The Companion to Heraldry

‘A feast of heraldry and a thoroughly enjoyable book.’ - The Genealogist’s Magazine‘Very readable and lavishly illustrated . . . provides the keys to unlock the mysteries of heraldry and its language.’ - Teaching HistoryUbiquitous in the fabric of our ancient churches, castles and houses, in documents, and on monuments and stained glass, heraldry represents a treasure house of information for both the historian and the genealogist. In The Companion to Heraldry, Stephen Friar, an experienced armorist and historian, provides the reader with the keys to unlock the mysteries of heraldry’s language, conventions and traditions.The origins of heraldry and its significance in the lives of our noble and gentle forebears are considered, as are the interpretation of heraldic devices; the systems of marshalling that record affiliation, marriage and inheritance; cadency, by which the younger members of a family may be identified; and the symbols themselves, which often contain obscure references to