The suburban citizen., 1902-04-05


token that hee gaff to me, thys ryng
wyth hys owne handles, whych rynge
ye shalle delyver TO hym agyane, and
VIII IN hee had delivered to them the
ryng, hee departed from theym SUDDEN
ly"
The ring was received by the royal
confessor and preserved at his shrine
in Westminster for many centuries. The
story finds illustration in the stained
glass window above the gate into
the deans yard and in group that
forms part of the screen between the
shrine and the choir. What became OF
the ring is not known. 1t is not men,
toned in the inventory made at the
time of the commonwealth.
1t is probable that the coronation
ceremony will be abridged by the
omission Of the sermon, and that the
act of homage in which the peers
advance one by one, repeat the oath,
touch the kings crown and kiss his
cheek-a somewhat unpleasant ordeal
for his majesty, one might think-will
be shortened by having the premier
peer of each order recite the oath and
touch the crown, while the kissing will
be dispensed with. The banquet will
olso be omitted. With it will disappear
the picturesque challenge to the world
by Dymock, the kings champion.
The earliest record OF British coron-
alton is contained in a curious manu-.
script In the National Library in Paris,
and forms part of the pontifcale Of
Egbert Archbishop of York (A.D. 1872
81. Its title is "Missa pro regidus in
die Benedictionis ejus." Perusal Of
this remarkable document shows thar
the rite, as celebrated at that early
day was not less elaborate than now;
indeed, in all salient features the cere-
monies are the same. Nor do the in
tervening mlssals indicate that any
Of the observances were allowed to
lapse or become obsolete. An errone-
Gus impression has got abroad re-
gardlng the reason for the king wear
ing religious vestments alta certain part
of the service. Many believe that it is
because he is head OF the Church Of
England. This is not correct The
priestly vestments are the same thar
were worn in the day that the spiritual
dominion of the Roman See still OBJ
tanned in England. The king wears
dalmatic and alb, a cope and stole
Of the same design and adornments
as those worn by Roman Catholic bis
hops. The same custom prevails In
the coronation rites of the old French
monarchy and is held to typify the
sacerdOtal character Of the kingly Of
flee. Even Queen Victoria, who, by
reason of her sex, could not be eligible
to any ecclesiastical office, dOnned the
same vestments.
For further illustration of the
cha1geless character Of these Offices
we find In the detailed account OF the
coronation of Ethelred ii. "a. D. 978),
preserved in the Cottonian MSS, the
use of the very same coronation an
them. which later was set to music
by Handel, and will be sung at King
Edwards coronation: Here he shall
be annointed with oil" says the an
cient rubric, and the anthem shall be
sung, "And Zadoo the Priest and
Nathan the Prophet annointed Solomon
King Of Sion and approaching him they
said; May the King live forever"
One ancient custom, however, has
been abandoned to the no small COM
fort of the monarch. In the account
of the coronation Of Athelstan, which
took place at Kingston on Thames. A.
D., 925 we read that his royal sub
jects, in accompanying him to the
church, elevated him on their shields
and from time to time tossed him in
the air. Imagine Lord Salisbury and
Lord Rosebery ct al. tossing plump
King Edward merrily aloft from St.
James's Palace to the portals Of West
minister. Athelstan undoubtedly felt
much moved" II not utterly over
come" by this vigorous and muscular
demonstration Of devotion to his throne
and person.
The Anglo-Saxon kings OF England
were usually crowned at Winchester
until the time of Edward the Confess
sor, who, in his third charter to West
minister Abbey, mentions the fact that
he had applied to Pope Nicholas H..
for permission to make 1t the place Of
coronation in the future, and on this
being granted he did so ordaln and the
good kings law has been ordained to
this day.