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 seventeenth Observation.

THE Emperour Alexander Severe had reason to say, that Military Discipline did conserve and maintaine the Estate: And so might the magnanimous King of Denmarke say of this service, and the Towne of Trailsound, the Citizens of it, before this time being sluggish, dis∣solute, cowards, spend-thrifts and voluptuous, are now by this Discipline made active, menagers, valiant, sparing and honest: the thankes whereof they owe unto our Nation, whose bones lie in their ground, and to our Country-man, who since hath beene their Governour, for the reward of his vertue, was appointed by his Majestie of Sweden, of worthy memory, and set to Command over them and their Citie. And it is most sure, [ O] that the ob∣servance of good discipline is the maintaining of Kingdomes, Cities, and Common-wealths, making them to flourish; where discipline is well kept, as it was here during our beleagering, for then we had no thought of gathe∣ring of money, but of gaining of credit; here were no Novices, but expert Souldiers to resist both the craft and valour of their enemies, who did feele the smart of their valourous resistance, in heaping their dead bodies one upon another in the graffe.

During the time of this hot conflict, none that was whole went off at the coming of the reliefe, but continued in the fight assisting their Camerades, so long as their strength served, ever esteeming more of their credit than of their safetie, through the desire they had to be revenged of the losses sustai∣ned by their Camerades. On the other part, it was reported of Walestine,

that he was so eager to get in the Towne, that his Officers retiring off servce being hurt, he caused to shoot them dead, calling them Cowards for retiring with so small hurt. Here also I purpose to speake somewhat of the Emperia∣lists custome, entring on service, shouting like Turkes, as if crying would ter∣rifie resolute Souldiers: No truely; we were more encouraged, having long expected for their coming, being all of us well resolved for the Combat, we were greedie of honour, and therefore we longed to try our enemies valour: Seeing we were more overjoyed of their coming, than any wise terrified; and we received them with Volees of Cannon and Musket in their teeth, which faire and well come was hard of digestion unto some of them: and it might be well said of them, [ P] as the Proverbe is amongst the Bactrians, that the dogges did barke more than they did bite, especially the Fleete Curres; for true courage consists not in words, neither ought we to looke for much cou∣rage, where we heare many boysterous words. But on the contrary, true valour doth consist in the greatnesse of courage, and in the strength of the valiant Arme, and not in the Tongue: and the first people, that did practise this lowde crying of martiall resolution, and of rejoycing in battell, were the Israelites, who in the most part of their fighting used those cryes, as testi∣monies of their faith, and of their earnest calling for the helpe of the Almigh∣tie. And a Lord of Africke being to fight against the Portugalls, his Troopes ready to fight, he said unto them, they should not cry but strike hard, for saith he, those men whom you see, are not accustomed to be afraide with words nor voyce; for it is not in cryes, but in valour, that men should esta∣blish the hope of Victory. Neverthelesse, we reade in Histories, that the Romanes, and other warlike Nations, were wont in Battells, as to this day in approaches, even as in fields, to cry alowd: and therefore we say among our selves at home, that he is to be pittied, that is surprized with the cry of his Enemies. We reade also of the Savages, whom the French doe call Tokniam∣bous, that before they come within halfe a mile, they cry like Devills at the first sight of their enemies, redoubling their cryes coming neare hand, soun∣ding their hornes, lifting their Armes here and there in a boasting manner, fighting so long as they are able to move hand or foote, never giving ground or turning backe till they die.

Tacitus reports, that the Germanes of old, did sing going to fight: and wee reade of Cate the Censor, that he taught young men to fight standing in one place, and he used to say often, that words were more powerfull to terrifie, and to chase an enemy, than the stroaks of the hand. And the same Cato said, he loved not the Souldier that did shake his hands marching, that staggred with his feet in fighting, & snorted lowder in sleeping, than he did cry coming to fight. And Cæsar said, that in every man was seene a certaine moving and naturall readinesse and promptitude, that kindled them with a desire to fight: which Generalls and Commanders of Armies ought diligently to intertaine, and not extinguish. [ Q] Wherefore it was, that the Ancients before they fought, caused to sound their Trumpets, beate their Drummes, and made their Soul∣diers cry hard, esteeming that did encourage their Troopes, and affright their enemies. The Macedons also began their fighting with crying and shout∣ing; and Curtius reports, that as soone as the Armies saw one another within shot of Musket, the Persians began to cry furiously, and the Macedons, though fewer in number, did so answer them, that the tops of the Mountaines and Woods resounded againe to the Echo of their Cryes. The like we reade in

our owne Story, where the Author in his ninth Booke makes mention of Henry Piercie Earle of Northumberland, and Regent of England at the East, being come unawares into Scotland with seven thousand men, was driven a∣way by the Boores and Herds, by the helpe of Stone-Bagges, as they are called to this day in our High Lands of Scotland, being used by the Inhabi∣tants to fright Wolves, and to chase Deere and other Beasts from their gra∣sings: the Instrument is made of dry skinnes made round like a Globe, with small stones in it that make a noise, as they did neere the English Campe, that their Horses brake loose through the fields, where after long flying they were taken by the Boores of the Country. If then we should cry at all, let it be such a noise as may terrifie our enemies, being strong, couragious, and brave.

Plutarch reports, that the cry of Souldiers made a Raven flying in the ayre to fall downe being astonished: and Titus Livius saith, that when the mul∣titude of people did imbarke, that few or none were left in Italie and Sicile, coming together, and crying, the Birds astonished fell out of the ayre: and Paulus Aemilius reports the like, that when the Christians besieged Tyre, a Pi∣geon was seene in the Ayre, which made the Christians raise such a noise, that the Pigeon fell downe, as if it had beene stricken with thunder, and that they found a Letter about the necke of the Pigeon, that the Sarazens had sent to the besieged, shewing they should be soone relieved, if they would take good courage, and maintaine the Towne for certaine dayes: and the Chri∣stians having men with them, who understood the same language, did write another Letter, which they tyed to the necke of the said Pigeon, and let him goe; which Letter carried, that the besieged had neede to looke to them∣selves, that they had given good proofe of their valour and fidelitie, and that their Fortune was, not to give them hope of reliefe; the passages being clo∣sed up by their enemies, and the Tyrians thus deceived, give over the Towne unto the Christians.

The like we reade practized at the siege of Harlam, which made the Towne hold out long: and it is certaine, such Poasts are made fall downe with the noise of crying, and of Cannon and Musket, so that their packetts are taken from them. Here also was wonderfull, the losse and dammage done by Cannon, especially the Morters of the enemy, carrying Bullets of Stone within the Towne of three hundreth pound weight, [ R] and some that carried Bullets of one hundreth and sixtie pound, and in one day there were shot on the Port of Franckendore, where we went out to our watch, above seven hun∣dreth and sixtie shot of Cannon, the noise whereof was heard above thirtie English miles. Also we reade, that at the Battell of Lepanto, in the yeare 1572. where the Turkes were defeated with great losse, that the noise of the Can∣non was heard from the place, above sixtie Scottish miles. But on the Sea they are heard a great deale farther, as having neither hill nor wood to hin∣der the sound in the Ayre.

Here also I did observe, how happie it is when Officers and Souldiers love one another, refusing to undertake no danger to supply their Camerades, their lives being dearer unto them than their owne: which was evident by the timely reliefe, which discouraged the Enemy, and made them at last per∣ceiving their owne losse to be great, having effectuated little, in the end to settle. To speake in particular of any mans valour, at this time, seeing to my knowledge, I perceived no defect neither in Officer nor Souldier; but so

farre as to my griefe, I did speake of the Dutch that left their Captaine, which since I confesse to be a warlike Nation, being now long hardned by the custome of warres, but on desperate service, as this was, I would wish, if I had libertie to choose, other seconds: neither can I commend those Dutch that would not send us reliefe in our great danger; for though we ought to looke to our owne houses, when our neighbours are on fire, yet Christian compassion ought to move us to supply the defects of our brethren; but when Souldiers and Officers preferre their ease, [ S] with whole skinnes, to the safetie of their Camerades in danger, then such may be justly called sim∣ple, without moderation, abandoning their Camerades, they lose their good name, and bring their reputation and valour in question. Who will not then blame such, and who will not praise those, th••t in extremitie, contemned life and their ease, to relieve their Camerades: as Colonell Fretts his Lievetenant Colonell and Major did, fighting against our enemies? Him then I esteeme as a valiant Souldier, that fights against the enemy, embracing wounds for his Mistresse, and that is contented to lie on the ground, being weary, and that makes no difference of food to serve his appetite, without sawce; being contented with a nod for a sleepe; to such a Souldier nothing is impossible or hard to attempt; and such Souldiers to command were my choice, that cared not for gold nor money, but for credit: and Souldiers have most feare when they are best fed, best clad, best armed, and when their purses are best furnished; but when the Souldier glorieth in his povertie, then doth the Armie flourish, then doe they overthrow their enemies. And therefore it was the saying of Demetrius to Xerxes King of Persia, going to make warre in Greece, that Greece did ever entertaine povertie, and lodged vertue brought in by wisedome and severe discipline: by which meanes their dominion remai∣neth unconquered, so long as they were enemies to vice, and were glad in their povertie, as may be well spoken of our owne Nation at home, that hath suffered and done so much and more for our freedomes, than any Kingdome in Europe, which this day makes our Soveraigne to say, Nobis hæc invicta mi∣serunt centum & septem proavi, being left unconquered in his succession of one hundred and seven Kings: for what have we to doe with gold or great riches, so long as we can command our owne appetites and desires? And if we thirst after gold, let us valiantly bring it from a farre with credit, to in∣rich our Countrey with, and to supply the necessities of our poore at home; and then having served long credibly abroad, his Majestie our Soveraigne may grant unto us after our dismission from other service, the liberties and priviledges which were granted by Charlemaine unto his Souldiers, after he had subdued the Saxons and Lumbards, [ T] which I will wish his Majestie to grant untous, saying, Goe your wayes my Souldiers, you shall be called va∣liant, companions of Kings, and Iudges of the wicked, live henceforth free of Travell, give good advice to Princes for the Common-weale, be pro∣tectors of widdowes, helps to the fatherlesse, waite on great men, with your wisdome, and desire of them life, cloathes, and entertainement, and he that refuseth you, let him be detested and infamous, and those that wrong you, let them be accused, as of treason. But take heede yee spoyle not through drunkennesse, pleasure, or other vices, the great honour and priviledge you have attained unto, through your just travell in warres, for feare, that, that which we grant unto you for honour, may not redound to your dishonour and punishment; which we reserve to our selves, and to our Successors Ro∣mane

Kings, if by chance you commit any excesse. It is a good thing and worth commendations, to have defeated Kings, assaulted Townes and Pro∣vinces, Strengths and Castles. But it is a thing much more worth commen∣dations, to overcome your own passions, a marvaile surpassing all marvailes, that he who did overcome so many, at last overcomes himselfe. The first and best of all Victories, which cannot be attained unto without contem∣ning of riches.

To conclude then this observation, happie are those Cavaliers that ended their lives in the defence of their Countries credit, a brave interchange, where worthy Cavaliers, in undergoing a temporall death for eternall fame and glory, gaine life after death. Miserable is the brevite, and more miserable the uncertaintie of life. Since then, we are sure we cannot live long, and un∣certaine if we live at all, being like leaves on trees, we are the sport of every puffe that bloweth, and with the least guste, may be shaken from our life and nutriment: we travell, we study, we fight, that labour may pay us the losse of our ill expended time, while death whiskes about us with a Pegasean speede, flies unawares upon us, and with the kicke of his heele, or the dash of his foot, we are driven downe to dust, and lie there. Many a stout fellow this night at Trailesound, and five weekes before, [ V] did expire in their oppug∣nations, leaving their breath in the places where they laid their Siege. Cer∣tainly, if we could thinke of lifes casualties, we would neither be carelesse nor covetous. What availes then a man, to exhaust his very vitals, for the hoording up of fatall gold, not thinking how a haire or a flie may snatch him in a moment from it? Why should we then straine our selves for more than is convenient? We should never care too much for that we are not sure to keepe; yet we should respect somewhat more than for our owne time, that we may be beneficiall to posteritie; but for mine owne part, I will cast this, as my life on Gods providence, and live here as a Pilgrime of one night, not being sure to see the morrow.