[Illustration: +Charles the Second's Commission dated 19th July, 1666+,
Appointing "Generall Thomas Dalzell 'Captaine' of a Troupe of Horse, to be raised by you for Our Service, in the Regiment whereof Lieut.-Generall Drumond is Colonell."]
"To our right trusty and welbeloved Cousins and Councellors ... our Privy Councell of our ancient Kingdome of Scotland."
The very next warrant makes John Strachan Captain of one of "ye two companies of Dragoons to be forthwith leavied." It was followed under the same date by others, one making John Inglis Captain of the other company, one making John Lauder Lieutenant of Strachan's company, and another making William Cleland Lieutenant of Inglis's company. Then followed still two more, one appointing John Livingston Ensign in Strachan's and the other, Henry Dundas, Ensign under Inglis.
"Charles the Second by yᵉ grace of God king of Scotland, england, france and Ireland Defender of yᵉ faith &c. to our trusty and welbeloved John Strachan greeting: Wee reposing speciall trust and confidence in your Loyalty, Courage and good Conduct, doe by these presents constitute and appoint you to be Captaine of one of yᵉ two Companies of Dragoones appointed by us to be forthwith leavied for our service in our ancient Kingdome of Scotland, which Company is to consist of one hundred men besides officers. You are therefore carefully to discharge the Duty of a Captaine by exercising yᵉ said Company in Armes, both Officers and soldiers, and keeping them in good order and Discipline. And wee doe hereby command them to obey you as their Captaine, and you likewise exactly to observe and follow all such Orders and Directions as you shall from time to time receive from Us, our Privy Councell, the Commander in chiefe of our fforces in that our Kingdome now or for the time being, or any other your superiour officer, according to the Rules and Discipline of Warre, in pursuance of yᵉ trust which wee doe hereby repose in you.
"Given at our Court at Whitehall the 21th day of May 1678--and of our Reigne the 30th year."
The following order relates in part to the _three Independent Troopes of Dragoones_. (War Office Miscellany Orders, vol. v., folio 179):--
"Whereas his Majesty hath thought fitt to order the immediate Raiseing of three Regiments of Horse consisting of eight Troopes each Regiment, and sixty men in each Troope besides Officers: as also three Regiments of Foot consisting of four Companyes each Regiment, and one hundred men in each Company, besides officers; and one Regiment of Dragoons consisting of eight Troopes, and eighty men in each troope, besides officers, _and three other Independent Troopes of Dragoons_, of the like number; and three Troopes of Horse Granadiers, consisting of eighty men in one of the Troopes, and sixty men in each of the other two Troopes, besides officers.