 Although the strictly Protestant James I wished to end the practice , he found himself having to touch an increasing number of people . The practice spread to Scotland , where James reigned as well as resided before the Union of the Crowns ; the Scots started believing that their king , now also king of England , possessed the ability to heal them . Charles I ( r . 1625 – 1649 ) issued plenty of edicts in an attempt to restrain the growing public demand . On 27 December 1633 , he touched 100 people at Holyrood Palace . 
