The MANNER of the CORONATION Of the PRESENT Pope ALEXANDER VIII. And the Ceremonies thereunto belonging: TOGETHER WITH The Order of the Procession.  
In a LETTER from a Gentleman, then residing in ROME, to his Friend at LONDON.  

Licenced according to Order.  
J. F. 1689.   

SIR,  
AS concerning the manner of creating the Popes, it hath been different, in divers times; for in the Primitive Church only the Clergy of Rome had power to make the Election; but this right afterwards descended to the Emperor and the People: In the Year 684, the Emperor Constantine the IVth. parted with this Power, and the Clergy alone and the People created the Pope: but in the Year 963, Pope Leo the VIII. being driven from his Seat by the Roman people, who bore, in those days, so little Respect to the Popes, that they used to Treat 'em very evilly, and sometimes banish 'em, and sometimes even put 'em to death; as they did Pope Leo the III. Benedict the VI and Pope John the XIV. Then did the Emperor Otho the II. reassume the Right and Power of Electing the Popes, which Constantine the IV. had surrendered to the people, as aforesaid. The Exarches of Ravenna, Lieutenants for the Emperor in Italy, and the Roman people had often great Disputes together for the Elections, the which caused Schisms; such as was that of Innocent the II. against Anaclete the II. the which obliged Victor the IV. to assemble a General Council at Rome, at St. John of Lateran's; where it was ordained, That the Clergy alone should give their Suffrages; and Pope Celestine the XXI. was the first that was created after this manner. But a little while after, this Right and Propriety was conferred upon the Cardinals only; and in the Council of Lateran following, assembled by the Pope Calistus the III. it was then ordained, That two thirds of the Suffrages should be requisite and necessary for the Creation of a Pope: And in the end, at the second Council-General held at Lions, under Gregory the X. it was concluded upon, amongst the Rules and Canons that were there and then made touching the Ceremonies of Electing and Creating a Pope, That the Cardinals should be shut up in a Conclave; from whence they should not come forth until the Election was ended; which is performed after this manner following.  
He that ought to be chosen is proposed in the Conclave; upon which proposition, the Cardinals go to the Scrutiny, and finding the number of Suffrages requisite, the Masters of the Ceremonies go to the Cell of the Cardinal that is Elected, and declare to him the News of his Exaltation; after which they conduct him to the Chapel of the Conclave; and being there Vested in his Pontifical Habit, he there receives the Respects which the Cardinals are wont to render to the Sovereign High-priests: After which, one Cardinal, with one Master of the Ceremonies, go to the House of Benediction, and there declare to the people his Exaltation: and thereupon immediately are heard the Acclamations of Long Live POPE Alexander; all the Artillery being discharged, with the Chiming of all the Bells in the City.  
Then the Pope being set in his Pontifical Chair, is carried to St. Peter's Church, and is there placed upon the Altar of the Apostles, whither all the Cardinals go a second time to do him Homage; and from thence his Holiness is reconducted to his Apartment, after having given his Benediction to the people: and some few days after, the Ceremonies of his Exaltation and Coronation are performed in the same Church of St. Peter, after this manner following.  
Upon the day of his Holiness' Coronation, all Cardinals, Ambassadors of Kings, Princes, etc. and the principal Lords about the Court, wait upon him at his Apartment; from thence they accompany him to the Church, and even into the Sacristy; into which he is carried in a Chair; and there his Holiness is Vested in his Pontifical Habit; and when he comes from thence he ascends a portable Theatre, on which stands his Pontifical Chair, and is so carried up to the Altar across the Church, than very full of people, being assembled to see that Ceremony: and in some parts of that Church there are Scaffolds set up for the chief Lords and Ladies, and persons of Quality. He is preceded by the Cardinals and Ambassadors; while all the people kneeling, Echo forth their Acclamations of Long Live Pope A. At his coming out of the Sacristy and his going to the aforesaid Theatre, is performed the Ceremony of setting Fire to Flax, being fastened to the end of a Stick, and held up as high as his Holiness' person, these words being pronounced▪ Sancte Pater, sic transit Gloria Mundi: That is, Holy Father, thus doth the Glory of the World pass away. Being as an Advertisement to him, that he suffer not his heart to be surprised with Vanity at the Exaltation, whilst he sees the people under his Feet. The same Ceremony is reiterated in the midst of the Church; and again a third time performed when he is come up to the Altar.  
Then is his Holiness, after his Coronation, to 〈◊〉 in Procession and take possession of the Popedom, which is 〈◊〉▪ John Lateran's Church; for to perform which he 〈◊〉 what d●y 〈◊〉 thinks convenient. 〈◊〉 which day, the trees through which he is to 〈◊〉 are ●ll hung with 〈…〉 apistry; and there 〈…〉 the most remarkable Actions of his Holiness' Life and the Order of the Cavalcade (at which Ass●●● all the Ambassadors and Princes, and Lords on Horseback, all most Richly Apparaled) was in this manner following:  
The first that march are the Pages of the Guard-Robes of the Cardinals, with their Valises; then the Sergeants and Mace-bearers; then the Gentlemen belonging to the Ambassadors and Cardinals, with the principal Lords and Barons of Rome; and these go in an Irregular and Disorderly manner, because they will avoid all disputes of Precedency that may happen.  
Then follow next his Holiness' Esquires, as also his Tailor, and the Barber that carries his Valise; then come twenty Hackneys, four Mules, three Litters, with the Master of the Stable, and his Holiness' six Trumpeters: then follow after the Adjutants of the Chamber, and the Chamberlains, extra nutros: then the Consistorical Advocates; the Officers of the Palace, with the Commissary of the Chamber, and the Attorney-General: After whom follow the Chamberlains of Honour, and the Pope's Secret Chamberlains; four of which carry four of the Pope's Hats, with Staves covered with Red Velvet: then come sixty Roman Gentlemen, in Antic Bonnets and Habits. The Prelates follow these, who are the Abbrovi●tors di parco Maggiore, i. e. the Auditors of the Rota and the Master of Sacred Palace on the left hand of the Dean of the Rota, and the Ambassador of Bologn. After these march the Magistrate of the Roman people, being preceded by four young Gentlemen, named Mareschals: then thirteen Captains of the several Quarters of Rome; and their Prior, between the two Chancellors of Rome.  
And after these the three Conservators, that is to say, the chief of the Family of the Colonnes; the chief of the Family of the Vrsins; and the Nephew's and Brothers of the Pope.  
Then the Ambassadors of Republics, the Embasasadors of most Serene Dukes; the Ambassadors of Kings; and after these the Governor of Rome. After these come the Pope's Masters of Ceremonies, and after them the Bearer of the Cross: then the two Cardinal Deacons, with their Red Caps and their Pontifical Hats; who are immediately followed by the Pope, having on each hand his Chamberlain, and his Transcriber; with a great number of Pages and tall Fellows, that wait upon their Masters▪ called, Estaflers. Then follow all the Cardinals on their Mules, two by too ●● they being likewise followed by other Prelate assisting: as also, Patriarches, Arch-Bishops, Bishops, Protonotaries, and last of all the Pope's Guard of Light Horse.  
When the Pope is come to St. John Lateran's, than the Archpriest of this Church, presents him with two Keys, the one made of Gold and the other of Silver; and then all the Canons render him their Obedience, by kissing his Feet: And then after all is ended, his Holiness gives his General Benediction; and so the Ceremony is ended.  
FINIS.   

Printed for J. Millet, next door to the Flower-de-Luce in Little-Britain. 1689.