Camera regis, or, A short view of London containing the antiquity, fame, walls, bridge, river, gates, tower, cathedral, officers, courts, customs, franchises, &c. of that renowned city / collected out of law & history and methodized for the benefit of the present inhabitants by John Brydall ...

2. What a City, what a Corporation is.

A City, in Latine Civitas,* 1.1 and in Greek 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, is a Borough in∣corporate, which hath, or have had a Bishop; and though the Bishopwrick be dissolved yet the City remainerh: And therefore in 35. Eliz. c. 6. West∣minster is called a City, notwithstand∣ing that now it hath no Bishop; and in 27. ejusdem Cap. 5. (of Statutes not in print.) Westminster is alternatively cal∣led a City or Borough. It appeareth by the Statute of 35. H. 8. c. 10, That then there was a Bishop of Westminster.

Grotius thus defineth a City,* 1.2 Civitas est coetus perfectus liberorum hominum, ju∣risfruendi, & communis utilitatis Causa sociatus; hence Civitas is, quasi Civium unitas.

It is said before, that a City is a Bo∣rough, or Town incorporate, now a Corporation is a permanent thing, that may have succession: And it is an As∣sembly, and joyning together of many

into one Fellowship, Brotherhood, or mind; whereof one is Head and Chief, the rest are the Body, and this Head and Body knit together, make the Cor∣poration.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Co Littl. ••. 109. B.
• * 1.2

  Lib. 1. c. 1. nu. 14. de jure bell•• ac pac.