Ordo IX is still more puzzling. It is found in the Pontifical of Peter, Bishop of Senlis, who died in the year 1356. The consecration of the king is introduced by Benedic Domine hunc regem, then follows Deus inenarrabilis, after which the king is anointed, during the Deus qui es iustorum gloria, on feet, shoulders, and arms. The forms of the investitures with Sword (after which is said the prayer Deus qui providentia, which however is given out of place), Ring, Sceptre (which is followed by the benediction of the Oriflamme), and Crown follow more or less the Romanized third recension, but the benediction of the Oriflamme is inserted among them. The anointing of the feet is unique, and there can be very little doubt that this ceremony has never had a place in any rite. The probabilities are that both these orders are quite unauthoritative and were never used.
IV
We come now to the final recension of the French rite, which is represented by the order of Charles V, who was crowned in 1364[101]. This recension, like the corresponding fourth recension of the English rite, returns to the older rite anterior to the Romanized third recension in so far as it is a conflation of the second and third recensions, containing nearly everything that had appeared in all previous rites, and therefore much matter that was originally alternative.
There is the short preliminary service. At the end of the prayers said at the king’s entrance into the choir, in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, Veni Creator was sung. The king enters the church between Prime and Terce, and while waiting for the arrival of the Sainte Ampoule Terce was sung. The rite begins as usual with the bishop’s petition and the king’s reply, and then follows the oath Haec populo christiano, in which is inserted, in this order, a clause, which vanishes finally in 1484, promising to maintain the rights of the French crown (doubtless against English claims). Te Deum is then sung, though a note remarks that this should be sung, according to Roman use, after the enthroning. Deus inenarrabilis is now said, and the Buskins are put on and the Spurs. Then follows the investiture with the Sword in the position it occupies in the Roman orders, with a benediction, and a conflate form combining the old French Accipe gladium with the Roman Accipe gladium per manus nostras. Then follow the anthem Confortare and the prayers Deus qui providentia, Prospice omnipotens, Benedic Domine quaesumus hunc principem, and Deus pater aeternae gloriae. While the unction is preparing, a series of versicles and responses peculiar to the French rite, and beginning Gentem Francorum inclitam, and a collect are said. The Chrism was miraculous. Brought down from heaven by an angel for the coronation of Clovis, it was carefully preserved in the Abbey of St Rémi, and brought in solemn procession from the Abbey at the time of the coronation. A tiny particle of the contents of the ampoule was mixed with Chrism. The Litany is now said, closing with the prayers Te invocamus, Deus qui populis, (alia) In diebus eius. Then comes the consecration. The king is anointed during the prayer Omn. sempiterne Deus creator ac gubernator, which is followed by the prayers Deus electorum fortitudo and Deus Dei filius, the anthem Unxerunt Salomonem being sung during the anointing. He is anointed on the head, breast, between the shoulders, and at the bend of both arms. The king’s hands are then anointed with the form Unguantur manus, and he then puts on gloves blessed with two forms adapted from the benediction of a bishop’s gloves. The investitures follow; the Ring, with a benediction and the old form Accipe anulum restored in place of the Roman form introduced into the last recension, and the prayer Deus cuius est omnis potestas; the Sceptre, with the usual form and the prayer Omnium Domine fons bonorum; the Verge, with the usual form; the Crown, with the prayer Coronet te Deus, and a conflate form combining the French Accipe coronam and the Roman Accipe inquam coronam, which is followed by Deus perpetuitatis. A series of benedictions are now said, all of which are found elsewhere. After the enthronisation with the usual form the anthem Firmetur manus is sung and the Roman prayer Deus qui victrices Moysi is said, and finally the archbishop kisses the king, saying Vivat Rex in aeternum, and the cry is taken up by the Peers. The Mass, as in the English corresponding rite, is a Mass for the king, and before the Pax the benedictions Benedicat tibi Deus custodiatque, Clerum ac populum and Quatenus divinis monitis are said over king and people. The king communicates, as did the French kings always at a coronation, in both kinds[102].
The queen’s coronation begins with the prayers Adesto Domine supplicationibus, Omn. aeterne Deus fons et origo, Deus qui solus habes and Omn. semp. Deus hanc famulam. She is anointed on head and breast as of old, In nomine, etc., and then follow Spiritus sancti gratia and Deus Pater aeternae gloriae. The Ring is given with the form Accipe anulum, as in the second recension, followed by Deus cuius est omnis potestas; the Verge with the form Accipe virgam and the prayer Omn. semp. Deus affluentem. Lastly she is crowned with the form of the second recension, and the prayer follows Omnium Domine fons bonorum.
After the sacring of the queen the benediction of the Oriflamme takes place.
This order remained in use, with small and unimportant variations, as long as the monarchy lasted in France. But the coronation of the queen was dispensed with for some reason. The last queen to be anointed and crowned was Marie de Médicis in 1610, and probably a sacring took place in her case only because there was every prospect of her being left Regent and so virtual monarch.