Dame Heraldry

Why does a lion stand on his hind legs? What did a crusader's cross mean? An 1886 guide that teaches heraldry as bedtime stories — plus: design your own coat of arms.

Decorations Taken from Other Sources

5 pages in this part of Dame Heraldry.

Decorations Taken from Other Sources

THE reigns of Kenneth and Malcolm in Scotland, according to the traditions of many eminent Scottish families, seem to have been rich in…

Decorations Taken from Other Sources: Edward

Edward the Fourth heightened the brilliancy of his white rose by making it a rose-en-soleil that is, a sun shining behind the rose. The…

Decorations Taken from Other Sources: Oxford

The strong resemblance between this badge and that of the Earl of Oxford, who bore a silver mullet, or spur, was the cause of a most…

Decorations Taken from Other Sources: France

But so long as there are Frenchmen left to "charge for the golden lilies upon them with the lance," so long will France continue to give…

Decorations Taken from Other Sources: Patrick

The humble little clover-leaf, or shamrock, of Ireland, for which the Celtic heart has such a deep-seated love, is another of the plants…

Rights & ReuseThe complete text of Dame Heraldry (1886) is in the public domain in the United States — like all works published before 1928 — and is free to read, download, quote, teach from, and reuse. This digital edition (its transcription, restored images, and site design) is © 2026 PhotoOpAI, and any editorial commentary we add is clearly marked as ours; the underlying public-domain text carries no such restriction.