The Arms of Dr Craig Paterson - The Armorial Register

Arms: Per fess Sable and Ermine a Pale counterchanged in the Sable three Pelican’s Heads couped at the neck Argent vulning themselves and each gorged with an Eastern Crown Gules.

Crest: Upon a Helm with a Wreath Argent and Sable Statant upon a closed Book fesswise Or garnished Gules a Woodcock Sable grasping in the dexter foot three Sprigs of St John’s Wort flowered slipped and leaved Proper.

Motto: Cherche La Sagesse.

Grant: College of Arms, London, Earl Marshal of England's warrant dated 1st December, 2022. Substantive Arms and Crest granted by Garter, Clarenceux and Norroy and Ulster Kings of Arms on 15th January, 2024.

Artist: Linda West.

The couped heads of pelicans vulning themselves symbolise the Christian virtues of charity and self-sacrifice. The pelicans are engorged with Eastern (Antique) crowns often seen adorning the heads of wise rulers such as King Solomon and Marcus Aurelius. The red colour of the crowns highlights the ancient truth that the quest for wisdom is ‘beyond gold’ and sometimes leads to ‘red’ martyrdom. The use of ermine as a tincture invokes the legend that an ermine would rather die than sully its fur, symbolising death before dishonour.

The sable woodcock of the crest invokes the armiger’s pursuit of field sports and the duties of the honourable hunter towards his quarry. The sprigs of St. John’s Wort grasped by the woodcock refer to the armiger’s appointment as a confrère in the Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem. Christian mystics believed the healing powers of the plant were most potent if harvested on St. John’s Day. The book upon which the woodcock is perched symbolises the armiger’s published works, his love of reading, and knowledge in general.

The appended insignia illustrates that the armiger holds the rank of Officer (O.St.J.) in the Order.

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Further Information

The Armorial Bearings of
Dr Craig Paterson