The Signal Loyalty and Devotion of Gods Saints Part 2, Part 2 · Chapter 8 · Floating text 14 – Version
A Brief out of the Book of the Rites of the Coronation, called, Liber Regalis.
1. THE perſon that is to Annoint and Crown the King, is the Lord Arch-biſhop of Canterbury.
2. The place is the Church of VVeſtminſter, to which it is by divers Charters granted, to be Locus conſtitutionis & Coronationis Regiae & Repoſitorium Regalium.
3. The time (if it may well be) ſome Sonday or Holy-day.
The Preparation.
1. There is a Stage ſet up, ſquare, cloſe to the four high Pillars, between the Quire and the Altar, railed about, which Stage is to be ſpread with Tapeſtry, and the Railes of it to be richly covered.
2. It is alſo to have Stairs, out of the Quire up to it: and down from it to the Altar, other Staires Eaſtward.
3. There is a Throne of Eſtate for the King to be erected on the ſaid Stage, adorned in all points as is meet.
4. There is alſo another Chair of Eſtate for the King, to be ſet below by the Altar, on the right ſide of it, and a Fald-ſtool, with Cuſhions for the King to pray at.
5. There is a traverſe alſo to be made in Sr. Edwards Chappell, for the King to diſrobe himſelf in, after the Ceremonies of his Coronation ended.
The Evening before the Coronation.
1. The Evening before the Coronation, the King is to be put in minde to give himſelf a certain ſpace to contemplation and prayers.
In what ſort it is ſet down, in Libro Regali.
It appertaineth by office to the *Since to the Dean thereof.Abbot of Weſtminſter, to remember his M…jeſty of this and other obſervances.
2. There is then alſo to be delivered by his Majeſties appointment to ſuch perſons, as he ſhall like to aſſigne to carry them;
1. The Regall.
2. The Paten.
3. The two Scepters.
4. The Rod with the Dove.
5. The Spurs.
3. There is then alſo to be delivered to his Majeſty, the Tuniea, or Shirt of red Silke, with the places for the annoynting opened, and looped cloſe, which he is to wear next over his Shirt.
The morning of the Coronation.
1. It is to be provided, that all the Regalia (that is, King Edward the Confeſſors) Crown and other Ornaments, together with the Ampull wherein is the Oyle, with which antiently the Kings and Queens have been anoynted, be laied ready upon the Altar.
2. It is to be provided, that the Crown and other Robes Royal, which the King is to put on and wear after the Rites of the Coronation ended, be brought and laid ready in the Traverſe within Saint Edwards Chappel.
3. There is cloth to be ſpread on the ground, from the Pallace Hall door unto the Stage in the Church, for his Majeſty to tread on all the way, by the Heir of the Lord Beauchamp of Bedford Almoner for the Coronation day.
The receiving of the King into the Church.
1. The Archbiſhop and Biſhops of the Realm then preſent, together with the Church and Quire of Weſtminſter onelyonly, are to meet the King at the Pallace gate, in proceſſion wiſe.
2. Two Biſhops aſſigned by the King, are to bear the one the Regal, the other the Paten.
3. After them, three Peers (by the King likewiſe to be appointed) are to bear, the one the Scepter with the Croſſe, the other the long Scepter, the third the Rod with the Dove.
4. After them the three Swords to be born, per Comitem. Ceſtriae. 2. Huntingdon & 3. Warwick.
5. After them a Peer by the King, appointed to bear the Spurs.
6. Then the King under a Canopy born by the Barons of the Cinque Ports. The King ſupported by the two Biſhops of Durham and Bathe.
7. Abbas Weſtomonaſter ſemper lateri Regis adhaerendo praeſens debet eſſe pro dicti Regis informatione in hiis quae dictae Coronationis concernunt ſolennitatem. Ad ipſum vero hoc officium ſolummodo ſpectat.
The King is to be received into the Church with an Anthem.
Protector noſter.
Protector noſter aſpice Deus, & reſpice in faciem uncti tui, quia melior eſt dies una in Atriis tuis ſuper Millia. Quam dilecta, &c. Gloria patri, &c. Behold O Lord, our Protector, and look upon the face of thine Anointed, becauſe one day in thy Court, is better then a thouſand. Pſal. quam dilecta, &c. 84. 11. Gloria patri, &c.
The King paſſing up the body of the Church, and ſo through the Quire goeth up the Staires unto his Throne of Eſtate, and there repoſeth himſelf.
The King ſet in his Throne, the Archbiſhop going to every of the four ſides of the Stage, viz. North, South, Eaſt and Weſt, (the Marſhall of England, going before him to all the ſaid places) asketh the people if they be willing to accept of the King as their Soveraigne, that he may be Anointed and Crowned? His verbis.
The people demanded if they be willing.
Sirs, here I preſent unto you King James, the rightful Inheritor of the Crown of this Realm, wherefore all you that be come this day to do your homage, ſervice, and bounden duty, be ye willing to do the ſame?
Or thus,
Sirs, here preſent is James rightfull and undoubted Nota.Inheritor by the Laws of God and Man, to the Crown and Royal dignity of England, with all things thereunto annexed and appertaining, elect, choſen and required by all three Eſtates of this ſame Land, to take upon him this ſaid Crown and Royal dignity, whereupon you ſhall underſtand that this day is fixed and appointed by all the Peers of the Land, for the conſecration, enunction and Coronation of the ſaid moſt excellent Prince James. Will you ſerve him at this time, and give your wills and aſſents to the ſame Conſecration, Enunction, and Coronation?
Or thus,
Will you take this worthy Prince James, right Heir of the Realm, and have him to your King, and become Subjects to him, and ſubmit your ſelves to his Commandements?
This while, the King ſtanding up, turneth himſelf to every of the four ſides, as the Archbiſhop is at every of them ſpeaking to the people.
The people ſignifying their willingneſſe, by anſwering all in one voice, Yea, Yea, God ſave King James. The Quire ſingeth the Anthem.
Firmetur manus.
Firmetur manus tua, & exaltetur dextra tua juſtitia & judicium preparatio ſedis tuae, Miſericordia & veritas precedent faciem tuam, Alleluiah.
Firmetur manus tua.
Let thy hand be ſtrengthned, and thy right hand be exalted. Let Juſtice and Judgement be the preparation of thy Seat, and Mercy and Truth go before thy Face. Alleluia Pſ. miſericordias Dei. Glory be to the Father, &c.
While the Quire ſingeth the Anthem, the Archbiſhop goeth down to the Altar, and reveſteth himſelf there.
The Archbiſhop being there ready, the King, ſupported by the two Biſhops, (as before) and attended by the Abbot of Weſtminſter, goeth down from his Throne to the Altar.
The Kings Offering, and the Sermon.
There he maketh his firſt Oblation, which is, Pallium unum, & una libra auri.
After the King hath Offered, he kneeleth down at his Fald-ſtool.
The Archbiſhop ſaith the Prayer.
Deus humilium.
Deus humilium viſitator, qui nos Sancti Spiritus illuſtratione conſolaris, pretende ſuper hunc famulum tuum Jacobum gratiam tuam, nt per eum, tuum in nobis addeſſe ſentiamus adventum per Dominum Chriſtum noſtrum, &c.
Deus viſitator humilium.
O God which doſt viſit thoſe that are humble, and doſt comfort us, by the light of thy Holy Spirit, ſend down thy Grace upon this thy Servant James, that by him we may feel thy preſence amongſt us, through Jeſus Chriſt.
Then doth the Sermon begin, which the King heareth in his Chair of Eſtate by the Altar on the South fide of it.
The Sermon being done, the Archbiſhop goeth to the King, and a…keth his Majeſty concerning his willingneſs to take the Oath, uſually taken by his Predeceſtors.
The King (ſhewing himſelf willing therewithall) ariſeth and cometh to the Altar.
The Archbiſhop miniſtreth the three firſt queſtions, and the King anſwereth them ſeverally. Scilic…t.
1 Quaeſtio.
Si leges & conſuetudines ab antiquis juſtis & Deo devotis Regibus, Plebi Anglorum conceſſas, cum ſacramen…i confirmatione eidem Plebi concedere & ſervare voluerit, & praeſertim leges conſuetudines & libertates à glorioſo Rege Edward… Clero & populo conceſſas▪ &c.
Dicto autem Principe ſe promittente omnia praemiſſa conceſſurum & ſervaturum. Tunc exponat ei Metropolitanus de quibus jurabit. Ita dicendo, &c.
Prima quaeſtio.
Servabis Eccleſiae Dei, cleroque & populo pacem ex integro & concordiam in Deo, ſecundum vires tuas? Reſpondebit, ſervabo.
Secunda quaeſtio.
Facie fieri in omnibus judiciis tuis equam & rectam juſtitiam & diſcretionem in miſeri…ordia & veritate ſecundum vires tuas? Reſp. Faciam.
Tertia quaeſtio.
Concedis inſtas leges & conſuetudines eſſe tenendas, & promittis per te eas eſſe protegendas, & ad honorem Dei corroborandas, quas vulgus elegerit ſ…cundum vires tuas? Reſpondebit, Concedo, & promitto.
Sequitur admonitio Epiſcoporum ad Regem, & legatur ab uno Epiſcopo coram omnibus Clara voce. Sic dicendo.
Domine Rex à vobis perdonari petimus, ut unicuique de nobis, & Eccleſiis nobis commiſſis, Canonicum Privilegium ac debitam legem atque juſtitiam conſervetis, & defenſionem exhibeatis, ſi…ut Rex in ſuo regno debet, unicuique Epiſcopo & Eccleſiiis ſibi commiſſis.
Reſpondebit,
Animo libenti & devoto, promitto vobis & perdono, quia unicuique de vobis & Eccleſiis vobis commiſſis Canonicum Privilegium & debitam legem atque juſtitiam Servabo, & defenſionem quantum potuero, adjuvante Domino, Exhibebo, ſicut Rex in ſuo Regno unicuique Epiſcopo & Eccleſiis ſibi commiſſis quod rectum exhibere debet.
Adjiciantur praedictis Iuterrogationibus quae juſta fuerint.
Pronunciatis omnibus ſupra dictis, dictus Princeps confirmet ſe omnia praedicta eſſe ſervaturum. Sacramento ſuper altare coram cunctis protinus praeſtito.
Juramentum Gallice.
SIre, voulez vous granter & garder, & per voſtre ſerment confirmer au peuple de Angleterre les leys & les cuſtumes a eulx grantee par les Roies de Angleterre & voz predeceſſeurs droictereulx & devoutez a dieu, & nommement les leys, les cuſtumes, & les Franchiſez granter au Clergie, & au peuple par le gloriens Roy Saint Eduard voſtre predeceſſeur? Reſponſio Regis. Ie les grant & promet. Epiſcopus. Sire, garderez vous a Dieu & au ſeinte Egliſe, au Clergie & au peuples, paix & accord en dien entirement ſelon que voſtre poer? Refp. Regis. Ie garderay. Epiſcopus. Sire ferez vouz faire en toutz voz jugements droit, juſtice, & diſcretion in miſericorde & verite a voſtre poer? Reſp. Regis. Ie feray. Epiſcopus. Sire, granterez vouz a tenir & a garder les leys, & les cuſtumes droicturelles les quelux la Communaute de voſtre Reaume auera es leus, & lez defenderez & afforcerez al honor de dieu, a voſtre poer? Reſp. Regis. Ie les grant & promet.
The Kings Oath in Engliſh.
SIR, Will you grant and keep, and by your Oath Confirm to the People of England, the Lawes and Cuſtomes to them granted by the kings of England, your Lawful and Religious Predeceſſors; and namely the Laws, Cuſtomes, and Franchiſes granted to the Clergy and to the People, by the glorious King St. Edward your Predeceſſor?
Rex Reſp.
I grant and promiſe to keep them.
Epiſcopus.
Sir, Will you keep Peace and Agreement entirely (according to your power) both to God, the holy Church, the Clergy and the People?
Rex.
I will keep it.
Epiſcopus.
Sir, Will you to your power, cauſe Law, Iuſtice, and Diſcretion in Mercy and Truth, to he executed in all your judgements?
Rex.
I will.
Epiſcopus.
Sir, Will you grant to hold and keep the Lawes and rightfull Cuſtomes, which the Commonalty of your Kingdom have, and to defend and uphold them to the honour of God, ſo much as in you lye?
Reſponſio Regis.
I grant and promiſe ſo to do.
This done the King ſweareth to the obſervation of what he hath promiſed then upon the Altar.
After the Oath thus taken, the King returneth to his Chair of Eſtate again.
The Archbiſhop beginneth the Hymn, Veni Creator ſpiritus, and the Quire ſing it.
The Hymn ended, the King kneels down at his Faldſtool, and the Archbiſhop ſaith the Prayer, Te invocamus, &c.