her head and spread the fame of her Conquests as well as Navigation over Asia Aegypt Syria Pontus Greece and other Countries bordering upon the Ocean she War'd against the Istrians vanquish'd the Saracens In the Holyâ— land they won Smyrna devasted all the Phoenician Shoars especially under Dominico Michaele who with 200 Vessels having rais'd the Siege of Ioppa took châ—us Samos Lesbos to omit their Successes against the Genoëzes emulous of their growth but never to forget the former and of late strenuous resistance against the Turk especially in that signal Battle of Lepanto and what their famous General Capello did at Tunis and Algiers of later time and the Building Furniture and Oeconomy of their Arsenal and Magazines Celebrated throughout the World when before the lucky Portuguezes had doubl'd the Cape of BonIâ—speranza the sweet of the Levantine Commerce transfer'd from this Port onely invited men to build not Ships alone but Houses and Palaces in the very bosom of Neptune with a stupendious Expence and almost miraculous The Government of their Maritime-Affairs care of their Forrests Victualling Courage and Industry of their Greatest Noble-men who are frequently made Captains of siâ—gle Gallies and sometimes arriving to be Chief Admirals come near a Dictatorship are things worthy of praise and of the Name they have obtain'd Genoa whom we mention'd had sigâ—aliz'd it self against the Saracens the Republic of Pisa and even Venice it self especially under Paganus Doria in the Year 1352 near the Bosphorus Streight and with the Island of Tenidos had been hir'd by the Young Andronicus to come into his assistance From the time of Cosino di Medices and Sylvius Piccolâ—mini their Admiral the Floreâ—tines gave proof of their Valour in Africa and of their Care for Sea Affairs the Arsenal at Pisâ— gives a commendable Instance 24. The Rhodans to whom some attribute even the Invention of Navigation and whose Constiâ—utions were â—niversally receiv'd obâ—ain'd a mighty repuâ—e at Sea and the Courâ—gious Exploits of the Maltezes and other Military Orders against the Common Enemy the Tâ—rk are renown'd over the World wiâ—ness ten thousand which they â—lew and half as many that they took in the Year 1308 with hundred thousands of those Miscrâ—ants destroy'd by them since their removal to Malta especâ—ally when joyn'd with the â—allies of Venice and Genoa in the Years 1601 1625 1638 and other slaughâ—ers innumâ—rable We name the Tâ—rk and they give us Cause to remember them by what the Christian Pale has too ofâ—en felt when more by their Numbers than their Courage they took from it Cyprus Rhodes and the never to be forgotten Candiâ— besides their Conquests and Incursions on the rest of Europe and Asia They are not 't is Confess'd of any Name for much Commerce but for the Disturbance of it which calls aloud â—pon the Christian VVorâ—d to put a â—â—mely period to their Insolence before it be incorrigible and to pursue the bold and brave Exploits of our Blakes Lawsons and Sprags against tâ—e Moores and Barbares and by Exampâ—e of our Heroic Prince to restore that Security to Trade which can onely make it Re-â—lourish 25. The Aethiopians Persians Indians and Chinezes for those of Tartary present or ancient Scyths come hardly into this Account may be reckon'd among the Nations of Traffic Especially the last nam'd as who are by some thought to have had knowledge of the Magnet before the Europeans nay so addicted were they to Sailing that they invented Veliâ—eroâ—s Chariots and to Sail upon the Land It was long since that they had intercourse with those of Madagascar and came sometimes as far as the Red-Sea with their Wares and for Vessels have to this day about Nankin Ionks of such prodigious size as seem like Cities rather than Ships buiâ—t full of Hoâ—ses and replenish'd with whole Families In shâ—rt There is hardly a Nation so â—ude but who is some degree Cultivate Navigation and are Charm'd with the Advantages of Commerce But it would cost an immense Volume to discourse at large of these things in particular and to mention onely the brave Men who have in all Ages signaliz'd themselves at Sea for their Arms or more peaceful Arts to Count the Names of the famous Captains and Adventures of later times whose Expeditions have been VVar-like and for Invasion and many for Discoveries and Commerce Here then we Contract our Sails and shall direct our Course nearer home from whence we have been so long diverted 26. The First that presents it self to our second Consideration are the Spaniards and Castilians who upon the Success of their Neighbours the Portugals making use of that fortunate Stranger Columbus prompted by a magnanimous Genius and a little Philosophy discover'd to us a New VVorld This Great Man being â—urnish'd-out by Ferdinand and Isabella of Castile in four Voyages which he made from the Year 1492 1492. to An. 1502 detected the Antillias Cuba Iamaica c. with some of the Terra firma though to let pass Zeno a Noble Venetian reported to have discover'd the North-East part of America above an hundred Years before there be 1390. who tell us that a certain obscure Mariner Alphonso Zanches de Huelva by name had the first sight of this goodly prospect eight years before this glorious Genâ—ëzâ— for Columbus was of that City or any the pretenders This poor Sea-man hurried upon those unknown Coasts by Tempests which continu'd for almost a â—ull Month was carried as far as St. Domingo in Hispaniola How he return'd is not said but that from the Observations of this Adventure Christophero receiv'd the first notices of what he afterwards improv'd being at that time in the Maderas where Zanches arriving died not long after and bequeath'd him all his Charts and Papers There are likewise who affirm that some mean Bisayers loosing themselves in pursuit of Whale-Fishing had fall'n upon some of the American Islands above an hundred years before either of the former but since of this we have no Authentic proofs Certain it is that Columbus taking his Conjectures from the Spiring of certain Winds from the Western Points by stâ—ong Impulse concluded that there must needs be some Continent towards those Quarters Upon this Confidence he offers first his Service to Iohn King of Portugal and then to our Henry the Seventh of England by both which Princes rejected for a Romantic Dream he repairs to the Court of Spain where partly by his Importunity and much by the favour of Isabella he was with great difficulty set-out at last when to equip him the Royal Lady was fain to pawn some of her Iewels But it was well Repaid when for the value of 17000 Crowns he not long after return'd her almost as many Tuns of Treasure and within eight or nine Years to the Kings sole Use above 1500000 of Silver and 360 Tuns of Gold See the Reward of Faith and of things not seen 1497. These fortunate beginnings were pursu'd by Americus Vesputius a Florentine
Inrich'd themselves 2. Their Entertaining of Auxilliaries in their difficult Land-Services by which they preserv'd their own Vassals 3. The Fidelity of the House of Nassaw from which they had a wise and experienc'd General 4. The frequent Excursions of the Duke of Parma into France hindring the Prosecution of his growing Successes 5. The Imbargo of their Ships in Spain and interdicting them Free-Trade with that Nation which first set them upon their Indian Adventures 6. And above All the Kindness of Queen Elizabeth But the Case is it seems much alter'd since that worthy Knight made his Observations and took his Leave of the Prince of Orange at Antwerp When after Leicesters return he pray'd him to say to her Majesty Sub Umbra Alarum tuarum Protegimur for that they had wither'd in the End without her Assistance 41. We have yet but only mention'd the Inherent Right of the Crown of England to the Dominion of the Seas because the Legality and the Reason of it have been Asserted by so many able and famous Pens from which we learn that it doth of Justice appertain to the Kings of Great Britain Seldeâ—â—s not only as far as Protection extends though there were no other Argument to favour us but of sacred and immemorial Royalty But 't is Pretended by those great Names Grotius Mariâ—â—â—us Clâ—irac â—s Pontanus â—alalâ—â—s c. who have of late disputed this Subject and endeavoured to Depose our Princes of this Empire Iure Naturae Gentium That the Sea is Fluxile Elementum quod nunquam idem possiderinon posse That 't is always in Succession and that one can never Anchor on the same Billow That Water is as Free as the Air and that the Sea terminates Empires which have no Bounds and therefore that no Empire can terminate that which acknowledges none and though all this were nothing That his Majesties Father had tamely lost it to the late Usurpers which is an insolent scoff of Marisotus's orbis Marit triumphing ore a setter'd Lion Whilst for all this to patch up a wrâ—â—ched Pretence he descends to take hold of a certain Obsolete and Foeudatarie Complement sometime since passing between the two Kings as if a Ceremonious Acknowledgment for a Province or two in France which is an usual deference among Princes upon certain Tenures gave sufficient Title and Investiture to All that the Kings of England possess in the World besides But in this sort do the Partizans of aspiring Monarchs manage their egregious Flatteries Whilst to silence all the World we can shew it Prescription so far beyond the present Race of Kings that even the Name of their PHARAMOND was not known Mela. when our EMPIRE on the SEA set Limits to the Coasts of Gauls and said Hitherto shall ye Come Nor to that alone but even as far as Spain it self For what pretence could those Princes have to this Dominion whose very Monarchy is but of Yesterday in respect to the goodly extent which now they call France and especially when the only Maritime Provinces were shread into so many Fragments and Cantons under their petty Princes for so were Narbon Bretayne Aquitaine and even Normandy it self portions belonging then to our Kings nor had they 'till of later days so much as the Office of Admiral belonging to the Sea that is till their Expedition into the Holy-Land when yet they were fain to make use of the Genoezes to transport them as we have it confess'd Io. Tillius de â—eb Gal. L. 2. by their own Authors As to their other Arguments we need not spend much breath to â—ilute those pittiful Cavels of the Instability and Fluctuation of the Waves c. which could not be there without a Channel and a Bottom to contain them as if we contended for the Drops of the Sea and not for its situation and the Bed of those Waters and since Rivers and Streams have the same Reason on their side to exempt them from being in Common and at every mans disposure And these things I have only touch'd to repress the pruriency of some late Flatterers who not only injure a Truth as resplendent as the Sun but the Justice of a great Prince whom by these false Colours they would provoke to unrighteous disputes whilst we pretend to nothing but what carries with it the strongest Eviction a thing of this nature is capable of 42. Needless it would be to amuse the Reader with recounting to him at large how in the ancient Division of things the Sea having here assign'd over with the Land there sprung up from the same Original a Private Dominion but undoubtedly when God gave to Man the Soveraigntâ— of the Ocean by intitl'ing him to the Fish which were produc'd in the bowels of it that is to the Thing it self by its Use and Enjoyment by the same Grant he passed over to him and consign'd to his disposure the distribution of it and introduction of a separate and peculiar Jurisdiction There is nothing more perspicuous in our Case and as to his Majesties Claim the Reasons for it rightly consider'd from so many Royal Predecessours and so long a tract of years who for security of Navigation and Commerce between their Neighbours and Allies were at such vast expences to Equip and set forth Great Ships and Navies and that upon the intreaty and solicitation of those who recurr'd to their protection and might themselves justifie the prescribing Rules and Boundaries to such as should pass the Seas and receive such Recognitions and Emoluments as were peculiar and within their Circle both for their Honour and Maintenance The deduction shall be very short considering how vast an Ocean of matter lies before us but it shall be full 43. Caesar 〈…〉 ere he had invaded Britain summoning the Gallic Merchants to inform him of the shores and situation of our Ports could it seems learn nothing from them for says he not a man of them frequented that Rivage without licence and when Claudius had subdu'd the more Southern parts of the Nation the British Sea following the fate of the whole Island came with the same privileges to be annex'd to the Empire and did never loose them through all the Revolutions which happen'd but that as soon as the prevalent power came to be settl'd they immediately asserted their Dominion on the Sea That of very wide extent this Nation had peculiars of its own the Consternation of the Calidonians evince when in the time of Domitian Agricola Tacit. in Vit. Agric. sailing round the Island they were in such perplexity to see him in their Chambers for so they called those Northern Streams But not longer to insist on these early begâ—nnings and what the Romans did when the frame of that Empire was chang'd about the time of the Great Constantine Nâ—titia Imp. Occid the Comites of the Saxon shore substitutes to him who commaâ—ded the West had their Jurisdiction oâ—er all the Sea â—rom the
de Dios having drawn-up his Vessel to Land and cover'd it with a few boughs marched with his small Crue over unknown paths till arriv'd at a certain River and there building a Pinnacâ— with the Timber which they fell'd upon the Spot he boldly launches into the South-Sea and at the Island of Pearls took from the Spaniard 60000 l. weight of Massie-Gold and 200000 in Silver though lost in his Return with it by the perfidy of his Associates such an Exploit is hardly to be parallel'd in any story Sir Richard Grinvill in another Voyage to Cadiz with but 180 Souldiers of which 90 were sick and useless in the Ship Revenge maintain'd a Conflict for 24 hours against 50 Spanish Gallions and slew above 7000 Men sinking four of their best Vessels Than this what have we more What can be greater In sum so universal was the Reputation of our Country-men in those daies for their strenuous Exploits at Sea That even Those who took all Occasions to depress and extenuate them are forc'd here to Acknowledge and that from the Pen of an Author whose Word goes far * Graiorum Romanorumque gloriae qui res olim suaâ— Navales per acies asseruerunt non dabie tunc Anglorum fortunâ— Virtus respondit Grot. Hist. l. 1. That the Greeks and Romans who of Old made good all their mighty Actions by Naval Victories were at this time equal'd by the Fortitude and Gourage of the English 38. 'T was in Her daies they discover'd far into the North-East and North-West Gathaian and China Passages by the indefatigable diligence of Willoughby Burroughs Chanceler Button Buffin Furbisher Iames Middleton Gilbert Cumberland and others worthy to be consign'd to Fame In her Brothers the Sixt Edwards Reign the formerly mention'd Chabot had six times attempted the North-West Tracts to the Indies and long before these a bold Prince of Ours essay'd to pass the Moluccos by the same Course entred the streights of Anian and is by some intituled to the first Discovery of the Canaries The Summer-Islands and the goodly Continent of Virginia were first detected and then Planted by the English among whom we may not pass by the Industry of Captain Iones Smith and other late Adventurers whose great Exploits as Romantic as they appear were the steady effects of their Courage and good Fortune We have said yet nothing of Pool who began the Whale-fishing nor of Captain Bennet who discover'd Cherry-Island Pet and Iack-man that pass'd the Vaigates Scythian lces and the River Ob as far as Nova Zembla Of Iohn Davis who had penetrated to 86 degrees of Latitude and almost set his foot upon the Northern-Pole Here let us also remember Captain Gillan to the lasting honour of his Highness Prince Rupert and the rest of those Illustrious Adventurers nor forget to celebrate the Heroic Inclination of his Sacred MAJESTY our Great CHARLES under whose Auspices Sir Iohn Norborough has lately Pass'd and Re-pass'd the Magellan Streight by which that Modest and Industrious Man has not onely performed what was never done before but has also made way for a Prospect of immense Improvement Finally 39. It was Queen Elizabeth who began and establish'd the Trade of Muscovy Turky Barbary and even that of the East-Indies too however of late Interrupted by ungrateful Neighbours Nor less was she vigilant at Land than at Sea Mustering at once no fewer than One hundred and twenty Thousand fighting-Men of her own Vassals not by uncertain Computation but effectually sit for War And indeed but for the extraordinary Vertue of this brave Virago not England alone but even France and Holland had truckl'd under the weight of Spain whose Ambition was then upon its highest Pinnacle In one word Navigation and Commerce were in her days in so prosperous a Condition that they seem to have ever since subsisted but upon the Reputation of it and the success of our Country-men in their Attempts at Sea was so far Superiour to other Nations as by the suffrage of the most Learned Strangers and to shew it was universal they could not but acknowledge Omnibus hodie Gentibus Navigandi industria Keckerman peritia Superiores esse Anglos post Anglos Hollandos for we do not fear to give even our greatest Enemies their Dues when they deserve it 40. We now arive to King IAMES and CHARLES the First Princes of immortal Memory And for the former there was in his time built besides many others those two gallant Ships The Trades-Increase and the Prince The one for encouragement of Commerce and the other a Man of War And though upon different Accounts and at different times they both unhappily miscarried yet they serv'd to testifie that neither Defence nor Trade were neglected since as to that of the first Sir Walter Raleigh doubts not to affirm That the Shipping of this Nation with a Squadron of the Navy-Royal was in this Princes time able in despight of Europe to Command the Ocean much more to bring the Nether-Lands to due Obedience But says he as I shall never think him a lover of his Country or Prince who shall perswade His Majesty from Cultivating their Amity so would I counsel Them to remember and consider it That seeing their Inter-course lies so much through the British-Seas that there is no part of France from Calais to Flushing capable of succouring them that frequently Out-wards by Western-Winds and ordinarily Home-wards both from the Indies Straites and Spain all Southerly-Winds the Breezes of our Climat thrust them of necessity into His Majesties Harbours how much his Majesties favour does import them For if as themselves confess they subsist by Commerce onely the disturbance of That and which England alone can disturb will also disturb their Subsistence I omit the rest Because I can never doubt either their Gratitude or their Prudence But this brave Man was it seems no Prophet to fore see how soon they would forget themselves They began in his days to be hardly warm in comparison and indeed it is not as observes the same Person much beyond a Century that either the French Spanish or Hollander had any proper Fleets belonging to them as Kingdoms or States the Venetians Ienoezes and Portugals being then as we have noted the only Competitors both for Strength and Traffick the Dutch littâ—e Considerable since within these fifty years the Spanish and Portugals employ'd many more Ships at Sea than the Hollander their Fishing-Buffes excepted who ' til furnish'd with our Artillery were very Contemptible as might be made out by undeniable Evidence Insomuch that the formerly mention'd Raleigh affirms One Lusty Ship of his Majesties would have made forty Hollanders Strike Sail and come to an Anchor They did not then says he dispute de Mari Libero But will you know in a word from him what it was that has exalted them to this monstrous Pitch It was the employing their own People in the Fishery upon our Coasts by which they infinitely
Borders of that Shoar and West part of Denmark to the Western Gallia all along the other side 44. There are who put some stress here upon ancient Inscriptions especially that mention'd by Greuter of a Proefect of a British Fleet and on the Ornaments and Ensigns of Dominion found in several Medals and Antiquities to be met withal in the Collections of learned men vindicating the peculiar we contend for and continu'd from Edward the Third in several fair stamps nor are they to be rejected It suffices us that whatever the Government were still the dominion of the Sea return'd with that of the land to the Nation Zâ—zimus l. 6. An. 43â— See Claud. in Laâ—d Stilâ— l. 2. as when the Britains rejected the Roman Yoak which how extended when it came under the power of the English Saxon Kings and Danes is known to all the World as well as with what mighty Navies Edgar Canutus and others asserted and protected it under no lower Style than that of King Supream Lord and Governour of the Ocean Lying round about Britain for so runs the settlement of certain Revenues given by King Edgar to the Cathedral of Worcester says Mr. Selden 45. Since the Norman Conquest the Government of the several Provinces or Sheriffs exercised Jurisdiction on the Sea as far as their Countys extended Henry the Third constituted Captain Guardians and our First Edward distributed this Guard to three Admirals so did the second of that name and the form of our ancient Commissions to the several Admiralties mention the dominion of our Kings upon the Sea nor did any other Nation whatsoever Contest it as having little or nothing on the opposite Shoars whilst 't is evident the English Monarchs possess'd their Right in its intire Latitude for more than a thousand Years under one intire Empire and an un-interrupted enjoyment of the Sea as an appendant 46. To this we might add the Pass-Ports sued for by Forreigners from the Reign of Henry the Fourth and so down to Queen Elizabeth who during her War with Spain sometimes gave leave to the Swedes Dances and Ansiatic Towns and sometimes prohibited them Petitioning for Passes to sail through her Seas nay more she caus'd to be taken and brought into her Harbours Laden-ships of those Nations transgressing her Orders as far as the Streights of Lisbon which she could never have justify'd had she not been acknowledged Soveraign of the Seas through which they were to pass And though her Successour King Iames appointed certain limits on the English Coast by imaginary lines drawn from point to point round the Island in which he sometimes extended them far into the Sea I was not to Circumscribe a Jurisdiction a thing which he most industriously caution'd his Ministers never to yield Râ—t pat 2. Iac. part 32. so much as in discourse beyond which he did not pretend but in relation only to Acts of Hostility between the two great Antagonists the Spaniard and the Hollander declaring himself both Lord and Moderator of the British Seas from his Royal Predecessors 47. In several Commissions given to Sea Commanders by Edward the Third Rot. Scot. 10. Ed. Membran 16. the words are Our Progenitors the Kings of England have before these times been Lords of the British Seas on every side and in a certain Bill prefer'd in Parliament to the same Prince Rot. pat 46. Ed. 3. N. 2. 't is said That the English were ever in the Ages past so renown'd for Navies and Sea-Affairs that the Countries about them usually esteem'd and call'd them Soveraigns of the Sea And from the same Parliamentory testimony in the Reign of Henry the Fifth we learn that the Estates in that august Assembly did with one Consent affirm it as a thing unquestionable Rot. pat 8. Hen. 5. Mem. 3. Aâ—t 6. That the Kings of England were Lords of the Sea and that That Sea was all which flow'd between the stream on both sides and made no doubt but a Tribute might be impos'd by Authority of Parliament upon all Strangers passing through them as we shall find Richard the Second to have done long before 48. In the Reign of Edward the Second Rot. pat 14. Ed. 2. p. 2. M. 26. in dorso Robert Earl of â—landers complaining of Injuries done his Subjects at Sea alledges that the King of England is bound in Right to do him Justice for that he was Lord of the Sea But there cannot in the World be a more pregnant Instance for the vindication of this dominion and the silencing all Objections than the famous complaint against the Genoeze Grimbaldi who during the War between the French and those of Flanders infesting the Seas and disturbing Commeâ—ce occasion'd all the Nations of Europe bordering on the Sea to have recourse and appeal to the Kings of England whom from time to time and by Right immemorial they acknowledged to be in peaceable possession of the Soveraign Lordship and dominion of the Seas of England and Islands of the same This Libel or Complaint was exhibited in the time of Edward the First almost three hundred years since and is still extant in the Archives of the Tower 49. And thus we have seen how the Sea is not only a distinct province Capable of Propriety Limits and other just Circumstances of Peculiar Dominion as a bound not Bounding his Majesties Empire but as bounded by it in another respect and that this was never violated so much as by Syllogism 'till some Mercenary pens were set on work against Spain through whose tender sides at that time and with great artifice 1509. Treaty with Spain concerning Trade to the Indies the Barnevelt faction endeavour'd to transfix us Soon it was perceiv'd and as soon encounter'd in the mean time that one would smile to find their mighty Champion then fairly accknowledg upon another Occasion and when it seems he resolv'd to speak out Angliae Regina Oceani Imperium That the Queen of England Grot. Annal. l. 2. 1570. was Dominatrix of the Sea So great is the Truth and will prevail In a word if the premier Occupant be a legal and just plea to the Right of other possessions the Kings and Queens of England descending from or succeeding to them who first asserted the Title are still invested with it sure we are this Argument was held good and illustrated by the First and best foundation of Empire when the State of Venice claiming the Adriatic by no other held that famous Controversie with Ferdinand of Friuli by their Advocate Rapicio and Chizzola Commissioners being mutually chosen to determine it and how far Antiquity is on our side The Greeks Romans Tyrians Phoenicians and otheâ—s have abundantly declar'd and with what caution they interdicted Strangers here with us till the Claudian Expedition annex'd it with the dominion of all Britain to that Glorious Empire which to protect against the Piratical Saxons then not seldom infesting our Coasts the Comites Maritimi
with this I should conclude did not the Fishery which is another irrefragable Proof of his Majesties Dominion require a little Survey before we shut up this discourse 54. How far this Royal Jurisdiction has extended may best be gather'd out of the Reverend Camden Speaking of King Iames the Sixth of Scotland Fliz. â—ritan and of Queen Elizabeth of England who first discovering the While-Fishing had consequently Title to those Seas as far as Green-land Northward and what it was to the South the Proclamation of our Third Edward yet extant abundantly makes appear This consum'd by the Fourth of that Name Guards and Convoys were appointed to preserve the Rights inviolable as was likewise continued by the Three succeeding Henrys Fifth Sixth and Seventh and their descendents who impos'd a certain Tribute upon all Forreiners in Recognition of their Indulgence to them Witness the French 1489. the Dukes of Britain of Burgundy especâ—ally Philip and those of Fâ—anders who never presum'd to cast a Net without Permission and a formal Instrument first obtained the Originals whereof are yet to be seen and may be collected out of both the French and Burgundian stories and as it doth indeed to this day appear by his Majesties neighbourly Civility granted to the French King for the Provision of his own Table and to the Town of Bruges in Handers 〈…〉 by a late Concession the number and size of Boats and other Circumstances being limited upon transgression whereof the offenders have been Imprison'd and otherwise mulcted 55. And as the French so the Spaniard did always sue to our Princes for the like priviledg and kindness King Phillip the Second as nearly related as he was to Queen Mary 〈…〉 his Wife finding a Provâ—so in an Act of Parliament that no Forreiner should fish in those Seas without permission paid into the Exchequer no less than an annual rent of one thousand pounds for leave to fish upon the North of Ireland for the supply of his dominions in Flanders Now for the Dutch 56. That famous Record Pro Hominibus Hollandiae so the Title runs points to us as far as our First Edward 1295. not only how obsequious then they were in Acknowledging the Kings Dominion on the Sea but his Protection and permission to Fish on the environs of it Râ—t pat 23. Ed. â— Memb. 5. And his Successor Edward the Third as he gave leave to the Counts of Holland who always petition'd for it so he prescribed Laws and Orders concerning the Burden of the Vessels to be employ'd about it The like did Henry the Sixth to the French 〈…〉 and others with the Season Place and Method to be observ'd which are all of main importance in the Cause And this was so religiously inspected in former times that Edward the Fourth constituted a Triumvirat power to guard both the Seas and the Fishery against all Pretenders whatsoever as had Richard the Second long before him who impos'd a Tribute on every individual Ship that pass'd through the 〈◊〉 Admiralty for the maintenance of that Sea-Guard amounting to six pence a Tun upon every Fishing Vessel weekly as appears by a most authentick Record and the Opâ—nion of the most eminent Judges at that early day who upon consideration that none but a Soverein power could impose such a paâ—ment gave it in as their opinion that this Right and Dominion was a 〈◊〉 of the royal Patrimony and inseparable Nay that wise Prince Henry the Seventh thought it so infinitely considerable that upon deeply weighing the great Advantages he was setting up a Trade or Sâ—apâ—â— of â—â—sh in preference say some to that of Wool itself and all other Commerce of his Domiâ—â—ons which being long before 〈◊〉 Low-Countries had a Name for Mâ—rchauâ—â— they had still perhaps 〈◊〉 if some Renegado's of our own 〈◊〉 and Stephens by Name had not encâ—â—â—â—g'd the Dutch of Enchusen with other Malcontented Persons of the Craft deserting their Country and their 〈◊〉 to molest his Majesties Sâ—reâ—â—s 〈◊〉 the accompt of these Mâ—n since wâ—â—â—h They and Others have conâ—iâ—â—â—â— their Presumptions even to Insolence 57. Neither was less the Care of King Iames 1606. to vindicate this incomparable prerogative than any of his vigilant Predecessors 1458. who having deriv'd that accession of the Shetland Islands by marriage with a Daughter of Denmark 1609. publish'd his Proclamations immediately after his coming into England For it must be acknowledg'd that Queen Elizabeth did not so nicely and warily look after this jealous Article as had been wish'd diverted by her extraordinary Pitty and abundant Indulgence to the distressed States But this Prince roundly asserts his Patrimony See Copy of a Letter in Sir â—ob Cotton's Library and the Credentials given to Sir Hen. Wotton upon many prudent Reasons of state and especially for encouragement of the Maritime Towns fallen much to decay and plainly succumbing under the injurious dealing of such as took the Fish from before their dores and renew'd his Commands that none should for the future presume so much as to hover about much less abide on our Coasts without Permission first obtain'd under the Great Seal of England and upon which the Hollanders petition'd for Leave and Acknowledged the Limits appointed them as formerly they had done Let us hear the Historian â—escribe it and blush The Hollanders says he taking infinite plenty of Herring Camden in Brâ— upon this Coast and thereby making a most gainful Trade were first to procure leave by ancient Custom out of Scarborow-Castle for the English permit them to Fish reserving indeed the Honour to themselves but Resigning the Benefit to Strangers to their incredible inriching c. What could be said more to our purpose or to our Reproach This was that which King Iames endeavour'd to bring into a better method when taking notice of the daily incroachment of our Neighbours he enjoyn'd his Ambassador who was then Sir Dudley Carleton to Expostulate it with the States 1618. as may be seen in that sharp Letter of Mr. Secretaries Dated the twenty first of December 1618 in which he tells them That unless they sought leave from his Majesty and acknowledg his Right as other Princes had done and did it might well come to pass that they who would needs bear all the World before them by their Mare Liberum might soon endanger their having neither Terram Nec Solum Nec Rempublicam Liberam I do only recite the Passage as I find it publish'd and take notice how Prophetick it had lately like to have been 58. This happy Prince taking umbrage at the War between the Hollander and the Spaniard did â—ix Limits by Commission and Survey nearer than which though as Moderator he offer'd equal Protection to boâ—h no Enemy to another State mâ—ght commit any hostile Act Seldâ—nâ—â—s l. 2. â— 22. and producing his Reasons for it asserted his Right so to do not as if those Boundaries circumscrib'd