Ancient_and_modern_York_a_guide

MODERN YOKE. 101
of York to confer a charter upon it ; but was filled with
so much admiration at the gallant defence made against
him by the inhabitants, commanded by Sir Robert Clifford,
Howngate, Talbot (after Lord Talbot), Lassels, and
Erringham, that he added five lions to the city arms, as a
tribute of respect to their courage. Previously the arms
of York were argent across gules—St. George's cross.
The conqueror's son, Henry L, however, granted a charter
to the citizens of York, which, although not extant, is
recited and referred to in the charter given to this city
by King Henry II., a.d. 1160:—
Henry II. granted to the citizens of York—"Omnes libertates et leges et
eonsuetudines suas et nominatim Gyldam suam mercaloriam et hansaa sitas in
Anglia et Normania et lestagia sua per totam cosiam maris quieia sicut eti
unquam melius et liberius habuerunt tempore regis Henrici avi met Et volo et
jirmiler prcecipio quod prcedictas libertates et eonsuetudines, habeant et teneant
cum omnibus libertatibus prcedictte Gyldce sua et Hansis suis pertinentibus ita
bene in pace\ et libere et quiete sicut unquam melius liberius et quietius habue
runt, et tenuerunt tempore prcedicti regis Henrici avi mei"
York, says Torr, "was, time out of mind, governed by a
mayor and three bailiffs, yet the style of the corporation
in those days sometimes ran, Civitatibus Ebor. as when
Henry III. granted to the citizens of York, that none of
them should implead or be impleaded before himself, or
any of his justices out of the city, for lands or tenements,
which they held within the city, or the liberties of the
same, or of any other trespass, but only before the mayor
and bailiffs." In the 12th of Richard II. (1389), the king
appointed the chief magistrate to be called Lord Mayor,
and gave his sword wherewith he was girt, to be borne
before him.
The important changes effected in the municipal
corporations of England and Wales, in 1835, render it now
unnecessary to enumerate the various charters granted to
the city of York. The last charter was obtained in 1829,
at a considerable expense. By the corporation reform
act, several valuable privileges were conferred on the in
habitants at large. All male persons enrolled, who, on
the last day of August, in any year, shall have occupied