The Flags of the World: Their History, Blazonry, and AssociationsHulme, F. Edward (Frederick Edward)
History
The Flags of the World: Their History, Blazonry, and Associations
Hulme, F. Edward (Frederick Edward)
Flags
some inconvenientis sall fall oute betwix thame, for our seyfaring men
cannot be inducit to resave that flage as it is set down. They have drawne
two new drauchtis and patrones as most indifferent for both kingdomes,
whiche they presentid to the Counsell, and craved our approbation of the
same, but we haif reserved that to your Majestie's princelie
determinatioun, as moir particularlie the Erll of Mar, who was present, and
herd their complaynt, and to whom we haif remittit the discourse and
delyverie of that mater, will informe your Majestie and let your Heynes see
the errour of the first patrone and the indifferencie of the two newe
drauchties." These draughts are not to be found, nor does it appear that
any notice was taken of the complaint.
The Scottish Union flag, as carefully depicted in a scarce little work
published in 1701, and entitled "The Ensigns, Colours, and Flags of the
Ships at Sea, belonging to the several Princes and States in the World,"
may be seen in Fig. 88. In it will be noted that the Cross of St. Andrew is
placed in front of that of St. George--anyone comparing Figs. 73 and 88
will readily see wherein they differ. Though its appearance in a book of
sea-flags would seem to imply that such a flag had been made, we know of no
other instance of it. Fig. 84 was also suggested as a solution of the
problem, but here we get false heraldry, the blue in contact with the red,
and in any case a rather weak-looking arrangement.
The painful truth is that when two persons ride the same animal they cannot
both be in front, and no amount of heraldic ingenuity will make two devices
on a flag to be of equal value. The position next the staff is accounted
more honourable than that remote from it, and the upper portion of the flag
is more honourable than the lower.[33] At first sight it might appear that
matters are impartially dealt out in Fig. 81, but the position next the
staff is given to St. George, and in the quartered arrangement, Fig. 85,
the same holds true. Both these were suggestions made at the time the
difficulty was felt, but both were discarded in favour of the arrangement
shown in Fig. 73.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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