FIFTEENTH, OR YORKSHIRE EAST RIDING
REGIMENT OF FOOT.
1685
Peace with foreign nations and tranquillity at home, accompanied by improvements in the domestic and commercial interests of the kingdom, followed the accession of King James II. to the throne, in February, 1685; but few months elapsed before James Duke of Monmouth appeared as a competitor to the throne, and raised an army in the west of England. The King immediately augmented his regular forces; and among the corps then raised was the regiment which now bears the title of the Fifteenth Regiment of Foot.
This corps was raised in Nottinghamshire and the adjoining counties, the general rendezvous being at Nottingham; and the several companies of which it was composed were raised by the following gentlemen:— Sir William Clifton, —— Cotter, —— Baker, William Barnes, William Dobyns, Thomas Fowke, John Stanhope, —— Warren, William Stow, and Roger Kirkby. Sir William Clifton was appointed colonel by commission dated the 22nd of June, 1685; Captain Cotter was appointed to be lieut.-colonel, and Captain Baker to be major.
While many loyal men were arraying themselves under the King's banner, and the several companies of the regiment were making rapid progress towards being completed in numbers, the rebel army was overthrown at Sedgemoor, and the Duke of Monmouth was afterwards captured and beheaded.
In August, the regiment marched from Nottingham to Hounslow, and pitched its tents on the heath; where it was reviewed by the King, who thanked the officers and soldiers for the readiness they had evinced to support the Crown at the moment of danger: it afterwards marched to London, was quartered for a short period in Moorfields, and in September proceeded to Carlisle, North Shields, Landguard Fort, and Scarborough Castle, where it passed the winter.
1686
The King, having resolved to retain the regiment in his service, fixed its establishment, by warrant under the sign-manual, bearing date the 1st of January, 1685–6, at the following numbers and rates of pay (see [p. 3]).