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 â—ouble 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 right 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 hand 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 or distance This doubling of the bringers up or of middle-men is very requisit in giving a generall salve of Musket and as it is to be observed in rancks that the best men are placed in front reare and middle even so in files every Corporalship being foure files of Musketiers the likeliest are put ever in the right and left files of the foure being also of best experience The doubling of rancks being done and all remitted in good order and to their first distance of open order you are to command and exercise Souldiers in three severall wayes of counter-marching requisit in some respects but in my opinion to be used but seldome except it be in necessity in such parts as the ground will not permit otherwise therefore to avoide disorder Souldiers ought not to be ignorant of any of the three sorts of counter-marching First having commanded the Souldiers to dresse their rancks and files and to carry their Muskets handsomly keeping silence say To the right hand the counter-march without noise or losing of ground To the left hand retire againe to the former ground Then command againe to dresse rancks and files and to right their Armes keeping silence taking heede to what is to be commanded and say To the right hand turne Then the Flancke before being now the Front command To the right hand counter-march and lose no ground To the left hand as you were This is used ordinarily to change one wing of Battaile in place of the other then that the Front may be as it was first before they Countermarcht To the left hand turne dresse your Rankes and Files and be silent Another sort of Countermarch is the Slavonian countermarch where you lose ground the Front being changed also then you command the first Ranke to turne about to the right hand then you say to the rest Countermarch and through to your former distance after your Leaders Then say Leaders as you were and to the rest To the left hand countermarch as you were to your first ground The third sort of countermarch I esteeme most of to be practised being rather a conversion very requisit to be well knowne to all Souldiers in all Armies chiefly to be used before an enemy for as it is most sudden so in my opinion it breeds least disorder and disturbance the Souldiers once used to it of themselves they will willingly doe it on any occasion the body being before in open order or Battaile order say Close the Ranks and Files to your closse order without encumbering one of another every man following right his owne Leader keeping closse to his side man then say To the right hand the quarter turne halfe or whole as the occasion and the ground doth permit and then say Dresse your Armes and follow your Leaders and open againe to your Battaile order Lastly the body of your Musketiers exercised perfectly after this manner for the better bringing of them in exercise and breath that in case any disorder may happen amongst them they may the better afterward be acquainted one with another say to your open order of six foote distances Open both Rankes and Files and set downe your Armes handsomely where you stand then command your Sergeant to goe an hundred paces from the body of your Musketiers and sticke in his Holbert in the ground then
by Lawes and if they love and respect their Officers for feare to offend even in their Marches for their Officers credits they will march so orderly with Armes in their Rancks and Files that you would thinke a whole Regiment well disciplined as this was were all but one body and of one motion their eares obeying the command all as one their eyes turning all alike at the first signe given their hands going to execution as one hand giving one stroake yea many stroakes all alike ever readie to strike or hold up as their Commander pleaseth and thus exercised they were that their enemies in all Rancounters could not but duely praise them calling them the Invincible old Regiment which alwayes rancountred with them on all occasions so that Mac-Keyes name was very frequent through the glorious fame of this never-dying Regiment never wrong'd by Fortune in their fame though divers times by their enemies valour they sustained both losse and hurt but would to God we had alwayes met man to man or that our Army had consisted all of such men and such Officers whereof I was the unworthiest If so had beene our conquest had extended so farre as the Romanes of old did extend the limits and borders of their Empire which for my wish I would bestow on the Prince Elector Palatine borne by the Iewel of Europe the Queene of Bohemia his Royall Mother and if it were at my distribution he should have all from the River Euphrates at the East to the Ocean Sea at the West the fertillest part of Africke at the South and the Rhine and the Danube at the North and yet I durst affirme that his Grand-father King IAMES of blessed and never-dying memory might merit a farre greater possession for his Grand-childe the Illustrious Prince Elector Palatine of the Rhine and to have an Armie of such men under his command to be avenged on his enemies I would wish their cloathes nor mine owne came never off till his enemies were made his footstoole to tread on or to shew mercie at his Highnesse pleasure And for my wish his Armie should be all of Britaines Dutch and Irish such as Vegetius describeth the Romane Souldiers of old and I as one though unworthiest of a thousand Britaine Officers would undertake to make such brave lads to dwell Summer and Winter in Tents ever in readinesse to fight with our enemies and to endure all incommodities for the credit of such a Master banishing far from him with valiant hands well armed all the craft power and subtiltie that his enemies were able to devise against him And we should for his sake be contented with such allowance as the Emperiall Lawes allow a Souldier being onely so much as might maintaine life or so much as Beasts get that are put to dyet and we should be content to march with such expedition without intermission without quarter or Garrison as neede requireth never staying behinde but alwayes advancing consenting willingly to undergoe correction if we did to the contrary but to march ever orderly in Rancks as the way lay rough or even foule or faire as our Colours and Leaders went before us Never quitting our Rancks but with licence till the cause were wonne or that our Masters Throne were established And if otherwise we went astray we should be content to quit our allowance and if this discipline were not strict enough we should be content to have his Highnesse and Royall Mother restored to doe as our Fathers did coming out of Egypt marching alongst the spacious and wide Desert that our Randezvouz might be appointed and set till we arrived in Cades that is to say in the holy Land where being victorious we should bid our Master farewell and rest with our Fathers The ninth Dutie discharged of Major Dumbarre his Service at Bredenberg THis noble Cavalier of famous and worthy memory having done notable good service at Beysenburg Skonce on the River of the Elve as was formerly set downe at his retiring to Lugstad he was commanded with foure Companies of Scots and certaine Dutch the enemy having falne into Holsten his order was to beset the Castle of Bredenberg being a passe but not strong nor fortified in Forma As I was informed by a valourous little Captaine Captaine William Lumsdell who then was Ensigne to the Major who onely at that time escaped with his life from the fury of the enemy being within the house while as the rest in the fury were put to the sword This Gentleman who informed me was with the Major walking abroad neare to the house at the enemies first approaching so that the enemy unawares did come so neare that they retiring to the Castle had scarce time to draw up the draw-bridge when the enemy with his forces being as was thought ten thousand strong led by Tilley had the house environed on all quarters The enemy sends a Trumpeter summoning to render the place which was refused Whereupon they entred to approach and the Defender resists The service thus begun Comoedian-like ends very Tragically the whole Court and lodgings running with bloud with which the walles and pavement are sprinkled with our Scottish bloud to be viewed and seene to this day To be particular in the discharge of this dutie at large not having seene the service I will not lest I should erre in giving notice unto the world of things I did not know but by report which ordinarily holds not so true as things we have both knowne and seene In this house of Bredenberg there was a great number of men women and children besides the Souldiers that had taken their flight thither as to a place of refuge at the enemies first coming into the land There was also in this house great store of riches belonging to the Lord of the house and to the Fugitives that was brought from the Country The Major valourously defended the place for six dayes untill the time they had approached unto the moate and shot two severall breaches in the wall and being so neare the enemy directed a Drummer unto the Major to see if he would Parle But the Drummer returned with an answer that so long as there was bloud in Dumbarres head that house should never be given over which answer so incensed the enemy against them that they sware if they got the upper hand over them they should all die without quarters Shortly after the answer was returned the Major was shot dead in the head with a fire-lock The rest of the Officers were ashamed to Capitulate for an Accord the Major having refused immediately after Captaine Duncan Forbesse was killed and after him Lievetenant Barbour and then Captaine Carmichell who had no charge there but came by accident to visit his Cameradâ—s before the Enemies coming whose fortune was not to eschew the payment of that debt by longer continuation The Enemy then passing the Moâ—te or Fossey with a generall storme scorned all quarters and being entred cruelly put all to
night the enemy might enter the walles being thus doubtfull on both sides the enemy sends a Trumpeter to know if they will treate for conditions our Lievetenant Colonell having the command for the time in Colonell Holke his absence I thinke was glad of the offer to prolong time till his Majesty of Denmark might send a fresh supply Pledges delivered hinc inde a still-stand or cessation of Armes was concluded on by both parties for a fortnights time then Articles were drawne up to be advised on which continued in advising certaine dayes in the end the treaty being almost agreed on to the subscription orders come to our Lievetenant Colonell to dissolve the treaty seeing his Majesty of Denmark had folke in readinesse to come in all haste with Colonell Holke for their reliefe Whereupon my Lord Spynie a Scots Noble man with his Regiment with sufficient provision of money and Amunition were sent unto the Towne and being entred the treaty was rejected and made voide At this time also Sr. Alexander Lesly an expert and a valorous Scots Commander with some Swedens forces was sent to governe the Towne his Majesty of Sweden having condescended with his Majesty of Denmark that his Majesty of Denmark should dismisse the protection of Trailesound in favour of his Majesty of Sweden and to that effect the Danes forces should be drawne out of the Garrison for to give place to the Swedens in the meane time the command was turned over upon Sr. Alexander Lesly whom Colonell Holke did assist with the Danes forces till they were removed the absolute command being given to Sr. Alexander Lesly as Governour for his Majesty of Sweden In time of the still-stand I tooke a foare losse under my Lievetenant Colonell his hand seale to goe by Sea to Copmanhagen to be cured there seeing no Chirurgian in Trailesound would undertake to cut the bullet out of my knee without hazarding me to be same which to prevent I choosed rather though with infinite paine to keepe the bullet a fortnight till I came to Copmanhagen where happily I found better cure The eighteenth Observation TWo things we must respect so long as we live our inward integrity and our outward uprightnesse our piety towards God and our reputation amongst men the one makes our life famous the other our death happy so both together bring credit to the name and felicity to the soule Then whensoever our breath is made but aire we shall be blessed leaving a sweete odour behinde us and men will regrate our losse as at this time they did our hurt He whom before I was wont to obey and visite came now and visited me I not being able to stirre my Lievetenant Colonell came to comfort me having neede to be comforted himselfe by good advise how to defend the workes the second night a generall feare having possessed the hearts both of Burgers and Souldiers and I to encourage him did tell him a story of Augustus the Emperour who being neere death commanded that after his decease all his friends should clap their hands and laugh unfainedly as the custome was when a Comedy was well acted even so said I though I was sorry at our losse yet I was glad for being hurt when I looked to be kill'd and having acted my part of the play for that time and retired off the Stage all I could doe was but to minde my Camerads of their duties In the meane time the Enemies cannon having shot foure great bullets of a hundred and sixty pound weight out of morters through the top of my lodging even to the bottome where I did lie affrighting me still when my feete were not able to shift away my body yet recommending my soule to God I resolved he was well guarded whom the Lord had a care of and having delivered me from many dangers I still confided he would not suffer me to be smother'd under walles For which and all his blessings I doe infinitly thanke his Majesty in giveing me time to doe any thing that may please his Majesty for my deliverance To make my Lievetenant Colonell laugh I did tell him a story of a vision that was seene by a Souldier of the Colonells company that morning before the enemy did storme being a predictive dreame and a true One Murdo Mac-claude borne in Assen a Souldier of a tall stature and valiant courage being sleeping on his watch awakened by the breake of day and jogges two of his Camerades lying by him who did finde much fault with him for sturring of them he replied before long you shall be otherwise sturred a Souldier called Allen Tough a Loghaber-man recommending his soule to God asked him what he had seene who answered him you shall never see your country againe the other replyed the losse was but small if the rest of the company were well he answered no for there was great hurt and death of many very neere the other asked againe whom had he seene more that would dye besides him sundry of his Camerades he tould by name that should be killed the other asked what would become of himselfe he answered he would be killed with the rest in effect he describeth the whole Officers by their cloathes that should be hurt a pretty quicke boy neere by asked him what would become of the Major meaning me he answered he would be shot but not deadly and that the boy should be next unto me when I were hurt as he was This discourse ended I wished my Lievetenant Colonell to set all care aside and to looke to himselfe and to the credit of his Nation in maintaining of the place till the reliefe should come and so we parted Here I did observe that no city be it never so strong or so well beset nor no Armour be it of what proofe it will is able to encourage a fearefull heart as in this City and at this time were many of the Burgars Souldiers strangers Officers of women and children who were tormented by the feare of death and of their meanes whose feare was generally so great that they were bereft both of wisdome and courage as people given over so that their feare in some sort did frustrate their lawfull defences the like I did never see neither wish to see againe for the enemy could not though victorious put them in a worse habit nor make them seeme more miserable than I did see them at this time making themselves unfit to resist their enemies and they were all of them in mine eyes like to the sword-fish having weapons but they wanted hearts they had quaking hands without use and in a word if the enemy had seene them as I did he would rather pitty them as cowards then kill them like gallants Notwithstanding of this feare which possessed the burgars and those Souldiers that had not beene on occasion yet our Nation that are ever most couragious in greatest extremity failed nothing of their woâ—ted valour but having once retired to the Ravelin
undoe our selves with wanting of it Neither can we so slenderly forget their memory being our noble friends and who were ornaments to our Regiment and Country and helpers of our credits Shall we not then be sorrowfull for their losses that lost themselves to make us renowned in their deaths and while they lived were our most faithfull and loving Camerades even unto their last breath But since they are gone before us to take in quarters in heaven following their great Captaine who hath made the way open for them being stricken as Iob saith by the hand of the Lord and yet placed at his right hand shall we be sorry for them No we will rather rejoyce and thinke we must follow them when we have fought that good fight against our enemies we shall be crowned with them in glory and rejoyce following the Lambe where ever he goeth and till then his right hand will sustaine us as before for he is our helper and hath sworne by his right hand and the Arme of his strength that he will not forsake us till we rest with him in glory Here also we see that his Majestie having trusted our Nation more than his owne or the Dutch he doth leave them ingaged with the enemy till his Majesties retreate were made sure both first and last Where we see that friendship and true service is best tryed in extremitie for no greater testimony can be given of true service than when the servant doth endanger his own life and honour for the reliefe of his Master as that young Cavalier Captaine Mac-Kenyee did here being a generous act for the safetie of a King which ought to be recorded to vindicate his honour from oblivion whose memory merits to be rewarded that others might imitate his noble example Here also we see that sufferance in a noble manner causeth love for that young Cavalier Henry Lindesey then an Ensigne not able to helpe himselfe his Camerades loving him dearely and the more for his noble sufferance they helpt him off from the crueltie of his enemies to preserve his life for a better occasion who by Gods providence was miraculously healed having lost a great part of his shoulder a wonder in an age such wounds to be cured The twenty-one Dutie discharged at Copemanhagen where the Regiment was completed againe with the Recreut AS all things are preserved by a glorious order so his Majestie after his retreate beginneth againe to make up the body of an Armie to be setled all Winter in quarters within Denmark that against the Spring he might either beate the enemy out of Holsten or otherwise with his sword in his hand make an honourable peace after which resolution taken there was order sent to my Colonell to bring his Regiment to the fields and to reforme the weake Companies that have no Recreut brought over and to strengthen the rest of the Companies till the Regiment was made complete Sir Patrick Mac-Gey having stayd in Scotland his Company was cashier'd and Captaine Annans also in place whereof the Colonell did get from his Majestie two Companies that were sent over by Colonell Sinclaire viz. Captaine George Stewart and Captaine Francis Trafford which were both joyned to the Regiment The Lord of Fowles having leavied a Company in Scotland joyned also to the Regiment Iohn Sinclaire was made Captaine Lievetenant to the Colonels Company Lievetenant Stewart being married having stayd in Scotland with his wife his place was given to Eye Mac-Key and William Brumfield was made Ensigne to Captaine Mac-Kenyee The Lievetenant Colonell having quit the Regiment I succeeded to his place and his Lievetenant Andrew Stewart the Earle of Traquairs brother succeeded Captaine to the Company Ensigne Seaton being made Lievetenant the Captaines brother William Stewart was made Ensigne Tullough his Company was recreâ—ted and was full by his old Officers Beaton and Iohnson Iohn Monro his Company being recreuted long David Monro was made Lievetenant and long William Stewart Ensigne Captaine Monro of Obstell his Company being complete William Carre was made Lievetenant and Hector Monro Ensigne The Regiment thus complete was mustred and received a moneths meanes together with a reckoning of their by-past rests with an assignation on his Majestie of great Britaine for the payment of the moneys The Regiment thus contented the Colonell Captaine Monro of Obstell and Captaine Mac-Key returning for Britaine the Regiment being left under my command was directed to winter Garrisons as followeth The Colonels Company commanded by Iohn Sinclaire as Captaine Iohn Ennis Lievetenant and William Mac-Kenyee Ensigne were quartered in Langland Captaine Monro of Fowles his company was sent to lie in Feamer Andrew Monro being his Lievetenant and Iohn Rhode Ensigne Captaine Monro of Obstell his company was quartered there also and the foresaid Officers Captaine Iohn Monro his company and his Officers were also quartered there Captaine Forbesse of Tullough his company and Officers were quartered in Malline in Skoneland Captaine Mac-Kenyee his company and Officers foresaid were quartered with me in Malline in Skoneland Captaine George Stewart Robert Hâ—ine Lievetenant and Iohn Sanders Ensigne were quartered in Alzenburgh Captaine Francis Trafford his company being Welsh with his Officers were quartered in a Dorpe in Skoneland Captaine Andrew Stewart his company and Officers were quartered in London in Skoneland My company which was Lermonds with the Officers did lie in Garrison in Luckstad in Holsten The Officers that were reformed went to seeke their employments viz. Captaine Sanders Hay went to Sweden and was made Major to Sir Patricke Ruthven in Spruce Patricke Dumbarre was made Captaine to a Company of Danes Souldiers There happened also a mis-fortune this Winter in Feamer where Lievetenant Andrew Monro a valourous young Gentleman was killed in Combate by a Dutch called Ranso and Lievetenant William Mac-Key succeeded in his place being made Lievetenant to Fowles when William Gunne was preferred by me as Ensigne to the Colonells Company the rest of the Garrisons lay in quiet all Winter during which time his Majesties Commissioners lay at Lubeck treating for a peace with the Emperour The twenty-one Observation IN the Firmament we see all things are preserved by a glorious order the Sunne hath his appointed circuite the Moone her constant change and every planet and Starre their proper course and place the Earth also hath her unstirred stations the Sea is confined in limits and in his ebbing and flowing dances as it were after the influence and aspect of the Moone whereby it is kept from putrefaction and by strugling with it selfe from over flowing the land So that in this world order is the life of Kingdoms Honours Artes for by the excellency of it all things florish and thrive and therefore we see that this order is requisite to be observed in nothing more than in military discipline being the life of it Regiments then maintained in good order the Army can be but well ordered and the Army well ordered the King and country cannot but stand
both in peace and warre for seldome we see any goodnesse in the refusing to obey good orders And we heare ordinarily that one bad voice puts twenty out of tune and that it is the chiefe property of a good Souldier first to learne to obey well in keeping of good order and then doubtlesse in time being advanced he cannot but command well so that here in ordering of this as in all things we see vicissitudes and alterations some Regiments made up and continue in florishing order other Regiments reduced taking an end as occasion and accidents of warre doe happen Spynies Regiment was reduced and my Lord of Rhees Regiment is made up againe Where we see that as vicissitude maintaines the world even so concord is a great meanes of continuance as discord is too often of discontinuance and ruine Likewise we see that no estate is free from mutability and change which is the great Lord of the World who will be adored and followed as soone as order doth faile but where order is kept and concord as in this Regiment change hath no place to ruine though well to alter for order was so kept by this Regiment like to brave Souldiers who in a running skirmish come up discharge fall off flie and yet reinforce themselves againe having kept order in their proceedings which though now she admits of some change being reinforced againe and joyned together with the chaine of love and respect she admits of no confusion or ruine but is ready againe with her brave Souldiers being reinforced in a strong body to make head unto their enemies one day to be revenged of their former losses as God willing shall be cleered in the sequell of my discharge of dueties and observations of this new reformed body of the old Regiment My cozen Lievetenant Andrew Monro being killed in combat I have more then reason to condemne and disallow of that miserable sort of fight where oftimes the victorious puts himselfe in a worse case both of soule and body than he that is killed Yet this kinde of fighting hand to hand called Monomachia hath bin much practised both amongst Pagans and Christians even amongst all Nations as it is yet Of old it did serve for proofe of things hidden being in one rancke with the burning iron and scalding water to the end men might discerne the innocent from the guilty this kinde of violence of proofe was so common that Fronton King of Denmark made a law as reports the Saxon history that all differences whatsoever should be decided by the combat and Leoden reports that yet to this day they observe the same in Muscove But wise men finding this custome deceivable in deciding the truth and so uncertaine that many times the innocent doth succumbe and therefore it was forbidden by the civill and canon law as is evident by severall ancient constitutions inserted in the Decretalls Notwithstanding whereof amongst the Romans it became so common as to be thought but a sport which made the name of fighters esteemed of amongst the Romans as we reade in the Cod. Titulo de gladiatoribus and therefore this custome being displeasing unto the Emperour Instinian he commanded all should be subject unto the Iudge and said that valour without justice was not to be allowed of This combat betwixt those two was well fought of both in presence of many witnesses where it was thought that the Dutch-man was hard so that a sword could neither pierce him nor cut him This fashion of fighting is so common that we neede not illustrate it by examples of Histories either ancient or moderne but who so would satisfie their curiosity in this point let them but reade Preasack his Cleander 2 story well worth the reading And truely dayly experience teacheth us as in this accident that the end of combats doth shew often that he who appeales often times doth receive the reward of his temerite which might be cleâ—red by many examples amongst the ancients We have one very notable written by Quintus Curtius where Dioxippus the Athenian that brave fighter being all naked and smered over with oyle as the fashion was then with a hat of flowers on his head carrying about his left Arme a red sleeve and in the right hand a great batton of hard greene timber durst enter in combat against Horrat Macedonian carrying on his left Arme a bucler of brasse and a short pike in the right hand a jacdart-staffe as we terme it or something like it and a sword by his side at their approaching Dioxippus with a nimble slight and a pâ—etty cunning shift of his body eschewed the stabbe or thrust of the staffe and before the Macedonian could have wielded the Pike the other doth breake it in two with his cudgell and quickly closing with his adversary gives him such a knocke on the shinnes that he fell to the ground his heeles above his head tooke his sword from him and would have kill'd him with his batton had not the King saved him Thus much of combats which for my part though I cannot allow of neverthelesse I should be loath to refuse to fight in a just quarrell but would rather referre the successe to God to determine of then to let that be called in question which is dearest unto me The twenty-second Dutie discharged being the last under his Maiesties service of Denmarke of our expedition by water unto Holsten HIs Majesty being resolved in Aprill 1629 with his sword in his hand to conclude a settled and a sure peace with the Emperour or otherwise to free Holsten and Yewtland from the tyranny of the Emperiall Army and to that effect his Majesty did gather his forces together to a head in Denmark where they were to be shipp't for landing at Angle in Holsten so that orders were given to me his Majesty having provided shipping to transport our Regiment from all quarters and to meete at Angle Before our parting Captaine Forbesse of Tullough and Captaine Andrew Stewarts Companies were put on warre ships to lie before Wismar I having shipped with the rest of the Regiment we sailed unto Holâ—ten and landed at Angle where the Regiment being come together we were one thousand foure hundred strong besides Officers and having lyen at Angle till the peace was concluded his Majesty did thanke off or dismisse his Army save a few number that was kept a moneth longer till the enemy had marched out of the country we being discharged of service and having gotten our honourable passes we were directed by his Majesty to the Rex-marshall toward Fuâ—eland with orders from his Majesty that he should reckon with us and give us contentment accordingly The reckoning made we were forced to accept of two parts and to discharge the whole having made no reckoning but for us who were present leaving our Colonell being absent to make his owne reckoning thereafter with his Majesty Likewise his Majesty did give orders to the Rex-marshall to provide shipping and victuall for
themselves which made his Majesty contrary to his custome ingage his Army and once being ingaged upon slight intelligence the reliefes went on so fast the service being so hot for a time that it was long before the losse was perceived where it is to be pittied that the errour and fault of another should be made to posterity as his Majesties over-sight by those that know no better for though a King leading an Army had Argos eyes yet it is impossible he should looke unto all things himselfe The fault of one here we see with the losse of many was irrecoverable and he that before this day was the terrour of the Empire by his former successe being deceived with false intelligence is thought to have overseene himselfe the errour of another being imputed unto his Majesty in losing so many brave fellowes which shou'd teach others to be the more circumspect in recognoscing before they should ingage men in bringing them upon the shamble bankes Here also we see that his Majesty was was ever enâ—my to idlenesse for he had no sooner brought off his Army from pursuing his enemies but incontinent he sets them againe to worke for their owne safeties and that within reach of his enemies Cannon to the end it might not be said but he attended their out-comming lest his Army might be discouraged at a present Retreate after such a great losse for if the service had continued the whole Armie had beene indangered yet a valourous Captaine as our Leader was as he feares nothing entering on service so he ought to set light by nothing he sees tending to his prejudice but ought timely to retire with as little losse as he may for it were a grosse errour to despise our enemies through too much confidence in our selves for some times by despising our enemies as here we make them the more valiant and if they be ambitious the more respect we give them the lesse we neede to feare them And it is necessarie when an Armie doth get a clappe as we did here then incontinent and with all diligence we should presse to trie our enemie againe wheresoever we can have any advantage lest our enemy might judge us altogether to have yeelded and given over which were very dangerous The bouldnesse of one bould fellow at first being a Leader may ingage a whole Armie for want of judgement as was done here going before this hill of Nurenberg where as many were brought in danger as did tread in the first Leaders paths through lacke of judgement having beene all of them more heady than wise yet to dare being annexed unto vertue is the beginning of victory neverthelesse a hasty man in an Armie without judgement and discretion is to be disallowed of aswell as a coward On my Poste under the Hill after I was shot a sudden feare came amongst the Souldiers some thirtie horse having suddenly come through the wood as if they had beene chased the most part both Officers and Souldiers ranne away leaving mee with a few number on the Poste so that if the enemie had fallen out I could not have escaped from being kill'd or taken but as soone as they perceived that I with the Souldiers remained by me had unhorsed and taken some of the horsemen who were found to bee friends they being ashamed of their miscarriage retired having accidentally rencountred with Hepburs Captaine Lievetenant who brought them up againe whom I threatned to shew his Majestie of their behaviours neverthelesse being loath to incurre the hatred of a brave Nation for the misbehaviour of some unworthy fellowes their blemishes I pressed to cover notwithstanding afterwards some of the Officers amongst themselves came to a publique hearing having blamed one another till the question and disgrace was taken away by shewing their particular courage in fighting one against another whereof I kept my self free suffering them to deale amongst them being Country-men This kinde of Panicke feare without cause doth betray many brave men and divers good enterprizes And therfore all good Commanders ought most carefully to looke unto it to avoyde the inconveniences incident unto the like while as they leade either partie or Armie Wee once marching through a woode towards Franckfurt on the Oder the white Regiment marching in the Van having a naturall foole that marched alwayes before them going within a bush throwing off his clothes returning naked and crying he had seene the enemie the whole Souldiers of that Briggad throwing downe their Armes they ranne backe on the next Briggad being Swedens and they running also away till they were holden up with pikes by our Briggad being the third who having stood and asked the reason of their running away in end being found a false and a foolish Alarum the poore foole was pittifully cut and carved by the Officers for the Souldiers phantasticke feare being a poore revenge for their cowardize so that we see by the example of the third Briggad that the best remedie against such Panicke feares is not to feare at all and none should leade Armies but those that are both wise and stout The thirty-seventh Duty discharged of our up-breaking from Nurenberg towards Newstat AFTER this last dayes service his Majestie having intrenched his Armie before the Emperiall Leaguer and finding them unwilling to hazard the Combate as also the scarcitie of victuals growing so great on both sides his Majestie resolved to beset Nurenberg with foure Regiments Fowles his Regiment being one Generall Major Kâ—iphowsen had the Command over the Swedens and Generall Major Salammers-dorfâ—e had Command over the Burgers and the Rex-chancellor Oxesterne was appointed by his Majestie to have the direction of all His Majestie leaving Nurenberg in this manner in the night he sent away his great Cannon with a Convoy towards Newstat and before day the whole Drummes had orders to beate first afore troope gathering and then a march so that we were in readinesse standing in Battaile before the enemies Leaguer by day where we stood till mid-day and then the whole Armie was commanded to make a quarter Toure to the right hand making our front before to be our left Flancke whereon our Coulours and small Ordinance did march and our right wing being our Van we marched off in view of the enemie Duke Bernard of Wymare with a thousand horse and five hundred musketiers commanded by my Lievenant Colonell Iohn Sinclaire who was appointed to march in the Reare for making our Retreate good which in a manner was needlesse seeing our enemie lacked courage to follow us but suffered us to depart in peace At night we drew up in Battaile a mile from the enemies Leaguer where we incamped setting forth strong watches of horse and musketiers on the passes betwixt us and the enemie and our Reare-Guarde betwixt us and them and our owne Guardes without our Briggads so having quietly past over the night the next morning we marched to Newstad being the fifteenth of September where we resolved to stay a few
Squadrons in their marching till they were led up in equall Front with the other Pikes and then march up the last thirty-two Rots of Musketiers in foure Divisions observing the order of the former Divisions till they were in equall Front with the whole Pikes and then they making up the left wing of the Briggad the Colonell of the Briggad ordaines the battell of Pikes being the middle Squadron of Pikes to advance in one body before the rest till they are free of the Musketiers and Pikes which makes the wings of the Briggad and then the battaile of Pikes standing firme the thirty-two Rot of Musketiers which were drawne up behinde them march up till they fill up the voide betwixt the Squadrons of pikes standing right behinde their owne pikes that is the battaile of the Briggad and then the Colonell making a signe to the Drummers they beate all alike till the Briggad in one instant doth order their Armes all Officers of the Briggad standing on their stations according as they were directed then the superplus of the three Squadrons of musketiers being fourty-eight Rot are drawne up behinde the Briggad having also Officers to command them they attend orders which they are to obey being commanded out as pleaseth their Officers either to guard Cannon or Baggage or to be Convoyes to bring Amunition or victualls to the rest A direction to Traine single Souldiers apart HAving thus formed a Company and showne the manner to draw up a complete Briggad for the younger Officer his better understanding being a Novice to this Discipline I will set downe briefely the best way suddenly to bring a young Company to be exercised which in my opinion would be thus First since every Rot of the twenty-one whereof the Company doth consist hath allowed a Corporall or a Rot-master as the Leader of the other five which Leader is supposed to be more expert in handling of Pike or Musket then the other five who make up the Rot and the under Rot-master is supposed to be more expert in handling his Armes than the other foure so that he is appointed as a second to the Leader being sometimes a Leader himselfe then after the company is made up for the first weeke I would have every Corporall of the six and the fifteene Rot-masters being Leaders with the helpe of their under Rot-masters in a weekes time to make the other foure as expert in handling of Pike and Musket as themselves or to be punished with Irons in case of their neglect which the Sergeants should see done as they should answer to the Lievetenant the Lievetenant to the Captaine and the Captaine to the Major the Major to the Lievetenant Colonell and they all to the Colonell which they ought to practise in the fields apart till the Rot were acquainted every one with his Leader from the first to the last and while as the under Rot-master should turne Leader then all the followers before were then Leaders also and then the Rot being apart the middle man of the Rot should be taught to double to the Front till their deepe were three that was six before and in falling off againe the middle man should turne to the contrary side or hand he came up upon carrying their Armes handsomly free from others without making noise in their retiring to their former station and orders Likewise I would have the Corporall Rot-master or Leader being a Musketier having his Rot once expert in handling severally the Musket well then to discharge their Muskets in winning ground advancing to an enemy the Leader having discharged his musket standing still to blow his pannâ— and prime againe 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 Musketâ—ers 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
admonish your Souldiers that at the tucke of your Drumme they runne from their Armes about the Holbert and to stay there till the Drumme recall them againe to their Armes which being done it makes the Souldiers able in breath to know one anothers place in case they should be brought at any time in disorder to recover themselves the better Thus much for the training of Souldiers in changing of place as you will have them without giving of fire When you have gotten your Souldiers thus experimented in their motions then are you to acquaint them with shot in giving of fire to make them fix against their enemies which is easily done having once apart and singularly used their Muskets after the order of the severall postures belonging thereto as was commanded their inferiour Officers and Leaders to teach them before they were exercised Therefore before you come to the particular formes of giving fire you shall first give some generall directions to be observed by all for avoiding the hurting of themselves or of their Camerades as also how they can best offend their enemies and to this effect you shall admonish in love all brave Musketiers first to have their Muskets cleere and hansome and above all fix in the worke especially every Souldier would be well knowne with his owne Musket and cocke to cocke aright then to hold the mouth or Cannon of his Musket ever high up either being on his shoulder or in priming or guarding of his panne but in giving fire never higher or lower than levell with the enemies middle then your Musketiers being in readinesse your Muskets charged they may be commanded to give fire in skirmish disbandoned as their Officers doe direct them to advance or retire as the occasion offers also to give fire by Ranckes Files Divisions or in Salves as the Officer pleaseth to command to the effect they may be fixed Omni modâ— though in my opinion one way is the best yet there are severall wayes of giving fire in advancing to an enemy as retiring from an enemy or in standing firme before an enemy either by Rancks or by Files made to Rancks Advancing to an enemy not being disbandoned but in one bodie they give fire by Rancks to Rancks having made readie alike they advance ten paces before the bodie being led up by an Officer that stands in even Front with them the Cannon or mouth of their Muskets of both Rancks being past his bodie The second Rancke being close to the backe of the foremost both gives fire alike priming and casting about their Muskets they charge againe where they stand till the other two Rancks advance before them and give fire after the same manner till the whole Troope hath discharged and so to beginne againe as before after the order of the through-countermarch ever advancing to an enemie never turning backe without death or victorie And this is the forme that I esteeme to be the best as for the rest they are not to be much used but this order can be used winning ground advancing or losing ground in a Retreate When you would command the body of your Musketiers to give fire in a Salve as is ordinarie in Battell before an enemy joyne or against Horsemen then you command the bringers up or Reare to double the Front to the right hand and to make readie having the match cocked and their pannes well guarded having closed the three Rancks though not the Files the Officers standing in equall Front with the foremost Rancke betwixt two Divisions he commands to give fire one Salve two or three and having charged againe and shouldered their Armes they retire to 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 Centrie 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