of Frankfort, a town in which not only the election of the Emperor, but also his coronation, almost always took place, though one might have supposed that Aix-la-Chapelle would have been selected for such ceremonies.  The Electors attended, and after the service was concluded, they retired to the sacristy of the church, accompanied by their officers and secretaries, They had thirty days for deliberation, but beyond that period they were not allowed “to eat bread or drink water” until they had agreed, at least by a majority, to give a temporal chief to the Christian people, that is to say, a King of the Romans, who should in due time be promoted to be Emperor, The newly-elected prince was, in fact, at first simply King of the Romans, and this title was often borne by persons who were merely nominated for the office by the voice of the Electors, or by political combinations.  In order to be promoted to the full measure of power and authority, the King of the Romans had to receive both religions consecration and the crown.  The ceremonies adopted at this solemnity were very analogous to those used at the consecrations of the kings of France, as well as to those of installation of all Christian princes.  The service was celebrated by the Archbishop of Cologne, who placed the crown on the head of the sovereign-elect, whom he consecrated Emperor.  The symbols of his authority were handed to him by the Electors, and then he was proclaimed, “Caesar, most sacred, ever august Majesty, Emperor, of the Holy Roman Empire of the nation of Germany.”

[Illustration:  Fig. 388.—­Costume of Emperors at their Coronation since the Time of Charlemagne.—­From an Engraving in a Work entitled “Insignia Sacre Majistatis Caesarum Principum.”  Frankfort, 1579, in folio.]

The imperial cortege then came out from the Church of St. Bartholomew, and went through the town, halting at the town-hall (called the Roemer, in commemoration of the noble name of Rome), where a splendid banquet, prepared in the Kaysersaal (hall of the Caesars), awaited the principal performers in this august ceremony.

At the moment that the Emperor set foot on the threshold of the Roemer, the Elector of Saxony, Chief Marshal of the Empire, on horseback, galloped at full speed towards a heap of oats which was piled up in the middle of the square.  Holding in one hand a silver measure, and in the other a scraper of the same metal, each of which weighed six marks, he filled the measure with oats, levelled it with the scraper, and handed it over to the hereditary marshal.  The rest of the heap was noisily scrambled for by the people who had been witnesses of this allegorical performance.  Then the Count Palatine, as chief seneschal, proceeded to perform his part in the ceremony, which consisted of placing before the Emperor, who was sitting at table, four silver dishes, each weighing three marks.  The King of Bohemia, as chief butler, handed to the