians in England and France had unsuccessfully attempted the cure of And so did accordingly resolving to land by Kingroad nigh Bristol and so go to the habitation of my Lord Conway in  concealed but the wind falling short we were forced into Minehead where I was so well known by several Patients that had been with me in Ireland that I could not conceal myself and so was by the Country as I went resorted to from place to place till I came to Ragley the residence of the Right Honourable and most worthy person my Lord Viscont Conway to whom I am for ever endeared and obliged for his Lordship's extraordinary favour and respect notwithstanding I could not remove or abate his Lady's pain in the least which kindness of his I beseech God to return to him a thousand fold but finding her Ladyship's pain incurable by me I resolved speedily to return home but at the entreaty of my Lord Conway I remained with his Honour at Ragley three weeks or a month where many hundreds daily came to me from divers Counties and many were cured of their Diseases and Distempers and many were not from thence at the entreaty of the Mayor and Aldermen of the City of Worcester I went thither where I met with several high Distempers and Diseases many whereof I bless God were cured resolving to stay four or five days with them but in the interim I received an Order from the Lord Arlington by command of his Majesty to come to White-Hall which I forthwith observed being glad to be freed from so great crowds as were at Worcester where I was like to be bruised to death resolving within three or four days to return to my Lord Conways again but by the entreaties of Justice Godfrey and others my honoured and worthy riend I was persuaded to stay in these parts daily doing what good the Lord enabled me till I met with your Honour whose Judgement and Wisdom was so great that you would not credit or distrust matters of fact on bare report and were therefore pleased several times at the place where I used to be in Lincolns-Inn-fields and elsewhere to be an eye witness of what was done and to bring several other learned and worthy Persons with you that they might also bear testimony to the truth of what appeared and to encourage me to give this account to the world and to take Testimonials of such remarkable Cures as I could remember were done since I came to London and in the presence of men of Note which Circumstance I therefore mention to you that it may not be imagined that this is an account of all the Distempers I have been instrumental in curing since I have omitted all those at which it did not happen that eminent persons were present and willing to attest them and all those other Cures which had been already performed in several other places divers of which were so extraordinary that if it be desired I may hereafter give you an account of them apart Which Testimonials I herewith present unto you but what was done before your coming to London I can give little account of it not being my custom to ask any man's name or the place from whence he came or whither he goes till within this Month or five weeks by which the matter of Fact I hope will be so clear in itself that I need not use any further arguments to gain belief in the Reader I shall not here make use of any Cure done elsewhere or of any common or trivial one or of more than what I conceive will be sufficient to evidence Truth to God's glory and the satisfaction of all good men and when this is done God-willing I will retire to my own home and Family Now whether I have done my duty as a Christian in employing that Talon which God had entrusted me withal to the good of People distressed and afflicted or no judge you and every good man Thus far I appeal to the world whether I have taken rewards deluded or deceived any man and whether I have not made it my constant practice when any came that I judged was incurable to desire them to repair to their own home and not put themselves to further expense and trouble God to whom I appeal desiring him still to shield me with his mercy and to keep me humble and faithful knows what injuries and reproaches I have suffered what labours and dangers I have undergone and what losses and crosses I have sustained for his name's sake and the good of others All that I will say is I pray God forgive my Enemies and make me never weary of well-doing let the world judge and say what they please that I may be found a faithful Steward when I come to give up my last account This is a brief and faithful account of his life and carriage who though he have not now leisure and privacy to enlarge nor answer all the Queries you made me in the Paper you put a while since into my hands may yet hereafter find opportunity to give you satisfaction about those of them that are not already in this Paper taken notice of by SIR London May 8. 1666. Your faithful Honourer and humble Servant Val. Greatrak's TESTIMONIALS April 26. 1666. Mr boil's Sir W. Smith's Dr. Denton's and Dr. Faireclough's Testimony Arm Kelly of Shalin gate in the Parish of Old Windsor 21 years old hath had the Dead Palsy 14 years on the right side not able to go nor to lift her hand to her head She was first touched by Mr. Greatrak's the beginning of April 1666. who found ease the first day she was touched and so got strength more and more every day and now being the 26th of April 66. she goes well without help of any stick and hath very good use of her right Arm heretofore useless only she goes as if her right Leg were somewhat shorter than the left Examined 26 Apr. 66. by Robert boil W. Smith Gul. Denton M. D. Ja. Faireclough M. D. Mr. boil's Dr. Denton's and Dr. Faireclough's Testimony LEwis Bonivent aged 27 years upon a cold taken after Childbirth about a month before Michaelmas last fell into a lameness in her shoulders arms knees and hands with a violent pain in her stomach head and ears Upon the first stroking by Mr. Greatrak's which was about 3 weeks since she could lift her hands to her head which she could not do before upon the second stroking she recovered her knees of which she had no use as to going before but went upon all four and upon the third stroking which was in our presence she could go without rocking or waving and feels herself well at this present Examined 26 Apr. 66. By Robert boil Gul. Denton M. D. Ja. Faireclough M. D. Mr. boil's Sir William Smith's Dr. Denton's and Dr. Faireclough's Testimony ELenor Dickinson aged 45 years had a Dropsy 12 years in her belly only without any tumour in her Legs but with a drought was stroked by Mr. Greatrak's about 16 days since at 7. a clock at night and drank at the same time about 6 spoonfuls of his water and rubbed some of it on her body which she did of her own accord the same night she felt a queasiness in her stomach and about midnight she felt a rumbling in her belly and stomach and broke great store of wind per annum & per partem domesticam and then she made water in very great quantity as 4 5 or 6 gallons in 24 hours and continued making water though in lesser quantity so that at this present day the skin of her belly is as empty as a glove or purse and wraps over and hath no drought and her belly quite down Examined 26 Apr. 66. By Robert boil W. Smith Baronet W. Denton M. D. Ja. Faireclough M. D. Elinor Dickinson's Certificate ELenor Dickinson of Clarkenwell Widow aged 45 years or thereabouts having been troubled with an exceeding Timpany in her Belly for the space of 12 years past and used all means possible for her health insomuch that the prosecution thereof cost her above 60 l. but altogether ineffectual The 16th of this instant April she came into Lincolns-Inne-Fields the place where Mr. Valentine Greatrak's used to lay his hands on the diseased but not being able to come near him by reason of the throng she snatched some of his urine and drank it some of which she also put into her ears which were so stopped she could not hear and immediately she heard the noise of the people all round about her Then going home some hours after the same urine began to work in her belly and she voided near upon 4 gallons of water with a great quantity of wind at her privy parts and her belly which was before 2 yards in compass doth not now exceed 3 quarters of a yard She likewise saith that at the same time she vomited out of her mouth several pieces of thick skin drawn over with blue veins like to a fresh bladder so that now she confesses herself to be perfectly cured and hath ascertained this as a Truth under her own hand April 21. 1666. Elinor Dickinson In the presence of us who saw her Timpanied belly and afterwards saw her perfectly well Albertus Otto Faber M. D. M. R. Ja. Faireclough Med. Tho. Pooley M. A. Note The 19th day she came again to Mr. Gratrak's and was by him stroked on the belly which he then found lank and lose like an empty purse and being in the like manner stroked this 21. instant she continues perfectly well Note also That she was twice stroked by Mr. Greatrak's before the 16. day viz. on the 12. and 14. days of the said month of April Mr. boil's Dr. Faireclough's Mr. Williams' and Mr. Coxe's Certificate Arm the Wife of Thomas Field a Pastry Cook in Woodstreet aged 28. afflicted with a violent Headache for five years a blindness in both her eyes insomuch that she was not able to distinguish one person from another at four yard's distance after three or four times stroking was perfectly freed of her pain in her head and her eyes so amended that she can now read a small Print After the first stroking of her head by Mr. Greatrak's the pain immediately descended into her neck and shoulders together with an hard swelling both which continued for 14 days then being stroked the pain and swelling both descended into her Legs where it continued for 6 days after which being stroked in those parts the pains and swelling ceased Attested by herself 12. April 1666. Anne Field In presence of Ro. boil Ja. Faireclough M. D. Tho. Williams Daniel Cox Walter Dolle's Certificate attested by Mr. boil 25. April 1666. WAlter Dolle the Son of Walter Dolle Goldbeater at the Hand and Hammer in Pie-corner now servant to William Faithorn Engraver aged 19 years was totally deprived of the use of his right hand leg and side for the space of ten Months insomuch that he had no more motion on that side than a dead Carcase and had always two persons to help him to bed and from bed and always some to help him when he eat and had natural evacuations for whom his Father had been at much cost in Medicines and upon divers eminent Physicians but without the least help or hope of amendment Until at length he applied himself to Mr. Valentine Greatrak's when he was brought to him in a Coach and betwixt two persons into Justice Godfrey's house where he was first stroked and was thereby enabled to walk alone immediately which is about six weeks ago and since that time has grown daily in strength and vigour and is now able to walk 2 or 3 miles without resting or any manner of help and gins to draw again in the way of his Master's Trade having been 5 or 6 times stroked by the said Mr. Greatrak's Attested by himself and his Father this day and year above written Walter Dolle signior Walter Dolle junior In presence of Ro. boil Ja. Faireclough M. D. William Yates Mr. boil's and Dr. Faireclough's Testimony RObert Furnace a Mettleman in Clarkenwell Parish lame for 8 years had been thrice in St. Bartholomews' Hospital for eleven weeks at one time and nine or ten weeks a second time and for a month the last time without benefit being in great pain in his hips and thighs legs and feet was stroked by Mr. Greatrak's April 3. 1666. and found present ease in his hip upon the first touch of Mr. Greatrak's hand wherewith the said Furnace's pain was driven downward from place to place without much grievance until it came to his foot but when the pain was only in his foot it was then most intolerable in it which being gently stroked he was quite freed from all pain and walked without his Crutches which he could not have done for seven years before Attested by himself this sixth day of April 1666. Robert Furnace In presence of Ro. boil Ja. Faireclough M. D. Mr. Hawtrey's Certificate attested by Mr. boil JOhn Hawtrey of the Town of Burnham in the County of Bucks being troubled with the Kings-Evil in his lips and nose for the space of two years was being thrice touched by Mr. Valentine Greatrak's after the humour had broken out something in the affected place perfectly cured Which is affirmed to be true in his own writing John Hawtrey Written and attested before us Ro. boil Ja. Faireclough M. D. John Hawtrey Sir William smith's Letter to Dr. Faireclough April 6. 1666. SIR ACcording to your desire I thought fit to give you an account of Cures which upon my own knowledge I know to have been done by Mr. Valentine Greatrak's One Thomas Burt a day Labourer who lives in the same Parish with me at Radcliff in the County of Bucks was the beginning of Feb. last sent by me into Kent to do some work for me there and got an Ague which held him very violently for many hours every fit and likewise fell into his thigh and knee and did very much swell in his knee and put him to very great pain so that he was forced to leave his work and came to my house in Lincoln-Inn-fields where he had his Ague as before and the swelling of his knee I saw which was very great and made him so lame that he could scarce go I got Mr. Godfrey to procure him to be stroked by the said Mr. Greatrak's on Thursday the sixth of March in the morning and he came to my house at noon and shown me his knee and the swelling was gone and so was all his pain and lameness and he had no more fits of his Ague he is gone to his work again and hath continued well ever since A servant of mine own William But who likewise got an Ague at the same place in Kent was cured by him without taking any thing for it and continues well A servant of mine one Mary Dimmack who nursed my eldest Son hath had a sore leg almost these 8 years which the Surgeons said was a Cancer but she could have no help for it either from Surgeons or Physicians but it grew worse and worse by stroking it four or five times it is in a manner healed and I am confident in a short time will be perfectly healed I have likewise been present when I have seen him do very many great Cures and namely pains in the head I have seen him drive out of the body and cure divers of the Sciatica who as they said themselves had many years been lame with it and one who came with crutches and went away without them Sir Your humble Servant W. Smith Sir William Smith's and Sir Nathaniel Hobart's Certificate April 24. 1666. JOseph Warden an able Seaman belonging to the Royal Charles aged 45 years labouring with violent pains in his hip ham and ankle contracted with carrying out and wading in water was sent the day abovesaid by Doctor Micklethwait to Mr. Greatrak's out of S. Bartholomew's Hospital where he had been for some time without success and had his pains removed by the said Mr. Greatrak's stroking first out of his hip then down his thigh and leg until he had driven it quite out of his toes Insomuch as he who came on his crutches walked up and down very lustily without them and so departed resolving speedily to return to his Ship Also William Level a Cook at the Cock in Leaden-hall-street aged 24 years troubled with a grievous pain in his hip especially when he walked and a very great pain in his knee when he sat down sent from the said Doctor out of the said Hospital where he had been a Patient for ten months had his pains likewise driven downwards from his hip out of his toes so that he confessed himself to be in perfect ease Lastly Francis Steel aged 63 years sent from the said Doctor and Hospital where he had continued about three weeks had been disabled for 6 months to put on his  or to put his hands to his head and sore pained and weakened in his knees so that he could not walk nor rise up when he was sat down without help had the perfect use of his arms restored and could and did rise and walk without pain help or difficulty before us W. Smith Baronet Na. Hobart Knight Master of the Chancery Ja. Faireclough M. D. Sir John Godolphin's Testimony Arm Robinson Servant to Major Wilmott next door to the Hand and Pen in Aldersgate-street troubled with a Pthysick for the space of six years was stroked 21 April 1666. and the pain removed out of her stomach into her left side thence at a second stroking it removed into her thighs and legs and lastly into her right foot and toes whereinto her eyes being covered a pin was thrust divers times without her feeling or being sensible of it until her foot and toes were stroked but then she immediately started at the first touch of the pin and she declared her pains were gone as well out of her foot and toes as out of all other parts In presence of J. Godolphin Knight Alb. O. Faber Med. George Weldon J. Faireclough M. D. Ed. Sleigh John de Bruy Note That no blood issued upon the pricking of this woman's toes nor of diverse others who have been pricked in the like case before me J. Faireclough M. D. Colonel Weldon's Certificate THese are to certify That I have several times had someinspection into several Cures that have been done by the hands of Mr. Valentine Greatrak's which I cannot attribute to proceed but from some extraordinary Power Myself having observed very much his life and conversation and by my Enquiry of several others who were formerly acquainted with him I could never hear him justly impeached of any unhandsome carriage in his deportment I having examined several persons before they came under his hands what their Infirmities were and how long they had been troubled with their griefs who have answered me some a year some more some less and after he had done with them I examined what benefit they had received who answered very much for before some could not go nor move their hands to their heads but after he had done with them they could do both myself having been a Spectator of several of those passages Besides I cannot but testify some experience of my own self by whom I am satisfied I did receive a very great benefit I having a very great Fit of the Stone I having not risen out of my bed two hours but a violent Fit of the Stone seized on me insomuch that I could not stand on my feet nor make water and was going into my bed again and in less than half a quarter of an hour after he had touched me I did void a very great lump of gravel besides several smaller parcels after which I did make water very freely and was very well and have so continued ever since In witness whereof I have set my hand George Weldon Alderman Knight's Certificate GRace the Daughter of Alderman William Knight of London aged nine years or near thereunto after she had had the Small Pox and Measles continued troubled with a Flux of Rheum in her left eye for the space of five years or upwards insomuch that it grew less than the other in the apprehension of her Parents who thereby much afflicted used all lawful means for her help and relief but all in vain until she was brought to Mr. Greatrak's who divers times applied his hand and spittle to her eye by which means the flux of Rheum has been perfectly stayed for the space of three week's last passed and her Eye at present is very well and 't is hoped will so continue This is believed to be truth By William Knight Attested by Alderman Knight Father of the said Child In presence of Ja. Faireclough M. D. John Cresset Sir Charles Does Sons Letter to Dr. Faireclough SIR WHereas you desire to know what effect Mr. Greatrak's hand had on me this may satisfy you that the Headache which I laboured under 3 or 4 years and used what means the Physicians prescribed though unsuccessfully which oftentimes was very violent was cured by the laying on of Mr. Greatrak's hand in the manner following viz. about the beginning of March last hearing that Mr. Greatrak's was at my Lord Mayor's house I repaired thither unto him and desired him having the Headache violently then on me that he would be pleased to use his endeavours to cure me whereupon he demanded of me in what part of my head the pain lay which I shown him and thereupon he laid his hand upon the place affected and immediately I found the pain remove to another place of my head which I also directed him to who pursued it till it went out of my head and so following it from place to place laying his hands on that place of my body whither my pain did remove till he drove it into my foot where it was very painful to me till at length he chased it out at my toe I not putting off my stocking Which he did at two several times the pain as I conceive being divided whereupon I forthwith found myself freed from all manner of pain both in head and body and have so continued ever since blessed be God in perfect health And not only was I freed from the aforesaid pain of the head but also from a constant bleeding which continually attended it whereas I did use to bleed every day or every other day at least which bleeding I am very little troubled with This is that Sir which I affirm to be true who am Your humble Servant John Do May 9 1666. Sir Abraham Cullen's Mr. Rushout's and Captain Owen's Testimonies WE do certify in behalf of Mr. Valentine Greatrak's that we saw a great Cure wrought by him upon the body of one William Jones inhabiting in the Parish of Mortlack where we also reside he having been very much bruised by reason whereof he was in great danger of his life but by the prevalency of Mr. Greatrak's stroking and the blessing of God thereon was perfectly removed and drove out at his toes after many removals from place to place the said Jones continues in perfect health it being three weeks since the said person was cured and this we affirm under our hands this 9 day of April 1666. Abraham Cullen Bar. William Rushout John Owen Sir Abraham Cullen's Mr. Rushout's and Captain Owen's Testimony WE do further certify that we heard Dorothy Wardant affirm that she was for twelve years' last passed very much troubled with a great pain in her side as also a violent pain in her head she likewise had at the same time an Ague that held her about three weeks all which Mr. Valentine Greatrak's his stroking of her cured and from that time has not felt any of her former infirmities it being 3 weeks since she was stroked which caused such violent motions when the pains flew from place to place that the raged Dorothy swooned away Given under our hands April 9 1666 Abraham Cullen Bar. William Rushout John Owen Edwin Brewns Dr. Wilkin's and Mr. Sankey's Certificate I Do hereby certify whom it may concern that I have been present at the stroking of Mr. Valentine Greatrak's on the 17. 19 and 24. days of this present April 1666. At each of which times I found several persons about him who professed to have received great benefit by his hand both as to the cure of swelling Ulcers Epilepsies driving away of pains etc. And I myself did at each of these times see several cures wrought by him which to me did seem very strange and extraordinary As particularly that which was performed on the 17. day on a woman about 30 years of age who according to her own relation had some weeks before been cured by Mr. Greatrak's of the falling-sickness and did now come to him to be stroked for a pain in her head upon his putting of his hand on her forehead she said that her pain did forthwith remove to her shoulders upon the laying of his hand on the  of her shoulder she said it slipped into her arm and so at another move into her hand from whence being by his touch driven into her fingers which thereupon grew cold and stiff I took her fingers between my hands endeavouring by friction to recover them to some warmth and limberness and having continued this friction for some while I let her hand go and would have persuaded her that she was cured but she replied that the pain still continued upon her to which Mr. Greatrak's added that the upper joints of her fingers into which he had driven the cause of her pain were dead and that if she were wounded in them she would neither feel it nor would any blood come for the trial of which having first several times pinched the pulp of her fingers betwixt my nails with great violence I did several times thrust in a pin near the bone but the woman was not sensible of either neither did any blood come but upon two or three slight strokes of his hand she professed to be eased of her pain and her fingers to be restored to their wont temper and then being but gently pricked with a pin she was sensible of it and the blood followed upon it This I can truly and do willingly testify John Wilkins D. D. What is here certified by that worthy Doctor Wilkins I was present at it and as carefully as I could observed the same things and do therefore subscribe the same Testimony C. Sankey Dr. Whichcot's Certificate SIR WHereas you desire some account of Mr. Greatrak's I make this return I have seen and been present at Aulcest●r and Ragly in  and since in London when and where Mr. Valentine Greatrak's hath relieved and restored very many persons miserably afflicted with several distempers particularly the Evil the Falling-sickness Convulsions Palsy Sores and Ulcers Aches and Pains Deafness Dimness of sight Lameness and Feebleness of limbs and other great Evils so as that the parties afflicted have freely and abundantly expressed and declared that they found themselves much better than they were before eased of their aches and pains and restored to the use of their limbs and senses whereas they had been disabled or deprived for many years before I have been present when sundry persons thus helped and relieved have with an abundance of joy and cheerfulness given God thanks for the great benefit they had received by means of Mr. Greatrak's I have been in company of persons of good understanding and credit who have of their own accord declared and testified that they themselves have been eye-witnesses of the like good effects 'T is true he doth not cure such in whom Nature is spent or where the parts or principles of nature altogether are defective to whom at first coming to him he doth commonly declare that he cannot help them Some others at the first or second application to him he doth not help who afterwards are restored at their oftener coming to him And as concerning the way of his curing maladies I have very diligently observed him but did never perceive him to use any form of words nor saw him do any thing in my judgement liable to any suspicion of any ill art or device And for his conversation I have been much in his company for the time of his being in England and I never saw any ill behaviour or unseemly carriage in him nor any intemperance disorder or excess I have great cause from mine own observation to esteem him a sober and well-governed person affable civil and courteous in his converse and for his temper in Religion he is not so far as I could discern of any fond persuasion or vain conceit in matter of Religion but a devout acknowledger of God and of Jesus Christ in whose name alone and by whose power he professeth upon all occasions to act He declares himself a Protestant and an hearty lover of the Reformed Religion and professeth to worship God according of the Rules and Principles thereof and to live in the obedience of and communion with the Church of England I believe him to be of an unexceptionable and unblamable conversation through the experience I have had of him And for my own particular he hath been to me an happy instrument of God to relieve and ease me of a very dangerous and painful malady which for many years had greatly disabled and sorely afflicted me for which before my coming to him I could have no remedy but notwithstanding the use of all means I could hear of which all proved unsuccessful I was wholly left in despair of ever obtaining a Cure yet I neglected not the advice of persons of art and skill But now by his means and his often application of his hand and spittle I am rid of all the pain and inflammation of the part disaffected and the tumour fungous and superfluous flesh formerly very grievous to me is greatly abated and decreaseth more and more daily so that I am in very great hope that in a little more time by his means it will wholly waste away and consume as the greater part since his touching already is through God's mercy for which I give hearty thanks to the Divine goodness This I account myself bound in acknowledgement of God as principal and of doing right to Mr. Greatrak's as his instrument to testify and declare and in witness whereof I subscribe my name April 3. 1666. Benjamin Whichcot D. D. Dr. Cudworth's Certificate SIR I Can certify you that the tumors in my little Son Charles his breast are very happily cured by Mr. Greatrak's who opened the same and let out the corrupt matter and since the sores are healed and the wounds dried up April 18. 1666. ● Cudworth D. D. Dean Rust's Certificate BEing desired to give my testimony of Mr. Greatrak's and his Cures I do hereby certify That I have with some curiosity been an observer of him and his operations and I take him to be a person of an honest and upright mind a free and open spirit a cheerful and agreeable humour an inoffensive conversation of large and generous principles and that carries on no design of faction or interest I have been an eye-witness of many hundreds that have come under his hands especially during his being at my Lord Conway's for three weeks or a month together and I must profess myself convinced however it be whether from an immediate gift or a peculiarity of complexion that he has a virtue more than ordinary for though I have seen him touch many with little or no success yet it must not be denied but that I have seen too in very many instances by his spittle and the touch or stroking of his hand humours put into odd and violent fermentations pains strangely fly before him till he has chased them out at some of the extreme parts of the body the Kings-evil in a few days wonderfully dried up knobs or kernels brought to a suppuration tumors ripened ulcerous sores skinned and amended hard swell in women's breasts abated cold and senseless limbs restored to heat and life scabs all over the body which have been for many years and counted incurable deadened and dried up many people relieved in cases of deafness lameness dimness of sight twenty several persons in Fits of the Falling-sickness or Convulsions or Hysterical Passions for I am not wise enough to distinguish them upon the laying his hand upon their breasts often upon the top of their  within a few minutes brought to their senses so as to be able to tell where their pain lay which he has followed till he has pursued it out of the body I can say little to the permanency of his Cures many I believe do continue firm but several of those of the Falling-sickness I heard had relapsed afore I left the Country but after much longer intervals than they were wont to enjoy There was a poor woman at Aulcester that I sent to speak with at my coming away who had been troubled with these Fits ever since she was 13 years old and I take her to be now betwixt fifty and threescore and for some years passed there was scarce a day that she had been free from them and she was inclined to them to that degree that coming near any hot meat would bring her Fit upon her Mr. Greatrak's brought her out of her Fit and she had then continued well by the space of 3 weeks and could eat or dress hot meat without any disturbance what has since become of her I can give no account The Forms of wordshe uses are God Almighty heal thee for his mercy sake or for Jesus sake and if they profess to receive any benefit he bids them give God the praise and that so far as I can judge with a sincere devotion This is in short the matter of fact which is testified to be true by me March 28. 1666. Geo. Rust D. D. & Dean of Connor Mr. Patrick's Certificate HAving been present sundry times when great numbers of people resorted to Mr. Valentine Greatrak's and beheld many wonderful Cures done by his hand I could not refuse his desire that I would in writing declare something of what I have seen and therefore do certify as followeth I was by when he stroked a Servant of Mr. Faithornes an excellent Engraver near Temple-Bar who had been lame a twelvemonth by a dead Palsy on the right side After the second stroking he was able to go about the room with the help of a stick and in a little time grew to such strength that he now can work at his Trade again The Wife of Samuel Smith of Newbury has been afflicted with a violent pain in her back and hip seven years which made her so lame that she could not stir without some torment and by the continuance of it her life was become as she said a burden to her By gentle stroking he brought it down to her foot and in a few minutes renewing his stroking in those places where she said any pain was remaining drove it quite away so that she could go without her staff as fast as any of us there present I have seen her several times since and she continued in the same strength only coming to him sometimes to confirm it to her and to remove some small grudge which she had of it before she went into the Country There was also a little after a well known Artist in this Town who desired his help having lain in intolerable pains as himself told me for the space of eleven months I saw him struck his arm and thigh and leg whither he pursued the pain till he chased it out at his foot and the Patient said he was perfectly free I hear indeed since that his pain is returned but I have good reason to conclude that if he had applied himself again to the same hand which eased him before he might have received a greater benefit For I know one whom he gave relief unto that had been long tormented in that fashion but within a day or two was in such pain that she could not stir in her bed and judged herself worse than ever Upon my desire that he would go again to her for she could not come to him he went and after a few gentle strokings freed her so perfectly from her pains that for a considerable time after she felt none at all and I hope still remains at ease These are but a few of those Instances which I could give of this nature To which if I should add what I have seen him do in the case of Deafness of the Evil Fits of the Mother Wind and such like it would be enough to fill a Volume And yet I have not seen half so many Cures as other Persons of unspotted credit have done who had the leisure and opportunity to be more frequently with him I never yet met with any who would have the patience diligently to attend him for a few hours who came away unsatisfied about the reality of such things as are reported Nay some persons not too forward of belief have been convinced in a few minutes a small acquaintance and short converse with him would also soon satisfy those who doubt that he is a man of no designs for he appears to me of too free an humour and open disposition to be able to conceal and disguise himself There is nothing of reservedness to be seen in his temper I could never discover any thing that looks like craft and subtlety in him He seems to be of a singular good nature and to be void of all covetousness pride or hatred of others His charity and good will to mankind seems to be great and to be the only thing that moves him to engage himself in such perpetual labours I never heard him speak any words unbecoming a Christian He professes all loyalty to his Prince due reverence to his spiritual Governors and to be of the Reformed Religion as it is here by Law established All which considered me thinks he merits much respect and if this Testimony of mine may do him any service I shall be very glad of it because of the obligation I have to him for a Cure done upon myself April 14. 1666. Simon Patrick Rector of St. Paul's Church Covent-Garden Sir William Smith's Mr. Windham's and Dr. Evan's Testimony April 3. 1666. RObert Furnace of Clerkenwel had a Sciatica in both hips for the space of 8 years as upon examination he affirmed upon Mr. Greatrak's stroking the parts affected the distemper went out at his toes so that he walked away without a stick who came into the room with Crutches The same day Elizabeth Sharp of Dowgate in Thames-street who had a pain in one of her legs for near 12 years so that she could not lift her leg from the ground upon the same persons stroking of it she could not only lift it from the ground but also walk upon it W. Smith Tho. Windham Geo. Evans D. D. Dr. Whichcot's and Dr. Cudworth's Testimony April the 3 1666. ELizabeth Bis Thomas of Petty-France in Westminster having been troubled two years with a violent pain from her head down her back by stroking had it removed downwards till at last it was driven out at her Toes Done the 3d of April in the sight of us being present Benjamin Whichcot D. D. R. Cudworth D. D. Dr. Whichcot and Dr. Evans Testimony RObert Topless of Ellison in Stafford-shire having had the Kings-Evil in his face in 2 places as big as two eggs in 3 day's space was suppurated and by Mr. Valentine Greatrak's had all the corruption and the roots taken out and was made perfectly well In presence of R. Cudworth Benjamin Whichcot D. D. Geo. Evans D. D. Marry Jackson of Woodstreet was cured of an Imposthume above her eye the corrupt matter being pressed out B. Whichcot D. D. Two Certificates from the Countess of Devonshire's April 30. 1666. I Having been an Eye-witness of several very wonderful Cures performed by Mr. Greatrak's and being desired to give under my hand what I know of them I do affirm That the Right Honourable the Countess of Devonshire's chief Cook a man of about 55 years of Age having been of a long time troubled with the Sciatica was gently stroked by Mr. Greatraks' hand and hath ever since continued very well it being now almost 2 months since I likewise saw a woman living in Roehampton who had a great Wen over her Eye which by a mischance she had gotten above fourteen years since only by having it lanced and the corruption twice pressed forth by Mr. Greatrak's was perfectly cured by him without the use of any Plaster or other Chirurgical remedy I likewise saw a Man in the same Town who had an ordinary Tertian Ague about three Quarters of a year which afterwards turned into a Quartane and had hung upon him almost half a year This person I saw stroked who went immediately home very well and hath ever since so continued I likewise saw a Gentlewoman in the Countess' Family immediately cured of a violent Fit of the Toothache and one of her Ladyship's Gardeners who had for some years a Cancer in his Nose and for the curing of which he had without success consulted several Physicians so much amended since the application of Mr. Greatraks' hand that himself does not doubt of a perfect recovery To those who find benefit from him he only bids them Be thankful to God to whom alone belongs the Glory This I have been an Eye-witness of and therefore do attest it under my hand Walter Stonehouse Gentleman of the Horse to the Countess of Devon I Do also hereby attest the truth of this Testimonial of Mr. Stonehouse having been an Eye-witness of the said particulars therein specified And also I do further aver That I was present at Mortlack where I saw at Capt. Owen's house Mr. Greatrak's lay his hand upon several persons for divers Diseases who were strangely cured of several Distempers which they laboured under several years particularly Walter Jones his Son of Mortlack aforesaid who was sorely bruised brought in between two men and upon his laying on of his hands the said Welter's pains run from place to place till they were forced out at his Toes and immediately he acknowledged himself well and went away without any help and voided many clots of blood by stool and out of his mouth and also blood by urine whereby he continues perfectly well to this instant being about 5 weeks since Also I saw a young man of Lambeth who was for four years exceeding ill by a violent pain in his head which pain Mr. Greatrak's driven out of his head into his body where he drove it on the outside of his  from place to place till he drove it into his feet and so out at his toes The truth hereof and of several other things which I might instance I do hereby testify under my hand this thirtieth day of April 1666. Richard Mulys Auditor to the Right Honourable the Countess Dowager of Devon Mr. Barcock's Certificate BEnjamin Barcock Son of Mr. Edmund Barcock of the Parish of S. Bennet Fynck London was ever since Michaelmas 1664. affected daily by several Fits with tormenting gripe in the bottom of his Belly and in the small of his Back and a continual pain in his Stomach for which he had taken much Physic and changed Air but without any benefit at all Being five several times stroked by Mr. Greatrak's mended sensibly upon the first stroking and every time better and better and since the last stroking hath not been sensible of any pain And Mr. Edmund Barcock the Father of the said Youngman having had a great deafness in his left Ear for twenty years being touched and rubbed but one time had the hearing of that Ear restored to him to the great comfort of his Life April 1. 1666. This is testified by me Edmund Barcock We whose Names are subscribed were present when this was dictated by Mr. Edm. Barcock and subscribed Ben. Whichcot D. D. R. Cudworth D. D. Jane Deans Certificate JAne Deane of Swallowfield in the County of Berks aged 18 years or thereabouts saith That for the space of four years last passed she hath been exceeding lame in her right foot and for recovery thereof applied herself to several Bone-setters and Surgeons but never received the least benefit by any of them rather growing worse than better under their hands insomuch that for this last year her lameness so much increased upon her that she being altogether unable to go was forced to creep on her knees and hands from place to place until Saturday last being the 21. of this instant April at which time she came to Mr. Valentine Greatrak's and was by him stroked on the part grieved and found some ease immediately thereby But coming again to him this day the 24th she was by him in like manner stroked as before and blessed be God doth find herself able and accordingly did walk up and down the room in the presence of a great company at Sir William Smith's in Lincolns-Inne-Fields The truth whereof she attesteth under her own hand the day and year abovesaid In the presence of Jane Deane John Wilkins D. D. and others Dr. Fairecloughs Letter to Sir William Smith Baronet Honoured Sir SInce I had the favour of your Letter I have been called upon & imortuned by divers friends and persons of quality inhabiting several parts of the Nation to inform myself and give them some accounts concerning Mr. Greatrak's and his attempts of curing Diseases I shall now take the liberty according to promise to give you in gross what others have received from me by piecemeal and by the way I beg leave to acquaint you that whilst I was making superficial inquiries after him and before I had ever seen the Gentleman's face a virtuous Lady sometime my Patient came to Town on purpose to implore his help and calling of me would not be satisfied until I had suffered myself to be prevailed with to accompany her to Colonel Weldons where Mr. Greatrak's then was who at first sight very frankly declared himself to be cheerfully willing to gratify all Doctors in their Requests and thereupon though he had been at hard labour most part of the day and had sufficient cause as the Bystanders said to be throughly wearied he bestowed a full half hour on this infirm Lady gently rubbing her head neck arms and back her benumbed leg and foot as I had before directed him the Lady's woman and another assisting to put off her  and to put them on which when he had done he ingenuously told me and the Gentleman that attended the Lady that he conceived himself unable to do her any considerable good Dead Palsies on the left side seldom giving place to or being helped by the application of his hands but if she pleased to come to him he would freely afford her his pains which he did once or twice afterwards to the great and only satisfaction of her mind the success as to her body hitherto complying with his prediction Notwithstanding I must needs confess I then observed strange things performed by him enough to puzzle a stronger head-piece than mine though not to satisfy my Curiosity which being pushed on by the Contents of your Letter and eagerly hurried with an earnest desire of seeing as you had done Agues cured with easy frictions hath ever since induced me to improve all my leisure in observing Mr. Greatrak's his Cures or Operations the like whereof 't is presumed will hardly be found in any Author I have lately spoken with Mr. Butts one of those servants you mention who had the good fortune to lose their Kentish Agues by the contact and stroking of this wondrous man's hand he tells me his fellow-servant continues at work in your Saltern in Kent that both of them have stood sound these two months their Agues never attempting to recoil upon them I have also had conference with divers eminent and worthy Divines inferior to few for parts piety and learning who acknowledge and affirm themselves to have received help and cure from his hand and spittle of such distempers in their own bodies as had eluded the most exquisite methods of Physic and the best remedies that could be prescribed or administered to them in their particular cases by the most skilful and experienced Artists I minded very heedfully his comportment towards the Lady that first brought me to him and likewise towards many others since that time and have always observed it to be very comely grave and dispassionate I could not perceive nor learn from others that he used any form of words either immediately before or during the time he lays his hands on any person but when he hath done 't is familiar with him his hands and eyes lift upwards to repeat the Ejaculation mentioned by Dean Rust varied now and then a little viz. God Almighty heal or help or strengthen you or thee for Jesus sake or his mercy's sake and to those who thankfully tell him they find ease or benefit he always replies The Lords name be praised or give God the praise It is agreed by all who have had opportunities of frequent converse with him that he appears to be a man of a free generous and open temper courteous and debonair without any thing of affectation or reservedness of singular patience and tender-heartedness towards all persons in pain or trouble and one who declares himself in word and deed to be a truly loyal Subject to his Prince and an hearty lover of those in present service at Sea or Land as hath been often manifested by his preferring Seamen and Soldiers who applied themselves to him for help and ease of their aches pains and lameness to others of much higher rank and quality and indeed I saw not one of these poor persons who had been rendered useless for present service through their pains contracted by heats and colds but went away after stroking very well pleased with a professed enjoyment of present ease and resolution of repairing speedily to the respective Ship or Colours whereunto he did belong I shall only instance in Joseph Warden a stout Seaman belonging to the Royal Charles who was sent on Crutches as you may remember from St. Bartholomews' Hospital to Mr. Greatrak's then in Chancery-lane and complained not so much of his pains though those he affirmed to be very grievous in his hip thigh ham and ankle as that he who had been in all former engagements against the Dutch should now be disabled if I may use his own words to have the other warm Bout with them upon which I need not tell you being there present with what alacrity and heartiness Mr. Greatrak's stroked him I think thrice over from his hip downwards until all his pains were driven out at his toes ends and the man walked lustily to and fro in the Garden professing his apprehensions of being able to do so for 10 miles and carried those Crutches one while in his hand another while triumphingly upon his shoulders which had been his supporters thither I might add hereunto some Soldiers names who came from the Tower and out of the Guards as well as the Gunner Benjamin Huskins and Ship-Carpenters and others who for lameness deafness and other infirmities have received benefit by his hand Robert Furnace the noted Tinker of Clerkenwel his Cure is talked of all over the Town the Crutches on which he came to Mr. Greatrak's and he had not been able to walk without Crutches for 8 years' last past' he brought in his hand and presented to me after he had been stroked three or four times and found himself thereby enabled to walk without them I may not here omit to acquaint you that the Honourable Mr. boil being sometime present when this poor man was under Mr. Greatrak's hands by the application whereof his pains being dislodged out of his hip and driven downwards to his knee that noble person descended to stroke the Tinker's knee leg and foot with the inside of Mr. Greatrak's glove and so proceeded to pursue his pains from place to place until they fled quite out at the ends of his Toes Margery the Wife of the above named Tinker by the application of Mr. Greatrak's hand to her breast sides and bowels was freed from an Ague which flew as she said first to her throat next out at her mouth making her tongue and lips extraordinary cold in its passage which were observed to be so by some other persons as well as myself I have felt the tongues of divers others wonderfully cold when their Ptysicks or other pains have given place to his hand and passed away out at their mouths John Hayes Servant to Doctor Worley troubled for many years with stoppage of stomach and shortness of breathing being stroked upon his breast and stomach voided wind upwards in abundance insomuch as he feared to be choked with the violence of it but when that belching ceased and his tongue which was then as cold as ice had been touched by one of Mr. Greatrak's fingers he professed himself to be very well and freed as he conceived of his former distempers Anne Rose a Widow in the Minories troubled with a headache for twenty years so grievous for the most part by her relation as no tongue was able to express it whereby her life was become a burden to her upon Mr. Greatrak's his laying his hand on her head and gently rubbing it the pains removed thence into her breast and stomach and made her wondrous faint and sick but those parts being stroked she was immediately put into a tedious fit of belching which continued the space of an hour or upwards and that being over she expressed herself to find more ease than she had done of 20 years before and that she was then void of all pain to her unspeakable joy and comfort It would be endless to reckon up what I have seen in this kind and hold it more adviseable to break off here than to proceed in giving you a further trouble Colonel Henry Sibthorp aged seventy and eight years or thereabouts so deaf that his Servants and others were forced to shout to him had the hearing of one ear so perfectly restored that he could hear any low word or sound by the only application of Mr. Greatrak's hand to his head and putting his fingers into the old Gentleman's ears wherein I instance the like happening daily to younger persons I had the honour to be present at the experiment made by the Right Honourable the Lord Viscount Falconbridge upon John Jacomb of George-Alley in Southwark whose exquisite and continual pains by the gentle touch and easy friction of Mr. Greatrak's hand were alured out of his arm and shoulder to the extreme joints and ends of his fingers which became thereby as the man affirmed devoid of sense benumbed and deadened Whereupon his Lordship thrust a pin of about an inch long almost to the head into one of his fingers his eyes first close covered without the least sign of the man's perception or any blood appearing when the pin was pulled out he than thrust it into another finger as deep as the first and asked the man if he felt nothing who made answer that he could not tell but after a little pause said he thought he did whereat my Lord admiring pulled it out again and Mr Greatrak's slightly stroked the man's fingers twice or thrice who continued hoodwinked afterwards the pins point only touching one of his fingers ends he smartly cried out Oh you prick me & blood immediately issued out of those places into which the pin had been thrust The man professed himself freed of all pain and may be presumed to have continued so for as much as he was bidden by Mr. Greatrak's to come again if he felt the least grudging with promise of easy access to him and assurance of help and ease but hath never appeared since A like Experiment was tried by the reverend Doctor Wilkins upon a Woman in my house with some considerable improvements for when her pains by Mr. Greatrak's stroking were brought into her fingers and those benumbed as the former the Doctor endeavouring by rubbing and pinching to reduce them to sense and life which when he had continued a good while he would have persuaded the poor woman that her fingers were freed and well which when she complainingly denied he proceeded to prick her fingers but without her feeling or blood following until her fingers were gently stroked which restored them to sense and motion I might add hereunto very many instances of the same nature but am unwilling to be tedious and shall therefore reserve them to a fresh opportunity together with a List of near One hundred persons names who in my hearing have professed themselves helped of various Distempers by the hands urine and spittle of the said Mr. Greatrak's I shall for the present conclude with observing to you that though his hand had little or none effect upon the Lady that first brought me to him yet have I often seen in meaner persons wonderful success to ensue in the like case as in Anne Shelley Jane Farrington and Grace White the last whereof by reason of a Palsy on her left side had been disabled for five years from walking without the support of another yet after 4 or 5 times stroking she confessed she had walked two miles at one time without any assistance or intermission I beseech you pardon the length of this Letter and continue to oblige SIR Your most faithful and humble Servant James Faireclough May 5. 1666. Captain Owen's Letter to Mr. boil Mortlack May 4. 1666. SIR UPon the 2d of this instant being Wednesday I had taken a Purge which by reason of a small addition more than I did formerly use to take did work very violently the whole day at least 24 times I could eat nothing that day nor night only drank a little Mace-ale I rested pretty well that night but when I risen the next morning I was mightily gripped in my stomach and bowels with much pain I went up and down an hour or two and when nothing would ease me I resolved to lie down and rest myself and going to take some rest a Friend meets me and persuades me to let Mr. Greatrak's touch my stomach and bowels which I did consent unto he being in my house the same time for he came the night before and I observed when he first stroked me I was immediately without pain and went down from my Chamber very well as I thought with intent to show some friends that came to see me what a sudden change his hand had wrought But I had not been with my friends 6 minutes but I felt a sudden change for I had many qualms in my stomach which forced me to vomit very much and I was in a sweat all over and very sick and so continued half an hour when he came and stroked me again which caused me to vomit the second time and then I took a little rest upon my bed but the pain in my stomach was so great that it did awake me and presently I vomited the third time which Mr. Greatrak's hearing being in the next Room came to me I being exceeding ill and said by the blessing of God this will do you much good I will struck your head bowels and stomach once more and I believe you will do very well which when he had done I laid me down and rested well for an hour and then came from my Chamber very well and went abroad with him all that afternoon I have one thing more only to add That I was in a great sweat all the time and do believe and found most apparently that by the stroke of his hand all the sharp matter which the Purge had stirred and could not carry away downwards was that which caused so much pain and was brought away by vomiting Your Honour's humble Servant John Owen Mr. Sibley's Letter to Captain Owen SIR THis is to satisfy you concerning the strange effects the stroking of Mr. Greatrak's hand did work upon me the third of March last at Sir George Waterman's But first I will let you know how I was For 8 years passed I had been troubled with the Phthisic a Cough of the Lungs and a great stoppage at the stomach insomuch that I could not walk the length of our Shop or go up a pair of stairs without much trouble and many times have been fain to be helped to my bed and in foggy misty weather I have been forced to be set upright in my bed with pillows and so to sleep my want of breath was so much that when I went abroad I did reel like a man in drink that I was ashamed of myself and when it was so that I had been stroked by him which was on the Saturday night about eleven of the Clock upon his immediate stroking I was ready to swoon and was in a very great sweat all over my body and in much burning all over excepting my tongue and that was exceeding cold insomuch that I continued in that sweat from eleven of the Clock on Saturday night being the third of March till Sunday morning the next day at ten of the Clock And this I testify under my own hand blessed be God this very day being in perfect health May 5. 1666. Nathaniel Sibley This Relation I had from himself several times before he now sent it me in writing He lives in Coleman-street his Age is 24 years John Owen Dr. Faireclough's and Dr. Faber's Testimony April 19 1666. SArah Tuffly Servant to Mr. John Pride at the Red Cross nigh Essex-gate in the Strand troubled with a violent Headache every day more or less for 7 years upon Mr. Greatrak's stroking her head she fell a belching which continued for two hours and upwards he now and then applying his hand to her breast etc. whereupon she was freed from all pains though her tongue was at times as cold as lead during this process and now declares herself more free from any manner of pain than she has been these 9 years Sarah Tuffly Before Us Tho. Kenian Gent. Alb. Otto Faber Med. J. Faireclough M. D. W. Smith Chir. Dr. Faireclough's and Dr. Faber's Testimony THese are to certify That the Son of Mr. George Claire Grocer in Grace-Church-street London being about 6 years old having been troubled with an Impostume in his bowels and with continual pain was much wasted for above two years and all means proving ineffectual he was brought to Mr. Greatrak's who in three times stroking brought the humour to such ripeness in the thigh near the groin that upon a little incision there came forth above a pint of corrupted matter to the great ease and benefit of the child April 19 1666. In the presence of J. Faireclough M. D. Albertus Otto Faber M. D. & Medicus Regius Exercitus Suecici Mr. Squibb's Letter to Mr. Boreman SIR WHereas you are pleased to inquire after the Cure by Gods means done upon me by the stroking of my head by Mr. Greatrak's These are throughly to inform you That being violently troubled with an excessive pain of the head that I had hardly slept six hours in six days and nights and taken but very little of sustenance in that time and that being but touched by him I immediately found ease and thanks be to God do continue very well and do further satisfy you that the rigour of the pain had put me into a high Fever which immediately ceased with my headache and do likewise further inform you that a Servant being touched for the same pain that had continued upon him for twelve years' last passed he touched him in the forehead and the pain went backward and that but by his stroking upon the outside of his  the pain came down to and out of his foot the party continues still well These Cures were wrought about 3 weeks before Easter And thus much I assure you to be true from him that is Your Friend and Servant Edm. Squibb Covent-Garden Apr. 20. 1666. at my Lady Verney's the place of my residence And further for your satisfaction I must tell you that the very day of the Date hereof by accident I met with Mr. Greatrak's at Mr. Starkey's a Stationer near the Middle-Temple-gate where to my very great admiration he cured two persons of the Pthysick the manner of it makes me give it that term though I must confess as a Gentleman and Christian all that he does are to be miraculously admired in my weak opinion These persons unstripping both their bosoms he applies himself to his way of Curing and told me in the presence of Sir Anthony Morgan Mr. Starkey and many other standers by that he would bring the Pthysick out of their Stomaches into their Tongues and that their Tongues should be as cold as Ice which I and the rest of the company found to be true for laying my finger upon their Tongues I found it to be true what he had said and away they went after his touching of their Tongues well and praising God Their Infirmities were so great that in a manner they went double in the breast April 20. 1666. Edm. Squibb This Attestation was owned and confirmed 26 Apr. 1666. in presence of J. Faireclough M. D. Arthur Squibb Oxonien M. A. Mr. Wolrich a Chirurgeon his Letter to Mr. Greatrak's Ratcliff April 16. 1666. Mr. Greatrak's ANd by me respected for your trouble with my Wife for which I return you many thanks and hearty wish I might any way be capable whilst I have life to manifest my acknowledgement which to endeavour I now having had my eyes and ears my witnesses if my genius fail me not shall both by Tongue and Pen which haply you may see be in confutation of the parties your abusers Sir I give God praise my Wife now in a very fine condition presents her respects to you and as I would not willingly be worse than my word to the Doctor whose name I think is Faireclough I desire you to let him know this underwritten That my Wife having had a great pain in her stomach and head some years in which time she hath not wanted the endeavours of able Doctors and Surgeons for all which her pain increased so high that this last six months she was not able to go about her chamber but all people expected her departing this life daily I being gone to her Doctor who is of note it was about three weeks ago you by good Fortune came to a Neighbour's house of mine Captain Wildy she being informed having a great desire was rather carried than to say went that little way but by the blessing of God through your endeavours that night she came to meet me as far as Bell-Wharf very cheerfully This last week she was twice with you at Lincolns-Inn fields and to the glory of God and her comfort I hope is freed from her pains Sir no Doctor could or ever did tell any thing but that her distemper was vapours that ascended from her stomach but now I hope she will need no more such answers which is the prayers of me who subscribe myself SIR Yours obliged Richard Wolrich Chirurgeon Mr. Comb's Letter to Sir Nathaniel Hobart Honoured Sir WHereas you desire to be informed by me of a Cure begun and perfected by Valentine Greatrak's Esq in obedience to your command you have the verity of it as followeth viz. About 4 years since I received a mishap on my right leg in the small thereof by the striking off the skin which by near two years being under several Surgeons hands was made a very desperate sore I enduring all that time the very extremity of misery and pain and so remained utterly disponding of any hope of Cure until such time as the aforesaid Mr. Greatrak's on Thursday the 16. instant touched and stroked the same it being then very fiery and Ulcerous the pain removed itself and fell part thereof into the great toe of my left foot and other part into the little toe of my right foot and now praised be the Almighty the Cure thereof is perfected to the admiration of all my Neighbours and the unexpressible comfort of most worthy Sir April 24. 1666. From my Lodging in Jerusalem-Alley in the Parish of St. Bennets Grace-Church Your Worship's most humble Servant Anthony Combs Present when the Cure was done on Anthony Comb. Nathaniel Hobart Knight Master of the Chancery Rich. Hals W. Smith Baronet J. Faireclough M. D. Mr. Hawkin's Letter SIR I Understand you have a desire to be satisfied by some that have had experience of the great benefit and help they have received by the touch of Mr. Valentine Greatrak's which to satisfy you of I take boldness to give you this account I was taken with a great pain in my hip about seven years of age which so continued till this present April the 14. day 1666. which is above 18 years in which time there have been many ways sought for help I was once a patiented to Doctor Barker of Newbury in the County of Berks very eminent I was also a patiented to Doctor Pavia of the Devises in the County of Wilts an eminent Physician also and by the advice of both these Doctors I went to the Bath and received some ease but the Spring following the pain came again upon which they judged it the Sciatica and therefore made Issues in my leg but all to little effect for my pain still continued but when I was touched by Mr. Greatrak's my pain went immediately out of my hip into my knee which put me to great pain thence his touch removed it into my ankle and thence into my great toe which caused it to look very black and with one more touch he caused it to pass under my nail and so it went quite away since which I have been well and have walked five miles in the City in one day without pain and have also slept upon that hip where the Sciatica was without any trouble which in many years before I had not done In Witness whereof I make bold to subscribe my name John Hawkins of Tharham in the County of Berks. This Cure was performed in the presence of John Patrick Minister of Battersea Tho. Bromley Gentleman Mr. Floyd's Certificate WIlliam the Son of Gabriel Floyd the elder inhabiting in the Parish of Long-stoke in the County of Southampton having a disease in his nose called the Kings-Evil which he hath had about two years since which time it began continually issued forth bloody Corruption his face and lips often swelling and falling by which distemper he lost one of his eyes and the other very near lost The said William Floyd coming to London to Mr. Valentine Greatrak's was touched by him March 31. 1666. the next morning the said boy coming again to Mr. Greatrak's the eye that was so near decayed was much restored and his nose likewise and having since been touched thrice more by the said Mr. Greatrak's is now so well recovered in his sight that he can see the smallest pin upon the ground the swelling in his face and lip very much abated & the issuing in his nose absolutely stopped his father before having fruitlessly made use of all means to be had for this his Son who by the blessing of God and the touch of the said Mr. Greatrak's is restored to his own ease and his friends great satisfaction as appeared to many more particularly to me who am his Father who hereto subscribe Gabriel Floyd We the undernamed have subscribed our names to the truth of the abovesaid relation being present when the said W. Floyd was cured John Pinckney George Weldon John Dugdale Mrs. Frances Read's Certificate SIR WHereas you desire an account of some of those great Cures performed by Mr. Greatrak's in order thereunto I do here certify that I have been present when he performed divers very good Cures and particularly I myself having laboured under a sad and violent pain of the Headache for three years together and never could have any ease during all that time any longer than whilst I was holding it with my hand and during that time used all probable means without any benefit came to this Gentleman Mr. Greatrak's who God be praised in twice stroking cured me perfectly three weeks since so fully as I have not felt the least pain since he stroked my head and the pain flew through my body into my knees so violently that it made me cry out with the extremity of the pain and so removed from place to place until I felt it no more now if any persons desire further satisfaction concerning this Cure performed on me by God's blessing let them repair to Mrs. Reads house the next door to the Dukes-Head at the hither end of the Pell-Mell and I shall be very ready to give all satisfaction herein Witness my hand April 6. 1666. Frances Read The foregoing Certificate of Mrs. Read was Signed in the presence of us who were most of us Spectators when those foresaid pains flew so violently about the abovenamed Frances Read and when she was cured Witness George Weldon W. Smith Baronet Mr. Steppings Certificate NAthaniel Stepping a Gardener in Hogsden had a great and painful swelling in his knee of two years' continuance after the application of Mr. Greatrak's hand in an hours time he found that the pain was dispersed into several parts of his body particularly his arms and hips and most of his joints He was wont to be bound in his body but the same night wherein he was touched and the next day and for a whole week afterwards he became lose and went to stool 2 or 3 times in a day which was very extraordinary in him who heretofore was constantly costive The next morning the swelling assuaged very considerably and the pain vanished having first immediately been removed out of his knee into the calf of his leg at 4 day's end the pain in his head abated and in a week's time was perfectly gone Witness his hand Attested by himself Nathaniel Stepping May 10. 1666. In presence of J. Faireclough M. D. Henry Pierce Rect. de Shaw in Comitatu Berks. Ezechiel Foxcroft A. M. Mr. Nicholson's Certificate I Anthony Nicholson of Cambridge Bookseller have been affected sore with pains all over my body for three and twenty years' last passed have had advice and best directions of all the Doctors there have been at the Bath in Somersetshire and been at above one hundred pound expense to procure ease or a Cure of these pains and have found all the means I could be advised or directed to ineffectual for either till by the advice of Dr. Benjamin Whichcot and Dean Rust I applied myself to Mr. Greatrak's for help upon Saturday was seven-night being the latter end of March who then stroked me upon which I was very much worse and enforced to keep my bed for 5 or 6 days but then being stroked twice since by the blessing of God upon Mr. Greatrak's endeavours I am perfectly eased of all pains and very healthy and strong insomuch as I intent God willing to return home towards Cambridge to morrow morning though I was so weak as I was necessitated to be brought up in men's arms on Saturday last about 11 of the Clock to Mr. Greatrak's Attested by me this tenth day of April 1666. I had also an hard swelling in my left Arm whereby I was disabled from using it which being taken out by the said Mr. Greatrak's I am perfectly freed of all pain and the use thereof wholly restored Anthony Nicholson In the presence of Andr. marvel Ja. Faireclough Tho. Alured Tho. Pooley W. Popple Dorothy Pocock's Certificate DOrothy the Wife of John Pocock of Chiveley in the County of Berks aged 45. had a Tumour began in her breast about August 1665. which in the beginning of April 1666. was grown so big as a large Pullet's Egg and conceived by sundry Physicians and Surgeons to be a Cancer and no other way of curing it then by cutting out was stroked twice by Mr. Greatrak's and after the second time the Tumour was grown softer so that he opened it and out thereof flowed a great quantity of concocted matter and after that by gentle stroking Mr. Greatrak's brought forth the bag wherein the matter had lain out of the small orifice and she professes herself to be very well of her breast and also to be freed of a great pain which she had had in her arm and shoulder for the space of 8 months' last passed April 10. 1666. Dorothy Pocock In presence of Andr. Marvel J. Faireclough Tho. Alured Tho. Pooley Mr. Langham's Certificate THese are to certify That whereas I had been daily troubled with the Headache more or less for full three years together hardly a day omitted especially when after Riding I was most insufferably tormented I have by God's great blessing ever since Mr. Valentine Greatrak's touched me in his Highness' Prince Rupert's Chamber been very well and free from any thing of the Headache and since my being stroked I have rid from Dover to London in ten hours Given under my Hand and Seal this 27th day of March 1666. I suppose from the time I received this benefit to this day above-written is full three weeks Thomas Langhame Mrs. Smith's Certificate Marry Wife of Arthur Smith a Mercer at the Lion within Ludgate aged 23. troubled with a great and continued pain in her Forehead for the space of ten years notwithstanding the use of the best Physicians and most excellent Remedies to her Parents great Cost about the latter end of March 166 5/6 applied herself to Mr. Greatrak's who laid his hand upon her Forehead whereby the pain removed into the hinder part of her head and neck thence to the Crown of her head and from thence into her cheek where it continued swelled until she was again stroked in that part the day following whereupon the swelling and pain vanished and never troubled her any more Attested this first of May 1666. Marry Smith In presence of J. Faireclough M. D. Anne Meyern Mother of the party Mrs. Meyern of Ludgate-hill her Certificate THese may certify That my Daughter Mrs. Anne Waring having had a sore Breast which had several holes in it for the space of 14 weeks by Mr. Greatrak's assistance she was perfectly recovered in a month's space In witness hereof I have set to my hand Anne Meyern London the 4th of May 1666. Captain Owen SIR I understand that you are acquainted with Mr. Valentine Greatrak's with whom it was my fortune to be with at Worcester where I received very great benefit from him for my distemper of the Gout having lain about three months before very lame and in great misery in Herefordshire but since I came to London have been much troubled with it again my humble request is that you will afford me your assistance to get once more to him which I shall be exceeding thankful to you if you will be pleased to give yourself the trouble to send a messenger to me whom I shall thankfully pay I being verily persuaded that I shall receive further benefit from him having beheld such miraculous Cures that he did at Worcester as the Gout and the Falling-sickness Wens and restoring the Blind and the Lame with many other Cures which if I had not seen I should not have credited and likewise many more in those parts can testify the same benefit I have received Sir I have not else to trouble you with not doubting but you will endeavour to grant my Request in the performance of which you will infinitely oblige Your loving Friend and Servant to command Richard Whittall of Tower-Wharf Mr. Whittall came to my house the last week full of pain his hand and wrist much swelled and bound up with  Mr. Greatrak's did there struck him and he came this day to my house again to have his foot and leg touched where I with several others did see his hand that was so swelled to be free from swelling or pain May 17. 1666. J. Owen Mr. Noye's Certificate London May 10. 1666. WHereas Peter Noyes of Trunkwell in the Parish of Shing-field in the County of Berks Gent. having a distemper risen in his neck about twelve months since in a white hard knob being fearful what the effects of it might be went to Oxford to advise with Dr. Willis who laid dispersing Plasters thinking to dissolve it and by Physic to carry it off continuing some time in this course I found myself grow weaker and stomackless and a Fever seized upon me I sent to Dr. Willis who desired me to come to Oxford to advise there with the King's Surgeons who said it was not the Kings-Evil but a Fistula and must be dilated which was done in four places at several times but all proved ineffectual their scarifying eating medicines Plasters and Physic never could make it run any thing but a black humour afterwards a new swelling rising under the ear made them apprehend it to be the Kings-Evil Whereupon I still growing weaker and weaker and almost without hope of life by the advice of Dr. Willis with much difficulty came to London to Mr. Greatrak's but in so low a condition that I was in my own apprehension near death Now Mr. Greatrak's being my last remedy I made my applications to him my Wife with tears and persuasive arguments procured him to come to me and upon his first stroking I found strength and that black humour which my sores did run stopped and they ran thick corruption Upon the continuance of his stroking I through the goodness of God found the humour abated and my strength increase and now the Evil killed only a Scrofulous humour followeth which I hope will be soon dried up Peter Noyes Win. Noyes Witness Richard Birch Jasper Walker Tho. White Stephen Parkes Edward Phipps Mr. Harrisons Certificate THere being a Report of Mr. Valentine Greatrak's who did cure all diseases by his Hand although I could scarce believe that an innate and inborn disease could be cured yet I was persuaded to go to him upon the Certificate of one man who did inform me that he did cure him and by his touch make an essay to mine own Cure Being born with the Kings-Evil as they call it upon me now being 31 years old it being demonstrable from divers parts of my body my Parents did always endeavour a Cure from the Chirurgeons they by their skill did prove its obstinacy by their repeated endeavours and did break the Node which was contracted in my right armpit and likewise another in my little finger of my right hand but as I grew in strength the disease grew more daring and approached my throat my face and Eyelids as was apparent from their promanances and swell and now was under my right ear no means softening its obduracy I made my address to him who did freely struck that part as likewise my face which touch did humble the swelling under mine ear and broke it after it had troubled me by its soreness for 2 or 3 hours and my face on that side did change its hue formerly being ebullient in many places from his stroke the disease was beaten downwards into my small-Guts and did pain me so extremely for 14 days I endeavouring to cure it by other means was persuaded it was the disease flew thither for refuge which I found true for going to him and ●e rubbing of it with his cold hand an improbable means as most do think he by this motion of his hand did produce such a heat as did burn up all the pain but at this and the other times he stroked me I had such a sickness upon me as men have when they are about to vomit and one time I vomited an acid frothy matter with some indigested Phlegm After this viz. on Easter Monday I found some of this humour steal into my Right leg and was stroked there and it vanished having some remembrance of my former sickness in my stomach When myself or any one else did tell him of the ease they received I heard no vaunt in his language but joyfully he said either Praised be God or The glory be to God and when he stroked me he said God give a blessing to it For his being an Impostor as some have censoriously averred who thought their Dagon of Profit must fall hereby his Liberality will disprove What I could give of credit or applause to any that have formerly done me good I must double upon him as an Instrument to give all to God as the Author of all the Comforts of John Harrison Present when Mr. John Harrison in Southwark writ and subscribed his name hereunto Albert. Otto Faber M. D. Memorand That I was an eye-witness of Mr. John Harrison subscribing and owning of this Certificate George Weldon Marry Glover's Certificate I Mary Glover of Alisbury in the County of Buckingham do certify whom it may concern that I was near quite blind and was deaf about 5 years and I have been with one Mrs. Wells in Hartford-shire and Mr. Restrick in Gunpowder-Alley in Fetter-Lane and several others for Cure but could get none but under God I have received perfect Cure by the stroke of Mr. Greatrak's hand both in my eyes and hearing All which I testify to be true and have hereto subscribed my name the 17th of May Anno Dom. 1666. Marry Glover Witnesses hereunto having it from her own mouth John Owen of Breadstreet London Matthew Porter of London John Grone William Faithorn Margaret Westleys' Certificate I Margaret Westley of the Parish of Christ-Church London do certify whom it may concern That I have been almost blind of one of my Eyes near twelve months and have been with divers persons to get Cure but could get none But now under God I have received perfect Cure by the stroke of Mr. Greatrak's hand Which I testify to be true and have hereto subscribed my name May 17. Anno Dom. 1666. Margaret Westley Witnesses hereunto John Owen of Bread-street London Math. Porter John Grone William Faithorne May 20. 1666. Mrs. Surmans Certificate THis Person Mary Surman the Wife of William Surman living in S. John's Court in Cow-lane by Smithfield a Physician was troubled with a very violent pain for 7 years' last passed which so contracted her limbs that she was quite double and could not stand upright or scarce sit and having used all manner of means possible for Cure but found none at length through the goodness of God was directed to Mr. Valentine Greatrak's on Monday last being the 14th day of this instant May he then being at Mortlack at Mr. Owen's at which time she had little or no pain at all upon her but by the stroking of the hand of Mr. Greatrak's a very little while after was in a most violent and miserable pain and torture by reason of the stir of that humour which had so contracted her limbs as aforesaid which pain continued till a second time she came under his hands which was on Friday last being the 18th day of this Instant at which time being stroked by him she fell into a sweeting which sweat continued upon her till this present day and so her Distemper by Transpiration ceased that she is perfectly well and feels no pain or any contraction upon her at the least Marry Surman Witnesses to the truth of what is related as above Richard Bland of Hoxton in Shoreditch Parish Merchant Tho. Massam of S. Bartholomew's Parish London S●r. John Massam of Bread-street Stationer Both the Massams' Brothers to the said Mary Surman Alex. Merreal of Bread-street Stationer Dr. Astell's Letter to a Fellow of a College in Oxford SIR IN my last I promised to give you an Account of what I had seen that Man of wonders do viz. Mr. Valentine Greatrak's I did likewise promise to give the same Account to my Honourable Friends the Honourable Robert boil and Dr. Dickinson but being straited in time I desire you to show them this and in my behalf to beg their excuse In acute pains wheresoever seated the persons upon his stroking have for the most part confessed a momentary relief and that which often caused my admiration I have seen a pain move from the left shoulder to the right foot and then stroked out of the toes when fixed there they have cried out with extremity of pain till relieved by his hand I saw a young woman well habited who complained of a pain in her head that was Chronical Mr Greatrak's gently stroked her head and it came into her eyes afterwards into her nose and mouth then into her stomach The woman grew very sick so that she swooned away the people about her imagined she would have died Upon stroking her stomach it flew into her throat ready to strangle her then into her eyes so that both sight and speech were taken from her He continued stroking from place to place till she recovered her senses and declared before those present she was freed from pain I have seen several of the same nature though not so extreme freed by him during the time they were with him I have heard those who have been deaf for many years declare after he had rubbed their heads and put his fingers in their ears that they have heard distinctly nay some I have gone to and have spoke to them with no high voice and they have made ready Answers to Questions not vulgar I saw a Child aged about 12. that had not stirred hand nor foot for 14 weeks together she had near 20 scrofulous tumors in her arms thighs legs and throat Out of one large one in her leg near the shinbone he made a small orifice and took out divers kernels those that were hard by his handling tended to suppuration After twice stroking this Child walked up hill 60 yards or more Those sores that ran dried up after his spitting upon them I can the more boldly attest this by reason the Mother of the Child through the intercession of a friend of mine to me by my interest gained access to have her Child touched by him Those who have had Ischiaticas or Hip-gouts I have seen go away freed from all pain I saw a man aged above 30 who had the Kings-Evil by reason whereof he had not stood upright for 3 years his backbone through weakness distended 2 or 3 inches when without his Crutch he could not walk about a room without resting his hands upon his knees he had two Fistulas upon the left musculus sacrolumbi great inflammation being upon the parts adjoining with grievous pain After Mr. Greatrak's had stroked him a while the pain was quite taken away and he walked upright several times about the room A little above the Carpus of the right wrist was 2 tumors as big as tennis-balls no way tending to any suppuration yet saith Mr. Greatrak's to a Person of Quality then present if I do not open it his arm will rot off with that taking his Lance he makes a small orifice and with a little compressing the part there flies out hundreds of small bodies some as big as French-beans I could liken them to nothing so fitly as to Cocks-stones for they much resembled them in all points they flew out like to a shower of hail with a windy stink He had likewise a tumour of the same nature in the muscle or brawn of the thumb he opened that there came out some of the same kernels and I could perfectly discern that the part of the brawn of the thumb was converted into those Anomalcus' bodies but whence or by what juice this strange transmutation should be made I leave to others more learned to inquire into I likewise saw a man who could not move his hand it being to hi● thinking dead Mr. Greatrak's gently stroked him and he moved his hand as well as I could mine and with great acclamations gave thanks to God I forbear to acquaint you with any more for if I should relate all I have seen several sheets would not contain it I have declared what I was an Eye-witness too but whether the persons that have received that immediate relief continue well I cannot inform you at present but perhaps hereafter I may tell you my thoughts why many as it is reported relapse Having oft had the opportunity of being in his company with some persons of no ordinary quality I am the better able to give a Character of him I find him to be a person of a brave gentile humour of a free carriage and disposition one as being not over-precise to be termed a Zealot so not of so large a latitude as to deserve that of a debauched person which some in the world have undeservedly given him for I have dined several times where he hath been and I never observed other but great moderation both as to eating and drinking nor did I ever hear him swear or see him passionate although cause sufficient hath been given in my hearing to move a person not endued with a more than ordinary patience I hope Dear Friend you are so assured of my reality that nothing could induce me to this were I not so great an Assertor and Vindicator of Truth let it tend never so much to my disadvantage I take leave and subscribe SIR Your affectionate real Friend etc. Jer. Astel March 10. 1666. A Postscript to Mr. boil's Letter SIR NOt knowing whether I may have the happiness to see you again before I return for Ireland I thought fit to let you know That I have left the Original Testimonials in the hands of Mr. Starkey the Stationer to be delivered unto you that you may see & others that are any wise scrupulous may be satisfied that the Printed Certificates are verbatim the same with them For your many and great Civilities I hearty thank you and do desire you to give my humble service to those Honourable Gentlemen of Gresham College who were pleased to afford me the Honour of their Company at Lincolns-Inn-fields and elsewhere I know both yourself and they have so much Candour Nobleness and Ingenuity as not to Condemn or Censure me as others have done for that Liberty and Freedom in my Carriage void of Offence I hope which I use having not been acquainted with that severe and morose manner of Converse unto which some tie up themselves I thank God I carry about me an open clear and harmless Breast free from base Designs Hypocrisy or Fraud so that I need not a cover pretence or colour and I hope the Divine Goodness will in great mercy overlook my Failings and Imperfections and of his own Grace regard the simplicity and integrity of my heart which rejoiceth in nothing more than in doing of good and employing myself as God shall enable me in helping persons in misery towards whom I find in myself tenderness of mind a hearty compassion and a ready disposition to try the utmost of my Endeavours for their ease and relief in which service as I have my recompense so in the good effects of it my satisfaction judging it better than my being in the world to be instrumental for good and to be serviceable to mankind I shall add no more but my hearty Prayers for your eternal happiness who am faithfully devoted Most Honoured and Worthy Sir Your most affectionate and humble servant Valentine Greatrak's May 5. 1666. FINIS