The Gesta Normannorum Ducum [The Deeds of the Dukes of Normandy] is a landmark medieval chronicle tracing the rise and fall of the Norman dynasty from its early roots through the pivotal events surrounding the Norman Conquest of England. Originally penned in Latin by the monk William of Jumièges shortly before 1060 and later expanded at the behest of William the Conqueror, the work chronicles the deeds, politics, battles, and leadership of the Norman dukes, especially William’s own claim to the English throne. The narrative combines earlier historical sources with firsthand information and oral testimony to present an authoritative account of Normandy’s transformation from a Viking settlement into one of medieval Europe’s most powerful realms. William’s history emphasizes the legitimacy, military prowess, and governance of the Norman line, framing their expansion, including the conquest of England, as both divinely sanctioned and noble in purpose. Later chroniclers such as Orderic Vitalis and Robert of Torigni continued the history, extending the coverage into the 12th century, providing broader context on ducal rule and its impact. Today this classic work remains a foundational source for understanding Norman identity, medieval statesmanship, and the historical forces that reshaped England and Western Europe between 800AD and 1100AD.

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Escallop

Escallop is in Charges.

Escallop. A shell. The badge of a pilgrim, also a symbol of the Apostle S.James the Great, who is generally drawn in the garb of a pilgrim.

Keppel Arms. Gules, three escallops argent. Source.

Bayning Arms. Or two bars sable on each as many escallops of the first. Source.

Littleton Arms. Argent, a chevron between three escallops sable. Source.

Spencer Churchill Arms. Quartered 1&4 Churchill Arms a canton of St George, 2&3 Despencer Arms a bend sable three escallops, overall an escutcheon St George overall an escutcheon Capet Arms.

Roger Lupton Arms. Argent, on a chevron between three wolf's heads and necks erased sable three lilies of the field on a chief gules between two escallops a Tau cross or. Arms granted to Roger Lupton by King Henry VII. The Tau cross was a symbol of Saint Anthony of Egypt and thus probably referred to his mastership of St Anthony's Hospital. The escallops were possibly bells, another symbol of Saint Anthony, of which two were often shown suspended from the cross member of a Tau cross. The wolves were canting references to his surname from the Latin Lupus, "a wolf", and Sable, three lilies argent, is the base part of the arms of Eton College [Map].

Duff Arms. Vert, a fess dancetté ermine, between a buck's head caboshed in chief and two escallops in base or.

Abbot John Whethamstede’s Chronicle of the Abbey of St Albans

Abbot John Whethamstede's Register aka Chronicle of his second term at the Abbey of St Albans, 1451-1461, is a remarkable text that describes his first-hand experience of the beginning of the Wars of the Roses including the First and Second Battles of St Albans, 1455 and 1461, respectively, their cause, and their consequences, not least on the Abbey itself. His text also includes Loveday, Blore Heath, Northampton, the Act of Accord, Wakefield, and Towton, and ends with the Coronation of King Edward IV. In addition to the events of the Wars of the Roses, Abbot John, or his scribes who wrote the Chronicle, include details in the life of the Abbey such as charters, letters, land exchanges, visits by legates, and disputes, which provide a rich insight into the day-to-day life of the Abbey, and the challenges faced by its Abbot.

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Lyttleton Arms. Argent, a chevron between three escallops sable. Source.

Freschville Arms. Azure, bend argent between six escallops.

Maule Arms. Per pale, argent and gules, a bordure charged with eight escallops, all countercharged. Source.

Heveningham Arms. Quarterly or and gules on a bordure engrailed sable eight escallops argent. Source.

Pollard Arms. Argent, a chevron sable between three escallops gules.

Ingram Arms. Ermine on a fess gules three escallops or. Source.

Strickland Arms. Sable three escallops argent. SSource.

Graham Arms. Or an a chief sable three escallops argent. Source.

Hood Arms. Sable, on a fess argent between three leopards passant guardant or spotted of the field as many escallops gules. Source.

Blackett Arms. Argent a chevron sable three escallops argent between three mullets sable. Source.

Chronicle of Abbot Ralph of Coggeshall

The Chronicle of Abbot Ralph of Coggeshall (Chronicon Anglicanum) is an indispensable medieval history that brings to life centuries of English and European affairs through the eyes of a learned Cistercian monk. Ralph of Coggeshall, abbot of the Abbey of Coggeshall in Essex in the early 13th century, continued and expanded his community’s chronicle, documenting events from the Norman Conquest of 1066 into the tumultuous reign of King Henry III. Blending eyewitness testimony, careful compilation, and the monastic commitment to record-keeping, this chronicle offers a rare narrative of political intrigue, royal power struggles, and social upheaval in England and beyond. Ralph’s work captures the reigns of pivotal figures such as Richard I and King John, providing invaluable insights into their characters, decisions, and the forces that shaped medieval rule. More than a simple annal, Chronicon Anglicanum conveys the texture of medieval life and governance, making it a rich source for scholars and readers fascinated by English history, monastic authorship, and the shaping of the medieval world.

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Foljambe Arms. Sable a bend between six escallops or.

Tailboys Arms. Argent, a saltire gules in chief gules three escallops argent. Source.

Townshend Arms. Azure, a chevron ermine between three escallops argent. Source.

Wendesley Arms. Ermine, on a bend gules three escallops argent. Source.

Dacre Arms. Gules three escallops argent. Source.