French Horse Company 1684

The cavalry companies are now made up of two brigadiers, two Carabiniers, thirty-five cavaliers and a trumpeter.

French Cavalry Company c.1678

The cavalry companies are now made up of two brigadiers, two Carabiniers, thirty-five cavaliers and a trumpeter. The Carabiniers are horsemen chosen by distinction from the company, as the most experienced in the profession of warfare, and the most skilful at shooting. They have rifled carbines, which carry three hundred paces, and are charged with an iron rod. They get forty-five sols more pay per month than the horsemen, and a golden Louis-d’or every time they win the prize on the days they are offered.

The order that is represent, is of a company in line of march in four files. This shows the position of each officer, according to the Rank they hold in the company, this is:

A. Trumpeter
B. Captain, he must be rich, so that he can support the losses that may occur to him through the mortality of his horses, or through the desertion of his riders. He must be a man of experience, and have served on various occasions. He must be generous, and not promise anything to his cvalier that he does not want to keep.
C. Lieutenant, this is the second officer and he must have a perfect knowledge of the qualities of the horses, in order to get rid of the vicious ones, and make sure that the company is always well mounted.
D. Cornet, this Officer is usually a young man of quality, who starts with this job to learn the job of war. He is the third officer of his company, and his appointment depends on the King alone.
E. The Standard here is carried in the second rank by a brave and faithful horseman paid by the Cornet. The standard is a piece of cloth about a foot and a half long, in quarter, on which are embroidered the Arms, the Mottoes, or the numbers of the Prince or Colonel.
F. Two Brigadiers (or Corporals), each Brigadier must be a man of heart and a good example, in order to be able to calm any quarrels that may arise between the cavaliers. He must know how to read and write, in order to keep a record of the orders he receives from the marshal of the lodgings.
G. Cavaliers or Troopers
H. Marshal of Logistics (or Quarter-Master), this officer must be a vigilant and diligent man, he must take particular care that the ammunition and fodder received from the stores is good, and he must distribute it to his Cavalier without alteration, and must take care that they do not sell it.

The command between Captains is quite different in the Cavalry, to that in the Infantry. In the infantry they command according to the seniority of their Regiment but here they only follow the date of their commissions. This is observed between the Field Marshals and the other Cavalry Officers.