Richard Symonds (diarist) facts for kids

Richard Symonds (born in 1617, died in 1660) was an English man who supported the King during the English Civil War. He was also an antiquarian, meaning he loved studying old things and history. He is best known today for the detailed diary he wrote about his experiences during the First English Civil War.

Who Was Richard Symonds?

Richard Symonds was born in 1617 in a place called Black Notley in Essex, England. He was the oldest son of Edward Symonds. His family had a history of working in law, and Richard followed in their footsteps. He worked in a part of the legal system called the chancery court.

Joining the King's Army

The English Civil War was a big conflict between those who supported King Charles I (called Royalists) and those who supported Parliament. In 1643, Richard Symonds was arrested because he was a Royalist. However, he managed to escape later that year.

After escaping, he joined the King's army. He became part of a special group of soldiers on horseback who protected the King, known as the King's Lifeguard. This group was led by Lord Bernard Stuart.

Richard Symonds in Battle

Richard Symonds was with the King's forces for about two years, seeing a lot of action. He was present at several important battles, including:

• The battle of Cropredy Bridge
• The second battle of Newbury
• The battle of Naseby

He was also there when the city of Chester was being defended, where Lord Bernard Stuart was killed. After these events, Richard continued to serve with other Royalist leaders like Sir William Vaughan.

Life After the War

After the King surrendered in 1646, Richard Symonds tried to settle his affairs with the new government. In 1648, he left England and traveled through Europe. He visited famous cities like Paris, Rome, and Venice, staying abroad until about 1652.

When he returned to England, he was involved in a secret plan in 1655 to bring the monarchy back. He was arrested along with many others but was later released.

Richard Symonds' Writings

From a young age, Richard Symonds loved history and old objects. Wherever he went, he made sure to write down interesting facts about places and families in his notebooks.

The War Diary

His most famous work is his diary, which describes the movements of the Royal Army from April 1644 to February 1646. These four notebooks are now kept in the British Library.

Historians have often used his diary to learn about the Civil War. In 1859, it was published as a book called Diary of the Marches of the Royal Army during the Great Civil War.

The diary is special because it includes many details about the places the army passed through. Richard would write about:

• Churches he saw
• Old monuments inside churches
• Beautiful stained glass windows
• Heraldry, which are family symbols and coats of arms

While his notes about the war itself are often short, his description of the second battle of Newbury is very detailed and gives a good idea of what happened.

Other Historical Notes

Richard Symonds also put together three volumes of family histories for the county of Essex. These valuable collections are now at the College of Arms, a place that deals with heraldry and family trees.

These notes were used by other historians, like Philip Morant, when he wrote his History of Essex. Even Horace Walpole, a famous writer, used Symonds' notes for his book Anecdotes of Painting in England.