of England; but, as I am King, so will I reign next under God, Supreme Head both over spiritual and temporal. And he that contradicts me in this, I'll make him hop headless.

Remarks on Context

Pandulph begins with the words: "Haile you annointed deputies of heauen;" (1. 136). In The Troublesome Raigne Pandulph immediately refers to John as being "accurst of God and men."34

In Pandulph's address, it is clearly indicated that John has refused to admit Stephen Langton, as Archbishop of Canterbury. It is important to note that the point at issue is not the validity of Stephen's election, but his admission to the see of Canterbury.

In the foregoing speech Pandulph has also made it clear that he is making the demands on John in the name of the Pope, not as a temporal ruler, but as spiritual Head of the Church. Pandulph says in line 140, "Doe in his name religiously demand" and again in line 145, "this in our foresaid Holy Fathers name."35

Pandulph's speech is strong and to the point and shows that the Pope is ready to take action against John. The accusation is couched in vigorous phrases: "wilfully dost spurn" and "force, perforce." The threat is already implied in "religiously demand", and the final words "I doe demand of thee" show that action against John is imminent.

An Elizabethan audience would certainly have understood the menacing nature of Pandulph's speech, and the audience would have been led to expect the Pope's ban of excommunication and deposition. Without a doubt Elizabethans were very well acquainted with the general nature of these papal censures, and the Catholics in the audience in particular would have had a thorough grasp of them in their minutest details.

Historically, the excommunication of King John did not bring about his reconciliation, for Innocent III had to resort to deposition and even commit the execution of the sentence to a foreign power. Shakespeare realized how little the ban of excommunication affected John and therefore Shakespeare makes John argue directly against deposition. John bases his argument on the sacredness of his kingly character, by virtue of which he claims full freedom to rule in his dominions and immunity from rendering an account to any earthly man, not even to the Pope. He asserts a temporal supremacy in his realm, which supremacy is inherent in his sacred kingly character, and, therefore irrevocable and not dependent on any "mortal hand."

Meaning of Words

Line 147, earthie: "earthly." This word is to be taken in its most obvious meaning, that is, in distinction to "heavenly." There seems to be no reason that it should be understood in the meaning of "temporal" as contrasted with "spiritual."

Line 148, sacred King: Since kings were anointed by a special religious ceremony, they were considered sacred. This has already been signified in Pandulph's words (line 136):

Haile you annointed deputies of heauen Shakespeare refers to the theory throughout Richard II. Particularly apt is a statement of John of Gaunt in the same play:

God's is the quarrel; for God's substitute,
His deputy anointed in his sight,
Hath caus'd his death; the which if wrongfully,
Let heaven revenge, for I may never lift

An angry arm against his minister.

(I, ii, 37-41.) The sacred kingly character, claimed by John, seems to be similar to, if not identical with, the sacred character of the priesthood. According to the Catholic doctrine on Holy Orders, once a priest is duly ordained, not even the Pope can take from him his priestly character. 36 Therefore, by insisting on the sacredness of his kingly character, Jonn is clearly arguing against deposition by the papal ban. Moreover, on the basis of the theory of the sacredness of kings, the Pope's supremacy is fully acknowledged in spiritual matters only; and, as a corollary of this, both are assumed to lack authority in the other's jurisdiction. Now, according to Pandulph's accusation, John has refused to admit Langton, and it is very evident that John considers this within his temporal jurisdiction. Therefore, John insists that he is not answerable to the Pope, and he contends that a demand of this nature, made even in the Pope's name, cannot "task the free breath of a sacred King."

..

Lines 149-151, Thou canst not as the Pope: The same idea, as to the authority of the Pope in this matter, is continued, but with greater vehemence.

Line 152, from the mouth of England: In the course of the play, the word "England" refers either to the king or the nation. In this phrase King John refers evidently to himself in his official capacity as king. In the preceding line he speaks of himself in the singular: "To charge me to an answere." But after using this phrase, he refers to himself in the plural: "in our dominions," "But as we vnder heauen, are supreame head," "Where we doe reigne, we will alone vphold." Consequently, it is quite clear that in this phrase King John is refering to himself as king and not to the nation.

Line 153, no Italian Priest shall tythe or toll: The papal officials, sent to collect the revenues for the Holy See, were most frequently Italian. As a matter of fact, many kings of England insisted that no tithes or taxes for the benefit of the Holy See could be collected without royal approval. 37 It is clear that by this reference John wishes to show to what extent his temporal supremacy can affect the Church. At the same time it is an assertion of authority over a matter that was often disputed by temporal and spiritual pow

ers.

Line 155, supreame head: The phrase is not here used as an official title, for it is neither capitalized nor italicized. It was not understood by the audience to mean spiritual supremacy, for it was a well known fact in Elizabethan England that Elizabeth never took such a title. Moreover, the annonymous author of The Troublesome Raigne expressly uses the title, but he finds it necessary to add the word "spiritual": "Supreme Head both over spiritual and temporal." In view of the subject matter of the speech, it must be said that the words refer only to John's temporal jurisdiction as king. Moreover, there is nothing here to indicate that due to the Langton case John is now assuming a new title of spiritual supremacy; whereas the phrase "where we doe reigne," in line 157, signifies that his power and dominion would continue unimpaired as before.

Line 156, supremacy: This word is used only in the abstract senses and never in the concrete sense, i. e. in the meaning of "kingdom" or "territory", which is seemingly implied by the phrase "where we doe reigne." The abstract sense becomes apparent when it appears in its proper place in the sentence: "we will alone vphold that great supremacy under him." Still the qualifying phrase, "where we doe reigne," indicates a temporal authority, which he possessed prior to this incident.

Line 157, Where we doe reigne: "Where" has probably the meaning of "whereby", otherwise the word "supremacy" would have both an abstract and a concrete sense.

37 See p. 57. For the historical foundation of this line, see Plate II p. 70. 38New English Dictionary.

Line 158, Without th'assistance of a mortall hand: John rashly contends that deposition cannot take from him his kingly character, for by deposition all his subjects would be released from their allegiance. Therefore, he claims that as a sacred king he would ever maintain his rightful supremacy even "without th'assistance of a mortall hand."

Lines 159-160, all reuerence set apart to him and his vsurp'd authoritie: Since John does not deny the spiritual supremacy of the Pope, an acknowledgement of some sort is in place. The phrase means "with due reverence to him" or "saving his reverence." And as a final note of bitterness John adds, "and his vsurp'd authoritie." The words "to him" seem to be frequently overlooked by the interpreters. These lines have sense only when the Pope's spiritual supremacy is duly preserved in the interpretation of the speech.

Line 160, vsurp'd authoritie: John had likewise vainly accused Philip: "Alack thou dost vsurpe authoritie" (II, i, 118).

Comments

A. THE NATURE OF THE SPEECH. John's defiance begins with haughty scorn (lines 147-148). He rises to exaggerated insult (lines 149-151), and then his anger seems to take complete possession of him, for there is an evident recklessness in his words: "Tell him this tale, and from the mouth of England, Adde thus much more." It is only after his anger has had its sway that he throws out a curt apology. But even this is not without bitterness.

That the speech is strong is not at all surprising, for it is thus by dramatic necessity. Unless John shows obduracy and contumacy towards the Pope's demands in the Langton case, the excommunication would not be justified. Furthermore, the speech would be neither natural nor characteristic if it were otherwise.