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YOEK:
HISTOEY OF THE CITY.
The City of York is one of the most ancient, if not the
oldest city in Britain, and according to historians, was a
flourishing place 2000 years ago. It stands in the centre of
a rich agricultural district called the vale of York, through
which the river Ouse, strengthened by numerous tributaries,
winds it^ way towards the Humber, flowing through the
middle of the city, and running nearly due south. It is the
capital of the largest county in England ; the most celebrated
city of the North ; and situated nearly midway (both on the
ancient Eoman road and the modern iron-way) between the
English and the Scotch capitals, being 198 miles from one
and 201 from the other. Its early history is lost in obscurity
before the Christian era, it seems to have been a stronghold
of the aborigines of the district. It is the see of an
Archbishop, whose palace is in the immediate vicinity, and
boasts the possession of the finest complete Gothic Cathedral
in the world.
Learned men differ as to the derivation of the name
York ; but the one generally agreed upon is, that by the
Brigantes or ancient Britons, the place was known as Ka'er
Ebraue, Caer-Efroc, Ever-Wic, Yure-Wic ; the Danes called
it Jorvick, from which it would easily become the modern
York ; after which also this great county takes its name. By
the Romans it was called Eboracum, and in Doomsday Book
it is written Euerwic.
The site seems to have been selected by Agricola, between
seventy and eighty years after Christ, and by him made a
military station of immense value and strength, as well as the
capital of the North. Here was established the head- quarters
of the sixth or conquering legion ; and hence it became the
fixed residence of a wealthy colony of Roman citizens, who
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