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 seventh Observation.

HEre we see that the losse of a day, [ Z] is the losse of a great part of his Majesties Kingdome: for the losse of his Armie was the losse of Holsten and Yewtland, so that here below we have no assured estate, from the King to the Clowne, whereof we have frequent examples in Hi∣stories, which should make none of all estates to glory too much, either in their peace, or prosperitie, as the Holsteners did: for though now thou be in peace and securitie, as they were before this day, thou oughtst to looke unto thy selfe, and to prevent the worst better than they did.

Therefore to discharge a part of my dutie to my Country-men and friends, I minde here somewhat to touch the misery of man through the in∣constancy of humane affaires. Isidore writes, that it was the custome at Con∣stantinople in the dayes of the Emperours Coronation, while as he sate in his Throne, a Mason came to him, presenting stones, that he might choose which he would to make his Tombe of, thereby putting him in minde of the in∣constancy of humane fragilitie. We reade also of a simple Citizen in Italy, that became one of the most powerfull men in Italy, and coming to the dig∣nitie of a Prince, being thirtie yeares, without interruption, in great prospe∣ritie, tranquillitie and peace, yea ever in the most dangerous time of warre, and his Children raised to high honours and dignities; this man thinking himselfe to be above the winde, a whirle-winde of warres, unlooked for, came on him and his from Florence, that he with his wife and children were taken prisoners, and sent to Millane, his goods consiscated, he was shut up in close prison, and died miserably: the Venetians appropriating unto them∣selves all his money he had in Bancke.

We reade also of one Francis Force, that through his heaping up of wealth came to be made Duke of Millane, and after that intitled himselfe to be the Sonne of Fortune, and the Oracle of the Princes of Italie, being many yeares in prosperitie, was afterwards chased from his goods, as the Holsteners were then, but having recovered his lands and goods againe, he grew so insolent and proud of his prosperitie, that at last he was taken prisoner, and was kept till death in prison; mockt of the whole world, for his pride and greedinesse. The same Author Guicchardine in his seventh Booke in the 157, doth record of the Bentioles chased out of Bullon, where they long were in peace, the sub∣jects of Millane being forbidden to receive them, the chiefest of them died of griefe, having never before tasted the Cup of adversitie: And so became of sundry in Denmark, that for feare did send away their goods by shipping unto the Craggs of Norway, to be kept there, whereof some were lost by Sea, and the owners afterward died of griefe, not having the courage to under∣goe patiently their Crosse. The Lord of his mercie preserve my Countrey and Friends from the like Visitation. Let no man therefore flatter himselfe with prosperitie, riches, or honour, as Agapetus adviseth us in his Politique Apho∣rismes. All are borne alike, come of dust, our glory then should be of ver∣tue, and not in riches, prosperitie, or honours; for we should esteeme of no∣thing so much, as of Gods judgements, praying his Majestie continually to divert them from us, esteeming more of our soules, than of deceivable ri∣ches, whereof the possession is uncertaine, as was seene at this time, both in Holsten and Yewtland, their riches went faster away than they came, and though they could have enjoyed them, yet at last they were forced to leave them to others. Since therefore we can carry nothing with us, but our good name, let us be ever carefull of that, discharging, so farre as we may, with a good Conscience our dutie to God and man, and this Heritage we cannot be robbed of, though the world should turne to nothing.

Here we see this magnanimous King his estate falling for his love to his Niece, the distressed Queene of Bohemia, and her Children, [ A] seeing her bani∣nished from her Kingdome by the sword of her enemies, he hazards the losse of his Crowne and person, to get her restored, bringing the sword of his enemies within his owne Countrey, fortune having crossed him abroad: yet for all this, this Magnanimous King was not dejected, but with a coura∣gious resolution makes use of the time, retiring to one corner of his King∣dome, to prevent the losse of the whole, being naturally fortified with a broad graffe, as the Isle of Britaine; being strong of shipping, having his Majestie of Britaine to friend, and the Estates of the united Provinces, he was carelesse of the Emperours forces by Sea or Land, not being able to harme his Majestie more than they did.

By this example we may see, what advantage our Soveraigne, the Kings Majestie of great Britaine, hath over all forraigne Kings in Europe, through the scituation of his Dominions, being mightie in power of men, shipping, and money, is able to make warre abroad, where he pleaseth, and to make a safe Retreat, when he pleaseth, being Master at Sea, as he can easily be, terrifying his enemies with one Armie abroad, and a strong Armie at Sea, he can offend whom he will, and retire when he list, forcing all Europe to be in feare of him, and his Majestie in feare of none, but of the King of Kings. The Lord therefore preserve his Majestie, his Children and Sub∣jects, from the power of forraigne enemies; and I wish a great part of my

friends and Country-men were so farre addicted, to seeke the restitution of her Majestie of Bohemia, and her Royall Issue, as I am; the warres then should never end, till they were restored, and I avenged of my friends bloud, and mine owne, shed in the quarrell.

Here also I did observe his Majesties circumspection, in preventing the Emperialists, in coming by water unto his Kingdome, having beset all Fin∣land with strong Garrisons of Horse and Foote, which kept strong guards, and good watch by night and by day, at such places on the Coast, as was most in danger of the enemies over-setting, till in the end, the enemy was forced to retire his Armie, leaving but a few men in Garrison in the Townes, which lay on the Coast, which Garrisons his Majestie with shipping did of∣ten visite, to their great hurt, with strong parties, retiring againe, having done his exployt, [ B] at his pleasure in safetie. This Magnanimous King, to my know∣ledge, deserved to have been worthily thought of, and well spoken of, for his noble enterprizing of the warre, being Leader and Generall in so good a cause. And though the successe was not answerable, I dare be bold to af∣firme, it was none of his Majesties fault, for his Majestie not onely bestowed much in advancing of it, but also did hazard himselfe and his Crowne in maintaining of it. Neverthelesse, there are alwayes some Cynicks, that doe barke at his Majesties proceedings, without reason; where we may see, that no man, no nor Kings themselves can escape the lash of censure, and none can eschew to be traduced by the ignominious aspersions of the male∣volent tongue. Therefore it is good to doe well, and then we need not care what is said; except the sayer put his name to his assertion, and then he may be made to foote his Boule, in maintaining of it, or unworthily to refuse it. Here also I did observe, that no Armour nor passe could remove the Generalls feare; for having once imagined the enemies over-coming, he was never fully setled, till he was safe a ship-board. And therefore I did see at this time that verified, that when man distrusteth God, it is then just with God to leave man to himselfe: for after our Retreat, being on the Roade, the Generall, being thronged in his owne Ship, could not command a Ship to transport his servants, till I forced a Ship for his Excellencies service; which should teach all men in Authoritie, while they have command, to command with discretion, lest the wheele should turne, and then they should be beholding to those, whom before they commanded.

Here also I did see mutinous Souldiers well rewarded, and it may be sooner than they thought; for the day before those that call'd for money when they were commanded to goe on service, the next day I being a Ship∣board did see them turne slaves unto their enemies being taken prisoners, robbed both of Cloaths and money, and kept long in bondage, being for∣ced to serve against their Conscience, such was their folly in calling for money when it was no time to tell it. Having at this time left our horses and baggage to our enemies, I observed somewhat on the love of men to those beasts, and the love of beasts to their Masters, as worth the noting, to con∣firme the kindnesse that should be entertained amongst Christians, and men of one profession; [ C] my brother Obstell, of worthy memory, had a Horse of our owne Country-breed, that was so familiarly acquainted with his Soul∣diers, and with the noise and touch of Drumme, that the whole day on our march, when his Master went a foote, he unled followed the Drumme a little aside from the Company, halting when they halted, and moving when

they moved fast or slow. Another Horse I left, that being in Wismer Leager, having rode out one day to a wood, halfe a mile from the Leager, to cause to cut timber, leaving my Horse standing alone, and my Cloake on my Sad∣dle, a Rutter coming by, unknowne to me and my fellowes, steales my Horse away, who finding himselfe in strangers hands, skips loose, and runs to our Leager, being chas't and hunted at by more than a hundred Horse∣men, out-runs them all unto the trenches, and running through the Leager, stands before my Tent, my Camerades wondering what became of mee, thinking I had been killed by the Horsemen, come and make search for me, and finding me, tell me of my Horse.

These beasts I have remembred for their love, for which I will set downe some particulars concerning the addresse, fidelitie, and bountie of some Horses; whereof I have formerly read. Plinie protests their prayses cannot be expressed. We reade of the Numidians, that were so much redoubted of the Romanes, that in their warres, they would at spurres, runne their Horses in middest of their enemies, without a bridle to governe them. In the Bat∣taile of Cannes, Hanniball returning the next day on the place of Battaile, to looke more narrowly to the place, a Romane Knight halfe dead, hearing the noise of people, lifted up his head, of purpose to have spokē, but his voice failing, died: with the last gaspe, by Hanniball there roade a Numidian on that dead Knights Horse, who knowing his Master, begun to move his eares, to bray, and to leape, and rebound with such fury, till he casts the Numidian to ground, runnes through the dead bodies, and stands before his dead Master, and leaning downe his necke and shoulders, sheweth the desire he had that his Master should leape on him, to the great astonishment of Hanniball, and his followers. We reade also in the warres of Germanie, in the yeare 1176 the Dukes of Saxon forced by Armes to submit themselves to the Emperour Henry the fourth, giving the Emperour for pledges of their fidelitie, two yong Princes, Sonnes to a Marquesse, which were carefully kept in a Castle, that was very strong, the Captaine whereof moved by Compassion, and wonne by some presents, suffered them sometimes to goe abroad to take the ayre, and to ride their Horses thereabout: The Captaine going a hunting, takes these young youths with him, the prey found and hunted, shee is followed by all, not thinking of any other thing: The youths spurring hard out of sight, follow their course till they come to the River of the Maine, where they request a Fisherman to transport them in his little Cane or Boate to Mentz, offering him their little scarlet Cloakes for pay: The Fisherman helpes them from their Horses, and takes them in his Boate, and rowes downe the River, their Horses swimming after them to Mentz, where they and their Horses were graciously welcomed.

Plinie writes, that Horses wept at their Masters deaths, and it is recorded, that the Horse of Cæsar wept: foretelling his Masters death, and I perswade my selfe, the gentle Reader could adde somewhat to this purpose, if he li∣sted, but thus farre to animate Christians to love, respect, and cherish their Camerades, and not to kill and backbite them, [ D] as too many are too ready to detract from others, to adde to themselves: a wrong way; for honour is compared well to a chaste Maide, that will never love them who would ra∣vish her, but being courted shee may be moved.

Here I must not forget that dutie I owe to the remembrance of that wor∣thy young Gentleman, Arthur Forbesse, Sonne to a worthy Cavalier, of fa∣mous

memory, Lievetenant Colonell Arthur Forbesse, being a worthy valou∣rous sonne, descended of a valiant Father. This young Gentleman being deadly wounded on service, and with hazard brought unto our Ship, within two dayes dyed. Likewise a Gentleman borne in the Isles of Scotland, cal∣led Alexander Mac-Worche, being wounded in the head, and shot in the arme, the enemies Horsemen shooting at him with Pistols, he leapes from the shoare, with his cloathes on, notwithstanding those wounds, and swimmes to my Cosen Captaine Monro his Boate, and being brought in died the next day, and was much lamented for of his Camerades, as a Gentleman of great hope.

I did also observe here, the inconvenience that happens to many brave Officers and Souldiers given to plundering, gathering together a little boo∣tie for spending, which brings them commonly into their enemies hands, their punishment being farre more grievous, than their purchase was delight∣full, and yet I thinke, the Guilt is worse than the punishment. To which purpose I will onely here inferre one Story. A Pythagorian bought a paire of shooes upon trust, the shooe-maker dyes, the Philosopher is glad, and thinks them gaine, but a while after his Conscience touches him, and be∣comes a perpetuall chider, he repaires to the house of the dead, casts in his money with these words; There take thy due, thou livest to me, though dead to all besides. [ E] Certainly, in my opinion, ill gotten gaines are farre worse than losses with preserved honestie. These grieve but once, the others are con∣tinually grating upon our quiet, and he diminishes his owne contentment, that would adde unto it by unlawfulnesse; for looking onely to the begin∣ning, he thinkes not of the end. But in my opinion, if plundering, or making of bootie, at any time be excusable for a Souldier, it is onely in respect of the circumstances. Our friends being forced to quit their Countrey and their goods to their enemies, before it should inrich the enemy, it were not amisse to take it, or destroy it either with fire or water, before it were profitable to our enemies; and in this point onely I doe allow of this bootie making, providing it doe not hinder men from the discharge of their duties, in time and place: otherwise, our best goods, being impediments to the discharge of our honest dutie in our calling, are to be throwne away. And for mine owne part, a few bookes left by my friends, which mine enemy might have burnt, was all the bootie that ever I made: neither doe I repent me of my neglect in this point; having seene many make bootie, who had never the happinesse to enjoy it long. His Majesties care, in fore-seeing the safetie of Denmarke, merits praise: for by the preservation of Denmarke, his Majestie, like a skilfull Gamester, recovered againe all that he lost. Therefore we ought never to grieve for any thing past, but for sinne, and for that alwayes. And he spake well, that said, He that hath himselfe hath lost nothing.