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of the thrones, stood the four gentlemen-ushers daily waiters, richly habited.

On the south side, east of the king's chair, and nearer to the altar, stood the dean and prebendaries of Westminster ; and near them the commissioners of the great wardrobe, as also the yeomen and grooms of his majesty's removing wardrobe, in their scarlet gowns, to place the chairs, faldstools, &c. as occasion required; and king Edward's chair, in which his majesty was crowned, was placed about the middle of the area before the altar.

In the lord great chamberlain's seat, being a large box on the south side of the area, between the great south-east pillar of the theatre and the next pillar eastward, were seated the princes and princesses of the royal family; and over them, in a large gallery between the said two pillars, ambassadors and foreign ministers, and strangers of quality.

THE ОАТН.

Sermon being ended, the king uncovered his head, and the archbishop repaired to his majesty, and asked him, 'Sir, Are you willing to take the oath usually taken by your predecessors?'

And the king answered, "I am willing."

Then the archbishop ministered these questions; to which the king (having a book in his hand) answered as followeth : Archb. Sir, will you grant and keep, and by your oath confirm to the people of England, the laws and customs to them granted by the kings of England, your lawful and religious predecessors; and namely, the laws, customs, and franchises granted to the clergy by the glorious St. Edward, your predecessor, according to the laws of God, the true profession of the gospel established in this kingdom, and agreeing to the prerogative of the kings thereof, and the antient customs of this realm?'

King. "I grant and promise to keep them."

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Archb. Sir, will you keep peace and godly agreement entirely, according to your power, to the holy church, the clergy, and the people?'

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Archb. Sir, will you, to your power, cause law, justice, and discretion, in mercy and truth, to be executed in all your judgments?'

King. "I will."

Archb. Sir, will you grant to hold and keep the rightful customs which the commonalty of this your kingdom have? And will you defend and uphold them, to the honour of God, so much as in you lieth?'

King. "I grant and promise so to do."

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Then the petition or request of the bishops to the king was read by one of that sacred order, with a clear voice, in the name of the rest standing by: O Lord and King, we beseech you to pardon us, and to grant and preserve unto us, and the churches committed to our charge, all canonical privileges, and due law and justice: and that you will protect and defend us, as every good king in his kingdom ought to be protector and defender of the bishops and churches un der their government.'

The king answered, "With a willing and devout heart I promise and grant you my pardon; and that I will preserve and maintain to you, and the churches committed to your charge, all canonical privileges, and due law and justice: and that I will be your protector and defender to my power, by the assistance of God, as every good king in his kingdom ought in right to protect and defend the bishops and churches under their government."

Then the king rose from his chair, and, being attended by the lord great chamberlain, and supported by the two bishops, and the sword of state carried before him, went to the altar, and, laying his hand upon the Evangelists, took the oath following: "The things, which I have here before promised, I will perform and keep. So help me God and the contents of this book ;" and then he kissed the book.

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This being done, the king went to his faldstool (which was placed towards the altar) and kneeled thereat; the queen in

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the mean time came from her chair to her faldstool, on the left hand of the king's, at which she also kneeled, whilst the choirs sung a full anthem.

After which, the archbishop said this prayer to the collect: "WE beseech thee, O Lord, holy father, almighty and everlasting God, for this thy servant king GEORGE, that, as at first thou didst bring him into the world by thy divine providence, and through the flower of his age hast preserved him unto this present day; so thou wouldest inrich him evermore with thy bounty, and fill him with grace and truth, and daily increase in him all goodness, in the sight of God and man; that, being placed in the throne of supreme government, assisted by thy heavenly grace, and by thy mercy defended from all his enemies, he may govern the people committed to his charge in wealth, peace, and godliness, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen."

After the collect, the archbishop, with a loud voice, said: Archb. The Lord be with you.'

Response.

"And with thy spirit."

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Response. "We lift them up unto the Lord."

Archb.

'Let us give thanks unto our Lord God.'

Response." It is meet and right so to do." Archb. It is very meet, right, and our bounden duty, that we should at all times, and in all places, give thanks unto thee, O Lord, Holy Father, Almighty and Everlasting God, the exalter of the humble, and the strength of thy chosen; who, by the anointing with oil, didst make and consecrate kings,' &c.

This preface being ended, the choirs sung an anthem; and in the mean time the king rose from his devotions, and went to the altar, supported as before, and attended by the lord great chamberlain, who disrobed his majesty of his mantle and surcoat of crimson velvet, which were carried immediately into the king's traverse in St. Edward's chapel: and king Edward's chair, with a footstool before it, being placed in the midst of the area, or sacrarium before the altar, and being covered over with cloth of gold, his majesty seated himself in it.

Then

Then four knights of the garter, appointed by his majesty, held a pall or pallet of cloth of gold over the king during the whole ceremony of anointing: and, the several places of his majesty's habit for the anointing, which were closed with ribbands, being first opened by the archbishop, the ampul, with the oil and spoon, were brought from the altar by the dean of Westminster, who poured out the holy oil into the spoon, wherewith the archbishop anointed the king, in form of a cross,

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1. On the palms of his majesty's hands, saying, Be these hands anointed with holy oil:"

2. On the the breast, saying, 'Be this breast anointed,' &c.

3. On both shoulders, and between the shoulders, saying, Be these shoulders anointed,' &c.

4. On the bowings of both his arms, saying, "Be these arms anointed,' &c.

Lastly, On the crown of the head, saying, 'Be this head anointed with holy oil, as kings and prophets were anointed, and as Solomon was anointed king,' &c.

Then the dean of Westminster laid the ampul and spoon again upon the altar; and the archbishop, placing himself on the north side thereof, said this prayer, the king kneeling at his footstool:

"GOD, the Son of God, Jesus Christ our Lord, who was anointed by his Father with the oil of gladness," &c.

This prayer being ended, the king rose, and sat down in the chair, and the dean of Westminster (having first dried all the places anointed, save the head and the hands, wit fine cotton-wool, delivered to him by the lord great chamberlain) closed again the places that were opened in his gar

ment.

Then a shallow coif of lawn was by the lord great chamberlain delivered to the archbishop, and by him put upon the king's head; and the linen gloves (part of the regalia) were put upon his hands, because of the anointing; and in the mean time a short anthem was sung by the choirs.

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The anthem being ended, the dean of Westminster brought from the altar the Colobium Sindonis, (or fine white cambric surplice, without sleeves) which he put upon the king, standing before his chair; the archbishop saying this prayer, or benediction:

"O GOD, the King of kings, and Lord of lords, by whom kings reign and princes decree justice, vouchsafe, with thine especial favour and grace, to bless this thy servant GEORGE, our king," &c.

Then the dean of Westminster brought from the altar the supertunica, surcoat, or closs pall, of cloth of gold, and a girdle of the same, to which the sword was after fastened, and arrayed the king therewith.

Then the tissue hose and buskins, and the sandals of cloth of gold, were by the dean put upon the king, his majesty sitting down.

After this the dean of Westminster brought the spurs from the altar, and delivered them to the lord great chamberlain, who, kneeling down, seemingly put them on the king's heels, but indeed only touched the king's heels therewith, and forthwith took them off again, that his majesty might not be incumbered with them, by reason of the length of his robes; and, re-delivering them to the dean of Westminster, they were by him laid upon the altar.

Then the nobleman, who bore the sword of state in the procession, in lieu thereof delivered a sword in a scabbard of purple velvet to the archbishop, who, laying it on the altar, said the following prayer:

"HEAR our prayers, we beseech thee, O Lord; and by the right hand of thy majesty, vouchsafe to bless and sanctify this thy servant GEORGE, our king, who is now to be girt with this sword," &c.

The prayer ended, the archbishop, assisted by other bishops, delivered the sword into the king's hands, saying, "Receive this kingly sword, delivered unto thee by the hands of the bishops," &c.

And

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