The coronation Oath and the history of it, have been so accurately investigated and explained by va dam regis Scocie, inventis in eastro de Edeneburgh anno 11. videlicet, Ciphus argenti, etc. Uza petra magna super quam reges Scocie solebant coronari. Liber quotidianus, 4to, p. 838 See also Chalmers' Caledonia, re, 1. p. 468, cit. Glory of reguity, p. 58. The first chair was made by Kenneth of Scotland, in the ninth century; and Edward 1. ordered a new chair, for the payment of which a considerable sum is entered in the Wardrobe accounts of the year 1300. There is no record of the first coronation at which the stone was used in England: probably by Edward II. And even if Edward I. did not specify the purpose to which it was, in after ages, to be put, it is not likely that his successors would either forget the old traditions about it, or neglect to secure to themselves the blessings which were promised to those, who should have the power and be entitled to be crowned on it. But it is not to be denied, (and the writers upon the regalia have not noticed this circumstance) that an early authority, Thomas Walsingham, says that Edward deposited it at Westminster, for the use of the celebrant at the Confessor's shrine. His statement is; "In redeundo autem transivit per ab barham de Scone, ubi sublato lapide quo reges Scotorum tempore coronationis solebant uti pro throDa transtulit illum usque Westmecasteriam, jubens idem fieri celebrantium cathedram sacerdotum" Ypudigma Neustrie. p. 483 Before the reformation, all the regalia, it is said, were kept at Westminster, under the care of the abbot and convent: and now, though deposited in the Tower, they are brought the evening before the coronation to the dean of Westminster, and are left after the ceremony in his charge, at the shrine of the Confessor. Rishanger in his Chronicle, speaking of the two sceptres being carried in procession by the abbot of Westminster, adds: "Hoc officium fecit abbas, non quia primus est inter abbates, sed quia regalium insignium est repositorium locus suus." cit. Taylor. p. 92. But compare an order "thesaurario et camerariis de scaccario" to deliver up the golden eagle with the ampulla. An. 8. Henr. VI. Rymer. Fadera. tom.4.pars. 4. p. 151. And again in 1220, a similar order "Petro de malo lacu," to bring the "regale, quod penes ipsum est apud Corff.” Tom. 1. pars. 1. p. 81. There is, however, one rem rious authors, 19 that I shall merely add one or two observations upon points, which I do not remember to have seen noticed elsewhere. Either in the rituals, nant of the ancient regalia, if I may so entitle it, still entrusted to the custody of the dean of Westminster: viz: the Liber Regalis. This most valuable volume, so often to be referred to below, is a thin folio, of 38 leaves of vellum. There are four illuminations in it, each occupying nearly a page, prefixed to the offices which correspond. 1. Of a king being crowned. 2. Of a king and queen crowned together. 3. Of a queen alone. 4. Of a king lying in state. These illuminations are executed upon a very rich ground of highly burnished gold, with scrolls, according to the fashion of that time, represented by minute punctures upon the surface. A fac-simile, with a description of the book is given by Mr. Westwood, in his Palæographia Sacra. The date of the manuscript cannot be later than the reign of Richard II., for whose coronation it has been supposed to have been written; but the illuminations represent a monarch much older than he was on * In which case, the book would have been written in his reign. And it is remarkable, that the chair in which the sovereign sits, that occasion, and the likeness must either therefore be conventional, or intended for his predecessor, Edward III.* or for himself in after-life. Whatever the fact may be, the intrinsic value and importance of the Liber Regalis is not affected; it still remains, "the Royal Book," the Book of the Royal Offices, to be performed and observed according to the Use of the Royal Church of Westminster, in the fourteenth century. I would observe here, that an ancient privilege of the king, at his coronation, was to nominate a nun to be received into certain abbeys; for example, Shaftsbury, Wilton, and Barking. The forms are given in the Fœdera. Tom. 4. pars. iv. p. 152. 156. 19 The student should consult Rymer, Fœdera: Blackstone, Commentaries, vol. 1. Prynne, Signal Loyalty: Wharton, Troubles of Archbishop Laud, p. 318. Taylor, Glory of Regality, p. 329-344. is not of that character, which is attributed to the later years of Edward III., as being made by him, for the stone. or in the historians, (in the first exactly, in the last in general terms) we can trace the oath and its successive changes, from the time of K. Ethelred, to the present day. The promises and oath of William the Conqueror, are thus related. In the chronicle of Walter Hemingford: "Requisitus Eborum archiepiscopus ad tuenda, conservandaque jura et privilegia ecclesiastica eum solemniter sacramentis astrinxit." 20 More fully, by Hoveden: "consecratus est honorifice, sed prius, ut idem archipræsul ab eo exigebat, ante altare S. Petri coram clero et populo, jurejurando promittens se velle sanctas Dei ecclesias, ac rectores earum defendere, necnon et cunctum populum sibi subjectum juste, ac regali providentia regere, rectam legem statuere, et tenere, rapinas injustaque judicia penitus interdicere." "1 21 According to the modern Orders, it is expressly directed that the sovereign should sign the oath: and there is a remarkable passage in an epistle of Thomas a Becket to king Henry, which would seem to refer to a subscribed declaration or oath at his coronation. The archbishop is particularly alluding to that solemnity, and to the rite of unction. He reminds the king; "Inunguntur reges in capite, etiam pectore et brachiis, quod significat gloriam, sanctitatem, et fortitudinem.Audiat, si placeat, dominus meus, consilium servi sui, commonitionem episcopi sui, castigationem patris sui, ne cum schismaticis habeat de cætero aliquam fami 20 Script. x. tom. 2. p. 457. 21 Edit. Savile. p. 258. Concerning William Rufus, see Eadmer, Lib. 1. an. 1087. Of Henry I. (whose "Ordo" will be often referred to below) Knyghton, de event. Angl. Script. xv. tom. 2. p. 2396. and Giraldus Cambrensis, de instr. Principum. Anglia Christiana, p. 43. 22 liaritatem vel communionem, nec contrahat aliquid cum eis. Memoresque sitis professionis quam fecistis et posuistis scriptam super altare, de servanda ecclesiæ Dei libertate, quando in regem consecrati fuistis." And, a little before this time, Peter Damian has an observation, which will undoubtedly admit of an interpretation in support of the meaning, which the language of the archbishop appears to convey. He says, "inaugurandum regem manu propria jurare libertatem ecclesiarum." 23 Among the riches of the library of the British Museum is a manuscript, (Cotton, Tiberius A. ij.) of the highest interest. It contains a Latin version of the four Gospels and the tradition is, that it originally belonged to K. Athelstan, and is the identical copy, upon which, for several centuries, the kings of England took the coronation-oath. A full account of the volume, with the evidence in its favour, has been ably drawn up and published by Mr. Holmes: I cannot say the proof is very satisfactory; but one fact is certain, that, in consequence of its renown at that time, and after some enquiry (we must conclude) into its history, this book was used at the coronation of Charles I.25 I think there is clear evidence, that in the 15th and 16th centuries, the coronation-oath was not taken, as perhaps very anciently, and now in modern days, only upon the Holy Evangelists. The English MS. Order, which I have before mentioned,26 thus directs. "Moreovir the kyng shall make his ooth, in his co грод or the sacrament of the auter, laide vpo Pawter of the chirche before the people." S " for Henry VIII. all these 27 18 and, enery of theym, I, Henry, King of Eng and conferme to kepe and obserue, so and thise holy Euangelists by me bo on this hooly awter.' And then the - vp of his chayer, and by the seid Exetour and Ely shall be ledde to the Wher he shall make a solempne oth cais, sacrament levde vpon the same aulter, in the people, to observe all the premisses." in the order of the council, cited n the coronation of Edward VI., we samen:" and "the book" mentioned. Na Salpise out of his chair, and by No. A vy sssstad him, be led to the high altar, Any A Sol make a solemn oath upon the sacra awar the sarà altar, in the sight of all the Avigo & above, the promisses; and laying his hand པ ད 1:|: ཀ |:ཀ ན Asi, sex; etc." wh or whatever sense the reader may |