As time made the warrants of 1743 and 1747 more and more antiquated, we find that regimental commanders took ever increasing liberties with the regulations set down in those documents. To check such departures, a Mr. George Naylor, the then York Herald, an appointment in the College of Arms, was given the post of inspector of regimental colours in the year 1806. One of Mr. Naylor’s first actions was to issue a leaflet, which he sent to every commanding officer, setting out certain rules of paramount importance. The leaflet also gave a representation of both the King’s and regimental colours, showing a blank central cartouche. This, he intimated, was the standard pattern, and each commanding officer was requested to fill in the details which were particular to his own flags and return them for purposes of filing. The designs which came back to Mr. Naylor clearly pointed to the lack of uniformity which had sprung up in the preparation of colours. Many flags had been worked by ladies of title who were patrons of the local unit, the daughters of the commanding officers, and other such people, whose qualifications to embroider were greater than their understanding of heraldry. To Mr. Naylor, who knew what each flag should have borne, the designs must frankly have been disappointing. In some cases, the Egyptian Sphinx faced right instead of left; in others, it filled the space reserved for the central badge; one instance is known where this device was used as an ornament to cap the staff, and so heavily was it cast in silver that those who carried it were “under the necessity of unscrewing it when the regiment began to move”; a laurel wreath instead of the union wreath was another substituted design. One of the filled-in designs returned to the College of Arms showed a very dilapidated flag, but the covering letter explained that, “the George and Dragon has nearly disappeared from our King’s colour by a shell passing through it, though I trust his spirit is left amongst us.” * * * * * The period following on the peace which came with the victory of Waterloo proved of great activity in the world of military colours. The old flags had seen much active service and had become worn and torn, some had been stripped from their supports in a moment of crisis and hidden, whilst a few fell from the hands of their possessors and became lost. Also, we must not forget that many new battle honours had been recently won, and the fixing of these distinctions would always be an unwise action when the flags were showing signs of wear. Accordingly, the regiments which were provided with new stands at this time were considerable.