The order, solemnitie, and pompe, of the feastes, sacrifices, vowes, games, and triumphes: vsed vpon the natiuities of emperours, kinkes [sic], princes, dukes, popes, and consuls: with the custome, order, and manner of their inaugurations, coronations, and annoynting. With a briefe rehearsall of the funerall solemnities at some emperours, kings, and princes burials.

Of the annointing and co∣ronation of the kinges of Bohemia, and of the ceremonies and solempnities therof.

AT the very day that the Kings of Bohemia should bee annointed and crowned, all the knightes, Barons, and chiefe Nobles of Bohemia, meete at the pallace of the new elected king about sixe of the clock in the morning From thence with all pompe he is most rotally brought to the Cathedrall Church at Praga.

The Metropolitane of Bohemia, before whom went foure of the principall Peeres of Bohemia, two of the foure caried either of them a loafe of bread of some round bignesse,* 1.1 the one on a golden standing cup, the other on a siluer cup, for that gold and siluer are fit for Sacrifice. The other two caried two golden pots full of white wine. Before the king are cari∣ed a rich precious Diadem, the Scepter and the Apple. The Sword, which was a monument that Vincenslaus left to his Successors, was caryed by the Chancelor of Bohemia in a

scabberd of red Holoserico.* 1.2 Thus the King was lead out of the Chappel of S. Vinceslaus, being by the Chamberlaine of Bohemia attyred after the maners and ancient custom of the Bohemians, to the high Altar, where the Archbyshop of Pra∣ga attended and expected the Kings comming.

Assoone as he that caried the Diadem before the Kinge came in sight of the people, the troope of Trompetors sounded and a number of brazen hornes were with all triumphant myrth likewise sounded:* 1.3 the Organes and other musicall in∣strumēts began also to sing with the quire. While these melo∣dies were doing, the reliques & monuments wer brought from Vinceslaus Chappell, and laid vpon the high Altar: all other regall Ensignes called Insignia regia symbola, were also laid vpon the Altar, except the two loaues of bread and the pots of wine, which were laid vpon a side table.

When this musicall noise ended, the King was solempnly lead vnto the Altar, and presented by all the Bishoppes of Bo∣hemia before the Archbyshop, of whome they require in the name of the holy Church, their mother, that this new elected Prince should be King of Bohemia:* 1.4 thereunto the Arcbyshop demaundeth of the Byshops, whether they thought him fitte and woorthy for so high a dignitie. They all with one voice affirmed the woorthenesse of the man. Then all they knee∣ling downe with the Archbyshop and the King, fell to pray∣ers: After praiers, the Archbyshop blesseth the King three seuerall times, wishing vnto him a most happie and fortu∣nate raigne: to the which the Byshoppes answere, Teroga∣mus audi nos.

From hence the King was lead by the Byshops to his seat being set in the middest of the Quire, vnder a canapy of great marueilous rich state, the byshops cum suo quis{que} Episcopa∣li pedo on the one side of the King, with the rest of the Peeres & Nobles of Bohemia on the other side, & also they that caried the Diadem, the Scepter, the Sword and the Apple.

From his seat againe the King was brought vnto the high Altar, where the Archbyshop read before the King ex

libro rituali, the customes, Ceremonies and orders of his Predecessors.

After he had annointed the new King with his right thumb with the sacred oile vpon his arme in the maner and forme of a crosse: Likewise hee annointed him on his breast,* 1.5 and on both his shoulders.

This being ended, the Noblemen brought to the Archby∣shop the Diadem, the Scepter, the Sword, the Apple and the Ring: he receiuing the same, doth first sanctifie and hallow them before he deliuereth them to the king: After, in this or∣der, he doth deliuer the sword into the Kings hand naked:* 1.6 and after, the Archbyshop taketh the naked Sworde out of the Kings hand and putteth it in the Scabberd, and girdeth it to the Kings side: Secondly, he putteth the ring vppon that fin∣ger of the right hand which is called Anularis digitus.

Thirdly, he deliuereth into the left hand the Apple, and the Scepter into the right hand of the King.

These Ceremonies being once ended, the Archbyshoppe dooth aske the King certaine questions on this manner, as the Polonians vse at the coronation of their Kings.

Wilt thou maintaine the Faith? Wilt thou defende the Church, and be a buckler and shield vnto the Ministers there∣of?* 1.7 Wilt thou protect and defend this Kingdome committed to thy charge? Wilt thou obserue the lawes and customes of Bohemia.

To al these the King answereth and saith, I will: & there∣upon taketh his solempn oath. Then is there also a nobleman in the name of the King, that demaundeth also of the people,* 1.8 whether they bee contented to be subiect to this newe elected King, and whether they confirme the Kingdome vnto him with al obedience and faith due vnto him to be performed and yeelded.

This being consented vnto by the states and the people, certaine of the chiefe men come before the King in the name of all the whole Kingdome, laying their handes vppon the

imperiall Diadem, as the maner is of Bohemia, doo sweare solempnly with their faith and trueth, in the name of all the people of Bohemia, to serue the King, & to obey him as their soueraigne Lord and maister.

This being ended, the Archbishop pronounceth out, & saith, Thanks be vnto God, and therewith the Trompets, gunnes, belles, altogether soundeth, with such noise and triumph, vntil the King be brought againe with all pompe and solempnitie vnto his pallace.

This is the maner and ceremonies of the annointing and inauguration of the Kinges of Bohemia at their coronation.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Vincenslaus the first an∣nointed king of Bohemia, by whom all their reliques and ceremo∣nies were first instituted.
• * 1.2

  Holoserico, a kind of preci∣ous costly silke.
• * 1.3

  The solempa musike and melody, vsed at the corona¦tion of the K. of Bohemia.
• * 1.4

  The demāds of the Archb. to the Nobi∣lity of Bohe∣mia concer∣ning their new elected King.
• * 1.5

  The annoin∣ting of the k. of Bohemia.
• * 1.6

  The ceremo∣nies at the coronation of the King of Bohemia.
• * 1.7

  The charge gi¦uen to the K. of Bohemia at his corona¦tion.
• * 1.8

  The oath of the King.