came to the Church at thrée of the clocke in the morning to take order for all things necessarie Also the Lord of Chasteau-vieup Captaine of the Scottish guard for the Kings body came soone after to prouide against the disorder and presse of such as sought to get into the Church and vnto the scaffoldes and to place euery one according to the prescribed order or as the best knew the desert of their parsons About sixe of the clocke in the morning the King sent fower young Lords Barrons to the Abbie of S. Peter where was kept the holy Vyall that was brought from Marmoustier to desire the aforenamed Friers of Marmoustier that kept it to bring it into our Lady Church thereout to take of the holy Oyle which was to be imployed vpon the annointing of his Maiestie Which fower Barrons according to the custome obserued about the ceremonie of the holy Vyall in the Church of S. Remy of Rheims did binde them selues to restore it in the said Abbay of S. Peter and to the saide Friers after the end of the annointing As also the Lord of Souur had before bound him selfe to the Abbot and Friers of S. Peter for the restitution thereof These fower Barrons were the Earle of Lausun eldest sonne to the Earle of Lausun of the house of Caument The Earle of Dinan second sonne to the Lord of Pienner Duke of Hallioin The Earle of Cheuerny eldest sonne to the Earle of Cheuerny Chaunceler of Fraunce and the Lord Barron of Termes younger brother to the Lord of Bellegard great Esquire of Fraunce These fower at the Kings commaundement departed from the pallace Royall with their Esquires and Gentlemen each of them hauing borne before him vpon the end of the speare the banner of his armes in perfect coullours leading with them a white Hacnie whereupon should ride the Frier that was to carry and recarry and indéede did carry and recarrie the said holy Vyall with a Canapie of white Dammaske which still should bee carried ouer the saide Frier both going from the Abbay and returning after the end of the annointing Then the said Frier accompanyed with the said fower Barrons departed from the said Abbay with a Cannapie borné ouer him by fower Friers apparelled in white Albes all the stréetes from the said Abbay of S. Pere to the great Church were hanged and the people with great respect and deuotion reuerenced the said holy Vyall Soone after the departure of the fower Barrons departed also from the pallace Royall the six Péeres lay thrée Dukes and thrée Earles apparelled in Tunicles of Cloth of siluer Dammasked with redde leaues comming almost to the midde legge and vpon the same a cloke or short gowne of Cloth Searge dyed Violet vpon Scarlet open vpon the right shoulder with a round coller turned downe with the garnish and turning downe Furred with powdered ermins Euery of the thrée Dukes had vpon his head his Ducall hat of golde and euery Earle his Circle of golde Howbeit in as much as of these thrée Dukes and thrée Counties auncient Péeres lay represented by these sixe fiue of the Payryes are annexed to the Crowne and the Countie of Flaunders is out the French Kings hath since this annexion vouchsafed to represent the six Péeres and Payries by so many Princes and Lords attendant about their parsons And those that at this ceremonie of annointing representing the saide six dignities are these that follow The Prince of Condy representing the Duke of Burgondy Deane of the Péeres The Countie of Soyssais representing the Duke of Normandie The Duke of Montpensier representing the Duke of Aquitaine The Lord of Lupembourg representing the Countie of Tholouze The Duke of Rays Marshall of France representing the Countie of Flaunders The Duke of Vantadon representing the Countie of Champagne The sixe Péeres lay thus apparelled and cloathed came to the Church about seauen of the clocke in the morning and entring into the Quier hauing perfourmed theyr due reuerences came to the high Aultar where was the Archbishop of Rheims accompanyed wyth the other fiue Péeres Ecclesiasticall who were come a little before wyth theyr Myters vppon theyr heades and great Coapes sitting already on the right side of the sayd Aultar vppon the two large seates before mentioned in order following The fiue Péeres Ecclesiasticall alwayes assistant at the kings annoynting or in whose absence or when any of the Seas bée voyd the kinges doo surrogate others as these The Bishop Duke of Laon. The Bishop Duke of Langres The Bishop County of Beauuais The Bishop County of Chaalous The Bishop County of Noyen And because the Bishops of Laon Langres Beauuais and Noyen were not present also that the Bishop of Chaulous who was in the city of Chartres was so sicke that hee could not assist at the sayd ceremony there to take his place The Kings pleasure was that these fiue dignities should bee represented by fiue other Bishops that then were at the Court namely these The Bishop of Nantes representing the Bishop D. of Laon. The Bishop of Digne representing the Bishop D. of Langres The Bishop of Maillesais representing the Bishop County of Beauuais The Bishop of Orleans representing the Bishop County of Chaalons The Bishop of Angiers representing the Bishop County of Noyon The sayd eleuen Péeres béeing thus sett and the sayd Lord Archbishop of Rheims making the twelfth sitting in his chayre with his backe to the Aultar They altogether according to the custome did appoint the Bishops of Nantes and Maillesais representing the Bishop of Laon and Beauuois who with the Relliques of Saintes hanging at their neckes and accompanyed with the Cannons Vicars and Chaplens of the sayd Church the two Crosses the Holy water and the Encensers goyng before them and accompanyed with the sayd Lord of Surenne came processionally into his Maiesties outward chamber In the sayd chamber was prepared a bed wherevppon the king was layed cloathed in a shirt of holland slit before and behind to the end thereby to receiue the holy oyntment and therevppon a dublet of crimson satten for the same cause likewise slit before and behinde and a gowne of cloth of siluer with sléeues comming to the mid legge And when the sayd Lordes Bishops of Laon and Langres came into the sight of his Maiesty the Bishop of Laon sayd the prayer following Oremus Omnipotens sempiterne Deus c. This prayer ended and doone the sayd Lord Bishop of Laon on the right side and hée of Langres on the left side reuerently and kissing theyr handes lifted the king from his bed and processionally brought him to the Church in order following First marched the Lord of Surenne who caused the Archers of the great Prouost to march first Then the Clergy that had accompanied the sayd two Prelats Péeres The Switzers of the kinges guard The Trumpets The Herehaults The Knights of the holy ghost The Vshers of the kinges chamber with their maces The Archers of the Guardes in manner of a hedge The Scottes
at the Archbishop of Rheims hand kissed him on the chéeke That done he returned vp to the Kings seate and throne and presented him the Pax and after the King had kissed it al the Péeres first the Ecclesiasticall then the lay did the like In the meane time the Archbishop of Rheims procéeding in the office blessed the banner Royall saying as followeth Inclina Domine aurem tuam c. Heere followeth the Collect or first prayer saide at Masse vpon the day of this solemnitie Collecta Quaesumus omnipotens Deus c. The second prayer saide in screte Munera quaesumus Domine c. The last prayer of the Masse or past Communion Post Communio Haec Domine c. Oratio salutari c. The Masse thus ended the saide Lord of Rheims leauing vpon the Aulter tarieth vntill the other Péeres both Ecclesiasticall and lay brought downe the King to the Aulter The King being come thether entered into his pauillion afore mentioned there to reconcile him selfe with his confessor aforesaid then comming forth againe he knéeled downe before the high Aulter and hauing saide the Confiteor and receiued absolution which was giuen him by the said Archbishop doing the office The Prince of Condy took of his Crowne and the other Péeres lay tooke off the attire off his head and he receiued the precious body of our Lord vnder both formes of bread and wine in great deuotion and perfect humilitie and then tooke againe his great Crowne This done the said Lord Archbishop of Rheims tooke of that Crowne and set him on a lighter and meaner and then was the great Crowne deliuered to the Duke of Montbason who was to carry it before the King to his pallace and he carryed it vpon a rich Cushion The Scepter was deliuered to the Lord of O and the hand of Iustice to the Lord of Requelore Then the King thus arayed in his garments Royall accompanyed with the foresaid Péeres in like ceremony and order as he came to Church returned to his pallace The people with great acclamation and signes of ioy cryed God saue the King the Cannons and small shotte played their parts the trumpets drumms and other instruments sounded and played and at the same instant was the holy Vyall brought out of the Church and returned to the Abbay of Saint Pere in like ceremony as it came before to our Lady Church The King being returned to his pallace tooke his Chamber where hee stayed a good while and shifted him selfe into an other shert deliuering that to his great amner to vse according to the custome of that shert Then he came into the great hall of the pallace at the vpper end whereof hung a high Cloth of estate of some six fadome and a halfe square and thrée foote déepe and vnder the same a Table nine foote long whereon the King did eate On the right hand stoode an other Table and on the left an other At that on the right hand sat the Lord Péeres Ecclesiasticall in their Copes and Miters and at that on the left the Peeres lay in their Péeres attire Somewhat beneath sat the Ambassadours of England and Venice the Lord Chanceler the officers of the Crowne and they that had carried the honours The Lord Counstable all the while stoode at the end of the Kings Table with the sword naked and vpright in his hand The Countie of Saint Paul serued as great Maister bearing his Staffe vp The Lord of Rohan as pantler The Countie of Sauuerre as taster The Countie of Torigny as caruer The Gentlemen of the Chamber carried the meate euery course being accompanied with trumpets cornets and haultbois and the Harroulds and stewards of the housholde marching before the Lord great Maister with his staffe downe Betwéene the Seruice the Musicke sung Grace was sung in Musicke in manner as the late King caused to bee saide before him and then euery man with drew himselfe At night his Maiestie supped in feast Royall At his Table vnder the Cloth of estate sat Madam his sister with a distaunce betwéene him and her On the right hand was the Lady Princesse of Conde the Lady Dutchesse of Niuernois and her daughter the Lady of Neuers On the left beneath Madam sat the Lady Princesse of Condy the Lady of Rohan and the Lady of Raiz The Lord Countie of Soissons kept his estate of great Maisters The Lord Prince of Condy serued as high pantler and carried the first dish The Duke of Longueuill as high taster The Lord of Rohan as caruer To Madam serued the Lord Countye of Mauleurier as pantler The Lord of Mirepoix as taster The Countie of Lude as caruer At euery seruice the trumpets cornets drummes did sound and the Harroulds and Stewards marched before the Lord great Maister to whom the Lord of Gois of Tillet presented the Towell The saide Lord great Maister deliuered it to Madam the Kings sister who as already set but she arose from her seate and deliuered it to his Maiestie to wash his hands After supper grace was sung in Musicke and then the King withdrew him to his Chamber accompanied with Madam his sister the Dukes Duchesses Princes Princesses Lords and Ladies that were assistant at supper and hauing stayed there halfe an hower Madam desired to depart whom the King accompanied to the great Chamber doore and then euery one withdrew to their rest The next morning on Munday the twentie eight last of Februarie the King would take the coller and order of the holy Ghost according to the purport of the Statutes of the said order founded and made by the late King Henry the third The same day at thrée of the clocke in the afternoone he went to our Lady Church in like ceremonie as by the Statute is ordained causing his officers to go before him then the prelats commanders and knights of the same order apparelled in their long robes and their great collers about their neckes and after Compline ended the Lorde Bishop of Chartres in this ceremonie also retaining the place and calling of the Archbishop of Rheims caused him to take the Oath required and appointed by the saide Statute After the said Oath taken vpon the booke of the holy Euangelists which the Lord Chaunceler of the order did holde the Lord of Rhodes put vpon him the great robe of the said order and the saide Lord of Chartres the coller This done hee went and sat downe in the Chaire of estate where all the said Prelats knights commaunders and officers one after another kissed his hands This ceremony ended his Maiestie returned to his pallace causing the aforenamed to march before him in like ceremony and pompe as they came God giue his Maiestie grace to plant peace in his Realme and parson and long to enioy the same Amen FINIS
The Order of Ceremonies obserued in the annointing and Coronation of the most Christian King of France Nauarre HENRY the IIII. of that name celebrated in our Lady Church in the Cittie of Chartres vppon Sonday the 27. of February 1594. Faithfully translated out of the French coppy printed at Roan by commaundement of the said Lord. by E.A. LONDON Imprinted by Iohn Windet and are to be sold by Iohn Flasket at the great North doore of Paules The Printer to the Reader FRendly Reader this discourse of the annointing and coronation of the King was written by a notable personage who was assistant at the said ceremony one that gathered it at the handes of those that were chiefe Actors therein which neuerthelesse he would not commit to the presse before he had shewed and imparted it vnto them Whatsoeuer other discourses of this argument that may peraduenture come to thy handes are false counterfait and rashly published but this is true perfect and written at leysure with all order requisite Thus much I thought good to giue thee to vnderstand least otherwise where thou seekest for trueth thou mightest be abused with falsehood Farewell The order of ceremonies obserued in the annointing and coronation of the most Christian King of Fraunce and Nauarre Henry the IIII. of that name celebrated in our Lady Church in the Citie of Chartres vpon Sonday the 27. of February 1594. ALmighty God who giueth and preserueth all Scepters and Crownes and disposeth of them as semeth best to his pleasure who in his hands holdeth the hartes of kings hauing miraculously guided and aduaunced the king to the lawfull succession of this Monarchy c. which was still quarrelled at and challenged by certaine rebelles supported by the capitall and auncient ennemies of France c. He was entreated desired and aduised by the Princes of his bloud the Officers of his Crowne the Lordes of his Counsel and the most notable personages of his Courts of Parliament to frame himselfe to his annointing in like manner as other kinges his predecessors haue allwayes vsed to procéede to their annointing and coronation soone after their comming to the Crowne which said annointing is the token of their Royalty and of the publike approbation of the French nation His Maiesty therefore resolued to be annoynted and could haue wished that the said ceremony might haue béene perfourmed in the Church of Rheims the rather for that of long time the kinges haue neuer béene other where annoynted but there albeit they bée no way tyed or bound to the sayd Church either to the Archbishop of Rheims as many examples and reasons doo euidently testifie And his Maiestie who seeketh to preserue all the auncient and laudable customes of his predecessors and the Realme could haue beene contented not to breake this in case the Rebells that possesse the same towne would together therewith haue giuen him oportunity to haue béene there annoynted and crowned Héerevppon for the effecting of the resolution of his annoynting it was aduised and determined that in as much as Rheims was still enclined to persist in her rebellion the same should be perfourmed at our Lady Church in Chartres a Church famous throughout the whole Realme as also in diuers partes of Christendome the towne béeing situated in place commodious and as it were in the nauell of those partes of the Realme from whence his Maiestie had called the Princes Lordes and principall personages of his Courtes of Parliament to be assistant at this solemne ceremony The preparatiues for all thinges necessary to the sayd annoynting béeing set forward in the sayd towne and Church his Maiesty arriued there vppon Thursday the seauentéenth of February last without any triumphant entry which the French kinges doo vse to make at the towne where they are to bee annoynted the day before the solemnization thereof but in respect that at the reduction of the sayd towne into his Maiesties obedience he had already there made his entry as also that since he hath many times gone thether and there soiourned a long tyme together he now néeded not to doo it agayne Vppon Saterday the nynetéenth of the sayd moneth the Holy Voyalt so tearmed there preciously preserued in the Abbay of Marmoustier néere the citty of Tours euer sence that miraculously it wrought Saint Martins health was brought to the citty of Chartres béeing thether conducted from the auncient dwelling place thereof by the Lord of Souure Gouernour and the Kinges Lieuetenant Generall in the land and Duchy of Tourayne accompanyed with foure Fryers of the sayd Abbay who had the custody thereof And béeing arriued at Chartres it was there with great ceremony carried by one of the sayd Fryers from the gate of the towne to Saint Peters Abbay béeing attended by the Clergy and a great number of people the stréetes béeing all the way hanged in honor and reuerence of so precious a rellike From the day of his Maiesties arriuall vntill Saterday the sixe and twentieth of the sayd moneth they finished all the preparatiues for the ceremonies of the annoynting before begunne Thether was brought the Imperiall close Crowne the middle Crowne the Royall Scepter the hand of Iustice the cloake Royall the Shirt the Sandalls the Spurres the Swoord the Tunicle and the Dalmatike with all other the ornamentes Royall all which were to bée new made as fayre and ritch as might bée by reason that the fellonious minds of the rebelles had molten defaced wasted the others which time out of minde had bene reserued in the Church of S. Dennis in France to serue for the kings annoynting Howbeit by this particular and so execrable a déede they haue declared that they meant to root out as well the tokens markes and ornaments of royalty as the effect and name thereof And as most accursedly they found meanes to murther the sacred person and Maiesty of him that before held it so haue they sence his death diuersly attempted the like against the person of him that now holdeth it Vppon Saterday the sixeteenth of the sayde moneth about eight of the clocke at night the king came to the sayd Church of our Lady there to doo his deuotions and to be shriuen he would haue heard Euensong according to the auncient custome as other kinges did vse to heare them in the Church appoynted for their annoynting vpon the Eeue if the rule of the holy time of Lent could so haue permitted After his prayers deuoutly made he entred into his Oratory erected vnder a tent of twoo fadome and a halfe square of purple damaske with a border aboue of violet veluet set full of Fleure de Luces and there was shriuen by hys Confessor Monsieur Benedict Curate of Saint Eustace in Paris and nominated bishop of Troy After shrift hee returned to his lodging in the Bishop of Chartres Pallace Furthermore forasmuch as all the Carpets Tapistry for clothes of Estate for Chayres Pillowes Cushions and other like kept to serue at the ceremony of the kinges annoyntinges