The details of Richard’s coronation do not appear either in the Red or Black Books of the Exchequer, but they are given by Benedict Abbas, pp. 557–560, and copied by Hoveden, from whom Wendover somewhat abridges them, and thence repeated in the greater Chronicle of Matt. Paris, ed. Wats, p. 153, and Hist. Ang., ii. 6.[428] This, it will be seen, hardly commits the writer to the view that some Exchequer record was, as alleged above, the original authority. But such, no doubt, might be the inference from this comment on the text. As important inferences have now been drawn from this error, as I venture to deem it, we must glance at the actual passage on which the theory is based. Unconnected with the narrative of the coronation, which is complete without it, there is found, in the ‘Historia Anglorum’ (ii. 9) this marginal note: Officia prelatorum et magnatum quæ ab antiquo jure et consuetudine in regum coronationibus sibi vindicant et facere debent, in rotulis Scaccarii poterunt reperiri. This obviously refers, not to the narrative in the text, which is that of the coronation ceremony alone, but to the services performed “by ancient right and custom” in the king’s house on that occasion. Of these there is no description in the text. In another work ascribed, but doubtfully, to Matthew Paris, the so-called “Abbreviatio,” the coronation is mentioned, but not described; and there is added a similar note; Et quia exigit plenitudo historiæ officia quorundam magnatum qui in coronationibus habent implere, de antiqua consuetudine, lectorem hujus libelli abbreviati ad historiam transmitto prolixiorem quæ in consuetudinibus Scaccarii poterit reperiri.[429] In both cases, it will be observed, an exchequer record is referred to solely for the customary offices or services rendered by certain magnates; and in both cases the present tense and the word “coronation_ibus_” imply that the reference is general, and is not merely a description of what happened at Richard’s coronation. Now my contention is that the record referred to is that of Queen Eleanor’s coronation in 1236, which is preserved, at the present day, in the Red Book of the Exchequer, and which was known to Matthew Paris, who appends to his narrative of the services at that coronation the marginal note: “Hæc omnia in consuetudinario Scaccarii melius et plenius reperiuntur.”[430] We actually find in that record the words: “de prædictis autem officiis nullus sibi jus vendicavit,” etc.,[431] which at once remind us of the marginal note found in the ‘Historia Anglorum.’ * * * * *