Chapter V: Part 5

In this procession they made their reverences, first at the lower end of the Hall, secondly about the middle, where both the Choirs opening to the right and left a passage, through which the officers of arms passing opened likewise on each side, the seniors placing themselves nearest towards the steps: then the dean and prebendaries having come to the front of the steps, made their third reverence. This being done, the dean and prebendaries being come to the foot of the steps, deputy Garter preceding them (he having waited their coming there), ascended the steps, and approaching near the table before the King, made their last reverence. The dean then presented the crown to the lord high constable, who delivered it to the deputy lord great chamberlain, and it was by him placed on the table before the King. The rest of the regalia was severally delivered by each prebendary, on his knee, to the dean, by him to the lord high constable, by him to the deputy lord great chamberlain, and by him laid on the table. The regalia being thus delivered, the prebendaries and dean returned to the middle of the hall. His Majesty having commanded deputy Garter to summon the noblemen and bishops who were to bear the regalia, the deputy lord great chamberlain, then taking up the several swords, sceptres, the orb, and crown, placed them in the hands of those by whom they were to be carried.

I. St. Edward's staff, by the Marquess of Salisbury.
II. The spurs, by Lord Calthorpe, as deputy to the Baroness Grey de
Ruthyn.
III. The sceptre with the cross, by the Marquess Wellesley.
IV. The pointed sword of temporal justice, by the Earl of Galloway.
V. The pointed sword of spiritual justice, by the Duke of Northumberland.
VI. Curtana, or sword of mercy, by the Duke of Newcastle.
VII. The sword of state, by the Duke of Dorset.
VIII. The sceptre with the dove, by the Duke of Rutland.
IX. The orb, by the Duke of Devonshire.
X. St. Edward's crown, by the Marquess of Anglesey, as lord high steward.
XI. The patina, by the Bishop of Gloucester.
XII. The chalice, by the Bishop of Chester.
XIII. The Bible, by the Bishop of Ely.

The two bishops who are to support his Majesty were then summoned by deputy Garter, and, ascending the steps, placed themselves on each side of the king.

PROCESSION TO THE ABBEY.

The second gun was then fired, and the procession moved upon the blue cloth spread on the platform from the throne in Westminster Hall to the great steps in the Abbey church; the following anthem, "O Lord, grant the king a long life," &c. being sung in parts, in succession, with his Majesty's band playing, the sounding of trumpets, and the beating of drums, until the arrival in the Abbey.

Order.

The King's Herb-woman with her six Maids,
strewing the way with herbs.

Messenger of the College of Arms, in a scarlet cloak,
with the arms of the College embroidered
on the left shoulder.

The Dean's Beadle of Westminster, with his staff.

The High Constable of Westminster, with his staff, in a
scarlet cloak.

Two Household Fifes with banners of velvet fringed with
gold, and five Household Drummers in royal
livery, drum-covers of crimson velvet,
laced and fringed with gold.

The Drum-Major, in a rich livery, and a crimson scarf
fringed with gold.

Eight Trumpets in rich liveries: banners of crimson
damask embroidered and fringed with gold, to
the silver trumpets.

Kettle-Drums, drum-covers of crimson damask, embroidered
and fringed with gold.

Eight Trumpets in liveries, as before.

Serjeant Trumpeter, with his mace.

The Knight Marshal, attended by his Officers.

The Six Clerks in Chancery.

The King's Chaplains having dignities.

The Sheriffs of London.

The Aldermen and Recorder of London.

Masters in Chancery.

The King's Serjeants at Law.

The King's Ancient Serjeant.

The King's Solicitor Gen. The King's Attorney Gen.

Gentlemen of the Privy Chamber.

Serj. of the Vestry of the Chapel Royal. Serj. Porter.

Children of the Choir of Westminster, in surplices.

Children of the Chapel Royal, in surplices, with scarlet
mantles over them.

Choir of Westminster, in surplices.

Gentlemen of the Chapel Royal, in scarlet mantles.

Sub-Dean of the Chapel Royal, in a scarlet gown.

Prebendaries of Westminster, in surplices and rich copes.

The Dean of Westminster, in a surplice and rich cope.

Pursuivants of Scotland and Ireland, in their tabards.

His Majesty's Band.

Officers attendant on the Knights Commanders of the
Bath, in their mantles, chains and badges.

Knights Grand Crosses of the Bath (not Peers), in the
full habit of their order, caps in their hands.

A Pursuivant of Arms, in his tabard.

Barons of the Exchequer and Justices of both benches.

The Lord Chief Baron The Lord Chief Justice
of the Exchequer. of the Common Pleas.

The Vice Chancellor. The Master of the Rolls.

The Lord Chief Justice of the King's Bench.

The Clerks of the Council in Ordinary.

Privy Counsellors, not Peers.

Register of the Order of the Garter.

Knights of the Garter (not Peers), in the full habit and
collar of the order, caps in their hands.

His Majesty's Vice Chamberlain.

Comptroller of His Treasurer of His Majesty's
Majesty's Household, bearing the crimson
Household. bag with the medals.

A Pursuivant of Arms, in his tabard.

Heralds of Scotland and Ireland, in their tabards and
collars of SS.

The Standard of Hanover, borne by the Earl of Mayo.

Barons, in their robes of estate, their coronets
in their hands.

A Herald, in his tabard and collar of SS.

The Standard of Ireland, The Standard of Scotland,
borne by borne by the
Lord Beresford. Earl of Lauderdale.

The Bishops of England and Ireland, in their rochets,
with their caps in their hands.

Two Heralds, in their tabards and collars of SS.

Viscounts, in their robes of estate, their
coronets in their hands.

Two Heralds, in their tabards and collars of SS.

The Standard of England, borne by Lord Hill.

Earls, in their robes of estate, their coronets in their hand.

Two Heralds, in their tabards and collars of SS.

The Union Standard, borne by Earl Harcourt.

Marquesses, in their robes of estate, their
coronets in their hands.

The Lord Chamberlain of His Majesty's Household, in his
robes of estate, his coronet in his hand, attended by
an officer of the Jewel-Office in a scarlet mantle,
with a crown embroidered on his left
shoulder, bearing a cushion, on which
are placed the ruby ring and the
sword to be girt about
the King.

The Lord Steward of His Majesty's Household, in his
robes of estate, his coronet in his hand.

The Royal Standard, borne by the Earl of Harrington.

King of Arms of Gloucester King Hanover King
the Order of of Arms, in his of Arms in his
St. Michael and tabard, crown tabard, crown
St. George, in his in his hand. in his hand.
tabard, crown
in his hand.

Dukes, in their robes of estate, their coronets in their
hands.

Ulster King of Clarenceux King of Norroy King of
Arms, in his Arms, in his Arms, in his
tabard, crown tabard, crown tabard, crown
in his hand. in his hand. in his hand.

The Lord Privy Seal, in The Lord President of the
his robes of estate, Council, in his robes of
coronet in his hand. estate, coronet in his hand.

Archbishops of Ireland.

The Archbishop of York, in his rochet,
cap in his hand.

The Lord High Chancellor, in his robes of estate, with his
coronet in his hand, bearing his purse, and attended
by his Pursebearer.

The Lord Archbishop of Canterbury, in his rochet,
cap in his hand.

Two Serjeants at Arms.

THE REGALIA.

St. Edward's Staff, The Gold Spurs, The Sceptre with
borne by the borne by the the Cross,
Marquess of Salisbury. Lord Calthorpe. borne by the
Marquess Wellesley.

The third Sword, Curtana, borne by The second Sword,
borne by the the Duke of borne by the
Earl of Galloway. Newcastle. Duke of Northumberland.

Two Serjeants at Arms.

Usher of the Green Rod. Usher of the White Rod.

The The Garter Principal Gentleman
Lord Mayor Lord Lyon of King Usher of the
of London, Scotland, in of Arms, in Black Rod,
in his gown, his tabard, his tabard, bearing his
collar, and carrying his bearing his rod.
jewel, bearing crown and crown and
the City sceptre. sceptre.
mace.

The Deputy Lord Great Chamberlain of England, in his
robes of estate, his coronet and his white staff in his
hand.

His Royal Highness the Prince Leopold, in the full habit
of the Order of the Garter, carrying in his right hand
his baton as Field Marshal, and, in his left, his cap and
feathers; his train borne by a Page.

His Royal Highness the Duke of Gloucester, in his robes
of estate, carrying, in his right hand, his baton as
Field Marshal, and in his left his coronet; his train
borne by a Page.

His Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge, in his robes
of estate, carrying, in his right hand, his baton as Field
Marshal, and his coronet in his left; and his train
borne by a Page.

His Royal Highness the Duke of Sussex, in his robes of
estate, with his coronet in his hand, and his train
borne by a Page.

His Royal Highness the Duke of Clarence, in his robes
of estate, with his coronet in his hand, and his train
borne by a Page.

His Royal Highness the Duke of York, in his robes of
estate, carrying, in his right hand, his baton as Field
Marshal, and his coronet in his left, and his train
borne by a Page.

The High Constable of Ireland The High Constable of Scotland,
in his robes, coronet in his robes, coronet
in his hand, with his in his hand, with his staff.
staff.

Two Serjeants at Arms.

The Deputy Earl The Sword The Lord High Constable
Marshal of State, of England, in his
with his staff. borne by robes, his coronet in
the Duke of his hand, with his staff;
Dorset. attended by a Page
carrying his baton of
Field Marshal.

Two Serjeants at Arms.

The Sceptre St. Edward's The Orb,
with the Crown, carried by
Dove, carried by the Duke
carried by the Lord High of Devonshire.
A Gentleman the Duke Steward in A Gentleman
carrying the of Rutland. his robes. carrying the
Staff of the Coronet of the
Lord High The Patina, The Bible, The Chalice, Lord High
Steward. borne by borne by borne by Steward.
the Bishop the Bishop the Bishop
of Gloucester. of Ely. of Chester.

THE KING.

Supporter: In the Royal Robes, Supporter:
Lord wearing a cap Lord
Bishop of of estate, adorned Bishop of
Oxford, with jewels, Lincoln
for the under a canopy for the
Lord of cloth of gold, Lord
Twenty Bishop of borne by Sixteen Bishop of Twenty
Gentlemen Bath and Barons of the Durham. gentlemen
Pensioners, Wells. Cinque Ports. pensioners,
with the His Majesty's train with the
Standard borne by Eight Lieutenant.
Bearer. Eldest Sons of Peers,
assisted by the
Master of the Robes,
and followed by the
Groom of the Robes.

Captain of the Gold Stick of the Captain of the
Yeomen of Life Guards in Band of
the Guard, in his Waiting, in his Gentlemen
robes of estate; robes; Pensioners, in
coronet in his coronet in his his robes
hand. hand. of estate;
coronet in his
hand.

Lords of the Bedchamber.

The Keeper of His Majesty's Privy Purse.

Grooms of the King's Bedchamber.

Equerries and Pages of Honour.

Aides-de-Camp.

Gentlemen Ushers.

Physicians, Surgeons, Apothecaries.

Ensign of the Yeomen of Lieutenant of the Yeomen
the Guard. of the Guard.

His Majesty's Pages in full State Liveries.

His Majesty's Footmen in full State Liveries.

Exons of the Yeomen Yeomen of Exons of the Yeomen
of the Guard. the Guard. of the Guard.

Gentleman Harbinger of the Band of Gentlemen
Pensioners.

Clerk of the Cheque Clerk of the Cheque to
to the Yeomen of the Guard. the Gentlemen Pensioners.

Yeomen of the Guard, to close the Procession.

On the arrival of the procession at the Abbey, the Herb-woman and her Maids, and the Serjeant-Porter, remained at the entrance within the great west door.

ENTRANCE INTO WESTMINSTER ABBEY.

The King entered the west door of the Abbey church at eleven o'clock, and was received with the undermentioned anthem, which was sung by the choir of Westminster, who, with the dean and prebendaries, quitted the procession a little before, and went to the left side of the middle aisle, and remained there till his Majesty arrived, and then followed in the procession next to the regalia.

ANTHEM I.

Psalm cxxii. verses 1, 5, 6, 7. "I was glad when they said unto me,
we will go into the House of the Lord. For there is the seat of
judgment, even the seat of the House of David. O pray for the peace
of Jerusalem; they shall prosper that love thee. Peace be within
thy walls, and plenteousness within thy palaces."

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.

As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without
end. Amen.

During the above his Majesty passed through the body of the church, and through the choir up the stairs to the theatre. He then passed his throne and made his humble adoration, and afterwards knelt at the faldstool set for him before his chair; at the same time his Majesty used some short private prayer: he then sat down (not on his throne, but in his chair before and below his throne) and reposed himself.

THE RECOGNITION.

When the King was thus placed, the archbishop turned to the east part of the theatre; then, together with the lord chancellor, lord great chamberlain, lord high constable, and earl marshal (Garter king at arms preceding them), went to the other three sides of the theatre, in the order, south, west, and north, and at each side addressed the people in a loud voice; the King at the same time standing up by his chair, turned and showed himself to the people at each of the four sides of the theatre, while the archbishop spoke as follows:--

"SIRS,

"I here present unto you King George the Fourth, the undoubted king
of this realm: wherefore all you that come this day to do your
homage, are ye willing to do the same?"

This was answered by the loud and repeated acclamations of the persons present, expressive of their willingness and joy, at the same time they cried out--

"God save King George the Fourth!"

Then the trumpets sounded.

THE FIRST OBLATION.

The archbishop in the meantime went to the altar and put on his cope, and placed himself at the north side of the altar; as did also the bishops who took part in the office.

The officers of the wardrobe, &c. here spread carpets and cushions on the floor and steps of the altar.

And here, first the Bible, paten, and cup, were brought and placed upon the altar. The King then, supported by the two bishops of Durham and Bath, and attended by the dean of Westminster, the lords carrying the regalia before him, went down to the altar, and knelt upon the steps of it, and made his first oblation, uncovered.

Here the pall, or altar-cloth of gold, was delivered by the master of the great wardrobe to the lord great chamberlain, and by him, kneeling, it was presented to his Majesty. The treasurer of the household then delivered a wedge of gold of a pound weight to the lord great chamberlain, which he, kneeling, delivered to his Majesty. The King then (uncovered) delivered them to the archbishop.

The archbishop received them one after another (standing) from his Majesty, and laid the pall reverently upon the altar. The gold was received into the basin; and, with like reverence, was placed upon the altar.

Then the archbishop said the following prayer, the King still kneeling:--

O God, who dwellest in the high and holy place, with them also who
are of an humble spirit; mercifully look down upon this thy humble
servant, GEORGE our King, here humbling himself before thee at thy
footstool, and graciously receive these oblations which, in humble
acknowledgment of thy sovereignty over all, and of thy great bounty
to him in particular, he hath now offered up unto thee, through
Jesus Christ, our only Mediator and Advocate. Amen.

When the King had thus offered his oblation, he went to his chair set for him on the south side of the altar, and knelt at his faldstool, and the Litany commenced, which was read by two bishops, vested in copes, and kneeling at a faldstool above the steps of the theatre, on the middle of the east side; the choir read the responses.

In the meantime the lords who carried the regalia, except those who bore the swords, approached the altar, and each presented what he carried to the archbishop, who delivered them to the dean of Westminster, who placed them on the altar. They then retired to the places and seats appointed for them.

The bishops, and the people with them, then said the Lord's Prayer.

The Communion service was read; the people, kneeling, made the responses to the ten commandments, which were delivered by the archbishop.

Then the archbishop, standing as before, said the following Collect for the King:--

_Let us pray._

Almighty God, whose kingdom is everlasting and power infinite: have
mercy upon the whole church, and so rule the heart of thy chosen
servant George our king and governor, that he (knowing whose
minister he is) may above all things seek thy honour and glory; and
that we and all his subjects (duly considering whose authority he
hath) may faithfully serve, honour, and humbly obey him, in thee and
for thee, according to thy blessed word and ordinance, through Jesus
Christ our Lord, who with thee and the Holy Ghost, liveth and
reigneth ever one God, world without end. Amen.

The following epistle was then read by one of the bishops:--

1 Pet. ii. 13.

Submit yourselves to man for the Lord's sake: whether it be to the
king as supreme; or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by
him for the punishment of evil-doers, and for the praise of them
that do well. For so is the will of God, that with well doing, ye
may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men: as free, and not
using your liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as the
servants of God. Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God.
Honour the king.

The Gospel was then read by another bishop, the King and the people standing.

St. Matth. xxii. 15.

Then went the Pharisees, and took counsel how they might entangle
him in his talk. And they sent out unto him their disciples, with
the Herodians, saying, Master, we know that thou art true, and
teachest the way of God in truth, neither carest thou for any man,
for thou regardest not the person of men: tell us therefore, What
thinkest thou? Is it lawful to give tribute unto Caesar, or not? But
Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, Why tempt ye me, ye
hypocrites? Show me the tribute money. And they brought unto him a
penny. And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and
superscription? They say unto him, Caesar's. Then saith he unto them,
Render therefore unto Caesar, the things which are Caesar's: and unto
God, the things that are God's. When they had heard these words,
they marvelled, and left him, and went their way.

Then the Archbishop read the Nicene Creed; the King and the people standing as before.

I believe in one God the Father, &c. &c.

At the end of the Creed, the archbishop of York preached the sermon in the pulpit placed against the pillar at the north-east corner of the theatre. The King listened to the same sitting in his chair on the south side of the altar, over against the pulpit.

The Sermon.

His text was the 23d chapter of the Second Book of Samuel, and the 3d and 4th verses.

"He that ruleth over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God.
And he shall be as the light of the morning, when the sun riseth,
even a morning without clouds."

Such, observed his Grace, were the words of a pious Prince, whose
opinions had been matured by experience. A steady adherence to the
maxims there laid down could scarcely fail to preserve from error,
and would at once inspire the subject with a reverence for the
sovereign, and impress the sovereign with a sense of those
obligations which bound him to render justice to the people. The
duties of kings were of a particular nature, and the subject was one
of more than common importance upon a day like the present, which
was to be marked by the solemnization of that contract by which the
king bound himself to rule with justice and equity. The highest
station, and the most exalted rank, were not free from the
infirmities of nature; and it therefore behoved the sovereign not to
forget that he was himself but the minister of a higher authority,
and that it was his duty so to exert the power which resided in him,
as to secure the love and attachment of his people. The history of
all nations would show that the people were not ungrateful under the
administration of good kings. It was true, that it was the
disposition of human nature to imagine grievances where in reality
none existed; but still there were many real grievances which a king
had the power and ought to have the disposition to relieve. The
text which he had just read naturally led to the consideration of
what were the principles which constituted a good government. In a
moral point of view, no distinction could be drawn between the
duties due from one individual to another, and those due from a
monarch to his people. It ought not to be forgotten that natural
equity demanded the same degree of observance with regard to the
contract entered into with a whole people, as it did to those
obligations into which individuals entered with regard to each
other. There was no higher duty incumbent upon kings than that of
selecting proper persons to represent them in the different
departments of state. Upon that step how much of the happiness of
the people would depend! It was a proud reflection, that no nation
stood more high in the estimation of surrounding nations, or was
more admired for its morality, its attention to religious duties,
the justice of its measures, or the soundness of its general policy,
than our own. He insisted that it was necessary to preserve and to
encourage that feeling by a reciprocal attention, on the parts both
of the monarch and of the people, to those duties which were due
from each. If such an attention was not given, it would be in vain
to expect national happiness; and however successful we might be in
our dealings with foreign nations, still it ought not to be
forgotten that the apparent prosperity of a nation ought not to be
regarded as an evidence of the happiness of its people. But, above
all, it was necessary that the king should seek to secure respect to
himself and obedience to the laws, by displaying in his own person
an example of good conduct. It was the province of the monarch to
reflect that he was responsible not only for his own actions, but
also for that evil which the direct influence of his own example
might accomplish. Well, therefore, had it been said in the words of
his text, "He that ruleth over men must be just, ruling in the fear
of God." A good government would secure to itself a due observance
of its own rights, and would also afford to the people the
protection of its wisdom and power. His Grace, after some general
remarks on the duties of kings, proceeded to observe, that the House
of Hanover had always been distinguished by its devotion to the
interests of true religion. Our late venerable sovereign had
presented a striking example of royal goodness by the attention
which had always marked both his public and private conduct; and we
were bound to hope (upon looking to the past) that the sovereign who
was now about to receive the imperial crown of his ancestors would
be equally remarkable for the exemplary discharge of the duties of
royalty. Nor ought it to be forgotten that the illustrious
individual, to whom he had alluded, had not been unused to the
functions of government; and that he had given proofs of such
capacity and disposition as enabled us to form good hopes of the
future. At the time when he had first been called to the exercise of
the supreme power, he had found the country involved in a war which
threatened its existence--a war which had not been engaged in on our
part for the purposes of aggrandisement, but for the defence and
preservation of our rights. Under his superintendence that war had
been concluded, and its conclusion had been marked by exertions
unparalleled in the history of any nation. Under such auspices,
therefore, it was right to anticipate all those blessings which
could arise on one hand from the protection of a just and wise
monarch, and on the other from the affections of a loyal and happy
people. "Let us then adore that Almighty Providence which has
conferred upon us such a sovereign; let us implore that blessings
may be multiplied on his head, and that his reign may be prosperous
and happy."

His Grace commenced the Sermon at a quarter past twelve, and ended it at about a quarter to one.

The King was uncovered during the offering and the service that followed; when the sermon commenced he put on his cap of crimson velvet turned up with ermine, and remained covered to the end of it.

On his Majesty's right hand stood the bishop of Durham, and beyond him, on the same side, the lords that carried the swords. On his Majesty's left hand stood the bishop of Bath and Wells, and the lord great chamberlain.

On the north side of the altar sat the archbishop in a purple velvet chair; the bishops were placed on forms along the north side of the wall, betwixt the King and the pulpit. Near the archbishop stood garter, king at arms. On the south side, east of the King's chair, nearer to the altar, stood the dean of Westminster, the rest of the bishops who took part in the church service, and the prebendaries of Westminster.

THE OATH.

When the Sermon ended, the archbishop went to the King, and standing before him, (his Majesty, on Thursday, the 27th of April, 1820, in the presence of the two Houses of Parliament, made and signed the declaration against popery,) administered the coronation oath, first asking the King--

Sir; is your Majesty willing to take the oath?

The King answered:--I am willing.

The archbishop then ministered these questions; and the King, having a copy of the printed form and order of the coronation service in his hands, answered each question severally, as follows:--

Arch. Will you solemnly promise and swear to govern the people of
this United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, and the dominions
thereto belonging, according to the statutes in Parliament agreed
on, and the respective laws and customs of the same?

King. I solemnly promise so to do.

Arch. Will you to your power cause law and justice, in mercy, to be
executed in all your judgments?

King. I will.

Arch. Will you to the utmost of your power maintain the laws of God,
the true profession of the Gospel, and the Protestant Reformed
Religion established by law? And will you maintain and preserve
inviolably the settlement of the United Church of England and
Ireland, and the doctrine, worship, discipline, and government
thereof, as by law established within England and Ireland, and the
territories thereunto belonging? And will you preserve unto the
bishops and clergy of England and Ireland, and to the United Church
committed to their charge, all such rights and privileges, as by law
do, or shall appertain to them, or any of them?

King. All this I promise to do.

Then the King, arising out of his chair, supported as before, and assisted by the lord great chamberlain, the sword of state being carried before him, went to the altar, and there being uncovered, made his solemn oath in the sight of all the people, to observe the premises; laying his right hand upon the Holy Gospel in the great Bible, which was before carried in the procession, and was now brought from the altar by the archbishop, and tendered to him as he knelt upon the steps, saying these words:--

The things which I have here before promised, I will perform and
keep.

So help me God.

Then the King kissed the book, and signed the oath.

THE ANOINTING.

(In the morning early, care was taken that the ampula was filled with oil, and the spoon laid ready upon the altar of the Abbey church.)

The King having thus taken his oath, returned again at the chair; and kneeling at his faldstool, the archbishop begun the hymn Veni, Creator Spiritus, and the choir sang it out.

ANTHEM II.

Come, Holy Ghost, our souls inspire,
And warm them with thy heav'nly fire.
Thou who th' anointing Spirit art,
To us thy sevenfold gifts impart.
Let thy bless'd unction from above
Be to us comfort, life, and love.
Enable with celestial light
The weakness of our mortal sight:
Anoint our hearts, and cheer our face,
With the abundance of thy grace:
Keep far our foes, give peace at home;
Where thou dost dwell, no ill can come:
Teach us to know the Father, Son,
And Spirit of both, to be but one,
That so, through ages all along,
This may be our triumphant song;
In thee, O Lord, we make our boast,
Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

This being ended, the archbishop said this prayer:--

O Lord, Holy Father, who by anointing with oil didst of old make and
consecrate kings, priests, and prophets, to teach and govern thy
people Israel: bless and sanctify thy chosen servant George, who by
our office and ministry is now to be anointed with this oil, and
consecrated King of this realm: strengthen him, O Lord, with the
Holy Ghost the Comforter; Confirm and stablish him with thy free and
princely spirit, the spirit of wisdom and government, the spirit of
counsel and ghostly strength, the spirit of knowledge and true
godliness, and fill him, O Lord, with the spirit of thy holy fear,
now and for ever. Amen.

This prayer being ended, the choir sang:

ANTHEM III.

Zadok the priest, and Nathan the prophet, anointed Solomon King; and
all the people rejoiced, and said, God save the King! Long live the
King! May the King live for ever! Amen. Hallelujah!

In the meantime the King, rising from his devotions, went before the altar, supported and attended as before.

The King sat down in his chair, placed in the midst of the area over against the altar, with the faldstool before it, wherein he was anointed. Four knights of the garter held over him a rich pall of silk, or cloth of gold; the dean of Westminster took the ampula and spoon from off the altar, poured some of the holy oil into the spoon, and with it the archbishop anointed the King, in the form of a cross:

1. On the crown of the head, saying,

Be thy head anointed with holy oil, as kings, priests, and prophets
were anointed.

2. On the breast, saying,

Be thy breast anointed with holy oil.

3. On the palms of both the hands, saying,

Be thy hands anointed with holy oil:

And as Solomon was anointed king by Zadok the priest, and Nathan the
prophet, so be you anointed, blessed, and consecrated King over this
people, whom the Lord your God hath given you to rule and govern, in
the name of the father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.

Then the dean of Westminster laid the ampula and spoon upon the altar, and the King kneeling down at the faldstool, and the archbishop standing on the north side of the altar, said this prayer or blessing over him:--

Our Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who by his Father was
anointed with the oil of gladness above his fellows, by his holy
anointing pour down upon your head and heart the blessing of the
Holy Ghost, and prosper the works of your hands: that by the
assistance of his heavenly grace you may preserve the people
committed to your charge in wealth, peace, and godliness; and after
a long and glorious course of ruling this temporal kingdom wisely,
justly, and religiously, you may at last be made partaker of an
eternal kingdom, through the merits of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

This prayer being ended, the King arose, and sat down again in his chair, and the dean of Westminster wiped and dried all the places anointed, with fine linen, or fine bombast wool, delivered to him by the lord great chamberlain.

THE PRESENTING OF THE SPURS AND SWORD, AND THE GIRDING AND OBLATION OF THE SAID SWORD.

Then the spurs were brought from the altar by the dean of Westminster, and delivered to a nobleman thereto appointed by the King, who, kneeling down, presents them to His Majesty, who forthwith sent them back to the altar.

Then the lord who carried the sword of state, returned the said sword to the officers of the Jewel-house, which was thereupon deposited in the traverse in King Edward's chapel; he received thence, in lieu thereof, another sword, in a scabbard of purple velvet, provided for the King to be girt withal, which he delivered to the archbishop; and the archbishop, laying it on the altar, said the following prayer:--

Hear our prayers, O Lord, we beseech thee, and so direct and support
thy servant King GEORGE, who is now to be girt with this sword, that
he may not bear it in vain; but may use it as the minister of God,
for the terror and punishment of evil-doers, and for the protection
and encouragement of those that do well, through Jesus Christ our
Lord. Amen.

Then the archbishop took the sword from off the altar, and (the bishops assisting, and going along with him) delivered it into the King's right hand, and he holding it, the archbishop said:--

Receive this kingly sword, brought now from the altar of God, and
delivered to you by the hands of us the bishops and servants of God,
though unworthy.

The King stood up, the sword was girt about him by the lord great chamberlain, and then, the King sitting down, the archbishop said:--

Remember him of whom the royal Psalmist did prophesy, saying, "Gird
thee with thy sword upon thy thigh, O thou most mighty, good luck
have thou with thine honour, ride on prosperously, because of truth,
meekness, and righteousness;" and be thou a follower of him. With
this sword do justice, stop the growth of iniquity, protect the holy
Church of God, help and defend widows and orphans, restore the
things that are gone to decay, maintain the things that are
restored, punish and reform what is amiss, and confirm what is in
good order: that doing these things, you may be glorious in all
virtue; and so represent our Lord Jesus Christ in this life, that
you may reign for ever with him in the life which is to come. Amen.

Then the King, rising up, ungirded his sword, and, going to the altar, offered it there in the scabbard, and then returned and sat down in his chair: and the chief peer offered the price of it, namely, a hundred shillings, and having thus redeemed it, received it from off the altar by the dean of Westminster, and drew it out of the scabbard, and carried it naked before his Majesty during the rest of the solemnity.

THE INVESTING WITH THE ARMILL & ROYAL ROBE, AND THE DELIVERY OF THE ORB.

Then the King arising, the dean of Westminster took the armill from the master of the great wardrobe, and put it about his Majesty's neck, and tied it to the bowings of his arms, above and below the elbows, with silk strings; the archbishop standing before the King, and saying:--

Receive this armill as a token of the divine mercy embracing you on
every side.

Next the robe royal, or purple robe of state, of cloth of tissue, lined or furred with ermines, was by the master of the great wardrobe delivered to the dean of Westminster, and by him put upon the King, standing; the crimson robe which he wore before being first taken off by the lord great chamberlain: the King having received it, sat down, and then the orb with the cross was brought from the altar by the dean of Westminster, and delivered into the King's hand by the archbishop, pronouncing this blessing and exhortation:--

Receive this imperial robe and orb, and the Lord your God endue you
with knowledge and wisdom, with majesty and with power from on high;
the Lord clothe you with the robe of righteousness, and with the
garments of salvation. And when you see this orb set under the
cross, remember that the whole world is subject to the power and
empire of Christ our Redeemer. For He is the Prince of the kings of
the earth; King of kings, and Lord of lords: so that no man can
reign happily, who deriveth not his authority from him, and
directeth not all his actions according to his laws.

THE INVESTITURE PER ANNULUM ET BACULUM.

Then the master of the Jewel-house delivered the King's ring to the archbishop, in which a table jewel was enchased; the archbishop put it on the fourth finger of his Majesty's right hand, and said:--

Receive this ring, the ensign of kingly dignity, and of defence of
the Catholic faith; and as you are this day solemnly invested in the
government of this earthly kingdom, so may you be sealed with that
spirit of promise, which is the earnest of an heavenly inheritance,
and reign with Him who is the blessed and only Potentate, to whom be
glory for ever and ever. Amen.

The King delivered his orb to the dean of Westminster, to be by him laid upon the altar; and then the dean of Westminster brought the sceptre and rod to the archbishop; and the lord of the manor of Worksop (who claimed to hold an estate by the service of presenting to the King a right hand glove on the day of his coronation, and supporting the King's right arm whilst he holds the sceptre with the cross) delivered to the King a pair of rich gloves, and in any occasion happening afterwards, supported his Majesty's right arm, or held his sceptre by him.

The gloves being put on, the archbishop delivered the sceptre, with the cross, into the King's right hand, saying,

Receive the royal sceptre, the ensign of kingly power and justice.

And then he delivered the rod, with the dove, into the King's left hand, and said,

Receive the rod of equity and mercy: and God, from whom all holy
desires, all good counsels, and all just works do proceed, direct
and assist you in the administration and exercise of all those
powers he hath given you. Be so merciful, that you be not too
remiss; so execute justice, that you forget not mercy. Punish the
wicked, protect the oppressed; and the blessing of him who was ready
to perish shall be upon you; thus in all things following His great
and holy example, of whom the prophet David said, "Thou lovest
righteousness, and hatest iniquity; the sceptre of thy kingdom is a
right sceptre;" even Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

THE PUTTING ON OF THE CROWN.

The archbishop, standing before the altar, took the crown into his hands, and laying it again before him upon the altar, said,

O God, who crownest thy faithful servants with mercy and
loving-kindness; look down upon this thy servant GEORGE our King,
who now in lowly devotion boweth his head to thy Divine Majesty; and
as thou dost this day set a crown of pure gold upon his head, so
enrich his royal heart with thy heavenly grace; and crown him with
all princely virtues, which may adorn the high station wherein thou
hast placed him, through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom be honour
and glory, for ever and ever. Amen.

Then the King sat down in king Edward's chair; the archbishop, assisted with other bishops, came from the altar; the dean of Westminster brought the crown, and the archbishop taking it of him, reverently put it upon the King's head. At the sight whereof the people, with loud and repeated shouts, cried, "God save the King!" and the trumpets sounded, and, by a signal given, the great guns at the Tower were shot off.

The noise ceasing, the archbishop rose and said,

Be strong and of good courage: observe the commandments of God, and
walk in his holy ways: fight the good fight of faith, and lay hold
on eternal life; that in this world you may be crowned with success
and honour, and when you have finished your course, you may receive
a crown of righteousness, which God the righteous Judge shall give
you in that day. Amen.

Then the choir sung this short anthem.

ANTHEM IV.

The King shall rejoice in thy strength, O Lord: exceeding glad shall
he be of thy salvation. Thou hast presented him with the blessings
of goodness, and hast set a crown of pure gold upon his head.
Hallelujah. Amen.

As soon as the King was crowned, the peers, &c. put on their coronets and caps.

THE PRESENTING OF THE HOLY BIBLE.

The dean of Westminster took the Holy Bible, which was carried in the procession, from off the altar, and delivered it to the archbishop, who, with the rest of the bishops going along with him, presented it to the King, first saying these words to him:--

Our Gracious King; we present unto your Majesty this book, the most
valuable thing that this world affordeth. Here is wisdom; this is
the royal law; these are the lively oracles of God. Blessed is he
that readeth, and they that hear the words of this book; that keep,
and do, the things contained in it. For these are the words of
eternal life, able to make you wise and happy in this world, nay
wise unto salvation, and so happy for evermore, through faith which
is in Christ Jesus; to whom be glory for ever. Amen.

Then the King delivered back the Bible to the archbishop, who gave it to the dean of Westminster, to be reverently placed again upon the holy altar.

THE BENEDICTION, AND TE DEUM.

And now the King having been thus anointed and crowned, and having received all the ensigns of royalty, the archbishop solemnly blessed him, and all the bishops standing about him, with the rest of the peers, with a loud and hearty Amen.

The Lord bless and keep you: the Lord make the light of his
countenance to shine for ever upon you, and be gracious unto you:
the Lord protect you in all your ways, preserve you from every evil
thing, and prosper you in every thing good. Amen.

The Lord give you a faithful senate, wise and upright counsellors
and magistrates, a loyal nobility, and a dutiful gentry; a pious and
learned and useful clergy; an honest, industrious, and obedient
commonalty. Amen.

In your days may mercy and truth meet together, and righteousness
and peace kiss each other; may wisdom and knowledge be the
stability of your times, and the fear of the Lord your treasure.
Amen.

The Lord make your days many, and your reign prosperous; your fleets
and armies victorious: and may you be reverenced and beloved by all
your subjects, and ever increase in favour with God and man. Amen.

The glorious Majesty of the Lord our God be upon you: may he bless
you with all temporal and spiritual happiness in this world, and
crown you with glory and immortality in the world to come. Amen.

The Lord give you a religious and victorious posterity to rule these
kingdoms in all ages. Amen.

Then the archbishop turned to the people, and said:--

And the same Lord God Almighty grant, that the clergy and nobles
assembled here for this great and solemn service, and together with
them all the people of the land, fearing God, and honouring the
King, may by the merciful superintendency of the Divine Providence,
and the vigilant care of our gracious Sovereign, continually enjoy
peace, plenty, and prosperity, through Jesus Christ our Lord; to
whom, with the Eternal Father, and God the Holy Ghost, be glory in
the church world without end. Amen.

The blessing being thus given, the King sat down in his chair, vouchsafed to kiss the archbishop and bishops assisting at his coronation, they kneeling before him one after another.

Then the choir began to sing the Te Deum, and the King went up to the theatre on which the throne is placed, all the bishops, great officers, and other peers, attending him, and then he sat down and reposed himself in his chair, below the throne.

ANTHEM V.

_Te Deum._

We praise thee, O God; we acknowledge thee to be the Lord.

All the earth doth worship thee: the Father everlasting.

To thee all angels cry aloud: the heavens, and all the powers
therein.

To thee Cherubin and Seraphin: continually do cry,

Holy, holy, holy: Lord God of Sabaoth.

Heaven and earth are full of the majesty of thy glory.

The glorious company of the Apostles: praise thee.

The goodly fellowship of the Prophets: praise thee.

The noble army of Martyrs: praise thee.

The holy Church throughout all the world: doth acknowledge thee;

The Father: of an infinite Majesty;

Thine honourable, true, and only Son;

Also the Holy Ghost: the Comforter.

Thou art the King of glory: O Christ.

Thou art the everlasting Son: of the Father.

When thou tookest upon thee to deliver man: thou didst not abhor the
virgin's womb.

When thou hadst overcome the sharpness of death: thou didst open the
kingdom of heaven to all believers.

Thou sittest at the right hand of God: in the glory of the Father.

We believe that thou shalt come: to be our judge.

We therefore pray thee, help thy servants: whom thou hast redeemed
with thy precious blood.

Make them to be numbered with thy saints: in glory everlasting.

O Lord save thy people: and bless thine heritage.

Govern them: and lift them up for ever.

Day by day we magnify thee.

And we worship thy name: ever world without end.

Vouchsafe, O Lord: to keep us this day without sin.

O Lord, have mercy upon us: have mercy upon us.

O Lord, let thy mercy lighten upon us: as our trust is in thee.

O Lord, in thee have I trusted: let me never be confounded.

THE INTHRONIZATION.

The _Te Deum_ being ended, the King was lifted up into his throne by the archbishop and bishops, and other peers of the kingdom. And being inthronized or placed therein, all the great officers, those that bore the swords, and the sceptres, and the rest of the nobles, stood round about the steps of the throne, and the archbishop standing before the King, said,

Stand firm, and hold fast, from henceforth, the seat and imperial
dignity which is this day delivered unto you in the name, and by the
authority of Almighty God, and by the hands of us the bishops and
servants of God, though unworthy; and as you see us to approach
nearer to God's altar, so vouchsafe the more graciously to continue
to us your royal favour and protection. And the Lord God Almighty,
whose ministers we are, and the stewards of his mysteries, establish
your throne in righteousness, that it may stand fast for evermore,
like as the sun before Him, and as the faithful witness in heaven.
Amen.

THE HOMAGE.

The exhortation being ended, all the peers present did homage publicly and solemnly unto the King upon the theatre, and in the meantime the treasurer of the household threw among the people medals of gold and silver, as the King's princely largess or donative.

The archbishop first knelt down before his Majesty's knees, and the rest of the bishops knelt on either hand, and about him; and they did their homage together, for the shortening of the ceremony, the archbishop saying:

I Charles archbishop of Canterbury [and so every one of the rest, I
N. bishop of N. repeating the rest audibly after the archbishop]
will be faithful and true, and faith and truth will bear, unto you
our Sovereign Lord, and your heirs, kings of the united kingdom of
Great Britain and Ireland. And I will do, and truly acknowledge the
service of the lands which I claim to hold of you, as in right of
the church.

So help me God.

Then the archbishop kissed the King's left cheek, and so the rest of the bishops present after him.

After which the other peers of the realm did their homage in like manner, the dukes first by themselves, and so the marquesses, the earls, the viscounts, and the barons, severally; the first of each order kneeling before his Majesty, and the rest with and about him, all putting off their coronets, and the first of each class beginning, and the last saying after him:--

I N. duke, or earl, &c. of N. do become your liege man of life and
limb, and of earthly worship, and faith and truth I will bear unto
you, to live and die, against all manner of folks.

So help me God.

The peers having done their homage, they stood all together round about the King; and each class or degree going by themselves, or (as it was at the coronation of King Charles the First and Second) every peer one by one, in order, put off their coronets, singly ascended the throne again, and stretching forth their hands, touched the crown on his Majesty's head, as promising by that ceremony to be ever ready to support it with all their power, and then every one of them kissed the King's cheek.

While the peers were thus doing their homage, and the medals thrown about, the King delivered his sceptre with the cross to the lord of the manor of Worksop, to hold; and the other sceptre, or rod, with the dove, to the lord that carried it in the procession.

And the bishops that supported the King in the procession also eased him, by supporting the crown, as there was occasion.

THE FINAL ANTHEM.

While the medals were scattered, and the homage of the lords performed, the choir sung this anthem, with instrumental music of all sorts, as a solemn conclusion of the King's coronation.

ANTHEM VI.

Blessed be thou, Lord God of Israel, our Father, for ever and ever.
Thine, O Lord, is the greatness and the power, and the victory, and
the majesty; for all that is in the heaven and the earth are thine.
Thine is the kingdom, O Lord; and thou art exalted as head over all.
Both riches and honour come of thee, and thou reignest over all;
and in thine hand is power and might; and in thine hand it is to
make great, and to give strength unto all. Now, therefore, our God,
we thank thee, and praise thy glorious name.

At the end of this anthem the drums beat, and the trumpets sounded, and all the people shouted, crying out,

God save King George the Fourth!

Long live King George!

May the King live for ever!

The solemnity of the King's coronation being thus ended, the archbishop left the King in his throne, and went down to the altar.

THE COMMUNION.

Then the Offertory began, the archbishop reading these sentences:--

Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good
works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

Charge them who are rich in this world, that they be ready to give,
and glad to distribute; laying up in store for themselves a good
foundation against the time to come, that they may attain eternal
life.

The King descended from his throne, supported and attended as before; and went to the steps of the altar, and knelt down there.

And first the King offered bread and wine for the Communion, which were brought out of king Edward's chapel, and delivered into his hands, the bread upon the paten by the bishop that read the Epistle, and the wine in the chalice by the bishop that read the Gospel; these were by the archbishop received from the King, and reverently placed upon the altar, and decently covered with a fair linen cloth, the archbishop first saying this prayer:--