Cannons in the Canon 5: Iron Ordnance in King John

The anachronism of cannons in King John has been pointed out for centuries. What's really remarkable is the specificity of the anachronism. In Hamlet, there is talk of "brazen [brass] cannon" because, even though those are probably anachronistic too, at least brass cannons predate iron cannons.

But in King John it's full on "iron indignation". Cannons are even referred to as "ordnance," the technical term current in Elizabethan times. Here is a letter from Henry Neville in 1599:

This King, whatsoever his Meaning is, hath been very careful of late to furnish himself of Ordinance, and hath taken order for the casting of 50 or 60 Pieces here in the Arsenal, whereof 30 are already cast and tried. (WW, 1.130)

Of course, from the mid 1580s to the mid 1590s Henry Neville owned and operated an ironworks in Sussex that produced ordinance. The Oxford Shakespeare estimates the play was written around 1596. Specifically, at the Berkshire Records Office are these documents from 1593-1597. :

"Correspondence, etc., concerning Sir Henry Neville's transactions in the sale and shipment of 'brocken peces' of ordnance"

So we have Neville specifically using the word "ordnance" to refer to cannons in the 1593-1597 period as well as 1599 and 1600. That's some very specific dating.

But Shakespeare actually used "ordnance" from the beginning, several times in fact. Neville owned the ironworks from the mid 1580s so that makes perfect sense. For instance:

Taming of the Shrew, 1.2:
Have I not heard great ordnance in the field,
And heaven's artillery thunder in the skies?

Henry VI, Part 1:
A piece of ordnance 'gainst it I have placed;
And even these three days have I watch'd,
If I could see them.

Interestingly, George Peele uses "ordnance" in the same time period. Raises some interesting questions.

But please focus here on "iron indignation":

Act II, Scene 1:
KING JOHN

For our advantage; therefore hear us first.
These flags of France, that are advanced here
Before the eye and prospect of your town,
Have hither march'd to your endamagement:
The cannons have their bowels full of wrath,
And ready mounted are they to spit forth
Their iron indignation 'gainst your walls:
All preparation for a bloody siege
All merciless proceeding by these French
Confronts your city's eyes, your winking gates;
And but for our approach those sleeping stones,
That as a waist doth girdle you about,
By the compulsion of their ordinance
By this time from their fixed beds of lime
Had been dishabited, and wide havoc made
For bloody power to rush upon your peace.
But on the sight of us your lawful king,
Who painfully with much expedient march
Have brought a countercheque before your gates,
To save unscratch'd your city's threatened cheeks,
Behold, the French amazed vouchsafe a parle;
And now, instead of bullets wrapp'd in fire,
To make a shaking fever in your walls,
They shoot but calm words folded up in smoke,
To make a faithless error in your ears:
Which trust accordingly, kind citizens,
And let us in, your king, whose labour'd spirits,
Forwearied in this action of swift speed,
Crave harbourage within your city walls.

KING PHILIP

When I have said, make answer to us both.
Lo, in this right hand, whose protection
Is most divinely vow'd upon the right
Of him it holds, stands young Plantagenet,
Son to the elder brother of this man,
And king o'er him and all that he enjoys:
For this down-trodden equity, we tread
In warlike march these greens before your town,
Being no further enemy to you
Than the constraint of hospitable zeal
In the relief of this oppressed child
Religiously provokes. Be pleased then
To pay that duty which you truly owe
To that owes it, namely this young prince:
And then our arms, like to a muzzled bear,
Save in aspect, hath all offence seal'd up;
Our cannons' malice vainly shall be spent
Against the invulnerable clouds of heaven;
And with a blessed and unvex'd retire,
With unhack'd swords and helmets all unbruised,
We will bear home that lusty blood again
Which here we came to spout against your town,
And leave your children, wives and you in peace.
But if you fondly pass our proffer'd offer,
'Tis not the roundure of your old-faced walls
Can hide you from our messengers of war,
Though all these English and their discipline
Were harbour'd in their rude circumference.
Then tell us, shall your city call us lord,
In that behalf which we have challenged it?
Or shall we give the signal to our rage
And stalk in blood to our possession?