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THEBRITI S HARMY:ITS~rigin, ~rDgrtSS, anh ~quitJmtnt.BYSIR SIBBALD DAVID se 0 TJI' ·:-R.U:'T.~....... ... ~'. . ,LATB CAPrAIN ROYAL SUSSEX KILITIA. ARTILL~Y.;;: _:': ..rBLLOW 01' TBB SOCIETY OF Al'I'TIQUARIlCll 01' bOlC;l

DRAGOONS ARMED WITH BAYONETS. 321"April 2, 1672." CHARLES R."Our will and pleasure is that a Regiment ofDragoons which we established and ordered to beraised in Twelve Troopes of four score in each besidesofficers, who are to be under the command of Ourmost deare and most intirely beloved Cousin, PrinceRupert, shall be armed out of Our stoares remainingwithin Our office of the Ordinance, as followeth: thatis to say, three corporalls j two serjeants, the gentlemen-at-arms,and twelve souldiers of each of the saidtwelve Troopes, are to have and carry each of themone halbard, and one case of pistoUs with holsters;and the rest of the souldiers of the several Troopesaforesaid are to have and carry each of them onematch-Iocke musquet with a collar of bandaliers, andalso to have and to carry one ba!l0nett or fJreate knife.That each lieutenant have and carry one partizan;and that two drums be delivered out for each Troopeof the said Regiment."By His Majesty's Command,(Signed)" ARLINGTON."To Sir Thomas Chichely, Master-General of theOrdnance."The introduction of a lighter fire-arm, the fusil,would render the bayonet far more effective. Theold unwieldy musket, even when armed with thebayonet, was very unequal to cope with the comparativelylight spear or pike. It has been alreadystated that our first regiment of Fusiliers (the 7th)VOL. If. V