Irish Brigade Flags - the "True Informer" and the Irish cross controversy

TRUE INFORMER AND OTHER SOURCES

Short Introduction here






Short Introduction here

POSSIBLE IRISH BRIGADE COLORS

0011.0
Field: White, possibly spattered with red, yellow canton with red saltire
First Motto: "AEQUUM EST PRO CHRISTO MORI" (It is just to die for Christ)
Second Motto "VIVAT CAROLUS REX" (Long Live King Charles)
First Device: Red Crucifix
Second Device: Below Canton an imperial crown and inscription CR.
Notes:
Moran's source describes field as 'alibis respersis guts sanguineis' (white sprinkled with drops of blood). Blount says color was 'taken from the Irish Rebels in the late warres'
References:
True Informer (28 Sept to 5 Oct 1644), p355
Blount (1655), sig N2a
Ryder, p43
Reid, Scots(3), opp p35

0285.0
Field: Green (Vert), yellow canton with red saltire
First Motto: "PATIOR UT VINCAM" (I suffer that I may conquer)
Second Motto "VIVAT CAROLUS REX" (Long Live King Charles)
First Device: Christ carrying his cross on his shoulder
Second Device: Below Canton an imperial crown and inscription CR.
Notes:
References:
True Informer (28 Sept to 5 Oct 1644), p355
Blount (1655), sig N2a
Moran 17
Ryder, p43
Reid, Scots(3), opp p35
Hayes McCoy (a), 123
Hayes McCoy (b), p51

0112.0
Field: Yellow, yellow canton with red saltire
First Motto: "EXURGAT DEUS DISSIPENTUR INIMICI" (Let God arise and let his enemies be scattered)
Second Motto "VIVAT CAROLUS REX" (Long Live King Charles)
First Device: Resurrection of Christ
Second Device: Below Canton an imperial crown and inscription CR.
Notes:
Reid lists first motto as "EXURGAT DEUS, DISSIPEXTUR INIMICI".
References:
True Informer (28 Sept to 5 Oct 1644), p355
Blount (1655), sig N2a
Ryder, p43
Reid, Scots(3), opp p35
Hayes McCoy (a), 123
Hayes McCoy (b), p51

0178.0
Field: Red (gules), yellow canton with red saltire
First Motto: "IN NOMINE JESUS OMNE GENU FLECTITUR" (At the name of Jesus every knee shall bend)
Second Motto "VIVAT CAROLUS REX" (Long Live King Charles)
First Device: Inscribed with the name of "Jesus" ("IHS") with a cross
Second Device: Below Canton an imperial crown and inscription CR.
Notes:
Blount (1655) claims it was captured from the Irish Rebels. First motto is from Phil. 2:10. Moran's source notes that Parliament had forbidden genuflection.
References:
True Informer (28 Sept to 5 Oct 1644), p356
Blount (1655), sig N2a
Ryder, p43
Reid, Scots(3), opp p35
Hayes McCoy (a), 123
Hayes McCoy (b), p51

0063.0
Field: Blue (azure), yellow canton with red saltire
First Motto: "CUNCTAS HAERESES INTEREMISTI" (Thou has overcome all heresies)
Second Motto "VIVAT CAROLUS REX" (Long Live King Charles)
First Device: Virgin Mary holding infant Jesus in her arms, and with her heals trampling on a serpent's head.
Second Device: Below Canton an imperial crown and inscription CR.
Notes:
Not in Blount (1655). Reid lists first motto as "CUNCTAS HARESES INTEREMIST".
References:
True Informer (28 Sept to 5 Oct 1644), p356
Ryder, p43
Reid, Scots(3), opp p35

0417.0
Field: Blue (Azure), yellow canton with red saltire
First Motto: "SOLVIT VINCULA DEUS" (God loosens the chains)
Second Motto "VIVAT CAROLUS REX" (Long Live King Charles)
First Device: An angel in white holding a sword with a gold handle cutting the chains of St Peter.
Second Device: Below Canton an imperial crown and inscription CR.
Notes:
References:
True Informer (28 Sept to 5 Oct 1644), p355
Blount (1655), sig N2a
Ryder, p43
Reid, Scots(3), opp p35

0322.0
Field: Red (gules), yellow canton with red saltire
First Motto: "PRO DEO REGE ET PATINA [PATRIA]" (For God and the King and the Chalice [country])
Second Motto "VIVAT CAROLUS REX" (Long Live King Charles)
First Device: Two arms issue from clouds. One supports a chalice with a host over it, the other holds a sword to defend them.
Second Device: Below Canton an imperial crown and inscription CR.
Notes:
Reid lists first motto as "PRO DEO, REGE AND PATINA".
References:
True Informer (28 Sept to 5 Oct 1644), p356
Blount (1655), sig N2a
Ryder, p44
Moran 17
Reid, Scots(3), opp p35
Hayes McCoy (a), 123
Hayes McCoy (b), p51

0297.0
Field: Unknown (perhaps painted clouds), yellow canton with red saltire
First Motto: "POST NUBILA PHOEBUS" (After the clouds comes the sun [Phoebus])
Second Motto "VIVAT CAROLUS REX" (Long Live King Charles)
First Device: Black roundel surrounded by a cloud out of which the sun is appearing.
Second Device: Below Canton an imperial crown and inscription CR.
Notes:
References:
True Informer (28 Sept to 5 Oct 1644), p356
Blount (1655), sig N2a
Ryder, p44
Moran 17
Reid, Scots(3), opp p35
Hayes McCoy (a), 123
Hayes McCoy (b), p51

0459.0
Field: Purple (purpure), yellow canton with red saltire
First Motto: "VICTOR REDIT DE BARATHRO" (He swiftly returns victorious from the edge of hell)
Second Motto "VIVAT CAROLUS REX" (Long Live King Charles)
First Device: Christ delivering the Fathers out of limbo.
Second Device: Below Canton an imperial crown and inscription CR.
Notes:
Not in Blount (1655). The first motto is a line from the latin hymn "The Lamb's high banquet called to share"
References:
True Informer (28 Sept to 5 Oct 1644), p356
Ryder, p44
Moran 18
Reid, Scots(3), opp p35
Hayes McCoy (a), 124
Hayes McCoy (b), p51

0141.0
Field: Red (gules), yellow canton with red saltire
First Motto: "FORTITUDO MEA DESUPER" (My strength is from above)
Second Motto "VIVAT CAROLUS REX" (Long Live King Charles)
First Device: To left a silver armoured arm issuing from a cloud and holding a silver lamp (or lance).
Second Device: Below Canton an imperial crown and inscription CR.
Notes:
Moran appears to suggest arm is holding a lance rather than a lamp. Reid lists first motto as "FORTITUDO MEADE SUPER".
References:
True Informer (28 Sept to 5 Oct 1644), p356
Blount (1655), sig N2a
Ryder, p44
Moran 18
Reid, Scots(3), opp p35
Hayes McCoy (a), 123
Hayes McCoy (b), p51

0141.0
Field: White (argent), yellow canton with red saltire
First Motto: "SIC PEREUNT HAERESES" (Thus heresies perish)
Second Motto "VIVAT CAROLUS REX" (Long Live King Charles)
First Device: An armoured man setting fire to John Calvin's book 'Institutes. The book is inscribed "Calv:Instit".
Second Device: Below Canton an imperial crown and inscription CR.
Notes:
Reid lists first motto as "SIO PEREUNT HARESES".
References:
True Informer (28 Sept to 5 Oct 1644), p356
Blount (1655), sig N2a
Ryder, p44
Moran 18
Reid, Scots(3), opp p35
Hayes McCoy (a), 123
Hayes McCoy (b), p51

0088.0
Field: Purple (purpure), yellow canton with red saltire
First Motto: "DOMINUS VINDICAT POPULUM SUAM" (God will avenge his people)
Second Motto "VIVAT CAROLUS REX" (Long Live King Charles)
First Device: The figure of Judith holding a sword with the Holofernes severed head impaled upon it.
Second Device: Below Canton an imperial crown and inscription CR.
Notes:
References:
True Informer (28 Sept to 5 Oct 1644), p356
Blount (1655), sig N2a
Ryder, p44
Moran 18
Reid, Scots(3), opp p35
Hayes McCoy (a), 124
Hayes McCoy (b), p51

THE IRISH CROSS CONTROVERSY

USEFUL LINKS & REFERENCES

http://samsflags.blogspot.co.uk/2014/10/development-history-of-irish-flags-pt5.html

Flags for Balfour of Burleigh's Regiment

OMNE SOLUM FORTI PATRIA

"Every land is a homeland for the courageous man"

Below are the flags used for Lord Balfour of Burleigh's Regiment. They were made in photoshop and can be printed for use with your own armies.

The sheet above is Burleigh's colonel's color, and the sheet below is a company color. Both are based on a set of black flags captured by Cromwell's army at the Battle of Dunbar in 1650. They are described by Payne Fisher and tentatively identified as Burleigh's on the basis of the motto and device used on the Colonel's color.

The key evidence that these colors were carried by Burleigh's Regt is the use of the Balfour motto, "OMNE SOLUM FORTI PATRIA" and the "maiden" device. I made a quick search on the interwebs, but I cannot find any independent verification that the Lords of Burleigh ever used this particular maiden device. However, I did find that the mermaid is a common device, and given the colors had been damaged, perhaps the image or the desrcription has been misinterpreted over the years.

A quick google search indicates that the version of the mermaid associated with Burleigh is shown above, in which the maid is shown arms up on both sides (as in the maiden device) but is holding a snake and a swan or goose head. I think it looks quite similar to the "Maiden" device described by Fisher. 

The latin Balfour motto, "OMNE SOLUM FORTI PATRIA", is written in red on the gold scroll work. It translates as "Every land is a homeland for the courageous man", and is a quotation from Roman poet Ovid (43BC to 17AD); a verse from book I, line 493 of "Fasti" (Festivals).

The second motto on the colonels color is gold in color and is the standard post-1650 covenanter inscription, "COVENANT FOR RELIGION KING AND KINGDOMES". Most regimental colors captured at Dunbar bore this version of the motto, and that makes these flags anachronistic for 1644. 

The other peculiarity of this set of colors is the choice of a black field. While black fields are used in company colors, the use of black on a colonels color is highly unusual, the convention at the time being a white field. 

An example of a reproduction black ensign is shown below. This was provided by Martin Scott, a follower of this blog, and native of Auldearn, who is a member of the Sealed Knot and a re-enactor in Sir Arthur Erskine's Regiment of Foot, another regiment with black ensigns. Erskine's Regt was raised in 1643 and served in Leven's army at Marston Moor. The motto used pre-dates the 1650 standard.

The use of black is also unusual given the recruiting area in Fife. Most Fife regiments raised at this time adopted a yellow field with white saltire for company colors. Given these departures from the norms I have assumed (as did Reid) that Burleigh would have used a similar scheme for the regiment raised in 1644, albeit with a more archaic covenanter motto.

This is my third set of flags prepared for a covenanter regiment, the first being Campbell of Lawers' Regt (which I made for Roy's first painted unit - Roy decided to hand draw and paint the rest of his flags on foil), the second was the Earl of Sutherland's Regt.

The flags can be printed out and used as is, but I like to re-paint over the printed design using the three layer method, to get the hand-painted look. The end-product can be seen in the photos.

The main references used for these flags are...

• "Scots Armies of the C17th. II: Scots Regiments and Colours, 1647-51" by Stuart Reid (Partizan Press)
• "The English Emblematic Tradition (3): Emblematic Flag Devices of the English Civil Wars, 1642-1660" by Alan R. Young (Ed.) (University of Toronto Press)

Flags for the Strathbogie Regiment

"...he caused make some ensigns where upon ilk side was drawn a red rampant lion..."

Spalding 

I am playing catch-up with this post. I realised while updating the blog this week that I had forgotten to share the flags for the Strathbogie Regiment, a unit which I completed some time ago and which can be seen here. The great thing about the flags for this unit is that we actually have some contemporary details on their appearance thanks to my favorite 17th century blogger, John Spalding.


Spalding, an Aberdonian Lawyer (but lets not judge him too harshly for that) and part-time soldier in the Aberdeen City Militia was a prolific contemporary observer of current events, recording copious news and gossip of his time in his hand-written blog, "The History of the Troubles..." [click here for free online eBook]. Spalding was a Royalist, but is generally quite balanced in his writing compared to several of his contemporary historians, biographers and bloggers. Be warned though, he writes in old scots english, a dialect similar to the Doric and Buchan dialects that can still be heard in parts of Northeast of Scotland.

Spalding's writings are such a treasure of information because he would often record details which his contemporaries may have thought too trivial or so obvious as to be uninteresting (and to be honest much of it is). However, almost 500 years later some of his observations provide us with wonderful insights. One such treasure for wargamers, re-enactors and vexillologists is his description of a set of flags ordered by the Marquis of Huntly for his forces in early 1644...

"Upon Monday the 15th of April he [Huntley] returned about six hours at even to Aberdeen he caused make some ensigns where upon ilk side was drawn a red rampant lion having a crown of gold above his head a 'CR' for Charles Rex having the motto 'For God the king and against all traitors' and beneath 'God save the king'. There were diverse others made for the barons. The marquis and his followers wore a black taffeta about their craig whilk was a sign to fight to the death but it proved otherwise"

An excerpt from "THE HISTORY OF THE TROUBLES AND MEMORABLE TRANSACTIONS IN SCOTLAND DURING THE REIGN OF CHARLES I" By JOHN SPALDING, COMMISSARY CLERK ABERDEEN

There is one curious line in this quote; "There were diverse other made for the barons". Spalding could be saying here that a range of different flags were made for "the barons" (which I assume refers to all the nobles that fought under Huntly) . However I have interpreted this to mean that a number of similar sheets were provided to all Gordon regiments of 1644. This would include the Strathbogie Regt and Monaltrie's Regt, which later split into Inverey's Regt and Monymore's Regt in early 1645.

For the Strathbogie flags I have faithfully reproduced the text and device is described by Spalding but concede that the exact layout is speculative. Unfortunately Spalding neglects to mention the field colour of these flags and we are left frustrated, wondering how Spalding could take the trouble to let us know that the regiment wore black neckscarves, but could neglect to mention the colour of the flags! 

I have chosen to make one of the flags Yellow, as this seems a good match for a red rampant lion in Scotland, and I have made the other white, for no other reason than it makes the red lion really stand out on the table top. But if you think it through there are not many other likely field colours. 

As with all my flags, they are prepared in photoshop, printed on good quality paper and then re-painted. The finished article can be seen on the Strathbogie Regiment in the photos included and in the full post on the Strathbogie Regiment.

Flags for the Earl of Sutherland's Regiment

All of the covenanter regiments that have been completed to date, with the exception of Sutherland's, have been done by Roy, and Roy hand-paints his flags on tin foil to terrific effect. Roy's method for flags was shared in a couple of earlier posts including a great tutorial on painting covenanter flags and a later 'gallery' of Covenanter Standards .

Anyone who has followed the Royalist progress knows that I prefer to prepare the flags on photoshop, print on paper and then fully re-paint the design and that is the same way I have approached Sutherland's flags.  They were both made in photoshop and can be printed for use in your own armies. 

The white sheet above is a Colonel's colour with the Sutherland coat of arms in the centre. There is no surviving description of Sutherland's Civil War colours, so this design is purely speculative. The Sutherland arms with there golden stars on a red field is actually an earlier version of the arms which predates the civil wars by over 100 years.

Prior to 1530 the Sutherland family went by the rather grand ancestral name of 'de Moravia', a Norman french rendering of Moray or Murray. Throughout this time, the arms of Sutherland was the 3 golden stars on a red field. 

In 1530 Elizabeth de Moravia, 10th Countess of Sutherland and only surviving heir, married Adam Gordon, son of George Gordon, the 2nd Earl of Huntly and ancestor of Royalist rabble rouser George Gordon, the 2nd Marquis of Huntly, Montrose's reluctant ally. By right of marriage the title of Earl of Sutherland passed to Adam Gordon, who became the 10th Earl of Sutherland. 

From 1530 until the 1800's the Sutherland Arms were actually quartered with Gordon of Huntly Arms. The Gordon Arms can be seen on the blog post for Gordon of Monymore's Regiment. However, given that I was going to place a small coat of arms in the centre of each sheet, I stuck to the simplicity of the original Sutherland Arms. Anyway, the Gordon's have had plenty of attention already, and are set to get a whole lot more when I get to the horse.

Copyright held by www.europeanheraldry.org

Anyone interested in seeing how the Sutherland Arms evolved over the years can see pictures of them at European Heraldry, an excellent online resource for flag designs.

The Earls of Sutherland were Gordons in name down to 1733, when William Gordon, the 17th Earl of Sutherland changed his surname to Sutherland to distance himself from the Gordon's of Huntly who were incurable Jacobites, and attracting a lot of unwanted attention from the government security apparatus for anyone thought to be associated with them.

The second flag is a traditional Scots Government company colour with blue field and white saltire. The absence of any contemporary record means this is also entirely speculative. Scots company colours of the time almost exclusively used the Scots Saltire, either full size or in the canton, however they were not always the traditional white cross on a blue field. 

Given the absence of information and the strong covenanting tendencies of the 13th Earl, I decided to use the traditional national flag colours. I have used an archaic text for the covenanter script which predates the standardisation of the text inscription in 1650. 

I have also added a Sutherland crest in the centre of the saltire. It was common at that time for nobles on both sides of the conflict to include an element of their family heraldry on their flags, and this flag, although speculative, follows contemporary design conventions.

More photos and information about this regiment can be found in the blog post on Sutherland's Regiment.

Flags for Farquharson of Monaltrie's Regiment

"There were diverse other [ensigns] made for the barons."

Spalding on Huntly's 1644 order of flags

Below are the flags I used for Farqharson of Monaltrie's Regiment. They were made in photoshop and can be printed for use in your own armies. They can be used as is, but I re-paint over the printed design as I prefer the hand-painted look. The end-product can be seen in the photos at the bottom of this post.

The white sheet above is a Colonel's colour with the Farquharson coat of arms in the centre. There is no surviving description of either Monaltrie's or Inverey's colours, so this design is purely speculative. The Farquharson arms are quartered with the 1st and 4th quarters containing a yellow field with a red rampant lion, and the 2nd and 3rd quarters containing a white field with a fir tree on a small mound. In each white field, in the top left corner above the tree is a red hand holding a dagger. 

The fir tree tree on a mound is for Farquar Shaw, from whom the Farquarsons claim descent, and it is thought to represent the forest of Rothimurcus, ancestral home of the MacKintosh Shaws. The lion rampant represents the Farquharson lineage through the chiefs of MacKintosh, back to the Earls of MacDuff. These heraldic elements are common in the families of Upper Deeside and even though we don't know the colours of this regiment, this crest looks great and feels right.

The yellow sheet is a speculative company colour based on a description of a set of colours ordered by Huntly in early 1644. The text and device is described by Spalding but the field colour is speculative (yellow seems likely for a rampant lion).

"Upon Monday the 15th of April he [Huntley] returned about six hours at even to Aberdeen he caused make some ensigns where upon ilk side was drawn a red rampant lion having a crown of gold above his head a 'CR' for Charles Rex having the motto 'For God the king and against all traitors' and beneath 'God save the king'. There were diverse others made for the barons. The marquis and his followers wore a black taffeta about their craig whilk was a sign to fight to the death but it proved otherwise"

An excerpt from "THE HISTORY OF THE TROUBLES AND MEMORABLE TRANSACTIONS IN SCOTLAND DURING THE REIGN OF CHARLES I" By JOHN SPALDING, COMMISSARY CLERK ABERDEEN

There is one curious line in this quote; "There were diverse other made for the barons". Spalding could be saying here that a range of different flags were made for "the barons" (which I assume refers to all the nobles that fought under Huntly) . However I have interpreted this to mean that a number of similar sheets were provided to all Gordon regiments of 1644. This would include the Strathbogie Regt and Monaltrie's Regt, which later split into Inverey's Regt and Monymore's Regt in early 1645.

Apologies for once again repeating the info on the yellow sheet that is posted in several places on this blog, but I wanted to include all the relevant flag information in this post too.

Finally here are a couple of photos of the flags fully painted and on the models. More photos and information about this unit can be found by following this link.

More Covenanter Standards

Some cavalry standards (Hurry's included) and Buchanans Foote.

Bottom three cavalry ones are generic with no ownership or foundation.  Ideas taken from the great Flags of War - so if you want ones that are easy to do head over there (if they had been available 7 years ago I'd have been using them).

Flags for Gordon of Monymore's Regiment

Below are the flags I used on Gordon of Monymore's Regiment. They were made in photoshop and can be printed for use in your own armies. They can be used as is, but I prefer to re-paint completely over the printed design as I prefer the hand-painted look. The hand-painted end-product can be seen here.

The white sheet above  is a Colonel's colour with the Gordon coat of arms in the centre.  There is no direct evidence that Monymore used this colour, but Stuart Reid and others have postulated that this is likely given the later use of this colour  by the Gordons of Strathavan during the Jacobite uprisings of both 1715 and 1745. The only difference between the English Civil War colour and the later colour would be the ducal coronet (or crown) placed above the arms signifying the title of Duke, granted in 1684 to the grandson of the 2nd Marquis of Huntly.

The Gordon arms are quartered, with each quarter representing  Gordon territories or family branches. The first quarter is in the top right and blue field with three golden boar heads. This quarter represents Gordon. The second quarter is a gold (yellow) field with three red lions' heads. This quarter represents the Lordship of Badenoch. The third quarter is gold (yellow) with three red crescents, set inside a royal double tressure (or border). This quarter represents the Seton family. The fourth quarter is blue with three stylised five-petal flowers (referred to as cinquefoils). This quarter represents the Aboyne lands. More information on the Gordon coat of arms can be found here.

The yellow sheet is a speculative company colour based on a description of a set of colours ordered by Huntly in early 1644. The text and device is described by Spalding but the field colour is speculative (yellow seems likely for a rampant lion).

"Upon Monday the 15th of April he [Huntley] returned about six hours at even to Aberdeen he caused make some ensigns where upon ilk side was drawn a red rampant lion having a crown of gold above his head a 'CR' for Charles Rex having the motto 'For God the king and against all traitors' and beneath 'God save the king'. There were diverse others made for the barons. The marquis and his followers wore a black taffeta about their craig whilk was a sign to fight to the death but it proved otherwise"

An excerpt from "THE HISTORY OF THE TROUBLES AND MEMORABLE TRANSACTIONS IN SCOTLAND DURING THE REIGN OF CHARLES I" By JOHN SPALDING, COMMISSARY CLERK ABERDEEN

There is one curious line in this quote; "There were diverse other made for the barons". Spalding could be saying here that a range of different flags were made for "the barons" (which I assume refers to all the nobles that fought under Huntly) . However I have interpreted this to mean that a number of similar sheets were provided to all Gordon regiments of 1644. This would include the Strathbogie Regt and Monaltrie's Regt, which later split into Inverey's Regt and Monymore's Regt in early 1645.

Apologies for repeating info on the yellow sheet that is posted elsewhere on this blog, but I wanted to include all the relevant flag information in this post too.

Covenanter Flags - How it's done

Been a couple of questions about flags flying around (why waste a good pun), so I thought I'd do a step by step guide to the approach I have.  Walter's an expert with the computer but I went the old fashioned way (well I don't have photoshop) and painted all mine.  It's a compromise between mediums - paint and foil offer modeling possibilities at the expense of image clarity - paper flags touched up with paint offer much sharper images but the flag is stiffer. Either way our flags have been getting a lot of great feedback so thanks to everyone.

First up - flags may be made from symetrical polygons of material but unless you plan to plant it on the moon it will never stand completely proud from the pole, even in a strong wind.  This is due to the cumulative weight of material working with gravity.  Next time your out have a look - all flags drag/droop yet on the wargame's table most flags look like Neil Armstrong's!

In both methods we skew the image to get a false drop, which goes a long way to mimicking this effect.   On the computer this is relatively straight-forward but on foil....read on.

Most of the Covenanter Regiments at Auldearn are poorly known, with little, if any info on their banners.  So within the realms of reason I've tried to come up with sigils that are tied to the local clans, lairds or use common national symbols.

I start by drawing these on the non-deformed polygon and grid it up so I have a guide when drawing it on the foil.

These are the Colonel's Colour's for Findlatter's and Buchanan's - I'll write up why I chose the designs and colour when I write up the regiments. 

I prep the foil carefully, smooth it and prime it with white paint - this allows a surface which cnd be drawn on and to which the paint will adhere.  The whole grid is slid to get the drop, so everything stays in the same relative place - making for a slightly out of shape image on the detailed parts (see the lion).  Drawing on the foil leaves grooves - be aware when applying the paint - and be careful in the final stages (see later).

Here's the Regimental standard - a dropped saltire - no text is done at this stage. 

As with the troops, I build up the colour's by layering.  Key here is to get good edge definition and make sure it is a dark edge (so in effect you work inwards).

Keep the lines sharp - go back and touch up if necessary - keeping it neat.  This saves a lot of work later on.

Second layer - brings out the definition on the scrolls, again keeping it neat is important.  Leave the crease's round the pole!

Saltires start to come to life - wee bit darker around the edges of the block colour's helps sharpen the edge effects.

Final layer - now you see the white - making it a wee bit streaky rather than solid flat will help with the texture.  Additional, highlight's can be applied to bring out subtle details.  Painting the text is a bear, but a steady hand and the ability to go back and touch up make it ok.  Don't be afraid to paint over the whole text and do it again. 

At this point I'm usually wishing they had just used that traditional slogan of "F*#k the Pope".  Again the neater the better, dont seat it if it's squint though - it all gets bent again when its folded so you don't notice it too much in the end.

At this point, turn the foil over and use a spoon to smooth out all the indents made when you drew the design. as the paint is thick and still somewhat flexible it heal's well.

Turn it over and apply a layer of varnish - this seals the paint - I use an old bootle of armory matt varnish (which looks more satin) but this helps keep the paint in good condition - the whole thing gets dull-coated down anyways.

Mount the flags on the poles.  Make sure the whole face is glued - normal wood glue works best.  Pay attention to the staff seams and spend time smoothing out out.  Already you can see the drop - looks more flag than square now. 

At this point go round the edges and touch up the paint - I cut with a knife rather than scissors, using a metal straight edge.  It's sharp but you still end up seeing the foil.  If you have big overlaps trim with a scissor.  I see so many good flags (Little Big Man in particular) ruined by silver edges.  It only takes two minutes.

Pay attention to the staffs, especially at the flag staff join.  Key thing here is that Civil War flags where on short poles, so cut them down.  The ensigns waved them about one handed - so its not the pole you have outside your local hotel!

Before you mount it on your standard bearer do the folds.  I uses a brush handle and fold the flag round it. Keep the folds smooth and curved - this stops the paint cracking.  I like to fold at and angle but you can play with this and also with the squeeze to control the tightness.

So here's the finished article.  Even though the figures are done - don't stick them down until you have played with the vertical space.  Also remember, the pike block is behind you, so of its pikes at the ready get your command base sorted then fit your pikes around it.

All the photos where done with the phone so not the best.  However, you can see that the folds and the drop now combine to hide the worst of the painting gaffs.

Flags for MacColla

Below are the flags used on my command base for MacColla. They were made in photoshop and can be printed for use in your own armies. I painted over the printed design (see here) as I prefer the hand-painted look but that is not really necessary.

The yellow flag depicts 'the black galley' common in ancient West highland heraldry, especially amongst the MacDonalds and MacDougalls, the descendants of Somerled. It is typically taken as a representation of power and is also linked to the Lordship of the Isles. 

The white sheet depicts the infamous "red hand of Ulster", a symbol linked to Ulster since at least the 16th century, and common amongst the heraldry of the O'Neill family. It is also found in west highland heraldry especially amongst the MacDonalds. 

The flags are speculative, but the designs use symbols common in the contemporary 17th century heraldry of the MacDonalds and other west coast clans with links across the water to Ulster.  There is no evidence that flags like these were carried by MacColla, or that they even existed, but both seem like fitting motifs for the Ulster-backed MacDonald. 

I can't claim this as an original idea, it is actually borrowed from a description of MacColla in Nigel Tranter's "Montrose: Captain General". Although Tranter puts a white galley on a black sheet. I changed this to a black galley on a yellow sheet to be consistent with references to MacColla's colours at Auldearn, and to be faithful to West highland heraldry.

Below is a link to great website source on West Highland Heraldry.  Some great ideas here for flags for your highland clansmen!

West Highland Heraldry

Apologies for repetition, but I wanted to include the flag information, previously published here, in this post too.

MacColla Command Base WIP

Quick update on my brigade command base featuring Maj. General Alasdair MacColla, near legendary commander of the Irish Brigade. The Litko 60mm round bases arrived last night so settled on final layout and finished up the new flags.

I was thinking of adding a Covenanter casualty model behind MacColla as well as some detritus of battle (helmet, musket etc) but it just looked too busy so will likely stick with just the big man and his personal standard bearers.

The flags are speculative, but the designs use symbols common in the contemporary 17th century heraldry of the MacDonalds and other west coast clans with links across the water to Ulster. The yellow flag depicts 'the black galley' common in ancient West highland heraldry, especially amongst the MacDonalds and MacDougalls, the descendants of Somerled. It is typically taken as a representation of power and is also linked to the Lordship of the Isles. 

The white sheet depicts the infamous "red hand of Ulster", a symbol linked to Ulster since at least the 16th century, and common amongst the heraldry of the O'Neill family. It is also found in west highland heraldry especially amongst the MacDonalds. 

There is no evidence that flags like these were carried by MacColla, or that they even existed, but both seem like fitting motifs for the Ulster-backed MacDonald. I can't claim this as an original idea, it is actually borrowed from a description of MacColla in Nigel Tranter's "Montrose: Captain General". Although Tranter puts a white galley on a black sheet. I changed this to a black galley on a yellow sheet to be consistent with references to MacColla's colours at Auldearn, and to be faithful to West highland heraldry.

Will post the finished command base soon, together as well as the flag sheets.