Ancient_and_modern_York_a_guide

MODERN YORE. 29
a letter to them from the Tower of London, stating that he
had not leisure to accomplish their business then ; but,
adding, " be assured, that for your kind and lufying dis
position to us at all tymes showed, which wee never can
forget, we in all gudly haste, shall so endeavour for your
ease in this behalf, a3 that ye shall veryly understand wee
be your epsecial gud and lufying lord." Two days after
wards, Richard, from the same place, wrote the following
urgent letter, which shows what object he had in view in
making these very ardent protestations.—It was addressed
to the Lord Mayor and Corporation, and was born with all
speed to York by Sir Richard Ratcliffe :—
" The Due of Gloucester, brother and uncle of kynges, protectour, defendour.
gret chamberleyne, constable, and admiral of England.
"Bight, trusty, and well-beloved, wee greet you well. And as you love the
wele of us, and the wele and surety of your own self, wee heartily pray you to
come up unto us to London, in all the diligence yee can possible, after the sight
hereof, with as many as yee can make defensively arrayed ; there to aid and
assist us against the queen, her bloody adherents and affinity, which have
entended, and daily do entend, to murder and utterly destroy us and our cousyn
the due of Buckingham, and the old royal blood of the realm. And as it is now
openly known by their subtle and dampnable wais forecasted the same ; and also
the final destruction and disherison of you and all odyr the enheriters and men
of honor, as well of the north part, as odyr countrees that belongen unto us ; as
our trusty servant, this bearer, shall more at large show you ; to whom we pray
you to give credence, and as even we may do for you in tyme coming. Fail not ;
but haste you to us. Given under our signet at London, the 10th of June."
Three days after the despatch of this letter, occurred the
memorable scene in the Tower of London, where Richard,
having charged the council with treason against his life,
arrested Hastings, Stanley, De Rotheram, Archbishop of
York, and the Bishop of Ely, as traitors. The archbishop
received a wound in his head from the pole-axe of one of
the armed men who rushed into the council chamber, when
Richard smote the table with his hand ; and Lord Hastings
was beheaded on the green by the Tower chapel, as it will
be recollected, before the protector dined. On the 15th
of June, Sir Richard Ratcliffe had reached York with
Richard's letter, having, although a state messenger, taken
five days to perform the journey, which, in these days of
railroads, is travelled in ten hours ! The corporation, who
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