Editing Union Jack (section)

====Scottish Union Flag====
[[File:Edinburgh Castle John Slezer trimmed.jpg|thumb|alt=Engraving of a castle on top of a steep hill, above the title "The North East View of Edinburgh Castle". On the castle flies a large Union Flag with Scottish saltire part of flag most visible.|[[John Slezer|Slezer's]] [[Edinburgh Castle]] {{circa|1693}} depicting the Scottish Union flag<ref name="slezer">{{cite web |title=The North East View of Edinburgh Castle |url=http://digital.nls.uk/slezer/engraving.cfm?sl=59 |website=[[National Library of Scotland]] |department=Slezer's Scotland |access-date=9 January 2012}}</ref>]]
In objecting to the design of the Union Flag adopted in 1606, whereby the cross of Saint George surmounted that of Saint Andrew, a group of Scots took up the matter with [[John Erskine, Earl of Mar (1558–1634)|John Erskine, 19th Earl of Mar]], and were encouraged by him to send a letter of complaint to James VI, via the [[Privy Council of Scotland]], which stated that the flag's design "''will breid some heit and miscontentment betwix your Majesties subjectis, and it is to be feirit that some inconvenientis sail fall oute betwix thame, for our seyfaring men cannot be inducit to resave that flage as it is set down''".<ref>{{cite book |last=Hulme |first=Edward. F. |title=The flags of the world: their history, blazonry and associations |url=https://archive.org/stream/flagsofworldthei00hulmiala/flagsofworldthei00hulmiala_djvu.txt |format=txt |year=1897 |publisher=F. Warne & co. |page=152}}</ref> Although documents accompanying this complaint which contained drafts for alternative designs have been lost, evidence exists, at least on paper, of an unofficial Scottish variant, whereby the Scottish cross was uppermost. There is reason to think that cloth flags of this design were employed during the 17th century for unofficial use on Scottish vessels at sea.<ref>{{cite book |last=Bartram |first=Graham |title=British Flags & Emblems |year=2005 |publisher=Flag Institute/Tuckwell |isbn=978-1-86232-297-4 |page=122}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=Crampton |first=William |title=Flags of the World |year=1992 }}</ref><ref name="Smith 1973">{{cite journal |last=Smith |first=Whitney |journal=The Flag Bulletin |title=Title unknown |year=1973 |publisher=Flag Research Center}}</ref> This flag's design is also described in the 1704 edition of ''The Present State of the Universe'' by [[John Beaumont (geologist)|John Beaumont]], which contains as an appendix ''The Ensigns, Colours or Flags of the Ships at Sea: Belonging to The several Princes and States in the World''.<ref>{{cite book |last=Beaumont |first=John |author-link=John Beaumont (geologist) |title=The Present State of the Universe ... |year=1704 |orig-date=1701 |publisher=Benj. Motte |page=164}}</ref>

On land, evidence confirming the use of this flag appears in the depiction of [[Edinburgh Castle]] by [[John Slezer]], in his series of [[engraving]]s entitled ''Theatrum Scotiae'', c. 1693. Appearing in later editions of ''Theatrum Scotiae'', the ''North East View of Edinburgh Castle'' engraving depicts the ''[[Scotch (adjective)|Scotch]]'' (to use the appropriate adjective of that period) version of the Union Flag flying from the Palace block of the Castle.<ref>{{cite book |first1=John |last1=Slezer |first2=Robert |last2=Sibbald |first3=Abel |last3=Swall |author-link=John Slezer |title=Theatrum Scotiae<!--: Containing the prospects of their Majesties castles and palaces: together with those of the most considerable towns and colleges; the ruins of many ancient abbeys, churches, monasteries and convents, within the said kingdom. All curiously engraven on copper plates. With a short ... --> |year=1693 |publisher=John Leake |page=114}}</ref> On ''[[The North Prospect of the City of Edenburgh]]'' engraving, the flag is indistinct.<ref name="north prospect">{{cite web |url=http://digital.nls.uk/slezer/engraving.cfm?sl=58 |title=The North Prospect of the City of Edenburgh |department=Slezer's Scotland |website=[[National Library of Scotland]] |access-date=9 January 2012}}</ref>
[[File:BeaumontScottishUnionFlag.png|thumb|alt=White saltire clearly visible over white-bordered red cross on blue background.| Scottish Union Flag depicted in the 1704 edition of ''The Present State of the Universe.'']]
On 17 April 1707, two weeks prior to the [[Acts of Union 1707|Acts of Union]] coming into effect, and with Sir [[Henry St George, the younger]], the [[Garter King of Arms]], having presented several designs of flag to [[Anne, Queen of Great Britain|Queen Anne]] and her [[Privy Council of England|Privy Council]] for consideration, the flag for the soon to be unified [[Kingdom of Great Britain]] was chosen. At the suggestion of the Scots representatives, the designs for consideration included that version of Union Jack showing the Cross of Saint Andrew uppermost; identified as being the "''Scotts union flagg as said to be used by the Scotts''".<ref name='de Burton'>{{cite news |first=Simon |last=de Burton |title=How Scots lost battle of the standard |date=9 November 1999 |publisher=Johnston Press plc |url=http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1P2-18715263.html |work=The Scotsman |access-date=30 June 2009}} {{Dead link|date=April 2012|bot=H3llBot}}</ref> However, the Queen and her Council approved Sir Henry's original effort, numbered "one".<ref name="de Burton"/>

A manuscript compiled in 1785 by William Fox and in possession of the [[Flag Research Center]] includes a full plate showing "''the scoth ''{{sic}}'' union''" flag. This could imply that there was still some use of a Scottish variant before the addition of the cross of St Patrick to the Union Flag in 1801.<ref name="Smith 1973"/>