In later years, the small St. George’s Cross which, as we said above, figured in the upper corner of the flag, gained more prominence and filled the whole of the fabric. This may be considered the second period in the history of regimental colours. The reader will readily see that this change in English flags was brought about by contact with the Scottish regiments which had flown for many years previously their colours bearing large crosses of St. Andrew. An interesting flag of this period is that of the =Coldstream Regiment= (date about 1680). A drawing of it may be seen in the Royal Library at Windsor Castle. The groundwork of blue taffeta is quite plain for the colonel. The lieutenant-colonel’s banner is blue, with a large St. George’s Cross, edged with white; whilst the major flew a similar banner, to which was added a white pile-wavy issuing from the top left-hand corner. The captains’ banners are like that of the major, but bear a distinguishing Roman numeral to show seniority of rank. * * * * * In piecing together the history of the early Army flags, a certain Nathan Brooks has given us much valuable assistance. He went to Putney Heath on October 1st, 1684, to see the King review the troops, and was wise enough to write down a description of the colours which figured in the function. Probably no better account of the flags of this period is still available. Here it is:—[1] “=The King’s Own Troop of Horse Guards and Troop of Grenadiers.=—The standard, crimson with the royal cypher and crown; the guidon, differenced only from the standard by being rounded and slit at the ends. “=The Queen’s Troop of His Majesty’s Horse Guards and Troop of Grenadiers.=—The standard and guidon as the King’s. “=The Duke’s Troop of His Majesty’s Horse Guards and Troop of Grenadiers.=—The standard and guidon of yellow damask, with His Royal Highness’s cypher and coronet. “=The Regiment of the Horse Guards= (now the Royal Horse Guards, the Blues), eight troops.—The standard of the King’s troop, crimson, with the imperial crown, embroidered; the colonel’s colour flies the royal cypher on crimson; the major’s, gold streams on crimson; the first troop, the rose crowned; the second, a thistle crowned; the third, the flower de luce, crowned; the fourth, the harp and crown; the fifth, the royal oak; all embroidered upon the crimson colours.