"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. "You are to pass and allow the said Regiments, Troopes and Companies, according to the directions following. "The first muster of any of the troopes of Horse is to be from the officers first produceing twenty or more good men well mounted to be mustered, and the following musters shall be upon produceing five men with their Horses till the whole Troope be compleated. The officers are to be allowed and enter into Pay from their said first muster of Twenty. "The foot are to be mustered as any of them are raised, and the officers of each Company are to be allowed from the time they muster twenty.