Ancient_and_modern_York_a_guide

c
ANCIENT AND
Andrewgate, and crossing Aldwark. It is probable that
the other side of the ancient wall was at right angles with
the one described, and parallel with the present city wall
which runs along the Lord Mayor's Walk, and perhaps a
portion might be found in the present ramparts. This,
however, is a subject for conjecture. *
The portion of the city that ranks next to Micklegate,
in the amount of Roman antiquities that had been dis
covered, is that part extending from Bootham bar to
Clifton. Mr. Welbeloved thinks that the Psetorian
palace stood near to Bootham—perhaps on the site of the
Manor House ; but Drake, on the other hand, supposed
that it occupied the whole space of ground extending from
Christ church, Colliergate, through all the houses and
gardens on the east side of Goodramgate and St. Andrewgate,
through Beddern to Aldwark.
In the year a.d. 134, the emperor Hadrian arrived in
Britain, and fixed his court at York ; with him, as we
learn from Ptolemy, came the Sixth Legion—Legio Sexta
Victrix—which continued in this city upwards of 300
years. The siege of York by the Britons, was the occa
sion of bringing to this country the illustrious emperor
Severus, in the year a.d. 208. He brought with him his
sons Geta and Caracalla, and, after his expedition to
Caledonia, resided in York about three years. Severus
died in this city in the year a.d. 211. The Roman
historian, Eutropius, expressly says, " decessit Eboraci ;"
and Spartian also says, "periit Eboraci in Britannia." It
is worthy of remark, that this fact is confirmed by the
Saxon Chronicle, which says, "He reigned 17 years, and
then ended his days at York." (Efer-wick.) Nothing
but truth could have produced such a coincidence ; which
appears to have been unnoticed by Drake. Dion Cassius,
who omits to mention the place of Severus's death, tells
* The distance between York and London, by the Koman road, is computed
at 228 miles.