973

<poem>

Here was Edgar,

of Angles lord,

with courtly pomp

hallow'd to king

at Akemancester,

the ancient city;

whose modern sons,

dwelling therein,

have named her BATH.

Much bliss was there

by all enjoyed

on that happy day,

named Pentecost

by men below.

A crowd of priests,

a throng of monks,

I understand,

in counsel sage,

were gather'd there.

Then were agone

ten hundred winters

of number'd years

from the birth of Christ,

the lofty king,

guardian of light,

save that thereto

there yet was left

of winter-tale,

as writings say,

seven and twenty.

So near had run

of the lord of triumphs

a thousand years,

when this was done.

Nine and twenty

hard winters there

of irksome deeds

had Edmund's son

seen in the world,

when this took place,

and on the thirtieth

was hallow'd king. </poem>

Soon after this the king led all his marine force to Chester; and there came to meet him six kings; and they all covenanted with him, that they would be his allies by sea and by land.

(Ingram, p.95-96)

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King Edgar, Alfred's great grandson, was anointed in Bath in a solemn coronation using a liturgy that remains the basis of English coronations to this day. This accomplished an alliance between the church and the crown, symbolised by the solemn anointing of King Edgar at his coronation, the first time that a king of all England had been blessed with this sacrament that was jealously reserved by the Roman church. The kings of Scotland had to wait for it until 1331.

(Lacey, p.35,108)