 The Anthony Roll provides detailed information about the flags used on the ships . According to the vexillologist Timothy Wilson , the flags depicted flying from the ships are " the most elaborate source we have for the flags flown on the ships of King Henry VIII , being richer in visual detail than all other sources put together . " Among the most striking flags in the illustrations are the elongated ceremonial streamers , shown flying from all ships in varying numbers . These feature a Saint George red cross on white ground on the hoist , nearest the flagpole , and a very long tail striped in green and white . They all feature gold paint on the red and green , and silver paint ( now oxidized to black ) on the white . This artistic device was used either to simulate the fluttering of the flags or to actually display the metallic thread and paint that was sometimes used to decorate them . 
