ACADEMY OF SAINT GABRIEL REPORT 2754 http://www.s-gabriel.org/2754 ************************************ 25 Jun 2003 From: Aryanhwy merch Catmael Greetings from the Academy of S. Gabriel! You wanted to know if we could suggest arms using a gold peacock on a blue field that would be appropriate for an English woman born in 1554. Here is the information we have found. We found a number of examples of arms granted to women in the 16th century (as opposed to women bearing versions of their father's or husband's arms), including a 1559 grant to Jane Collyns and a grant between 1557-1567 to the wife of the mayor of London. [3] We find examples of peacocks in armory and seals as early as 1296, where 'a peacock' is listed as the seal of William Bisset. While this is noted as possibly being a bustard passant instead of a peacock, another seal that is likely from the same time period, of John de Somery, also has a peacock. [4] Other examples include: [1,2,4,5] * 'A peacock passant contourny tail close', seal of William de Lindsay (S WILL'I DE LINDESEY), 1317. * 'A peacock passant contourny wings addorsed and inverted', seal of Robert Aldengrave (...BERTI FILII MATHEI), 1279. * 'A peacock in his pride', seal of Adam de Sumeri (SIGILLVM ADE DE SVMERI), 13th c., and of John Sumeri (SIGILL'IOHANNIS DE S...), also 13th s. * 'Three peacocks close', John Peacock, ca.1380, from a brass. * 'A peacock in its pride', Maningham, ca.1584 * 'Sable, three peacocks close argent', Peacock, ca.1584 Other examples of peacocks used in armory but not as the primary charge include: [6,7] * 'Argent, a chevron sable between three peacocks proper', Sir John Manningham, from Peter Le Neve's Book (1480-1500); the peacocks are described in a note as azure plumed or. * 'On a bend three peacocks close', Robert Albyn, 1390, from a brass. Unfortunately, a single gold peacock on an azure field would not be registerable with the SCA College of Arms, because it is too similar to a piece of armory already registered. [8] We can, however, recommend a number of alternatives. Though armory in the Tudor era was often quite complex, by the latter half of the 16th century there was a move towards simple arms. Many were of the form ", three ." [9] Another common motif was to have three charges surrounding an ordinary. The following arms are all fine style for your period, and we believe that they are all registerable with the SCA CoA: Azure, three peacocks close Or Azure, a chevron argent between three peacocks close Or Azure, a fess argent between three peacocks close Or Azure, three peacocks close and a chief Or. A slightly more complex design would also be appropriate, if you desired. Since your original request also had roses in your design, you may want to put three roses on the chevron, fess, or chief. If you go this route, making the roses azure would be the best choice, as this keeps the number of tinctures to a minimum. (A good rule of thumb is that the more types of charges there are, the fewer tinctures there should be). Making the roses proper (gules, barbed vert and seeded Or) is also an option, but we do not recommend it as strongly. We hope that this letter has been useful to you and that you won't hesitate to write us again if any part was unclear or if you have further questions. Research and commentary on this letter was provided by Adelaide de Beaumont, Talan Gwynek, Iago ab Adam, Arval Benicoeur, Julie Stampnitzky, Juliana de Luna, Maridonna Benvenuti, Mari neyn Brian, and Ursula Georges. For the Academy, -Aryanhwy merch Catmael -- References: [1] Bruce Draconarius of Mistholme and Akagawa Yoshio, _A Pictorial Dictionary of Heraldry as Used in the Society for Creative Anachronism_, 2nd edition (privately published, 1992). [2] Papworth, John W., _Papworth's Ordinary of British Armorials_, reprint (Five Barrows Ltd., 1977). [3] Bedingfeld, Henry, and Peter Gwynn-Jones, _Heraldry_ (Secaucus, NJ: Chartwell Books, Inc., 1993). pp. 50-51, 65. [4] Woodcock, Thomas, Janet Grant, & Ian Graham, _Dictionary of British Arms_, vol II. (The Society of Antiquaries of London, 1996). II:151f [5] DBA, op.cit., II:176 [6] DBA, op.cit., II:312 [7] DBA, op.cit., II:16 [8] Catherine Peacock (reg. 11/01 via the East) "Azure, a peacock in its pride within a bordure invected Or." and One Thousand Eyes, Barony of (reg. 09/97 via Artemisia) "(Fieldless) A peacock in his pride head to sinister Or." for Order of the Peacock's Pride of One Thousand Eyes [9] A canting charge is one that makes a play on words, or pun, on the surname of the bearer of the arms. An example of canting is the use of peacocks on the arms of a man surnamed , as mentioned above.