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 ...

5. Why Cities were at first instituted.

IN the time of William the Conque∣rour it is declared in these words, Item nullum mercatum vel forum sit, nec fieri permitratur nisi in Civitatibus regni nostri, & in Burgis clausis, & muro val∣latis & Castellis, & locis tutissimis, ubi con∣suetudines regni nostri, & jus nostram commune: & dignitates Coronae nostrae, quae constitutae sunt à bonis praedecessoribus de∣perire non possunt, nec defraudari, nec vi∣olari; sed omnia rite, & per judicium, & justitiam fieri debent: & ideo Castella & Burgi & Civitates sunt & fundatae, & aedificatae, Sc. ad Tuitionem gentium, & populorum regni, & ad defensionem regni, & idcirco observari debent cum omni li∣bertate, & integritate, & ratione.

Out of this same Record we may pel∣lucidly and clearly collect, that Cities, Towns or Boroughs were instituted for three purposes. Sc.

First, Ad consuetudines regni nostri, & jus nostrum commune & dignitates coro∣nae conservand.

Secondly, Ad Tuitionem gentium, & populorum regni; and

Thirdly, Ad Defensionem Regni; This in three particularities.

• 1. For conservation of Lawes, whereby every man enjoyeth his own in peace.
• 2. For Tuition and defence of the Kings Subjects, and for keeping the Kings peace in time of sudden up∣roars.
• 3. For defence of the Realm a∣gainst outward and inward Hostility.

Thus much out of our own Records, I now come to speak somewhat of this matter, that I have seen in foreign Authors.

Tully sayes thus, Hanc ob Causam ma∣ximè, ut sua tenerentur Respublica & Civitates constitutae sunt, nam etsi,* 1.1 duce natura, congregabantur homines, tamen spe Custodiae rerum suarum urbium praesi∣dia quaerebantur.

Aristotle thus,* 1.2 Civitas a natura pro∣fecta est, homo animal aptum est ad coetus proinde Civitatis Origo ad vivendum, in∣stitutio

ad bene vivendum refertur.

* 1.3Donatus Acciaiolus speaks in this man∣ner; Civitas constituitur, aut propter pos∣sessiones, aut ut simul vivatur, ut aut con∣trahat Societatem belli causa, ut propter commercia, aut propter saelicitatem, & bonam vivendi rationem.

By these authorities, foreign and do∣mestick, it appears, that Cities, and Towns, were at the first invented, to the end that men might lead a civil Life amongst themselves, and be saved harmless against their Enemies.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Lib. 2. de Offic.
• * 1.2

  1 Pol. 2.
• * 1.3

  In Pol. Arist. lib. 3.