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 inauguration & an∣nointing of the kings of Hungaria at their coronation.

AT the inauguratiō & coronation of the kings of Hūgaria al the peeres & nobilitie of Hungaria and Bohemia are present with al the pomp & solēpnity that maybe thought of,* 1.1 the which I wil not write, but onely of their ceremonies in their coronation, for at the inauguration of Vladislaus, king of Hungarie, vpon the eleuenth of the Kalends of Octob. he was brought into Saint Maries Church, between two bishops. Before the king 3. of the chiefest peeres of Hungary caried, one the Diadem, the 2. caried the royal Scepter, and the 3. ca∣ried the golden Aple, which is (as I said before) a ripe or figure of the world: before the Diadem, the scepter & the Aple were caried by two bishops, two other royall Ensignes belonging to these ceremonies, a siluer crosse by the Prior of Laurena, and a golden Pax by the Bishop of Syrmia, before these again wer

caried two swords, the one naked, the other in a golden scab∣berd: before these was the kings banner Regale vexillū roy∣ally displaied, with other great solempnities: when the King was brought into his royall seat into S. Ma. al the ensignes of the K. were laid before the Altar, the Metropolitan of Hun∣gary celebrating seruice, the King is brought from his seat vnto the Altar, hauing vpon the one side, all the Bishops and cleagy of his kingdome, on the other side, all the Princes and peeres of the country. When the king is brought vnto the Al∣tar before the Metropolitan, one of the Bishops that leadeth the king, vttereth these words vnto the Metropolitan.

Most reuerend father, the holy Church doth require, that this noble knight should be aduanced vnto the regal dignity of a king. The Metropolitan demandeth, whether he be worthy of such honor & dignity? vnto the which, al the bishops & princes present affirm, that for wisdome,* 1.2 vertue and manhood he was therunto elected: then the Metropolitan chargeth the K. with the lawes and customes of the Kings of Hungary, his prede∣cessors, geueth him his oth in this sort. That he shuld first, with a pure sound religion defend the Church of Christ, and the ca∣tholike faith therein receiued vnto his death. 2. To defend the common wealth from forraine inuasion. 3. To maintaine peace with al care and diligence. 4. That he would do nothing vnfit or vnseemelye for a King to doo. 5. To vse iustice and equitie to his people. These with many others, the King is sworn by the Metropolitan at his coronation. After the oth, the Metropolitan beseecheth God to send this new elected K. the blessings that was geuen to Abraham, Moses, Dauid, in vanquishing their enemies: the K kneeling vpon the left hand of the Metropolitane before the Altar at these praiers, which being finished, the K. is annointed on his right arme, and vpon his right shoulder, with the sacred oile, called Arcanū. After the ancient customes and maners of the kinges of Hungaria: Then was the King by the Bishops and Princes brought into his seat,* 1.3 and from thence he was lead into a secret chan∣cel, putting off his princelie robes, and putting on the olde an∣cient & regall weeds of K. Stephen, which were lest there for

monuments from Steuen for the coronation of the Kinges of Hungarie his successors, as France doo of Charles the great wrought ouer with silke and golde, where the pictures of the twelue Apostles before the throne of God vppon their knees, cum auris cothurnis on his feet. He was in this habit leade againe to his seat, and from thence brought vnto the Altar, where the Metropolitane deliuerth into his hand the naked sword, saieng vnto the king in this sort.

Take this sacred sword by the authority of the Apostles, to thee it is giuen, to exercise iustice, to maintaine trueth, to reward vertue,* 1.4 and to punish vice: With this sword protect thy people, defend the Church, persecute heretikes, saue wi∣dowes and Orphanes from wrongs. These with many other good wordes being spoken by the Metropolitane, the King flourisheth the naked sword vpon the right hand, and then vp∣on the left hand, in token that he will execute the lawes of Hungary iustly and truly euery where, and then putteth the Sword into the scabberd, and girdeth it to his side: Then the Byshops doo bring vnto the Metropolitane the crowne, which he taketh from the Bishops, and setteth it vppon the Kinges head, saieng these words.

Take this holy and sacred Diadem in honour and glorie of the Trinitie, and know that thereby thou art called to bee also a spirituall Pastor in the mysteries of the Church, & hoc crede opus fortitudinis esse, against the enemies of God.

Then the Metropolitane taketh the Scepter, and deliue∣reth it into the Kings hand, and saith these wordes, Virtutis & veritatis virgam accipe: receiue here the rod of vertue and trueth, whereby thou must put downe the wicked proud man, exalt the good and godly man, direct the ignorant, remem∣ber that this Scepter is virga aequitatis, & virga regni, and therefore vse iustice, and loue trueth: for that purpose God hath annointed thee king of Hungarie.

This being finished, the king is lead by the Metropolitan, the Byshops & the Peeres from the Altar vnto his seat with his crowne vpon his head, with his Scepter in his hand, and

with the rest of the Ensignes caried before him.

When he is placed in his seat by the Metropolitan, he saith vnto the King, Stet hic inclitè Rex ac regna. Then the Me∣tropolitan doth make his praier for the King, in the latter end of which praier he saith, Firmētur manus tuae, exaltetur dex∣tra tua, & iudicium praeparatio sedis tuae.

After this, he is brought againe by the Metropolitan vnto the Altar, where both the Metropolitan and the King receiue the Communion. After seruice done, the King and the Metro∣politan goe together, vntill the king come to a sumptuous re∣gall seat, prouided for him, where the Lawes and customes of Hungaria are read vnto him: where the King (taking the Crowne from his head) sweareth vppon the Crowne to per∣forme all the lawes and customes of Hungaria as nigh as he can: and with that, the people shout and crie aloud,* 1.5 with all myrth and melody they can.

This is the ancient order of the coronation of the Kinges of Hungaria. This inauguration was solempnized vppon the eleuenth day of the Kalends of October, at the coronation of Vladislaus, King of Hungaria.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Vladislaus
• * 1.2

  The charge giuen to the K of Hunga∣ry at his co∣ronation.
• * 1.3

  Stephen, the first king an∣nointed in Hungary.
• * 1.4

  The crow∣ning of the Kings of Hungary.
• * 1.5

  Vladislaus was crowned and annoin∣ted King of Hungarie