Heraldry

Heraldry is a fascinating subject and its art and language was understood by every medieval soldier. Knights were dressed in plate armour and it was difficult to recognise which army they belonged too. So from the late twelfth century knights adopted a decorative shield. Coats of arms were then adopted on clothes, and even horses sported a decorative covering (caparison).

Arms became important identifiers of institutions as well as individuals and their households in the fourteenth century. Irene Hore's father, James Parker was an authority on heraldry and her notes on heraldry in the field `Other' can probably be regarded as authoritive. Animal motifs and mythical beasts were adopted as heraldic devices in feudal societies or found their way into medieval bestaries, popular books in the Middle Ages.