The Union Jack first came into use after James I.'s accession, when England and Scotland became united. Till then, the English flag bore St. George's Cross, a rectangular red cross on a white field, whilst the Scotch flag showed the white diagonal cross of St. Andrew on a blue ground. The union of the two flags was effected by retaining the blue field of St. Andrew's Cross, whilst the red field of the English flag was represented by adding a narrow border of that colour to the limbs of St. George's Cross. The heraldic term for this addition is "fimbrication"--literally _bordering_. This combined flag remained in use till 1801, when, Ireland having joined the Union, it became necessary to incorporate the cross of St. Patrick into the national banner. But, lest it should be thought that either of the diagonal crosses took precedence of the other, care was taken that the white and red borders of each should be alternately uppermost. The Lord Lieutenant of Ireland flies the Union Jack with the harp of Ireland on an escutcheon charged upon it. So also does the Governor of India, but in this case the Union Jack bears the Star of India in the centre, charged with a rose, and surmounted by an imperial crown. We have three flags constantly in use nowadays, which are always spoken of as _ensigns_. These are: _First_, the Red Ensign, a plain red flag, bearing a Union Jack in a canton on the dexter side. This is know as the "Ensign of England," and when displayed at sea distinguishes all vessels not belonging to the Royal Navy. _Second_, the White or St. George's Ensign; the original banner of St. George with a "jack" cantoned in the first quarter. This is the ensign of the Royal Navy. _Third_, the Blue Ensign, a plain blue field with the Union Jack cantoned in the dexter side. This is the ensign of the Naval Reserve. The Admiralty flag, displaying a yellow anchor and cable set fesswise on a red field, may be grouped with the three ensigns. As regards military flags, the cavalry standards--banners properly--are the true survivals of the knightly banners of the Middle Ages. The colour of the field repeats that of the regimental facings, and each standard bears the number, motto, and specific title of its own regiment, as well as its own heraldic badge. Upon these standards are also blazoned the regimental "honours," such as "Waterloo," "Alma," "Lucknow," thus commemorating the services rendered by that corps to their country. Infantry regiments have their "colours," or, properly, _pair of colours_. One of these is the sovereign's colour, always crimson, displaying a Union Jack, charged with the regimental device; the other is the regimental colour, repeating the tincture of the facings. Upon this the "honours" and "devices" of the regiment are charged, whilst a small "jack" is cantoned on the dexter side of the flag. The regimental "colours" of the Guards is the Union Jack. The Royal Artillery have neither colours nor standards.