Indian Antiquary Vol 48

Author(s): Richard Carnac Temple, Devadatta Ramkrishna Bhandarkar
Publisher: Swati Publications

Page 95

Jux 1919 )
ANCIENT HINDU CORONATION AND ALLIED CEREMONIALS
91
3. Next morning, the nobles and others, marshalled according to their respective ranks, accompanied the prince to the adjacent Westminster Abbey, some of the regalia 36 being carried by certain persons having title to this honour.
4. The first rite performed within the Hall was Recognition in which the Archbishop declared to the people assembled there the prince's rightful claim to the throne and asked them, whether they were ready to give their assent thereto. In this rite were laid the traces of development of coronation from an earlier form of election.
5. Next came the First Oblation, the essence of which was the rite in which a "pall of cloth of gold, and an ingot of gold of a pound weight"received by the prince from the Lord High Chamberlain were made over to the Archbishop of Canterbury, who placed them on the altar.
6. In the Proper Service of the Day, prayers were said for blessings upon the prince.
7. At the conclusion of the sermon forming part of the previous rite, the Coronation Oath was administered by the Archbishop. The prince swore to govern the kingdom according to the established laws and usages, administer justice tempered with mercy, and uphold the religion of the land, and the rights and privileges of the members of the church.
8. The Dean of Westminster anointed with oil from the Ampulla, the palms of the prince's hands, his chest, shoulders, arms, and the crown of his head.
9. The next rite consists in investing the prince with vestments, girdle, buskins, sandals, spurs, sword, &c., which were made over to him on this occasion. Two noteworthy features of this function are that the Archbishop (a) while passing the sword to the prince requested him to protect the church, people, widows, orphans, restore things gone to decay and maintain those that were restored ; and (b) while delivering to him the Orb with the Cross he uttered the formula "Receive this Orb, and remember that the whole world is subject to the power and empire of God, and that no one can happily reign upon earth, who hath not received his authority from heaven." At the time of Augustus, the Roman emperor, the Orb was regarded as the symbol of universal dominion. The Cross was affixed to it by Constantine the Great, signifying that universal dominion was but possible by faith.37
10. The Archbishop assisted by other clergymen put the crown on the head of the prince seated on St. Edward's Chair, saying, “God crown thee with a crown of glory and righteousness, with the honour and virtue of fortitude that (thou) by (our ministry having) a right faith and manifold fruits of good works, thou mayest obtain the crown of an everlasting kingdom, by the gift of Him whose kingdom endureth for ever. Amen."
11. The Sovereign was invested with the Ring of faith, held the Sceptre of kingly power, the Rod of virtue and equity, and the Bible. He then received the Archbishop's Benediction in appropriate words.
12. The Sovereign was conducted to the throne by the Archbishop who was followed by the bishops and great officers of state. After he was seated on the throne, the Archbishop delivered an exhortation and took the Oath of Fealty. This Oath was also taken by the bishops and the premier Duke, Marquis, Earl, Viscount, and Baron, each of them
3The principal Regalis are :-St. Edward's Chair, St. Edward's Crown, Crowns and Circlets, Orb with the Cross, Sceptre with the Cruss, Bt. Edward's Staff, Ampulls (or Golden Eagle), Ivory Rod, Chalice, Paton, Swords, Ring, Spurs, Curtana (or pointless Sword of Moroy), and the Bible.
27 Chapters on Coronations, pp. 27, 118.