Ancient_and_modern_York_a_guide

30 ATfCIENT AND
were warm adherents of the Duke of Gloucester, immedi
ately ordered all the forces they could muster to meet at
Pontefract on the 18th, where the Earl of Northumberland
awaited to conduct them to London ; and, on the 19th, a
proclamation from Richard arrived in York, commanding
all manner of men in their best defensible array to repair
to him. After the bloody tragedy in the Tower—the
history whereof Shakspere has rendered so familiar to us
—Richard was crowned king, with the title of Richard
III., at Westminster. Immediately afterwards he pro
ceeded with his queen to York* where the citizens received
him with the pomp and triumph that he loved ; and plays
and pageants were for several days exhibited in this city.
The streets through which he passed were hung with
cloths of arms and tapestry, and all was rejoicing and
festivity. From Nottingham, the king's secretary had
written a letter to York, urging " the gude masters, the
mair, recorder and aldermen, andsherhTs," to make splendid
preparations for their majesties reception, assuring them of
the singular love and zeal which Richard bore to the city
of York " afore all other ;" and telling them, for the
purpose of exciting emulation, " for there be comen
many southern lords and men of worship which will
mark greatly your resayving thar graces." That Richard
was most anxious to appear in an imposing manner
before his northern subjects and to win their regard,
is thus evident ; a fact which the letter,—preserved in the
Harleian MSS.—written by himself, from York to Piers
Courties, the keeper of his wardrobe, ordering him to
send hither an immense, and almost incredible, supply of
gorgeous state apparel confirms ; which letter also affords a
strong presumption in favour of the statement made by
Ghent, Drake, Lyttleton, Lingard, and Sharon Turner,
that Richard, the better to secure his usurped kingdom,
was crowned a second time at York. Drake assures us,
* Sharon Turner's History of England.