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Order of the Coronation of Richard the Second.

dergone the accustomed formality of bathing, he retired to rest.

On the following day, Thursday the 16th of July, early in the morning Simon Archbishop of Canterbury, the Bishops, the abbot and monks of Westminster, with others of the clergy,

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all attired in silken copes, repaired to the King, who was seated on the great marble table or dais in his Hall. The procession was then marshalled. In the mean time William de Latymer the Almoner caused the red ray cloth to be spread from the hall to the stage

The persons who were created Knights the next day performed the same sort of preparatory ablution in vats or bathing tubs placed in the apartment where they all reposed together, the full particulars of which ceremony have been given by Anstis in his Essay upon the Knighthood of the Bath. The order of the Bath appears to be a remnant of the ancient general order of Knighthood, while other communities of that class are but offsets from the parent stock.

That the order of Knighthood was known among the Anglo-Saxons, and existed from au early period among the Teutonic nations, seems extremely probable. Malmsbury, speaking of Athelstan, who began his reign anno Domini 924, says, that his grandfather Alfred "seeing and embracing him affectionately, when a boy of astonishing beauty and graceful manners, had most devoutly prayed that his Government might be prosperous: indeed he had made him a knight unusually early, giving him a scarlet cloak, a belt studded with diamonds, and a Saxon sword with a golden scabbard :" and this description seems to designate something more than a mere gift of arms, for the scarlet or purple cloak long after formed one of the insignia of knighthood; indeed the Knights of the Bath, a circumstance confirming the primitive nature of the order, still retain the crimson cloak as a mark of knighthood.

Ingulphus, a writer of the eleventh century, corroborates this opinion by particularly describing the knighthood of the Saxon chief Hereward, who so valiantly opposed the Norman William. Ingulphus relates that Hereward was knighted by his uncle the abbot of Peterborough, first confessing his sins, receiving absolution, and performing a vigil in the church, offering his sword upon the altar, hearing mass and receiving the sacrament; a sword was then put about his neck. But this form of military consecration was held in contempt by the Normans, who thought that secular rites should be used in making a knight. In their ceremonial the knight was shorn, placed in a bath, then put to bed to repose for a short period, clothed in a long garment, led to the chapel or church wherein he passed the night in prayer. He was then brought to the knight from whom he was to receive the accolade, or blow on the shoulders just below the neck with the flat of a sword. Again he was led into the church, where he promised to maintain the ecclesiastical rights. John Major, a Norman writer, relates that Geoffrey Plantagenet, son of Hugh Earl of Aujou, was knighted in the following form. After spending the previous day in festivity with a numerous company of knights at the Court of King Henry I. in his duchy of Normandy at Rouen, a bath was prepared, in which he bathed; he then put on a linen shirt, a mantle of purple (muricis sanguine tincta), was attired in silken hose, and a pair of shoes or boots worked with golden lions. A war horse or charger was then brought him. He was clothed in a coat of mail of admirable workmanship, a covering of mail was put over his legs, a shield with little lions was placed round his neck, a helmet adorned with precious stones on his head, a spear of Poitou steel in his hand. The day was finished by a hostiludium or tournament. It may be added, that the lions on the shield above mentioned afford a very early if not the earliest instance of armorial bearings; this coat may be seen on the tablet representing him in Stothard's Monumental Effigies, and was also borne by his grandson William Longespee. See also the above beautiful work.

year

+ The abbot and monks of Westminster were, by the Charter of Edward the Confessor, keepers of the Regalia, and doubtless the Dean and Chapter might still as successors in their rights claim that privilege. Henry Martin the regicide was the agent to the republican Parliament in confiscating the ancient regalia. By their authority "about the 1642, he forced open a great iron chest within the college of Westminster, thence took out the crown, robe, sword, and sceptre, belonging anciently to King Edward the Confessor, and used by all our Kings at their inaugurations, and with a scorn greater than his lusts and the rest of his vices, he openly declared that there should be no further use of those toys and trifles, and in the jollity of that humour he invested George Wither, an old puritan satirist, in the royal habiliments, who being crowned and royally arrayed (as well right became him), did first march about the room with a stately garb, and afterwards with a thousand apish and ridiculous actions exposed those sacred ornaments to contempt and laughter." Thus much from Anthony Wood. To what base uses did the revolutionists of that time degrade the crown of the Saxon Kings and their successors, which they afterwards consigned to the melting pot !

"Quosdam rubeos pannos radiatos," is the expression of the MSS. Bibl. Cotton. Tib. E. VIII. and Dom. xvii. part of which is printed in the 7th volume of Rymer's Fœd. The ray or rere cloth was therefore in all probability ornamented by some radiated pattern.

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Order of the Coronation of Richard the Second.

erected for the Coronation of the King before the high altar of the Abbey Church. Every thing being prepared, the procession moved on in the following order.

The monks of Westminster singing an anthem in honour of the apostle Peter their patron.

Several of the Clergy.

Hugh Bishop of Worcester, Treasurer of England, carrying in his hand the paten.

Bishop of St. David's, a holy chalice of great value.

The Duke of Lancaster bearing the chief sword Curtana.

Edmund Earl of March with the second sword and the spurs, in right of the earldom of Pembroke.

The Earl of Warwick with the third sword by the right as alleged and allowed before the Seneschal.

Edmund Earl of Cambridge with a Royal sceptre.

Thomas of Woodstock with another Royal sceptre, by special appointment of the King.

THE KING.

The Archbishop of Canterbury. The Bishops of London and Winchester.

The King, as soon as he arrived at the altar, prostrated himself before it on the pavement, which had been covered with cloth and rushes. The Archbishop and the Bishops who were with him, also prostrated themselves round the King. In the mean time two Bishops devoutly sang the Litany, which being ended, the King arose, and was conducted to a chair placed on an elevated scaffold in sight of all the people. It must here be remarked, that the Barons of the Cinque Ports bare over the King, during the whole of the ceremony, from his setting out from the church, a purple silk canopy, supported by four silver staves or spears, with four bells of silver gilt attached to each.

The monks then sang the anthem, Firmetur manus tua, &c.

The King being seated in his chair, Richard Earl of Arundel approached him, bearing a costly regal crown.

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And William Earl of Suffolk, also, by appointment of the King, a Royal sceptre, on the top of which was a

cross.

The Earl of Suffolk also brought a certain precious garment; the Earl of Salisbury another, with which the King was afterwards invested.*

The Archbishop then made a discourse in which the correlative duties of the King and his people were enforced. He then administered to him the Coronation Oath to the following purport:

"Will you, Sire, grant and keep, and by your oath confirm, to the people of England the laws and customs granted to them by the ancient Kings of England your predecessors, and the laws, customs, and immunities granted to the clergy and the people by the glorious King St. Edward your prede

cessor?

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"I grant and promise them.

"Will you, Sire, preserve to God's holy church, the clergy and the people, peace, and agreement in God as much as in you lie ?

"I will preserve them.

"Will you execute in all your judgments complete and right justice and discretion in mercy and in sincerity as much as in your power?

"I will.

"Will you agree to keep the laws and right customs which the commons of your kingdom shall have enacted, defend and confirm them to the honour of God as much as in your power?

"I agree and promise so to do."

The Archbishop now going to the four corners of the elevated stage, preceded by Henry Percy, Marshal of England, openly declared to all the people assembled in the church the substance of the oath which the King had just taken, demanding if they would consent to acknowledge and obey him as their Sovereign and liege Lord. On their signifying their assent, the Archbishop began with a loud voice the hymn Veni Creator Spiritus, in which he was joined by the whole choir; he then gave the King

These garments were, the tunica and dalmatica, which were ecclesiastical vestments. The tunic was a garment fitted to the body, reaching to the heels, and having long sleeves. The dalmatica was worn by the Deacon and Subdeacon, while assisting the priest at mass. The Romish ritual, in attaching so much reverence to the imposition of these garments, seems tacitly to insist on the King's subjection to the Church. The Royal dalmatica is a rich and graceful triangular garment; it is represented thrown over the shoulders of our ancient Kings, not unlike the Roman toga.

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Order of the Coronation of Richard the Second.

his benediction by the following prayers, Omnipotens et sempiterne Deus, &c. Deus ineffabilis, &c. and the anthem Comfortare et esto vir fortis was sung. Then the Archbishop approached the King, and pulling down his garment from top to bottom, stripped him to his shirt, the Barons of the Cinque Ports still holding over him the canopy, as they had done from the first setting out of the procession. Notwithstanding which certain of the Peers brought a cloth of gold to hold over the King's head, while he received the sacrament of unction. The Archbishop then anointed the King on the palms of his hands, his breast, his shoulders, the joints of his arms, and lastly, on his head,* saying, Unguantur manus, &c. The choir in the mean time sang the anthem, Unxerunt regem Salomonem.

While this ceremony was performing, the Champion of England, preceded by his two esquires, all mounted, having been to the King's armoury, and having equipped himself, came to the Abbey gate with an intention to

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remain there till mass should have been ended, and then have preceded the procession back to the Hall, publicly challenging any one to dispute the King's right, as he passed along; but he was instructed by the Seneschal, Constable, and Marshal, that he might disarm and repose himself, inasmuch as the proper time of his appearance would be when the King was at dinner in the Hall.

The anointing of the King having been performed, he stood up at the foot of the coronation chair, and was invested with the sword curtana, with the sceptre, the ring, the spurs,† and the rest of the regalia, and the nobles standing round, raising him up, placed him in the chair; the prelates and clergy devoutly singing the Psalm, Te Deum laudamus, advanced to the altar to celebrate high mass. In the

midst of the performance of which, the King descending from his seat to the step before the altar, offered a mark of gold and returned to his seat. Whilst the clergy were thus occupied in this religious ceremony, the fol

At this part of the ceremony, the King's head was covered with a linen coif, which he wore till the eighth day after the ceremony, when the abbot of Westminster or his deputy came to the King, removed the coif, and cleansed his hair from the ointinent with soft wool. Nero C. 1x. Bibl. Cotton.

+ Without "rouelles" or rowels, being the ancient ❝ pryck spur.”

It may not be irrelevant to observe how much similarity existed between the solemnity in our own country and the neighbouring monarchy of France; more especially as it will supply several minute particulars of preparation, &c. which were common to both. These will be found detailed in a MS. in the Cotton. Library, written in French, Tiberius B. vII.; the illuminations in which are exceedingly beautiful. They once represented the different stages of the whole ceremonial of a French Coronation. Unfortunately, the MS. has suffered much from the most barbarous mutilation, many of the illuminations having been entirely cut out. This splendid MS. is thus headed, C'est l'ordenance a enoindre et a coronner le Roy (this is the order of anointing and crowning the Kiug); and the following inscription in the hand-writing of Charles V. of France, acquaints us with its origin, Ce livre du sacre des Rois de France est à nous Charles, V. de notre nom roy de France et le fimes corriger, ordiner, escrire et istorier l'an 1365;" i. e. This book of the Consecration of the Kings of France belongs to us Charles, V. of our name, King of France, and we have caused it to be corrected, set in order, written, and recorded in the year 1365. The MS. acquaints us with the following particulars preparatory to the ceremony, and furnishes us also with a ritual of the consecration,-" First, a stage somewhat elevated must be prepared adjoining the choir of the church, placed between either transept, to which the ascent is to be by steps, and on which the King with the Peers of the realm, shall be placed, and others if necessary. On the day that the King comes to be crowned, he should be received in procession by the canons of the mother church, and the members of the other conventual churches. On the Saturday before the Sunday that the King should be conse crated and crowned, after compline being sung, the church should be delivered to the custody of the guards appointed for the King; and at night betimes, the King should come to the said church to make his orisons, and may remain there for a season, if he will, in prayer and watching. When they sing to matins, the guards of the King should be prepared to guard the entrance of the church. Matins should then be sung as usual; and matins being ended, prime is sung; and on prime being chanted, the King should repair to the church, and with him the Archbishops, the Bishops, and the Barons; and seats should be ordered about the altar, where the Archbishops and the Bishops should seat themselves honourably. And those Bishops who are Peers of the realm, a little without over against the altar, not far from the King...............Between prime and tierce, the monks of St.

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Order of the Coronation of Richard the Second.

lowing nobles did their liege homage to the King, kneeling, holding their hands between his and saying, "I become your liegeman of life* and

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limb, and will bear truth and earthly honour to you against all men, so help me God and all saints."

Remy should come in procession, with the holy ampulla, which the abbot should bear with great reverence under a canopy of silk supported by four staves, borne by monks attired in aubes (white garments), and when they shall arrive at the church of St. Denis, the Archbishop should proceed to meet them, and with him the other Archbishops and Bishops, if it may be done; and if not (by reason of the great crowd without), the Archbishop must then receive the ampulla from the hand of the abbot, and must promise him in good faith that he will return it to him, and thus the Archbishop must carry the ampulla to the altar with great reverence of the people. The abbot with some of the monks accompanying him, the rest waiting behind till all be completed; and then the holy ampulla shall be carried back either to the church of St Denys, or the chapel of St. Nicholas. These things being performed, the Archbishop shall attire himself for the mass in his most noble vestments, with the pall, also the Deacons and Subdeacons, and attired in this manner must come to the altar in procession, according to custom. The King must rise with reverence and repair thither; and when the Archbishop shall have arrived at the altar, he or any of the Bishops for their whole body, and for the churches submitted to them, must ask the King if he will swear to maintain the rights of the Bishops and their churches, as it befits the King to do in his kingdom, to preserve the dignity and jurisdiction of the Crown, to administer justice in all his judgments; and if he will subscribe moreover to the oath of the new constitution of the Council of Lateran, viz. to expel heresies from his kingdom. These things being promised by the King, and ratified by his vow on the Holy Evangelists, Te Deum laudamus is sung. In the mean time must be placed on the altar the King's Crown, the sword in its scabbard, his golden spurs, his golden sceptre, and his rod of the measure of a cubit or more, which shall have on it a hand of ivory. Also the stockings of silk of a violet colour, embroidered or tissued with golden fleurs de lys, and a coat of that colour and of the same workmanship made in manner of the tunic with which the Subdeacons are attired for the mass; and with this the surcoat, which should be entirely of the same colour, made nearly like a cope of silk without a hood: all which things the abbot of St. Denys shoulding from his custody, and should be at the altar and keep them. The King shall repair to the altar, and shall undress himself, with the exception of his silk coat and his shirt, which are to be open between the breast and shoulders (au piz et aux epaules); there are also to be openings in the sides, which shall be joined by silver clasps. Then first the Great Chamberlain of France shall put on the King the stockings which the abbot of St. Denis shall give him, after which the Duke of Burgundy shall put on the spurs given him by the same, and immediately after these shall be removed. Afterwards the Archbishop alone shall gird on his sword with the scabbard, which sword being girt, the Archbishop shall draw it out of the scabbard, and the scabbard shall then be placed upon the altar, and the Archbishop shall put the sword in the hand of the King, who is humbly to offer it on the altar; and he shall immediately receive it back from the hand of the Archbishop, and forthwith commit it to the Seneschal of France to support before him in the church to the end of the mass, and afterwards when he shall return to the palace. These things accomplished, and the chrism placed on the altar upon a consecrated paten, the Archbishop is to prepare the holy ampulla on the altar, and take from it on the point of a golden needle, a little of the oil sent from heaven, and mix it very carefully with the chrism which is prepared for anointing the King. "This glorious privilege of being anointed with oil from heaven is peculiar to the Kings of France over all others in the world," says the MS. Then the openings before and behind must be undone, and the King anointed; first, on the top of the head, next on the breast; 3dly, between the shoulders; 4thly, on the shoulders; 5thly and lastly, on the joints of the arms. While the anointing is going on, they shall sing the anthem Inunxerunt regem Salomonem, &c. The openings in his garment are then to be closed; the coat before mentioned is then to be put on by the Chamberlain of France, the abbot of St. Denis handing it to him for the purpose; the Chamberlain is also to invest him with the surcoat. The Archbishop is then to put the sceptre in his right hand, the rod in his left; and calling all the Peers of France who are standing round, the Archbishop takes the Royal Crown, and he alone puts it on the head of the King. The Crown being thus placed, all the Peers both clerical and lay, must put their hands to it and support it on all sides. (The nobles touch the Crown at the Coronation of an English King. Bibl. Cott. Tib. C. vin.) The Archbishop and the Peers who support the Crown, must conduct the King to the chair prepared for him, ornamented with silken cloths, and place him therein. This must be elevated within full view

* See form of the oath of fealty in Bibl. Cotton, Nero, C. IX.

of

Homagers at the Coronation of Richard the Second.

List of the Homagers. John Duke of Lancaster. Edmund Earl of Cambridge. John Earl of Richmond. Edmund Earl of March.

Richard Earl of Arundel.

Thomas de Beauchamp, Earl of by the Clerks of the King's Chancery. Warwick.

of all. The Archbishop must then kiss the King seated on his chair of State, after him the Bishops and the lay Peers. The prescribed service is then performed while the King is seated in his chair, and the Archbishop returns to the altar," &c. &c.

The Sainte Ampoule" (the holy ampulla) which so peculiarly distinguished the consecration of the Kings of France, was miraculously brought to the hand of St. Remy from Heaven full of oil by a dove, when he was baptizing Clovis at Rheims in 496, the acolyte who attended with the chrism being unable to approach the font. A portion of this oil was afterwards always employed in anointing the Kings of France,-how economically is seen above. This relic was destroyed, I believe, at the Revolution. A tame pigeon might, I doubt not, now readily be found to bring a fresh supply, but faith in his commission would be wanting.