The Sun.
London, England, 1838-06-28 00:00:00

RICHARD I.

Duke Richard, having made all necessary
preparations for his coronation, came to
London, where he assembled the archbishops
of Canterbury, Rouen, and Tours, who had
given him absolution in Normandy for waging
sclr against his father after he had taken the
cross as a crusader.. First, the archbishops,
bishops, abbots, and clergy, wearing their
square caps, and preceded by the cross and
holy- water bearers and deacons burning in-
cense, went to the door of the royal bed-
chamber, and led the duke in solemn pro-
cession to the great altar in the church
of Westminster. When they reached the
altar, Richard swore, in the presence of the
clergy and people on the holy Gospel and the
sacred relies, that be would observe peace,
honour, and respect, all the days of his life,
to God, holy church, and its ordinances. His
attendants then stripped him to his trousers and
shirt; the latter of which was left open between
the shoulders on account of the anointing.
Baldwin archbishop of Canterbury, who wore
rich buskins of cloth of gold, then anointed
the king in three places, on the head, between
the shoulders, and on the right arm. A con-
secrated linen coif arid a cap of estate were
then placed upon his head, and he was vested
with the royal robes, the dalmatic, and the
tunic; the archbishop then delivered him a
sword, to restrain the enemies of the church.
Two earls then buckled on his spurs, and in-
vested him with the pall of state. After which
Baldwin conjured him in the name of God,
and forbad• him to take the crown, unless he
were firmly resolved in his heart and soul to
observe all the promises to which he had sworn.
The festivities were sullied by a sanguinary
and disgraceful riot. Numbers of Jews had
flocked to England in the reign of Henry 11.,
where they were honourably protected by that
liberal and enlightened sovereign. Grateful
for such unusual favours, they assembled at
London to subscribe among themselves, in
order to make Richard a splendid present on
the day of his coronation. Unfortunately
Richard was persuaded by some of the bigots
who surrounded him that th 6 Jews were accus-
tomed to practise magic on_ sovereigns during
the time of the coronation, and he therefore
issued an edict, prohibiting any Jcw from en-
tering the church whilathe ceremony was per-
formed, or appearing at the
.palace during din-
ner. Curiosity orercaTiie prudence;; several of
the most considerable Jews mingled with the
crowd, and gathered round the gates of the
palace. One of them, endeavouring to force an
entrance, was struck in the face by an over-zeal-

ous Christian ; this signal roused the fanaticism
of the multitude a general assault was made
upon the Jews, who fled in confusion towards
the city. Some wretches, eager for plunder,
raised a cry that the king had given orders for
the extermination of the unbelieving Jews ;
and, as this was by no means improbable,
when the king was a crusader, it received im-
plicit credit. The city mob, swelled by the
multitudes who had come from the country,
attacked- the houses of the Jews, which theirin-
habitants defended with great courage and ob-
stinacy. The enraged populace, when night
came on. finding that they could not break into
the houses, hurled brands and torches on the
roofs and through the windows. Conflagra-
tions burst forth in various parts of the city,
which consumed not only the houses of the
Jews, but those of the Christians adjoining.
Richard caused several of the ringleaders and
most notorious malefactors to be apprehended
the next day ; they were hanged as a terror to
others, a proclamation was issued taking the
Jews under the royal protection, and the tran-
quillity of the city was restored.