The Sovereignty of the Sea An Historical Account of the Claims of England to the Dominion of the British Seas, and of the Evolution of the Territorial Waters

CHAPTER I.

Chapter 175 wordsPublic domain

EARLY HISTORY.

Alleged sea sovereignty exercised by ancient Britons, Romans, and Anglo-Saxons--King Edgar--Canute--Norman, Angevin, and Plantagenet kings--The Channel or Narrow Sea--The safeguarding of the sea--Admiralty jurisdiction--Impressment of ships--Liberty of navigation and fishing--The question of tribute--English kings as lords of the sea--King John’s ordinance as to lowering sail to a royal ship--The sovereign lordship in the so-called Sea of England--The roll _De Superioritate Maris Angliæ_--Complaint against Reyner Grimbald--Nature of jurisdiction exercised in Sea of England 25