Page 390 - J. C. Turner - History and Science of Knots

384 History and Science of Knots

entitled to any other element without also being entitled to a shield. Only
the shield can stand alone, except that badges (2) usually, and crests (3)
occasionally are displayed, and the regalia of orders and other honours are
usually worn, in the absence of a shield (see later). Ladies do not bear their
arms on a shield, but use a lozenge, or occasionally an oval, instead, as will be
described later.
a^o 1

2
X

4
4)1Y11\\\

o.. 6
I
7

9
10
11
li, 12

13
14
15
16

ZINA 17
XN -,
Fig. 1. An Achievement of Arms
The individual designs displayed on a shield are known as charges (for
example, in Fig. 1, 9-11 , 13, 15). Very many thousands of different charges
are known, but few involve knots in any way. Charges involving knots include:
(i) Isolated knots (15) tied in cord, usually imagined as silken , are more
common on the Continent of Europe than in England . Several continental
designs are shown in Figs . 2 and 3; the only English use of isolated knots that
I have seen as charges are some of the badges (Figs. 6 and 7), introduced into
impersonal arms a long time ago but into personal arms only this century.