Ancient_and_modern_York_a_guide

24 ANCIENT AND
Israelites immolated themselves to disappoint the fury of
the populace ; some killing their wives, children, and
companions, who refused to live, and the survivors setting
fire to the building and casting themselves into the devour
ing flames ! In this reign also two synods of the clergy
were held in this city.
During the reigns of John, Henry III., and the three
Edwards, York was frequently the seat of royalty.
Several parliaments were assembled here ; and the courts
of justice, with Domesday-Book and the other national
records, were removed from London hither. In the year
1222, Henry III. gave his sister Joan in marriage to
Alexander II., of Scotland, in this city ; and the same
king afterwards met at York, the Scotch king's successor,
Alexander III., who was then married in York Minster,
to Henry's daughter Margaret : Archbishop Grey giving
50 fat oxen for the wedding dinner, beside 4000 marks.
Edward II. strongly fortified the walls. The armies
destined to encounter the kings of Scotland, after the wars
broke out, more than once rendezvoued at York ; whither
Edward flew, after the battle of Bannockbum. Several
tournaments were held in this neighbourhood in these
days of chivalry.
" Knights with a long retinue of their squires,
In gaudy liveries, march and quaint attires ;
One laced the helm, another held the lance,
A third the shining buckler did advance.
The courser paw'd the ground with restless feet,
And snorting, foam'd, and champ'd the golden bit.
The smiths and armourer on palfreys ride ;
Files in their hands, and hammers at their side ;
And nails for loosened spears, and thongs for shields provide.
The yeomen guard the streets in seemly bands ;
And clowns came crowding on with cudgels in their hands."
The marriage of the young and martial Edward III., at
York Minster, in 1329, to Philippa, the lovely daughter
of William of Hainault, to whom he appears to have been
betrothed when his mother was in Holland, three years
previously, was more especially the occasion of pageants