A Postscript on the Size of the Colours

The early colours were still about 6.5 ft square, excluding the sleeve. The 1734-49 stand is six feet six inches flying by six feet two inches on the pole. The 1756-58 stand is about the same and the 1747 Ms "Colours of the Marching Regiments" lays down exactly those measurements. The 1768 Warrant reduced the size slightly to six feet six inches flying by six feet on the pole. This was to remain the regulation size until 1855.

Principle Sources Consulted

British Infantry Colours: Dino Lemonfides; Mitcham 1971.
Colours, Cloathing--- etc-: R. Napier, Manuscript, Royal Library Windsor, c1747 (Colours of the British Marching Regiments 1751)
General and Compleat List Military: Nathan Brooks; London 1684.
Historical Records of the 4th Foot: R. Cannon; London 1839.
Journal of the Society for Army Historical Research: Various issues.
Standards and Collours; of the Army: S.M. Milne; London 1881.
Ms- Book of Standards and C-oloars: Anon; Royal Library Windsor c1686 (The James II Colour Book)

Plus my own notes collected from many sources and observations of actual surviving colours.

Notes

[1] The regiment was raised with a strength of 16 companies each of 65 men plus 'officers'. Eight companies were raised in and around London by Lt. Colonel Percy Kirke, the other eight in the West Country by Major Charles Trelawney.
[2] Royal Warrant of William III.
[3] General and Compleat List op cit. NB This List was reprinted by the SAHR in Journal Vols I-III.
[4] In the collection of the Earl of Dartmouth. Catalogue Nr22 in the NAM's recent 'Glorious Revolution' exhibition.
[5] However the Holland Regiment appear to have carried one stand from 1689 until 1709. See 'Colours of the Marlburian Wars Part I': S. Ede-Borrett; in Miniature Wargames, January 1989, Epsom 1989; pp 32-33 and Part II in MW, pp 32-33.
[6] Cf Flags of the English Civil Wars Part 1: S. Ede-Borrett; Leeds 1987.
[7] Historical Records of the 4th Foot: pp10-12.
[8] Warrant for payment in the WO papers in the Public Records Office, Kew.
[9] The Grenadier Company did not carry a colour - hence thirteen companies but only twelve colours.
[10] Historical Records, op cit. pp 10-14.
[11] Colours of the Marlburian Wars, op cit.
[12] There is another manuscript which shows very similar colours as the "1746 Colour Book". Regretably I have not had the opportunity to examine this source in detail.
[13] This battalion was only in existence for two years. Raised as the 2nd battalion, 4th Foot in 1756 it became the 62nd Foot in 1758. Thus these colours can be dated with a fair degree of accuracy.
[14] These colours were lost by the regiment under remarkable circumstances. In 1797 the cadre of the regiment embarked on board three ships at Quebec bound for England. One of the three, 'The Three Sisters', was intercepted by 2 French privateer, 'La Vengeance', and all passangers and crew taken prisoner. However, during the latter stages of the fight, Mr. McQuire, the wife of the Regimental Surgeon, to prevent the colours, which were aboard, from falling into French hands, wrapped them around her flat irons and dropped them over the side!

More Early Colours of the Regiment of Foot Numbered the 4th

Introduction
The First Colours 1680-1686
New Colours for the Queen Consorts 1686-9
From Queen's to King's 1689-1734
Colonel William Barrell, 1734-c1747/9
Clothing Regulations and Royal Warrants 1747-1799
Colours of the 2nd Battalion 1756-8
Colours' Sizes, Sources, and Notes