In wonder mute The courtiers heard. The astonish'd King exclaim'd, "This is indeed the agency of Heaven! mandastis, videlicet quod intimaremus quid un&tionis sacramentum videatur adjicere regiæ dignitati, cum multi sint reges qui nullatenùs unctionis munera decorentur, non est nostræ modicitatis complere hoc. Tamen non ignoramus quod regalis inunctio signum est prerogativæ susceptionis septiformis doni sacratissimi pneumatis, quod septiformi munere tenetur Rex inunctus præeminentius non unctis Regibus omnes regias et regiminis sui actiones dirigere; ut videlicet non communiter sed eminentér et heroicè dono Timoris se primò, et deinceps, quantum in ipso est, suo regimini subjectos, ab omni cohibeat illicito; dono Pietatis defendat subveniat et subveniri faciat viduæ, pupillo, et generaliter omni oppresso; dono Scientiæ leges justas ad regnum justè regendum ponat, positas observet et observari faciat, erroneas destruat; dono Fortitudinis omnia regno adversantia repellat et pro salute Reipublicæ mortem non timeat. Ad prædicta autem præcelkenter agenda dono Concilii decoretur, quo artificialitèr et scientificè ordo hujus mundi sensibilis edocetur; deinde dono Intellectus, quo cætus Angelici ordo dinoscitur. Tandem verò dono Sapientiæ, quo ad dilucidam cognitionem Dei pertingitur, ut ad exemplar ordinis mundi et ordinis angelici secundum leges æternas in æterna Dei ratione descriptas, quíbus regit universitatem creaturæ, rempublicam sibi subjectam "Hard, Maiden, were I of belief," he cried, ordinabiliter regat tandem et ipse. Adjicit igitur Regiæ dignitati unctionis sacramentum quod Rex unctus præ cæteris in suo genere debet, ut prætactum est, ex septiformi spiritus munere, in omnibus suis regiminis actibus, virtutibus divinis et heroicis pollere." And some other have conceived this anointing of such efficacy, that, as in baptisme all former sinnes are washt away, so also by this unction, as we see in that of Polyeuctus Patriarch of Constantinople, who doubted not but that the Emperor John Tzimisces was cleerd, before Heaven, of the death of Phocas, thro his being anointed Emperor. Selden's Titles of Honour. The legend of the Ampulla made this ceremony peculiarly important in France. I quote the miracle from Desmarests.. Clovis is on his knees waiting to be anointed by St. Remigius. Cependant le Prelat attend les huiles saintes. Un Diacre les porte, et fait un vain effort; La foule impenetrable empesche son abord. Du Pontife sacré la douce impatience, Des mains & de la voix veut en vain qu'il s'avance. "Believe. Not doubting therefore the strange will "Of the all-wise providence, delay I now "Instant to marshal the brave sons of France "Beneath thy banners; but to satisfy "Those who at distance from this most clear proof May hear and disbelieve, or yield at best "A cold assent. These fully to confirm "And more to manifest thy holy power, De tant de corps pressez l'immobile ramas. En son bec de coral tenant une fiole. Elle apporte au Prelat ce vase precieux, Plein d'un baume sacré, rare present des Cieux. Clovis. Guillermus Brito says that the Devil brake the viol of oil which St. Remigius held in his hand ready to anoint Clovis, and that the oil being so spilt, he obtained by prayer a supply of it from heaven. Selden "Forthwith with all due speed I shall convene "The Doctors * of Theology, wise men "And skilful in the mysteries of Heaven. 66 By these thy mission studied and approved, "As needs it must, their sanction to all minds "Shall bring conviction, and the firm belief "Lead on thy favour'd troops to mightiest deeds, *Ces paroles ainsi par elle dictes, la fist le Roy remener honorablement en son logis, & assemble son grand Conseil, au quel furent plusieurs Prelats Chevaliers Escuyers & chefs de guerie, avecques aucuns Docteurs en Theologie en Loix & en Decret, qui tous ensemble adviserent qu' elle seroit interrogue par les Docteurs, pour essayer si en elle se trouveroit evidente raison de pouvoir accomplir ce qu' elle disoit. Mais les Docteurs la troverent de tant honneste contenance, & tant sage en ses paroles, que leur revelation faicte on en tent tres grand conte. Diverses interrogations luy furent faites par plusieurs Docteurs & autres gens de grand estat, a quoy elle respondit moult bien, & par especial a un Docteur Jacobin, qui luy dist, que si Dieu vouloit que les Anglois s'en allassent, qu'il ne falloit point de armes; a quoy elle respondit, qu' elle ne vouloit Well pleas'd the maiden heard. Her the King leads From the disbanding throng, meantime to dwell With Mary. Watchful for her Lord's return Or flashing anger, or with scornful scowl que peu de gens qui combattroient, & Dieu donneroit la victoire. From the history of the siege of Orleans. Troyes. 1621. In the Gesta Joanne Gallica of Valerandus Varanius, one of the Counsellors makes a speech of seventy lines upon the wickedness of women, mentioning Helen, Beersheba, Semiramis, Dalilah, Messalina, &c. as examples. The council are influenced by his opinion, and the Maid, to prove her mission, challenges any one of them to a single combat. Quâ me stultitiâ, quâ me levitate notandam Compede vincta abeam, et cunctis sim fabula sæclis. |