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.

III

A third recension of the Milanese rite may be seen in the order used at the coronation of Henry VII and his Queen, Catharina[113], at Milan in 1311. This order represents the most elaborate stage of the Milanese rite and seems to have been subject to both French and Roman influence.

The short preliminary service now first appears from the Roman rite. As the king enters the choir the prayer _Omn. semp. Deus caelestium terrestriumque_ is said, and then the king’s oath is put to him in interrogatory form. Then appears a French feature, the petition of the bishops _A vobis perdonari_, and the king’s reply. The Recognition follows, the people answering _Kyrie eleison_. The Litany concludes with the three prayers _Te invocamus_, _Deus qui populis_ and _In diebus eius_, the second of which appears in this recension only of the rite of Milan. The consecration prayer is that of the English and French rites, _Omn. semp. Deus creator ac gubernator_ (in which there still remains the allusion to the Saxons), the anthem _Dilexisti iustitiam_ or _Unxerunt Salomonem_ being sung during the anointing, which seems to have been only on the shoulders, and after which was said _Deus Dei filius_. The Ring is given with the form of the last recension, followed by the prayer _Deus cuius est omnis potestas_; the Sword with the non-Roman form _Accipe gladium_ and the prayer _Deus qui providentia_; the Crown with the form _Accipe coronam regni_ and the prayer _Deus perpetuitatis_; the Sceptre with the form _Accipe sceptrum regiae potestatis_ and the prayer _Omnium Domine fons bonorum_; and the Verge with the usual form. Then follow six benedictions, of which the first two are found in the old French and English rites, and the others in the last recension. After the enthronisation an Orb and Cross is delivered to the king with a form beginning _Accipe pomum aureum quod significat monarchiam omnium regnorum_. The king answers _Fiat_ to the charge _Rectitudo regis_, and then _Te Deum_ is sung.

The order of the queen’s coronation begins with the prayer _Omn. semp. Domine fons et origo_, then follows the consecration prayer _Deus qui solus_, and the queen is anointed with the form _In nomine ... prosit tibi haec unctio_, which is followed by _Spiritus sancti gratia_. The anointing is made on the shoulders. She is then invested with a Ring, which is an entirely new feature, the form _Accipe anulum fidei signaculum s. Trinitatis_ and the prayer _Omnium fons bonorum Domine_ being those of the French rite, from which this is probably derived. She is crowned with the form _Accipe coronam gloriae_, and finally are said the two prayers _Officio nostrae indignitatis_ and _Omn. semp. deus affluentem spiritum_, the last of which is French.

IV

A fourth recension is found in a Milanese order of the fifteenth century[114], and is a revised and shortened edition of the last.

On the king’s entry into church _Deus cuius in manu_ is said, and the oath follows at once as in the last order. The petition of the bishops has disappeared, and immediately after the taking of the oath Mass is begun ‘with the saying of the Confiteor by the aforesaid Pontiff together with the aforesaid King,’ after which the Litany is sung and then follows the _Introit_. The collect of Pentecost is used, followed by _Deus regnorum omnium_. After the epistle the archbishop anoints the king on the head, the clerks singing meanwhile _Dilexisti iustitiam_. The consecration prayer itself is omitted, probably by an oversight, but doubtless it was the same as was used in the last recension. After the anointing come the prayers _Dom. Deus Omn. cuius est omnis potestas_ and _Deus Dei filius_. The investitures with Sword, Ring, Crown, Sceptre, and Orb (under one form) are all as in the last recension, except that the prayers following the delivery of the ornaments are omitted, and the form of investiture with Sword gives place to the Roman form _Accipe gladium per manus_. After the investitures come three of the benedictions of the last recension, but in different order, and _Te Deum_.

Alternative Mass prayers are given, either those of the Ambrosian _Missa pro imperatore_ as in the order of Henry VII, or a combination of those of the Vigil of Pentecost, and of Pentecost according to the Ambrosian use.

The order of the queen’s coronation is identical with that of the last recension.