CHAPTER VIII
THE RITE OF MILAN
I
The rite of Milan, in which city the Emperor was crowned as king of Italy, appears in its earliest form[110] in the ninth century. It is very simple and short, being almost identical with the earliest Roman imperial rite. The whole consists of four prayers only; Exaudi Domine preces nostras; the ‘Consecratio’ Prospice Omn. Deus serenis obtutibus; the crowning form Accipe coronam; and lastly Deus Pater aeternae gloriae. Of these prayers the first three occur in the imperial rite of the Gemunden codex, and the last is found in Hittorp’s order. It is also interesting to note that there is no mention in any rubric of the anointing, which, if it occurred, doubtless took place during the consecration prayer[111]. There is no reference to any coronation of the queen consort. The Mass prayers are those which are found in ‘Egbert’s’ rite and are Roman.
II
A second stage of the Milanese rite, as found in an order[112] which Dr Magistretti assigns to the eleventh century, shews an interesting development. It is much longer than the older rite and is an amalgamation of the Anglo-Frankish rite as represented by ‘Egbert’ and the Roman. The whole of ‘Egbert’s’ order is found in it, the remaining forms being Roman.
This order begins with the prayer Omn. aeterne Deus creator omnium. Then follows the ‘Consecratio seu Benedictio regis,’ consisting of the forms in ‘Egbert’ Te invocamus and In diebus eius combined into one, and the king is anointed with the form Deus Dei filius, (alia) Deus electorum fortitudo. The investitures follow in unusual order: the Crown, Accipe coronam regni licet ab indignis; the Verge, Accipe virgam virtutis atque aequitatis; the Sword, Accipe gladium per manus episcoporum; and the Ring, Accipe regiae dignitatis anulum; all the forms being those of Hittorp’s order. A series of benedictions follow the enthronisation, all of which are to be found in ‘Egbert,’ and then comes the acclamation Vivat rex ille in sempiternum, the kiss of the nobles, the prayer Deus perpetuitatis, and the charge Rectitudo regis est noviter ordinati, all as in ‘Egbert.’
The queen was also crowned in this order, but the MS. which contains it is mutilated and gives only the two first prayers, Omn. semp. Deus fons et origo and Deus qui solus, which are the first two prayers of Hittorp’s order.