Tassel

A sceptre accosted by two tassels

An ornament pendent at the corners of cushions or at the end of cords.

Roman Catholics distinguish some of their principal ecclesiastics and church-officers by tassels pendent to a silk cordon, interlaced and issuing on each side a hat, placed over the shield. These tassels increase as they descend, and, by the number of their rows, denote the dignity of the bearer. Thus, a Cardinal bears his Arms timbred with a scarlet hat, from which hangs such a cordon, interlaced with scarlet tassels, ranged one, two, three, four, five, on each side the escutcheon. Archbishops have the like cordon issuing from a green hat, with only four rows of green tassels, ranged one, two, three four. Bishops having only three rows from a like hat, ranged one, two, three; and abbots and prothonotaries only two rows, ranged one and two. See Insignia