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 eighth Observation.

FIrst here we may see the wisdome and magnanimity of this King not cast downe with the losse of his Army, nor with the losse of the halfe of his country, but preventing his further losse for the safety of his country, and good of his Subjects, he with expedition, drawes himselfe and the remnant escaped of his Army within Denmark, to preserve them for a second fitter opportunity; As also to encourage his Subjects, that through feare, were on the flight by water unto other Nations, carrying their substance with them, feare comming unawares, having heard of their Kings losse and overthrow abroade, fame dispersing the rumours of the losse, [ F] much worse then it was, the people were so afraid, and so fearefull, that they enjoyed nothing without a frighted minde, no not their sleepe: they trembled at the present miseries that might but come, they were anticipa∣ted in a more horrid habit, then any enemy could put them unto, meeting with evill before it came, making things but probable as certaine, as when one may sit even in a boate, he is in no danger, yet through feare stirring, he may drowne himselfe, and others, as we see often in battell that the va∣liant man constantly keeping his ranke, doth live, when as the feeble cow∣ard by stooping thinking to save his life, he loses it; when the brave soule knowes no trembling. Cæsar spake like Cæsar, when he bad the Marriners feare nothing. And this invincible and Magnanimous King, though ruf∣fled by Cæsar, yet he encourages his subjects, by exhorting them to feare no∣thing, going at all times himselfe betwixt them and all dangers, he being the first many times ingaged, and the last coming off, casting as it were, through his valour, a kinde of honour upon God; believing in his goodnesse, casting himselfe in danger, trusting and confiding in his care onely. Not like an unworthy coward that eclipses his sufficiency, unworthily doubting that God will bring him off, unjustly accusing God, his power or his will, making himselfe his owne Saviour, he becomes his owne confounder.

But this magnanimous King setting his care upon God, and using the law∣full meanes, for his country, and kingdomes preservation, winning the love of God, and of his subjects, establisheth himselfe, and his Throne in despight of his enemies. Here also I have observed that good service done to a noble and liberall Master, as this King was, cannot be without reward: Therefore let the servant deserve, and the Master will recompence, if he be such a just Master as we served, where both loved each others, for their generous worthinesse. Who ever then is a servant, if he suppose his lot hard, let him thinke on the other part, that service is nothing els but a free mans calling, and comfort himselfe with the example of Kings, that are but ser∣vants (though more splendid) for the common-weale; and as this King our royall Master served for his country, let us that are servants serving strangers serve truely where we serve, for our countries credit, our owne weale, and our eternall fame which must live after us. This magnanimous King through the experience he had of our former true service, is desirous to have more of our countrimen to serve him, as we may see by the new employment laid on our Colonell and his Officers; Also on divers other Noblemen of our country, to bring unto him three other Regiments as

Nidesdale, Spynie and Murckles Regiments, we being the first that shewed them the way to be employed by his Majesty.

Here I will exhort all brave Cavaliers, of minde to follow the laudable profession of Armes, not to grudge, though their advancement or prefer∣ment come not at first, but with patience to awaite on Gods blessing, since preferment comes neither from the East, nor from the west. But it is the blessing of the Lord, given by man as the reward of vertue.

Who ever then would be famous by preferment, let him first study to be diligent and vertuous in his calling, and then doubtlesse God will dispose of him as he thinketh best for his owne Glory.

Here we see that the Barron of Fowles, of worthy memory, thought it no disparagement at first to follow my Lord of Rhey and his Regiment, as a voluntier, till he had seene some service, and attained unto some experi∣ence, and then beginning with a company, coming at last with credit to be Colonell over horse and foote, and that to animate others of his name, and kindred to follow his example, rather to live honourably abroade, and with credit, then to encroach (as many do) on their friends at home, as we say in Scotland, leaping at the halfe loafe, while as others through ver∣tue live nobly abroade, served with silver plate, and attendance.

Officers of one Regiment ought to live as brethren together, not envying one anothers advancement, entertaining no other emulation, then the e∣mulation of vertue, every one serving truely in their Stations, till such time occasion may be offered, for their advancement by degrees: for though their patience may be the longer, their credits will be the more, and their contentments at last will make them forgo and forget their former toyle, and disturbances having come to their proposed marke, though not altogether to their wished end. [ G] Here also we see that good discipline is requisite for keeping good order, that as vertue is rewarded; so vice may be punished: as we may see by the institution of the Emperiall lawes, whereof one we reade constitute by the Emperor Frederick the second in the code of Iustinian, bea∣ring that the labourers of the ground might live peaceably with assurance o∣ver all, staying in their villages, labouring the ground, so that no man should be so bold, as to presume to take any such men prisoners, or to offer them any violence in destroying their Beasty all, or in takeing their goods from them, condemning them to death that did contemne, or violate his ordi∣nance.

And Cyrus going to warre, commanded no man should trouble the la∣bourers. Xerxes commanded the like, saying, the warres were against those that caried Armes, not against Shepheards.

Bellisarius that brave Commander under the Emperour Iustinian, was so strict against souldiers that troubled the Boores, that the souldiers going by the fruityards durst not throw downe one Apple, and for his good order kept, victualls were cheaper in the Campe then in Townes.

Procopius in his third booke of the Gothes warres in Italy reports, that Totilas King of the Gothes observed the same strict discipline in Italy, suffring the Boores untroubled, for paying the contribution.

Nicephor Gregorius affirmed, that while as in the front of an Army mar∣ched insolency and violence, orderly came in the reare defeate and ruine. And now a dayes the Turkes do observe stricter discipline in their Armies then Christians do; in so much that their Captaines must not suffer their

Souldiers to goe into Orchards or Vineyards, as they march by. And as order is necessary in an Army, so it is in a Regiment requisit to be kept, and punishment also to be used, for banishing all villany from a Regiment, as Gluttony, Drunkenesse, Whoredome, Opression, Playing, Diceing, Roaring, Swaggering: for it is not seemely that those, who should over∣come others, should suffer themselves to be overcome with any such notori∣ous vices; neither ought a brave fellow to vaunt of his valour, since it is not tolerable to kill men with words, without coming unto blowes; But he that comports himselfe modestly is to be commended.

Here also we see that the Emulation and strife begunne amongst Superi∣ours and Officers of quality, [ H] brings at last the same amongst their inferiours and followers; as was seene in the disorders and quarrelling betwixt our Souldiers and the Rhinegraves horsemen, which was wisely prevented and taken away by the wisdome of their Commanders, that carried mutuall love and respect to each others: for the mutuall good deserving of both Officers, which was the chiefe instrument of their reconcilement, and taking away of their jarres, and idle quarrelling, arising of ostentation, an un∣worthy fruit growing out of Dunghills, withering faster then it groweth, their jarres thus once removed, thereafter our love waxed so great, that where we chanced both to be on one service, as at Wolgast, where we stood in neede of helpe, the Rhinegraves Regiment, especially Rutmaster Hoomes un∣der God made our Retreate safe, as you shall heare in its owne place.

Here also I cannot passe over with silence the love that ordinarily is seene betwixt Officers, and their followers: being once put under good discipline they will undergo any thing for love of their Commanders and Leaders, who have taken paines and diligence in excercising them in the perfect use of their Armes, and in leading them bravely on occasions before their ene∣mies, in making with exercise their bodies strong, and their hearts valiant, then I say, what will they not undertake for the love of their Lea∣ders? Truely, I must confesse, they will stand a thousand times more in awe to incurre their Officers wrath, whom once they loved through love, than in any wise, thorough feare of any punishment, that may be enjoyned unto them by Lawes: and if they love and respect their Officers, for feare to of∣fend, even in their Marches, for their Officers credits they will march so or∣derly with Armes in their Rancks and Files, that you would thinke a whole Regiment well disciplined, as this was, were all but one body, and of one motion, their eares obeying the command all as one, their eyes turning all alike, at the first signe given, their hands going to execution as one hand, giving one stroake, yea many stroakes all alike, ever readie to strike, or hold up, as their Commander pleaseth; and thus exercised they were, that their enemies in all Rancounters could not but duely praise them, calling them the Invincible old Regiment: which alwayes rancountred with them on all occasions, so that Mac-Keyes name, was very frequent, through the glorious fame of this never-dying Regiment, never wrong'd by Fortune in their fame, though divers times, by their enemies valour, they sustained both losse and hurt: but would to God, we had alwayes met man to man, or that our Army had consisted all of such men, and such Officers, whereof, I was the unwor∣thieft! If so had beene, our conquest had extended so farre, [ I] as the Romanes of old did extend the limits and borders of their Empire, which for my wish I would bestow on the Prince Elector Palatine, borne by the Iewel of Europe,

the Queene of Bohemia his Royall Mother; and if it were at my distribution, he should have all from the River Euphrates at the East, to the Ocean Sea at the West, the fertillest part of Africke at the South, and the Rhine and the Danube at the North; and yet I durst affirme, that his Grand-father King IAMES of blessed and never-dying memory, might merit a farre greater possession for his Grand-childe, the Illustrious Prince Elector Palatine of the Rhine; and to have an Armie of such men, under his command, to be aven∣ged on his enemies. I would wish their cloathes nor mine owne, came ne∣ver off, till his enemies were made his footstoole to tread on, or to shew mer∣cie, at his Highnesse pleasure: And for my wish, his Armie should be all of Britaines, Dutch, and Irish, such as Vegetius describeth the Romane Souldiers of old: and I, as one though unworthiest of a thousand Britaine Officers, would undertake to make such brave lads to dwell Summer and Winter in Tents, ever in readinesse to fight with our enemies, and to endure all incom∣modities, for the credit of such a Master, banishing far from him with vali∣ant hands well armed, all the craft, power, and subtiltie that his enemies were able to devise against him: And we should, for his sake, be contented with such allowance as the Emperiall Lawes allow a Souldier, being one∣ly so much as might maintaine life, or so much as Beasts get that are put to dyet, and we should be content to march with such expedition, without in∣termission, without quarter or Garrison, as neede requireth, never staying behinde, but alwayes advancing, consenting willingly to undergoe cor∣rection, if we did to the contrary: but to march ever orderly in Rancks, as the way lay rough or even, foule or faire, as our Colours and Leaders went before us; Never quitting our Rancks, but with licence, till the cause were wonne, or that our Masters Throne were established. And if otherwise we went astray, we should be content to quit our allowance: and if this dis∣cipline were not strict enough, we should be content to have his Highnesse and Royall Mother restored, to doe as our Fathers did coming out of Egypt, marching alongst the spacious and wide Desert, that our Randezvouz might be appointed and set, till we arrived in Cades, that is to say, in the holy Land, where being victorious, we should bid our Master farewell, and rest with our Fathers.