In the century of the expansion of Raleigh's "trade command," the governors of the English colonies, principally of those in America, began giving commissions to their local colonial ships, authorizing them to engage in the various free and ready methods by which that trade was being obtained from foreign sources. Some inconvenience seems to have resulted from this practice, as the colonial ships carrying the two-crossed Jack were making prizes and taking trade under the flag which the Old Country merchant ships were directed not to use. Objection was made by the ships sailing from the home ports, and under William III. the matter was taken up. [Illustration: PLATE IX. 1 CANADIAN UNION ENSIGN 2 AUSTRALIAN UNION ENSIGN 3 NEW ZEALAND UNION ENSIGN] The English Lords Justices in Council considered the question and reported: "_At the Council Chamber, Whitehall, the 31st day of July, 1701._ "_Present_--Their Excellencies the Lords Justices in Council. "Upon reading this day at the Board a report from the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty in the words following, viz.: "Their Excellencies the Lords Justices having been pleased to refer to us a Report of the Lords Commissioners of Trade, upon a Memorial from this Board, representing the Inconveniences that do attend Merchant ships wearing the _King's Colours_, in and among the Plantations abroad, under Colour of the Commissions given them by His Majesty's Governours of the said Plantations. We do most humbly report to their Excellencies that we do agree with the said Lords Commissioners for Trade that all such ships to whom the aforesaid Governours shall, by the Authority Lodged in them, grant Commissions, ought to wear _colours that may distinguish them from private ships_, as is done by those employed by the Officers of the Navy, Ordnance Victualling, and others, and therefore do humbly propose that all the said Governours may be directed to oblige the Commanders of such Merchant ships, to which they grant Commissions, to wear no other Jack than that hereafter mentioned, namely, that worne by His Majesty's ships with the Distinction of a _White Escutcheon_ in the middle thereof, and that said mark of Distinction may extend itself to one-half of the depth of the Jack, and one-third part of the Fly thereof, according to the _sample hereunto annexed_. "PEMBROKE. "HAVERSHAM. "D. MITCHELL." Directions were accordingly so issued, and of the instructions transmitted to the governors of the colonies in America originals are extant of those sent to Massachusetts, in 1701, and New York, in 1709. Fig. 56 is from an actual tracing from the drawing of the flag on the margin of the instructions sent to the Governor at Boston.[186] It will be noted that the white escutcheon on the Jack is perfectly plain and without any special distinctive emblem, such as those worn on the escutcheons on the ordnance and other departmental flags.