Escutcheon

The escutcheon

The escutcheon is the symbol of a Macer, or Messenger of Arms. When a herald was hired for a tournament, they would be given a small escutcheon in the arms of the hosting authority, whether it be the tournament company, the judges, or the hosting noble.  These escutcheons would be worn by the at-large heralds, typically over their left breast or on their hat. They were also worn by heralds-in-ordinary when not wearing tabards but still in service to their noble patrons. The artwork below is taken from King Rene’s Tournament Book.

A herald and two pursuivants from the Duke of Brittany. The pursuivants wear escutcheons in the arms of Brittany rather than tabards athwart.
Heralds for the Duke of Brittany hire at-large heralds for a tournament. From King Rene's Tournament Book
The same herald and pursuivants (now in tabards athwart) for the Duke of Brittany (left) hire at-large heralds for a tournament. They hand out escutcheons with the quartered arms of the tourney’s four judges.

Heralds-at-large would collect and display these escutcheons on baldrics, tabards, cloaks, and other outer garments to advertise their skill as a sort of visual résumé.

A freelance herald wearing a plain tabard and a capelet with escutcheons works at a helmshau, while another herald in a similar capelet sets a helm to one side. From Das Wappenbuch Conrads von Grünenberg, BSB Cgm 145, p.238.
A herald-at-large wearing a mantle or chasuble with escutcheons. From Anton Tirol’s Wappenbuch – BSB Cod.icon. 310, p.5.

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