Getting Started with S.C.A. Heraldry

Getting Started with S.C.A. Heraldry by Mistress Zenobia Naphtali, OL, from the Crown Prints, November, 1988

So you've been in the S.C.A. a while, have watched the heralds at work, and are somewhat interested in giving it a try yourself. You've looked at a couple of heraldry books, but found only the rudiments of the arcane jargon you've heard at the consult tables. And there doesn't seem to be anything in the library about field heraldry, or running a court...

S.C.A. heraldry can be divided into three parts: armory ("book" heraldry), field heraldry, and court heraldry. S.C.A. armory is modelled on the English system before 1485, but it is notably different from any historical or modern system. Our field and court disciplines are likewise inspired by medieval practices, but are distinctly our own. Thus, the best way to learn S.C.A. heraldry is from S.C.A. sources.

The easiest and most effective way to learn field heraldry is to attend the herald's meeting after opening court at a tourney. Volunteers are always welcome, and experience is not necessary. The herald in charge can usually arrange to provide a written version of the words and the loan of a baldric. He may also pair a new field herald with a more experienced herald, and will always do so at the novice's request. In a pair, the experienced herald will do a round of field (enabling the novice to observe) and will then observe the new herald's first round, offering support and advice if necessary.

Classes in field heraldry are usually given at least once a year at the Collegium Caidis, covering protocols and voice training. Any classes on voice training for actors or singers will help develop a good heraldic voice. A valuable text on field heraldry, which also covers osom court heraldry is Master John ap Griffin's The Art of Field Heraldry in the Kingdom of Caid. How to Use and Not Abuse Your Voice by Lady Therasia von Tux (in the proceedings of the Heraldic Symposium A.S. XXII) is useful as well.

The best way to learn S.C.A. armory is to attend the Kingdom Heraldry meetings, at the home of the Crescent Herald. The meetings are the only place to pick up good working knowledge of blazon, or "heralds' language." They are open to anyone interested, and the dates are listed in the Crown Prints. The hour before the meeting is usually left open for casual classes on any topic suggested by the attendees, which gives a beginning herald the ability to learn how things are done from the top herald in the Kingdom (contact Crescent to make sure the class is being held that particular month; occasionally they are skipped).

Heraldry books can be very useful for the fundamentals of armory. The chapters on cadency, marshalling, crowns and achievements are not immediately applicable to the S.C.A., but the information in earlier chapters is indispensable. The basic material in these books is also covered by the Collegium class on Basic Heraldry. More formal training can be found in the Basic Blazonry collegium class, or in classes given by various local heralds.

Name research is a fascinating field, and there are plenty of books on the subject. The best name books are those that give dated citations and names from period documents. If you are proficient in a foreign language and can translate information on naming practices (or lists of period names) from name books in that language, the College of Heralds will be very interested in your findings -- one of the difficulties with books on foreign names is that they are usually written in that language. Foreign name books should also be examined for dates and citations. Most colleges and university libraries have a reasonably large stock of name books.

Getting involved in court heraldry is more difficult than field or armory, since there are fewer opportunities. Talk to your local herald and see if an occasion can be worked out. It helps to have some field heraldry experience, as voice projection and attention-getting skills are vital. Since the court herald functions in the role of an emcee, keeping business rolling and keeping it interesting, some acting ability is useful as well, but remember that a short court is usually preferable to a long, albeit interesting, one. There are Collegium classes in court heraldry as well, and Lady Therasia von Tux's article Surviving Court Heraldry in Caid is an excellent guide.

If you are interested in learning how to provide consultation on designing devices, there is a consultation table at each Collegium at which you may help, or just observe. Help at tourney consultation tables is much appreciated, and watching is find as well.

In general, if there's something that interests you about heraldry, ask a herald. Aside from Crescent's classes, many local heralds also give classes. If your local herald does not, perhaps it's because he thinks there isn't any interest -- he may start if you ask. Other heralds in the kingdom have specialties and resources of there own, and if there's someone who is knowledgeable in your particular interest, a little asking around will probably get you pointed his way. Everyone in the College of Heralds wants to see people interested in material thy find so fascinating, and you may find your self fascinating as well.

A Short Book List The S.C.A. publications mentioned in the text are generally Xeroxed and handed around. If your local herald cannot provide you with a copy, the Crescent Herald or I can arrange to get you one. The books following in this bibliography are all in print as of the date of this article.

Names

• The Oxford Dictionary of English Christan Names, E.G. Withycombe, Oxford Paperbacks (Oxford University Press).
• The New American Dictionary of First Names, Leslie Dunkling and William Gosling, Signet Books (New American Library).

Armory

• An Heraldic Alphabet, J.P. Brooke-Little, Robson Books.
• A Complete Guide to Heraldry, A.C. Fox Davies, ed. J.P. Brooke-Little, Crown Publishers. This is the "big Bleue" edition; the previous "white" edition lakes the valuable commentary by J.P. Brooke-Little but it is also useful, and may be easier to find in some places.
• S.C.A. Armorial and Ordinary, Free Trumpet Press West, (P.O. Box 3266 Berkeley, CA 94703