British Flags: Their Early History, and Their Development at Sea / With an Account of the Origin of the Flag as a National Device

by William Gordon Perrin

[313] Corbett, Fighting Instructions (N. R. S.), p. 83.

[314] "Observed the Gibraltar and Culloden firing at us, probably by mistaking our St George's Ensign for the national flag, on which we cut off the fly." (Master's Log, vide Sturges Jackson, Logs of the Great Sea Fights (N. R. S.), p. 130.)

[315] Nicolas, Despatches and Letters of Lord Nelson, vii, p. 104. In a footnote (the volume was published in 1846) Nicolas says: "It may be hoped that the time is not distant when the anomalous distinctions of Blue, White and Red Admirals will be abolished, so that St George's banner will be the only flag borne by all British Admirals."

[316] I.e. a narrow pendant with striped red, white and blue fly.

[317] Low, History of the Indian Navy, ii, 201. A similar red pendant has recently been approved as the flag of the Director of the Royal Indian Marine.

[318] Order of the Governor in Council quoted by Low, History of the Indian Navy, ii, 570.

[319] This word first appears about 1650, and soon replaced the earlier term.

[320] Marsden, Law and Custom of the Sea (N. R. S.), ii, 412.

[321] About two-thirds, instead of less than one-fourth.

[322] E.g. in 1636 the people of Calais stoned the Dover mail packet which carried the Union flag at the stern, "rending the said Unite coullers."