The Manner and Form of the Coronation of the Kings and Queens of England

  1. First the prince who is to be crowned, the day before his coronation, shall be apparelled and clothed with the most noble and fairest of clothing. And so he shall ride from the Tower of London to his palace at Westminster, though out the city of London, riding with him the temporal lords and the common folk of the same city, [accompanied] by other very noble people.
  2. The King’s See: Also it has been ordained that on the day of the King’s coronation in the great hall of Westminster, that the King’s see [shall] be royally ordained and dressed with cloths, cushions and tapestries of gold and silk.
  3. The Pulpit: Also in Westminster church [there] must be a pulpit with {grees?} on every side. These must be fair and arrayed with cushions and cloths of silk and gold about the ground of both.
  4. The King’s Throne: Also in that pulpit shall be a royal throne and a royal see {?} in which the king shall sit. [This] shall also be royally arrayed with cushions and cloths of gold and silk.
  5. The Abbot of Westminster shall inform the King: Also it is to wit that the Abbot of Westminster shall for two days before the coronation inform the king and queen of diverse observances that they shall do, warning them also to shrive and to cleanse their consciences before the holy anointing. And if the abbot is dead or away in a foreign country ‘or leefully lette’ then shall another monk of the church be chosen by the convent [of monks] who shall fulfill and be in the abbot’s stead during the coronation.
  6. The Shirt and the Coat: Also the same day of the coronation where the prince shall be crowned in the royal hall. But first he shall be bathed and after the bath there shall be ordained a new shirt and a coat of silk opened to the breast and between the shoulders, also to the middle of the arms. Above the coat he hall be clothed with other noble vestments. And he shall wear hose with [oute shone] shoes?.
  7. The Solemn Procession: Also there shall be a solemn procession ordained by the abbot and the convent [of monks] of Westminster in solemn [copis?] going from the Church of Westminster unto the King’s see. In the great hall in which the prince shall be sit abiding the procession. Archbishops and Prelates shall be in the procession. And then shall the prince descend and follow the procession to the church and he shall go upon new red [?] clothe laid under his feet o n the ground from the foresaid see to the pulpit in the foresaid church. There shall be song in the receiving of kings and of queens.
  8. The Crosse. Also the cross the [patene?] the sceptre and the king’s rod, which being things of royalty, shall be borne in the procession of the Abbot. The Prior and the eldest monks of Westminster they shall take these things to the great lords who will bear them before then prince from the palace to the church.
  9. The Barons of the Cinque Ports: Also the Barons of the Cinque Ports shall bear the four spears painted with silver bells and overgilt with silver cloths, banners, of the same cloth worn upon the heads of the king and queen in the procession. And they too shall go from the king’s hall to the pulpit in Westminster.
  10. The Abbot of Westminster: The Abbot of Westminster or one of his monks in his stead shall always be ready by the king’s side and by the queens’ to inform them and to tell them what is to come.
  11. The Archbishops shall ask the Will of the People: When the prince has rested himself in his chair or other throne ordained in the aforesaid pulpit, the Archbishop of Canterbury at the four costs of the pulpit, with a high voice, shall inquire the will of the people touching on the king’s coronation. While this is done he king shall stand in his throne, facing the corners to which the Archbishop speaks. After the question, an anthem will be sung: Ffirmenteur manus tua.
  12. The Offering of the King: When the anthem has been sung and ended the king shall come down from the pulpit unto the high altar between the bishops who shall lead him. On this altar he shall offer a cloth of gold fulfilling the precept that says "look that ye appear neither void nor empty in the presence and sight of the lord God. "
  13. The Laying of the King Before the Altar: When the king has offered he shall lay down flat on the pavement before the altar upon cushions and cloths of silk and gold, thus arrayed until the Archbishop or some other who shall crown him has said the orison over him. Deus fidelium. Then shall be made a sermon to the people.
  14. And the Oath that the King Shall Make: When the sermon is done the king shall come to the altar to make his oath which he shall confirm with the sacrament of the altar.
  15. The Laying down again of the King before the Altar: Then shall the hymn begin: Veni creator spiritus. It shall be sung solemnly—when it is begun the king shall lay down before the altar as he did before until the litany and the preface are sung throughout. When they have been sung then shall the king arise and site in his chair for a little while.
  16. The Anointing of the King in five places: Afterwards the king shall arise out of his chair and go to the altar and remove his clothes save for his shirt and his coat. (barefoot) that he may receive the anointing. The choir shall then begin the anthem. Enxerunt salamone. The orison follows. Then shall he be anointed in five places; that is to say the hands, within the breast, between the shoulders, and in the break of the arm (the elbow) and on the head in the manner of a cross with the holy oil and afterwards making a cross on the forehead, again with the holy oil.
  17. The Abbot of Westminster: After the anointing and wiping with linen cloth that should be done at the places of the anointings in the openings of his coat and shirt should then be closed after the anointing by the abbot or one in his stead.
  18. The Abbot of Westminster Shall do the King’s [Pelion]: When the king is thus anointed on his head the king’s head shall be held with a linen cloth and so it shall be until the 7 days after his anointing. On this day the Abbot of Westminster or a monk in his stead shall come to the king and do of that [pylion] and wash the kings head and make it clean. The Abbot of Westminster or one of him after his anointing shall cloth the king with royal garments and his mantle of state and his hose and sandals for his feet and spurs ready made—then shall the blessings of the kings ornaments and apparel should be said at Westminster. When all these blessings are done the king shall be thus clothed with a long tunic by the Abbot of Westminster, woven with [greet]; images in gold on the front and back on the mantle of state.
  19. The Blessings of the Sword: After this the king’s sword shall be blessed and the king shall take the same sword from the bishops and gird himself with it. After that he shall be clothed with a kingly and stately cloth upon which is woven four square golden eagles.
  20. The Putting of the Crown on the King’s Head: When the king is apparelled with all these things then shall the crown be blessed and put on his head by the archbishop.
  21. The Taking of the Rod and the Sceptre: After all this the king shall don a pair of gloves, taking the sceptre with the cross in the right hand and the rod in the left. When the blessing is done he shall kiss the bishop and also the other worthy lords, after which he should be led to his royal see. The choir sings Te deum laudam.
  22. Prelates and Other Men Shall do Homage: Then the other great lords and other great men make their fealty and homage to their liege lord the king. The mass shall then begin. While this is done let Gloria in excelsis be sung and the deacon shall wave incense. At the Crede he shall kiss the book.
  23. The Offering of Bread and Wine: While the offertory is being sung the king shall make his offering of bread and wine. Afterwards he shall offer a mark of gold, bowing down his head a little while the Archbishop blesses him with two orisons. When this blessing is done the king shall be brought again into his throne and see.
  24. The Receiving of the Sacrament by the King: When the Pax is done after the Agnus dei and the king shall descend his see once again, meekly going to the altar. There shall he receive the Holy Sacrament of both flesh and blood. After the Abbot shall minister to hi the wine in a stone chalice of the regalia. After this he shall go again to his see.
  25. The Taking of the Crown from the King’s Head: When the mass is done the king shall come down from his see, going once more before the altar. There the archbishops, bishops and other great men going before him he shall go before Saint Edward’s shrine. There the archbishops shall take the Crown of Saint Edward and place it upon the king’s head, placing these things back upon Saint Edward’s altar.
  26. The King Shall do of his Regalia: Then shall the chief Chamberlain of England, that is to say the Earl of Oxford, places the royal clothes aforementioned in a little closet near Saint Edward’s shrine, all of which shall be delivered to the Abbot of Westminster, who will replace it in the altar.
  27. The Crowning of the King with Another Crown: After this the king shall be clothed again with other clothes and shall worshipfully go to the altar of Saint Edward’s shrine. There the Archbishop shall place another crown upon the king’s head, reverently, which he shall wear to his palace. The king shall then go again to his palace, thus crowned and bearing the sceptre in his hand from the altar of Saint Edward’s shrine.
  28. The Delivering of the Sceptre: When they have eaten and the king is gone to his chamber the sceptre shall be delivered to the Abbot of Westminster or one who occupies his stead by the king’s own hands to be kept in the foresaid church of Westminster among the other regalia.
  29. The Offering of the Sword: As soon as the Archbishop has put the crown on the king’s head, then shall the king offer his sword to God on the altar. The worthiest earl that there is shall bear it up again and carry it naked before the king to the altar of the church.
  30. The Crowning of the Queen: The coronation of the queen shall be made also with a procession. And if she is to be crowned with the king then shall she be anointed only on the top of her head with the cream in the manner of the cross.
  31. The King on the Day of the Coronation: The Archbishop of Canterbury shall oppose and ask the king the same day if he will hold and guarantee and keep the laws and the customs granted to his people of old by devout and right wise kings beforehand. Also if he will swear it, in particular the laws and customs and the liberties of the glorious king Edward to the people and the clergy. And the kings shall behold that he will keep all these foresaid things. Then shall the Archbishop show and declare certain articles to which the king shall swear:
  32. The Annunciation of the Bishops to the King that shall be Read: "Sir king we ask that it be granted and [given] to us [collectively] and individually and all our clergies that you will keep and grant the privilege of Holy Church and due law and rightwiseness and defend them as a king oath, that he should in his realm to every bishop and abbot and to their clergies. "
    And the king shall answer in this way: "With glad will and devout soul I give and behold to you and to each of you and to your clergies the privileges of canon law and of Holy Church and I shall keep due law and rightwiseness, defending it in as much as I may. With God’s help as a king to do in his realm to every bishop and abbot and to their clergies by right and reason. "
  33. The King’s Oath in French: "Sir, wilt thou keep and by your oath confirm to the people of England the laws and customs granted to them by ancient kings of England, rightfully mine and devout to God; namely the laws, customs and franchises granted to the clergy and to the people by the glorious king Edward to your power. "
    The king shall answer, "I shall keep them. "
    "Sir, shall you keep to God and to Holy Church and to the clergy to the people peace and accord Holy after your power? Sir, shall you do an cause to be kept in all your domains and judgments true and right in mercy and truth? "
    The king shall answer, "I shall do. "
    "Sir, we you grant to hold and fulfill and defend rightful laws and customs which the commons of your realm shall choose, to strengthen and maintain them to the worship of God after all your power? "
    The king shall answer, "I shall grant and behold it. "
  34. The Oath and the Form of Homage : "I become your liege man of life and limb and truth and earthly honours, bearing to you against all men that love, move or die, so help me God and the Holy Dame. " The same shall be said in French.
    Then the Archbishop of Canterbury shall first do his homage to the king and his fealty at his coronation. Afterwards, after the other prelates and worthy estates of the real each in his degree. The king shall make his oath in his coronation up on the sacrament of the altar laid up on the high altar of the church before the people. It is also to know that the Archbishop of Canterbury shall anoint the king and queen and shall put the crowns on their heads, to whom by right belongs the crown. And the anointing of the kings and queens in England or else the sovereign bishop of the church of Canterbury to whom the same Archbishop or in his absence at the time of such coronation shall commit his office by his letters patent, or else if the see of Canterbury is void then shall the chaplain of the church of Canterbury commit said office to be done.
    And if the same Archbishop on the day of the coronation, standing in the pulpit shall ask openly of the people if they will call this worshipful prince the right heir of the realm to have him as their king and become subjects unto him and submit themselves to obey his commandments. Then shall the clergy and the people that stand about hold up their arms and hands on [brode] and loudly answer, "We will it and we grant it. Be it so! Be it so! Amen. "
  35. The Principal Officers on the Day of the Coronation Answer: First the office of chief almoner belongs to Sir Nicholl Beauchamp of Bedford, who shall ordain and spread the cloth under the king’s feet when he goes on procession from Westminster Hall to the church and as much of the cloth as is spread outside the doors of the church, later to spread the cloth to poor men.
  36. The Bishops of Durham and Bath: Also the Bishop of Durham and the Bishop of Bath shall support the king in his coronation being pontifically and royally arrayed.
  37. The Bearing of Saint Edward’s Chalice: Also the Chancellor of England if he is a bishop in pontifical array shall bear before the king in his procession Saint Edward’s chalice in great regality and solemnity.
  38. The Bearing of the Patents The Treasurer of England if he is a bishop in pontifical array shall bear the patent before the king in procession and he shall go before the chancellor.
  39. The Sceptre and the Golden Rod: Two dukes or earls, the most worthy in the realm who are closest to the king in blood shall bear the king’s sceptre with the cross and the rod of gold with the [olver] before the king in procession.
  40. The Bearing of the Swords: The Earl of Chester shall bear in procession before the king the sword that is called Curtana. On his right side the Earl of Huntington shall bear another. The Earl of Warwick on the left side shall bear the third sword.
  41. The Bearing of the Spears: The most noble lords and worthiest of the realm shall bear a great pair of gilt spears in the procession.
  42. The Bought Sword: The chief and greatest earl in the realm shall bear the sword that is girt about the king in his coronation before the king in his palace. This same earl shall bear it again after it is offered on the high altar.
  43. The Steward: The Earl of Leicester shall serve the king the day of his coronation in the office if steward.
  44. The Bearing of the Crowns: The Duke of York and his earls shall bear the crowns of the king and queen on their coronation.
  45. The Marshal: The Earl of Norfolk shall serve that day in the office of Marshal.
  46. The Bottler (Butler): The Earl of Arundel shall that day be botelier.
  47. Constable: The Earl of Herford shall serve that day in the Constabulary.
  48. Chamberlain: The Earl of Oxford shall that day serve as Chamberlain .
  49. Ewer: Sir Nicholas Hastings shall serve that day as the King of the Napery.
  50. Pantry: Sir Nicholas Beauchamp of Dunlee shall serve the king on that day of salt cellars and knives.
  51. Ffurnivall: Sir Nicholas Ffurnivall shall support and bear the king’s armies and the queens at their coronation.
  52. A Lady Being About the Queen: One of the most noble ladies of the realm shall be nigh the queen in her coronation to minister and diligently await upon her.
  53. The Office of the Earl of Oxford: The Earl of Oxford, who is chosen as Chief Chamberlain the day of the king’s coronation shall clothe the king in the morning with his shirt and his cote, apparelled from the king’s anointage on his body in diverse places thereof, and afterwards of other clothes. The same chamberlain shall do on the king’s legs a pair of hose tied together above the laces without shoes. And he shall bear with him the coif and gloves of linen cloth for the king’s anointing both to his head and to his hands. He shall bring the sword with the scabbard* the king offers on the altar with him to church. He shall also bring the king’s offerings; that is, cloth of gold* and a mark of gold. He shall bring a royal robe and a crown for the king to wear after mass, bring also hose of the royal array and other gear for the occasion. He shall do of the king’s clothes, save for the cote and shirt, when he shall be clothed with regalia by the Abbot of Westminster. After mass, he and the Abbot of Westminster shall take the king’s regalia to Westminster. He shall always be nigh the king until the service of coronation be ended and fulfilled.
King’s Coronation
Before the actual observance took place, the prince rode from the Tower of London to Westminster Abbey. There he was bathed and dressed in lavish clothing made from rich cloth of gold and silk. The Archbishop of Canterbury, who conducted the ceremony, then instructed the prince to clear his conscience before the holy anointing. The prince, Abbot of Westminster, and monks then made a procession from Westminster to the Church of Westminster.
The will of the people was then questioned concerning the king's coronation. After the completion of the task, the anthem "Ffrimenteur manus tua" was sung. The will of the people was not the only will tested. The prince had to show his submission to God by lying in front of the altar several times during the rite. He then made an oath at the altar then fortified that oath by taking the sacred sacrament at the same altar. This part of the ceremony is when spiritual chivalry became involved. Inspired by love for God, the king, by lying at the foot of the altar, showed his submission and obedience. The king was then anointed by holy water in five different places on his body. He was stripped of his clothes save his shirt, which was worn open, and his coat. He was also barefoot. The king's hands, breast, between his shoulders, at the break of his arm, and on his forehead, the sign of the cross was made. The oil was then wiped clean with a linen cloth, and the Kings clothes were replaced.
 The king's sword also played a part in the ceremony. Symbolizing the warrior, the sword was blessed then girded on in front of the bishops. Later in the ceremony, the king offered his sword to God, and only the most loyal of earls carried the naked sword to the altar. The Archbishop of Canterbury then placed the crown on the king's head. The crown used since the thirteenth century is St. Edward's Crown. It was introduced into the ceremony after Henry III transferred the body of Edward the Confessor to Westminster Abbey. St Edward's Chair, made in the thirteenth century also, was used as the Sovereign's chair during the service. The rod and the sceptre were then placed in the king's hands, the sceptre, adorned with a cross, in the right hand and the rod in the left.
After the crowning ceremony, all of the lords and other high standing men in the court paid homage and allegiance to their lord. The King then took the Holy Sacrament of blood and flesh. The new king then agreed oaths of honour and loyalty. The Oaths were used to guarantee to keep old laws and rituals, to protect the church and the clergy, and to keep the peace for the people, church, and God. After all the sacred and ritualistic oaths were taken and sworn to by the king, the Archbishop of Canterbury paid homage to the king and was followed in doing so by those of lesser degree. Then to those who have pledged themselves to the king, the Archbishop asked if they claimed the king as their ruler, and loudly they replied, "We will it and we grant it. Be it so! Be it so! Amen."
Throughout history and literature, the support of the people is a major part of being crowned. In Sir Thomas Malory's Le Morte D'arthur, a fifteenth century compilation of Arthurian tales, Arthur is chosen to be king in three different ways. First his father, the king, chooses him. Second Arthur pulls the magical sword from the stone which myth said only the future king could do. Finally and most important, the people decide they wanted him as king. What created popular rulers with the commoners was that ruler's ability to display the ideal of the time, which was to be chivalric. The coronation ceremony honours this triumph of the king being worthy and upholding that image of chivalry and all it stood for. Even though in most cases in both history and literature, the crowned did not always reflect image of being perfect, the coronation ceremony does provide a strong representation of what chivalry involved. Honour to yourself and those weaker in body and soul, loyalty to God and your lord, military expertise represented by the sword, and religiosity, symbolized by the king lying before the altar, all bring about a beautiful ideal. The coronation brought forth these ideals to help create a wise and worthy ruler of England.

 CLASSROOM MODEL PARLIAMENT

Head of State

Head of Government
Class Emperor - Students get the opportunity to become class Emperor and receive a certain number of days sitting on the class throne, having a "prince or princess of Wales" to train for the succession, receive special treats from the teacher and class, get some assignment exemptions Prime Minister - In the first week of school we elect from willing candidates a class Prime Minister who receives a mandate to supervise ministers that he or she selects from the class.  The Prime Minister is the initiator of classroom activities, selects successors to the "emperor" and supervises ministers as they carry out their monitor duties.
  • Secretary of State - attendance, work for students who are absent
  • Minister of Library Services - signs out library books
  • Minister of Technology - assists with the operation of all class audio visual equipment from the computer to our music synthesizers and television
  • Minister of Education - assists in some classroom instruction
  • Minister of Culture - assists with class drama and music presentations
  • Minister of Sports and Fitness - helps select teams and makes sure class sports equipment is accounted for.
  • Minister of Science - keeps class science equipment in order and assists with experiments
  • Minister of Justice - class consultant in matters of justice and fairness.

Speaker of the House and Sergeant at Arms
Once we have elected a class Prime Minister all students become eligible to take a turn sitting in the Speaker's chair and getting some parliamentary duties related to that office (chairing debates, etc.)  The Speaker is allowed by tradition to "hire" a Sergeant at Arms who gets some duties related to the organization and tidiness of the class and the coronation ceremony.

Senate
The Senate consists of parents, the classroom teacher (who functions as the Speaker of the Senate) and the school Principal and Vice-Principal -before any class proposals or "bills" become official and receive the "Emperor's" signature, these must not only go through three readings in the "House of Commons" but also must be read and approved by the Senate.