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

JOHN.

John ascended the throne, to the prejudice
of the hereditary rights of his nephew Arthur,
by virtue of a form of election, The arch-
bishops, bishops, earls, barons, and other the
estates of the realm, being assembled in the
church of Westminster, May 27tb, 1199,
Hubert archbishop of Canterbury addressed
them_ in _these meraara.ble_Fclrds
" Hear all men ! it is well known to your
wisdom, that no man hath any right of succes-
sion to this crown, unless he be elected for his
own merits by the unanimous consent of the
kingdom, 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 of a king, nor sprung of a royal
line ; and in like manner after him, David,
• the son of Jesse ; the former because he was
' brave, and suited the royal dignity, the 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 our
late sovereign Richard died without issue of
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.

HENRY M.

After the death of John, London being i❑
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 of 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 2nd
of January. Holinshed'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 ('anter-
burie (accordinc, 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
plentifall, so that nothing wanted that could
be wished. Moreover in Tothill-fields, roiall
justes were holden by the space of eight daies
together."