The establishment was fixed by warrant under the sign manual, bearing date the 1st of January, 1686, from which the following is an extract.
| Staff-Officers. | Per Diem. | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| £. | s. | d. | |
| Colonel, as Colonel, xiis, iij horses iijs | 0 | 15 | 0 |
| Lieutenant-Colonel, as Lieut.-Colonel, vijs, and ij horses ijs | 0 | 9 | 0 |
| Major (who has no troop) | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Chaplaine | 0 | 6 | 8 |
| Chirurgeon ivs and j horse to carry his chest, ijs | 0 | 6 | 0 |
| Adjutant ivs, and for his horse js | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| Quarter-Master and Marshal in one person ivs, his horse js | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| Gunsmith ivs and his servant is | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| 3 | 6 | 8 | |
| The Colonel's Troop. | |||
| The Colonel, as Captaine, viiis, and iij horses iijs | 0 | 11 | 0 |
| Lieutenant ivs, and ij horses ijs | 0 | 6 | 0 |
| Cornett iijs, and ij horses ijs | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| Quarter-Master, for himself and horse | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| Two Serjeants, each js vid, and ijs for horses | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| Three Corporals, each js, and iijs for horses | 0 | 6 | 0 |
| Two Drummers, each js, and ijs for horses | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| Two Hautboys, each is, and ijs for horses | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| Fifty Soldiers, each at is vid for man and horse | 3 | 15 | 0 |
| 6 | 0 | 0 | |
| Five Troops more, at the same rate | 30 | 0 | 0 |
| Total per Diem | 39 | 6 | 8 |
| Per Annum £14,356. 13s. 4d. | |||
| Captains. | Lieutenants. | Cornets. |
|---|---|---|
| Charles, Duke of Somerset, (Colonel) | Thomas Pownell | Thos. Brewerton |
| Alexr. Cannon, (Lieut.-Col.) | Edward Sandys | John Webb |
| Gustavus Philpot, (Major) | had no troop | |
| Richard Leveson | Willm. Stanniford | Francis De la Rue |
| John Williams | George Clifford | Richard Folliott |
| Thomas Hussey | William Hussey | Peter Sutherland |
| Oliver St. George | Francis Tankard | Rupert Napier |
| Henry Packhurst | Chaplain. | |
| James Barry | Adjutant. | |
| Noe L'Evesque | Chirurgeon. | |
1687
During the summer the regiment was encamped on Hounslow Heath, where it was reviewed by the King; it was also encamped on the same ground in the summer of 1687; and took part in several mock-engagements, which were exhibited by an army of upwards of ten thousand men, in presence of their Majesties, and a numerous concourse of people.
1688
The King, having openly declared himself a Roman Catholic, resolved to give public audience to a nuncio from the Pope, Ferdinand d'Adda, who had been consecrated Archbishop of Amasia in the King's Chapel at St. James's, and the Duke of Somerset, who was Lord of the Bedchamber in waiting, was directed to attend the legate into His Majesty's presence. This command his Grace refused to obey, with a laudable firmness which astonished the King, alleging the laws of England made such attendance treason; he was consequently deprived of his regiment and of his post at court. The King conferred the Colonelcy on the Lieutenant-Colonel, Alexander Cannon, under whom it was again encamped on Hounslow Heath.
While pursuing a course of tyrannical and ill-advised measures against the laws and religion of the country, the King learnt with astonishment and indignation, that the Prince of Orange was embarking an army for England to aid the noblemen and gentlemen who were opposed to papacy and arbitrary government; the Queen's Dragoons, with several other corps, were ordered to Ipswich, under the command of Major-General Sir John Lanier, to endeavour to preserve Landguard fort, and to oppose the Prince if he should attempt to land there. His Highness, however, landed at Torbay on the 5th of November, 1688, when the regiment was ordered to Salisbury, and from thence to Warminster, where the advance-post of the King's army was established.
While the regiment was stationed at Warminster, the Lieutenant-Colonel, Richard Leveson, Captain St. George, with several other officers and a number of men, being stanch Protestants and zealous advocates for their religion, and for the welfare of their country, quitted their post and joined the Prince of Orange. The remainder of the regiment continued with King James' army and retreated towards London. His Majesty having quitted England and retired to France, the regiment was re-united at Dunstable, and the Prince of Orange conferred the colonelcy on Lieutenant-Colonel Leveson, in succession to Colonel Cannon, who adhered to the interest, and followed the fortunes of King James.