British Flags

standard at the main masthead and his St George, as next in rank, at the masthead next in importance; the second admiral occupie

was in use in the English fleet in 1547 and in the French fleet at least as early as 1338. The term Rear-Admiral is more modern. This is point

er, Admiral of a fleet of ships about to go to Ports

, Captaine of the reed Gallie, who is apointed to ware the flagge of vize Admyrall for this present Jorney: An

told where the Admiral and Vice-Admiral are to fly their flags, it is evi

fleet was assembled, and was divided into five squadrons; four English and one Dutch. The English ships were under the command of the Earl of Essex and the Lord Admiral (Howard) as "Joint Generalls of the Armies by sea and land."

d at the main and the St George at the fore. The Vice- and Rear-Admirals of his squadron flew, at the fore and mizen respectively, a flag with striped field (red, white and blue in seven horizontal stripes) and the St George in the canton. Essex, al

als of this squadron flew a similar flag at their proper mastheads. The Rear-Admiral of the fleet flew the St George at the mizen, and he and the Vice- and Rear-Admirals of his squadron flew plain white flags at the mai

the four squadrons, as is shown by the following entry in the Navy Accounts

eing each of them of severall Cullers viz One white, one Orengtawnie, one Blew and the iiijth Crimson Color which were appointed to be so made for the distinguishi

pointed out that ten squadronal flags were needed, while this item only refers to four. There is, moreover, another entry in the same account which gives the sizes and prices of the "Ensignes & fflagges" provi

he 1596 expedition is not known, but when, in 1625, another expedition was sent out against Cadiz the fleet

uadrons, had been sent to conduct the Queen from Boulogne to England. The difference in the Admirals' flags worn on

flag at the main, and each ship of his squadron a pendant at the main masthead. The Vice- and Rear-Admirals are to have

three flag officers. The instructions issued by the Commander-in-Chief, Sir Edward