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 first Observation.

THE land of Holsten full of prosperitie at this time, having all things in a golden swimme, and waving carelesly in a swallowing plentie, having her heart full of pleasures, disdaining what was to come, ruine seazed vpon this land within six months, after our rising from quarters, to our first expe∣dition, towards the Waser streame. At our comming into the land, the prou∣dest sort of them, disdained souldiers, saying, they had no neede of strangers, they were sufficiently able themselves to hold out the Emperors forces, their passes were strong, their power in Armes were mightie of Horse and foote, as any Province in Germanie; notwithstanding whereof, in a short time, they felt the wrath of Heaven, and were ruinated in the middest of their fortunes. I wish my Country, by a timely prevention to avoide the like, by suspect∣ing the smooth streame, being ordinarily deepest; lest they should become subject unto their enemies, their land wasted with fire, and sword, their buil∣dings, and plantings destroyed, their riches, and Iewels made spoyle of, their wives abused, and their daughters deflowred, themselves banished, and their Religion persecuted; in so much that their Pastors flying to the Altar for re∣fuge, were cruelly put to death. Since therefore their enemies are our ene∣mies, we ought to beware.

We ought also not to deny our betters in things indifferent, lest the askers love waxe drie, and his revenge grow great: for to a generous spirit, as it is

hard to begge, so it is harsh to be denyed. Our Officers refusing to carrie the the Danes Crosse in their colours, disobliged his Majestie so farre, by their denialls of a thing indifferent, that after the death of our worthy Lievtenant Colonell Arthur Forbesse, Lievetennant-Colonell Seaton was preferred a∣gainst the Officers wills, who once placed, would refuse nothing unto his Majestie he would command.

By his Majesties authoritie, against the Colonells will, Captaine Duncan Forbesse, and Captaine Iohn Forbesse, for alleaged insufficiencie, were put off their command, and their companies given to others, whom his Majestie fa∣voured. But time that alters all things, having favoured them, they were re∣stored to their companies againe.

When we have good dayes we slight them, when they are gone, we sinke under the wring of sorrow, for their losse; and want teacheth vs the worth of things more truely: and it is a true saying, Blessings appeare not, till they bee vanished. Our Officers that were discontented under the King of Denmarke without reason, having had both good quarters, and money, there after in o∣ther services would have been contented with lesse. We ought then, [ B] to make use of the present, preserving that we have, and if it goe, to grieve as little, as we may: yet we ought to owe a deare respect to the memorie of the good we lost.

Certainly, a good resolution is the most fortifying Armour a discreet man can weare; that can defend him against all the unwelcome frownes, that the poore world puts vpon him: with this, we can be servants as well as Lords, and have the same inward pleasantnesse in the checkes of fortune, that we car∣ried in her softest smiles; It was Zantippe's observation, that she ever found So∣crates returne with the same countenance, that he went abroad withall. I wish no man so spiritlesse, as to let all abuses presse the dulnesse of a willing shoul∣der: for resolution is alwayes necessary in the waine of fortune, to save vs from discontentments, that usually deject us. A wise man makes the trouble lesse by fortitude, when a foole stoupes to it. The world hath nothing so glorious as vertue, which is like the passage of Haniball over the Alpes, a worke of trying toyle, of infinite danger, but once performed, it lets him in unto the worlds Garden, Italy leaving him a lasting fame.

My Chiefe and cosen, the Baron of Fowles, being in his travels in France a li∣tle prodigall in his spending, redacted his estate to a weake point, being ad∣vised by his friends timely to looke to the wounds of his house and family, and to foresee the best cure to keep burthen off his estate, having engaged his Revenewes, for teene yeares, to pay his Creditors, he went beyond sea a vo∣luntier to Germanie with Mac-Keyes Regiment, well accompanyed with a part of his neerest friends: and having the patience to attend his fortune, his first employment was to be a Captaine of a company of Scots souldiers, lea∣vied by himselfe, and there after advanced to be a Colonell of horse & foot of strangers, under the invincible King of Sweden of worthy memorie.

Thus farre of the Barron of Fowles in my first observation, [ B] to animate o∣ther Cavaliers borne of lesse fortunes to follow his vertues in being patient, though their preferments come not at first, loving vertue for her end.

Here also we see by the example of the Dutch Captaine formerly spoken of, that pride in a noble nature is as rare to be found, as humilitie in an unwor∣thy minde; and arrogancie is a weede that ever growes in a dunghill, and no circumstance can make the expression of pride laudable: for the affronting

man by his owne follie, [ B] should be taught the way to his duetie, as the Dutch Captaine was, who, out of his pride and arrogancie, would second a first wrong with contempt, was taught humilitie, in so much, as he was made be∣holden to those for his life, whom out of his pride he had offended.