The King returned to his Chair of Estate and the Archbishop passed the Coronation Bible made for His Majesty to the Right Reverend Dr Iain Greenshields, Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland. Both the Archbishop and the Moderator approached The King and the Moderator presented the Bible to The King saying:
“Sir, to keep you ever mindful of the law and the Gospel of God as the Rule for the whole life and government of Christian Princes, receive this Book, the most valuable thing that this world has to offer. Here is Wisdom; this is the Royal Law; these are the lively Oracles of God.”
Before The King took the Coronation Oath required by law, the Archbishop approached the Chair of Estate and said: “Your Majesty, the Church established by law, whose settlement you will swear to maintain, is committed to the true profession of the Gospel, and, in so doing, will seek to foster an environment in which people of all faiths and beliefs may live freely. The Coronation Oath has stood for centuries and is enshrined in law. Are you willing to take the Oath?”
His Majesty responded: “I am willing.”
The King then proceeded to take the Coronation Oath. The King placed his right hand on the Holy Bible, and the Archbishop administered the Coronation Oath to The King, asking: “Will you solemnly promise and swear to govern the Peoples of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, your other Realms and the Territories to any of them belonging or pertaining, according to their respective laws and customs?”
The King responded: “I solemnly promise so to do.”
The Archbishop continued to administer the Coronation Oath, asking: “Will you to your power cause Law and Justice, in Mercy, to be executed in all your judgements?”
The King replied: “I will.”
The King knelt on his Faldstool and placed both hands on the Holy Bible while the Archbishop asked: “Will you to the utmost of your power maintain the Laws of God and the true profession of the Gospel? Will you to the utmost of your power maintain in the United Kingdom the Protestant Reformed Religion established by law? Will you maintain and preserve inviolably the settlement of the Church of England, and the doctrine, worship, discipline, and government thereof, as by law established in England? And will you preserve unto the Bishops and Clergy of England, and to the Churches there committed to their charge, all such rights and privileges as by law do or shall appertain to them or any of them?”
The King answered: “All this I promise to do”, and continued with both hands still on the Holy Bible: “The things which I have here before promised, I will perform and keep. So help me God.”
His Majesty kissed the Holy Bible.
His Majesty proceeded to make the Accession Declaration with both hands still placed on the Holy Bible. The Archbishop asked:“Your Majesty, are you willing to make, subscribe and declare to the statutory Accession Declaration Oath?”
His Majesty confirmed: “I am willing.”
His Majesty declared: “I Charles do solemnly and sincerely in the presence of God profess, testify, and declare that I am a faithful Protestant, and that I will, according to the true intent of the enactments which secure the Protestant succession to the Throne, uphold and maintain the said enactments to the best of my powers according to law.”
Sitting on the Chair of Estate and in sight of all the people, His Majesty applied the Royal Sign Manual to printed versions of the Coronation Oath and Accession Declaration which are attached as an annex to this Roll. The Choir sang ‘Prevent us, O Lord’ by William Byrd.
The King then moved to the Altar and knelt on a Faldstool before saying the following prayer, facing the Altar. This was a new element introduced for the first time for His Majesty’s Coronation service: “God of compassion and mercy whose Son was sent not to be served but to serve, give grace that I may find in thy service perfect freedom and in that freedom knowledge of thy truth. Grant that I may be a blessing to all thy children, of every faith and belief, that together we may discover the ways of gentleness and be led into the paths of peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.”
The King then returned to the Chair of Estate, while the choir sang ‘Gloria in Excelsis’ by William Byrd.