There seems to be no evidence of the existence of any coronation rite among the Britons. Gildas is sometimes quoted as evidencing the existence of a British rite. He says as follows; ‘Kings were anointed, and not by God, but such as stood out more cruel than other men; and soon they would be butchered, not in accordance with the investigation of the truth, for others more cruel were chosen in their place[35].’ It is plain that this language is merely metaphorical. There is a passage occurring in Adamnan’s life of St Columba which is more to the point[36]. It speaks of an ‘ordination’ (_ordinatio_) of King Aidan by the saint. ‘And there (i.e. in Iona) Aidan coming to him in those same days he ordained (_ordinavit_) as king, as he had been bidden. And among the words of ordination he prophesied things to be of his sons and grandsons. And laying his hands upon his head, ordaining him, he blessed him.’ I do not think that this occurrence can be regarded in any sense of the word as a consecration of Aidan. It appears to be nothing more than a very solemn blessing. The word _Ordinatio_ is curious, but it is probably referring to the laying on of the hand in benediction. CHAPTER IV THE WESTERN RITE OF THE CORONATION OF AN EMPEROR AT ROME The Western coronation rite came into existence on the foundation of the Neo-Roman or Holy Roman Empire by Charlemagne. The rite by which he was crowned was evidently regarded as the equivalent to that used at Constantinople, for the contemporary accounts claim that the ceremony was carried out ‘more antiquorum.’ The two earliest accounts of the coronation of Charlemagne agree closely but give only scanty details. The _Chronicle of Moissac_[37] describes the event thus. ‘Now on the most holy day of the Nativity of the Lord, when the king arose from prayer at Mass before the tomb of the blessed apostle Peter, Leo the Pope with the counsel of all the bishops and priests and the Senate of the Franks and also of the Romans, set a golden crown on his head, in the presence also of the Roman people, who cried: “To Charles the Augustus crowned of God, great and pacific Emperor of the Romans, life and victory.” And after the Laudes had been chanted by the people, he was also adored by the Pope after the manner of the former princes.’