THE JURIDICAL CONTROVERSIES 369 



plained to the Dutch ambassador, and issued a proclamation 

 declaring that Mare Clausum had been published by his 

 express commands, denouncing those who had produced the 

 pirated copy, and banning it from the realm. 1 On 26th March, 

 as the following record shows, he brought it before the Privy 

 Council with high eulogy, and for a definite purpose : " His 

 Majesty this day in Council took into consideration a book 

 lately published by John Selden, Esquire, intituled Mare 

 Clausum, seu de Dominio Maris, written by the king's com- 

 mand, which he had done with great industry, learning and 

 judgment, and hath asserted the right of the Crown of England 

 to the Dominion of the British seas. The King requires one 

 of the said books to be kept in the Council- Chest, another in 

 the Court of Exchequer, and a third in the Court of Admiralty, 

 as faithful and strong evidence of the Dominion of the British 

 seas." 2 



There was good reason for the king's eulogy of Selden's 

 treatise. From the point of view of his policy nothing that 

 the pen can do could have been better done. It is an elaborate 

 and masterly exposition of the case for the sovereignty of the 

 crown of England in the British seas, which throws into the shade 

 all the other numerous works which were written on that side 

 of the question. One of the most eminent lawyers of his time, 

 a scholar, an antiquary, an historian, the author brought to his 

 task a keen intellect, an immense erudition, and the ability of 



1 Proclamation, 15th April 1636. 



2 Rush worth, Historical Collections, ii. 320. Frankland, The Annals of King 

 James and King Charles the First, 476. In the Exchequer Order Book, under date 

 5th May, the following entry occurs : " Whereas Sr William Beecher, Kt, one of 

 the clerks of his Mats most honorable pryvy councill, did this daye deliver in Court 

 to the Lord Treasurer, Chauncillor, and Barons of the Courte, a booke lately pub- 

 lished by John Selden, Esqr., entituled Mare Clausum seu de dominio maris, to be 

 kept in this Courte as a faithfull and stronge evidence for the undoubted right of 

 the Crowne of England to the Dominion of the Bryttishe seas, which saide booke 

 the said Clerke of the Councill did deliver according to an order in that behalfe 

 made by the King's most excellent Matte and the Lords of His Highness privy 

 councell at Whitehall, the third of Aprill last past, a coppie of which said order is 

 alsoe delivered with the said booke : It is, therefore, nowe ordered by the said 

 Lord Treasurer, Chauncillor, and Barons that the said booke bee receaved by his 

 Maties Remembrancer of this Courte, and by him kypt of record amonge the 

 Records of the Courte as his Maties evidence. And as well the said order of the 

 third of Aprill before mentioned as this present order to bee inrolled upon Record." 

 Charles I. Decrees and Orders, Series iii., No. 19, fol. 36. 



2 A 



