The Mercury Flag

[Tartan Jack]

One of Foxe's posts on size:

From- https://pyracy.com/index.php?showtopic=10853&view=findpost&p=266912

As with so many things, it depends on the size of ship.

The following sizes were recommended by the Navy Board, September 3, 1694, and approved by the Admiralty two days later:

Ship..............................Breadths (11") in the hoist.....Yards in the fly.

Sovereign, Victory ...............................30........................16

Ossory, St. Michael................................28.......................15

Russel, Grafton......................................26.......................14

Resolution etc........................................24.......................13

Dunkirk etc............................................22.......................12

Advice etc..............................................20.......................11

Charles Galley etc.................................18........................10

Yachts....................................................16....................

.....9

Ketches..................................................14.....................

....8

Advice boats..........................................12.........................7

So in terms of naval ensigns of the period it might be anything from 11 x 21 feet for the smallest vessels up to 27'6" x 48' for first rates. It should be noted that these measurements were introduced as a result of captains and admirals complaining that their ensigns were too small for their ships, so prior to that date it can be assumed that ensigns were generally smaller.

FWIW, this scale of sizes was worked out by simply using the length of ensign post for the hoist, and the distance between the taff rail and waterline for the fly.

Foxe

"With this Fore-Staff he fansies he does Wonders, when, God knows, it amounts to no more but only to solve that simple Question, Where are we? Which every chi'd in London can tell you." - Ned Ward The Wooden World Dissected, 1707

Edited May 24, 2010 by Tartan Jack

[Capt. Sterling]

You go Lady! Excellent!!!!!

[William Brand]

We took a little in when it was pinned and the center seem lost a little, but I think it's about six feet by ten. I'll measure the whole thing upon completion. I plan to run it up a flag pole when it's done to see if it will carry in a decent breeze.

[MarkG]

For those who don't know . . .

Flags of the period were HUGE. For an ships ensign, that would actually be quite small. Most were more like 20-30 feet long. For larger ships, even bigger.

In the film Master and Commmander, look at the size of the flag on the French ship. That is pretty typical of the period, not as over-sized as many think. In reality, 3x5 is tiny for a ship flag and wouldn't hardly be visible at any distance. Signal flags were about 9x9 and they were supposed to be strung up in "chains" (several at a time on one length) to convey a message. The Nationals were much, much larger.

Take a look at this thread on ensign (main national flag on a ship) size: https://pyracy.com/in...showtopic=10853

William,

It looks good! I like.

How big did it end up?

2 double widths would make it about 10' at the hoist and how long?

Note the important distinction French. They used really big flags. You don't see flags that big on other nation's ships.

It's always interesting looking at paintings of ships. An artist who knows ships will have the flag flying forward. Artists who are not familiar with sailing will have the flag flying back.

Mark

[Tartan Jack]

Very true.

[Capt. J...]

OH MY....THAT IS HUGE.........ARE YOU BRINGIGN THAT ON TO THE FORT?????????????

IF SO, WE WILL HAVE THE BIGGEST FLAG THERE.......

YO HO

[silas thatcher]

are we gonna need some poles for that ??? the way things are going, i could possibly get one or two, or three...

[William Brand]

We may put it up as an awning, strung up as a shade or covering. If you have the room, then bring extra poles. If we don't use them for the flag, we'll use them for musket stands or we'll pioneer some other use.

[William Brand]

The flag is complete and packed up for the trip. That one goes in my carry on.

[Capt. Sterling]

Does it actually fit in a carry on?

Godspeed to the lot of ye

[William Brand]

It fits comfortably inside one of these.

[Capt. Sterling]

sniggering...That's some carry on...

[Tartan Jack]

It fits comfortably inside one of these.

Missing the guns . . .

Fix:

[William Brand]

Over the weekend I painted two separate flags for the Santa Maria gathering in Columbus, Ohio and the St. Louis Pirate Fest. Both flags are 3' x 5' canvas. This is the first time that I've painted a two sided flag and I didn't take a single picture of them, so send us lots of pics!

[silas thatcher]

pics will be coming !!

[michaelsbagley]

Got the flag in the mail today! It looks great! I'm kind of packing for this weekend this evening, so pictures will have to wait until early next week.

[William Brand]

Excellent. They were mailed a day apart, so the other one should arrive tomorrow. Keep me updated.

[Iron Jon]

There was no breeze but the Mercury flag "flew" at several locations on the Santa Maria over the weekend.

[William Brand]

My thanks to everyone for shooting so many pics of the flag in so many places.

[Iron Jon]

A little more of the Mercury was seen on board the Santa Maria -

[silas thatcher]

mad anne bailey gracing williams creation at fort de chartres, fall fort..

[William Brand]

Thank you for the photo. It's nice to see the colors represented in so many ways at so many events.

[Captain Jim]

Now go fly the big one at PiP...and post pictures.

[William Brand]

Now go fly the big one at PiP...and post pictures.

Funny that you should say that, because I made a formal request to fly our very flag over Fort Taylor at least once during the event. I should know by week's end.

[madPete]

Now go fly the big one at PiP...and post pictures.

Funny that you should say that, because I made a formal request to fly our very flag over Fort Taylor at least once during the event. I should know by week's end.

and we'll light her up with this at night!