Cord

Cord

Cord: cords by themselves are but seldom borne, but are very frequently attached to other charges, which are there described as corded(fr. cordé), and this is used of almost any charge bound with or having cords, when those cords are of a different tincture, e.g. a bale, woolpack, bag, bow, harp, &c., though some of these are described also as stringed. In one or two exceptional cases an ordinary is corded , e.g. a bar, Cross, &c., meaning that it is wreathed round with a cord, and not to be confused with cabled.

Or, a chevron ermine between three cords erased at each end and tied in knots vert--CLEAVER.

Azure, four hawk's bells or conjoined in saltire by a double and wreathed cord alternately argent and sable--Sir Ralph JOSSELYN, Alderman of London.

Sable, two bars argent, corded or wreathed gules--WAYE, Devonshire, confirmed 1574].

Although not borne by name, cords are frequently so in fact, under the name of knots, of which there are the following varieties, though they are chiefly employed as badges, and not as charges. It may be noted that theoretically the cords are of silk.

Bourchier's Knot. This device is many times repeated upon the tomb of Abp. Bourchier(1486) at Canterbury, hence the name. It appears also in the east window of the Dean's chapel in that cathedral, where it is tinctured or.

The Bowen's Knot is a name which is given to a knot known at the Tristram or true-lovers' knot, and which is figured as in the margin; but with the French the lacs d'amour, which sometimes occurs, is figured rather differently.

Gules, a chevron between three tristram or true-love knots argent--BOWEN. [Sir James ABOWEN,-also Abp. OWEN and BOWEN.]

Gules, a chevron between in chief two true-love knots, in base a lion rampant or--Sir Jamys ap OWAIN.

Or, on a chevron gules a true-lovers' knot of the first--Town of STAFFORD.

Azure, a lion rampant or, in a true-love knot argent between four fleurs de lys, their stalks bending towards the centre of the second--HOGHE.

D'azur, à un lacs-d'amour de sable, accompagné de trois molettes d'éperon du même--GUILBERT, Normandie.

The DACRE family are recorded to have a peculiar and distinctive knot on their badge or cognizance. The Arms of the family who were established in Westmoreland and Cumberland are as follows:--

Gules, three escallops or--DACRE. And it will be observed that the scallop shell is repeated in the badge.

The Lincolnshire branch of the HENEAGE family have, according to the visitation of the county, a peculiar badge or cognizance in the shape of a knot which is suggested by the motto "Fast though united." This knot does not appear to have been used as the crest, which is a greyhound couchant.

The three following knots is a similar manner are respectively the badges of the three families of LUCY, STAFFORD, and WAKE. The last is borne by the family as a crest.

The Harington Knot is simply an ordinary fret q.v., while the Gordian Knot is a term applied to the insignia of the kingdom of NAVARRE.

The Hatband(q.v.) of the FELTMAKERS' Company might be considered a kind of knot, and the hanks of silk or cotton are also frequently termed knots.