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 thirty-seventh Observation.

THE separation of these two mightie Armies was wonderfull, [ D] with∣out shot of Cannon, Musket, or Pistoll, the like we can hardly finde in any Historie.

We see then here, that when the foundation of mans actions is laid sure by vertue, the building hardly can faile, especially when we lay our chiefe dependance on God, and our cause being good, the lawfull meanes used (as was done here by the Lyon of the North, the Invincible King of Sweden) in de∣fence of Nurenberg, the libertie of Dutch-land, and freedome of Christs Go∣spell, then I say, the event must needs be answerable to the ground laid, to wit, the freedome of this Citie, and the preservation of his Majesties Armie, both which we see by this separation, where the enemy had not the heart to pursue us, having Gustavus and his Fortunes with us; Notwith∣standing of their powerfull and mightie Armie; which the Papists themselves did set and esteeme to be threescore thousand men, being then of opinion, that that Summer they were able to over-swimme the whole Empire, and

all their enemies; yet, with all their bragging, they durst never present themselves in the Fields, with one Cornet, Colour, or Regiment before Gustavus, being terrified at his presence, which did prove their valour was not correspondent to their power in Armes, otherwise they had given us greater reason to have esteemed better of their Conduct, so that wee see, there is neither wisedome, force, or power of counsell, that can prevaile a∣gainst that cause the Lord defends; and who can thinke those could prosper better, who formerly pressed by their crueltie to have subverted the truth of Religion; by banishing the Gospell, and Ministers of it, forcing Commons against Conscience, either to forsake their Country and possessions, or to renounce the truth they professed, persecuting those that would not conforme themselves to their Devilish Traditions; what wonder then, those Generalls could not prosper against the truth, or against him that tooke the defence, both of truth and people, against the Tyranny of the house of Austria, and their cruell Generalls, that were not onely cruell to their enemies, but also to their servants and Souldiers, whom they left bleeding behinde them in their Leaguer, destitute of all comfort; not so much as once to cause to dresse their wounds, that they received honourably for their safeties? Truly I dare be bold to say, the Lord will not suffer the negligence and inhumane crueltie of such Commanders to be unpunished, that left unchristianly those poore Souldiers, which were bould to open their brests to receive wounds, for the safetie of those that had no compassion on them in their extremities. O cru∣eltie of all cruelties! when we see a valiant Souldier naked, hungry, or pined, with his wounds bleeding for our sakes, and then to leave them destitute of helpe, to the mercy of their enemies, especially, when we are not compelled to leave them! This fault of all faults in a Commander or Souldier, in my minde, is most unpardonable, which is too common. Therefore, I conclude, [ E] such persons to be unworthy Command, that preferre any thing before the health of those, who were willing to give their lives for the safetie of their Commanders.

Sith then we see, that the greatest part of humane happinesse doth consist in vertue, let him that would prove wise, fix his eyes and minde to judge other mens actions, to the end he may grow the more circumspect and pru∣dent, pressing to doe good by continuance of time, if he but observe the va∣rieties of chances incident unto all estates, from the Crowne to the lowest Cottage, in the end, through their examples, he may learne to better him∣selfe, and become wise in his profession: for a diligent servant to such a Ma∣ster as Gustavus was, might in a few yeares time observe many things belon∣ging to the knowledge of a Commander, though I grant, never attaine unto the perfection of his Calling; for the accidents of warres being infinite, the knowledge of them can never be limited. But we must alwayes be lear∣ning of new things, till we become more prudent, though not perfectly wise in our calling, being infinite; and though many thinke a man may be wise, and not couragious, seeing the wise fore-sees all dangers; truely I will thinke, he that is circumspect and wise in this kinde, may be called a stout Commander: for to a wise man, we say, nothing comes wrong; and he that cannot be surprized in this kinde, must needs be both wise and stout.

To conclude then this Observation, [ F] out of the separation of the Marquesse and his Country-men, at our leave-takings, and at the parting of Colonell Lodowicke Lesly, and his Regiment from Spence his Regiment, going with

Duke Barnard unto Saxonie from us; which separation was like to the separa¦tion death makes betwixt friends and the soule of man, being sorry that those who had lived so long together in amitie and friendship, as also in mutuall dangers, in weale & in woe, & fearing we should not meet againe; the splen∣dour of our former mirth was obnubilated with a cloud of griefe & sorrow; which vanished and dissolved in mutuall teares of love, severing from others, as our Saviour did from his Disciples, in love and amitie; wishing one ano∣ther the mutuall enterchange of our affections, as Souldiers and not as Com∣plementing Courtiers, in the way of love and courtesie, we wished againe and againe, being loath to depart from others, the accomplishment of all happinesse here, and of eternall glory else-where.