ADDITIONAL NOTES. P. 31. Elevation of Kings. THE existence of a custom of stone-elevation in the German empire having been too slightly noticed in the text, I shall here set down some particulars relating to the monument once devoted to it, and subjoin an account of some other curious observances which appear to be connected with the subject. The German Königstul is situated between Rens and Capel, and near Coblentz, upon the Rhine. It is described as follows:-"C'estoit un bastiment fait, dans un verger, sous sept gros noyers, où il y avoit des sièges de pierre de taille pour l'Empereur et pour les sept Electeurs, bastis sur des pilliers entreliés par autant de voûtes1." In this place it was usual for the emperor elect to confirm the rights of the electors; but our author adds that the building being entirely ruined this confirmation is now performed at the place of election. It is decided by lawyers, says another writer, that though 'Discours Historique de l'Election de l'Empereur, 4to. 1658, p. 487. the emperor should not have been consecrated by any prelate, his election alone would give him all his authority; and this was formerly declared and confirmed by placing him on the Kunig-stul when he was inthroned as emperor in the sight of all the states of the empire. But this monument being destroyed by time, the electors inthrone the new elect by placing him on the altar of the church where they hold the electoral conclave 2. The following notice of the Königstul occurs in the coronation of Maximilian I., and proves that so late as 1486 it was still made use of. "30 die Martii de mane missa finita in ecclesia Pinguensi (Bingen on the Rhine), Imperialis Majestas cum filio suo Rom. rege Maximiliano intraverunt naves, descendentes aquam. Ipsis venientibus in civitatem Remis (Reinse) erat ibi dominus archiepiscopus Moguntinus et Albertus dux Saxoniæ eum duxerunt supra cathedram lapideam elevatam quæ vocatur sedes regis (Königstul) situata in campis extra muros civitatis Remensis prope Rhenum, supra quam sedebat rex Romano Imperio præstans juramentum3." The king of HUNGARY, we are told, after the ceremony of his coronation is finisht, goes on horseback, clad in the royal habit, and with the crown on his head, to a column covered with cloth of gold, where he takes the oath to his people and receives their allegiance. There is then brought to him another horse, trained to leap a bank of earth, which 2 Memoires Instructifs sur la Vacance du Trone Imperial, p. 288. 3 Freherus, Rer. Germ. Script. tom. iii. p. 30. for that purpose. he mounts and leaps three times over a hillock prepared The king then raises his drawn sword in form of a cross above the multitude, and returns in state to his castle *. THIA. The following singular customs are said to have been used at the inauguration of the antient dukes of CARINNear the city of Saint Veit is a plain where the vestiges of a former town are still to be seen, and in a meadow just by, a large stone raised about two cubits from the ground. On this stone was placed a peasant, who enjoyed by descent the right of presiding at the inauguration of the dukes, having near him, on his right hand a black cow with a calf, and on his left a lean and hungry mare; the people of St. Veit and a crowd of peasants being assembled around him. The duke, in a countryman's bonnet and shoes, with a shepherd's crook in his hand, drew near to the assembly, accompanied by the senators clad in scarlet, and the great officers bearing their insignia. The man upon the stone seeing the train come nigh cried out Who is this that comes with such magnificence? The people answered It is the prince of the country. Is he a just judge? replied the peasant: doth he seek the welfare of the state? is he of free condition, worthy of honour, obedient to the laws, and a defender of the Christian religion? They cried, He is and he will be such. The peasant then demanded by what right he would remove him from his seat: to which the master of the duke's court answered This place is bought 4 Histoire des Inaugurations, p. 35. Estats du Monde, p, 738. for 60 deniers; these beasts are thine, (pointing to the cow and the mare) thou shalt be clothed in the garments which the duke will take off, and thy house shall be free, and exempt from tribute. The peasant then came down from the stone, gave the duke a gentle slap on the cheek, and exhorting him to be a good judge, went away with his cattle. The prince then took his place on the stone, brandished his naked sword, turning to every side, and promised to judge the people with equity. A peasant's cap was then presented filled with water, from which he was obliged to drink as a mark of his future sobriety. He was then conducted to the church, where he assisted at divine service, and changed the peasant's dress for the ducal habit. After the feast which followed, he returned to the meadow, in which a throne had been set up, and here he gave judge. ment and conferred fiefs 5. In some places we find that this exhibition of the prince was performed not on a stone but on a tumulus or hillock of earth; "Peragebatur hoc non in solio, ut recentiore ætate alibi, sed in tumulo, qualis adhuc tempore Hadriani Junii in Kennemaria inter Harlemum et Alcmariam exstabat: illud vero memoratu dignum est,' inquit, non procul Heemskerka tumulum acclivem nisi in omnes æqualiter partes editiorem, in ipso ferme soli meditullio situm, in quo retroactis seculis soliti sunt Hollandiæ comites, ut Kinheimariæ domini, in frequenti popularium et nobilitatis conventu inaugurari ditioni illi, ac mutuo sacramento 5 Histoire des Inaugurations, p. 48.-Heylin's Cosmography, 4to. p. 296. The older authorities are Munster and Æneas Sylvius. |