INTRODUCTION 1 1 



even in the ports and harbours, both by the Dutch and 

 Dunkirkers. And some of the reasons which were used to 

 justify the formation of a powerful fleet, far beyond the 

 requirements necessary to enforce the ordinary jurisdiction, 

 were sound enough. Without it, it was said, the kingdom 

 could not be made safe, whereas if the king had the command 

 of the seas he would be able to cause his neighbours "to 

 stand upon their guard" whenever he thought fit; and it 

 could not be doubted that those who would encroach upon 

 him by sea would do it by land also when they saw their 

 time. But the pretensions of Charles went far beyond this. 

 He had caused the records in the Tower to be searched for 

 evidence of the ancient supremacy exercised by the crown 

 in the Sea of England, and when they were found they were 

 interpreted in the widest possible sense. Charles assumed 

 the role of the Plantagenets with a good deal added. The 

 bounds of the Sea of England were extended to the coasts 

 of the Continent, and over all the intervening water the king 

 was to enforce an absolute sovereignty. No foreign fleets 

 or men-of-war were to be allowed to "keep any guard" in 

 them, to offer any violence, or to take prize or booty. All 

 passing through them were to be "in pace Domini Regis," 

 in the peace and under the protection of the King of England, 

 who was Lord of the Seas, ruling over them as part of his 

 territory, and he would take care that there was no inter- 

 ruption of lawful intercourse. And as an acknowledgment 

 of this sovereignty, all foreign ships or vessels meeting with 

 a king's ship in " those his seas " were to lower their top-sails 

 and strike their flag as they passed by. Charles even pro- 

 posed to levy tribute 'on the foreign ships that passed through 

 "his seas," but by the advice of the Admiralty this was to 

 be only voluntary, in payment for waftage or convoy. 



These extraordinary pretensions Selden attempted to justify 

 in his book, Mare Clausum, but Charles was unable to carry 

 them into effect. It is pitiful to read of the proceedings of the 

 great ship-money fleets, created under circumstances so memor- 

 able in English history, roaming about the Channel in their 

 vain attempts to compel the French men-of-war to strike 

 their flags, and in the North Sea forcing the king's licenses 

 on the poor Dutch herring fishermen. The Earl of North- 



