British Flags: Their Early History, and Their Development at Sea: With an Account of the Origin of the Flag as a National DevicePerrin, William Gordon
History
British Flags: Their Early History, and Their Development at Sea: With an Account of the Origin of the Flag as a National Device
Perrin, William Gordon
Flags -- Great Britain
For the next few years more serious matters than the misuse of the
Union Jack occupied the attention of the authorities, but in 1694[200],
when William III was safely seated on the throne, another Proclamation,
similar to that of 1674, was issued forbidding merchant ships, except
those having letters of marque, to wear other colours than the "Flag
and Jack white with a Red Cross commonly called St George's Cross
passing quite through the same and the Ensign Red with the like Cross
in a Canton White at the upper corner thereof next the staff." The
privateers were to wear the same ensign as other merchant ships, but
were to have the red (Budgee) jack.
Another Proclamation in identical terms was issued in the first year of
Queen Anne's reign[201].
Meanwhile yet another variant of the Union Jack had been created for
the use of ships commissioned by the Governors of the North American
Colonies. In July, 1701, the Admiralty complained to the Council of
"the inconvenience by Merchant Ships wearing the King's Colours in
and among the Plantations abroad, under colour of Commissions from
the Governors of the said Plantations," and obtained the Council's
approval to the use by such vessels of a distinctive Jack which is thus
described in the Instructions to the Governors.
Whereas great inconveniences do happen by Merchant Ships and other
Vessels in the Plantations wearing the Colours born by our Ships of
War under pretence of Commissions granted to them by the Governors
of the said Plantations, and that by trading under those Colours,
not only amongst our own Subjects, but also those of other Princes
and States, and Committing divers Irregularities, they do very much
dishonour our Service--For prevention whereof you are to oblige the
Commanders of all such Ships, to which you shall grant Commissions,
to wear no other Jack than according to the Sample here described,
that is to say, such as is worn by our Ships of War, with the
distinction of a White Escutchion in the middle thereof and that
the said mark of distinction may extend itself to one half of the
depth of the Jack and one third of the Fly thereof[202].
In 1707 was brought about that complete union of England and Scotland
that James had worked for a hundred years before. The first article
in the Treaty of Union provided that the crosses of St George and St
Andrew should be conjoined in such manner as the queen thought fit.
After due consideration of various designs suggested by a Committee
of the Privy Council in conjunction with the Heralds College, it was
finally decided by an Order in Council of 17th April, 1707, "That the
Union Flag continue as at present." Coloured drawings of the Royal
Standard, Union Flag, and Red Ensign were formally communicated to the
Admiralty by a further Order in Council with instructions that these
designs were to be adhered to in the flags flown at sea[203].
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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