Monro his expedition vvith the vvorthy Scots Regiment (called Mac-Keyes Regiment) levied in August 1626. by Sr. Donald Mac-Key Lord Rhees, colonell for his Majesties service of Denmark, and reduced after the Battaile of Nerling, to one company in September 1634. at Wormes in the Paltz Discharged in severall duties and observations of service; first under the magnanimous King of Denmark, during his warres against the Emperour; afterward, under the invincible King of Sweden, during his Majesties life time; and since, under the Directour Generall, the Rex-chancellor Oxensterne and his generalls. Collected and gathered together at spare-houres, by Colonell Robert Monro ... for the use of all worthie cavaliers favouring the laudable profession of armes. To which is annexed the abridgement of exercise, and divers practicall observations, for the younger officer his consideration; ending with the souldiers meditations going on service.

The fifth Observation.

ALL things were atchieved unto here, by the goodnesse of a glorious order, being seconded with skilfull and valorous Officers and Soul∣diers, obedient even unto death, every one by revolution keeping his certaine time and turne, and that with strictnesse, each being greedy of their owne honour and advancement, under this noble King and Generall who liked of no wicked Souldier, living out of compasse and rule; such as were birds of the Divells hatching, all such were banished from this Ar∣my, that was led by Pious and religious Gustavus of never dying memory; who could not abide any that would profaine Gods ordinance, or that refu∣sed to give obedience to good orders.

Here at Letts, before our rising to Dameine, I could not but pitty, though an enemy, the Italian Governour, that commanded in Letts, who suffered

himselfe, the place, and his followers to be surprised, knowing of the Ar∣mies approach: for we see by his example, that goods evill conquest with great paines, are soone lost, going away with wings swifter then the winde; [ S] whereof Histories are full of examples, to which purpose I will inferre one story, I have reade of Hugolene Gerrardesque Depise, as records, Paulus Aemili∣us in the eighth booke of the French story. This Hugolene being a Comman∣der for the Pope over the Guelfes, having chased a part of the Gibelins that were with the Emperour, terrifying the rest, he became so greatly renow∣ned amongst his owne folke, that he commanded what he pleased, and was made Lord and Governour of a City (as this Italian was here) being accoun∣ted noble, rich, magnificent, and learned, he was married, having good issue, he abounded in all riches, more then he could desire or wish, being counted happy, and at his ease according to his owne minde, and the opi∣nion of his friends; he made a feast on his birth day, and having assembled his friends; being merry he fell in commendation of his owne worth and ho∣nour, extolling himselfe above the Clouds so farre, that he begun to aske of one of his neerest friends, if he thought he lacked any thing to make him happy: the other considering the uncertainty of worldly affaires, and the deceitfull vanities thereof that perish in a moment when the Lord pleaseth but to breath, said; certainely the wrath of God cannot be farre from this thy great prosperity. Incontinent the Forces of the Gibelius begining to stirre, unexpected come about the lodging, breake in through the Ports kill his children, and take himselfe, who begging life being refused, was miserably murthered, and all his goods taken by the enemy in Italy, in the yeare 1288. to teach all mortall men not to glory too much in uncertaine riches, that come but slowly and goe away swiftly.

Those men that are meanely risen, may justly be checked here, that when [ C] they have attained unto wealth, riches and honour, presently they will be∣gin to counterfeit the Nobility, pressing to tread in their foote••steps, though not belonging unto them: for wealth attained unto, it may be by unlaw∣full meanes, should not make the owners too proud of it, lest suddenly it may be lost, as chanced to Hugolene. Neverthelesse some fantastick Offi∣cers, that cannot governe themselves nor their wealth, they will hunt and hawke, with traines on Princes bounds (as I have knowne some doe being abroad) thinking themselves equall to Princes▪ whereof they were farre short, and they will have their silver plate, their gold, their silver, their Iewells, their Coaches, their horses, their traines, and Officers of houshold counterfeiting greatnesse and great men, having, it may be, but little worth besides, suffering themselves in their Pompe to be surprized, their good•• ta∣ken from them, and then to be cast in a close dungeon or prison, till they die for want, the reward of their pride; whereas it had beene better, they had lived with greater sobriety and modesty, and then if misfortune should happen unto them, they would be the more respected, and consequently the sooner set at liberty.

I have read of Cavaliers that served long and truely with credit, whose mindes were not set on outward things perishable; but rather their hunting was after a good name, renowne and credit to leave behinde them, when all other things might be stripped from them; which in my opinion were more to be commended then those that would counterfeit worth being without it. But on the contrary, I have knowne some Cavaliers, that hunted af∣ter

credit, did gaine much renowne, and were rich in credit, though poore otherwise, leaving no more houshold stuffe behinde them, but a spit and a pot, being so given to sobriety in their life times, that sometimes they were contented with a morsell of dry bread from a souldier. Not that I would have any Cavalier, that hath merited well, to be carelesse to maintaine him∣selfe [ C] in credit, according to his charge, if by lawfull meanes he can doe it, and if plenty increaseth, I would wish him timely to dispose of it, for his neerest friends or succession in a part, and the overplus I would wish him to bestow for the weale of the publique, and the adorning of his country, that after his death, the monuments of his vertue, and Trophees of his victo∣ries might live, and speake to succeeding ages, that such a one hunted well in attaining unto honour, and perpetuall renowne and credit.

Here also by the example of a worthy Master and Leader, being the [ D] Phoenix of his time, for a Generall, that he who hath seene his variable essaies, and learned to lay up the same in store, if he follow but his Masters precepts, and observe his orders, he cannot but in time merit the title of a judicious Commander; and doubtlesse one day having past his prentiship well under such a Master, he cannot but merit honour and reward, and then may be made choise of for the service of his King and country, before those who had not such experience under such a Leader. In remembrance of whom, I will inferre an accident happened his Majesty of famous me∣mory, the time of his beleaguering.

His Majesty walking alone on a marrish that was frozen, of intention with a prospective glasse, to spie into the enemies workes, the Ice breaking his Majesty falls up to the middle in water, being neere my Guarde, where Captaine Dumaine did command, who seeing his Majesty fall in, went towards him, of intention to helpe him out, which his Majesty perceiving, lest the enemy might take notice of them both, his Majesty wagged his hand that the Captaine might retire, which the enemy perceiving, shot a∣bove a thousand shot of Musket at his Majesty, who at last wrought him∣selfe loose, coming off without hurt, and sat a while by our guarde∣fire.

The Captaine being a bold spoken gentleman, well bred, and of good language, begun very familiarly to finde fault with his Majesty, for his forwardnesse in hazarding his Majesties person in such unnecessary dangers; on whom, at that time, the eyes of all Europe were fixed, expecting their freedome and reliefes (from the tyranny of their enemies) to come from his Majesty, and in case any misfortune or sinister accident (as God forbid) should happen unto his Majesty, what then would become of his Majesties confederates, and which was worst, what would become of many brave Cavaliers of fortune, who had no further hopes then to live, and to be main∣tained under his Majesty their Leader?

His Majesty having heard the Captaine, patiently thanked him for h•••• good counsell, and he could not but confesse his owne fault, which he could not well helpe, seeing his minde was so, that he thought nothing well done which he did not himselfe, and so went to dinner, where before he changed his wet clothes, in a could Tent, he called for meate, and dined grossely, and taking a great draught of wine went and changed his clothes, and immediatly coming forth againe, while as the enemy had fallen out, as was said before in the discharge.

The time of this out-fall, our Souldiers being commanded under Major Potley to beate backe the enemy, going on service, there happened a merry Accident to one of our Country-men (then Ensigne to my Colonells Company) called Iames Lyle, being in sight of his Majestie, going downe a a steepe hill, the enemy playing hard with Cannon, the Ensigne happened to fall forwards, the winde blowing off his Periwigge, which tumbled downe the hill, the Major sware a great oath, the poore Cavaliers head was shot from him, and seeing him rise againe without his false head, sware the Cannon had shot away the skinne, with the haire of his head being bald.

His Majestie at this time also seeing a Dutch Captaines cloake about him going on service, commanded to recall him, and to command out another, which was a disgrace to the Captaine, whom his Majestie openly reproved, saying, If he had intention to have fought well, he would have felt no cold, and consequently the carrying of his Cloake was needlesse.

In this meane time his Majestie looking on, from the enemies Battery a Cannon Bullet came so neare his Majestie, though he was really stout, he was made to stoope, and behinde his Majestie, the thigh was shot from a Swedens Captaine, belonging to the Artillery, who died the same night.

[ E] Here I cannot let passe an oversight unworthily committed by Generall Major Kniphowsen, while as the enemy was marching out, the Guard of the Posts being committed to the Swedens, having got command from his Ma∣jestie to let no Officer nor Souldier come within the Towne, till the enemy was marched out; Kniphowsen pressing in was put backe by the Captaine that commanded: Whereupon Kniphowsen not knowing what direction the Cap∣taine had, or from whom, he lifting a Battoun, brake it on the Captaines head, which was evill thought of by his Majestie and the whole Officers of the Armie. Neverthelesse, we never heard of the Reparation: so that I would never wish my noble friend to lie under an affront, though done by any for∣raigne King, for if I could not be revenged, I would serve against him to be revenged, if not of him, yet at lest of his, for which I crave pardon, having spoken rather like a Souldier than a Divine, for nothing should divert my heart sooner from my Superiour, than disdaine or contempt.