England alone, of John’s possessions, real and nominal, was held by the higher style of “_Rex_,” implying strictly sovereign rule, independent of any overlord, and retained by John in 1215 in spite of his recent acceptance of Innocent III. as feudal overlord. Of Ireland, John was still content to describe himself, as formerly, “lord,” not king. The exact meaning of the word “_Dominus_” in medieval charters, particularly in those of Stephen, has been made the subject of much learned controversy; which has not yet resulted in a consensus of opinion as to the technical meaning, if any, borne by the word.[326] “_Dominus_,” indeed, seems to have been loosely used wherever something of substance or of ceremonial was lacking from the full sovereignty implied in the more specific name of king. In this connection much stress was laid on the solemn sacrament of coronation, implying among other things formal consecration by the church.[327] Footnote 326: Various theories will be found in Round’s _Geoffrey de Mandeville_, 70; Dr. Rüssler’s _Matilde_, 291–4; and Ramsay’s _Foundations of England_, II. 403. Footnote 327: Cf. _supra_, p. 119. ----- John’s connection with England, then, is expressed in two simple words, “_Rex Anglie_,” no explanation being vouchsafed of how he had acquired this title. Such vindication, indeed, was not called for, as this was no coronation charter, John having already reigned for fifteen years without any serious rival—the claims of Arthur, the son of his elder brother Geoffrey, never having been taken seriously in England.[328] The simple words, “_Dei gratia rex Anglie_,” may be contrasted with the detailed titles set out in the coronation charters of Henry I. and Stephen respectively. Henry I. in 1100 had emphasized his relationship to preceding kings, describing himself as “_Filius Willelmi regis post obitum fratris sui Willelmi, Dei gracia rex Anglorum_”;[329] while Stephen in April, 1136, in his second and more deliberate charter, used an entirely different formula, “_Dei gracia assensu cleri et populi in regem Anglie electus, et a Willelmo Cantuarensi archiepiscopo et sancte Romane ecclesie legato consecratus, et ab Innocentio sancte Romane sedis pontifice postmodum confirmatus_,”[330] the laboured nature of which betrays the consciousness of weakness. ----- Footnote 328: Geoffrey’s daughter Eleanor was in 1215, a prisoner in Corfe Castle. See _infra_, c. 59. Footnote 329: See Appendix. Footnote 330: See Appendix. -----