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 fourteenth Duty discharged at Grottenbrode in Holsten.

THis Magnanimous King, yet still preferring the good of his country before his owne rest and quiet, with the hazard of his person, lan∣ded againe in Holsten, his forces not exceeding three thousand foote without horsemen: of intention, there to bring his Army together, he drew out himselfe a Royall Leager with a strong Forte in the middest of it, having the Isle of Feamer sufficiently provided of victualls and of Ammu∣nition, to furnish his Army during that Summer, and leaving the most part of his strength a shipboard, he advanced himselfe with a thousand men, to a Dorpe called Grottenbrode, a mile from the shore, naturally well situated, which might be put in defence with little paines, to hold up an Army. His Majesty having drawne the draught of the Retrenchment, the Boores set to worke, I with the English and two Dutch companies, were made choise of, to Guard his Majestie and the workemen; the enemie lying strong with horse and foote, within two miles of us. The first nights watch was laid on me and my souldiers: by breake of day, a Corporall and twelve horse∣men of the enemies were sent to try our watch, or rather, to betray us, which were holden up by our outer centry, who calling to the Guard, the Guard taking Armes: I directed a Sergeant, and a Corporall with twelve musketiers to advance, and to speake with those horsemen: The enemies Corporall finding himselfe wrong, pretended an excuse, alleaging he was come to offer his service to his Majestie, and then retired: whereof incontinent I did in∣forme his Majesty, who presently considered he was a spie sent from the e∣nemy: before midday he returned with fifteene hundred horse, and some Dragoniers; our intrenchment not ready, we draw to Armes, his Majesty directing the two Dutch companies to beset the passes, and finding his per∣son in danger retired, with a few musketiers, and leaving me and the En∣glish, being of equall strength to defend the Dorpe, promising to provide me of amunition, and to send us reliefe: his Majesty thus retired, I caused a barricade of waggons to be made a hundred paces without the Dorpe, where I placed a Lievetenant and thirty musketieres, giving him charge,

if the enemy should advance to discover, or recognize, then to give fire on them, and not otherwise; This done, the rest of our Souldiers were placed for maintaining the entry of the Dorpe, and the English were appointed, as our reserve, to lye at Armes, to be in readinesse to second us; the ene∣my finding us provided, and their foote not being come up, they stand in Battell, and direct two Troupes of horse to try the passes, meaning to come betwixt us and our ships, to cut off our retreat, but finding we had the passe beset with musketiers, they were forced to retire backe, with the losse of three horsemen.

By this time, his Majesty did send Colonell Holck unto me (being come loose from the enemy on Parole to solicite his Ransome) to desire me, if the enemy forced entrance unto the Dorpe, that I should retire to the Church∣yard, which was but cold comfort, so being his Majesty had no inten∣tion to relieve us, and consequently, at last we should be the enemies priso∣ners, after losing of our Colours, which grieved us most. But I desired the Colonell to shew his Majesty, that seeing I knew of no reliefe, if the ene∣my pursued us hard, I would choose rather to set the Dorpe on fire be∣hinde us, and then commit my selfe, and the rest to the hazard of fortune in making our retreate, rather then to become prisoners to the enemy. The Colonell gone, we pressing to make a faire shew of a slight game, doubling our Guards before night, and making great Guard-fires in view of the enemy, his foote not come up, and seeing our resolution, he retired be∣fore night, where incontinent we imbraced the opportunity, and leaving some Dragoniers behinde us, we retired to our ships, giving orders to the Dragoniers to follow after us, so soone as they thought we were safely retired. Before midnight, the enemy having gotten his foote joyned with him, returned to the Dorpe, and the next morning advances towards us, till he was holden off by the fury of our Ordinance of the ships. In the meane time, his Majesty had above foure thousand Boores at worke, fini∣shing the Leager, and royall Fort in the midest of it, whereon were placed eight pieces of Cannon, the Fort being higher then the Leager, did com∣mand the fields about, which being complete, the two Dutch companies were left to maintaine the Fort, and the rest had orders to ship their men and to retire to Lowland, his Majesty having understood, that the enemy had beleagerd Trailesound. The second night, after our going away, the enemy coming to pursue the Fort, the Dutch retire quitting the same, and their Cannon also, with the losse of fourescore men, so that his Majesties paines taken in Holsten was in vaine, the Dutch retiring from it un∣foughten.