With an increased supply of muskets and a need for rapid movement, the Royalist armies, no doubt under Prince Rupert’s influence, started to make use of large bodies of “commanded out” shot - that is musketeers operating independently from their regiment’s pike. An example of the scale of this is the start of the campaign that led to the Battle of Cropredy Bridge, when the army that marched from Oxford comprised of 5,000 horse and 2,500 musketeers. The remaining infantry (1,500 musketeers and 200 pike) joined the army on the march somewhat later. In addition to this, a number of foot regiments appear to have been made up ofjust musketeers, possibly because they had been created out of garrison forces who had little need of pikes.
Firelocks are traditionally assumed to have been used to guard the artillery train, as they are safer around gunpowder, lacking the burning match of the matchlock musket. In the Royalist army, however, they became a form of assault troops, some gaining a fearsome reputation. This may have been due to the fact that they often contained a significant Irish contingent, who were motivated by the fact that if captured by the Parliamentarians they would be hanged forthwith. Another use for firelock companies was as bodyguards for senior officers - both Prince Rupert and Prince Maurice had such guards.
World History
