Selected quad for the lemma: ground_n

Word A Word B Word C Word D Occurrence Frequency Band MI MI Band Prominent
ground_n work_n wrought_v year_n 30 3 4.8245 4 false
View all documents for the selected quad

Text snippets containing the quad

ID Title Author Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication) STC Words Pages
A07628 Monro his expedition vvith the vvorthy Scots Regiment (called Mac-Keyes Regiment) levied in August 1626. by Sr. Donald Mac-Key Lord Rhees, colonell for his Majesties service of Denmark, and reduced after the Battaile of Nerling, to one company in September 1634. at Wormes in the Paltz Discharged in severall duties and observations of service; first under the magnanimous King of Denmark, during his warres against the Emperour; afterward, under the invincible King of Sweden, during his Majesties life time; and since, under the Directour Generall, the Rex-chancellor Oxensterne and his generalls. Collected and gathered together at spare-houres, by Colonell Robert Monro ... for the use of all worthie cavaliers favouring the laudable profession of armes. To which is annexed the abridgement of exercise, and divers practicall observations, for the younger officer his consideration; ending with the souldiers meditations going on service.; Monro, his expedition with the ... Scots Regiment Monro, Robert. 1637 (1637) STC 18022; ESTC S114933 372,373 362

There are 7 snippets containing the selected quad. | View lemmatised text

patience till once they were done that he might see his Souldiers secured and guarded from their enemies for when he was weakest he digged most in the ground for in one yeare what at Swede Francford Landsberg Brandenburg Verb●m Tannermonde Wittenberg and Wirtzburg he caused his Souldiers to worke more for nothing than the States of Holland could get wrought in three yeares though they should bestow every yeare a Tunne of gold and this he did not onely to secure his Souldiers from the enemy but also to keepe them from idlenesse When they were not employed on service they were kept by good discipline in awe and obedience and that with as great moderation love and discretion as could be And his Majestie knew well that our Nation was of that nature that they could take to heart the austere carriage of their Commanders were they never so good For while as sometimes through his Majesties impatiencie he would cause to imprison some of our Country-men without solicitation his Majestie was ever the first did minde their liberties for he knew their stomacks were so great that they would burst or starve in prison before they would acknowledge an errour committed against their Master except it were of negligence Moreover nothing can more discourage a Citie Fort or Strength that is beleaguered than when they see their secrets discovered and their passages from reliefe cut off as it was seene of those that yeelded up the Skonce to Sir Iohn Hepburne being contented to come in the Colonells mercy seeing themselves barred from all reliefe Likewise the dutie of Leaders that lead men on service ought to be limited with discretion and not to advance further than with conveniency they may retire againe if need be left by too farre advancing they not onely indanger themselves but also ingage others for their reliefes to indanger all and a fault committed in this kinde through too much forwardnesse merits a harder censure than remissenesse with discretion seeing in the latter a man is but censured alone but committing the former errour he loseth himselfe and others Here also we found by experience that the spade and the shovell are ever good companions in danger without which we had lost the greatest part of our followers Therefore in all occasions of service a little advantage of ground is ever profitable against horse foote or Cannon And for this it was that the best Commanders made ever most use of the spade and the shovell and that in such ground as was found most commodious for their safeties We see also here his Majesties disposition in entertaining his Officers kindly after victory esteeming them not as servants but as companions in his mirth as a wise Master ought and should doe to those he findes obedient to his Commandements incouraging them another time to undergoe any service or danger for his sake that was so kinde and familiar with them joyning their hearts as well with his love as with his bountie for he knew well nothing was more able to bring victory next under God than good Commanders As also his Majestie knew that to be courteous unto his Officers was the way to triumph over his enemies The tenth Dutie discharged of our March to Berlin and from thence to Spandaw and backe to Botsaw THE eighteenth of Aprill 1631. the enemy being marched out of Landsburg towards Glogo his Majestie having beset Landsburg with a Garrison we marched backe to Francford on the Oder where we did rest us with the Armie till the twenty-ninth of Aprill during which time there were Ambassadours going mutually betwixt his Majestie and the Duke of Brandenburg at last having condescended on some points his Majestie brake up with the Armie and marched towards Berlin and were quartered by the way at a passe called Panco being one of the Duke of Brandenburgs hunting houses and from thence we marched to Berlin where his Majestie was Royally entertained by the Duke and that his Majestie might thinke he was welcome after the feast the Castle of Spandaw was delivered in his Majestie custodie where incontinent Colonell Axellilly with foure hundred Swedes were left in Garrison being a strength one of the fastest in Germanie fortified well with Fossées and Countersharpes of free stone and an earthen wall above having one hundred and fiftie pieces of Cannon on it and Armes for twentie thousand foote and horse with Amunition answerable Provided also sufficiently with store of victualls for an Armie of ten thousand men for a long space and though the Garrison were Swedes they were sworne to obey the Duke and his Majestie was obliged by his Royall word past to the Duke to restore it againe when ever the Duke desired to have it if the Duke of Saxony should not joyne with his Majestie against the Emperour The third day after the agreement the whole Armie brake up and marched to another passe three miles from Spandaw called Spotsdamme where we lay not intrencht the space of ten dayes till his Majesties Ambassadours were returned from the Duke of Saxon with an answer that the Duke would not assist his Majestie for the reliefe of Madeburg neither yet would the Duke grant to his Majestie free passage through his Country which was the losse of many poore soules within Madeburg being cut off by the crueltie of Generall Tillies Armie having surprized the Towne that was never taken before sparing neither man woman nor childe but putting all alike cruelly to death and in the end the Towne was burnt downe which was occasioned by the breach of the Dukes promise in not assisting his Majestie of Sweden being on his march to relieve it His Majestie not assured of the Duke of Brandenburg behinde him our Armie turning faces about we marched backe to Spandaw and lay downe in the Fields in order of Ba●taile where we remained certaine dayes till such time as it behoved his Majestie for keeping of his Royall word to restore backe to the Duke the Castle of Spandaw and his Majesties Garrison being brought out it was manned againe by the Dukes Forces The castle restored his Majesty was so incensed against the Duke though his owne brother in law that he sware to take in Berlin which was the Dukes residence as also he was resolved to take the Duke prisoner except he would joyne in confederacy with him without the Duke of Saxon whereupon our Army did breake up and marched towards Berlin in hostile manner and lying downe before it the Duke not able to resist entred in a Treaty with his Majesty and to move his Majesty the more the Dutchesse and her mother with a traine of Great Ladies came to the fields to entertaine his Majesty with offering in the Dukes name all due respect to his Majesty and promising all things should be done by the Duke what his Majesty would desire To which his Majesty answered merrily that if the Duke would not end with him friendly before night he would send the Dutchesse and all the Ladies
them In the Battaile of Cannes Hanniball returning the next day on the place of Battaile to looke more narrowly to the place a Romane Knight halfe dead hearing the noise of people lifted up his head of purpose to have spokē but his voice failing died with the last gaspe by Hanniball there roade a Numidian on that dead Knights Horse who knowing his Master begun to move his eares to bray and to leape and rebound with such fury till he casts the Numidian to ground runnes through the dead bodies and stands before his dead Master and leaning downe his necke and shoulders sheweth the desire he had that his Master should leape on him to the great astonishment of Hanniball and his followers We reade also in the warres of Germanie in the yeare 1176 the Dukes of Saxon forced by Armes to submit themselves to the Emperour Henry the fourth giving the Emperour for pledges of their fidelitie two yong Princes Sonnes to a Marquesse which were carefully kept in a Castle that was very strong the Captaine whereof moved by Compassion and wonne by some presents suffered them sometimes to goe abroad to take the ayre and to ride their Horses thereabout The Captaine going a hunting takes these young youths with him the prey found and hunted shee is followed by all not thinking of any other thing The youths spurring hard out of sight follow their course till they come to the River of the Maine where they request a Fisherman to transport them in his little Cane or Boate to Mentz offering him their little scarlet Cloakes for pay The Fisherman helpes them from their Horses and takes them in his Boate and rowes downe the River their Horses swimming after them to Mentz where they and their Horses were graciously welcomed Plinie writes that Horses wept at their Masters deaths and it is recorded that the Horse of Caesar wept foretelling his Masters death and I perswade my selfe the gentle Reader could adde somewhat to this purpose if he listed but thus ●arre to animate Christians to love respect and cherish their Camerades and not to kill and backbite them as too many are too ready to detract from others to adde to themselves a wrong way for honour is compared well to a chaste Maide that will never love them who would ravish her but being courted shee may be moved Here I must not forget that dutie I owe to the remembrance of that worthy young Gentleman Arthur Forbesse Sonne to a worthy Cavalier of famous memory Lievetenant Colonell Arthur Forbesse being a worthy valourous sonne descended of a valiant Father This young Gentleman being deadly wounded on service and with hazard brought unto our Ship within two dayes dyed Likewise a Gentleman borne in the Isles of Scotland called Alexander Mac-Worche being wounded in the head and shot in the arme the enemies Horsemen shooting at him with Pistols he leapes from the shoare with his cloathes on notwithstanding those wounds and swimmes to my Cosen Captaine Monro his Boate and being brought in died the next day and was much lamented for of his Camerades as a Gentleman of great hope I did also observe here the inconvenience that happens to many brave Officers and Souldiers given to plundering gathering together a little bootie for spending which brings them commonly into their enemies hands their punishment being farre more grievous than their purchase was delightfull and yet I thinke the Guilt is worse than the punishment To which purpose I will onely here inferre one Story A Pythagorian bought a paire of shooes upon trust the shooe-maker dyes the Philosopher is glad and thinks them gaine but a while after his Conscience touches him and becomes a perpetuall chider he repaires to the house of the dead casts in his money with these words There take thy due thou livest to me though dead to all besides Certainly in my opinion ill gotten gaines are farre worse than losses with preserved honestie These grieve but once the others are continually grating upon our quiet and he diminishes his owne contentment that would adde unto it by unlawfulnesse for looking onely to the beginning he thinkes not of the end But in my opinion if plundering or making of bootie at any time be excusable for a Souldier it is onely in respect of the circumstances Our friends being forced to quit their Countrey and their goods to their enemies before it should inrich the enemy it were not amisse to take it or destroy it either with fire or water before it were profitable to our enemies and in this point onely I doe allow of this bootie making providing it doe not hinder men from the discharge of their duties in time and place otherwise our best goods being impediments to the discharge of our honest dutie in our calling are to be throwne away And for mine owne part a few bookes left by my friends which mine enemy might have burnt was all the bootie that ever I made neither doe I repent me of my neglect in this point having seene many make bootie who had never the happinesse to enjoy it long His Majesties care in fore-seeing the safetie of Denmarke merits praise for by the preservation of Denmarke his Majestie like a skilfull Gamester recovered againe all that he lost Therefore we ought never to grieve for any thing past but for sinne and for that alwayes And he spake well that said He that hath himselfe hath lost nothing The eight Dutie discharged of our Quartring and Mustring in Fune and of the Colonels going for a Recreute unto Scotland HAving happily arrived in Denmarke at Assens in Funland our Colonell goes a shoare to understand of his Majesties will and command and being graciously welcomed is made to dine at his Majesties Table after dinner his Majestie discharging then the dutie of a Generall Quarter-Master who wrote with his own hand the names of the dorpes ordained for our Quarters as also did appoint a faire Hoffe to receive all our wounded and sicke men where they were to be entertained together till they were cured and to that effect his Majestie graciously ordained skilfull Chirurgians diligently to attend them being an hundred and fiftie besides Officers then we got orders to land the Regiment and to draw up in a convenient part till our sicke and wounded were first directed to quarters and then to appoint our Watch viz. two Companies to watch at Assens then having gotten Waggons for transporting of our Colonels baggage and spare Armes the severall Companies Quarters dealt out the Furriers sent before to divide the Quarters every Company led by their owne guids we marched off severally by Companies as our severall wayes did lie unto our Quarters where we had rest for our former toyle and good entertainment for our spare dyet so that in a short time we were all sufficiently refreshed without feare of an enemy Neverthelesse our Watches were duely and orderly kept and relieved ●y course every second night then Orders were given by the Commissaries
maintained it couragiously repelling the enemies valour with resolution built on vertue and love of credit so that they made their enemie with great losse to be frustrate of his hoped for victory finding the valour of the Scots tempered with constant resolution and vigorous spirits his fury was made to setle by little and little till at last resolution the strong Armour of the descreete Souldier prevailed against all the shuffles and cries of the enemy and the defender seeing the storme past and the tempest cease he laughes and smiles with as much honour quiet and safety as before he suffered toyle griefe or injury Here we see the use of treaty and still-stand or truce ordained of Policy that every man may presse to winne his owne aymes The Souldiers that in six weekes before were wounding and killing one another are now coming and discoursing together as friends where I did remarke and observe that it is much easier to be reconciled with an enemy then to conquer him Now in time of these still-stands by discourse they presse to finde out one anothers actions and to observe one anothers faults and excursions treasuring up against the day of advantage for the confounding of one another at their first out-falling and like the Crocodile they slime one at others way to make one another fall coming in occasions againe and therefore it was the answere that Seneca gave unto himselfe when he asked Quid est homini inimicissimum he answered Alter homo Our enemies studies are the plots of our ruine leaving nothing unattempted which may induce our dammage and the danger is ever most when we see it not Yet I thinke he that can be a worthy enemy can reconciled be a worthy friend and he that in a just cause can fight against us can likewise in the like cause being reconciled fight with us and if he be unworthy reconcile him too if it were but to be freed of his scandalous tongue and that also will be worth thy labour and he that upon good termes refuseth reconcilement may be stubborne but not valiant nor wise for he that wilfully continues an enemy teacheth his enemy to do him a mischiefe if he can and that endeavour is well spent that unmaskes an enemy or makes a friend for as the one begets a treasure the other it may be raiseth a siege and that man is wise that is kinde to his friends and sharpe to his enemies but he is wiser that can entertaine his friends in love and make his enemies like them as our Nation did here at Trailesound in keeping their Masters love to the best for their loyalty and in making their enemies thinke well of them and love them for their brave carriage and valour Likewise I did observe here the benefit that ariseth to a Kingdome City or State through a good Government and what a blessing it was to a Towne perplexed as this was to get a good wise vertuous and valiant Governour in time of their greatest trouble which shewes that we are govern'd by a power above us for oftimes that which we desire or feare doth seldome happen This City having feared the Emperours tyranny to come over them desired the King of Denmark as their protector yet God by his providence gave them another to wit the invincible King of Sweden who provided them an able Governour in their greatest neede to wit Sr. Alexander Lesly who immediatly after his entry tooke the command upon him keeping both the Dane their Souldiers and the Burgars under his command and direction as worthy of his authority flowing from the King his Master of most famous and of never dying memory it faring then with Trailesound as with Sara she became fruitfull when she could not believe it and they became flourishing having gotten a Scots Governour to protect them whom they looked not for which was a good Omen unto them to get a Governour of the Nation that was never conquered which made them the onely Towne in Germany free as yet from the Emperiall yoake by the valour of our Nation that defended their City in their greatest danger To conclude then for the love I beare to the Crowne that doth protect them knowing their dispositions by experience to be froward factious and proud having as yet some Wolves amongst them that the folde may be quiet let the factious heads be made higher by a pole than their bodies cutting off the tumultuous whereby their Governour by a majesticke awe may keepe the rest in a strict subjection lest slacknesse and connivence may undermine an unsetled Government for it is no crueltie to denie false men libertie that are so infected though there be some honest men amongst them let them serve their Governour and let him beare the sway as becomes the dignitie of the place that having once wonne the field he may be sure to keepe it for though I hate the evill people for their former unthankfulnesse to our Souldiers and Nation yet the love I beare to their Protector and Governour makes me thus plaine whose happinesse I wish to endure while there remaineth a stone in the Citie and his fame eternally The nineteenth Dutie discharged of the out-fall made by Spynies Regiment and of their Retreate made good by Captaine Mac-Kenyee THE treatie dissolved the new supply being come out of Denmarke Sir Alexander Leslie being made Governour he resolved for the credit of his Country-men to make an out-fall upon the Enemy and desirous to conferre the credit on his owne Nation alone being his fi●st Essay in that Citie And therefore made choice of Spynies Regiment being their first service to make the out-fall ordaining Captaine Mac-Kenyee with the remainder of our Regiment in the Lievetenant Colonell his absence to second them for making good of their retreate My Lord Spynie being present with his Regiment consisting of brave and valourous Officers being all worthy Cavaliers of noble descent and of good families having action valour and breeding answerable to their charges they were desirous to gaine honour and credit against a powerfull enemy with whom they were to be ingaged they went on with boldnesse and confident resolution and falling into the enemies workes they forced the enemy to retire and to give ground even to the body of their Armie And delighting in the shedding of their enemies bloud who had shed so much of their Country bloud before they pursued them hard following them unto their maine reserve or battell where they seazed on their Cannon but the enemy being too strong and his forces still augmenting they were made to retire with the losse of some brave Cavaliers especially the losse of Sir Iohn Hume of Aiton the first Captaine of the Regiment who after many bloudy wounds received was taken prisoner being a brave resolute Cavalier of good carriage and moderation in all his actions who after died of his wounds with the enemy being a prisoner long and was much lamented of all that knew him
glasse that sometimes a vaine and idle brute was enough to ruine them and to breake them like the bricklest glasse that is His Majesties further diligence after the intaking of Brandenburg we see he giving neither time nor leasure to the neerest Garrisons that were at hand to resolve what they had to doe for one strength was no sooner taken but incontinent the commanded Musketiers and horsemen were presently closing up the passages of the rest before they could either retire or send for supply And so being long sleeping in a carelesse securitie some of them were taken before they could bee prepared for to fight or to take about their ports or bridges so farre were they out of use with hunting and making good cheere that they were surprized inter pocula having regarded their bellies more then their credits Where I did see the saying of the Prophet cleered that saith Men doe annoy themselves in gathering goods and cannot tell who shall enjoy them For I thinke the Italians never minded that the riches which they gathered in Pomeren should be suddenly transported from the Sunne unto the Northerne cragges and cliffes of Sweden being led by the Lyon of the North the Invincible King of Sweden of never dying memory The fifth Dutie discharged of the Intaking of Dameine by Accord GEnerall Major Kniphowsen being come with a supply of horse and foote to our Army at Letts and being joyned with us his Majestie did give him orders to desire from the Colonells of all Regiments of foote and horse according to a Swedens custome used at such times the List of their marching men and of their sicke the Lists being severally given our Army did effectivè consist of fifteene thousand men of foote and horse able to fight The next morning every Regiment of foote according to custome was commanded to have a competent number of Cannon baskets ready made to be transported the next day on Waggons before Dameine which we were to beleaguer Therefore this preparation was made before hand for the Batteries the wood being scarce and farre from thence The fourteenth of Februarie we did breake up horse and foote and marched towards Dameine from Letts our horsemen were directed to lie without us on both sides of the Towne alike so that the Towne could get no supply without they would first beate our horsemen and next our foote His Majestie remaining with the Infantry as his choice we incamped on a hill and about it within Cannon shot of the Towne being our best Quarters in the extremitie of the cold without house or shelter to defend us from the winde At our first drawing up in battell a worthy Gentleman called Robert Rosse one of our Regiment was kill'd with the Cannon being blowing of Tobacco before the Regiment died instantly and was transported to Letts where he was honourably buried in the Church whose last words were worth the noteing saying Lord receive my Soule His Majestie having first disposed of the Horsemen in giving them their directions the foote was standing in battell under the mercy of the Cannon behinde this hill for two houres while his Majestie was in viewing and recognoscing both Towne and Castle which done the Guards were commanded forth to their severall Posts to the Artillerie and to his Majesties baggage then his Majestie directed Generall Major Kniphowsen and his Forces with the thousand commanded Musketiers to take in the passage that went to the Castle on which service was commanded Here Tivell his Lievetenant Colonell called who commanded the partie under whom was with the commanded men of our Regiment Lievetenant George Heatly the service beginning hot on both sides striving for the passe the Lievtenant Colonell was killed At which time Lievetenant Heatly being shot notwithstanding behaved himselfe valourously being the first with his Musk●tiers that cleered the passe from the enemy in making them give ground he possessed the mill on the other side of the passe till the rest of the commanded Musketiers did follow the enemy to the Castle where Knip-howsen with his Forces did advance the passe being free His Majestie having given Orders where the Batteries should be made giving Generall Banier charge to attend the Armie as it begunne to grow darke his Majestie accompanied by Colonell Tivell went to appoint the place where the approaches should beginne where the Guards should be kept that were to guard the workmen in case of an out-fall where presently both the Guards and the men that should worke were commanded forth with sufficient Officers to oversee them Likewise there were men commanded from every Regiment proportionably for making the Batteries and a strong Guard was appointed to guard the Cannon against an out-fall others were commanded from every Regiment to make more Cannon Baskets and the Furiers with Convoyes were ordained to returne to Letts for bringing of Proviant to every Regiment This all orderly done he that had meate in his Knapsacke being free of dutie could invite his Camerade to supper and make merry till he were commanded on dutie himselfe where divers did eate that were not sicke on the morrow The enemy perceiving the next morning the Guards by the approaches saluted them with Cannon and Musket and were saluted againe though not so kindly as friends doe one ano●her The service continued the whole day his Majestie oft visi●ing the Castle being hardest prest as of most consequence for the Castle once wonne the Towne could not hold out Vpon the Castle were seaven Companies of Colonell Holks Regiment who fearing to be blowne up by a Mine entred in treatie and were content to take service under his Majestie and to render their Colours which immediatly was agreed upon and their Colours brought to be planted and spred on our Batteries as tokens of his Majesties victory The Cannon in the meane time from our Batteries thundring till night on their workes they begunne to be discouraged finding the Castle was given over they were out of hopes to maintaine the Towne longer The next morning Captaine Beaton of our Regiment having the guard in the Trenches the enemy falling out strong the Dutch retired and gave ground while our folke maintained their Poast valiantly in sight of his Majesty who commanded Generall Bannier with some Musketiers of Here-Tyvells Regiment and ours led on by Major Potley an English Cavalier of good worth to second the Guards and to beate backe the enemy in plaine champagne Generall Bannier advanced the enemy playing hard with cannon on them Notwithstanding whereof entering the skirmish the enemy was beate backe not without great losse on both sides where I cannot but commend Bannier his carriage being in sight of his King as his Majesty did commend our Nation for their good behaviour and charity for a Captaine of Banniers Regiment being left for dead on the field his countrimen for feare refusing to bring him off he was voluntarily brought off by our countrimen to their great praise who after disdaining his Camerades and
on shoulder to shoulder Colonell Lumsdell and I fortunately without hurt enter the Port where at our entry some I know received their rest and the enemy forced to retire in confusion being astonished at our entry they had neither wit nor courage as to let downe the Portcullis of the great Port behinde them so that we entering the streets at their heeles we made a stand till the body of our Pikes were drawne up orderly and fla●cked with Musketiers and then wee advanced our Pikes charged and our Musketiers giving fire on the flancks till the enemy was put in disorder After us entred Generall Banier with a fresh body of Musketiers he following the enemy in one street and Lumsdell and I in another having rancountred the enemy againe they being well beaten our Officers tooke nine Colours of theirs which were to be presented to his Majestie and the most part of the Souldiers were cut off in revenge of their crueltie used at New Brandenburg but some of their Officers got quarters such as they had given to ours This Regiment defeated wee directed an Officer with a strong partie to possesse the bridge and that to hinder their escape their passage being cut off they were also cut downe themselves till the streets were full of dead bodies and that the most part of our Souldiers and Officers disbanded to make bootie leaving me and a few number of honest Souldiers to guard my Colours which disorder I confesse stood not in my power to remedie Thus farre for Lumsdells part and mine which I dare maintaine to be truth And as I have spoken truth of our owne Actions without ostentation which no man can controlle that is friend to vertue I will now relate other mens Actions so farre as I know to be truth by relation of my honest Camerades Lievetenant Colonell Musten being appointed to command the Musketiers of Lumsdells Regiment and of my Colonells then under my command he seeing us entred did follow after us and commanded those he led on execution apart giving no better Qua●ters than we did The Dutch also remembring the enemies crueltie used at Brandenburg they gave but slight Quarters Major Iohn Sinclaire as I was credibly informed being accompanied with Lievenant George Heatly being both resolute and stout were the first that came over the walles with ladders who at their first entry having but a few Musketiers with them they were charged on the streets by the enemi●s Curassiers or best horsemen where they were forced to stand close their backs to the wall where they entred and to give severall Salves of Muskets upon the enemy till they were made to retire Likewise after we were entred the yellow and the blew Briggads being esteemed of all the Army both resolute and couragious in all their exploits they were to enter on the Irish quarter where they were twice with great losse furiously beaten off and were cruelly spoyled with fire-workes throwne by the Irish amongst them But at last they having entred no●withstanding the inequality of their strength the Irish though weake stood to it and fought with sword and pikes within workes a long time till the most part of the Souldiers fell to ground where ●hey stoode fighting so that in the end Lievetenant Colonell Walter Butler who commanded the Irish being shot in the arme and pierced with a pike through the thigh was taken prisoner so that the next day it was to be seene on the poast where the best service was done and truely had all the rest stood so well to it as the Irish did we had returned with great losse and without victory The fury past the whole streete being full of Coaches and rusty waggons richly furnished withall sorts of riches as Plate Iewells Gold Money Clothes Mulets and horses for saddle coach and waggons whereof all men that were carel●sse of their dueties were too carefull in making of boo●y that I did never see Officers lesse obeyed and respected than here for a time till the hight of the market was past and well I know some Regiments had not one man with their Colours till the fury was past and some Colours were lost the whole night till they were restored the next day such disorder was amongst us all occasioned through covetousnesse the roote of all evill and dishonesty At last the execution past his Majesty entred himselfe being guarded with the Rhine-Grave and his horsem●n who immediatly were commanded to crosse the bridge and to follow the enemy at their heeles being on slight towards Glogoe where the Felt-marshall Tuffenbacke the Count of Schonberg and Mounte De Cuculé had retired with such as escaped His Majesty having but scarce quartered in the Towne the fire beginning to burne the City accidentally Orders were given with stroake of Drume with a Bancke beaten in all streetes that all Officers and Souldiers under paine of death should repaire presently to their Colours on the other side of the Oder in the outer workes where Sr. Iohn Hepburne was ordained to command within the workes except such as were appointed to guard the Po●●es of the Towne his Majesties quarter and the Generalls lodging on the market place where a strong guard was kept to suppresse plundering and the insolency of Souldiers Neverthelesse these orders proclaimed and published many disobeyed remaining in the Towne for plundering In this conflict the enemy lost neere three thousand men besides the Officers that were killed viz. foure Colonells Herbenstine Heydo Walestine and Ioure and above thirty six Officers were killed Likewise there were taken prisoners Colonell Sparre with five Lievetenant Colonell of Dutch and one Irish Cavalier that behaved himselfe both honourably and well Colours also they did lose as I did see the next day made Counte of before Generall Bannier forty one and Cornets of horse nine On our side were lost also at least eight hundred men whereof the blew and yellow for their parts lost five hundred His Majesty also did get here a great deale of provision for the Army as Corne Amunition and eighteene peeces of Ordinance The next day his Majesty appointed Generall Major Lesly as Governor over the Towne giving him orders to repaire the ruinous workes and walles as also orders were given for burying of the dead which were not buried fully in six dayes in th' end they were cast by heapes in great ditches above a hundred in every Grave The next day we were ordained to assemble our Regiments and to bring them together in Armes that they might be provided of what they wanted of Armes having lost many in their disorder The eighth Observation HIS Majesty going to rancounter his enemy before his rising from his Royall Leager at Swede did wisely dispose of his Army in making it into Briggads that coming unto the action he should not neede to thinke on the Theorie when it were time to practise as many young Commanders are forced to doe beginning to learne of others that which is defective in themselves
were made Earles by the Emperour from Marchants having turn'd Souldiers to serve his Emperiall Majestie which Graveshaft or Earledome could pay yearely beside Contribution to the warres ten thousand Rex-Dollers being a good augmentation of pay for an old servant who had served long and valourously without the least blot of discredit and retired bravely with meanes and credit to his Country carrying the markes of his valour in his body being above the waste full of tokens of valour credibly gotten in his Masters service for as he was couragious before his enemy he was also fortunate in his Conduct in obtaining victory beyond his fellowes and being often singled out man to man to make his courage the more undoubted he alwayes gave testimony in this kinde of his valour answerable to the externall shew and hansome frame of his body being in personage inferiour to no man for strength and comely stature His Majesty continuing his March towards Engolstat coming within sight of the Towne he drew his Armie in Battaile horse foote and Artillery where we stood the whole night at Armes The next day drawing neerer to the enemies Armie being incamped before us Ex opposito on the other side of the Danube ready to second the Towne on all occasions which his Majestie considering gave order to draw out our Leaguer and to set men to worke after we were quartered where for our welcome the enemy from the Towne did salute us furiously with Cannon so that at first the head was shot from the young Markgrave of Baden and his Majestie recognosceing the legge was shot from his Horse divers others were also here lamed by the Cannon The night drawing on his Majestie expecting a strong out-fall from the Towne their Armie being so neere our Briggad according to custome was commanded to march and to stand the whole night in Armes on a razed Champaigne under mercie of Cannon and musket being ordained in case of the enemies out-fall by fighting to hold them up till our Armie might be in readinesse to relieve us being in Aprill though the aire was cold the service being hot sundrie were taken away in full rancks with the Cannon being in no action our selves but standing ready to maintaine our ground in case the enemie should pursue us which to my minde was the longest night in the yeare though in Aprill for at one shot I lost twelve men of my owne Companie not knowing what became of them being all taken alike with the Cannon and he that was not this night in this stand afraid of a Cannon bullet might in my opinion the next night be made gunpowder of without paine and who would sweare he was not afrighted for a shot I would not trust him againe though he spake truth His Majestie in the beginning of the night commanded a thousand Swedens being Musketiers led by sufficient Officers in his Majesties owne presence to fall on the Skonce before the bridge which was beset with fifteene hundred foote and five hundred horse lying open on the side that lay next the Towne that if the enemie should storme and enter he might be clensed out againe with Cannon and musket from the Towne wall notwithstanding whereof the Swedens bravely advanced even to the graffe being ready to storme they were plagued with the musket and with fire-workes that leaving three hundred men killed about the Skonce they were forced to retire the enemy continuing a thunder-clap of Muskets for one halfe houre till they were fully retired His Majestie finding nothing could be effectuate in this manner retired with the Musketiers leaving us and our Briggad in the former stand to attend the enemies out-coming to make us acquainted with the thundering of Cannon where no man were he never so stout could be blamed to stoope seeing the Cannon in the night fireing in a right line before him he that would not shift his body to eschew the graseing of a Bullet was not to be pittied if killed through ostentation Here death that cruell fellow courted all alike yet none was so enamoured as ●●llingly to embrace him though well I know many brave fellowes were resolved to meet him for to give him the foyle before he came neere This night a Souldier though not stout might passe prentise in our Calling in one night for resolution where having stayed till it was day we retired to the Leaguer with great losse of men that were killed and hurt where they that had escaped the Malheur were glad to discourse at large of their nights watch His Majestie finding this Towne strong by nature situation and art lying on the Danube really fortified with a bridge over the River fortified also before the entry and the Towne being well provided of all furniture having a strong Garrison and in neede an Armie to supply it which made his Majestie for that time rise from it having gotten intelligence that the Duke of Baviers Forces by sleight had taken in Rhinsberg where the most part of the Armie was sent thither to beset the passe who immediatly after their entry disarmed the Citizens being all Protestants having quartered above twentie Souldiers in every house where also the Duke himselfe did march with the rest of his Armie knowing his Majestie was not able to gaine credit before Engolstat he went away suffering his Majestie to stay behinde to try his fortune against the Towne who also did breake up and marching away the enemy with a strong partie of Horsemen and of Dragoniers charged our Reare-guard Generall Banier being commanded to make the retreate where the enemy having charged he behaved himselfe well by good Command charging the enemy with small Troopes forcing them to retire while as the body of the Armie was retiring the Generall commanding still fresh Troopes one after another to receive the enemies charge till at last all were safely retired and the enemy retired also not daring to shew himselfe without the passes on the field being well beaten at an out-fall by the Swedens the day before The Retreate honourably made his Majestie continued his march on Mosburg having lyne that night on the Hill at Gysenfelt having in the afternoone before drawne the whole Armie in one Front Horse Foote and Cannon for doing the funerall Rites of the Markgrave of Bawden whose corps being appointed to be sent away with a Convoy to be buried before their departure the whole Cannon was twice discharged and then the whole Musketiers of the Army from the right hand to the left did give two salves of Musket and after them the whole Armie of horse did give two salves of Pistoll This day also old Captaine David Ramsey was buried having died of a consuming Feaver The next day our march continuing towards Mosburg where we did lie five dayes his Majestie having sent Felt-marshall Horne with a strong partie of horse foote and Cannon towards Landshut where Hepburne with his Briggad was also employed The Towne not being strong the enemy after
I should fall on and relieve him and his as I did continuing the service till we made the enemy retire over a bridge that was hard by the Towne so that I was forced for our owne safeties having lost divers Souldiers that were killed with the Cannon to divide my Souldiers making the halfe of them to cast ●p a running Trench while as the rest were hot skirmishing with the enemy being in danger of bo●h Cannon and Musket but my Souldiers once getting in the ground we fortified our selves against their Cannon and resolved in case of their out falling to maintaine the ground we had formerly wonne with the losse of our bloud having lo●t in one halfe houre above thirtie Souldiers whereof six were killed with the Cannon The enemy finding the Skonce was lost and us so farre advanced on the strongest side Feltmarshall Horne with his Forces marching on the other side that was weakest they presently did send a Drummer on our side to parlé for quarters whom I received and being hood-wink't he was sent with a Convoy to his Majestie who condescended to the Treatie and pledges being delivered the Treatie went on the Accord subscribed his Majestie came and thanked Dowbatle and us for our good service where large promises were made unto us of reward and to Colonell Hepburne also for taki●g in of the Skonce The enemy being strong in the Towne and above twice our strength his Majestie resolved to send to Francford for more Forces both of horse and foote to come to him before the enemy was suffered to march out of the Towne to whom conditions were granted to transport foure pieces of Ordnance and the Souldiers to march out with full Armes bagge and baggage with Drummes beating and flying Colours and a Convoy of Horsemen towards Glogoe His Majestie having beset the Garrison as soone as they marched out having seene their strength we were ashamed of their carriage being the eldest Troopes and the choice by report of the whole Imperia'l Armie who cowardly did give over such a strong Towne being without necessitie and in hope of reliefe One of my Captaines called Dumaine having contracted a feaver here before Lansberg being r●moved to Francford died there and being buried my Lievetenant David Monro was preferred to be Captaine of his Company and Ensigne Burton was made Lievetenant and Bullion his brother having taken his passe my Sergeant Andrew Rosse was made Ensigne to Captaine David and William Bruntfield was preferred to be my Lievetenant and Mongo Gray Ensigne This Towne being taken both Pomeren and the Markes of Brandenburg were cleered of the Emperialists being sent up unto Silesia The next Sabbath his Majestie that was ever ready to reward good servants for vertue he caused to make our guide the Black-smith being a stout fellow and a craftie Burgo-master of the Towne who did get from his Majestie two hundred Duckets besides His Majestie on the Sabbath day in the afternoone suffered the principall Officers of his Armie such as Generall Banier and Lievetenant Generall Bawtis and divers others to make merry though his Majestie did drinke none himselfe for his custome was never to drinke much but very seldome and upon very rare considerations where sure he had some other plot to effectuate that concerned his advancement and the weale of his State The ninth Observation THis Towne of Lansberg being a Frontier Garrison lying neare the borders of Pole on the Wert the having of it made Pomeren sure and the Marke giving unto his Majestie the freer passage unto Silesia and therefore it was that his Majestie did use the greater diligence and celeritie in obtaining of it with as great honour and reputation as could be imagined in respect of the inequalitie of strength betwixt us and our enemies As also in consideration of the situation of the place being on the one side fortified by nature yet beyond nature and probabilitie of reason This strong Garrison was forced to yeeld to Gustavus who was Mars his Minion and Fortunes Favourite or rather their Master as we see by his frequent Victories obtained against his enemies who though strongest are made to submit to the weakest partie where we may see that as industry is fruitfull so there is a kinde of a good Angell as it were waiting ever upon diligence carrying a Lawrell in his hand to crowne her And therefore it was that they said of old that Fortune should not be prayd unto but with hands in motion which made this valiant King love ever to be busied in vertues exercise befitting a Generall that carried a minde as this Invincible King did while he lived still rising to blessednesse and contentation It is commonly seene that those who feare least are commonly overcome as became of Francford on the Oder and this Towne also and though victory we see be from God yet to overcome an enemy the courage and skill of Commanders is very requisit and necessary And where good military discipline is observed as was done here there confidence doth arise perswading us we can doe what we please Of this opi●ion was our Leader and our Armie never doubted of their owne valour nor of their Leaders good Conduct which made our Victories the easier to be gotten Here also we see the goodnesse of intelligence for had his Majestie not gotten the Black-smith or some other like unto him to have beene intelligencer and guide to winne through the shallow Trinkets he led us to the Damme upon the head of their Watch who were surprized hardly could we have overcome this Towne on such a sudden for without this good of intelligence which is so necessary and of so great a moment in warres nothing or very little can be effectuated in unknowne places For good Intelligencers are so requisit in an Armie that no meanes ought to be spared on them providing they be trustie for one designe or secret of our enemies well knowne may bring all the rest we desire to a wished end or at least preserve us and ours from danger This Black-smith that was our guide in leading us towards our enemy at our first on-going on service the enemy playing hard with Muskets neverthelesse he went on without feare under-taking alike danger with our selves but finding in time of hot service some falling besides him our powder being a little wet and not giving so good report as the enemies did he then said he would returne to his Majestie and send us better powder yet I thinke though here there did appeare some lacke of constant resolution in him that time exercise and frequency of danger would make him a brave fellow being of a strong and a good able body but in my opinion the stoutest of men till they be a little acquainted with the furious noise of the Cannon will naturally feare and stoope at the first Likewise his Majestie was to be commended for his diligence by night and by day in setting forwards his workes for he was ever out of