APPENDIX B The Coronation Service (Such portions as are concerned with the Regalia)
Reading edition
The Preparation
In the morning upon the day of the Coronation early, care is to be taken that the Ampulla be filled with Oil and, together with the Spoon, be laid ready upon the Altar in the Abbey Church.
The Litany
The Noblemen who carry in procession the Regalia, except those who carry the Swords, come near to the Altar, and present in order every one what he carries to the Archbishop, who delivers them to the Dean of Westminster, to be by him placed upon the Altar, and then retire to the places appointed for them.
The Oath
The Oath.
The Sermon being ended, and his Majesty having, in the presence of the Two Houses of Parliament, made and signed the Declaration, the Archbishop goeth to the King, and standing before him, administers the Coronation Oath, first asking the King,
Sir, is your Majesty willing to take the Oath?
And the King answering,
I am willing.
The Archbishop ministereth these questions; and the King, having a Book in his hands, answers each Question severally as follows:
Archb. Will you solemnly promise and swear to govern the People of this United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, and the Dominions thereto 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.
Archb. Will you to your power cause Law and Justice, in Mercy, to be executed in all your Judgments?
King. I will.
Archb. 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 in England? And will you preserve unto the Bishops and Clergy of England, and to the Church therein committed to their charge, all such Rights and Privileges, as by Law do or shall appertain to them, or any of them?
King. All this I promise to do.
The Bible to be brought.
Then the King arising out of his Chair, supported as before, and assisted by the Lord Great Chamberlain, the Sword of State being carried before him, shall go to the Altar, and there being uncovered, make his Solemn Oath in the sight of all the People, to observe the Premisses: Laying his right hand upon the Holy Gospel in the Great Bible, which is now brought from the Altar by the Archbishop, and tendered to him as he kneels upon the steps, saying these words:
The things which I have here before promised, I will perform, and keep. So help me God.
And a Silver Standish.
Then the King kisseth the Book, and signeth the Oath.
The Anointing
The King having thus taken his Oath, returns again to his Chair, and kneeling at his Faldstool, the Archbishop beginneth the Hymn, Veni Creator Spiritus, and the Choir singeth it out.
This being ended, the Archbishop saith this Prayer:
Here the Archbishop lays his hand upon the Ampulla.
O LORD, Holy Father, who by anointing with Oil didst of old make and consecrate kings, priests, and prophets, to teach and govern thy people Israel: Bless and sanctify thy chosen servant GEORGE, who by our office and ministry is now to be anointed with this Oil, and consecrated King of this Realm: Strengthen him, O Lord, with the Holy Ghost the Comforter; Confirm and stablish him with thy free and princely Spirit, the Spirit of wisdom and government, the Spirit of counsel and ghostly strength, the Spirit of knowledge and true godliness, and fill him, O Lord, with the Spirit of thy holy fear, now and for ever. Amen.
This Prayer being ended, the Choir singeth:
Anthem
1 Kings i. 39, 40.
ZADOK the priest and Nathan the prophet anointed Solomon king; and all the people rejoiced and said: God save the king, Long live the king, May the king live for ever. Amen. Hallelujah.
In the meantime, the King, rising from his devotions, having been disrobed of his Crimson Robes by the Lord Great Chamberlain, and having taken off his Cap of State,[5] goes before the Altar, supported and attended as before.
The King sits down in King Edward’s Chair (placed in the midst of the Area over against the Altar, with a Faldstool before it), wherein he is to be anointed. Four Knights of the Garter (summoned by Garter King of Arms) hold over him a rich Pall of Silk, or Cloth of Gold, delivered to them by the Lord Chamberlain: The Dean of Westminster, taking the Ampulla and Spoon from off the Altar, holdeth them ready, pouring some of the Holy Oil into the Spoon, and with it the Archbishop anointeth the King in the form of a Cross:
1. On the Crown of the Head, saying:
Be thy Head anointed with Holy Oil, as kings, priests, and prophets were anointed.
2. On the Breast, saying:
Be thy Breast anointed with Holy Oil.
3. On the Palms of both the Hands, saying:
Be thy Hands anointed with Holy Oil:
And as Solomon was anointed king by Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet, so be you anointed, blessed, and consecrated King over this People, whom the Lord your God hath given you to rule and govern. In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.
Then the Dean of Westminster layeth the Ampulla and Spoon upon the Altar, and the King kneeleth down at the Faldstool, and the Archbishop, standing, saith this Prayer or Blessing over him:
OUR Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who by his Father was anointed with the Oil of gladness above his fellows, by his Holy Anointing pour down upon your Head and Heart the blessing of the Holy Ghost, and prosper the works of your Hands: that by the assistance of his heavenly grace you may preserve the people committed to your charge in wealth, peace, and godliness; and after a long and glorious course of ruling this temporal kingdom wisely, justly, and religiously, you may at last be made partaker of an eternal kingdom, through the merits of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
This Prayer being ended, the King arises and resumes his seat in King Edward’s Chair, while the Knights of the Garter give back the Pall to the Lord Chamberlain; whereupon the King again arising, the Dean of Westminster puts upon his Majesty the Colobium Sindonis and the Supertunica or Close Pall of Cloth of Gold, together with a Girdle of the same.
The Presenting of the Spurs and Sword, and the Girding and Oblation of the said Sword
The Spurs.
The Spurs are brought from the Altar by the Dean of Westminster, and delivered to the Lord Great Chamberlain, who, kneeling down, touches his Majesty’s heels therewith, and sends them back to the Altar.
The Sword of State returned. Another Sword brought.
Then the Lord, who carries the Sword of State, delivering the said Sword to the Lord Chamberlain (which is thereupon deposited in the Traverse in Saint Edward’s Chapel) he receives from the Lord Chamberlain, in lieu thereof, another Sword, in a Scabbard of Purple Velvet, provided for the King to be girt withal, which he delivereth to the Archbishop; and the Archbishop, laying it on the Altar, saith the following Prayer:
HEAR our prayers, O Lord, we beseech thee, and so direct and support thy servant King GEORGE, who is now to be girt with this Sword, that he may not bear it in vain; but may use it as the minister of God for the terror and punishment of evildoers, and for the protection and encouragement of those that do well, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Delivered to the King.
Then the Archbishop takes the Sword from off the Altar, and (the Archbishop of York and the Bishops of London and Winchester and other Bishops assisting, and going along with him) delivers it into the King’s Right Hand, and he holding it, the Archbishop saith:
RECEIVE this Kingly Sword, brought now from the Altar of God, and delivered to you by the hands of us the Bishops and servants of God, though unworthy.
Girt about the King.
The King standing up, the Sword is girt about him by the Lord Great Chamberlain; and then, the King sitting down, the Archbishop saith:
WITH this Sword do justice, stop the growth of iniquity, protect the Holy Church of God, help and defend widows and orphans, restore the things that are gone to decay, maintain the things that are restored, punish and reform what is amiss, and confirm what is in good order: that doing these things you may be glorious in all virtue; and so faithfully serve our Lord Jesus Christ in this life, that you may reign for ever with him in the life which is to come.
Offered and redeemed.
Then the King, rising up, ungirds his Sword, and, going to the Altar, offers it there in the Scabbard, and then returns and sits down in King Edward’s Chair: and the Peer, who first received the Sword, offereth the price of it, and having thus redeemed it, receiveth it from the Dean of Westminster, from off the Altar, and draweth it out of the Scabbard, and carries it naked before his Majesty during the rest of the solemnity.
Then the Bishops who had assisted during the offering return to their places.
The Investing with the Armilla and Imperial Mantle, and the Delivery of the Orb
The Armilla and Imperial Mantle. The Orb.
Then the King arising, the Armilla and Imperial Mantle or Pall of Cloth of Gold, are by the Master of the Robes delivered to the Dean of Westminster, and by him put upon the King, standing; the Lord Great Chamberlain fastening the Clasps: The King sits down, and then the Orb with the Cross is brought from the Altar by the Dean of Westminster, and delivered into the King’s hand by the Archbishop, pronouncing this Blessing and Exhortation:
RECEIVE this Imperial Robe, and Orb; and the Lord your God endue you with knowledge and wisdom, with majesty and with power from on high; the Lord cloath you with the Robe of Righteousness, and with the garments of salvation. And when you see this Orb set under the Cross, remember that the whole world is subject to the Power and Empire of Christ our Redeemer.
The King delivers his Orb to the Dean of Westminster, to be by him laid on the Altar.
The Investiture per Annulum et Baculum
The Ring.
Then the Officer of the Jewel House delivers the King’s Ring to the Archbishop, in which a Table Jewel is enchased; the Archbishop puts it on the Fourth Finger of his Majesty’s Right Hand, and saith:
RECEIVE this Ring, the ensign of Kingly Dignity, and of Defence of the Catholic Faith; and as you are this day solemnly invested in the government of this earthly kingdom, so may you be sealed with that Spirit of promise, which is the earnest of an heavenly inheritance, and reign with him who is the blessed and only Potentate, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
Then the Dean of Westminster brings the Sceptre with the Cross and the Sceptre with the Dove to the Archbishop.
The Glove.
The Glove, presented by the Lord of the Manor of Worksop, being put on, the Archbishop delivers the Sceptre with the Cross into the King’s Right Hand saying:
RECEIVE the Royal Sceptre, the ensign of Kingly Power and Justice.
And then he delivers the Sceptre with the Dove into the King’s Left Hand, and saith:
RECEIVE the Rod of Equity and Mercy: and God, from whom all holy desires, all good counsels, and all just works do proceed, direct and assist you in the administration and exercise of all those powers which he hath given you. Be so merciful that you be not too remiss; so execute Justice that you forget not Mercy. Punish the wicked, protect and cherish the just, and lead your people in the way wherein they should go.
The Lord of the Manor of Worksop supports his Majesty’s Right Arm.
The Putting on of the Crown
St. Edward’s Crown.
The Archbishop, standing before the Altar, taketh the Crown into his hands, and laying it again before him upon the Altar, saith:
Here the King must be put in mind to bow his Head.
O GOD, the Crown of the faithful: Bless we beseech thee and sanctify this thy servant GEORGE our King: and as thou dost this day set a Crown of pure Gold upon his Head, so enrich his Royal Heart with thine abundant grace, and crown him with all princely virtues, through the King Eternal Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
The King Crowned.
Then the King sitting down in King Edward’s Chair, the Archbishop, assisted with other Bishops, comes from the Altar; the Dean of Westminster brings the Crown, and the Archbishop taking it of him reverently putteth it upon the King’s Head. At the sight whereof the People, with loud and repeated shouts, cry, God save the King; the Peers and the Kings of Arms put on their Coronets; and the Trumpets sound, and by a Signal given, the great Guns at the Tower are shot off.
The Acclamation ceasing, the Archbishop goeth on and saith:
BE strong and of a good courage: Observe the commandments of God, and walk in his holy ways: Fight the good fight of faith, and lay hold on eternal life; that in this world you may be crowned with success and honour, and when you have finished your course, receive a Crown of Righteousness, which God the righteous Judge shall give you in that day.
Then the Choir singeth:
BE strong and play the man: Keep the commandments of the Lord thy God, and walk in his ways.
The Presenting of the Holy Bible
The Bible.
Then shall the Dean of Westminster take the Holy Bible from off the Altar, and deliver it to the Archbishop, who shall present it to the King, first saying these words to him:
OUR Gracious King; we present you with this Book, the most valuable thing that this world affords. Here is Wisdom; This is the Royal Law; These are the lively Oracles of God.
Then the King delivers back the Bible to the Archbishop, who gives it to the Dean of Westminster, to be reverently placed again upon the Holy Altar; and the Archbishops and Bishops return to their places.
The Inthronization
The Te Deum being ended, the King is lifted up into his Throne by the Archbishops and Bishops, and other Peers of the Kingdom; and being Inthronized, or placed therein, all the Great Officers, those that bear the Swords and the Sceptres, and the Nobles who had borne the other Regalia, stand round about the steps of the Throne; and the Archbishop standing before the King saith:
STAND firm, and hold fast from henceforth the Seat and State of Royal and Imperial Dignity, which is this day delivered unto you, in the Name and by the authority of Almighty God, and by the hands of us the Bishops and servants of God, though unworthy: And as you see us to approach nearer to God’s Altar, so vouchsafe the more graciously to continue to us your Royal favour and protection. And the Lord God Almighty, whose Ministers we are, and the Stewards of his Mysteries, establish your Throne in righteousness, that it may stand fast for evermore, like as the sun before him and as the faithful witness in heaven. Amen.
FOOTNOTES: