At the holy season in which it was ordained that the
king should be consecrated, the high men of the land and a multitude of the
people, the dignity of the episcopate and the venerable Witan, assembled from
all sides for the royal rite. From these was chosen one most renowned bishop,
peerless in character and famed for righteousness, who would consecrate the
king, and in consecrating also crown him and dignify the royal head with the
diadem; both dedicated together to the glory of God by his authority, in the
manner customary with those of yore. The monastic order, the clergy with the
episcopal nobility, sought the blessed church of Peter. Crosses borne on before,
the procession of the clergy followed; after the clergy proceeded the dignity
of the episcopate. Last, to the shouts of the people, the king advanced, surrounded
by a great troop of counts and captains. A metropolitan supported his right
hand; at his left walked the other of equal rank. In this manner, to the chanting
of the Laudes, the king sought the church and was conducted to the royal chair.
The Laudes ended and the chanting throng hushed, a precentor enjoined silence
and bade them remain quiet. The clergy ceased utterance, the Witan did not speak;
not a sound was heard from any mouth. Thereupon a certain Norman bishop, mounting
the dais, addressed such words as these to the renowned men of France: "If the
king presented please you, declare it to us, for it is fitting that this be
done by your free choice." The people thus addressed consented; the clergy and
also the Witan applauded, intimating by their hands what they were unable to
say. Afterwards a speech was delivered by the metropolitan; this set forth the
same thing in the English tongue. On both sides the throng drew breath, hailed
William, vowed to be his subjects, promised with a whole heart to be obedient
to him. Turning himself towards the holy altar, the archbishop made the king
stand facing it. He gathered to him all the bishops who had been summoned, and
together with the king they prostrated themselves upon the ground. Standing
upright, the precentor began the Kyrie eleison and also invoked the intercession
of the saints. But after the Litany of the Saints was completed, the episcopal
order rose with the archbishop, the king alone being left prostrate. The precentor
had ceased chanting; every order was silent. The archbishop bade the people
pray and forthwith began the rite itself. He said the collect and raised the
king from the dust. Then, with the chrism poured forth, he himself anointed
the king's head, and consecrated him king in the royal manner . -- Carmen de
Hastingae