After the failed assault on Nantwich, nothing further seems to be recorded of the late Sandford's firelocks. It is probably that they were, having suffered heavy loss in the failed assault, merged with another unit, probably Langley's Firelocks and then participated in the disastrous defeat at the Battle of Nantwich shortly after which almost assuredly saw their demise.
Prince Rupert's Lifeguard of Firelocks. This unit was probably formed in late 1643 from professional soldiers raised in Holland under direct contract to Prince Rupert. [13] It was most likely stationed in the Shrewsbury garrison during 1644 where it may have been re-enforced from the various companies of firelocks which had arrived from Ireland and had survived the disaster at Nantwich back in January. That it had strong Irish army links was painfully demonstrated when five of its men, captured at the abortive assault on Abingdon in January 1645, were promptly strung up as Irishmen. [14]
They were at the storming of Leicester on 30th May 1645 where their then commander, Major Bunnington (who had been a Gentleman Pensioner before), was recorded as being killed by a shot in the eye just as he was at the top of a ladder leading the assault. Subsequently, they were possibly part of the garrison of Leicester as they were not at Naseby although neither were they recorded as being in Leicester when it surrendered. They were, though, with Rupert at the surrender of Bristol on 11th September 1645 where it was recorded that 'his Life Guard of fire-locks came forth, all in red coats before him....'. [15] They, along with the rest of the Bristol garrison, then marched to Oxford where they formed part of that garrison until disbanded, along with all Rupert's regiments, on 25th April 1646.
Its known officers demonstrate its Irish links:- L Major Bunnington, Major Aeneas Moyle, Captain Grove, Lieutenant Owen Carty. Both Lieut's of Lyne's coy, Lieutenant James Hinane, Ensign Mortaugh O'Donoghue. [16]
William Legge's Firelocks. Seemingly the only company of royalist firelocks formed specifically to guard the artillery train, in fact this company originated back in the Bishop's Wars. Captain William Legge began the war as Sergeant-Major to the Earl of Newport's Regiment, the Earl himself being Master of the Ordnance. The company Legge commanded as captain was that of firelock's which he retained when he became 'Master of the Armoury' in 1639 under the Earl. This company then effectively served as the company of firelocks to guard the artillery train, based at Hull, throughout 1639/40. During 1641, the company appears to have remained in existance, serving in Hull and possibly the Tower, Captain Legge now being seconded by his younger brother, Lieutenant Richard Legge who had served as an Ensign in the Earl of Newport's Regiment 1639-40, when his elder brother William had been Sergeant-Major until replaced by Captain George Monck. [17] Along with its commander, it is possible that these soldiers were part of the army plots of that year. This company would appear to have followed its Captain into the King's service in 1642 as it was certainly at the Battle of Edgehill, being clearly marked on de Gomme's map of that battle as "William Legge's Firelock's". [18] Having said this, as William Legge was probably not at Edgehill in person, the company would have been under the command of Lieutenant Richard Legge.
After Edgehill (if not before) the company became incorporated into the King's Lifeguard of Foote and appears to have remained with the Lifeguard as their company of firelocks for the remainder of the war. With William Legge's promotion after Edgehill, the command of the company formally passed to his brother, Richard Legge and it is shown as being still under his command during the Cornish campaign of 1 1644. [19] It is not clear if the company was with the Lifeguard for Naseby as Captain Richard Legge was not taken prisoner there and there is no other mention of its presence. It is possible that it had remained in Oxford where Colonel William Legge was then the governor or it may have been left as part of the Leicester garrison.
After this there is no further mention of the company's existence or fate. As to its last commander, at the Battle of Wigan Lane on 25th August 1651 'Lieutenant-Colonel Richard Legge' was taken prisoner with the defeat of the Earl of Derby's forces. [20] It should further be noted that at the Restoration in 1660, William Legge was made Master of the Ordnance and again became Captain of one of the Ordnance companies at the Tower who were armed, as before, with firelocks. Later, in 1685, the three ordnance companies at the Tower became the cadre for 'The Fusilier Regiment', later 'The Royal Fusiliers'.
Other Royalist Firelock units. There is the briefest of references in Symonds' Diary to two other units of Royalist firelocks in his account of Sir William Vaughan's defeat at Denbigh Green in November 1645 where "Prince Maurice's firelocks in part 150' and "Chirke's firelocks 20' are listed. [21] On the following page it is noted, 'Sunday, the firelocks and Gerrard's troope went to Worcester with Sir Willam Vaughan'.
Chirke's Firelocks, also known as Sir John Watt's Foot, were raised late in the war and for a time were the garrison of Chirke Castle. David Evans's research into Welsh royalists suggests this unit might have contained elements of a variety of other small firelock and dragoon units. Langley s Firelocks and Sir Thomas Hanmer's and Evan Lloyd's dragoons plus various other leftovers from Lord Capel's command. Chirke's Firelocks were destroyed in a furious fire fight in Churchstoke Church (which was consequently badly damaged), three miles south of Montgomery, in March 1646 while attempting to join Jacob Astley just prior to the Battle of Stowe. Another similar unit was Prince Maurice's Firelocks who appear to have been a small is unit raised in 1645 in the Seven Valley. Unfortunately, this appears to be all that is known of it.
From the English Army in Ireland, alongside s references to Sandford's Firelocks, there is brief reference to Captain Langley's company of if Firelocks who landed with Sandford's at Mostyn in November 1643. Again though, there seems to is be no further information on Langley's subsequent fate although it is possible they were merged with Sandford's and shared its fate.
Finally, even some standard infantry regiments were issued with firelocks, the Royalist Ordnance Papers record that on 13th. February 1645;
- 'Three score Snaphances unto Sir Henry Bard..". [22]
It also appears that Colonel James Progers' Foot, a southern Welsh regiment from Monmouthshire, which is recorded as seeing action at Monmouth in September 1644 and as later being in the garrison of Abergavenny, were armed with firelocks to some degree. So were Colonel Richard Herbert's Foot, raised in Shropshire and the Welsh Border, who served in a variety of Border castles. [23]
Conclusion. As can be seen from the contemporary records, companies of firelocks spent little time guarding artillery parks and much time performing several other important roles their weapons made them suitable for. The lack of a tell-tale burning match gave them a key advantage at night in preparing for assaults on fortifications and in outpost work. In garrisons, where walls had to be guarded day and night by sentinels ready to defend the walls at a moments notice, the firelocks did not need the constantly burning match which was so costly, both in terms of the quantity of match burnt and the consequences if the match was not kept alight.
As to organisation, while there were a number of independent companies of firelock's, such as Sandford's and Langley's, many were integrated into standard regiments of foot. Certainly Legge's company in the Lifeguard and possibly Rupert's fall into this category. It would appear doubtful that firelock muskets were just randomly distributed amongst the foot given their specific role; rather, specialist companies were apparently becoming common. Here, a comparison can be made with Parliament's formations where, for example, in 1642, apart from the 'Trayne Gaurd' of Essex's army, three companies of the Lord General's Regiment and Sir Edward Paytons company of Lord Peterboroughs Regiment were all specifically armed with firelocks. [24] Further, the Ordnance Papers of 1645-46 on the equipping of the New Model Army show over 3,300 'Snaphance' muskets being delivered, a number far in excess of those that Okey's Dragoons and the artillery train could ever have needed, and thereby strongly suggesting a more general issue of these weapons to standard infantry regiments. [25] Certainly in May 1650, when Colonel Walton's company was re-equiped, it was issued with 66 muskets of which 6 were firelocks, almost certainly for sentry and general outpost duties. [26] A yet more extensive issue of firelocks appears to have occurred as troops were transfered to Ireland in the late 1640's, [27] bringing one back to their specialist role as described by Orrery, most of whose service was in Ireland.
Note. *Extinguishers. On many occasions the lighted match of matchlock muskets had given warning of surprise attacks to garrisons and the like. In an attempt to solve this inherent problem with match. The Prince of Orange had invented a tin pipe about a foot long to contain the match and hide its light: it had holes in the side like a flute to let in the air and prevent the match from being extinguished. While this worked, it was cumbersome to say the least. [28]
References
- pgs.500-502, C.S.P.D. 1641-43.
- pgs.245-247, C.S.P.D. 1644-45.
- pg.181, Vol.111, 'Memoirs of Prince Rupert and the Cavaliers', by Edward Warburton (1849).
- pgs. 152-153, 'Officers and Regiments of the Royalist Army', by Stuart Reid (1988).
- E.351/292, f.5v.
- Ill, Royal Library, Windsor Castle. 22
- MS. Harieian 6804, f.109.
- pg.108, Vol.IV 'Collins's Peerage of England', by Sir Egerton Brydges (1812).
- pg.76 'Diary of the Marches of the Royal Army During the Great Civil War kept by Richard Symonds'. extracts printed by Partizan Press (1989).
- pg.356. "The Royalist Ordnance Papers' (part II), by Ian Roy (1975).
- pgs.94 and 146. 'Officers and Regiments of the Royalist Army', by Stuart Reid (1988). I am indebted to David Evans for the details on the origins and service of Progers Regiment.
- pg.45 'Old Robin's Foot', by Stuart Peachey and Alan Turton (1987).
- pgs.53-115 'Contracts for the Supply of Equipment to the "New Model" Army in 1645' by Gerald I. Mungeam, published in The Journal of the Arms and Armour Society, Vol. VI, No.3. September 1968.
- pg.32, Issue 23, English Civil War Notes & Queries.
- pg.431 "History of the British Standing Army 1660-1700', by Clifford Walton (1894).
- pg.84, Cromwell's Army. C.H.Firth (1902).
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