An Annotated Bibliography of Scottish Heraldic Materials
(copyright Leslie A. Schweitzer and David Hunter of Montlaw, 1998)
Dame Zenobia Naphtali, Couronne Rouge Herald, and
Baron David of Moffat, Electrum Herald

      This bibliography discusses various sources of information on Scots heraldry. It includes facsimiles of period heraldic manuscripts, both generated in Scotland and outside of Scotland (but including Scottish materials.) It also includes a variety of heraldic treatises, both period and modern, and both general and specific. Some journals, which often have articles of interest, are discussed at the end of the article.

      This bibliography does not include works on Scottish onomastics, or the vast wealth of materials which are largely on English heraldry but which make passing references to Scots heraldry.

      The materials are organized alphabetically by the author’s surname. If an ISBN or ISSN number is available, this has been provided in order to assist the reader in obtaining these materials. In addition, materials which may be of particular use to the SCA herald have been marked with an "*".

TREATISES AND FACSIMILES

*Adam-Even, P., annotator, Gelre, (Jan von Helmont, Leuven, 1992) (ISBN 90-74318-03-7)

      This armorial was compiled between 1370 and 1414 by the Gelre Herald, Claes Heinenzoon. The Scots section appears to date from 1385. The arms are primarily from the Edinburgh area. The arms of the Earl of Angus are present in the English section of this Armorial as well.

      This edition has black and white photographs of the entire roll. It includes French blazons for all the armory and the names of the owners of all the arms (in Flemish spellings of the armory's owners.) It also includes references to other sources where the armory can be found, a directory showing the arms found in various countries, and some discussion of the Roll, mostly in French. The foreword is in French, Flemish and English.

      The indexing takes a bit of practice to use easily. Each coat of arms is given a unique number in the blazon section. The numbers are sequential, but are not provided on the pages where the photographs are provided. In order to identify a particular escutcheon in the photograph, one must turn to the blazon index, find the appropriate folio number, and from there locate the correct shield by matching the blazon with the emblazon. The numbers are allocated in order from top left to bottom right, but that is not always a clear ordering in Gelre, given the way the shields are positioned on each folio.

      Note: see also Stodart, below, for more information on Gelre.

      These are ordinaries of all arms which have been matriculated in the Public Register of All Arms and Bearings in Scotland ("the Lyon Register") since its origin in 1672 to 1973. Each coat of arms is included in the ordinary once. However, quartered arms are divided so that each unique quarter is listed independently. Each armory is indexed only by the primary charge on the field. The entry lists the blazon of the arms, the person to whom the arms are matriculated and the year of matriculation. Volume 2 also references to the volume and page in the Lyon register where the matriculation may be found. Crests, supporters, mottoes, and badges are not included in these volumes.

      A good discussion of Medieval flags, with many Scots examples. Illustrated with black and white photographs of original flags, and manuscripts showing flags.

*Campbell, Colin, The Scots Roll, (The Heraldry Society of Scotland, Scotland 1995) (ISBN: 0 9525258 0 1)

      This is a color photoprint of a 15th c. Roll of arms, accompanied by blazons and name attributions by Colin Campbell. The names are given both in the spellings found in the Roll, and in the normal modern spellings. Colin Campbell gives an introduction with information about dating the roll, statistical analysis of the tinctures, charges and differencing methods, and unusual features of the roll.

      Colin Campbell's statistics are not always of use to the average SCA herald and must be inspected carefully so the data is not misinterpreted. For example, when tallying tinctures, "No account has been taken of secondary charges, such as the chief and molets in the Douglas arms." This method of statistics may help select 'family groupings' rather than individual armories by removing peripheral charges (a common differencing method) but it also has its drawbacks. The Douglas example, chosen by Campbell, is an example of armory where ignoring peripheral charges might backfire. The main charge of the Douglas family armory is a chief charged with mullets. Some branches of the family have also added charges beneath the chief (such as the best-known branch with a heart under the chief, and the less-famous branch with a lion's head under the chief.) Other branches of the Douglas family continue to use armory with only a charged chief, such as the Douglasses of Lochleven, also in this roll. It is entirely possible that Mr. Campbell has not disregarded the charged chief in this Douglas family, knowing that this is the important part of the achievement. But still, the example shows that these statistics should be used with great care.

      The Scots section of the Armorial Bellenville was compiled some time before 1385 and probably before 1379 by an unknown Flemish compiler. It contains armory from south and east Scotland. It is likely that the compiler had never been to Scotland.

      This article provides black and white photographs of the pages in the Armorial Bellenville with Scots arms. It also provides a discussion in which the author provides blazons and possible attributions for armory in the Roll for which the owner is not clearly given.

      The Armorial de Berry was compiled ca. 1445, probably by Gilles de Bouvier, who was Berry King of Arms of France from 1420. The author of the article gives a detailed discussion of the arms. Clouston supports Bouvier’s statement that he obtained information about the arms directly from the bearers. However, Clouston's analysis also indicates some cases in which it appears that Bouvier made mistakes in attribution, or made incomplete notes and attempted to recreate the armory from memory.

      This article provides color photographs of the pages of the Armorial in question along with the discussion.

      Note: Stodart also includes information about the Armorial de Berry.

Emblems of Scotland (Heraldry Society of Scotland, Edinburgh, 1997)

      This is a short pamphlet presenting a series of five papers by various authors, which were originally presented at a symposium in 1996 sponsored by the Heraldry Society of Scotland. The subjects of the papers include the Lion of Scotland, the Double Tressure, the Unicorn, the Saltire and the Thistle. Each of the papers discusses the origin and uses of the symbol, and occassionally provides examples of non-royal or governmental use.

      A book on cadency, with extensive Scots examples.

      A general book on flags, which was written with the advice of the then Lyon King of Arms. Discussions of Scots practice ca. 1959 are therefore quite accurate. A fair number of examples of Scots practice are discussed throughout. Illustrations are all redrawn.

      This is a volume concerning a heraldic ceiling in the cathedral in Aberdeen. The ceiling dates from ca. 1520. The arms included in the ceiling include leaders in the Roman church of that period, foreign Royals, and prominent nobles from Scotland. Each coat contained in the ceiling is discussed, primarily from a genealogical standpoint, and illustrated with a redrawing. There is also an illustration of how all the arms are laid out on the original ceiling.

      This is one of the most widely available volumes on heraldry in Scotland, and discusses the topic from a historical, legal, and artistic standpoint. While the basic "Fox-Davies" style information is not extensive, the material provided is wide-ranging and accurate. It has good illustrations many of which are either period or are high quality heraldic art, including some modern patents showing extracts of matriculation ("scrolls"). The first edition may well have more illustrations, many of which are black and white. All three editions are good. Both the author and the revisor were or are Lord Lyon Kings of Arms.

      The volumes include information on how to matriculate arms through the Lyon Court, although the reader should understand that a free guide to the matriculation process is available from Lyon Court. The third edition is the most widely available and the most up to date on the matriculation process.

      This edition provides line-drawing redrawings of all the sections of Armorial Bellenville. For a description of the roll and its Scots component, see the mention under Colin Campbell's article. Jequier also provides discussion and analysis of the roll, in French. The analysis includes a partial Armorial, an Ordinary, the approximate dates of each portion of the roll, geographical breakdowns of the armory, and other information. Jequier took his attributions for the Scots armory from Campbell's article.

      An alphabetical listing, by surname, with blazons and some notes pertaining to the seals. Some seals are illustrated. The initial volume covers seals from 1094 to the time of the Commonwealth, while the supplemental volume covers seals from 1150 to the 18th century.

      This roll was completed by Sir David Lindsay in 1542, the year he was appointed Lyon King of Arms. He had, however, been acting in the capacity of Lyon before that date. The Roll covers all of Scotland including some Highland entries, as well as some attributed arms and arms of Royalty from other areas of Europe. It is the earliest known extant official Register of Arms in Scotland.

      This edition of the roll provides colored redrawings of the entire roll. It includes an index by page giving the names attached to the armory. It also translates other text written by Lindsay (which is necessary since the hand is difficult to read.) It also provides an alphabetical crossreference by surname, and a very short preface.

      A heraldic treatise written in Scots by Adam Loutfut, Kintyre Pursuivant, ca. 1494. The first volume gives the full text of the treatise. It also gives an analysis of the various copies of the manuscript surviving from period which were used in presenting the treatise. The treatise is reprinted in modern type with a few pages of the original manuscript for illustration. Most of the original illustrations have been omitted in this process. The treatise is written in the Scots dialect of English, not in Scots Gaelic. The second volume provides a dictionary for the Scots and heraldic words used as well as copious reference notes for the first volume.

      This is the first treatise on Heraldry written from a Scottish perspective. The material is presented in the classic "modern" heraldic treatise format. The text discusses all the necessary elements of heraldry, and provides multiple examples of that elements use, with woodcut illustrations of the arms discussed. The focus is on Scots heraldry, but includes reference to foreign matters as appropriate. It incorporates a legalistic view of allowable marks of cadency, external ornaments on the achievement, and inheritance of armory. This author has been recognized by the Lord Lyon and by justices of Scotland’s courts as "the greatest of [Scotland’s] heraldic writers." Be this as it may be, Nisbet, A System of Heraldry, infra, is of greater use to the SCA herald.

      This is a bibliography of heraldic books. It discusses all known English-language books on heraldry and other assorted heraldic materials, including much in other languages, published in England before the reign of Queen Victoria. The Moule index numbers are often used in other bibliographies and references, such as the Heraldry Today catalog. It is an annotated bibliography. While the average SCA heraldic researcher seems to do well without this book, once it is on hand, it tends to get used. The materials covered include all aspects of heraldry, including the ceremonies, and some limited materials on genealogical matters.

      This essay is primarily on how to combine arms: marshalling to show descent, marriage, tenancy of office, and arms composed by including features from arms of another person into an original coat for various reasons. It is hard to come by, and many of the points covered in this work are covered with equal benefit in Gayre of Gayre and Nigg’s Heraldic Cadency.

      A classic "Fox-Davies" style treatise on heraldry, organized by armorial features used, and apparently attempting to list arms for every Scottish family, alive at the time or extinct. This is a two-volume set in which the first volume was published in 1722, and the second volume some time later. The first volume relates to items in the arms (tinctures and charges), and the second is almost exclusively on external portions of the achievement as well as an extensive genealogical appendix. It is widely supected that the second volume was not written entirely by Alexander Nisbet, although he may have provided the outline. A System of Heraldry is one of the most useful research sources for finding the armory of a Scots family. It is also the best readily available source discussing charges used in Scots heraldry.

      The index to the volumes is a challenge given the publisher’s liberal treatment of the alphabetical order. Volume contains an indexof the names appearing in the volume (by surname) and a general index.

      An excellent book on the heraldry of Europe, with qualitative and quantative analyses of heraldry in the 13th-15th c. It has occasional mentions of Scots heraldry. Very useful discussions of tincture use and charge use by place, by time and by social class in Europe. While this is not a very useful sole source for Scots heraldry, the passing mentions of Scots heraldry are very valuable in placing Scots heraldry with an overall European context. The book is entirely in French.

      This is a redrawing of a 15th c. manuscript with arms belonging to members of the Order of the Golden Fleece, and of the Kings and Princes of European countries. Its author was John le Fevre, chief officer of arms of the Order of the Golden Fleece from 1429-1468. The book has an introduction about the history of the manuscript, its author and the Order of the Golden Fleece, and a brief discussion of Polish heraldry.

      The redrawings are mostly in black and white (with a few color examples) and names and attributions are given for the armory. It is organized geographically which allows one to easily find the Scots section.

      This book is primarily a legal discussion of rights to heraldry in Scotland. It is sparsely illustrated, and only useful to those with an intense interest in the legalistic aspects of Scots heraldry.

      A treatise in the classic style on Scots heraldry, with standard "Fox-Davies" type organization. It has nice line drawing and color illustrations. It discusses issues of rights to Arms and legal aspects of heraldry in Scotland. It is more extensive than Innes of Learney on this topic. Nisbet's similar book is of more everyday use to the SCA herald, and more readily available.

      A two-volume set. The first volume gives a brief history of the rolls included, a number of redrawn colored plates, and a list of names in the order in which they occur in the plates. The second volume consists of heraldic and genealogical notes on the contents, and an index to those notes. Most of the rolls are only excerpted, rather than being given in their entirety. The excerpts appear to include some of the more distinctive or unusual armories.

The rolls included are:
Armorial de Gelre (Scots portion): See Adam-Even, above.
Armorial de Berry (Scots portion): See Clouston, above.
Forman's Roll: Written by Sir Robert Forman, Lyon King of Arms. Original compiled ca. 1555-1560.
Sunderland Hall MS: Written at the time of James VI.
Additions to Sir David Lindsay's MS: Additions to the original 1542 MS (see Lindsay of the Mount, above)
Workman's MS: Compiled ca. 1565-66, a very large manuscript.
Kings' and Nobility's Arms: Probably written in the reign of Mary.
Sir David Lindsay the Younger's MS: Written between 1603 an 1605.
Sir James Balfour's MS: Mostly 17th c. but some 16th c. armory.
Lyon Register: From the visitations from 1672-78.
Earl of Crawford's MS: From reign of James VI.
Gentlemen's Arms: Compiled at time of Charles I.
Funeral Escutcheons: Compiled from 1687 on.
Sundries: From various 16th and 17th c. sources.

      This two volume set discusses the arms matriculated to municipal entities in Scotland before the 1977 local government reorganization, and following that reorganization, when Lord Lyon created a set standard design for many levels of local government. In both volumes, each set of armory is accompanied by a large scale black and while line drawing of the arms, a copy of the blazon, the location in the Lyon Register where the matriculation may be found, and a text description of some of the more important features of the history of the entity or why the design granted was chosen.

      Perhaps the only "clan book" worth buying from the perspective of the serious SCA medieval heraldic researcher. It gives a brief discussion of heraldry in Scotland, tartans, and the law of the Clan. For each clan that is a member of the Standing Council of Scottish Chiefs, a two-page discussion is given. The discussion includes general clan and tartan history information but also includes information on the arms, crest, motto, supporters, badges and flags of the Chief of that clan. For those clans which are not members of the Standing Council of Scottish Chiefs, the volume gives a shorter discussion. This discussion also includes information on the arms, crest, motto, etc. of the chief, or the last known chief, of the clan.

JOURNALS:

Coat of Arms, Published by the Heraldry Society 1952- present. ISSN: 0010-003X

      A quarterly journal of articles on heraldic and related genealogical matters. Its focus is English heraldry but it also includes, to a lesser extent, articles on heraldry from other parts of the British Isles, and throughout the world. Over its long run, it has had many useful articles on Scots heraldry or heraldry of individual Scots families. The membership address of the Society is The Secretary, The Heraldry Society, P.O. Box 32, Maidenhead, Berkshire SL6 3FD, United Kingdom. Membership rates are, for 1998: £ 22 membership + £12 for four issues of the Coat of Arms + £ 6 for airmail service. Membership in the Heraldry Society includes a subscription to the Heraldry Gazette, a quarterly "newspaper" with stories on what’s happening in the heraldic world in England.

Some of the articles on Scottish heraldry in the fifty years of this journal include:
Agnew, ygr of Lochnaw, C.H., "The Baronage of Scotland" Coats of Arms, vol. 9, p. 293 (1966-67)
Agnew of Lochnaw, C.H. "The Lyon and the Chevron in Galloway" Coats of Arms, NS vol. 3, p. 35 (1978-80)
Agnew of Lochnaw, C.H. "The Mount-Lord Lyon" Coats of Arms, NS vol. 2, p. 87 (1976-77)
Agnew, ygr of Lochnaw, C.H., "The Pipe Banner" Coats of Arms, vol. 10, p. 83 (1968-69)
Agnew of Lochnaw, C.H. "Scots Peerage Coronets" Coats of Arms, NS vol. 4, p. 263 (1980-82)
Campbell, Colin, "The Lion of Angus" Coats of Arms, NS vol.1, p. 2 (1974-76)
Campbell, Colin, "Recent Campbell Matriculations and Grants" Coats of Arms, vol. 5, pp 34, 72, and 119 (1958-59) (three articles).
Campbell, Colin, "Scottish Arms in the Armorial Equestre" Coats of Arms, vol. 12, pp. 58, 115, 171 (1971) (three articles)
Crawford, J.M. "Some Views on English and Scots Heraldic Authority Outside the United Kingdom" Coats of Arms, NS vol. 2, p. 157 (1976-77)
Enright, Michael, "Notes on the Inauguration of the Lyon King of Arms" Coats of Arms, NS vol. 2, p. 7 (1976-77)
Forrester, C.D.I.G., "Heraldry and Insignia of the Baronage of Scotland" Coats of Arms, NS vol. 5, p. 157 (1982-84)
Gaylor, J.H. "Septs of Clans: the Armorial Evidence" Coats of Arms, NS vol. 5, p. 140 (1982-84)
Gaylor, J.H. "New Clans and Grants of Arms" Coats of Arms, NS vol. 4, p. 422 (1980-82)
Innes of Learney, Thomas, "Sieze Quartiers", Coats of Arms, vol. 1, p 11 (1948-49)
Pye, Roger, "Development of the Pile in Certain Graham Arms" Coats of Arms, NS vol. 3, p. 147 (1978-80)
Pye, Roger, "Evolution of the Arms of Douglas of Lochleven" Coats of Arms, NS vol. 3, p. 76 (1978-80)
Pye, Roger, "Genuine Piles in Scottish Coats" Coats of Arms, NS vol. 6, p. 229 (1984-86)
Pye, Roger, "Heraldry of Clan MacThomas" Coats of Arms, vol. 10, p. 147 (1968-69)
Pye, Roger, "More Pseudo Piles in Scottish Coats" Coats of Arms, NS vol. 5, p 124 (1982-84)

      This is the annual journal of the Heraldry Society of Scotland. Among the journals of the Heraldry Societies which publish in English, this one tends to have the most heraldic material, as opposed to genealogical material. However, because a majority of the 25 issues published have some relevance to the Scots heraldic reader, a listing of these articles is not provided. It is published only once a year, but generally not in the same month two years in a row. In addition to the journal itself, the Heraldry Society of Scotland frequently publishes a supplemental pamphlet to accompany the Double Tressure at no additional expense. Recently, these have included Emblems of Scotland, The Scots Roll, and Chinese Armorial Porcelain. The membership address of the Society is: The Heraldry Society of Scotland, membership secretary, c/o J. West of Stow, Stowmill, Nr. Galashiels, Selkirkshire, TD1 2RB United Kingdom. Membership rates for 1998 are £20 for membership, including a subscription to the Double Tressure.

In addition to these treatises and journals, there are many articles in various periodicals which may be of interest to the person who is studying Scottish Heraldry. A listing of several of these articles follows. However, because many of them are written in terms of legal rights and obligations, arising from the fact the Lord Lyon is a judicial officer of the Crown of Scotland, and from the fact that armorial ensigns in Scotland are a property right protected by the laws of Scotland, an annotation for these articles will not be provided, except in those cases where the article may be of particular interest to the herald or SCA member.

Agnew of Lochnaw, Crispin, "Conflict of Heraldic Law" 1988 Juridical Review p. 61.

Agnew of Lochnaw, Crispin, "Peerage and Baronetcy Claims in the Lyon Court" 26 Journal of the Law Society of Scotland p. 311 (1981)

Balfour Paul, James, "Notice of Four Ancient Scottish Standards with Detailed Description of the Recently Discovered Marchmont Standard" Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland (January 14, 1918), pp. 14-60

      One of two articles which contains extensive descriptions of the surviving period Scottish standards, both as to design and as to construction. Photographs of the standards are included in this article.

Burnett, Charles J. "Funeral Heraldry n Scotland with Particular Reference to Hatchments" Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland, 116 (1986), pp. 473-559.

      An extensive article on the use of heraldry in relation to funerals in Scotland. Most references are to funerals that are post period (the earliest being 1329, but the clear majority are dated to post 1600). All known Scottish hatchments are discussed in the article, and and a photograph of most is included.

Hannay, R.K. "Observations on the Officers of the Scottish Parliament" 1932 Juridical Review pp. 125-138

"Heraldica", "Arms of Duffus of Claverhouse" Notes and Queries, February 3, 1940 pp. 74-78; February 10, 1940, pp. 93-96; February 24, 1940, pp. 131-133.

Innes of Learney, Thomas, "Armorial Conveyancing," Notes and Queries, February 22, 1941, vol. 181, pp. 128-133.

Innes of Learney, Thomas, "The Armorial House or Family," Notes and Queries, September 2, 1939, vol. 177, pp. 164-167; September 9, 1939, vol. 177, pp. 185-189.

Innes of Learney, Thomas, "Armorial Tailzies in Scotland" Notes and Queries, April 13, 1940, vol. 178, pp. 254-257; April 20, 1940, vol. 178, pp. 272-275; April 27, 1940, vol. 178, pp. 292-297.

Innes of Learney, Thomas, "Diploma of Nobility for De Landa" 1940 Juridical Review, pp. 181-221

      This article concerns primarily a Diploma of Nobility prepared by the Spanish kings of arms, but contains references and comparisons to birthbrieves and similar documents prepared by the Lord Lyon.

Innes of Learney, Thomas, "Ensigns-Armorial of Erskine of Linlathen," Notes and Queries, November 2, 1940, vol. 179, pp. 308-311.

Innes of Learney, Thomas, "Heraldic ‘Legitimation’", Notes and Queries, November 23, 1940, vol. 179, pp. 362-365.

Innes of Learney, Thomas "Lyon Office Birthbrieves" Scottish Law Review, vol. 58, no. 694, pp. 165-170 (1942).

Innes of Learney, Thomas, "Lyon Court Procedure" Scottish Law Review, vol. 57, no. 678, pp. 129-133 (1942)

Innes of Learney, Thomas, "The Nature of Armorial Bearings," Notes and Queries, May 25, 1940, vol. 178 pp. 362-367.

Innes of Learney, Thomas, "Processional Roll of A Scottish Armorial Funeral, stated to have been used for the Obsequies of George, 1st Marquess of Huntly, 1636" Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland, vol. 77 pp. 154 - 174 (1942-43)

Innes of Learney, Thomas, "Robes of the Feudal Baronage of Scotland" Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland, vol. 79 pp. 111-163 (1946).

      This is a very interesting article on the design and use of robes of state by the feudal barons of Scotland, both in period and post-period. It also examines the nature and origin of the chapeaux, the currently recognized symbol of a Scottish Feudal Baron in armorial display.

Innes of Learney, Thomas, "The Scottish Parliament; Its Symbolism and Its Ceremonial" 1932 Juridical Review pp. 87-124

Innes of Learney, Thomas "The Scottish Parliament: What it was, What it was not" 1932 Juridical Review 1 - 24

Innes of Learney, Thomas, "Sir George Mackenzie on Armorial Succession," Notes and Queries, July 5, 1941, vol. 181 pp. 2-4.

Innes of Learney, Thomas, "The Style and Title of " Lord Lyon King of Arms"" Juridical Review, vol 64 (1931) pp.197-220.

Innes of Learney, Thomas, "Transfers of Armorial Bearings" Scottish Notes and Queries, vol. XI, 3rd series, pp. 187-189 (1933).

Southesk, Earl of, "Douglas, Percy and the Cavers Ensign" Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland, February 10, 1902, pp 246 - 280.

      One of two articles which contain extensive descriptions of the surviving period Scottish standards, both as to design and as to construction. This article includes a facsimile of the standards discussed in the article.