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Scots Regiments in French Service The Gardes-Ecossais Regiment de Hepborn There were many
foreign regiments in French service during the mid 17th century due to the
massive expansion of the 1620’s. There were a mere thirteen in 161, but by 1645
there were 139! These included Scots, Irish, Swiss, Ukrainian Kosak, German,
and Italian. Most of these regiments were small at 500 to 700 men. The greatest
number of foreign regiments were always made up of the Swiss, with up 3,000 in number,
but the next most prolific were the Scots. The Scots and the
French had a long history of joint operations against their joint traditional
enemy, the English. There had been French troops fighting in The Premier French
Regiment was Regiment de Hepborn, formed in 1633 by Sir John Hepburn, a
Colonel –General, and up to 2000 men. This regiment later had the remnants of
the Swedish Green Brigade join them also. By January of 1643
the corps under Colonel –General Hepburn included 5 regiments: It might be noted
that Hepburn was granted a patent to raise troops in French infantry of
the period were un-uniformed as were most western armies. It is interesting to
note that the standard issue cloth for the army was a grey woolen, much the
same as used traditionally by Scots troops in Swedish, Polish/Lithuanian and
Scots (ECW) service, for the same reason… it was the cheapest. There is
evidence that the bonnie blue cap was worn by all the above. Note:
The Gardes-Ecossais, as with most French guard units they seem to have been equipped
with the new firelock or flintlock much earlier than most French Regiments.
This makes them a useful standard unit for other later impressions such as the
Third English Civil War and Polish wars. |