16 Facts About Valentine Greatrakes

Valentine Greatrakes, known as "Greatorex" or "The Stroker", was an Irish faith healer who toured England in 1666, claiming to cure people by the laying on of hands.

Valentine Greatrakes went to the free school at Lismore until he was 13 years of age and was designed for the college of Dublin.

In 1656, a great part of the army was disbanded, so Valentine Greatrakes retired to Affane, his native place, and was made clerk of the peace for County Cork, Register for transplantation, and a Justice of the Peace.

Valentine Greatrakes seemed to have been very religious; his outlook was grave but simple.

Valentine Greatrakes said himself, that ever since that year 1662 he had felt a strange impulse or persuasion that he had the gift of curing the King's evil ; and this suggestion became so strong, that he stroked several persons, and cured them.

Valentine Greatrakes made the experiment, and he affirmed to his satisfaction that he cured all who came to him.

Valentine Greatrakes even found that he cured convulsions, the dropsy, and many other distempers.

Valentine Greatrakes cured Phayre in a few minutes of an acute ague.

In 1665 Valentine Greatrakes was invited to England by his old commander, Lord Broghill, to cure Anne, Viscountess Conway of an inveterate headache.

Valentine Greatrakes arrived in England in early 1666 but failed to cure the Viscountess.

Valentine Greatrakes went every day to a place in London where many sick persons, of all ranks in society, assembled.

Valentine Greatrakes ascribed certain disorders to the work of evil spirits.

When persons possessed by such spirits saw Valentine Greatrakes or heard his voice, the afflicted fell to the ground or into violent agitation.

Valentine Greatrakes then proceeded to cure them by the same method of stroking.

James Randi, citing Mackay in his book The Faith Healers considered Valentine Greatrakes to be a quack, who had deceived himself.

Valentine Greatrakes married secondly Alice Tilson.