THE CORONATION OF KING HENRY III. (1216).
Source.—Roger of Wendover, vol. ii., pp. 379-380. (Bohn's Libraries.)
After the death of King John, on the eve of the day of the Apostles Simon and Jude, an assembly was convened at Gloucester in the presence of Gualo, the legate of the Apostolic See, at which there were present Peter, Bishop of Winchester, Silvester, Bishop of Worcester, Ralph, Earl of Chester, William Marshal, Earl of Pembroke, William, Earl of Ferrers, John Marshal, and Philip d'Albiney, with abbots, priors, and a great number of others, to arrange for the coronation of Henry, the eldest son of King John. On the day following, all preparations for the coronation having been made, the legate, in company with the Bishops and nobles aforesaid, conducted the King in solemn procession to the conventual church to be crowned; and there, standing before the great altar, in the presence of the clergy and people, he swore on the Holy Gospels and other reliques of the saints that he would observe honour, peace, and reverence towards God and Holy Church and its ordained ministers all the days of his life; he also swore that he would show strict justice to the people entrusted to his care, and would abolish all bad laws and customs, if there were any in the kingdom, and would observe those that were good, and cause them to be observed by all. He then did homage to the Holy Church of Rome and to Pope Innocent for the kingdoms of England and Ireland, and swore that, as long as he held these kingdoms, he would faithfully pay the thousand marks which his father had given to the Roman Church. After this, Peter, Bishop of Winchester, placed the crown on his head, and anointed him King with the usual ceremonies of prayer and chanting observed at coronations. After mass had been performed, the Bishops and knights above-mentioned clothed the King in royal robes, and conducted him to table, where they all took their seats according to their rank, and feasted amidst mirth and rejoicing. On the following day, the King received the homage and fealty of all the Bishops, Earls, and others present, and they all promised faithful allegiance to him. Henry was crowned in the tenth year of his age, on the day of the Apostles Simon and Jude, which was the 28th day of the month of October.