The Origin of Heraldry--Its Uses--Symbolism--Artistic Development--The Character of Mediaeval Treatment--The Personal Quality--Fourteenth century Examples--The Influence of the Tournaments--Renaissance Heraldry--Decadence--Gothic Revival--The Use of Examples--The Aims of Heraldic Design. CHAPTER II. =THE EVOLUTION OF SHIELD FORMS= 16 The Achievement--Its Composition and Proportions--Modifications of Proportion--The Design of the Heraldic Group--Essential Qualities--Variability of Grouping--The Shield--Its Structure and Shape as a Fighting Defence--The Norman Shield and its Successors--Shields “for Peace”--Pageant Shields--How they were Made--The Tournament Shield--Evolution of Decorative Forms--Foliated Shields--Fifteenth and Sixteenth Century Examples--Freedom in Shield Design--Heraldic Accuracy--What is Essential. CHAPTER III. =HERALDIC RULES= 39 A Simple Manual of Heraldic Facts--The Shield Surface--The Tinctures--Divisions of the Field--Ordinaries--Sketches “in Trick”--Charges and their Arrangement. CHAPTER IV. =ANIMALS AND MONSTERS= 66 The Heraldic Lion as a Type--Examples of Various Periods--Heraldic Character--Obligatory Poses and Decorative Distribution--Methods of Spacing--Characterization--Imaginary Creatures--Unicorns, Dragons and Griffins. CHAPTER V. =HERALDIC BIRDS AND OTHER FIGURES, ANIMATE AND INANIMATE= 89 Eagles--Early Types--Plan of Distribution--Other Birds--Bird Monsters--Human Figures--Inanimate Charges--Crosses of many Forms--Fleurs-de-lis--Examples of Various Periods--The Rose--The Irish Harp--Surface Treatment--Diaper, its use in Sculpture, Painting and Engraving--Diapers of Badges. CHAPTER VI. =HELM, CREST AND MANTLING= 117 The Helm--Its Structure--Ceremonial Use--Development as Armour--Helmets and their Mechanism--Tourney Helms--The Crest--How Made and Fixed--Examples of Actual Crests--Influence of Practical Conditions on their Pose--Difficulties in Design and How to Deal with Them--The Pose of Helmets--The Torse--Mantling--Its Evolution from Simple Drapery--Its Treatment in Relation to Shield and Crested Helm--Colour--Certain Restrictions. CHAPTER VII. =ARMORIAL ACCESSORIES= 139 Supporters--Derivation from Badges--Special Conditions of their Pose--Non-Heraldic Supporters--Amorini--Angels--Symbolic Figures--The Eagle of the Holy Roman Empire--And of Prussia--The Imperial Crown--Authorized Type for Present Use--The Coronet of the Prince of Wales--Coronets of Peers--The Question of the Cap--Baronets’ Badges--Insignia of Knighthood--The Garter--The Collar and George--Other Orders--Relation of Orders to the Shield--Their Importance as Indications of Relative Rank--Typical Examples. CHAPTER VIII. =METHODS AND MATERIALS= 164