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College of Arms

L Series

IDENTITY STATEMENT

Reference code(s): GB 0377 L SERIES

Held at: College of Arms

Title: L Series

Date(s): c 1360-1800

Level of description: Collection

Extent: 29 vols

Name of creator(s): Various

CONTEXT

Administrative/Biographical history:

The L and M series, and the Visitation records, represent the main collections of the College pre-dating the English Civil War, being mostly the work of Tudor heralds. Samson Lennard's 1618 list of the contents of the library indicates that these volumes were part of the collection then, although descriptions are usually somewhat too general to allow for precise identification. The volumes are listed in the 'Syllabus' of College of Arms' manuscripts, compiled in c 1780

CONTENT

Scope and content/abstract:

Volumes created or collected by Officers of Arms, mostly armorials and heraldic treatises, but also including ceremonials, College of Arms office books, pedigrees, and extracts from records.

L. 1 - Armorial: Alphabet of Arms, early 16th century. 714 pages. Apparently in the hand of Thomas Wall (d 1536 as Garter). Surnames followed by blazon, with skilfully painted arms in the margins. With a few 16th- and 17th-century additions

L. 2 - Armorial: Alphabet of Arms, early 16th century. c 370 folios. On folios 1-289, painted alphabet of arms, early to mid-16th century, probably temp Hen 8, with a few arms assigned to kings' reigns, Ed 1 - Hen 8. Painted arms end on f 289 in letter M. Names written above blank spaces continue to end of alphabet. Some arms in trick as far as letter R - these are all or mostly later additions

L. 3 - Armorial, late 16th century. 375 folios. Each folio engraved with 4 outline shields with helmet and mantling, tricked arms and crests filled in. Many quarterly coats. Each coat named

L. 4 - Indexes, late 16th - early 17th-centuries. 54 folios. On 30 folios, interspersed with blanks, an index of names to L. 3, in hand of Richard Lee (d 1597 as Clarenceux). On 22 folios, interspersed with blanks, another index, probably early 17th century, identified on flyleaf and cover as being an index to L. 4, but that L. 4 is no longer extant. The first two leaves of this second index contains a list of bishoprics, abbeys, and colleges, followed by an index of names

L. 5 - Armorial, late 16th century. Spine marked 'L4 and 5'. 73 folios. On ff 2-53, coats of arms in trick, arranged according to charges, in woodblock printed outlines. On 15 folios, arms in blazon, arranged roughly in alphabetical order, in a probably late 16th-century hand, followed by 3 folios of arms of Gloucestershire families in blazon in the same hand, then 2 folios of arms in blazon for letters A and B, belonging with the 15 folios but bound out of sequence

L. 5bis - Precedents, Ceremonial and Historical Miscellany, 16th century. Bound with vols L. 6 and L. 8. 142 folios. Copies, in more than one hand, of materials relating to knighthood, heraldry, combats, tournaments, and other ceremonies, the officers of arms, the origins of heralds, etc:

ff 6-15 - treatise in French on heraldry and chivalry, especially the origins of the institution of knighthood and of heralds, beginning with a section on the first heroes, with 'herald' derived from 'hero'
ff 18-19v - letters patent of Edward 6, confirming to the officers of arms exemption from taxation
ff 21-22 - inspeximus by Richard 2 of judgement in the cause of arms between Sir Richard le Scrope and Sir Robert Grosvenor, 1390
ff 24-26 - translation into English of narrative in form of letter of Aeneas, Bishop of Sienna (Pope Pius 2 from 1458), containing account of the origins of heralds. Contains items in common with story on ff 6-15, including derivation of heralds from heroes, tale of their establishment by Dionysius and continuance under Alexander and Julius Caesar
ff 28-30 - description in French of the manner of making Knights of the Bath
ff 30v-34v - treatise in French, beginning 'Comment on fait lemperour', adapted from Larbre des batailles, by Honore Bonet or Bonnor, Paris, 1493
f 35 - 'Of the Significacion of tharmer of a knight'
ff 36-38 - 'Les noms des premiere fondeurs de la Jarretierre et assy de ceulx qui les ont suyuis en leurs estalles et lieux'
ff 42-62 - documents relating to English claim to sovereignty over Scotland, mostly temp. Edward 1, and beginning with an English translation of the letter of the barons of England in Parliament to the Pope, 1301
pp 65-67 [there are here a small number of leaves which are paginated rather than foliated] - names of 136 noblemen and knights who accompanied Edward 3 at the siege of Berwick, 1333. Probably a compilation of Robert Cooke (d 1593 as Clarenceux)
ff 66bis-72v [folio numbers 66-68 have been duplicated] - order of the Coronation of Richard 2
ff 73-80v - order of the Coronation of Henry 7
ff 81-84 - 'The Ordynance and forme of fitinges within Lystes', purporting to have been made by Thomas of Woodstock, Duke of Gloucester, Constable of England (d 1397). English version, assigning points and armour left on the ground to the heralds
ff 85-87 - examples of challenges to jousts
ff 87-102 - account of the tournament between Lord Scales and the Bastard of Burgundy, held in Smithfield, June 1467. Including copies of the challenges and a description of the present Lord Scales' challenge to the Bastard in Brussels by John Water, Chester Herald (dismissed 1471)
ff 102v-107 - ordinances of war made by Henry 5 at the Council of Mantes (1419)
ff 108v-109 - rules relating to domestic government of the royal household. Undated
ff 114-121 - appointment for the king and queen to Canterbury, Kent, on to Calais and Guisnes to meet the French king, 1520. Continuing with an account of the meeting with the Emperor at Canterbury and the King of France at Guisnes for the Field of the Cloth of Gold
ff 121v-122 - Unattributed copy of the ordinances of John Tiptoft, Earl of Worcester, Constable of England, for regulation of jousts of peace royal, 1466, with slight differences in the text
ff 122v-124 - ordinances relating to the high marshal in time of war, according to the custom of France, Spain, Portugal, Naples, Sicily and the Levant
ff 124-125 - the authorities and power of the provost marshal in the jurisdiction of the artillery
f 126 - mourning apparel for ladies according to their degree
f 127v - succession of the kingdom of Portugal (this probably an addition)
f 128 - memorandum of a chapter of the kings of arms and heralds in the chapter house at Westminster, 19 Nov 1487, at which it was resolved that all officers of arms should attend at court at every principal feast or great council or other great business, and that at other times one king of arms, one herald and one pursuivant should always be in attendance, with a system of rotation of attendance laid down which represents the basis of the modern system of waiting
ff 129-130 - precedence of the nobility
ff 131-137v - names of archbishops, bishops, dukes and other noblemen of Spain and Portugal, together with a note of their annual revenues; names of Spanish ambassadors and a note of their annual allowances; miscellaneous information on Spain and Portugal
ff 137v-139v - note of the musters in Spain, 1571
ff 140 and 142 - names of English ships which fought against the French, 1513, with names of their captains, number of crew, and tonnage

L. 6 - Heraldic Treatises, before 1527. Bound with vols L. 5bis and L. 8. Possibly in the hand of Sir Thomas Wriothesley (d 1534 as Garter), but owned by William Jenyns (d 1527 as Lancaster Herald):
ff 1-2 - notes on the three most elevated personages of the church and on the three orders given in the world for its regulation, i.e. marriage, priesthood, and chivalry
ff 4-9 - ordinances of Philip 4 of France, regulating trial by combat (Paris, 1306), including order for the ceremonial
ff 11-18v - romance giving account of legendary origins of France and Britain, probably c 1475-1500. Central figure is Brutus. Two episodes: one concerning Dardanus, a rival of Brutus, becoming reconciled to him through the influence of a miraculous banner of the Virgin Mary; the other concerning the 30 sisters of Brutus and the origins of Albion. These episodes followed by a chronicle of pseudo-historical events concerning the origins of kingdom of France. Ends with creation of kings of arms and heralds by Julius Caesar
ff 20-28 - treatise on the foundation of the office of herald, supposedly by Julius Caesar, 'Les dis des philosophes'. Stressing role of heralds as ambassadors and freedom to travel unhampered in times of war as well as peace
ff 32-73 - version of the 'Tractatus de armis' by John de Bado Aureo, late 12th-cent composition, completed c 1394-1395, this version apparently a free adaptation rather than strict translation, and possibly incomplete
ff 74-84 - translation into French of treatise 'De insigniis et armis' of Bartolo di Sasso Ferrato, written c 1354
ff 86-88 - short treatise in French on duties of heralds and certain military officers, containing summary of ideal qualities of a herald
ff 89-98v - treatise in French, beginning 'Comment on doit faire empereur', containing headings substantially as described for L.10 bis ff 8-15
ff 100-104v - manner of making a Knight of the Bath, with later marginal glosses in English
ff 106-129v - series of questions posed and debated on various points of chivalric and martial etiquette, beginning with question of whether a woman as regent can judge a trial by combat
f 130 - letters of Thomas of Lancaster, Duke of Clarence, confirming to the kings of arms and heralds certain fees due to them on the display of banners (Caen, 13 Sept 1417)
ff 131-135 - resolutions of the Chapter of the kings of arms and heralds of England, held at Rouen, 5 Jan 1420, the first recorded Chapter of the English heralds
ff 135v-150v - collection of formal petitions or requests to hold jousts, challenges to potential combatants, etc. Including challenge of Jean de Bourbon, Count of Clermont, to Thomas of Lancaster, Steward of England, to meet him in a tournament before a neutral judge (6 July 1406), and a series of challenges cast in terms of high chivalric romance

L. 6bis - Armorial, mid to late 16th cent. 132 folios. Assembled from various sources, containing arms mostly in trick, predominantly recording grants of arms, whether as contemporary memoranda or historical compilations

L. 7 - Armorial, 16th cent. 73 folios. 1224 shields of arms in trick, mostly of Norfolk and Suffolk families, the arms of the city of Norwich on f 6v, names over the arms added mostly in a late 17th- or early 18th-cent hand

L. 7bis - Lists of Barons, late 16th cent. c 235 folios. Barons in reigns of William 1 - Edward 4, arranged by reign. In the hand of Robert Cooke (d 1593 as Clarenceux)

L. 8a - heraldic and historical miscellany, late 15th - 16th cent. Bound with L. 5bis and L. 6. A collection of miscellaneous compilations, mostly heraldic in character, including precedents, material relating to the heralds, rolls of arms, and some burials and descents. Nearly all, with the exception of the rolls of arms, in the handwriting of John Wrythe (d 1504 as Garter) and of his son, Sir Thomas Wriothesley (d 1534 as Garter). Including:
f 5 - arrangement of seating at a tournament at Westminster (no date)
f 16v - indenture between William, Lord Berkeley, and Edward 4, in which Lord Berkeley relinquishes to the King's second son, Richard, Duke of York, his title to lands reverting to him on the death of John, late Duke of Norfolk. Possibly incomplete at the end
ff 17v-19 - order of proceeding for ceremonies over 3 days on creation of Prince Arthur as Prince of Wales (1489)
ff 33v-38 - memoranda on the office of constable and marshal, and ordinances to be kept in time of war
ff 38v-[39bis] - the first Calais Roll. Apparently a 16th-cent. compilation based on contemporary accounts of wages paid to soldiers present before Calais in 1346 and 1347. This a shorter version containing only the names, arms in trick, and retinues of bannerets.
ff 40-50v - account of the Battle of Harfleur, 1415, written by John Wrythe
ff 52v-54 - ordinances for the reformation of the College of Arms, stated to be issued by Richard, Duke of Gloucester, but the text, after the preamble, is in fact an English version of the text of the ordinances of Thomas, Duke of Clarence, for the government of the Office of Arms
ff 54v-57 - list of equipment to be provided for a lord and his retinue in war
f 57v - a Christmas prayer for the king, in hand of Sir Thomas Wriothesley
ff 58-70 - the Parliamentary Roll, c 1312, version II, incomplete 16th-cent copy in blazon. With Wriothesley's mark 'Ihc' in upper margin of f 62
ff 85v-87 - apparel for the field for a baron in his sovereign's company, or for a banneret
ff 87v-88v - apparel for the field for a knight or esquire with 'faire land' and a retinue
f 88v - description of the entry of the Count of Vallantinois, with his retinue, at Chinon, 19 Dec 1498, written by Wrythe
ff 89-95, 96 - memoranda relating to religious houses, with valuations added probably 17th cent; on f 96v a note on the Charterhouses of London, Sheen (co Surrey), and Kingston-upon-Hull (co Yorks), by Wriothesley

L. 8b - Arms of Bishops, 1675. Arms painted, but many unfinished. 39 folios. A few with biographical notes. Bound into front, notes of consecrations and translations of bishops, 1660-1675

L. 8c - 16th cent copy of roll of arms by Randle Holme, temp Henry 6. 69 folios. Possibly by Robert Cooke (d 1593 as Clarenceux). Also includes notes on functions of officers of arms, pedigree of King Philip and Queen Mary from Edward 3, rough pedigree showing descent of Norreys and Weyman families from Edward 3, 1571, and two staves of music with the words 'Lord healpe the poore that crye', in hand of Richard Lee

L. 9 - Armorial, early 16th cent. 126 folios. Letters I to P from the armory section of the great armory and ordinary of English arms compiled by Sir Thomas Wriothesley (d 1534 as Garter). Very finely painted arms on vellum, arranged on the page in three rows of four shields. Indexes and some part of the names written over the arms are in Wriothesley's hand. Also includes:
f 1bis - two shields of royal arms as Sovereign of the Garter and two shields showing arms of Sir Thomas Wriothesley impaling those of his first and second wives
ff 24-29 - arms and crests, temp Eliz 1, probably a collection of recent grants though not necessarily of Elizabeth's reign
f 81 - letters exemplifying an order in the court of chivalry concerning adoption of the arms of John Warbleton by a nephew, Tibaud [Theobald] Russell, with blazon of the arms, 1346
ff 110-118 - account in French of the coronation and entry into Paris of Claude, daughter of Louis 12 and wife of Francis 1, King of France
f 119 - account of siege of Bamburgh Castle, Northumberland, held by Sir Ralph Grey against the King (1464), and the judgement on Grey

L. 9bis - Baronage, temp Eliz 1. 100 folios. On 68 folios, narrative descents of peers, in alphabetical order from Albemarle to Shrewsbury, in a late 16th cent. hand, with a few continuations in a different hand. Also includes 21 ff of descents of other peers, including Ambrose Dudley, Earl of Warwick; Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester; Ralph Nevill, 1st Earl of Westmoreland; Edward Grey, son of Lord Grey of Ruthin; Sir John Berkeley; Hugh, Lord Spencer; Richard Beauchamp, Earl of Warwick; John Talbot, Earl of Shrewsbury, and Thomas Mowbray, Duke of Norfolk

L. 10 - Armorial, early 16th cent. 112 folios. Very finely painted arms, including several sections from the armory and ordinary of English arms compiled under the direction of Sir Thomas Wriothesley. Includes:
f 1 - shields of arms of legendary and Anglo-Saxon kings
ff 1v-45v, 50v-57v, 60v-62, 72v-86 - section for letters A-D from Wriothesley's armory
f 67 - arms of Thomas Wolsey as a cardinal and with his personal arms impaled by those of his various ecclesiastical offices
f 68 - six painted shields of arms of bishops of Winchester as prelates of the Order of the Garter
ff 68v-72 and 96v-97 - arms of bishops, abbots, and priors, with some clerics and jurists and a small number of institutions, mostly temp. Hen 7 - Hen 8, with a few Elizabeth additions
ff 94v and 95v - arms of knights, temp Henry 7, finely painted

L. 10bis - Heraldic Treatises, mid 16th cent. Bound with L. 12a, L. 13 and M. 15. All but the first treatise in French. Includes:
ff 2-4v - fragment of treatise for instruction of pursuivants, translated from French into English by Martin Marroffe, York Herald (d 1564)
ff 5-7v - preliminaries of a combat between Hote de [Grantson], Seigneur d'Aubonne, and Raoul de Grive, 20 Sept 1391
ff 15-20v - ordinances for regulating combats within lists or trials by battle, purporting to have been made by Thomas of Woodstock, Duke of Gloucester, Constable of England (d 1397)
ff 22v-24 - instructions for officers of arms on the conduct of funerals
ff 24-26 - oath to be sworn by a new herald
ff 26-32 - treatise entitled 'Les ditz de[s] philosophes'
ff 32v-33 - specimen proclamation of a tournament, including summary of entry requirements, rules of combats, and prizes
ff 33-36 - the manner of holding a tournament
ff 45-46 - an opening paragraph, perhaps the beginning of an heraldic treatise, citing the authority of Hungary King of Arms, introducing a list of the heraldic tinctures with their equivalent stones and 'vertus' or human qualities.
Also includes, on f 51v, a copy of a royal warrant to Sir Edward Waldegrave, Master of the Great Wardrobe, to deliver 8 yds of blue damask and 2 yds of red velvet to Chester Herald (William Flower, d 1588 as Norroy) and 8 yds of blue chamblet and 2 yds of red velvet to Portcullis (John Cocke, d 1586 as Lancaster) for their livery attending on William, Earl of Pembroke, dated 13 July 1557, in English and in different handwriting from rest of manuscript

L. 11 - Armorial and Catalogue of Manuscripts, 16th cent and 1618. Comprises two distinct parts with separate numeration, originally separate manuscripts:
Part 1 - armorial, early to mid 16th cent, probably temp Hen 8
Part 2 - catalogue of the books in the College of Arms, 1 Feb 1618 (1619), thought to be in the hand of Samson Lennard (d 1633 as Bluemantle). The oldest extant catalogue of the College of Arms library

L. 12a - First Calais Roll, probably mid 16th cent. Bound with L. 10bis, L. 13 and M. 15:
ff 1-11 - a copy of the First Calais Roll, a 'spurious' 16th cent roll of arms based on accounts of Walter de Wetewang, Treasurer of the Household, of wages paid to soldiers present before Calais in 1346 and 1347. In the handwriting of Richard Lee (d 1597 as Clarenceux), this copy without the arms of the bannerets
ff 12-14 - a shortened version of the First Calais Roll, with some aberrant features, also without arms and in the hand of Richard Lee
ff 14-16 - copy of the charter of Richard 3 to the kings, heralds and pursuivants of arms, making them a corporation and giving them a house called Coldharbour in the parish of All Saints, 2 March 1 Ric 3 (1484). In the hand of Richard Lee
ff 16-17v - copy of the charter of Philip and Mary to the kings, heralds and pursuivants of arms, restoring them to corporate status and giving them Derby House, on the site of the present College of Arms, 18 July 1 and 3 Philip and Mary (1555). In the hand of Richard Lee

L. 12b - Precedents and historical miscellany, 16th cent. Predominantly relating to ceremonial and military events in the reign of Henry 8, nearly all written by Sir Thomas Wriothesley. The core relates to the Siege of Thérouanne, 1513, on which Wriothesley accompanied King Henry. With some additional material on the later Tudors. Includes:
p 5, f 6 - letters patent creating Charles Brandon, Viscount Lisle (afterwards Duke of Suffolk), Marshal of the King's Army in France, followed by a Latin summary of the contents, 28 May 1513
f 8v - order of Thomas, Earl of Derby, Constable of England, regulating fees due to the officers of arms for the first displaying of banners, 8 Nov 1487
ff 10-11 - names of the Challengers and Answerers at jousts held at Greenwich, 23 May - 3 June 1510, the King being the leading Challenger
ff 14v-15 - publication of the peace between Henry 7 and the Emperor Maximilian [1502]
ff 36v-37v - account of the arrival of Henry 8 in Calais, June-July 1513
ff 39v-40v - certificate of Francis 1, King of France, that he had received the Order of the Garter, 10 Nov 1527
f 41v - list of French prisoners sent from the field to Aire, in the keeping of Sir Thomas Wriothesley, Garter King of Arms, no date [but 1513]
ff 42v-43 - presentation of the keys of the city of Tournai, Flanders, to Henry 8, after its surrender [Sept 1513]
ff 44-45 - patent of creation of Thomas Howard, Earl of Surrey, as Duke of Norfolk, 1 Feb 1514
ff 46v-47v - account of the delivery of the sword and cap of maintenance sent to Henry 8 by Pope Leo 10, received 19 May and presented at St Paul's Cathedral, 21 May 1514
ff 49v-70v, 79-83, 90-92v, 95v-96 - 'Le Romant de Prudence', a commentary on the virtues and vices, as described by various classical and biblical authorities, in French, with a verse prologue. In hand of Sir Thomas Wriothesley
ff 72-75 - treatise on battle array, etc
ff 83v-85 - order of receiving the Cardinal Legate, Aug 1518
ff 88v-89 - letters patent of Henry 4 granting the lordship of the Isle of Man to Henry de Percy, Earl of Northumberland, 19 Oct 1399
f 108v - fees payable to officers of arms and others by the Chamber of London at any solemn proclamation and at the entry of a king or queen into the City of London
f 110 - publication of peace between Henry 8 and Louis 12 of France, 1514
ff 114v-121v - reception of Catherine, daughter of Ferdinand, King of Aragon, and Isabella, Queen of Castile, on her marriage with Arthur, Prince of Wales, 1501
ff 126-135v - patents of creation of: Sir John Dudley as Viscount Lisle (12 Mar 1542), Anthony Browne as Viscount Montagu (2 Sept 1554), Thomas Percy as Baron Percy (30 Apr 1557), Thomas Percy as Earl of Northumberland (1 May 1557), Edward Hastings as Baron Hastings of Loughborough (19 Jan 1558), John Brydges as Baron Chandos of Sudeley (8 Apr 1554), Edward Courtenay as Earl of Devon (3 Sept 1553)
ff 136v-138 - orders relating to the duties of an admiral, undated, probably in the hand of Sir Thomas Wriothesley
f 141v - proclamation for a herald, in French, demanding the surrender within 10 days of 'sa ville de N', undated, but probably one of the declarations used by Sir Thomas Wriothesley, who attended Henry 8 on the campaign of 1513; following this, a poem or song in French, relating to the siege of Thérouanne, 1513
f 142 - order of the king and queen's riding from York Place in London to Greenwich, on the Friday before Christmas, 1536

L.12c - Medieval Roll of Arms and Treatise on animals, late 14th - 15th cent. Called 'Mowbray's Book' after the Mowbray inferred to have been an early owner of the ms from the painting of his arms on f 65v. Contains two elements: the late 14th century roll of arms of French provenance, and the 15th century treatise in French written on the blank and partially blank pages scattered throughout the roll. The two elements are known as 'Mowbray's Roll' and 'Mowbray's French Treatise':
'Mowbray's Roll' - a general roll of 2'098 painted arms, displayed on banners shown in continuous strips of six banners to a line. The arms boldly and rather crudely painted, many without names, those names there are having been added later. [Note - the banners on f 66, which are Scottish, are described in A R Wagner's A Catalogue of English Medieval Rolls of Arms (Oxford, 1950), and called by him the 'Bruce Roll']
'Mowbray's French Treatise' - treatise in French, in a mid to late 15th century hand, contents of the treatise falling into three major divisions: discussions of the properties of beasts; French translation of a moralising tract on the institution of knighthood known as the 'Book of the Order of Chivalry', written by the Spaniard Ramón Lull, c 1280; the rights, dues and largess belonging by ancient customs to the officers of arms, according to the English usage. Note - the published catalogue of 1988 describes the treatise and beasts discussed in it as 'heraldic', following its description as such in Rodney Dennys' The Heraldic Imagination, but Dr Lisa Barber notes (April 2015) that this is not the case
Also some short additions to the Treatise

L. 13 - Draft Baronage, late 16th cent. Bound with L. 10bis, L. 12, and M. 15. Rough notes for a baronage of England, including notes of holders of earldoms and dukedoms under kings from Harold to Edward 1, lists of noblemen extending to temp. Elizabeth 1, lists of witnesses to charters, etc. All in hand of Robert Cooke (d 1593 as Clarenceux)

L.14 - Armorial and Heraldic Miscellany, end 16th-17th cent. 2 vols, labelled on spines 'Miscellanea Curiosa' parts 1 and 2
Painted and tricked arms, including copies of several medieval rolls of arms, pedigrees and genealogical notes, a few precedents relating to the heralds, some historical notes, etc. Including a substantial portion written by Sir William Segar (d 1633 as Garter) and the MS as a whole perhaps collected together by him. Including:
Vol 1 ff 26-31 and 52v-61 - copies of 'Segar's Roll' (c 1282), painted and in trick
Vol 1 ff 38-42 - copy of 'Glover's Roll' (c 1255) in blazon
Vol 1 ff 62-70 - copy of the 'Camden Roll' (c 1280) in trick and blazon
Vol 1 ff 71-78v - incomplete copy in trick by Richard Scarlett of 'Cooke's Ordinary' (c 1340)
Vol 2 f 215 - resolution of chapter of the Order of the Garter, establishing an annuity for Garter King of Arms
Vol 2 f 226 - the gammon of bacon custom at Little Dunmow Priory, co Essex
Vol 2 ff 229-254v - copy in trick of 'Fenwick's Roll' (temp Henry 5 and 6)
Vol 2 ff 307-342 - funeral arms in trick, early 17th cent, some with date of death, place of burial, and names of officers of arms who attended
Vol 2 ff 362-384 - series of painted arms attributed to Brutus and other British and Welsh kings, to Saxon kings, and to William the Conqueror, Stephen and Henry 2, followed by arms and badges of sovereigns from Edw 3 to James 1 and on f 378, badges of Edward, the Black Prince

L. 14bis - List of barons, late 16th cent. c 230 folios. Almost all in hand of Robert Cooke. Mainly list of peers, temp. William 1 - Edward 4, with some more extensive notes interspersed, rough and possibly in part preliminary drafts for the similar lists in L. 7bis

L. 15 - Pedigrees and heraldic and historical miscellany, late 16th cent. 160 folios. A significant amount of material in hand of Robert Cooke, but with some 17th cent additions. Comprising pedigrees, historical and genealogical notes, some arms, precedents, a few lists of names of medieval knights and others. Including:
ff 1v-6v - narrative descent of Elizabeth 1 from Rollo, first Duke of Normandy, f 1v being an address of dedication to the Queen
ff 9-12 - names of noblemen, knights and other gentlemen who came to England with William the Conqueror in 1066, as mentioned in the chronicles of Normandy
f 18 - apparel to be worn on the heads of gentlewomen
ff 33bis-34 - account of the degradation of Sir Andrew de Harcla, Earl of Carlisle, 31 October 1322, in the handwriting of Robert Glover
ff 36-38v - rules for the quartering of arms
ff 40-41 - decree of the Earl Marshal for ending the controversy between Garter, Clarenceux and Norroy relating to the burials of noblemen and others, 12 June 1563. A draft with amendments
ff 42-43 - description of a hearse for an earl, the painter's work, fees due to the officers of arms, persons entitled to mourning
ff 44-51 - homage and oath of the kings of Scotland to those of England (f 51), with precedents for the same (ff 44-50). In hand of Robert Cooke
ff 55-57 - account of the coronation of Eleanor of Provence, wife of Henry 3, 1236, in the handwriting of Robert Glover (d 1588 as Somerset)
ff 61-62 - genealogical notes and pedigree of the descendants of Richard Beauchamp, Earl of Warwick, d 1439
ff 66-79 - narrative pedigrees, with painted arms in the margins, late 16th or early 17th cent: Ambrose Dudley, Earl of Warwick; John Payne of Dudley (described as Earl of Somery); David, Baron Malpas; Sir Edward Grey, Viscount Lisle; John, Lord Hastings and Earl of Pembroke; David, King of Scotland and Earl of Huntingdon; descendants of Siward, Earl of Northumberland temp King Harold; Hugh Boham, Earl of Chester; Alanus, Duke of Brittany; Hugh Lupus, Earl of Chester; William de Valence, Earl of Pembroke; Warin de Munchensy, Earl of Pembroke; William Marshal, Earl of Pembroke
ff 80-90 - tabular pedigrees with painted arms, mostly descents of Ambrose and Robert Dudley, but with collateral lines. Descents shown from: Reginald, Lord Grey of Ruthin, and Edward Grey, his second son; John, Lord Talbot, Earl of Shrewsbury; Richard Beauchamp, Earl of Warwick; Lord Verdon; Robert Blanchemains, Earl of Leicester; Richard Strongbow, Earl of Pembroke; John Sutton, Baron of Dudley; Gilbert de Clare, Earl of Gloucester
ff 91-105 - painted arms, with genealogical notes compiled in 1571, relating to Candor, Earl of Cornwall, Elvicia his daughter and heir, and the sons of sovereigns from Henry 2 to Henry 6 who were created Dukes of Earls of Cornwall, Earls of Chester or Dukes or Earls of Lancaster; Dukes or Earls of Somerset from William de Mohun in 1067 to Edward Seymour, Lord Protector under Edward 6; Dukes or Earls of Chester from Hugh Lupus in 1066 to John Scott in 1232l Earls of Leicester from Symonde, a Norman, in 1066 to Robert Dudley in 1564
ff 109-128v - pedigrees in the hand of Robert Cooke: Gilbert de Clare, Earl of Gloucester and Hertford (d 1314) and his grandchildren, from temp. King Ethelred; Anselm Marshal, Earl of Pembroke (d 1245) and his grandchildren, from John the King's Marshal; descendants of Robert, Lord de Quincy and Roger de Quincy, Earl of Winchester (d 1564), from Robert 1, Lord Quyncy of Groby, Leics., temp Henry 1 and Stephen; Aymer de Valence, Earl of Pembroke (d 1324) from Isabel, daughter and heir of the Earl of Angouleme (she d 1246); children of William Hastings of Hastings, temp Henry 2, from 1066; Aumarie de Montfort, Count of Evreux and Earl of Gloucester (d 1213), from Richard, Duke of Normandy; John Scott, Earl of Chester (d 1237); Margaret, daughter and heir of William Longashe; three generations pedigree of descendants of Hubert de Burgh, Earl of Kent (d 1243); descendants of William, Earl of Gloucester (d 1183); descendants of Waltheof, Earl of Northumberland (d 1076); descendants of Simon de Montfort, Earl of Montfort (d 1182), and Robert, Earl of Leicester (1190); descendants of William d'Aubigny, Earl of Arundel (d 1221); descendants of Gilbert de Clare, Earl of Gloucester and Hertford (d 1295), and Ralph, Lord Monthermer (d 1325); descendants of William le Grosse, Earl of Aubemarle (d 1181); descendants of Waleran, Earl of Warwick (d 1203); descendants of William de Warenne, Earl of Surrey (d 1148); descendants of Miles, Earl of Herford (d 1143); descendants of Thomas Montagu, Earl of Salisbury (d 1428); descendants of Henry, Earl of Lancaster and Derby (d 1361); descendants of Humphrey de Bohun, Earl of Hereford and Essex (d 1322); descendants of Gilbert Strongbow, Earl of Pembroke (d 1448 or 9); descendants of Edmund of Woodstock, Earl of Kent (d 1330); descendants of Aubrey de Vere (d 1141); descendants of Geoffrey de Mandeville, Earl of Essex (d 1144); descendants of William, Lord Bourchier, Earl of Eu (d 1420)
f 130 - memoranda relating to some Parliaments held between 3 Nov 1529 and 1 Mar 1553, in hand of Robert Glover
ff 144-145r - names of nobles of household and retinue, in fees, wages and pensions under John, Duke of Bedford, Regent of France, c 1422. Copy in hand of Robert Glover
f 145v - names of knights and men at arms in the time of John, Duke of Bedford, Regent of France, in the Duchy of Guienne, 1-15 Hen 6 (1422-1436), in hand of Robert Glover

L. 16 - Burial Fees and Waiting Book, 1565-1610:
ff 15-28v - list of funerals attended by officers of arms, 1565-post 1576
f 31 - original signed minutes of a chapter of the Office of Arms, 15 Jan 1581 (1582), confirming sums to be paid into the common chest by officers for their turns at funerals
ff 46v-76r and 77-80v - Waiting Book, Nov 1597 - June 1602, Feb-July 1610 and May 1612
f 76v - original signed minutes of a chapter of the Office of Arms, 14 Feb 1609 (1610), regulating monthly waiting by two officers together in rotation
ff 132v-133 - list of fines, forfeits and 'restes' or balances in the common chest, c 14 Eliz (1566-67)
ff 140v-143 - sums paid out of the burial money for repairs, dinners, and miscellaneous expenses, 1566-75

L. 17 - Genealogical, Heraldic and Historical Miscellany, 16th cent. A collection of materials, including schedules of fees due to heralds, genealogical notes, arms in trick, lists of names from the medieval period, etc, some material relating to religious houses. In several mostly late 16th cent hands but a substantial portion written by Robert Cooke (d 1593 as Clarenceux). Including:
ff 12-17v - armed men in the rape of Hastings, Sussex, 13 Edw 3 (1339), taken out of the 'Booke of the Abbey of Battell'
ff 18-21v - abstracts of charters relating to Battle Abbey
f 22 and continuation on ff 176-182v - list of documents relating to Scottish affairs temp Edw 1 - Edw 3
f 36 - charge given by Lorraine Herald to Prince Charles, Duke of Burgundy [Charles 1, Duke of Burgundy, ruled 1467-77], with the Duke's reply, undated
f 38 - renewal of peace between Henry 2 and his sons Richard [later Richard 2] and Geoffrey, undated but before 1186
ff 45v, 51-57, 68-73v, 113-114v, 138-39 - extracts from charters and / or notes relating to abbeys including: Evesham, Battle, Quarr, Dore, Waltham, Kenilworth, and Peterborough
ff 82-85 - evidences from a book of Lord Stafford, re his claim to be heir to Lord Grey of Powys, 1584
ff 86-90 - evidences from Sir James Harington for the compilation of his pedigree, 1582
ff 106-109v - rough extracts from Mr Harris' book, who had 'the kypyng of the Records of the tower', by Robert Cooke, 1580
ff 129-133v, 135 - transcript of charter, 1172, of William Humes of Stamford, co Lincs; grant relating to the parishes of Fiskerton, co Lincs, Fletton, co Hunts, and Burghley, co Northants, temp Edward the Confessor; notes about holders of lands: all taken from the records of Peterborough Abbey
ff 141-156v - benefactions to the Knights Templar in England
ff 159-161 - names of benefactors to the church of Clerkenwell
ff 170bis-175 - chronicle of precedents for English claims that Scottish kings owed homage to the King of England, extending from Brutus of Troy to 1424. [Dr Campbell, author of the Catalogue of which this is an abridged version, notes that they: 'are evidently drawn in part from a source similar to the returns made by monasteries to writs of Edw 1 ordering them to search their records for information bearing on his claim to receive homage of the King of Scotland']
ff 197-208 - arms in trick, including arms found in churches or houses at Lingfield, co Surrey; Nether Thorpe, county unknown; Martley, county unknown; Inkberrow, Kidderminster, and Dodderhill, co Worcs; Tewkesbury, Elmore and Berkeley, co Glos; Bristol and Gloucester cathedrals, and Shrewsbury, co Salop; also the arms of Thomas Becket's murderers
ff 213-214 - treatise on the origins of the office of herald, beginning with the institution of heralds by Dionysius and referring also to Hercules, Kings Saul, David and Solomon of Judah, Julius Caesar etc. Claims the origins of the tournament are in 'the play of Olympias' held at Mount Olympus
ff 215-216v - account of the droits belonging to officers of arms in tournaments, and their fees and privileges on various occasions including the making of a squire and of a knight, for the display of banners, at coronations, marriages, Christenings, funerals, etc.
ff 217-219 - fees, largesse, rights and dues belonging by custom to the officers of arms
ff 220-221 - account of the birth and baptism of Edmund, third son of Henry 7, 1499

L. 18 - Ceremonial, 17th cent. Bound with M. 4 and M. 17. Contains:
ff 1-10 - provisions to be made against the queen's delivery and for the Christening of the prince, gathered out of former precedents, 24 May - 27 June 1630
f 11 - copy of an order in council concerning the nobility of Scotland and Ireland above the degree of baron, having no possessions or livelihood in those kingdoms, not being nominated as commissioners without special directions from the king, 28 June 1629
ff 15-21v - brief notes concerning the usual form of the coronations of kings and queens of England, and of such necessaries as were to be provided for that solemnity
ff 22-24v - proceeding of King James 1 through London, 15 Mar 1603 (1604), with a note of those in the procession
ff 32-34v - account of his embassy given by Sir William Segar (d 1633 as Garter), joined in commission with Lord Carleton, Ambassador to Henry, Prince of Orange, for presenting that prince with the Order of the Garter, 1626

L. 19 - Coronations and Royal Marriages, end 17th-18th cent. Contains:
pp 1-48 - provisions for and proceeding to the Coronation of King James 2 and Queen Mary, 23 April 1685, in the hand of Gregory King (d 1712 as Lancaster)
pp 53-117 - Coronation of King William 3 and Queen Mary 2, 11 April 1689, with proclamation, etc, in hand of Gregory King
pp 119-138 - Coronation of Queen Anne, 23 April 1702
pp 141-145 - Coronation of King George 1, 20 Oct 1714
pp 167-188 - Coronation of King George 2 and Queen Caroline, 11 Oct 1727
pp 189-195 - marriage of William, Prince of Orange and Anne, daughter of George 2, 14 Mar 1734
pp 196-199 - the espousals between Prince Frederick of Hesse-Cassel and Mary, daughter of George 2, 8 May 1740
pp 200-205 - marriage of George 3 and Princess Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, 8 Sept 1761
pp 206-226 - Coronation of King George 3 and Queen Charlotte, 22 Sept 1761
pp 227-230 - marriage of George, Prince of Wales, and Princess Caroline of Brunswick, 8 Apr 1795
pp 231-235 - marriage of Frederick Charles William, Prince of Württemberg, and Charlotte Augusta Matilda, daughter of George 3, 18 May 1797.

ACCESS AND USE

Language/scripts of material: English French Latin

System of arrangement:

The 'L' series is named from the press in the old library of the College. Books and rolls in the old library were arranged under 12 presses, lettered A-M (the letter E being omitted). The old library is no longer extant, but the pressmarks are still used. Some manuscripts have been bound together out of numerical sequence, but retaining the numbering. Some 'L' and 'M' manuscripts have been bound together. A 'Syllabus' of the library compiled in c 1780 shows that the manuscripts were bound separately at that date, but later notes added to the first page of the Syllabus show that MSS L.10bis, L.12a, L.13 and M.15 were bound together in 1786.
In instances where the same number has been used twice, modern cataloguers have adopted the use of 'bis' to differentiate: e.g. L. 5 and L. 5bis
In instances where the same number has been used more than twice, modern cataloguers have adopted the use of a, b, c: e.g. L. 8a, L. 8b, L. 8c

Conditions governing access:

By appointment with the archivist. A letter of introduction and an item of photographic ID are required and a daily research fee of £10 is payable.

Conditions governing reproduction:

Permission of the Chapter of College of Arms is required. A reproduction fee may be payable.

Physical characteristics:

Bound volumes

Finding aids:

L Campbell and F Steer, A Catalogue of Manuscripts in the College of Arms: Collections, Volume 1 (London, 1988). The present listing on AIM25 is an abridged version of this more detailed published volume
See also A R Wagner, A Catalogue of English Medieval Rolls of Arms (Oxford, 1950) for rolls of arms in L. 8a, L. 8c, L. 12c, L. 14 and the other copies and versions of these which exist. See also his corrections to CEMRA, here with regard to L. 12c, published in Aspilogia II, Harleian Society vols 113-114 (1967)

ARCHIVAL INFORMATION

Archival history:

Immediate source of acquisition:

Probably left to College by Officers of Arms who created or collected them. Where known including Robert Cooke, Richard Lee, and Sir Thomas Wriothesley. Authors of some volumes not identified.

ALLIED MATERIALS

Existence and location of originals:

The original charter of incorporation (1484), of which there is a copy in L. 12a, ff 14-16, is in British Library MS Cotton Faustina E. 1, ff 30v-31
The original charter of re-incorporation (1555), of which there is a copy in L. 12a, ff 16-17v is held in the College of Arms muniments (no reference number)

Existence and location of copies:

L. 17 ff 141-156v are printed in William Dugdale's Monasticon Anglicanum

Related material:

L. 5bis ff 24-26 and Arundel MS 26 ff 41-51v are copies of the same item
L. 5bis ff 28-30, L. 6 ff 100-104, and Arundel MS 26, ff 28v-32v, are copies or versions of the same item
L. 5bis ff 114-121, M. 1bis ff 31-41, and M. 6bis f unnumbered before f 52, ff 7-12v and 67-69v, are copies or versions of the same item
L. 5bis ff 121v-122 and M. 6 ff 56-57 are copies of the same item
L.5bis ff 122v-124 and M. 1bis ff 43-45 are copies of the same item
L.5bis ff 124-125 and M. 1 bis ff 45-46v are copies of the same item
L.5 bis ff 131-137v and MS Vincent 48 ff 3-10 are versions of the same item
L.5bis ff 137v-139v and MS Vincent 48 ff 47-50v are very similar copies of the same item
L.6 ff 4-9 and L.10bis ff 36v-45 are versions of the same item
L.6 ff 20-28, L.10bis ff 26-32 and Arundel MS 26 ff 11v-28 copies of the same item
L.6 ff 86-88, M. 4 ff 27-28v, M. 16bis ff 63v-65 copies of the same item. See also M. 19 ff 79v-84v
L.6 f 130 and Vincent MS 151 pp 63-64 are copies of the same item
L. 8a ff 33v-38 and M. 10bis ff 5v-10v are copies of the same item
L. 8a ff 38v-[39bis], M. 16bis ff 82-97, M. 1bis ff 135-149v and L. 12a are all copies of variants (long and short versions) of First Calais Roll
L. 9 f 119 and L. 15 f 32 versions of same account of same event
L. 10 ff 2-4v English translation of French treatise, a copy of which is in M. 16bis, on 6 unnumbered folios at the beginning of the ms, with a fragmentary copy in M. 4, ff 35-27v
A fuller version of item in L. 10bis f 22 is in M. 4 ff 31-33v
A fuller of version of item in L. 10 bis ff 22-24 is in M. 19 ff 142-143v
L. 10bis ff 24-26, M. 4 ff 29-30, and M. 16bis, 3 unnumbered folios near front of ms, are copies of the same item
L. 17 ff 170bis-175 and M. 14 ff 42-46v are copies of the same item
For other copies of account of birth and baptism of Edmund, son of Henry 7, in L. 17 ff 220-221, see College of Arms MSS WB, f 163 and Leake collection [SML] vol 1, f 177
L. 12b ff 114v-121v, MS WB ff 145, and M. 13bis 1-11 are copies of the same item

Another version of the account of the tournament described in L. 5bis ff 87-102 is in British Library MS Lansdowne 285, ff 18 and 29v
Another copy of L.6 ff 20-28 and L.10bis ff 26-32 is in British Library MS Cotton Nero D.II ff 254v-256v

DESCRIPTION NOTES

Archivist's note: This description is an abridged version compiled by Lynsey Darby, archivist, from the detailed catalogue by L Campbell and F Steer, A Catalogue of Manuscripts in the College of Arms: Collections, Volume 1 (London, 1988).