Peeps at Heraldry

In Short

Phoebe Allen presents an engaging introduction to the traditional science of heraldry, designed to demystify the rich visual symbols used on historic armorial bearings. The text systematically outlines the fundamental geometry of the shield, the symbolism of colours and furs, and the classification of charges ranging from real and mythical beasts to everyday tools. By pairing strict technical rules of blazoning with colorful historical anecdotes and origins, the work turns an intricate medieval art into a readable narrative, enduring as a clear foundational primer on heraldic history.

The Story

The book opens with an introductory exploration defining heraldry, or armoury, as an authenticated register of family descent and historical achievements recorded through pictorial signs. To lay a firm foundation, the exposition details the anatomy of the shield, mapping out its essential points—such as the chief, fess, and base—and establishing the strict rules surrounding tinctures. These tinctures encompass metals, colors, and furs like ermine and vair, complete with the system of lines and dots used to represent them in black-and-white illustrations.

From these geometric fundamentals, the work moves into the systematic classification of charges, which are the figures depicted upon the shield. The narrative details how ordinaries and subordinaries divide the field, illustrating how historical events shaped specific designs. Readers learn about the origin of Austria's silver fesse on a blood-red field from the Siege of Acre, as well as Joan of Arc's connection to the saltire scaling-ladder at the fort of Tournelles.

The argument then progresses to the precise vocabulary and sequence required to describe a coat of arms, known as blazoning. Strict formatting guidelines dictate that the field's tincture must always be named first, followed by primary ordinaries, specific charges, and finally lesser divisions like borders. The reader is guided through the wide diversity of charges, including celestial bodies, elements, flowers like the rose and fleur-de-lys, and agricultural symbols such as wheat-sheaves.

Animals receive detailed attention, categorized by their heraldic significance and specific poses. The lion holds pride of place alongside tigers, bears, and wolves, while birds, insects, and aquatic life carry their own specialized terms, such as volant, hauriant, or in her piety. Mythical creatures—including dragons, unicorns, griffins, and cockatrices—are explored alongside inanimate objects like helmets, swords, crowns, and musical instruments.

Finally, the text demonstrates how these components combine into complete armorial achievements. It explains the rules of marshalling, quartering, and impaling to represent marriage and inheritance, alongside the proper display of crests, helmets, mantling, and mottoes. The narrative concludes by analyzing five specific historical achievements—representing the ranks from duke to baronet—and examining the distinct types of medieval flags, including pennons, banners, and standards.

How It Unfolds

The voyage begins The opening chapter establishes the definition of heraldry as a pictorial record of family history, highlighting curious "canting" or allusive arms where family names are visually punned on their shields.

Mapping the shield The text introduces the precise points of the escutcheon and defines the tinctures, detailing the metals, colors, and furs along with Petrosancta’s system of hatchings for representing colors without pigment.

Dividing the field Ordinaries and subordinaries are outlined, demonstrating how lines cut across the shield to create bands, crosses, and saltires while connecting these geometric shapes to famous military exploits.

The grammar of blazonry A strict set of syntax rules is provided to teach the reader how to read and describe a coat of arms in exact heraldic terminology, ensuring the field and primary charges are always named in proper order.

Populating the escutcheon The narrative surveys an extensive array of charges, covering natural elements, plants, and ordinary objects alongside a comprehensive breakdown of real animals, mythical beasts, and their specific heraldic postures.

Assembling the full achievement The final sections demonstrate how individual shields are marshalled to reflect marriage or inheritance, culminating in a detailed look at complete coats of arms, knightly armours, and historical military flags.

The People

John Fitz-Thomas Fitzgerald As an infant in Woodstock Castle, he is left behind during a sudden fire. His rescue from the burning ruins by the household's pet ape leads to the adoption of chained monkeys as supporters and crests on the Duke of Leinster's coat of arms.

Leopold, Duke of Austria A valiant knight whose white linen tunic becomes completely soaked in blood during the Siege of Acre except where covered by his belt. This striking visual moment inspires his liege lord to grant him a silver fesse on a red field.

Joan of Arc A heroic figure who personally places the scaling-ladder against the fort of Tournelles. When wounded by an arrow, she bravely pulls it out herself, declaring that her spilled blood is actually glory, a moment commemorated by the saltire.

Dr. Edward Lake A devoted loyalist to King Charles I who suffers sixteen wounds at the Battle of Naseby. His extraordinary devotion is honored with an augmentation showing an arm holding a sword with a banner bearing sixteen escutcheons.

John Guillim An authoritative early heraldic writer frequently cited throughout the text. His classic commentary provides moral interpretations of tinctures, quaint fables about fickle moons, and historical justifications for unusual charges.

In Its Own Voice

"The art of heraldry, or armoury, as the old writers called it, consists in blazoning the arms and telling the descent and history of families by certain pictorial signs."

Phoebe Allen introduces the fundamental purpose of heraldry as a visual, historical register handed down across generations.

"As gold excelleth all other metals in value and purity, so ought its bearer to surpass all others in prowess and virtue..."

The text highlights how early heraldic authority John Guillim attributed moral lessons to each tincture placed upon a knight's shield.

"The unicorn hath too much greatness of mind to suffer himself to be taken alive, choosing rather to die than to be taken captive."

Old writers explain why the fierce, mythical unicorn was considered a particularly honorable charge for brave medieval warriors.

What It's Really About

Beneath its introductory descriptions of coats of arms, the book explores how human societies preserve memory, identity, and honor through visual symbolism. Heraldry functions as a codified universal language designed to communicate lineage, military valor, and social standing without relying on written words. The text highlights how historic events, personal feats, and even lighthearted puns on family names were immortalized on shields. By examining the strict rules governing tinctures, shapes, and placement, the book reveals a rigorous scientific system that transformed personal history into enduring art, ensuring that noble deeds and family heritages could be instantly recognized across generations and battlefields.

Why Read It Today

This volume is an ideal find for enthusiasts of medieval history, genealogy, and historical design who desire a clear, straightforward entry point into heraldry. Reading the text feels like taking a guided walk through an ancient gallery with a knowledgeable host who balances technical terminology with entertaining historical trivia. The writing demystifies complex heraldic terms—explaining concepts like fesse, saltire, and canting arms through accessible examples rather than dense academic jargon.

Readers should note that the text reflects its early twentieth-century origins, featuring traditional perspectives on nobility, national heraldic pride, and occasional period folklore regarding animal behavior. Its strength lies in its concise clarity and structural approach, taking what could be an overwhelming system of medieval rules and turning it into an enjoyable, highly scannable primer. It leaves the reader with a practical skill: the ability to decode the hidden symbols, colors, and figures displayed on historic buildings, monuments, and family crests.