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

RICHARD I.

reparations for his coronation, came
ondon, where he assembled the archbisho
f Canterbury, Rouen, and Tours, who h
'yen him absolution in Normandy for wadi
ar against his father after he had taken t
oss as a crusader. First, the archbishop,
ishops, abbots, and clergy, wearing the
uare caps, and preceded by the cross an
oly water bearers and deacons burning in
nse, went to the door of the royal be
amber, and led the duke in solemn pr
ssion to the great altar in the churc
Westminster. When they reached th
altar, Richard swore, in the presence of th
clergy and people on the holy Gospel and th
sacred relics, that he would observe peac
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 wor '
rich buskins of cloth of gold, then anointe
the king in three places, on the head, betwee
the shoulders, and on the right arm. A con
secrated linen coif and a cap of estate wer
then placed upon his head, and he was veste
with the royal robes, the dalmatic, and t
tunic ; the archbishop then delivered hi
sword, to restrain the enemies of the churc .
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 forbade 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 Jew.: had
Hocked to England in the reign of Henry 11.,
where they were honouiably protected by that
liberal and enlightened sovereign. Grateful
for such unusual favours, they assembled at
London to subscribe among themselves, in
,“-'lA** 'n make Richard a splendid present on
-I.tion. Unfortunately
the bigots


ous Christian ; thissignal 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 the i
habitants defended with great courage and,o
stinacy. The enraged populace, when nig
came on, finding that they could not break int
the houses, hurled brands and torches on th
roofs and through the xVindows. Conflagr
tions burst Thrth in various parts of the cit
'which consumed not only the houses of the
ews, but those of the Christians :adjoining.
Richard caused several of the ringleaders and
ost notorious malefactors to be apprehended
e next day ; they were hanged as a terror to
lothers, a proclamation was issued taking the
ijews under the royal protection, and the tran-
kluillity of the city was restored.
JOHN.
f John ascended the throne, to the prejudice
the hereditary rights of his nephew Arthur,
y virtue of a form of election. The arch-
ishops, bishops, earls, barons, and other the
states of the realm, being assembled in the
urch of Westminster, May 27th, 1191
) ,‘Canterbury übert archbishop of addresse
em in these memorable words .
Hear all men ! It is well known to your
isdom, that no man hath any right of succes;
on to this crown, unless he be elected for his',
n merits by the unanimous consent of the
ingdom, with invocation of the Holy Ghost;
after the manner and similitude of Saul, whom
God set over his chosen people, though he was
neither the son cf a king, nor sprung of a royal
line ; and in like manner after Mai, David,
the son of Jesse : the former because he was
brave, and suited to the royal dignity, he lat-
ter because he was humble and pious. So
that he who surpasses all within the realm in
fitness for royalty should preside over all in
dignity and power.- But if any one of the
family of the deceased sovereign should excel
others, his election should be the more readily
and cheerfully conceded. Wherefore, as o
late sovereign Richard died without issue
his body, and as his brother, earl John, now
present, is wise, brave, and manifestly noble,
we„ having respect both to his merits and his.
royal blood, unanimously and with one accord
elect him to be our sovereign."
This was the most decisive form of election
since the Conquest.

1-IEIVRY 111.
After the death of John, London being in
possession of the French prince Louis, an
assembly of the principal authorities was con-
vened at Winchester, under the presidency of
Gualo, the papal legate. They unanimously'
resolved that the young king should be crown-
ed on the 28th of October, A.D. 1216. The
ceremony was performed in the cathedral of
Winchester. The papal legate compelled
Henry to do homage to the holy Roman
church and Pope Innocent for his kingdom of
England and Ireland ;—he also made him
swear that he would pay an annual tribute of
one thousand marks to the papal see. The
ceremony of coronation was repeated by Ste-
phen Langton archbishop of Canterbury.
Early in the year 1236 Henry married the
lady Eleanor, daughter to the earl of Pro-
vence, whose beauty is celebrated by all the
chroniclers.

The ceremony of her coronation was per-
formed with extraordinary pomp on the 22nd
of January. Hohnshed's account of it will no
doubt gratify our readers :
.

"At the solemnitie of this feast and corona-
tion of the quene, all the high peeres of the
realm both spirituall and temporall were pre-
sent, there to exercise their offices as to them,

apperteined. The citizens of London were
'there in great arraie, bearing afore hir in so-
lemn wise three hundred and three score cups
of gold and silver, in token that they ought to
wait upon hir cup. Archbishop of Canter-
buric (according to his dutie) crowned hir, the
bishop of LOndon assisting him as his deacon.
The citizens of London served out wine to
everie one in great plentie. The feast was
plentiful!, so that nothing wanted that could
be wished. Moreover in Tothill-fields roiall
justes were holden by the space of eight daies
together."