He appears not to have been quite satisfied with it: "My intention (says he in a letter to Camerarius, May 20th, 1637) was good; but the work favours too much of my want of years." They wrote against him in Spain: "I know (he writes his brother, April 1, 1640) that a treatise was written some time ago, at Salamanca, against mine _Of the Freedom of the Ocean_, but it was suppressed by the King of Spain." Another appeared, in 1625, at Valladolid, entitled, _De justo imperio Lusitanorum Asiatico_, by one Francis Seraphin de Freiras.

_The Freedom of the Ocean_ was refuted in England by the famous Selden in his work entitled _Mare clausum, seu de dominio maris_.

Grotius thought the Spanish author's book not ill done, and deserving of an answer[53]; and was pleased with the politeness shewn him by Selden[54].

But at the time these Answers appeared Grotius was so dissatisfied with the Dutch, he did not think himself obliged to employ his time for people void of gratitude.

"Let them seek among my Judges (said he by way of irony on their ignorance) for one to answer the Spaniard[55]." As to Selden's book, Grotius seemed not to mind it; he looked on himself as no longer concerned in the controversy.