CLASSES

England disappeared toward the end of the fifteenth
century, dwelt apart for fear of iniecting the
healthy. The four hospitals outside the four main
entrances to the city served to keep the disease
isolated.

York received from time to time a large number
and a great diversity of visitors. Distinguished
visitors usually received gifts from the Corporation.
Kings, queens, and full court and retinue came,
and sometimes the entire houses of Parliament.
At such times great crowds of nobles, spiritual lords,
commoners, officers, military and civil, thronged
the city and taxed its accommodation. On such an
occasion as Richard IlL's attendance at the Minster
for mass, or the visit of Henry V., the narrow streets
were packed to suffocation with people assembled
to watch the processions of gorgeously arrayed
sovereigns, princes, peers, ecclesiastics, soldiers, and
distinguished commoners. The Duke of Gloucester,
afterwards Richard III., was very popular in the
North, especially in York, where he was received
(as in 1483) with magnificence and festivity. The
north was loyal to him and gave him much support
in his political schemes.

The visits of the royal judges of assize, of sailors
and pilgrims, have already been mentioned. Pedlars,
who were active nomad tradesmen, were always to
be found in town and country dealing in their
small wares.

I^ast, and some of the unhappiest, among the
types of people to be found in a mediaeval city were
serfs who had absconded from the lands or the
service to which they were bound. They sometimes
fled to a city for the security it afforded. Serfdom,
however, was rapidly disappearing.