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.

Page  7First, 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,* duce natura, congregabantur homines, tamen spe Custodiae rerum suarum urbium praesi∣dia quaerebantur.

Aristotle thus,* Civitas a natura pro∣fecta est, homo animal aptum est ad coetus proinde Civitatis Origo ad vivendum, in∣stitutio Page  8 ad bene vivendum refertur.

*Donatus 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.