28U GREATREAKS. life even to the threshold of death, so that my legs had scarcely strength enough to carry my enfeebled body about.” It was probably during this melancholy seclu sion, that he contracted that enthusiasm which forms the prominent feature of his life, and which never quitted him, though repressed in some measure by the active and bustling scenes which soon after engaged his attention for a few years. In 1649, he became a lieutenant in the regiment of Lord Broghill, afterwards Earl of Orrery, which was then acting, by parliamentary commission, against the rebels in Munster; and in 1656, when the greater part of the army was disbanded, he retired to his estate at Affane, and was soon after appointed clerk of the peace for the county of Cork, register for transplantation, and justice of the peace. On the king's restoration, these situations were, how ever, a l l taken from him; and h i s mind being disturbed b y this disappointment, and the want o f any regular and useful occupation, h e felt a n internal impulse which per suaded him that the gift o f curing diseases b y stroking the hand over the parts affected was imparted t o him. His fame soon spread t o s o great a n extent round the country, that Colonel Phaire, o f Cahirmony, i n the county o f Cork, being afflicted with a n ague, applied t o him for relief, which h e afforded him i n his usual way. Trans ported with his success, h e now began t o assume t o him self great merit, and h e i s reported t o have mentioned the Holy Ghost with irreverent presumption, a s his assistant. I n consequence o f this, h e was cited t o the bishop's court a t Lismore, where not producing a proper license for practising, h e was forbidden i n future t o pursue his course. This censure and prohibition, however, h e disregarded, and still continued his former practice till January 1664-5, when h e passed over into England a t the request o f the Earl o f Orrery, for the purpose o f curing the lady o f Wiscount Conway, o f Ragley, i n Warwickshire, who had for many years laboured under a violent head ache. I n this, however, h e failed, though h e resided a t Ragley three
