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This is a comprehensive survey of royal government in the Portuguese, Spanish, English and French seaborne empires in Africa, the Americas and Asia. Essays focus on four facets of such government: political, judicial, fiscal, and military administration. Essays may be consulted for an overview of any single empire, or for a comparative dimension to any single aspect. Attention is given to the role of non-Europeans in crown government. The introduction provides an overview of metropolitan agencies for overseas government and of crown agencies in the colonies, redresses imbalances in the historiography, and provides an exhaustive bibliography. This is an indispensable starting point for scholars seeking a global perspective on the "first" European empires and a valuable teaching tool. It is a welcome addition to the literature on world history, comparative government, and comparative colonialism.