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 twenty-fifth Dutie discharged of my March with a partie to the Mosell.

WHile we lay at Mentz, his Majestie having heard that the Spaniard had set over a strong Armie at Spier, of intention to fall on the Rhinegrave his Regiment of horse, lying in the hinder Paltz, be∣twixt Bachrach and the Mosell, who having no foote forces with him, his

Majestie made choice of me, to be sent unto him with a partie of five hundred commanded Musketiers, for to assist him in maintaining the Garrisons in those parts, from the incursion of the Spaniard, and his Majestie hearing of the Queenes coming towards Francford, leaving orders with Duke Barnard of Wymar (then Governour of Mentz, and commander over the Armie in his Majesties absence) to direct me away with the partie to the Rhinegrave, his Majestie being gone, I was sent for by the Duke to receive my Orders, which were, I should receive five hundred commanded Musketiers, with suf∣ficient victualls and Amunition, and then to ship them at Mentz, and to goe downe the Rhine towards Bachrach, and there to send to the Rhinegrave for further orders, but before my departing, I took orders in writ from the Duke, how to carry my selfe in obeying of the Rhinegrave his commands, and im∣mediately I went and received the partie, being in readinesse on the market∣place, with Proviant and Amunition for the voyage, and being shipt we went downe the Rhine towards Bingen on the Noe, that runs by Creutznach through the Paltz into the Rhine at Bingen, where Sir Iames Ramseys Regiment did lie in Garrison, out of which there went with me of that Regiment a Captaine with a hundred Musketiers; being shipped, we continued our course towards Ba∣chrach, where being landed, I desired from the Governour (being a Captaine under the Red Regiment) Quarters for my Souldiers, [ C] till I got orders whe∣ther to march, but the Captaine being discourteous, closed the Ports, using us unfriendly, whereupon I desired to be let in to speake with him, which be∣ing granted for me alone, I entered, and having spoke with the Captaine, was refused of Quarters, and of Proviant for my Souldiers, whereupon I retired forth, & the Ports being closed againe, I made our Souldiers make good fires of the driest wood without the Towne, whereof there was no scareitie; and being darke, the Towne lying alongst the River, we getting intelligence there was a water-gate, where there stood a Centry, I tooke a small Boat and two Officers with me, and entering the sallying Port, the Centry suspecting no e∣nemy, we tooke him off, swearing if he cryed, we would kill him, and bring∣ing him to our Guard, left him to their keeping, and immediately I went in at the sallying Port, accompanied with my Officers and some Musketiers, and having set a Guard at the Port, we went to the Captaines quarter, and tooke in his lodging, where we made good cheare, jeering the Captaine, till he was contented to send forth abundance of victuals for the whole party; & to make good quarters for our whole Officers within the Towne, where they did get both meat & money; and beside, I made all the Dorpes that were without the Towne belonging to it, to pay a contribution of money to me & my Officers, for keeping good order, w^ch we did to repay the Captaines unthankfulnesse.

The next day leaving the partie to make good cheare, I went to the Rhine∣grave to receive his Commands, who directed me to march to a Dorpe with∣in two miles of Coblentz, and to quarter there till further Orders; I retired to the partie, and forcing the Captaine to send fiftie Musketiers with me; wee followed our Orders, and quartered within two miles of Coblentz.

The Rhinegrave having gotten intelligence where some of the Spaniards did lie in quarters, with his Regiment falling into their quarters, he did defeat two Regiments of them, that were come over the Mosell before the Armie.

The next day, he advertised me, he was to advance with his Regiment to∣wards Spier, neere the Mosell, to attend the enemies coming, and if he were di∣stressed, he would advertise me, whereby I might timely beset the Strengths.

The Spaniard having set over his Army at Spier, being ten thousand strong, getting intelligence of the Rhinegraves Quarter, they marched on it, where he lay in open Dorpes, in a manner trusting and reposing too much unto him∣selfe and his strength, [ D] mis-regarding his enemies, being a Cavalier who was both couragious and resolute, who had also resolute and valourous Officers and Souldiers under him, a sudden alarum had no power to fright him or his, being his watch was commanded by Rutmaster Hume of Carrelside, who was a Cavalier of courage and of good experience, finding by intelligence the e∣nemy was approaching on his Guard, he advertised his Colonell timely to draw out on horse-backe, and to expect his enemy in the field, who did take no notice of the first advertisement, till the Rutmaster rode to him, and adver∣tised him to draw to the fields, he commanded him againe to retire unto his watch, he knew his owne time, the Rutmaster scarce returned, when he with his watch were charged by three Troopes, which charge he received, and charged them againe, and then retired on the Colonels quarter, being so hard followed, that by the Colonell was on horse-back, he was invironed by three Regimēts of the enemies, whom he bravely charged home, with foure troops of his, and making them to retire, he did caracolle about from the enemy, having suffered losse on the charge. The young Grave of Nassaw, then a Rut∣master, being hurt and taken, and divers more inferiours being retired, he commanded Rutmaster Hume with the other foure Troopes, to make astand before the enemy; to hold them off till such time he were retired.

The Rutmaster seeing the enemies strong, coming up in full squadrons one after another, he drew up very wisely his foure troops in the entry of a wood, making a large and broad front, whereby the enemy might judge, he was stronger than he was; as also, that they might thinke he had Musketiers be∣hinde him in Ambuscade for a reserve or hinderhalt, which made the enemy give them the longer time, and the better opportunitie to his Colonell to re∣tire with ease. The Rutmaster finding the enemy to fall off a little, he retired his troopes at an easie trot, till he overtooke the Colonell, who thought be∣fore their coming, they had beene all cut off.

Immediatly the Rhinegrave sent to me to beset the Garrisons (as I did) and then he sent Poste unto his Majestie, acquainting his Majestie how all had past, and of the enemies strength; which his Majestie having knowne, he drew his Armie together at Mentz, with a resolution to fight with the Spaniard, be∣fore he were suffered to relieve Franckendale, but the enemy hearing of his Majesties preparation, they retired over the Mosell againe, and they being re∣tired, I was recall'd with the partie unto Mentz, where having left a Captaine and a hundred Musketiers with the Rhinegrave to be disposed on, having got orders to that effect from his Majestie, which afterwards were all cut off by the enemy; the rest of the partie dismist, I retired to my Commands.