"shall be armed out of our stoares remaining within Our office of the Ordinance as followeth; that is to say, three corporalls, two serjeants, the gentlemen at armes, and twelve souldiers of each of the said twelve Troopes, are to have and carry each of them one halbard, and one case of pistolls with holsters; and the rest of the souldiers of the several Troopes aforesaid, are to have and to carry each of them one matchlocke musquet, with a collar of bandaliers, and also to have and to carry one bayonet or great knife. That each lieutenant have and carry one partizan, and that two drums be delivered out for each Troope of the said Regiment."
By warrants dated 21st May, 1678, two independent troops of Dragoons were raised, their respective Captains being John Strachan and John Inglis.
This was the beginning of the Royal Scots Greys.
On 23rd September, 1678, Viscount Kingstoun was commissioned to be Captain of "a new company of Dragoons appointed by us to be forthwith levyed."
Four days later, Francis Stuart, of Coldingham, was appointed Lieutenant of this new company.
On July 24th, 1679, Francis Stuart became Captain of this new company in succession to Viscount Kingstoun who resigned.
By Royal Warrant on the 25th of November, 1681, three troops were ordered to be added to the three already raised, and the whole six formed into a regiment. See page [13].
The following extract relates to the state of Scotland and proposed increase of forces there. (State Papers—Scotland—Warrant Books, vol. iv., folio 370):—
"CHARLES R.
"Right trusty and welbeloued Cousins and Councellors.—Wee greet you well. After full and satisfactory information from the Lords commissionated by you here, of what has been done by you in our Service, Wee doe againe approve of your proceeding, and thank you for your care, assuring you of our favour, assistance, and protection, upon all occasions; and for the more effectual prosecution thereof, wee find it necessary to signify to you, and by you to our people there, that wee are firmly resolved to owne and assert our authority, so as may equally encourage you and discourage all such as by seditious Practices endeavour in aspersing you to lessen our Prerogative: And finding by good information that the Phanaticks there, expecting encouragement from such as oppose you, and taking advantage of the present juncture of affaires here, have of late with great insolence flocked together frequently and openly in ffield conventicles those Rendevouses of Rebellion, and haue dared to oppose our fforces, though wee neither heed nor doe fear such insolent attempts, yet from a just care of our own authority, and a kindnesse to our good subjects there, we haue thought fit to order that some more fforces may be trained; and for that effect wee haue commanded the Lords of our Treasury to take an effectuall course for providing what money wee shall find necessary for raising and maintaining those Troopes at our charge, And wee expect from you an exact and speedy Account of what number and quality of Troopes may be necessary there upon this occasion; to the end wee may direct commissions, and give such other orders as wee shall find requisite. For doing whereof this shall be your Warrant, and so wee bid you heartily ffarewell.