I^AJ^KINEK — TJtc Irkh Giiardis. 11 



Irish Government. The formal constitution of a standing army hy 

 Charles II., and the foi-mation of His Majesty's Regiment of Guards, 

 took place early in 1661. It does not appear how far, if at all, the 

 King's advisers then contemplated the provision of a separate militaiy 

 estahlishment for Ireland. It is prohahle that the question remained 

 in abeyance until after the selection of the first Restoration Viceroy, 

 an appointment which was delayed until the autumn of that year. When 

 the Duke of Ormond was appointed to the Yiceroyalty, he was careful 

 to imitate in all respects, as far as possible, the model provided in Eng- 

 land. The establishment for Ireland, both civil and military, followed 

 closely upon the lines laid down by Clarendon and the other advisers 

 of Charles II. Ormond was given a free hand in Ireland, " the 

 places, as well in the martial as civil list, being left freely to his 

 disposing." He at once proceeded to exercise his authority, by 

 providing for the civil and military needs of Ireland upon a scale of 

 great magnificence. And as a means, both of emphasising the dignity 

 of the Viceregal office, and of supplying an efficient force for service 

 in emergency, one of his first steps was to procure a commission to 

 raise a Regiment of Guards for service in Ireland. Accordingly, on 

 April 23rd, 1662, a commission was issued to the Vicei'oy.^ 



The Duke of Ormond- received his commission on April 23rd, 1662, 

 and he lost no time in acting on the authority thus given to him. 

 On the following day the regiment was formally constituted, and pro- 

 vision was made for the enrolment of twelve companies of one himdred 

 men each. The Viceroy's second son. Lord Richard Butler, who was 

 immediately afterwards created Earl of Arran, was gazetted Colonel of 

 the regiment with the captaincy of a company ; and eleven other 

 officers were appointed to the remaining companies.^ The establish- 

 ment of the regiment was calculated on a generous scale, no less a sum 



^ The following is the text of this Commission : — 



"Whereas we have already constituted and appointed James, Duke of Ormond. 

 to he Governor of our Kingdom of Ireland, and of all our armies there raised and to 

 to he raised : And whereas we have thought fit to raise within this our kingdom 

 of Ireland, a regiment of 1200 foot to be our Eegiment of Guards in our said 

 Kingdom of Ireland : "We do give and grant to our said Lieutenant and Chiei' 

 Governor full power, liberty and authority, by heat [of drums, proclamations, or 

 otherwise, to raise the said number of men in England, and to conduct, lead and 

 transport them into Ireland, with power and authority to him to give and grant 

 commissions under his hand and seal to such persons as he shall think fit to be 

 officers and commanders of the said regiment." — Ormonde i\IS., unprinted. 



2 Ormonde, MS., vol. i., 239. 



2 " Sir William Petty's Political Anatomy." 



