25 March 1685: The York apprentices ask John Reresby to lead their new militia troop
John Reresby. 1875. The Memoirs of Sir John Reresby of Thrybergh, Bart., M.P. for York, etc., 1634-1689. Ed. James J. Cartwright. London: Longmans, Green, and Company. Get it:
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The young men and apprentices of the city of York came and petitioned me in writing, that, whereas there had been formerly a custom there for the youth to exercise themselves in arms some days in every year (especially that of the coronation), which had, however, been discontinued for some years, that I would please to allow them to use the same liberty again, that they might thereby show their loyalty and gain experience to serve the King ; desiring of me at the same time to be their colonel, and to appoint them such officers and captains as I thought fit. I told them that I would acquaint the King with it, and give them notice of his Majesty’s pleasure therein ; which I endeavoured to do by writing on it to my Lord President by the next post. I was not, I confess, sorry for this application of theirs, it being a still further confirmation of my interest in that place.
To facilitate reading, the spelling and punctuation of elderly excerpts have generally been modernised, and distracting excision scars concealed. My selections, translations, and editions are copyright.
Abbreviations:
- ER: East Riding
- GM: Greater Manchester
- NR: North Riding
- NY: North Yorkshire
- SY: South Yorkshire
- WR: West Riding
- WY: West Yorkshire
Comment
Comment
I’m not clear what subsequently became of this, or its relation to other forces.
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Original
The young men and apprentices of the city of York came and petitioned me in writing, that, whereas there had been formerly a custom there for the youth to exercise themselves in arms some days in every year (especially that of the coronation), which had, however, been discontinued for some years, that I would please to allow them to use the same liberty again, that they might thereby show their loyalty and gain experience to serve the King ; desiring of me at the same time to be their colonel, and to appoint them such officers and captains as I thought fit. I told them that I would acquaint the King with it, and give them notice of his Majesty’s pleasure therein ; which I endeavoured to do by writing on it to my Lord President by the next post. I was not, I confess, sorry for this application of theirs, it being a still further confirmation of my interest in that place.
164 words.
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- James II (20)
· - Militia (5) ·
- Reresby, John (1634-89) (23), Thrybergh-born, politician and diarist, governor of York 1682-88, 2nd baronet ·
- 📌York (164) ·
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