484 Ceremonial of the Coronation-Procession. and in like manner the rest of the Regalia to other Lords; St. Edward's Crown, with which the King is crowned, being borne by the Lord High Steward. The Bible, Chalice, and Paten, are borne by Bishops. The Bishops of Durham and Bath and Wells are summoned to support the King, pursuant to their claim. Procession to the Abbey. - The whole of the august company are [June, then formed into an exact and or- The usual form of Procession is Four Drums. The Drum Major. Eight Trumpets, four a-breast. Eight Trumpets, four a-breast. Aldermen of London below the Chair, in scarlet gowns, Aldermen of London above the Chair, wearing gold chains. The Solicitor General. The Attorney General. The King's antient Serjeant. Esquires of the Body. Gentlemen of the Privy Chamber. Barons of the Exchequer, and Justices of both Benches. Chief Baron of the Exchequer. Master of the Rolls. Chief Justice of Common Pleas. Serjeant of the Vestry. Serjeant Porter of the Palace. A Sackbut. Groom of the Vestry. A Double Courtal. A Sackbut. Gentlemen of the Chapel Royal, in scarlet mantles. Confessor to the Household. Sub-Dean of the Chapel Royal. Bath King at Arms. Knights of the Bath not peers, in the habit of the order, Two Pursuivants at Arms. Privy Counsellors who are not peers. Knights of the Garter, who are not peers, in the habit of the order, Two Pursuivants at Arms. Bishops in their rochets, their square caps in their hands. Viscounts, four a-breast. Two Heralds. Earls, four a breast. Two Heralds. Marquises, four a-breast, Two Heralds. Dukes, four a-breast. Norroy Ensign of the Guard. Exempts. Lieutenant of the Guard. 100 Yeomen of the Guard. Clerk of the Cheque to the Yeomen of the Guard. The Procession will move from Westminster Hall through New Palace Yard and Little Bridge Street, to the West door of the Abbey, on a raised platform covered with cloth, the passage being railed in, and protected by Guards. During its progress the drums will beat a march, the trumpets sound, and an anthem will be sung by the choirs. As the Procession enters the Church, the Law Officers and Judges ascend the theatre, and dividing right and left, go to seats appointed for them in galleries. The King having entered the Church, is received by the Dean and Prebendaries, with the Choir, who preceded his Majesty, singing an anthem, commonly from Psalm cxxii. 1: "I was glad when they said unto me," &c. Then the Prebendaries entering the choir, ascend the theatre, and pass over it to their station on the South side of the Altar, beyond the King's chair. After which the Dean of Westminster, the great officers, and two Archbishops, with the Dukes of Aquitain and Normandy, ascend the theatre, and stand near the S. E. pillar. The King then seats himself in his Chair of State: the Lord Chancellor, the Lord Great Chamberlain, the Lord High Constable, and Earl Marshal, with the two Bishops 486 Ceremonial of the approaching Coronation. Bishops who support his Majesty, the Dean of Westminster, and the Lords who carry the Regalia, with Garter and the Gentleman Usher, all standing about him. The Coronation. The important business of the day commences with the RECOGNITION, which is thus performed: The Archbishop of Canterbury standing near the King on the East side of the theatre, his Majesty rises from his chair and stands before it, whilst the Archbishop, having his face to the East, says as follows: "SIRS,I here present unto you King George, the rightful inheritor of the Crown of this realm; wherefóre all ye that are come this day to do your homage, service, and bounden duty, are ye willing to do the same ?" From thence the Archbishop, accompanied by the Lord Chancellor, the Great Chamberlain, the Constable, and the Earl Marshal (Garter King at Arms going before them), proceeds to the South side of the theatre and repeats the same words; and from thence to the West, and lastly to the North side: the King standing all the while, and turning his face to the several sides of the theatre as the Archbishop is speaking at each of them. At every repe tition the people express their wil lingness by acclamation; and at the last, the trumpets sound and drums beat. This being done, an anthem is sung by the choirs, the King resuming his seat. The Archbishop, in the mean time, going to the altar, revests himself in a rich cope (as do also the Bishops who bear any part in the office), and places himself at the North side of the altar. Then the King rises from his chair, being supported by the two Bishops, and attended, as always, by the Dean of Westminster (the great officers and the noblemen who carry the Regalia going before him); puts off his cap of estate, goes to the steps of the altar, and there kneels down upon the cushions. He now presents his FIRST OBLATION, consisting of a pall of cloth of gold, and an ingot or wedge of gold of a pound weight, which are delivered to him by the Great Chamberlain. The Archbishop, assisted by the Dean, receives them from his Majesty, and lays them reverently on the altar; which done, [June, the King arising makes an obeisance towards the altar, and retires to his chair on the South side of the area or sacrarium. After which, his Majesty kneeling at the faldstool placed before his chair, the Archbishop says the following prayer: "O God, which dost visit those that are humble, and dost comfort us by thy Holy. Spirit, send down thy grace upon this thy servant George, that by him we may feel thy presence among us, through Jesus Christ. Amen." The Lords who bore his Majesty's Regalia, draw near to the altar, and present the Crown, the Orb, the Rod, the Spurs, the Sceptre, and St. Edward's Staff, to the Archbishop, who lays them upon the altar, the Lords retiring to their respective seats; which done, the Dukes of Aquitain and Normandy, with the great officers of State, repair to their seats on the South side of the area. The Archbishop then gives notice to two of the Bishops to begin the Litany, the choirs making the responses. The Communion Service is now read by the Archbishop, and the Epistle and Gospel by two of the Bishops; after which the prelate appointed to preach the Sermon ascends the pulpit, and the King seats himself again in his chair on the South side of the area, the Archbishop sitting in his chair at the altar. His Majesty now puts on his cap of estate. During sermon, the two Bishops who support the King, stand on each side of him; the Lords who carry the swords bear them erected, on his right hand; and the Lord Great Chamberlain stands ou the left. Oath-The Sermon being ended, the King uncovers his head, and the Archbishop repairs to his Majesty, and asks him, "Sir, are you willing to take the Oath usually taken by your predecessors?" The King answers, "I am willing." Then the Archbishop ministers these questions: Abp. Will you solemnly promise and swear to govern the people of this kingdom of Great Britain, and the dominions thereunto belonging, according to the Statutes in Parliament agreed on, and the respective laws and customs of the same? King. I solemnly promise so to do. Abp. Will you, to your power, cause *The oath, which is here inserted, is that administered to his late Majesty. law law and justice, in mercy, to be executed in all your judgments ?-King.—I will. Abp. Will you to the utmost of your power maintain the laws of God, the true profession of the Gospel, and the Protestant Reformed Religion established by law? And will you maintain and preserve inviolably the settlement of the Church of England, and the doctrine, worship, discipline, and government thereof, as by law established, within the kingdoms. of England and Ireland, the dominion of Wales, and town of Berwick upon Tweed, and the territories thereunto belonging, before the Union of the two kingdoms ? And will you preserve unto the Bishops and Clergy of England, and to the Churches there committed to their charge, all such rights and privileges as by law do or shall appertain unto them or any of them? King. All this I promise to do. The King then goes to the altar, and laying his hand upon the Gospels, takes the Oath following: "The things which I have here before promised, I will perform and keep, so help me God." He then signs the Oath. The Anointing.-The King now goes to his faldstool, which is placed towards the altar, and kneels thereat, whilst the choirs sing the hymn Veni Creator Spiritus; after which the Archbishop says a prayer or collect. The anthem of "Zadock the Priest," &c. is then usually sung by the choir. In the mean time the King arises. and goes to the altar, attended by the Lord Great Chamberlain, who disrobes his Majesty of the mantle and surcoat of crimson velvet: and King Edward's chair, with a footstool, being placed in the midst of the area before the altar, the King seats himself in it. The ampulla containing the consecrated oil, is now brought from the altar by the Dean of Westminster, who pours the oil into the spoon; and the several parts of the King's dress, which are closed with ribbands, being first opened by the Archbishop, he proceeds to anoint the King, in form of a cross: First, on the palms of his hands, saying, "Be these hands anointed with holy oil." Second, on the breast, saying, “Be this breast anointed," &c. Third, on both shoulders, and between the shoulders, saying, "Be these shoulders anointed," &c. Fourth, on the bowings of both his arms, saying, "Be these arms anointed," &c. Lastly, on the crown of the head, saying, "Be this head anointed with holy oil, as Kings and Prophets were, and as Solomon was anointed King," &c. While the anointing is performed, a pall of cloth of gold is held over the King's head by four Knights of the Garter. When it is concluded, the Dean lays the ampul and spoon again upon the altar; and the Archbishop, placing himself on the North side thereof, pronounces an invocation or prayer, the King kneeling. The King now rises, and sits down. in the chair; and the Dean of Westminster, having first dried all the places anointed, except the head and the hands, with cotton wool, closes again the places that were opened in his garments. Then a coif of lawn is delivered by the Lord Great Chamberlain to the Archbishop, and by him placed upon the King's head, and linen gloves are also put on his hands; in the mean time a short anthem is sung by the choirs. The Investing.—The Dean of Westminster now brings from the altar the Colobium sindonis*, then the Supertunica*, or close Pall, with the Girdle*, and the Buskins and Sandals *, of cloth of gold, with all which the King is successively invested. After this he brings the Spurs, and delivers them to the Lord Great Chamberlain, who, kneeling down, puts them on the King's heels. Then the Archbishop takes the Sword of State, in its scabbard of purple velvet, and laying it on the altar, says a prayer. This being ended, the Archbishop, assisted by other Bishops, delivers the Sword into the King's hand, and the Lord Great Chamberlain then girds his Majesty with it, the Archbishop saying, "Receive this kingly sword, which is hallowed for the defence of the Holy Church," &c. The King then arising, the Dean of Westminster takes the Armil from the Master of the Great Wardrobe, puts it about his Majesty's neck, and ties it to the bowings of his arms, the Archbishop saying, "Receive the Armil of sincerity and wisdom," &c. : Lastly, the Mantle or open Pall is delivered to the Dean, who puts it upon the King standing his Majesty then sits down, and the Dean brings the Orb from the altar, which is delivered into the King's right hand by the Archbishop. The King sits down again in King * Engraved in vol. XXXI. p. 346. Edward's 488 Ceremonial of the approaching Coronation. Edward's Chair, and the Archbishop The Dukes of Normandy and Aquitain now put on their caps of estate, and the Peers and Kings at Arms their coronets. While an anthem is singing, the King delivers the Orb to the Dean of Westminster, and goes from his chair to the altar, where his sword is ungirt, and offered by his Majesty in the scabbard; but is immediately redeemed (by the King's command ment) for an hundred shillings, and the nobleman who redeems it draws it out, and bears it naked before the King the rest of the solemnity. The King having returned again to his chair, the Master of the Jewel House delivers the Ring to the Archbishop, by whom it is consecrated. Then the King, drawing off his linen glove, the Archbishop puts it on the fourth finger of his right hand. The Lord of the Manor of Worksop (the Duke of Norfolk) then presents his Majesty with a rich glove, which the King puts on his right hand; and the Archbishop taking the Sceptre, delivers it into the King's right band. The Archbishop next delivers the Rod, or Sceptre with the Dove, into the King's left hand. The Benediction.-The King then kneels, holding both the sceptres in his hands, and the Archbishop blesses him. After which, the King arises, and goes to King Edward's chair, where be kisses the Archbishops and Bishops. The Choirs sing, "We praise thee, O God," &c. The Inthroning and Homage.-His Majesty, being led up by the Archbishops and Bishops, and attended by the great Officers of State, ascends the Throne: the Archbishop, standing before him, then pronounces an exhortation. The King receives the Homage and Fealty of his Barons. And first the Abp. of Canterbury kneeling before his Majesty, the [June, other Bishops doing the same, takes the Oath of Fealty. He then arises and kisses the King's left cheek: after him the rest of the Bishops present do the like. Then the first Duke, for himself and the other Dukes, kneels down and does homage; the first Marquis for himself and the rest; the premier Earl for the other Earls; the first Viscount for the Viscounts; and the first Baron for the Barons. During the Homage, the Treasurer of his Majesty's Household, attended by Garter and the Usher of the Black Rod, throws among the people, from the South, West, and North sides of the theatre, medals of gold and silver. In the mean time an anthem is performed. The ceremonies at the Communion Service then commence, when the King presents another wedge called the Mark of Gold, weighing eight ounces. The Communion Service then proceeds; the Archbishop first receives himself, and next the Dean of Westminster and the Bishops of Durham and Bath; after which the King communicates. A Procession to St. Edward's Shrine then commences; when the King, attended by the Lords carrying the four Swords, &c. proceed to the Confessor's Shrine, where the Regalia are delivered by the King to the Archbishop, who offers them upon the altar.-The King is then disarrayed of his sacred vestments; which are delivered to the Dean, who lays them upon the altar.-The King is afterwards arrayed in Royal robes of purple vellet furred with ermine; and the Archbishop puts on the King's head a Crown of State, which he wears the Crest of the day; also in his right hand the Sceptre with the cross, and the Orb in his left. In the mean while the Procession is arranged to return to Westminster Hall. All being ready, the King, with the four Swords borne before him, proceeds from St. Edward's Chapel, through the theatre and choir, to his canopy; when the whole of this splendid assembly returns to Westminster Hall*. (Continued in p. 557 et seq.) are For the above particulars we chiefly indebted to Sandford's authentic "History of the Coronation of James the Second," and to Mr. Arthur Taylor's "Glory of Regality," a valuable work, deservedly commended in vol. XC. |