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