A decorative initial letter R.

THESIS.

THINGS are either in our patrimony or outside our patrimony.

II.

Things that are outside our patrimony are either common, public, belonging to a corporation, or belonging to no one.

III.

Things are common which, both by use and by ownership, are common and exist in no one's goods: such that by natural law, ownership is also acquired by the occupier—so long as he occupies them—by using them: such as air, flowing water, the right of fishing, the sea, and through this, the seashores, etc.

IV.

Public things are those which are indeed common by use, but not by ownership: for they belong to the Roman Empire, such as rivers, ports, and the use of banks.

V.

Things belonging to a corporation original: "Uniuersitatis" are those which are public by use, and pertain to some certain city and community circumscribed in a certain place: such as theaters, stadiums, the forum, the senate house, basilicas, etc.

VI.

Things belonging to no one are those which, neither in regard to use nor ownership, belong to any man, but rather to God, such as sacred, religious, and holy things.

VII.

Things in our patrimony are the goods of individuals, which are held in the patrimony and dominion of each person.

VIII.

The dominion of which things is acquired for us either by natural law, which is also called the Law of Nations, or by Civil Law.

IX.

By the Law of Nations, things are acquired first by occupation. For that which belongs to no one is conceded by natural reason to the occupier.

X.

Whence it comes about that all animals which are captured on land, in the sea, and in the sky—that is, wild beasts, birds, and fish—become the property of those who capture them.