[Illustration: FIG. 3.--Medieval Kettledrums, 14th century. (Brit.
Museum.)]
As in the case of the trumpet, the use of the kettledrum was placed
under great restrictions in Germany and France and to some extent in
England, but it was used in churches with the trumpet.[16] No French or
German regiment was allowed kettledrums unless they had been captured
from the enemy, and the _timbalier_ or the _Heerpauker_ on parade, in
reviews and marches generally, rode at the head of the squadron; in
battle his position was in the wings. In England, before the
Restoration, only the Guards were allowed kettledrums, but after the
accession of James II. every regiment of horse was provided with
them.[17] Before the Royal Regiment of Artillery was established, the
master-general of ordnance was responsible for the raising of trains of
artillery. Among his retinue in time of war were a trumpeter and
kettledrummer. The kettledrums were mounted on a chariot drawn by six
white horses. They appeared in the field for the first time in a train
of artillery during the Irish rebellion of 1689, and the charges for
ordnance include the item, "large kettledrums mounted on a carriage
with cloaths marked I.R. and cost £158, 9s."[18] A model of the
kettledrums with their carriage which accompanied the duke of
Marlborough to Holland in 1702 is preserved in the Rotunda Museum at
Woolwich. The kettledrums accompanied the Royal Artillery train in the
Vigo expedition and during the campaign in Flanders in 1748. Macbean[19]
states that they were mounted on a triumphal car ornamented and gilt,
bearing the ordnance flag and drawn by six white horses. The position of
the car on march was in front of the flag gun, and in camp in front of
the quarters of the duke of Cumberland with the artillery guns packed
round them. The kettledrummer had by order "to mount the kettledrum
carriage every night half an hour before the sun sett and beat till gun
fireing." In 1759 the kettledrums ceased to form part of the
establishment of the Royal Artillery, and they were deposited, together
with their carriage, in the Tower, at the same time as a pair captured
at Malplaquet in 1709. These Tower drums were frequently borrowed by
Handel for performances of his oratorios.
The kettledrums still form part of the bands of the Life Guards and
other cavalry regiments. (K. S.)