The invention of gunpowder was speedily followed by the introduction of cannon; but many years elapsed before a corps of artillery was added to the army. The guns were fired by men hired for the purpose, under the direction of a master-gunner, and an officer styled the Master of the Ordnance, and the whole were under the orders of the Master-general of the Ordnance. Non-commissioned officers and private soldiers of infantry regiments were frequently employed as gunners; and the care and protection of the guns were confided to particular corps. On the augmentation of the army during the rebellion of JAMES DUKE OF MONMOUTH, in the summer of 1685, King James II. resolved, that the first infantry corps raised on that occasion should be an ORDNANCE REGIMENT, for the care and protection of the cannon; of which corps His Majesty appointed GEORGE LORD DARTMOUTH, then Master-general of the Ordnance, colonel, by commission dated the 11th of June, 1685. The regular regiments of foot were composed, at this period, of MUSKETEERS,--men armed with muskets and swords; PIKEMEN,--armed with long pikes and swords; and GRENADIERS,--armed with hand-grenades, muskets, bayonets, swords, and small hatchets; but in the ORDNANCE REGIMENT every man carried a long musket called a _fusil_, with a sword and bayonet, from which peculiarity in the arming, the regiment obtained the designation of "FUSILIERS;" and the King being desirous of appearing publicly to patronize this new corps, conferred upon it the title of "ROYAL FUSILIERS."[6] Regiments of infantry had, originally, a colour to each _company_, which was called an _ensign_, and was carried by the junior subaltern officer of each company, who was styled "ancient," and afterwards "ensign," which term signified "colour-bearer." The regiments of fusiliers did not have colours or ensigns to each company, consequently the title of ensign or colour-bearer was not given to the junior subaltern officer of each company; but having, in consequence of the peculiar services they were called upon to perform, a care and responsibility equal to that of a lieutenant, both the subaltern officers of each company were styled lieutenants. They were both placed on the same rate of pay; but the terms _first lieutenant_ and _second lieutenant_ were used in their commissions for several years, and afterwards discontinued.