Richard, as we have seen, was not acknowledged by his father as his heir, nor had he received the homage of the barons as presumptive successor, until he had wrung the concession from the dying Henry on the field of Colombieres. The fact that, without a word of opposition, he was received as Duke of Normandy, Count of Anjou, and King of the English, immediately on the news of his father’s death, proves that the doctrine of hereditary succession was, in practice if not in theory, already admitted as the lawful one, and that Henry’s reforms had left the countries subject to his immediate sway in such order that no one even ventured to take advantage of the interregnum to disturb the peace. It also proves that Richard had strong friends. Among these the first was his mother, who, rejoicing in her deliverance by Henry’s death from her long captivity, placed herself at the head of the English government, and, empowered by Richard, ruled as regent until his arrival. One reason for this probably was that Ranulf Glanvill, the justiciar, had been a confidential friend of Henry, and may have been suspected of promoting the design of placing John upon the throne. For more than a month Eleanor reigned, Richard spending the time in making terms with Philip, who had become his enemy as soon as he succeeded to his father’s place, and in receiving the formal investiture of the several dignities which he claimed on the Continent. [Sidenote: Coronation of Richard. ] [Sidenote: Persecution of the Jews. ] In the middle of August he came to England, and John with him. After a magnificent progress of little more than a fortnight, he was crowned with exceeding great pomp at Westminster, on the 3rd of September. This is the first coronation the state ceremonies of which have been exactly recorded, and it has remained a precedent for all subsequent occasions; the religious services of course are much older. It was unfortunately disgraced by a riot promoted by Richard’s foreign attendants against the Jews, who, notwithstanding the king’s exertions, were severely handled, robbed and murdered, the example being followed, as soon as his personal protection was removed, at York, Stamford and St. Edmund’s. [Sidenote: Character of Richard. ]