Ancient_and_modern_York_a_guide
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86 ANCIENT AND<br />
to Edinburgh. Arthur Young gives a frightful description<br />
of the roads in his time, in all parts of Engl<strong>and</strong>, especially<br />
in the north ; <strong>and</strong> we may judge of the state of things<br />
in Scotl<strong>and</strong>, when, about eighty years ago, it required a<br />
fortnight for the carrier to go to <strong>and</strong> from Edinburgh to<br />
Selkirk—a distance of thirty-eight miles ! Although<br />
Elizabeth's death took place on the 22nd of March, 1603,<br />
the intelligence did not reach Robert Water, the Lord<br />
Mayor of <strong>York</strong>, till the 27th. The matter was then treated<br />
as a rumour; <strong>and</strong> so perplexed were the Lord Mayor <strong>and</strong><br />
Corporation as to the propriety of proclaiming James, king,<br />
that they sent the recorder, with Thomas Herbert <strong>and</strong><br />
Robert Askwith, aldermen, as a deputation, to the lord pre<br />
sident of the north, to ask him whether he had received<br />
any such tidings. He had received no communication on<br />
the subject, till after those gentlemen had entered his<br />
house at Bootham Bar, when a messenger rode up with a<br />
pocket of letters from the privy council announcing the<br />
fact. The only way, therefore, that we can reconcile the<br />
rapid transit of the news to Scotl<strong>and</strong>, with the existing<br />
state of things, is to suppose that Sir Robert Carey had<br />
placed relays of the fleetest horses, in anticipation of the<br />
queen's demise, <strong>and</strong> rode at full speed across the<br />
face of the open country. King James was received<br />
with great state by the corporation. The Lord Mayor,<br />
after a loyal speech, kissed the city sword, <strong>and</strong> placed<br />
it in the h<strong>and</strong>s of the new sovereign, <strong>and</strong> also deli<br />
vered up the keys of <strong>York</strong> to his majesty. James went<br />
immediately to the Minster ; but never was crowned there,<br />
as has been improperly stated. " At the entrance into the<br />
church the Deane made a learned oration in Latine, which<br />
ended, the king ascended the quyer : the canapa was<br />
supported by six lords, <strong>and</strong> was placed in a throne prepared<br />
for his majestie."* The next day, we are informed, being<br />
Sunday, the 17th April, 1603, " the Lord Mayor, with the<br />
* Stowe's Chronicle, continued by Master Edmund Howes.
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