The maner and the forme of the Coronacioñ of kyngis and Quenes of Engelonde

1385 - 1460

Middle English Version
Click here for the modern version
Archeologia, v. 57 pt 1
Miscellaneous Mss on chivalry from the 15th century
Notes available

  1. First the pince that is newe to be crownid the day before his coronacion shall be apparaylid and clothid with most nobill & fayrest clothinge. And soo he shall ride from the towre of london to his paleys at Westmynst’ thorow out the cite of london barehed ridynge with him temporall lordis and the comynalte of the same Cite with othir moche and nobill pepill.


  2. The kyngis see Also it muste bene ordeynid that in the day of the kyngis coronacion in the greet halle of westmystir the kyngis see be ryally ordeynid and dressid with clothis of silke and of golde and royall cusshyns and tapitis.


  3. The pulpite. Also in Westmynstir chirche muste bene ordeynid a pulpite with grees on every side and that muste be fayre and arayed with cusshyns and clothis of silke and of golde and aboute on the grounde bothe.


  4. The kyngis trone. Also in that pulpite shall be a royall trone and a ryall see in the which the kynge shall sitte and hit shall also be ryally arayed with cusshyns and clothis of golde and of silke.


  5. The abbot of Westmynst’ shall inform the kynge. Also it is to wite that the abbot of Westmynst’ the which is for the type two dayes other before the kyngis coronacion or the quenes shall informe them of diverse observaunces that thei shall do and kepe in ther coronacion and warne them to shryve and to clense ther conscience before the holy anoyntynge. And yf the abbot be dede seeke or in ferre cnrteis or leefully lette than shall oon of the moukis of the chirche be chosen bi the convent that shall fulfille and be in the abbotis stede at the tyme of the coronacion.


  6. The shirte and the Cote. Also the same day of the coronacion the same pince that shall be crownid shall be lifte up in the forsayde royall see in the halle but firste he shall be bathid and aftir the bath ther shall be ordeynid to hi a newe shirte and a cote of silke openid to the breste opyn betwene the shuldris and in the myddis of the armys and above the cote he shall be clothid with o{ther} nobill vestimentis. And he shall were on hosyn with oute shone.


  7. The solempne Procession. Also [there] shall be a solempne procession ordeynid by the abbot and the covent of westmynst’ in solempne copis goynge fro the chirche of westmysnt’ un to the kyngis see. In the grete hall in the which the prince shall sitte abidynge the procession. And in this procession shall be the archbishopis bishopis and their prelatis. And then shal the prince discende and folow the procession to the chirche and he shall goo upon newe raye clothe leyde under his feet. On the grounde fro the forseyde see un to the pulpote in the forseyde chirche. And ther shall be songyn in the resceyvynge of kyngis and of quenes.


  8. The Crosse. Also the crosse the patene the septir and the kyngis rodde the which bene thingis of Ryalte shull be bore in the procession by the abbot. The piore and the eldest monkis of Westmynst’ and ther’ they shull be take to grete lordis to bere them before the prince fro the paleyse to the chirche.


  9. The barones of the v. poortis. Also the barones of the v. poortis shull bere the foure speres paryntid with silvyr bellis and ovyrgilte with clothis of silv above the festenid to the same shaftis of the kyngis heed or the queenes in the forseyde procession un to the chirche. And soo they shull goo fro the kyngis see in the halle un to the pulpite in Westmynst’.


  10. The abbot of Westmynst’ Also the abbot of Westmynst or a monke in his stede shall alwey be ready to the kyngis side and the Quenes for to enforme them and telle them of ther governaunce.


  11. The Archebisshope shall aske the wille of the pepill. Also when the pince hath restid him a litill in his chayre othir trone ordeynid n the forseyde pulpit with a hye voyce shall enquere the wille of the pepill as touchynge the kyngis coronacion. And that while shall the pince stonde in his trone or chayere and turne him also to the pties of the pepill and aftir that question shall an Anteme be sung. Ffirmetur manus tua.


  12. The offerynge of the kynge. Also the whe the anteme is songe and endid the kynge shall come downe to his pulpite un to the high autere betwene bishopis that shall lede him. On the whiche autere he muste offir a cloth of golde fulfillyge the precepts that seyeth. Loke ye appere not voyde nor empty in the presence and the sight of the lorde god.


  13. The lyinge of the kynge before the autere. Also when the kynge hath offerid he shall ly downe flat on the pawment before the Autere upon Cusshyns and clothis of silke ryally arayed till that the Archbisshop or some othis that shall crowne him hath seyde the orison ovyr him. Deus fidelium. And than ther shall be made a sermon to the pepill.


  14. An othe that the kynge shall make. And when the sermon is done the kynge shall come to the autere to make his ooth the which he shall conferme wt the sacrament of the autere.


  15. The lying adowne ayen the kynge before the autere. Then shall an ympne begynne. Veni creator spiritus. And hit shall be songe solempnely the whiche ympne whe it is begonne the kynge shall ly downe before the autere as he dide before till the letane and the preface be songen throw oute. And when they be songyn, thean shall the kynge arise and sitte in his chayere a litill while.


  16. The annoyntings of the kynge in .v. places. Aftirwards the kynge shall arise oute of his chayre and goo to the autere and doo of his clothis save his cote and his shirte and he may resceyve the anoyntynge. And than the quere shall begynne this anteme. Unxerunt salamone. With the orison that folowith. And than shall he be anoyntid in .v. places. That is to say on ì the hondis within the breste. Betwene the shuldris and in the grete of the arme aand in the heed in the maner of a crosse with the holy oyle and aftirwards mkynge a crosse in the head with the holy anoyntynge.


  17. The abbot of Westmynst. And than aftir the forseyde anoyntige and wupynge with lynnen clothe that shall be brente and openyngis of the plase of the anoyntige in his coote and shirte shul than be closid aftir the anoyntynge of the abbot of Westmynst’ or one in his stede.


  18. The abbot of Westmynst schall doo of the kyngis pelion. Also when the kynge is anoyntid on his heed the kyngis heed shall be helid with a lynnyne clothe for the holy anoyntynge and soo it shall be stille till the .viij. dayes after his anoyntynge at whiche day the abbot of westmynst’ or a monk in his stede shall come to the kynge and doo of that pylion and wasshe the kyngis heed and make it clene. The abbot of westmynst’ or one for him aftir all his hosy and sandalis for his feet and sporis redy made mete and acordynge to his feet and than schall the blessyngis of kyngis ornamentis and apparyle bene seyde of the archebishopis the kynge shall be clothid with a longe tunycle by the abbot of westmynst’ wovy with greet. Ymages of golde before and behynde upon the forseyde mantell of estate.


  19. The blessynge of the swerde. Also aftir this the kyngis swerde shall be blessid and the kynge shall be clothid with a kyngly and a stately clothe the whiche is foure square wovy full of goldyn eglis.


  20. The puttynge of the crowne on the kyngis head. And when the kynge is apparaylid with all these thingis than shall the crowne be blessid and putte up on his heed by the archebishopis, and then the Rynge be blessed and put on the kinges hande of the byshopp. This offering of the sworde. And then after all this the kynge shall offer his sworde to god on the altere, with swourde then the worthest Erle that there present shall bye it for ano c and bear it naked before the kynge with c belongeth to the aulter of the churche.


  21. The takynge of the rodde and the septre. And than aftir all this the kynge shall doo on a peyreof gloves and than he shall take the septre with the crosses in the right hande and the rodde in the lyfte hande. And than whan the blessynge is done of him he shall kisse the bishopis of whiche bishopes and also of other worthi lordis he shall worshipfully be ledde to his royal see. Syngynge the quere. Te deum laudam.


  22. Perlatis and othir men schull doon the homage. And then enoon schall othir grete men make and doo ther feaute and homage to their liege lorde the kynge. And than shall the masse begynne. And whilis that the Gloris in excelsis is songyn the kynge shall be encensid of the dekyn and at the rede he shall kisse the book.


  23. The offerynge of breed and wyne. Also whiles the offertorie is in syngynge the kynge schall make his offerynge of breed and wyne and aftirwards he shall offir a marke of golde and than the kynge shall bowe downe his heed a litill whilis the archebishopis blessith him with two orisones and when the blessynge is done the kynge shall be brought ayen in to his trone to see.


  24. The resceyvynge of the sacrament bi the kynge. And when the Pax is yeve aftir Agnus dei the kynge shall discende of his see and meekly goo to the autere and there he shall resceyve the holy sacrament bothe flesshe and blood. And after the abbot shall mynist to him the wyne of a stone chalyse of the regalies. And than anoon the kynge shall go ayen to his see.


  25. The takynge of the crowne fro the kyngis heed. And when the messe is doon the kynge shall come down of his see and go to the hye autere. And there of archebishopis bishopis and grete men goynge afore him he shall goo to seynt Edwardis shryne and there the Archebishopis schall take of seynt Edwardis crowne of the kyngis head. And he schall putte all these thingis upon seynt Edwardis autere.


  26. The kynge shall doo of his regalies. Than shall the cheef Chambirleyne of Engelonde that is to sey the Erle of Oxenforde doo of the regalies clothis aforeseyde in a litill closid place faste by seynt Edwardis shryne the whiche schall all be delivid to the abbot of westmynst’ and putte up in the same autere.


  27. The crowynynge of the kynge with a nothir corwne. Aftir this the kynge schall be clothid ayen with othir clothis and worshipfully schall goo to the autere of Seynt Edwardis shryne. And there the archebishop shall put a nothir crowne up on the kyngis heed revently. The whiche he schall were to his paleyse. And than the kynge shall goo ayen to his paleyse after that he is thus crownid berynge the septre as for a regale in the honde from seynt Edwardis shryne un to the hye autere and fro thens un to the pulpite. And than thorow the myddis of the quer and soo he shall goo to the same wey as he come in to the chirche and the forseyde Erles schullen bere the same swerdis afore the kynge as ye shall here aftr. And the barones of the .v. portis schall bere the clooth ov the kynge with the foure shaftis with greet solempnite and woshipe un to the kyngis paleyse to mete.


  28. The delyverynge of the septr. When they have eten and the kynge is goon to his chambir the septir schall be delyverid to the abbot of westmynstr’ or to oon that acupieth his stede bi the kyngis owen handis for to be kepte in the forseyde chirche of westmynst’ amonge the othir regalies.


  29. The offerynge of the swerde. And is to wite that as sone as the Archibishop hath put the crowne on the kyngis heed. Than shall the kynge offre his swerde to god on the altar the whiche swerde than the worthiest erle that is there present schall bye ayen foran C. s. and bere it nakid before the kynge the which C. s longeth to the altir of the chirche.


  30. The crownynyge of the Quene. Also it is to wite that the coronacion of the quene there schall be made eke a procession. And if she be crownid with the kynge than shall she be anoyntid only in the toppe of the heed with the creme in maner of a crosse.


  31. The kyngis othe the day of his coronacion. The Archebishop of Cauntirbery schall oppose and aske the kynge the same day if he will holde graunte and kepe the lawes and the customes grauntid to his pepill of olde devoute and rightwise kyngis afore hande and yf he will swere it and namely the lawes and the customes and the libertees of the gloriouse kynge Edwarde to the pepill and to the clergie. And the kynge schall beholte that he will kepe all these forseyde thigis. Than schall the Archebishop schewe and devlare certeyne articles to the which the kynge shall swere.



  32. The amonicion of bishopis to the kynge that schall be radde of oon. Sir kynge we aske that it be grauntid and pdonidto us and to teche of us and all oure clergies that is yevry and takyn to us ye will kepe and gaunte the privilege of holy chirche and dewe lawe and rightwisnesse and them defende as a kynge owith and schulde in his reme to every bisshop and abbot and to ther clergies. And the kynge schall answere in this wise. With glad wille and devoute sould I yeve and behote to yow and to eche of yow and to yowre clergies the priviligis of lawe canon and of holy chirche and I shall kepe and doo dewe lawe and rightwisness and defende it in as moche as I may with goddis helpe as a kynge owith to doo in his rewme to evy bisshop and abbot and to ther clergies bi reson and right.


  33. The kyngis othe in frenshe. Sir wilt graunt and kepe and bi yowre oth conferme to the pepill of Engelonde the lawes and the customes grauntid to hem bi auncient kyngis of engelonde rightfull me and devoute to god and namely the lawes customes and fraunchesies grauntid to the clergie and to the people bi the gloriouse kynge seynt Edwarde to yowr power. The kynge schall answere I schall kepe them. Sir ye chal kepe to god and to holy chirche and to the clergie and to the pepill peese and acorde holly after yowre power. Sir ye schall doo and doo to the kepte in all yowre domes and Jugementis trewe and even rightwisnesse in mercy and trouthe. The kynge schall aunswere I schall doo. Sir will ye graunte to holde fulfille and behote yow to defende rightfull lawes and customes the whiche the comons of yo rewme schall chese and ye schall answere I graunt and behote it.


  34. The othe and the forme of homage. I become yowre liege man of lyf and lyme and trouthe and erthely honoure schall bere to yow ayens all men that lyve mowe or die. So help me god and holy dome. The same othe schall be seyde I frensche. And it is to wite that the Archebishop of Cauntirbery schall firste doo his homage to the kynge and his feaute in his coronacion. And aftirwarde othir prelatis and worthi estatis of the rewme eche in his degre. And t is to wite that the kynge schall make his othe in his coronacion up on the sacrament of the autere leyde up on the hye auter of the chirche before the pepill. Also it is to knowe that the archebisshop of Cauntirbery schal anoynte the kynge and the quene and schall putte on and doo of the crownes ther hedes. To whom bi right of his chirche longith the crowne. And the anoyntyngeof the kyngis and the Quenes in Englonde or ellis the bishipis suffreigan of the chirche of Cauntirbery to whom the same archebishop in his absence at the tyme of suche coronacion schall comitte his office bu his patentes Ires, Or ellis yf the see of Cauntirbery be voyde than schall the chapiter of the chirche of Cauntirbery comitte the forseyde office to be doon. And the same archebishop in the day of the coronacion of the kyng stondynge I the pulpite schall aske opynly of the pepill yf ye will calle this worshipfull prince. N. Right eyre of the rewme and have him to ther kynge and become subgectis un to him and submitte them and obeye to his comaudemntis. Than schall the clergie and the pepill that stonde ther aboute holde up there armys and handis on brood and answere on loude. We wil and we graunt. Be it soo. Be it soo, AMEN.


  35. The principall officeris in the day of the coronacion awmen. First the office of the cheef awmoner longith to s Nicholl Bewchampe of Bedforde the whiche schall ordeyne and doo sprede the cloothe undir the kyngis feet when he gooth a procession from westmynstr’ halle un to the chirche and as moche of the clooth as it with oute the dore of the chirche of westmynstr’ he shcall doo parte it betwene pore men.


  36. The bisshopis of Durmsme and bathe. Also the bisshop of Dureme and the bisshop of bathe schull supporte the kynge in his coronacion beynge pontifically and railly arayed.


  37. The berynge of seynt Edwardis Chalys. Also the chauncelor of Engelonde yf he be a bisshop in the pontificall aray schall bere before the kynge in his procession seynt Edwardis chaleys for a greet ryalte and solempnite.


  38. The berynge of the patene. Also the tresorere of Engelonde yf he be a bisshop in pontificall aray schall bere the patene before the kynge in procession and he schall goo before the chaunceler.


  39. The septre and the goldyn rodde. Also two dukes or erles most worthi of the rewme the which bene nexte the kynge in blood schall bere the kyngis septre with the crosse and the rodde of golde with the olver before the kynge in procession.


  40. The berynge of the swerdes. Also the erle of Chester schall bere in procession before the kynge the swerde that is called curtana on whose right side the erle of hyntyngdon schall bere A nothir. And the erle of Warwik on the lyfte side schall bere the thriddle swer le.


  41. The berynge of the spores. Also oon of the moste nobill lordis and worthiest of the rewme schall beire a greet peyre of spores gylte in that procession.


  42. The bought swerde. Also the cheef and the grettest erle in the rewme schall bere the swerde that is gyrte aboute the kynge in his coronacion before the kynge in to his paleyse the which swerde the same erle schall bye ayen when it is offrid on the bye altar.


  43. The stewarde. Also the erle of leycetur schall s’ve the kynge the day of his coronacion of the office of stewardshipe.


  44. The berynge of the crownes. Also the duke of yorke and his eyres schall bere the crownes of the kynge and the quen in ther coronacion.


  45. The marchall. Also the erle of Norfolke schall s’ve that day in the office of marschall.


  46. The botelere. Also the erle of Arundell schall that be botelere.


  47. Constable. Also the erle of harforde schall s’ve that day of Constabery.


  48. Chambirleyne. Also that the erle of Oxenforde that day schall s’ve that day the chambirleyne.


  49. Ewer. Also s’Nicholl hastyng schall s’ve that day the kynge of Naperye.


  50. Pantere. Also s’Nichol bewchampe of dunlee shall s’ve the kynge that day of salt saleris and kynvys.


  51. ffurnyvall. Also s’Nicholl ffurnyvall schall supporte and bere upup the kyngis armys and the quenes in their coronacion.

  52. A lady beynge aboute the quene. Also oon of the moste nobill ladyes of the reme shall by nygh the quene in here coronacion to mynister and diligently awayte up on her.


  53. The office of the erle of Oxenforde. It is to wite that the erle of Oxenforde which is chose cheef chambirleyne of Engelonde the day of the kyngis coronacion schall clothe the kynge in the morow of his sherte and of this cote apparaylid fro the kyngis anoyntige on his body in diverse plases therof and aftwards of othir clothes. The same chambirleyne schall doo on his kyngis leggis a payre of hosyn tacchid togedir above the laces with oute shone. Also he shall bere with him the Coyfe and the Gloves of lynnyn clothe for the kyngis anoyntynge bothe to his heed and to his hondis. Also he schall doo brynge the swerde with the skawberk that the kyng offerid on the auter with him to chirche. Also he shall brynge the kyngis offeryngis that is a x. ti. Of golde and a marke of golde. Also he schall brynge with him a ryall robe and a crowne for the kyng after messe and also royal aray hosyn and ithir gere of the tyme. Also he schall doo of the kyngis abbot of Westmynst’. Also after messe the abbot of Westmynst’ and he shull doo of the kyngus regalies the whiche schull be takyn to the abbot of Westmynstr’ Also he schall be nygh alwey and bi the kynge till the service of the coronacion be endid and fulfillid.


Here endith the kyngis Coronacion.