I was interested to hear that Yorkshire folk are campaigning for their own Parliament. (Evening Press, March 17).

This is nothing new. Over 400 years ago, on July 14, 1484, Richard III founded the Council of the North at Sheriff Hutton Castle, near York. It was a parliament for the people of the north. It continued to function, just as Richard had instituted, for almost 200 years.

Incorporated into the council's commitments was a Court of Requests where poor people could obtain redress and not pay a penny.

The council convened four times a year at Sheriff Hutton Castle and four times at Sandal Castle.

Its members included Miles Metcalfe, Dr Lancastre, James Harrington, members of York City Council, and the earls of Warwick and Lincoln, Richard's nephews, and the Earl of Northumberland.

Richard was a Yorkshireman, if not exactly born here, then certainly bred in this enviable county. At the age of nine he came to Middleham to undertake his knightly training, leaving at 13.He was back again as Lord of the North, at the age of 19. He was to rule the north, in the name of his brother Edward IV for 12 years and the knowledge he gained during this time motivated him into creating a parliament for the north when he became king. The first monarch ever to have done so.

It could be said that Richard understood the north and its people more than other monarchs, before or since, has managed to do.

Mrs D Mitchell.

The Society of Friends of King Richard III,

Windsor Drive,

Wigginton.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.