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.