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 second Observation.

THe fore-sight of a wise Commander availes much, [ O] in preventing the intentions of our Enemies; First, in besetting the passages, through which he might come upon us, which doth hinder his march in giving us the longer time to bee prepared for his comming: Next, the farther our wings are spred without us, our Body is the better guarded by good intel∣ligence: Thirdly, by this meanes, wee can the better provide our Army with thinges necessary: Fourthly, the passages without being kept, they be∣ing next the Enemy, wee can have the more timely advertisement of our ene∣mies designes, so soone as they are hatched.

This Cavaliere Kniphowsen, though hee was unfortunate, he had both the Theorie and Practick befitting a Commander; whom once I did heare say, that one Ounce of good Fortune was to be preferred before a Pound weight of Wit; which hee knew well by his owne experience; and to my know∣ledge, though hee was unfortunate himselfe, yet Cavalieres under his com∣mand, could learne by him much good order and discipline.

And though in his life-time, hee loved not our Country-men; Neverthe∣lesse, for the love I carried to his vertues, I would not omit to make mention of his worth. No feare of danger, or death can be an excuse to a man, to serve the Publique in his calling.

Before I was commanded to enter this Towne, the Infection was great; yet none of us did forbeare to converse with the Sicke, though daily exam∣ples of mortality were frequent amongst us; for on our Watches, wee knew not the cleane from the foule; Neverthelesse, it behoved us all to passe on our duties, as wee were commanded; and though I know no reason for it, fewer Souldiers dyed of the infection than Burgers.

Yet one rare Sparke, [ P] being a resolute fix Souldier with a Musket, as ever I commanded, dyed here of the Pest, called Andrew Monro, who being but Eighteene yeares of age, though little of stature, no toyle nor travell could o∣verset him; and as hee was stoute, so he was merry, and sociable without of∣fence, such another was his Cozen Iohn Monro, Kilternies grand-child, who dyed of a burning Feaver, being alive without feare before his Enemy, and of a merry and quicke disposition: I made onely mention of their names, because they lived vertuously, and dyed with farre more credit, then if they had dyed at home, where their names had never bin recorded for their worth and vertues.

It is the duty of a Commander, to whom a Frontier Garrison is put in trust, timely to fore-see all wants, and defects about the place hee is trusted with, as to repaire the workes, to provide it with victuals, with powder, with Ball, Match and Armes; for it were not good hee had his materials to seeke, when hee is resolved to begin his worke.

Likewise his workmen, if they bee not sufficiently furnished before-hand, he will be forced to dismisse them, before his worke be credibly ended: his o∣ver-seers must be also good and diligent, otherwise, there may bee too many crevises in their building, and he himselfe must give good example in over∣seeing all, and in fore-seeing of all inconveniences, not trusting unto others, to

discharge those duties, hee is bound to discharge himselfe; and in case of extremity of danger, hee must ever bee the first himselfe to looke unto it, and the last in comming from it, otherwise hee can neither maintaine the place, nor his credit.

Hee must also be very modest, and secret, in not revealing the dangers hee fore-sees, but be amending of them, for feare to discourage others.

Likewise wee see here, that it is alike with a Commander keeping a strength sometimes, as it is with a body, whereof some members are infe∣cted with a Canker, that to preserve the body they must resolve to lose a member, as it was with us at this time, being forced to burne a part of the Towne, to preserve the rest and our selves; otherwise, all must have beene lost.

But God favouring us by the winde, that obeyeth when hee comman∣deth, and the Element of the Fire also, supplying the defect wee had of Wa∣ter in our Graffe (being but dry on that side) wee were guarded with fire in stead of water, and that bravely.

The Enemy being gone, wee preserved the rest of the Towne in quensh∣ing the fire.

Here also, wee may see the benefit we reape, [ O] when Frontier Garrisons are well beset, if the Enemy fall into our Land, as wee are able to affront him in his comming, so in his going, taking alwayes Prisoners of him; and this is the right use of Strengths; that when wee suffer losses in the Fields, wee have time to draw breath againe, our Garrisons being well beset, as was seene in the Peace made betweene the King of Denmarke and the Emperour. For if his Majesty of Denmarke, had not built Luckstad on the Elve, hee had hardly recovered Holsten againe; even so this Garrison being set here, gave time (by the holding up of the Enemy) to his Majesties Forces, that were come from Statin, to bee before the enemy at Colberge; for if they had fought better, I had observed the more.