Chapter IX

CHARLES I.--_continued._ THE JURIDICAL CONTROVERSIES.

_Mare Liberum_ and _Mare Clausum_--Dawn of international
law--Claims to maritime dominion conflict with commercial
expansion of period--Opinions of publicists previous to
Grotius--De Castro--Vasquius--The _Mare Liberum_ of Grotius--Its
origin and object--Arguments of Grotius against appropriation
of seas--His later work and opinions--Opponents of _Mare
Liberum_--De Freiras--Pacius--Welwood--His _Abridgment of All
Sea Lawes_ and _De Dominio Maris_--Arguments for appropriation
of sea fisheries--Grotius’ _Defensio_ in reply to Welwood--Other
authorities--Thomas Craig--Gerard Malynes--Alberico Gentilis--The
100-mile limit--The rights of the Crown in the foreshores and bed of
the sea--Thomas Digges--Sergeant Callis--Chief Justice Coke--Charles
desires to establish his rights to the dominion of the seas by “some
public writing”--Records searched--Sir John Boroughs’ _Soveraignty
of the British Seas_--Its contents and reasoning--Selden’s _Mare
Clausum_--Begun at desire of King James--Published in 1635 by
the king’s commands--Its importance immediately recognised--The
king’s eulogy--The character of _Mare Clausum_--Its facts and
arguments--Absolute sovereignty claimed for English crown--Anxiety in
Holland--States-General resolve on an official refutation of _Mare
Clausum_--Graswinckel’s treatise--Pontanus 338