The Scotch military discipline learned from the valiant Swede, and collected for the use of all worthy commanders favouring the laudable profession of armes: By Major Generall Monro, being novv generall of all the Scotch forces against the rebels in Ireland, communicates his abridgement of exercise, in divers practicall observations for the younger officers better instruction; ending with the souldiers meditations going on in service.

The First Observation.

HAving thus by the providence of God happily landed againe on the faire, fertill, and spacious Continent of Dutchland, with a handfull of old experimented Soldiers, able to endure all misery, toile, or travell, being valourous to undertake any perill or danger, they were to be commanded upon, being led by such a Generall as GUSTAVUS the Invin∣cible, their new Master was: (under whose command and conduct, as their supreame Leader, and me, as his Majesties and my Colonels inferiour Officer, they marched from the Coast of Pomerne, out of Rougenvalde, through Dutch∣land, unto the foot of the Alpes in Schawbland.)

This City of Rougenvalde in Pomerne, lyes midway betwixt Dantsicke, and Statine, being alike distant, twenty Dutch mile from both, and is a pleasant seate, being one of the Duke of Pomerne his chiefe Residence, not distant a∣bove one English mile from the Sea, it doth abound in Corne, Fruit, and store, Cattell, Horses of good breed, Fishponds, and Parkes for Deere, and pastorage, whereof it hath enough, where we were nobly entertained, and kindly welcommed of the inhabitants, especially of the Captaine and his civill Bed-fellow, to whom, under God, we were beholden for our fafeties, the Remembrance whereof we ate bound never to forget.

Here, I did remarke as wonderfull, that in the very moment when our ship did breake on ground, [ M] there was a Sergeants Wife a shipboard, who without the helpe of any women was delivered of a Boy, which all the time of the tempest she carefully did preserve, and being come ashore, the next day, she marched neere foure English mile, with that in her Armes, which was in her Belly the night before, and was Christened the next Sunday after Sermon being the day of our thankesgiving for our Deliverance, our Prea∣cher Mr. Murdow Mac-kenyee a worthy and Religious yong man, having discharged his part that day, after with much regrate did sever from us, and followed my Lord of Rhee our Colonell unto Britaine.

Being thus escaped from danger of sea, and from our enemies, I did keepe the Soldiers ever exercised in watching, in working, in parties against our enemies, lest that resting from Hostile employment, they should become sedi∣tious, immodest, and turbulent; and to this effect, when they were not em∣ployed in parties against the enemies, I sent them by parties in the Country, on Militarie execution, to bring the possessors under Contribution to his Ma∣jesty, making them hate and renounce the Emperialists, whom formerly they were forced to obey; so that by this meanes, the Country was brought into subjection to the King, and my Soldiers were put under as good discipline and command, as any served his Majesty; which discipline made their con∣cinuance the longer in the service: where it was rare to finde one Regiment in an Armie, that did change so many Officers as they did in foure yeares, as the Observations on their duties will cleare to the world, in despight of their Enviers whatsoever. But I hope no worthy spirit or Hereicke minde will thinke an evill thought of the vertuous.

We may see here, that in the greatest extremities, both Officers and Sol∣diers have greatest need of Courage, and Resolution: For nothing should seeme hard to daring men, that are of courage, which never doth beget, but the opinion and censure of vertue. For we see at this time, that to dare was

the beginning of victory, being better to hazard to save our selves and others, then to be the instrument to lose us all by flying, as some of our Officers ad∣vised me at our landing, to march backe to Dantsicke, which if we had, the enemy getting intelligence, he could with ease overtake us, and cut us all off, as he did, some yeeres before, cut off in the same Country three Regi∣ments of Dutch who were going to serve his Majesty against the Pole.

Here also, I found by experience, that the stedfast, and invincible vigour of the minde rising against crosses, doth helpe much, especially where neces∣sity requireth such resolution. For being in the greatest extremity of dan∣ger, resolving with God, I thought as my safest course to bide Gods ley∣sure, I sate on the Gallerie of the ship, being assured it would be the last part, that would remaine together of the whole, and being so neere land, I was never dejected and cast downe, nor did I doubt of our safe landing, seeing we had victuals and were in hope, the storme would not continue, being in the middest of August.

Here we may see by this Christian advertisement, that no part of our life is exempted or freed from griefe or sorrow: But on the contrary, [ N] we are exposed to all kinde of miseries and troubles, so that we see, that chil∣dren doe sucke with the milke of their Nurses, certaine beginnings of the evill to come, our misery growing as doth our age; and we see it true: for the godly; they sigh and groane under the burthen of their adversities, having no comfort they can enjoy, but out of the written word of God, a fruit whereof the wicked hath no part. Therefore they sayd well, who said, that Philoso∣phicall precepts were not so powerfull to heale the wounds of the soule, as are those of the word of God.

Men of our profession ought ever to be well prepared, having death ever before their Eyes, they ought to be the more familiar with God, that they might be ever ready to embrace it, not caring a rush for it when it came, do∣ing good while they may. For now we flourish, in an instant we wither like Grasse; now we stand, presently we fall, our life carrying with it when we received it, the seed of death, and that which did begin our life, doth open the doore to it, to goe away: For in our birth, our end did hang at our begin∣ning; and, according to the custome of that worthy Emperour, our actions should be ever before our eyes, as if presently we were to appeare in Iudg∣ment, before the Eternall our God, and that cry should never depart out of our eares, cryed unto Philip King of Macedon, Philippe, memento mori, Philip remember, thou must die: For man shall never behave himselfe as he ought in this World, except at all times he have death before his eyes, thinking on the houre and moment of his departure alwayes, contemning the Exte∣riour things of this World, giving himselfe unto the inward cogitations, that doe profit the soule and the life thereof, rejoycing beyond all things in the Testimony of a good Conscience.