Englands command on the seas, or, The English seas guarded.: Wherein is proved that as the Venetians, Portugals, Spaniards, French, Danes, Polands, Turks, the Duke of Tuscany, and the popes of Rome have dominion on their seas; so the Common-wealth of England hath on our seas. : Wherein the Dutch unjust procuration and prosecution of war against England is also described.

Leave to Fish upon our seas granted.

AS none durst violate our power to passe, so much lesse durst any adven∣ture to fish upon our seas: without speciall leave and license so to do first ob∣tained.

And first, Henry the sixth the French King obtained so much favour that he had leave granted him to fish one whole year onely, mark how though favoured, yet limited, sometimes 'twas granted to him for six mo∣neths onely, and sometimes

again, he might fish when, and where, and as often as he pleased, he had leave, but first did modestly ask it, did not any wayes abuse it, this is found in the Rolls of France Hen. 6. reg. yet they were so lookd to, that they might not come with her∣ring busses above thirty tun, and that our men should no way be molested, and that they should shew due obedi∣ence as they expected secu∣rity, and when they were bolder then welcome their ships were seised on.

And now to come to our Eastern seas, and those that are Northeast, did not the Hollanders and Zelanders in

great numbers fish for heer∣ring and other fish upon our Coast, but 'tis said first ha∣ving obtained Leave from the Governour of our Ca∣stle of Scarborough according to ancient Custome. What can be plainer? did they, and were they glad to ask leave, and now will they take it, and be their own carvers? Camb. in Brit. p. 506. and it is not to be imagined, sayes our Cambden what a masse of wealth the Hollan∣ders and Zelanders get by having leave to fish upon our Coasts.

And so in the time of Queen Elisabeth, an expert Writer sayes thus, that the

Hollanders, Zelanders and those of Flanders, come up∣on our Eastern Coast, in the beginning of Summer with four or five hundred her∣ring Busses to catch fish, but 'tis said, that before they fish they ask leave first, from the Governour of Scarborough. Hanse in those times had some modesty. See Hitch∣okes new years gift An. 1580.

And King James forbad that they or any other stranger should fish upon our coasts, except the A∣gents of such Countries re∣siding in London had first obtained leave from the King Edict. Jac. 6. Maii.

So 'tis manifest that those of Holland, Zealand, and Faiesland in Edward the 1. his reign, had leave grant∣ed to them to fish, and we did protect them also from danger, and this to be near Yarmouth, yet these Letters Pattents were not to be in force longer then to Saint Martins day, behold their limitation! as they had his Princely favour, so they had likewse such a precise time set, and allowed to them, which if they ex∣ceeded, they were to stand to his mercy, or justice for remission or infliction of punishment, Rot. Par. Ed. 1. Membran 5.

And the Hollanders sub∣mission and intreaty to the said King shews, that they would not, could not, durst not fish upon our seas, be∣fore they had leave granted unto them from the said King, witnesse those ex∣pressions of the King in that Case. In tender favour and compassion we bear unto those of Holland and Zealand, and to other neigh∣bours we wil send out some of our men of war towards the Northern seas, to safe∣guard and to protect their ships sent out to fish for her∣ring, and to secure and guard their Sea Coasts, whilest they are fishing.

How now Landts-man or Dutchman; what you were then not onely limited, but also protected by Royal fa∣vour, and not onely to fish but we defended your very sea Coasts, during that time by our men of war, you were not in those times (it seems) able to se∣cure your selves, or fish safe without our safeguarding you; for if you had, you would not so earnestly re∣quested this favour at our hands; and will you at pre∣sent not defend us, if wee stood in need of it, (which thanks be to God) we do not, but also fight us in our own bosoms and

Channels? how do these recorded favours of ours, (if there were no more) towards you, and unmerit∣ted by you from us, speak shame to your faces for re∣quiting us with so much e∣vil for so much good to your Progenitors, and your selves too: nay, we had such undoubted power and and Right then on the seas, that you were ordered what ships you should use, and also what number should be imployed; and durst not transgresse, or disobey then, nay, indeed were glad you could have that favour and benefit by humble Request from this

Nation granted unto you, and bestowed upon you. Whereupon 'twas ordered, (and ye durst not nor could hinder that Authority) that sometimes ye might and sometimes yee might not fish at all, and then when permitted, not with vessels that should exceed 30 Tun, and this is plaine by the Commissions and Authori∣ty given to the respective Governours of Yarmouth, Scarborough, VVhitby bay, Selden. in mare Claus. 234. and to this purpose the Rose Noble bears that im∣pression, a King in a Royall ship, and the superscription Edward by the grace of

God King of England, France, and Ireland, and on the other side Jefus autem transiens per medium illo∣rum, ibat: Which King de∣fended the seas with a mighty Navy of stout ships to the number of 1100. ves∣sells. 33. of Edward the third Anno 1359. and the very engraving shews enough, as a Royall ship, a King crowned, a Sword, a Throne the Rose. What are these all but so many Blasons of our Rule at sea? According to that English Meetre.

Or Rose Noble sheweth five things unto me, King, Ship, Sword, Rose, and power of the sea.

And what lesse meant the Emperour Sigismond in his speech to Henry the fifth, when he strove to make a peace betwixt him and Charls the sixth, the French King, and he said that it was the true English policy to keep safe our Land, to ob∣serve these three things, viz.

• 1. To cherish Merchandise,
• 2. To keep the Admiralty.
• 3. And to be masters of the Narrow sea.

And when Sigismond saw Dover and Calice, and ob∣served their scituation, said to the King of England.

Keep these two Towns sure I wish your Majesty,

As your twein eine so keep the Narrow sea.

But we proceed to ano∣ther subject, that gives evi∣dent Testimoniall of our Soveraignty on the sea, viz.