In this classic of international maritime law he calls for open rights of all countries and dominions to sail the seas without appropriation by any country, which was undoubtedly an attempt to offset the attempts of Spain, Portugal and England to claim sovereignty of the seas. This controversial viewpoint was opposed by John Selden in defense of the British Empire, in Mare Clausum. Grotius [1583-1645] is known principally for this work and his classic treatise on the law of nations, De Jure Belli.

Reprint of the sole edition of this translation. In this momentous work Grotius describes the situations in which war is a valid tool of law enforcement and outlines the principles of armed combat. Though based on Christian natural law, Grotius advanced the novel argument that his system would still be valid if it lacked a divine basis. In this regard he pointed to the future by moving international law in a secular direction. This edition was abridged by removing most of the quotations from "ancient historians, orators, philosophers, and poets," which are identified in footnotes. As Whewell...