A Dictionary of mottoes

"All around us in the modern world lie the clues of an almost forgotten tradition: heraldic mottoes, phrases which originally accompanied a coat of arms or crest. Words and phrases we often hardly notice, containing jokes, unconscious prophecies, memorials, honours, pretensions and ideals, vivid with the richness of heraldry. This is the most complete dictionary of mottoes ever assembled. It is designed to explain the meaning, history and ownership of mottoes, and includes the mottoes of individuals, families and nations, as well as those corporate bodies such as episcopal sees, cities, guilds and armed forces. The reader will find a translation for each entry, and some short historical essays. The Dictionary is an essential reference work for historians, as well as for men and women hoping to unlock the secrets of their own ancestry." -- Inside front cover.