the left hand againe every man falling behinde his owne Leader Being on retiring from the enemie the whole bodie having made readie as they march off in order a qualified Officer being in the Reare and qualified Officers in the Van to order them that fall up the last two Rancks in the Reare turne faces about and the whole body with them and the two Rancks having given fire they march through the body to the Van and order themselves as they were before and so successively the whole bodie gives fire ever by two Rancks and falls off till such time as they have made their Retreate sure Thus much of fire-giving by Rancks on two or three as you please at once and no more Now a little for the exercising of the Squadron of Pikes in generall for the generall motion certaine directions are to be observed concerning Pikes that the Souldiers keepe their Pikes cleane and cleere and never to be suffered to cut off the lengths of their Pikes as often is seene upon marches being very uncomely to see a Squadron of Pikes not of one length likewise in all motions with the Pike the hand and foote ought to goe alike and the Souldier would be expert in giving the right pousse with the Pike backwards and forwards Your Squadron of Pikes as they ought to march with the Drumme so they ought to obey the Drumme beating a Troope a Charge a Call a Retreate As also to traile their Pikes to make reverence with the Pike being shouldred and your Squadron of Pikes being but six deepe in Rancke your Files may be so many as can well heare your voyce in Command providing there be no odde File and thus well ordered at their open order of six foote distance command to mount their Pikes then calling for a Drumme beside you let him beate a march then they are to shoulder their Pikes flat or slaunt carried and then to march a little let your Drumme againe beate a Troope then they mount their Pikes and troope away fast or slow as your passe leades them stopping or advancing as you doe then let your Drumme beate a Charge then they charge their Pikes and advance fast or slow as you lead them and retire also backwards their Pikes charged as you will have them then troope againe and they mount their Pikes march and shoulder and haulting let the Drumme beate againe and they order their Pikes on the ground as first being at their distance and trooping againe they mount their Pikes so that you can command them to Battell order or closse order for Wheeling or Counter-marching at your owne pleasure In repayring to their Colours or comming from watch they should ever walke with their Pikes mounted as also they may use this posture on Contrie and your Pikes mounted and at your open order you can use all doublings that your Musketiers used as also to present to Front Reare right or left hand the curiositie of the turnes to the right or left hand in Van or Reare the Pike being shouldred you can also teach them as you will though not much to be used in exercise and the Pikes thus well exercised having seene frequent danger can doe good service against Horsemen and against foote to foote either in battell entering a Towne or breach or retiring or advancing to choake an enemie on walls within Townes or Forts they are very commodious for service providing they resolve to fight well and to abide by their Officers and in my opinion being well led they may beate Musketiers accidently off the Feild and being well lined with shot they are a safeguard against Horsemen having the least advantage of ground Thus much in briefe for the use of the Pike the most honourable of all weapons and my choice in day of battell and leaping a storme or entering a breach with a light brest-plate and a good head-piece being seconded with good fellowes I would choose a good halfe-Pike to enter with CERTAINE OBSERVATIONS VVORTHY THE YOVNGER Officer his consideration being short and practicall for his Highnesse speciall use I. THIS life is a Comedy or a Play wherein every one doth his part we should presse to passe it over with moderate affections that the end be not cruell or dolefull as in Tragedies but full of mirth like a Comedy II. Vnto the Victor the life is sweete and happy but to those that are overcome nothing is more bitter then to put their hopes in their Enemies mercy III. As unto Champions of old lots gave fellowes and not election with whom they should fight so every one of us hath destines in our times where with to strive IIII. As he who goeth a journy doth reckon the miles so he that hath entred the way of this life shall not determine of his yeares For as from the spring flow the Rivers from the roote the branch so from the first education cometh the rest of mans life And if thou wouldst live truely thou must presse to profit thy country to defend the Common-wealth and to live well without liberty thou must preferre death before ignominious shame or slavery For as this life is Rosie so it hath flowers mixed with thornes the one to be plucked up the other to be eschewed so farre as we may V. It is a part of victory to trouble the enemy before we fight and as it is laudable to overcome an enemy it is no lesse praise worthy to have pitty on the miserable For as courage doth merit infinite glory so the love of all and the good will of all merits mercy and meekenesse VI. The feeble and weake minded man is ever pridfull in prosperity for he thinkes his vertues are such as can maintaine the Fortunes which he hath gotten and thinks still he is able to attaine and acquire more and more but when the tempest of adversity doth arise then is he so farre afraid that he becomes voide of all hopes and this oftentimes is the cause of the suddaine change of his fortunes VII Nothing doth diminish more the publishing of praise then when one continually casteth up his owne successe in actions of warre and oftimes striving to get abundance of honour men show their riches of swelling pride for disdaining his former friends he misk nowes his acquaintance pressing to goe before he is greevous or displeasing to all his familiars Our care then should be to want this arrogancy ostentation or pride and pray for humility being more acceptable unto God then detestable pride which is an unprofitable evill a secret poyson a hidden pest the ingenier of deceipt the mother of hypocrisie the parent of envy the beginner of vice the moth of holinesse the blinder of hearts breeding sicknesse out of remedies and begetting langour out of medicine VIII There is ever some fatality incident unto those that desire vaine-glory or ostentation and those that are proud rejecting the prayers of the humble with disdaine they often incurre the indignation of God and fall
having cast off his loose powder then to cast about his Musket to his left side drawing backe with his Musket his left foote and hand till the mouth of the musket come right to his hand to charge againe in the same place standing firme till his follower marched by him on his right hand standing at the same distance before him that he stood behinde and then to give fire blowing his pan priming casting off and retiring his musket with his left hand and foote and to charge againe as is said and so forth one after another discharging at a like distance till at last the Rot-master should be under-rot and the under-rot Leader and then his follower marching up by him while as he is charging giving fire on the enemy and having discharged standing still also charging till in th' end the Rot-master come to be Leader againe and so forth still advancing per vices till the enemy turne backe or that they come to push of Pike and Buts of Muskets Thus having exercised the Rots apart for a weeke or two doubtlesse they will become expert Souldiers in using their Armes when they are joyned in a strong body lesse or more The Pike-men would be exercised also by Rots apart in the severall Postures thereof till they were acquainted also with their Leaders and were made expert in using their Pikes aright till thereafter the whole body of Pikes might be exercised apart with great ease to their Officers The Musketiers being drawne in a body being sixteene or thirty-two men in Front being but six Rancks deepe the first Rancke discharging at once casting about their muskets and charging all alike the second Rancke marches through every follower going by on the right hand of his Leader standing before him at the distance they were behinde and then being firme they give fire all alike on their enemies blowing priming casting about and charging all alike where they stand till per vices the whole Ranckes have discharged and so forth ut antea successively advancing and giving fire till the enemy turne backe or that they come to push of Pike and being thus well exercised in advancing to the enemy and winning ground if through necessity they be forced to retire from an enemy losing ground they must also keepe their faces to their enemies the Reare being still in fire and the last Rancke having given fire they march through the Rancks till they that were last are first comming off and so per vices till they have made a safe retreate the Reare which is ever the Front coming from an enemy is in fire The manner to exercise a body of Musketiers TO exercise a Squadron of Musketiers how strong soever they be the number of Rancks being no deeper than six the files being even may be so many as your voice can extend to ever observing that your Command be given in the Front otherwise may breede disorder and before you begin to command you would enter first with a Prologue as good Orators commonly doe to reconciliat their hearers attendance even so you ought with an exhortation of attendance entreate but by way of command your Souldiers not to be gazing in time of their exercise but with stedfastnesse to settle their mindes on their exercise that they may the better observe and obey the words of command and above all things you are to command them to keepe silence not babling one to another neither in their motions to suffer their Armes to rattle one against another alwayes to take heede to their Leaders that goe before them and to follow them orderly without disturbance keeping and observing their due distance either of Ranckes or Files which may be easily done if they but duely follow their Leaders and have an eye on their right and left fellow Camerades for keeping their Ranckes even in a like Front Likewise they are to observe when they are commanded to turne any where whether it be by Rancks or Files that their faces may by turned to the hand they are commanded to before they sturre to march and then to march alike and when ever they double Rancks or Files or counter-march they must ever observe to retire to the contrary hand they were commanded to double on if they doubled to the right when they fall off they retire turning to the left hand et contra for avoiding of disorder or hinderance that their Armes would make if they retired to the same hand they were commanded to double or march to In their counter-marches it is also requisit in time of exercise that neither Officer nor Souldier doe presume to command direct or finde fault with the errour but he that commands in chiefe whether he be superiour or inferiour Officer for the time since it is said when many speake few heare Therefore he must command alone suffering no rivall for avoiding of disorder Order therefore of distance being a chiefe point observed in exercising is three fold to wit Open order of Rancks or Files is six foote of distance being betwixt Rancks and Files both alike only requisit to be observed in mustering or while as they stand in danger of Cannon not being in battaile where in battaile order the distance to be observed betwixt Rancks or Files should be three foote where Elbow to Elbow of the side Camerades may joyne where in the open order aforesaid hand to hand can but joyne But in close order used most in conversion or wheeling is shoulder to shoulder and foote to foote firme keeping themselves together for feare to be put asunder by the force of their enemies and then to disorder which is ever to be looked unto chiefely before an enemy Your speech thus ended for your generall directions you begin againe to command silence and to take heed what is commanded to be done saying Height your Musketiers dresse your Rancks and Files to your open order of six foote and take heede To the rìght hand turne as you were To the left hand turne as you were To the right hand about turne as you were To the left hand about turne as you were To the right hand double your Rancks as you were To the left hand double your Rancks as you were The even Rancks or Files double ever unto the odde and the fourth Rancke is the middle Rancke of six To the right hand double your Files as you were To the left han◠double your Files as you were Middle-men or fourth Rancke to the right hand double your Front To the left hand retire as you were Middle-men to the left hand double your Front To the right hand as you were Nota. The sixth Rancke is called bringers up or reare or under Rot-masters Bringers up to the right hand double your Front To the left hand as you were Bringers up to the left hand double your Front To the right hand as you were All that doubled turne first about and then they retire falling behinde those were their Leaders before in the same place
Circles of the Empire to offer to joyne with his Majestie in confederacy having seene the appearance of the strong partie his Majestie could make being assured of the friendship and concurrence of great Britaine they were both graciously accepted of and so much the more that they were the first did hazard with a private Convoy to come to his Majestie through their enemies for which his Majestie did thanke them who the next day were dispatched to returne for advanceing of the cause in doing his Majestie good service by collecting of more forces as they did soone after They being gone the twenty-two of Inly Generall Tilly with his mightie Armie did present himselfe before our Leaguer about two of the clocke in the after-noone and begun to salute us with thirty-two pieces of great Ordnance of their carriage discharging through and through our Leaguer till he made us to draw to our Armes and stand in Battaile horse and foote under the walles which did shelter us from his Cannon where we stood till night looking for his on-falling requiting and honouring him now and then with interchange of Cannon-Bullets till it begun to grow darke that he retired his Cannon to the body of his Armie having lyen all night in Battaile without being intrencht though strongly fortified without him with strong Guards both of horse and foote having his Crabbats and Dragoniers without them againe His Majestie having commanded out strong Horse-guards to watch without the Leaguer I was commanded as least worthy of a thousand that night to watch without the Leaguer with five hundred commanded Musketiers which were ordained to lye in readinesse betwixt the enemies Armie and the Leaguer almost a Cannon-shot from our workes getting orders from his Majestie himselfe how I should keepe good watch and how to behave my selfe in case of the enemies pursute and being come the length of the ground appointed for me to watch on having consolidated the body of my Musketiers in the safest ground I could finde for them to stand on their Armes rested and in readinesse First I caused set out my Perdues without my other Centries not trusting the giving of an Alarum altogether to our horse Centries and then to the end the enemy might not surprize us being sleeping I ordained the halfe of our Musketiers to stand for two houres in readinesse till the Centries were relieved and then I suffered the other halfe to rest them so long as the other did before and thus orderly wee past over the nights watch having had sundry naughtie Alarums in the night without continuance Our dutie was to be the more strict having received command of his Majestie not to quit that ground except the enemy by greatnesse of strength would beate me from it and then I should retire orderly skirmishing with the enemy our faces to them still and our Armes giving fire on them till we came under our walles so that by that meanes the Leaguer would get time to be in readinesse to receive them By the breake of day friend to valour and courage the enemies Horse-guards begun to skirmish with ours who being stronger made our Horsemen to give ground the Commander of the Watch sent to me for a supply of fiftie Musketiers which I accordingly did send with a Lievetenant giving him charge how to behave himselfe who having a little skirmished with the enemies Dragoniers and Horsemen was made to give ground also and having commanded out a Captaine with fiftie Musketiers more he was also repulsed I wondring at their carriage advanced to recognosce the bounds they were on and spying an advantage of ground I tooke out a hundred Musketiers giving a Captaine charge to remaine by the remnant of my Musketiers and putting a hedge betwixt us and the enemy we advanced till we were in even line with them and then giving a Salve amongst them incontinent we made the enemy retire so that our Horsemen did advance to their former stations His Majestie having heard the service ordained the Armie should be in readinesse and coming forth from the Leaguer accompanied with Generall Lievetenant Bawtish and Baron Tyvell where his Majestie begun to enquire of me how all passed which accordingly I related But though his Majestie was pleased yet he checked me for leaving of the Reserve to another when I went on service which I confesse was more suddenly done than wisely and ever after I promised to his Majestie to avoide the like over-sight though it succeeded well His Majestie incontinent since they had tryed his guards he would also try in earnest what for Officers and Souldiers they did command and to that effect his Majestie sent Orders to the Leaguer to command out eight hundred Horsemen of Hagapells and a thousand Musketiers with foure small Field-pieces of Cannon with the five hundred Musketiers I commanded on the Poste which all being set in order his Majestie directed the Colonell of his Leefe Regiment Here Tyvell to leade on the foote towards a Dorpe that lay neere the enemies Armie and his Majestie with Generall Lievetenant Bawtish commanded the Horse taking the Cannon along with them and comming neare the enemies Guards consisting of a thousand Currassiers having given fire with the Cannon amongst them they charged furiously with the Horse in middest of the enemy and putting them in disorder they cut them downe from their Horses as they retired at the spurres being still followed unto the body of their Armie And our Musketiers falling up alike discharging amongst them the enemy at first in great feare was almost put in confusion the most part of their Horsemen being abroad on Forrage their Guards did stand to their Armes till the Armie was drawne in Battaile and their Horse spanned or put before their Cannon during which time our Souldiers continued in giving fire amongst them till his Majestie did give orders for our Retreate which we softly made giving now and then faces about skirmishing with Cannon and Musket and then retiring againe orderly being pressed thereto by their Cannon giving fire after us and their Horsemen calling up ours in our Reare till at last we being retired the length of my Poste our Cannon being able to reach them they were made to make a stand and I was ordained with my Musketiers to remain on our former Poste his Majestie and the rest of the partie being retired within the Leaguer Incontinent from our Batteries our Cannon did play againe within the Leaguer which continued the whole day doing great hurt on both sides where the whole time I with my partie did lie on our Poste as betwixt the Devill and the deepe Sea for sometimes our owne Cannon would light short and grase over us and so did the enemies also where we had three shot with the Cannon till I directed an Officer to our owne Batteries acquainting them with our hurt and desiring they should stell or plant their Cannon higher In the morning also we lost on the skirmish thirteene Souldiers besides
side they plagued us still with cannon especially in the night time while it behooved us to have fire which was their marke so that sundry were lost and one night sitting at supper a Bullet of thirty two pound weight shot right out betwixt Colonell Hepburnes shoulder and mine going through the Colonells Coach the next shot kill'd a Sergeant of mine by the fire drinking a pipe of Tobacco This night the enemy made an out-fall to try his valour thinking to beate us from our cannon but he was bravely repulsed by push of Pike slightly esteeming of their muskets and scorning to use ours with sharpe points of pikes conveied them home to their Graffe The next day in the morning knowing his Majesty had crossed the Rhine they did capitulate with Colonell Hepburne who did give them being Italians more honourable quarters then in truth their carriage did deserve having got licence to march out Bag and Baggage with full Armes with a convoy to the next Garrison they being marched his Majesty having crossed the Rhine in the night where the Spaniard made some resistance but in vaine his Majesty having got over the next morning he marched towards Openham in the Paltz on the one side of the Towne and we setting over also we pursued the Towne and the Castle on the other side but Sr. Iames Ramsey his musketiers being led by their Major finding a privy passage about the Castle they stormed over the walles coming betwixt the outward Skonce and the castle and finding the draw-bridge downe on a sudden they entered the Castle and put all to the sword the rest of the enemy finding the Castle to be in they runne all to storme the Skonce on which were nine Companies of Italians with their colours their Officers finding the castle surprized behinde them and the storme going on before them they threw downe their Armes calling for quarters which was granted but their colours taken from them they willing to take service were all disposed by his Majesty to Sr. Iohn Hepburne who was not only a Colonell unto them but a kinde Patron putting them in good Quarters till they were armed and clad againe But their unthankfulnesse was such that they stayed not but disbandoned all in Bireland for having once got the warme ayre of the Summer they were all gone before Winter The twenty-third Observation HERE then we see that it is the dutie of all wise Generals of intention to beleaguer Citie Fort or Strength first to recognosce and having once recognosced then to proceed as they finde most advantagious for the Beleaguerer and disadvantagious for the assailed the pursuer must know what number of men are requisite for the pursute as well offensive as defensive In this point of recognoscing his Majesties judgement was wonderfull as in all other practicall duties fitting a great Commander and as his Majesties judgement was great and good so he was of that minde nothing in this kinde could be well done which he did not himselfe neither could his Majestie abide at such times as he went to recognosce any other to accompany him in the danger other reasons doubtlesse His Majestie had which were onely privie unto himselfe This point how necessarie it is for a great Commander to be judicious of no Souldier will doubt Here also we see His Majestie made no difference of season or weather in prosecuting his enemie when ever he found any advantage And therefore it was His Majesties wise resolution to crosse the Rhine while Generall Tillies Armie in the Winter time was farthest from him and making but a faint here before Oppenham his ayme and designe was to crosse the Rhine at an other part by shipping that while the enemie was busied in defence of the Skonce His Majestie might crosse at an other part for the Armie once crossed the Skonce was lost for want of supplie and His Majestie once over the whole Paltz and Mentz were in feare Nothing is more powerfull to resist resolution than resolution for it is said of the Oake being hard timber for to cleave it a sunder there must be wedges made of it selfe that hardnesse may overcome hardnesse My advise then to all brave fellowes watching in trenches or guarding Cannon while as the enemie would try their valour by out-falling in assailing them at such times let the defender doe as was done here leaving the use of the Musket as being more unreadie let them make use of their pikes meeting their enemies in the teeth with a strong firme bodie of Pikes after the old Scots fashion used by our Predecessours that fought pell mell with two-hand swordes till one of the parties did quit the field for though they suffer losse sure they must winne credit that repulse their enemie rather than disgracefully suffer their Cannon to be nayled or their braines knockt out in trenches while as they take them to the uncertaintie of the musket Therefore let resolution be ever present repulsing force with force for if thou wouldest be esteemed amongst the number of brave fellowes thou must resolve to shew thy selfe resolute couragious and valiant going before others in good example choosing rather to dye with credit standing serving the publique than ignominiously to live in shame disgracing both thy selfe and Countrie Who would not then at such times choose vertue before vice glorie honour and immortall fame before an ignominious shamefull and detestable life Let then my deere Camerades of the Brittish Nation where ever they serve embrace this my exhortation and lay it up in the secret corners of their heart and minde that they may be ever mindefull of their credits preferring credit to life for the honour of the invincible Nation doing ever as was done here by their Countrie men in one night thrice at three severall partes whereof twice in sight of their King and Master His Majestie crossing the Rhine did take with him the Scots which were there of Sir Iames Ramseys Regiment of old Spense his Regiment and of My Lord Rhees being landed the Spanish horsemen having furiously charged the Scots with a little advantage of a hedge stood by His Majestie against the Spanish horsemen and with a strong body of pikes and salves of musket resisted valiantly the horsemen till the rest were landed to relieve them As also the next day the Musketieres of Ramseys Regiment that on all occasions were wont to shew their valour were the first stormed the walles at Oppenham as they were the first with their Camerades that accompanied His Majestie at his landing in the Paltz testifying how willing they were to oppose danger in sight of their King and Master revenging themselves on the Spaniard a cruell enemy to the Daughter of our King and Sister to our Dread Soveraigne the Queene of Bohemia whom before they had removed by force of Armes from the sweete land of the Paltz where at this time they were fighting to invest againe His Majestie of Behemia her Husband and his Royall
hope the storme would not continue being in the middest of August Here we may see by this Christian advertisement that no part of our life is exempted or freed from griefe or sorrow But on the contrary we are exposed to all kinde of miseries and troubles so that we see that children doe sucke with the milke of their Nurses certaine beginnings of the evill to come our misery growing as doth our age and we see it true for the godly they sigh and groane under the burthen of their adversities having no comfort they can enjoy but out of the written word of God a fruit whereof the wicked hath no part Therefore they sayd well who said that Philosophicall precepts were not so powerfull to heale the wounds of the soule as are those of the word of God Men of our profession ought ever to be well prepared having death ever before their Eyes they ought to be the more familiar with God that they might be ever ready to embrace it not caring a rush for it when it came doing good while they may For now we flourish in an instant we wither like Grasse now we stand presently we fall our life carrying with it when we received it the seed of death and that which did begin our life doth open the doore to it to goe away For in our birth our end did hang at our beginning and according to the custome of that worthy Emperour our actions should be ever before our eyes as if presently we were to appeare in Iudgment before the Eternall our God and that cry should never depart out of our eares cryed unto Philip King of Macedon Philippe memento mori Philip remember thou must die For man shall never behave himselfe as he ought in this World except at all times he have death before his eyes thinking on the houre and moment of his departure alwayes contemning the Exteriour things of this World giving himselfe unto the inward cogitations that doe profit the soule and the life thereof rejoycing beyond all things in the Testimony of a good Conscience The second Dutie discharged of our march from Rougenvalde to Colberg and from thence to Shivel-beane and of our service there SIr Iohn Hepburne being sent with his Regiment from Spruce to relieve us I was ordained with my Folks to march before Colberge where Generall Major Kniphowsen did command in the Blockering thereof which I did and being come there a Poaste was assigned for us to watch at In the meane time the Generall Major getting intelligence that the enemies Army lying at Gartts and Griffinbawgen on the Oder had intention to relieve Colberge and so being in his march he must needs passe by the Towne and Castle of Shevelbeane in the Marke being a passe distant but five miles from Colberge he thought expedient to Recognosce the place by sending of Colonell Hepburne thither with a Troope of Horsemen for his guard and convoy who having seene the place advised Kniphowsen to beset it with a Garrison being of consequence to hold up the Enemy if he should march thereon with the Army whereupon I was made choise of with my Folks to beset it being sent for in the night to breake up and to march thither in all haste I had command to speake with Kniphowsen in my going for receiving further Orders The Companies marched by I following my Orders desired to know what the Generall Major had to command me who gave me Orders in writing I should march thither and in case the enemy should pursue me I should fight to the last man and not to give over the Castle though I should be forced to quit the Towne Receiving Orders for some Ammunition I tooke leave of Kniphowsen and continued my march to Shevelbean then layd almost waste with Pestilence the Inhabitants being fled away I had slight quarters for my Soldiers which being quartered having visited the Towne and Castle I appointed the manner of our Watch and did beset the Poastes from our Guards which were kept both in the Towne and on the Castle and then I sent Orders to the Boores of the Graveshaft to come in the next day with Spades Shovels and Axes for to repaire the workes that were almost ruined being a scurvie hole for any honest Cavalier to maintaine his credit by Before my comming two Troopes of Bawtees Horsemen viz. Major Roustene and Long-fretts were quattered there who getting intelligence the Army was to march upon me being Horsemen quit the Garrison to our selves and took them to the Fields to joyne with their Colonels Regiment being neere hand so that our Quarters thus enlarged we were glad to be rid of their trouble as they were to eschew the Enemies comming serving better in the Fields then they could doe within Walles The Horsemen gone I was evill sped for being put on such a place with such orders appointed to fight to the last man where no Cavalier with credit could hold out twenty foure houres being pursued by an Army except the Lord extraordinarily would shew mercy Neverthelesse getting three dayes longer continuation before the enemies comming we did worke all of us night and day till we had Stacketed the Wall about the height of a man above the Parapet having made a breast-worke of earth within the Walles round about with Traverses within for cleering out the Enemy if he had entered at a breach our Work ended and our Ports Ranforced with Earth to resist the force of Pittards we see in the afternoone the Enemies squadrons of Foot and Horse about eight thousand strong marching unto us having Artillery conforme we finding them marching within reach I caused to salute them with two small shot wherewith a Rut-master and a Lievtenant of horse were killed which made the rest march out of distance The Army drawne up in Battell without reach of our Canon they sent a Trumpeter summoning us to a treatie he was answered we had no such Orders but we had Powder and Ball at their service Whereupon they commanded a Captaine with a hundred and fiftie musketiers towards the Porte directing proportionally to the rest of the Portes our souldiers in the beginning before the Portes killed of them above thirtie souldiers and two Livetenants I not being able to maintaine the Towne retired with my folke on the Castle I being retired the Burgers made up set open the Portes to the enemie giving him entrance who did bring in his whole Artillerie and Amunition to the market place and then sent to mee a Drummer to see if I would render up the Castle upon good conditions then they were in my power but if not I should have no quarters afterwards They got their first Answer againe and then the service beginnes anew on both sides and they begunne before night to plant their Batteries within fourtie pace of our walles which I thought too neere but the night drawing on wee resolved with fire workes to cause them remove their quarters and their
Artillerie Having thrown some fiery Granades on the houses and seeing they wrought no effect I hired a stout souldier with a Pike to reach a firye Ball I had made upon the top of the next house that lay to the Castle which in the end was fired so that the whole street did burne right alongst betwixt us and the enemy who was then forced to retire both his Cannon and souldiers and not without great losse done unto him by our souldiers by meanes of the fire-light where other two Officers and eighteene of their souldiers were killed The day cleering up I fell out after with fourescore Musketiers and tooke thirteene Crabbats prisoners The Army leaving us for that time they marched forwards for the releefe of Colberg and I retired to the towne to comfort the Burgers for their losse sustained by the fire caused through necessitie having no other meanes to escape our enemies fury I being retired to the Castle and the enemy marching to Colberg having made up eighteene Dragoniers to march after the enemy for bringing me intelligence if his Majesties forces from Statin were come betwixt the enemie and Colberg my party retiring shewes that the field Marshall Gustave Horne and Colonell Mackey that cōmanded the cōmanded musketiers were joyned with Kniphousen Bawtish and Sir Iohn Hepburne and were lying over-night before a passage betwixt the enemy and Colberg The next morning being darke till nine aclock with a thick mist the horsemen charging one another they came in confusion on both sides being affrighted alike retired from each others with the losse of fourescore men on both sides The particulars whereof I will not set downe having not seene the service though I was within hearing of their Cannon and Muskets both Two horsemen of Bawtish Regiment that had charged through the enemy came and reported to me openly in presence of many souldiers that the Swedens were all beaten I being offended at the manner of their report I caused to imprison both the horsemen till I knew greater certainty and calling my souldiers together I was prepared for the enemies returne But he passing by a mile from us I sent Dragoniers to cut off his passage giving them charge to cut off the Bridges but his Dragoniers being there before mine to be quit of their ill my Dragoniers returned againe in safetie allowing passage to their enemies within few dayes after having escaped this inconvenience I was recalled from thence by his Majesties order to joyne with the Felt-marshall Horne then at Griffinberg with a party of the Armie where before my departing I took an Attestation from the Amptman of the Castle of the good order and Discipline that was kept by vs there And being glad I was rid with credit of such a place I marched to Griffenberg to finde the Felt-Marshall The second Observation THe fore-sight of a wise Commander availes much in preventing the intentions of our Enemies First in besetting the passages through which he might come upon us which doth hinder his march in giving us the longer time to bee prepared for his comming Next the farther our wings are spred without us our Body is the better guarded by good intelligence Thirdly by this meanes wee can the better provide our Army with thinges necessary Fourthly the passages without being kept they being next the Enemy wee can have the more timely advertisement of our enemies designes so soone as they are hatched This Cavaliere Kniphowsen though hee was unfortunate he had both the Theorie and Practick befitting a Commander whom once I did heare say that one Ounce of good Fortune was to be preferred before a Pound weight of Wit which hee knew well by his owne experience and to my knowledge though hee was unfortunate himselfe yet Cavalieres under his command could learne by him much good order and discipline And though in his life-time hee loved not our Country-men Neverthelesse for the love I carried to his vertues I would not omit to make mention of his worth No feare of danger or death can be an excuse to a man to serve the Publique in his calling Before I was commanded to enter this Towne the Infection was great yet none of us did forbeare to converse with the Sicke though daily examples of mortality were frequent amongst us for on our Watches wee knew not the cleane from the foule Neverthelesse it behoved us all to passe on our duties as wee were commanded and though I know no reason for it fewer Souldiers dyed of the infection than Burgers Yet one rare Sparke being a resolute fix Souldier with a Musket as ever I commanded dyed here of the Pest called Andrew Monro who being but Eighteene yeares of age though little of stature no toyle nor travell could overset him and as hee was stoute so he was merry and sociable without offence such another was his Cozen Iohn Monro Kilternies grand-child who dyed of a burning Feaver being alive without feare before his Enemy and of a merry and quicke disposition I made onely mention of their names because they lived vertuously and dyed with farre more credit then if they had dyed at home where their names had never bin recorded for their worth and vertues It is the duty of a Commander to whom a Frontier Garrison is put in trust timely to fore-see all wants and defects about the place hee is trusted with as to repaire the workes to provide it with victuals with powder with Ball Match and Armes for it were not good hee had his materials to seeke when hee is resolved to begin his worke Likewise his workmen if they bee not sufficiently furnished before-hand he will be forced to dismisse them before his worke be credibly ended his over-seers must be also good and diligent otherwise there may bee too many crevises in their building and he himselfe must give good example in overseeing all and in fore-seeing of all inconveniences not trusting unto others to discharge those duties hee is bound to discharge himselfe and in case of extremity of danger hee must ever bee the first himselfe to looke unto it and the last in comming from it otherwise hee can neither maintaine the place nor his credit Hee must also be very modest and secret in not revealing the dangers hee fore-sees but be amending of them for feare to discourage others Likewise wee see here that it is alike with a Commander keeping a strength sometimes as it is with a body whereof some members are infected with a Canker that to preserve the body they must resolve to lose a member as it was with us at this time being forced to burne a part of the Towne to preserve the rest and our selves otherwise all must have beene lost But God favouring us by the winde that obeyeth when hee commandeth and the Element of the Fire also supplying the defect wee had of Water in our Graffe being but dry on that side wee were guarded with fire in stead of water and that bravely