| CHAPTER I. |
| The necessity of some special Sign to distinguish Individuals, Tribes,and Nations—the Standards of Antiquity—Egyptian, Assyrian,Persian, Greek, and Roman—the Vexillum—the Labarum ofConstantine—Invocation of Religion—the Flags of the Enemy—EarlyFlags of Religious Character—Flags of Saints at FuneralObsequies—Company and Guild Flags of the Mediæval Period—PoliticalColours—Various kinds of Flags—the Banner—Rollsof Arms—Roll of Karlaverok—The Flag called the Royal Standardis really the Royal Banner—Main-sail Banners—TrumpetBanners—Ladies embroidering Banners for the Cause—Knights'Banneret—Form of Investiture—the Standard—the Percy Badgesand Motto—Arctic Sledge-flags—the Rank governing the sizeof the Standard—Standards at State Funerals—the Pennon—Knights'Pennonciers—the Pennoncelle—Mr. Rolt as ChiefMourner—Lord Mayor's Show—the Pennant—the Streamer—TudorBadges—Livery Colours—the Guidon—Bunting—FlagDevising a Branch of Heraldry—Colours chiefly used in Flags—Flagsbearing Inscriptions—Significance of the Red Flag—of theYellow—of the White—of the Black—Dipping the Flag—theSovereignty of the Sea—Right of Salute insisted on—Politicalchanges rendering Flagsobsolete | [1] |
| CHAPTER II. |
| The Royal Standard—the Three Lions of England—the LionRampant of Scotland—Scottish sensitiveness as to precedence—theScottish Tressure—the Harp of Ireland—Early IrishFlags—Brian Boru—the Royal Standards from Richard I.to Victoria—Claim to the Fleurs-de-lys of France—QuarteringHanover—the Union Flag—St. George for England—WarCry—Observance of St. George's Day—the Cross of St.George—Early Naval Flags—the London Trained Bands—theCross of St. Andrew—the "Blue Blanket"—Flags of theCovenanters—Relics of St. Andrew—Union of England andScotland—the First Union Flag—Importance of accuracy inrepresentations of it—the Union Jack—Flags of the Commonwealthand Protectorate—Union of Great Britain andIreland—the Cross of St. Patrick—Labours of St. Patrick in Ireland—Proclamationof George III. as to Flags, etc.—the SecondUnion Flag—Heraldic Difficulties in its Construction—Suggestionsby Critics—Regulations as to Fortress Flags—the WhiteEnsign of the Royal Navy—Saluting the Flag—the Navy theSafeguard of Britain—the Blue Ensign—the Royal Naval Reserve—theRed Ensign of the Mercantile Marine—Value ofFlag-lore | [29] |
| CHAPTER III. |
| Army Flags—the Queen's Colour—the Regimental Colour—theHonours and Devices—the Flag of the 24th Regiment—Facings—Flagof the King's Own Borderers—What the Flag Symbolises—Coloursof the Guards—the Assaye Flag—Cavalry Flags—Presentationof Colours—Chelsea College Chapel—Flags of theBuffs in Canterbury Cathedral—Flags of the Scottish Regimentsin St. Giles's Cathedral—Burning of Rebel Flags by the Hangman—SpecialFlags for various Official Personages—SpecialFlags for different Government Departments—the Lord HighAdmiral—the Mail Flag—White Ensign of the Royal YachtSquadron—Yacht Ensigns and Burgees—House or CompanyFlags—How to express Colours with Lines—the Allan Tricolor—PortFlags—the British Empire—the Colonial Blue Ensignand Pendant—the Colonial Defence Act—Colonial MercantileFlag—Admiralty Warrant—Flag of the Governor of a Colony—theGreen Garland—the Arms of the Dominion of Canada—Badgesof the various Colonies—Daniel Webster on the Mightof England—Bacon on the Command of theOcean | [61] |
| CHAPTER IV. |
| The Flag of Columbus—Early Settlements in North America—theBirth of the United States—Early Revolutionary and StateFlags—the Pine-tree Flag—the Rattle-snake Flag—the Starsand Stripes—Early Variations of it—the Arms of Washington—Entryof New States into the Union—the Eagle—the Flag ofthe President—Secession of the Southern States—State Flagsagain—the Stars and Bars—the Southern Cross—the Birth ofthe German Empire—the Influence of War Songs—Flags of theEmpire—Flags of the smaller German States—the Austro-HungaryMonarchy—the Flags of Russia—the Crosses of St.Andrew and St. George again—the Flags of France—St. Martin—theOriflamme—the Fleurs-de-lys—Their Origin—the WhiteCross—the White Flag of the Bourbons—the Tricolor—the RedFlag—the Flags of Spain—of Portugal—the Consummation ofItalian Unity—the Arms of Savoy—the Flags of Italy—of theTemporal Power of the Papacy—the Flag of Denmark—itsCelestial Origin—the Flags of Norway and Sweden—of Switzerland—CantonalColours—the Geneva Convention—the Flags ofHolland—of Belgium—of Greece—the Crescent of Turkey—theTughra—the Flags of Roumania, Servia, and Bulgaria—Flagsof Mexico, and of the States of Southern and CentralAmerica—of Japan—the Rising Sun—the Chrysanthemum—theFlags of China, Siam and Corea—of Sarawak—of the OrangeFree State, Liberia, Congo State, and the TransvaalRepublic | [86] |
| CHAPTER V. |
| Flags as a Means of Signalling—Army Signalling—the MorseAlphabet—Navy Signalling—First Attempts at Sea Signals—OldSignal Books in Library of Royal United Service Institution—"Englandexpects that every man will do his duty"—SinkingSignal Codes on defeat—Present System of Signalling inRoyal Navy—Pilot Signals—Weather Signalling by Flags—theInternational Signal Code—First Published in 1857—Seventy-eightThousand Different Signals possible—Why noVowels used—Lloyd's SignalStations | [127] |
| Alphabetical Index to Text | [141] |
| Coloured Plates | [149] |