The Signal Loyalty and Devotion of Gods Saints, Part 2 · Chapter 8 · Floating text 1 – Floating text 2
Incipit Ordo Romanus, ad Benedicendum Imperatorem
Orationem primam det Epiſcopus de Caſtello Albanenſi ante portam Argenteam. Oremus.
Deus in cujus manu corda ſunt Regum, inclina ad preces humilitatis noſtrae aures miſericordiae tuae, & Principi noſtro regimen tuae appone ſapientiae, ut hauſtis de tuo fonte conſiliis, & tibi placeat, & ſuper omnia Regna praecellat. Per Dominum.
Orationem ſecundam det Epiſcopus Portuenſis intra Eccleſiam beati Petri Apoſtoli, in medio rotae.
Deus inenarrabilis auctor mundi, ut ſupra ſcriptum eſt in ordinatione Regis.
Deinde vadat ante confeſſionem beati Petri Apoſtoli, & proſternat ſe pronus in terram, & archidiaconus faciat litaniam. Qua finita, Epiſcopus Oſtienſis ungat ei oleo exorcizato brachium dextrum & inter ſcapulas, & dicat orationem iſtam.
Domine Deus omnipotens cujus eſt omnis poteſtas & dignitas, te ſupplici devotione atque humillima prece depoſcimus, ut huic famulo tuo N. proſperum Imperatoriae dignitatis concedas effectum, ut in tua diſpoſitione conſtituto, ad regendam Eccleſiam tuam ſanctam nihil praeſentia officiant, futuraque non obſiſtant, ſed inſpirance ſancti Spiritus tui dono, populum ſibi ſubditum aequo juſtitiae libramine regere valeat, & in omnibus operibus ſuis te ſemper timeat, tibi jugiter placere contendat. Per.
Pontifex ergo ſtet ſurſum ante altare, & imponat ei diadema ſuper caput, dicens:
Accipe ſignum gloriae in nominae Patris, & Filii, & Spiritus ſancti, ut ſpreto antiquo hoſte, ſpretiſque contagiis omnium vitiorum, ſic judicium & juſtitiam diligas, & miſericorditer vivas, ut ab ipſo Domino noſtro Jeſu Chriſto in conſortio Sanctorum aeterni regni coronam percipias. Qui cum Patre & Spiritu tuo ſancto vivit & regnat Deus, per infinita ſecula ſeculorum. Reſp. Amen.
Alia coronae impoſitio.
Accipe coronam à Domino Deo tibi praedeſtinatam, habeas, teneas, atque poſſideas, & filiis tuis poſt te futuris ad honorem Deo auxiliante derelinquas.
Exaudi Domine preces noſtras, & famulum tuum N. ad regendum Rom. imperium conſtitutum, ut per te regere incipiat, & per te fideliter Regnum cuſtodiat. Qui vivit & regnat.
Oremus.
Proſpice omnipotens Deus ſerenis obtutibus hunc glorioſum Imperatorem noſtrum N. & ſicut benedixiſti Abraham, Iſaac, & Jacob, Require ſupra in benedictione Regis.
Alia.
Deus pater aeternae gloriae, ſit adjutor tuus & Protector, & omnipotens benedicat tibi, preces tuas in cunctis exaudiat, et vitam longitudine dierum adimpleat, et ſemper in ſua voluntate cuſtodiat, thronum Regni corroboret, gentes populumque tuum ad nutum tuum ſubjiciat, et à peſte et fame tuis temporibus conſervet, inimicos tuos confuſione induat, et ſuper te Chriſti ſanctificatio floreat, et ſuper caetera regna excellentiorem faciat, ut qui tribuit in terris imperium, ipſe tibi in coelis cum electis ſuis conferat habere conſortium. Per.
To this I ſhall ſubjoyn the Ceremonies and Prayers made at the Coronation of the Emperor of Ruſſia, recorded both in Latin and Engliſh in the*Paul Od …rburn in vita Theod. Reſp. Moſcovinca L…gd. Bat. 10. …. p 284. Dr. Giles Fletch…r his Treatiſe of the State of Ruſſia, c. …. Mr. Samuel Purchas his Pilgram, l. 3 c 1▪ p 420, 421. Se…dens Titles of Honor. part 1. ch. 8 p. 185, 186. Marginal Authors.
The Solemities uſed at the Ruſſe Emperors Coronation, are on this manner. In the great Church of Precheſte (or our Lady) within the Emperors Caſtle is erected a Stage, whereon ſtandeth a Skreen, that beareth upon it the Imperial Cap and Robe of very Rich staff. When the day of the Inauguration is come, there reſort thither, firſt, the Patriarch with the Metropolitans, Abchbiſhops, Biſhops, Abbots, and Priors, all richly clad in their Pontificali…us. Then enter the Deacons with the Q…ier of Singers. Who ſo ſoon as the Emperor ſetteth foot into the Church, begin to ſing: Many years may live Noble Theodore Juanowich, &c. whereunto the Patriarch and Metropolitan, with the reſt of the Clergy, anſwer with a certain Hymn, in form of a Prayer, ſinging it altogether with a great noiſe. The Hymn being ended, the Patriarch with the Emperor mount up the Stage, where ſtandeth a Seat ready for the Emperor. Whereupon the Patriarch willeth him to ſit down; and then placing himſelf by him upon another Seat provided for that purpoſe, boweth down his head towards the ground and ſaith this Prayer: O Lord God, King of Kings, and Lord of Lords, which by thy Prophet Samuel diddeſt chooſe thy Servant David, and anoint him for King over thy People Iſrael, hear now our Prayers, and look from thy Sanctuary upon this thy Servant Theodore, whom thou haſt choſen, and exalted for King over theſe thy holy Nations; anoint him with the Oyl of gladneſſe, protect him by thy Power, put upon his Head a Crown of Gold and precious Stones, give him length of daies, place him in the ſeat of Juſtice, ſtrenthen his Arm, make ſubject unto him all the barbarous Nations. Let thy fear be in his whole heart; turn him from an evil Faith, and from all error, and ſhew him the ſalvation of thy holy, and univerſal Church, that he may judge thy People with juſtice, and protect the children of the poor, and finally attain everlaſting life. This Prayer he ſpeaketh with a low voyce, and then pronounceth aloud: All praiſe and power to God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghoſt. The Prayer being ended, he commandeth certain Abbots to reach the Imperial Robe, and Cap: which is done very decently, and with great ſolemnity, the Patriarch withall pronouncing aloud: Peace be unto all. And ſo he beginneth another Prayer to this effect: Bow your ſelves together with us, and pray to him that reigneth over all. Preſerve him (O Lord) under thy holy protection, keep him, that he may do good and holy things, let Juſtice ſhine forth in his daies, that we may live quietly without ſtrife and malice. This is pronounced ſomwhat ſoftly by the Patriarch, whereto he addeth again aloud: Thou art the King of the whole world, and the Saviour of our Souls; to thee the Father, Son, and the holy Ghoſt, be all prayſe for ever and ever. Amen. Then putting on the Robe and the Cap, he bl…ſſeth the Emperor with the ſign of the Croſſe: ſaying withall, in the Name of the Father, the Son, and the holy Ghoſt. The like is done by the Metropolites, Archbiſhops and Biſhops: who all in their order come to the Chair, and one after another bleſſe the Emperor with their two fore-fingers. Then is ſaid by the Patriarch another Prayer, that beginneth: O moſt holy Virgin Mother of God, &c. After which a Deacon pronounceth with a high loud voyce: Many years to Noble Theodore, good, honourable, beloved of God, great Duke of Volodemer, of Mosko, Emperor and Monarch of all Ruſſia, &c. whereto the other Prieſts and Deacons, that stand ſomewhat far off by the Altar or Table, anſwer ſinging, Many years, Many years to the Noble Theodore; The ſame note is taken up by the Priests and Deacons that are placed at the right and left ſide of the Church, and then altogether they chaunt and thunder out, ſinging: Many years to the Noble Theodore, good, honourable, beloved of God, great Duke of Volodemer, Mosko, Emperor of all Ruſſia, &c. Theſe Solemnities being ended, firſt commeth the Patriarch with the Metropolites, Archbiſhops and Biſhops, then the Nobility and the whole Company in their Order, to do homage to the Emperor, bending down their heads, and knocking them at his feet to the very ground.
To theſe Prayers and Acclamations uſed at the Coronations of Chriſtian Emperors, I ſhall only annex the Prayer of the very Turks themſelves, as the Coronation of their Mahometan Emperors (which they doubtleſſe derived from the Chriſtians) thus briefly related by Leunclavius. When*Supplementum Annal. Turcorum, Anno 1566. Seldens Titles of Honor, p. 185. Selim the 2d. after the death of his Father Soliman was placed in the Imperial Throne, Inde per urbem, proclamationes more majorum factae, quibus, votae primum concipiebantur ut anima Solimanis in paradiſo foelix aevum ageret, ac in perpetua gloria quieſceret: deinde, multos ut annos viveret Sultanus Selimes Chan, proſperique ſtatus incremento continuo frueretur.
I now proceed to the Prayers and Benedictions uſed at the Coronation of Chriſtian Kings and Queens, beginginning with thoſe in forein parts.
*Bibl. Patrum Tom. 8. p. 464, 465, 466, 467.Ordo Romanus Antiquus, de divinis Eccleſiae Catholicae Officiis, contains and relates them in this manner,
Incipit Ordo ad Regem benedicendum, quando novus à cler… & populo ſublimatur in regnum. Primum enim exeunte illo thalamum, Ʋnus Archiepiſcopus dicat hanc Orationem.
OMnipotens ſempiterne Deus, qui famulum tuum N. regni faſtigio dignatus es ſublimare, tribue ei quaeſumus, ut ita in praeſenti collecta multitudine cunctorum in commune ſalutem diſponat, quatenus à tuae veritatis tramite non recedat. Per, &c.
Poſtea ſuſcipiant illum duo Epiſcopi dextra laevaque honorificè parati, habentes reliquias collo pendentes. Caeteri autem clerici ſolenni apparatu ornati, praecedente ſancto Evangelio & duabus crucibus cum incenſo boni odoris, ducant illum ad Eccleſiam, reſponſorium canentes: Ecce mitto Ang elum meum. Cum verſ. Iſrael ſi me aud…eris. Cuncta eum plebe ſequente: ad oſtium autem Eccleſiae clerus ſubſiſtat, & dicat alius Archiepiſcopus hanc orationem.
Deus qui ſcis genus humanum nulla virtute poſſe ſubſiſtere, concede propitius, ut famulus tuus N. quem populo tuo voluiſti praeferre, ita tuo fulciatur adjutorio, quatenus quibus potuit praeeſſe, valeat & prodeſſe. Per.
Introeuntes autem clerici Eccleſiam, hanc decantent antiphonam. Domine ſalvum ſac Regem, & exaudi nos in die qua invocaverimus te. Pſal. Exaudiat te Dominus. Totum. Uſque introitum chori. Tunc Dominus Metropolitanus dicat hanc orationem.
Omnipotens ſempiterne Deus, coeleſtium terreſtriumque moderator, qui famulum tuum ill. ad regni faſtigium dignatus es provehere, concede quaeſumus, ut à cunctis adverſitatibus liberatus, & eccleſiaſticae pacis dono muniatur, & ad aeternae paeis gaudia, te donante pervenire mereatur. P…r.
Tunc deſignatus Princeps pallium deponat, atque inter manus Epiſcoporum perductus in chorum uſque ad altaris gradus incedat, cunctoque pavimento tapetibus & palliolis contecto, ibi humiliter totus in cruce proſtratus jaceat cum Epiſcopis & Presbyteris hinc inde proſtratis, caeteris autem in choro litaniam breviter pſallentibus, id eſt, duodecim Apoſtolos, totidemque Martyres, Confeſſores, & Virgines. Et inter caetera inferenda ſunt i…a.
Ut hunc famulum tuum illuſt. in Regem eligere digneris.
Terogamus audi nos.
Ut eum benedicere, & ſublimare digneris. Te r…gamus audi nos.
Ut eum ad Imperii faſtigium perducere digneris. Te rogamus audi nos.
Et caetera huic benedictioni convenientia. Finita litania, erigant ſe Epiſcopi, ſublevatumque Principem interroget Dominus Metropolitanus his verbis.
Vis ſanctam fidem à catholicis viris tibi traditam tenere, & operibus juſtis obſervare? Reſp. Volo. Vis ſanctis Eccleſiis Eccleſiarumque miniſtris tutor & defenſor eſſe? Reſpon. Volo. Vis regnum tibi à Deo conceſſum, ſecundum juſtitiam patrum tuorum, regere & defendere? Reſpon. In quantum divino fultus adjutorio ac ſolatium omnium fidelium ſuorum valuero, ita me per omnia fideliter acturum eſſe promitto.
Deinde ipſe Dominus Metropolitanus a…atur populum his verbis.
Vis tali Principi ac rectori te ſubjicere, ipſiuſque regnum firma fide ſtabilire, atque juſſionibus illius obtemperare, juxta Apoſtolum,Rom. 13. Omnis anima poteſtatibus ſublimioribus ſubdita ſit, Regi, quaſi praecellenti: Tunc ergo à circumſtance clero & populo unanimiter dicatur. Fiat. Fiat. Amen.
Poſtea vero eo devotè inclinato, dicatur ab Epiſcopo haec oratio.
BEnedic Domine hunc Regem noſtrum illuſt. qui regna omnia moderaris à ſeculo, & tali eum benedictione glorifica, ut Davidicae teneat ſublimitatis ſceptrum, & glorificatus in ejus protinus reperiatur merito. Da eituo inſpiramine cum manſuetudine ita regere populum, ſicut Salomonem feciſti regnum obtinere pacificum. Tibi ſemper cum timore ſit ſubditus, tibique militet cum quicte. Sit tuo clypeo protectus cum proceribus, & ubique tua gratia victor exiſtat. Honorifica eum prae cunctis regibus gentium, felix populis dominetur, et feliter cum nationes adornent. Vivat inter gentium catervas magnanimus, ſit in judiciis aequitatis ſingularis, locupletet eum tua praedives dextera, frugiferam obtineat patriam, & ejus liberis tribuas profutura. Praeſta ei prolixitatem vitae per tempora, et in diebus ejus oriatur juſtitia. A terobuſtum teneat regiminis ſolium, et cum jocunditate et juſtitia, aeterno glorietur in regno. Per Dominum.
Omnipotens aeterne Deus, creator omnium, Imperator Angelorum,Gen. 14. Exod. 17. 1 Reg. 16. 3 Reg. 3. rex regnantium, dominuſ que dominantium, qui Abraham fidelem famulum tuum de hoſtibus trumphare feciſti: Moyſi & Joſue populo praelatis multiplicem victoriam tribuiſti, humilemque David puerum tuum regni faſtigio ſublimaſti, & Salomonem ſapientiae paciſque ineffabili munere ditaſti, reſpice quaeſumus ad preces humilitatis noſtrae, & ſuper hunc famulum tuum ill. quem ſupplici devotione in Regem elegimus, benedictionum tuarum dona multiplica, eumque dextera tuae potentiae ſemper & ubique circunda, quatenus praedicti Abrahae fidelitate firmatus, Moyſis manſuetudine fretus, Joſue fortitudine munitus, Davidis humilitate exaltatus, Salomonis ſapientia decoratus, tibi in omnibus placeat, & per tramitem juſtitiae inoffenſo gradu ſemper incedat, Eccleſiamque tuam deinceps cum plebibus ſibi annexis ita enutriat ac doceat, muniat, & inſtruat, contraque omnes viſibiles & inviſibiles hoſtes, eidem potenter regaliterque tuae virtutis regimen adminiſtret, & ad verae fidei paciſque concordiam eorum animos, te opitulante, reformet, ut horum populorum debita ſubjectione ſultus, condigno amore glorificatus, ad paternum decenter ſolium tua miſeratione conſcendere mereatur. Tuae quoque protectionis galea munitus, & ſcuto inſeparabili jugiter protectus, armiſque caeleſtibus cicundatus, optabilis victoriae triumphum fideliter capiat, terroremque ſuae potentiae infidelibus inferat, & pacem tibi militantibus laetanter reportent per Dominum noſtrum, qui virtute crucis tartara deſtruxit, regnoque diaboli ſuperato, ad coelos victor aſcendit, in quo poteſtas omnis regumque conſiſtit victoria, qui eſt gloria humilium, & vita ſaluſque populorum, qui tecum vivit & regnat Deus per omnia ſecula ſeculorum. Amen.