Of the dominion or ownership of the sea two books : in the first is shew'd that the sea, by the lavv of nature or nations, is not common to all men, but capable of private dominion or proprietie, as well as the land : in the second is proved that the dominion of the British sea, or that which incompasseth the isle of Great Britain is, and ever hath been, a part or appendant of the empire of that island writen at first in Latin, and entituled, Mare clausum, seu, De dominio maris, by John Selden, Esquire ; translated into English and set forth with som additional evidences and discourses, by Marchamont Nedham.

Som antient Testimonies of less account, touching the Sea-Dominion, whereof wee Treat. CHAP. XXV.

THE last head in the afore-mentioned Division is concerning som Testimonies of a lesser account. There hath been a piece of Gold very often coi∣ned by our Kings, called a Rose-noble, which was stampt upon one side of it with a ship floting in the Sea, and a King armed with a Sword and Shield, sitting in the ship it self, as in a Throne, to set forth a Represen∣tation of the Dominion of the English by Sea. The first Autor hereof was Edward the third; when

[illustration]

hee guarded his own Sea with a very numerous Na∣vie, consisting of a 1.1 Eleven hundred Ships; at which, as at other times, hee marched victoriously through France. Questionless, our Kings in a manner follow∣ed the example of Caius Allectus in this particular, who having gotten possession of the British Empire, (as was shewn b 1.2 before) expressed his own Dominion by such a kinde of Coin. This patern, which I have placed

here, belong's, I suppose, to Edward the Fourth. And in a Book c 1.3 lately set forth in France of the Coins belonging to the French Kingdom there are som that were stampt by those Kings of England who were also Kings of France. But that those Insignia of a Ship, the Sea, a Sword, and a Throne, did relate to the right of the Crown of Eng∣land, not at all to that of France, cannot bee doubted by any, who shall observ, that there is not the least impress or print of that thing to bee found in those French pieces, that were coined by the Kings onely of France. And whereas there are in the Coins of Zeland, certain repre∣sentations of Sea-Dominion, as a Lion issuing out of the Sea, and other things of that kinde; yet truly that is but of late time, and in no case a pointing out of Do∣minion (if you except their Ports and inner spaces of the Sea included within their Islands) but onely of the kinde of life and situation of the people. But the afore∣said English Coin had an inscription upon the revers (which is not unusual in the gold Coins of our Coun∣trie) taken out of the Gospel, viz. Jesus autem transiens per medium illorum ibat, which d 1.4 som have conceived was a sentence in use among the Chymists, who by a custo∣marie profanation of the name and passage of our Savi∣our, thought to set forth the majestie and dignitie of that Art of theirs, which refined the gold for these Coins in the time of Edward the Third; Others, that it served for an Amulet or Charm to make a man invulnerable or Shot-free. Wee finde indeed in som e 1.5 Lawyers, that these words are placed among those, that are used by men brought under Examination upon the Rack, to ease and drive away their pain: Touching which it is not worth the while to spend any farther Discours. But as for the meaning of the impress on the other side of the Coin, it is thus explained by a certain Versifier, whose

name is unknown, but hee wrote in English Rythme, in the time of Henrie the Sixt, touching the conservation of the Government of the Seaf 1.6;

For foure things our Noble sheweth to me, King, Ship, and Sword and Power of the See.

But his intent is, earnestly to perswade the English that it is their main interest diligently to guard the Sea (whereof the Kings of England are Lords) and to defend it with all their might, as the perpetual prop and sup∣port of their Empire. Hee saith also, that the same advice was given by the Emperor Sigismund, at his enter∣view with our Henrie the Fifth, for the procuring of on peace betwixt him and Charls the Sixth King of France. Give mee leav to set down his words.

The true processe of English policie Of utterward to keep this region Of our Englond (that no man may denie Nor say of sooth but it is one of the best) Is this; that who seeth South, North, East, and West, Cherish merchandise, keep the Admiraltie, That we be Masters of the narrow See.

For Sigismund the great Emperour, (Which yet reigneth) when he was in this lond With King Henrie the fift, Prince of honour, Here much glory, as him thought, he found; A mightie land which had taken in hand To warre in France, and make mortalitie, And ever well kept round about the See.

And to the King thus he said, My brother (When he perceivaed two towns Calys and Dover)

Of all your towns to chuse, of one and other, To keep the Sea and soon to com over To werre outwards and your reign to recover, Keep these two towns sure, and your Ma••estie, As your tweyne eyne, so keep the Narrow See.

For if this See bee kept, in time of warre Who can here passe without danger and wo•• Who can escape? who may mischief differre What marchandie may for by be agoe? For needs hem must take trewes euery foe, Flanders and Spaine, and other, trust to me, Or else hindred all for this Narrow See.

What is conteined more at large in these Rhythmes, you have the sens of it contracted above in few words. It is not worth while to render the words themselvs. The same Versifier also proceeds thus;

But King Edward made a siege royall And wanne the town; and in speciall The Sea was kept, and thereof he was Lord; Thus made he * 1.7 Nobles comed of Record.

Wee have also divers other very large Domestick Te∣stimonies of this thing, which are added in the next place, beeing mingled together with the antient Recog∣nition or acknowledgment of forein Nations concern∣ing the same.

Notes

• a 1.1

  Thom. Wal∣singham 1359. seu 33 Ed. 3.
• b 1.2

  Cap. 5:
• c 1.3

  Figures des m••n••yes de France, fol. 131. & 132.
• d 1.4

  Apud Guil. Camden Remains pag. 206. Edit. 1614.
• e 1.5

  Paulus Grillandus, Tract. de Quaest. & Torturâ, q. 4. num. 13. & 14.
• f 1.6

  Ms•• in Bib∣lioth. Cot∣tonianâ, & vide G. Camden in loco antè ci∣tato.
• * 1.7

  By Nobles here are meant the Rose Nobles that hee coined.