 The regiment was ranked as the 1st Dragoons, the oldest cavalry regiment of the line, in 1674.The regiment was recalled to England in 1678 (it was disbanded in France and reformed in England with most of the same officers) with the expectation of fighting in a war against France.In early 1679, it was disbanded and then reformed in June of that year as "Gerard's Regiment of Horse" (its colonel being Charles Gerard), with most of the same officers and men, to police the Covenanters in Scotland.