THE BANNER OF THE ADMIRAL OF POOLE [To the Editor
of the SPECTATOR.] Sin,—All who are interested in personal or corporate heraldry will probably like to know that, owing to the public spirit of the Mayor of Poole, an excellent example of such a flag as was flown by many a knightly family and in most cities of the Low Countries and the Empire during times of war and ceremony has been presented to the Corporation for use in civic functions, when, as R.L.S. tells us, " a grand air is truly becoming."
The Mayor, by the way, besides being chief magistrate is also ex-officio Admiral in virtue of an Order in Council, temp. Hen. viii., and during the past five years the ancient custom of beating the bounds of his jurisdiction over the inland waters of Poole Inlet has been duly observed with such pomp as suited the occasion. But there has been no banner to hoist at the mast-head of the launch which serves for Bucentaur ' in these muddy and chilly meres.
It occurred to the Admiral as he noted this deficiency to commission an expert in ancient standards and the like to design a suitable ensign. The Arms of Poole are a convincing example of the liking heralds have at all times shown for allusive blazonry or " armoiries parlantes." Being a seaport Poole afforded an attractive opportunity for the display of heraldic wit, not only in the charges but the tincts of its achievement, although the results are somewhat sombre. To counterbalance this and still further to support the sug- gestion of the arms, a crest of a mermaid holding an anchor was added with a motto that has given rise to much con- jecture. The designer of the flag, however, as he limned the sea-maiden had an inspiration which seems at least plausible. The motto is : " Ad Morem V illae de Poole." To the artist at work and conversant with the irrepressible fecundity of dog-Latin, the mediaeval equivalent of pidgin-English of to-day, "Morem," especially taken in conjunction with the anchor held by the mermaid, seemed capable of expressing a double meaning : (1) ad morem—" a la mode," " after the style," or (2) " at the mooring " of the town of Poole.
(3) Then should the inquiring mariner ask what is the style of Poole the herald with a twinkle in his eye and sly smile on lip replies by pointing to the buxom mermaid, who proffers the anchor as one who should say with demure expression, " Why drop anchor, my hearties, and come ashore for a good time."
However, be the explanation what one will, there is no doubt the Admiral-Mayor of Poole has provided a very hand- some banner, in which the arms of the ancient borough occupy the first third of the length, being displayed on a yellow cross with red and blue squares quaterly and the rest of the flag dividing down the middle by a narrower white band sprinkled with yellow rosettes, a blue and red streamer on Which is depicted the mermaid partially surrounded by a boldly designed " garter " or riband charged with the motto of Poole.
The flag has been designed on the " streamer " or pennant pattern, after the example of the banner of Sir Henry de Stafford, K.G., 1475, and is strictly proportioned to the best
Previous page
