Harley MS 964

Notebook of Richard Symonds written while staying with the King’s troops in Oxford, after fleeing imprisonment in October 1643. Records monumental inscriptions and coats of arms in Oxford churches and colleges and halls of the University, with many sketches, mostly coats of arms. First half of the volume consists of notes on churches, second half mainly notes on colleges and halls: each half has an introductory table of contents.

Death of the writer's brother, Edward Symonds, while at Oxford with the royal army, recorded in the description of St Michael at Northgate, where he was buried (f. 6r).

Facsimile of a land deed at Christchurch, and two notes relating to the Earl of Northumberland and Prince Rupert, at end of volume.

Contents:

• f. 1: Table of churches in and around Oxford, with their location and corresponding page in this notebook.
• f. 2: Arms carved on the East and North gates of Oxford.
• f. 3: Notes on the city of Oxford and its government.
• ff. 4-6r: Church monuments from the Parish Church of St Michael at the Northgate, with sketches of coats of arms, dated 13 December 1643. The final section records the death of Symonds’ brother Edward Symonds on 6 October 1644 and burial in St Michael’s Church near the font.
• ff. 6v-8: Church monuments from St Martin’s Church, Oxford, with sketches of coats of arms, dated 15 December 1643. St Martin’s was demolished in 1898.
• ff. 9-10: Church monuments from All Saints Church, Oxford, with sketches of coats of arms, and monuments, dated 18 December 1643. All Saints Church was destroyed in 1700 and rebuilt by 1720.
• ff. 11v-14: Church monuments in St Mary’s Church, Oxford, with sketches of coats of arms and the memorial brass to Edmund Crofton, dated 29 December 1643.
• ff. 15-16r: Church monuments in St John’s Church, now the chapel of Merton College, Oxford, with sketches of coats of arms, dated January (1643/4).
• ff. 17-19: Church monuments in St Mary Magdalen’s Church, Oxford, with sketches of coats of arms, dated 27 December 1643.
• ff. 20v-21r: Church monuments in Holywell (St Cross Church), Oxford, with a sketch of a coat of arms, dated 28 December 1643.
• ff. 22-23r: Church monuments in St Thomas’s Church, Oxford, with sketches of coats of arms, dated 30 December 1643.
• ff. 24-25: Church monuments in St Giles’ Church, Oxford, with a sketch of the south window with coats of arms, dated 2 January 1643 (old style, i.e. 1644).
• ff. 26v-27r: Table of colleges and halls in the University of Oxford, with corresponding page in this notebook.
• f. 28: Coats of arms in Gloucester Hall, dated 2 January 1643 (old style, i.e. 1644).
• ff. 29-31: Coats of arms and description of the glass in the chapel and hall of Lincoln College, dated 11 January 1643 (old style, i.e. 1644).
• ff. 32v-37: Coats of arms in the windows of Balliol College library; with a list of some manuscripts, especially those given by William Gray, Bishop of Ely.
• f. 38r: Coats of arms in Osney Abbey, dated 28 February 1643 (old style, i.e. 1644).
• ff. 39-41: Coats of arms in the hall and chapel of University College.
• f. 42-43r: Coats of arms in Merton College.
• ff. 44v-46: Coats of arms in St Bartholomew’s Chapel, with a sketch of the east window, made by Sir William Bourchier, dated 25 April 1644.
• ff. 47-49: Coats of arms in Magdalen College.
• f. 51: Facsimile of an old deed of charter in the treasury of Christchurch, whereby Bernardus de St Walarico granted certain lands in Mixebire to Bernard, the son of Milo de Harenis (or Arenis), to which grant divers eminent persons were witnesses.
• f. 52v: ‘A Note, to put the Earl of Northumberland in mind’ to relate to the Parliament the offers made by the French King and Queen, of contributing their endeavours to settle the unrest of the kingdom, dated November 1643.
• f. 53: Note of the elevation of Prince Rupert to Earl of Holderness and Duke of Cumberland, 25 January 1643 (i.e. 1644).