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Monro, His Expedition with the Worthy Scots Regiment called Mac-Keys
The most complete memoir or primary account in English of two of the most important phases of the Thirty Years' War, Monro's Expedition is a regimental history, a guide to would-be mercenary officers, a social history, and a window into an earlier era. Although the Thirty Years War (1618 - 1648) ended three and a half centuries ago, it continues to intrigue readers as one of the most devastating wars in modern European history. Initially a religious/political confrontation, the conflict soon expanded into a continent-wide series of wars. Monro's account of his experiences is one of the most important primary sources of the period.
From the creation of new tactical formations to improved military technology, the sheer magnitude of the crisis required new methods of waging war. Firsthand accounts by the combatants themselves are virtually non-existent, as rank and file soldiers were rarely literate, and their officers were only slightly more educated. Monro was a Scot who wrote proudly of his Scottish regiment and of his Scottish soldiers. Brockington's account retains the original spelling and punctuation and includes the original pagination within the new text for the benefit of readers searching for information cited elsewhere. Glossaries provide ready reference for place names, proper names, and archaic terms.
From the creation of new tactical formations to improved military technology, the sheer magnitude of the crisis required new methods of waging war. Firsthand accounts by the combatants themselves are virtually non-existent, as rank and file soldiers were rarely literate, and their officers were only slightly more educated. Monro was a Scot who wrote proudly of his Scottish regiment and of his Scottish soldiers. Brockington's account retains the original spelling and punctuation and includes the original pagination within the new text for the benefit of readers searching for information cited elsewhere. Glossaries provide ready reference for place names, proper names, and archaic terms.
480 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1637
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About the author
Robert Monro
9 booksRobert Monro (1601 - 1680), was a Scottish General, from the Clan Munro of Ross-shire. He held command in the Swedish army under Gustavus Adolphus during Thirty Years' War. He also fought for the Scottish Covenanters during the Bishop's Wars in Scotland and commanded the Scottish Covenanter army during the Irish Confederate Wars. He was the author of a diary recounting his military experiences during the Thirty Years' War, published as Monro, His Expedition with the Worthy Scots Regiment called Mac-Keys.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
May 15, 2019
Robert Monro was a Scottish mercenary officer who spent seven years in arms during the Thirty Years War. He, and the Mac-Keys regiment (initially from the Scottish Highlands) served for three years under Christian IV of Denmark during the war’s “Danish phase”, and then under Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden for the next four years. This history of his is significant for several reasons, the first being that it is the most detailed record of a soldier’s service in the Thirty Years War written in English. Also of note, is that it is the first recorded regimental history. Monro was unique in that his account of his service was not a personal diary, but a thorough record of what exploits his unit performed and the experiences they underwent.
The book is split into two main parts, the first covering the Danish phase and the second the Swedish phase. Each of these is split into Duties and Observations; 22 of each for Danish service and 42 of each for Swedish service. As you might guess, the duties describe the actions of the regiment over a brief period of time, and the observations contain Monro’s thoughts on those actions. This format was interesting and worked effectively for the most part.
Unfortunately, the writing is unpalatable to the modern reader. As Brockington points out in the excellent introduction, Monro was emulating the style of his time in his own writing. Consequently, the text is full of long discourses and tangents, often related to religion, in which Monro shows off his own knowledge. I found this intriguing the first few times, but it quickly became a nuisance. The style isn’t helped by Brockington’s suggestion that Monro dictated the book, which led to many run-on sentences. Here is a typical excerpt from one of his observations,
“the best way of Command is, to keepe men in awe of dutie, not so much with crueltie (as many base Generalls doe) as with a moderate severenesse: for always Commanders ought to doe, as wise Marriners, not to steere their course still one way, but sometimes to give way o the tempest, which being past, let him follow his course gaine: even so wise Commanders should moderate their Commands according to the time…Therefore it is the most difficult thing in the world to command well, either our selves or others: and he that would command well, must not shew himself cruell in words or strokes, but if possible, he ought to bring men to his minde with intreaty and friendly exhortations, shewing himself grave, majestique and benevolent, gaining of others his inferiours reverence, feare and munificence, with due obedience; and this is the only best way to command, and to keepe men in obedience: which qualities were all plentifull in the Lyon of the North, the invincible Gustavus…” (298)
As you can see, the spelling is all over the place, but I did not find it a hindrance in comprehension. Rather, the antiquated style was more difficult to understand than the vocabulary. I chose this excerpt as well because it shows that Monro had a keen mind towards military affairs. He made many astute observations which lend this book more value as a means of learning about soldiers and war in seventeenth century Europe.
Over his seven year journey, Monro and his companions were at the center of the action. Most notable were their services at the siege of Stralsund, the first battle of Breitenfeld, and the storming of Alte Feste outside of Nuremberg.
I don't regret reading this book, but I can’t see myself recommending Monro’s Expedition to anyone other than those seriously interested in learning about the Thirty Years War and those interested in it as a research aid. If you are interested in Monro’s story but don't want to wade through all the extraneous detail, I highly recommend James Miller’s Swords for Hire: The Scottish Mercenary, in which he summarizes Monro’s Expedition in a much more palatable manner.
As a final word, I must compliment the editor, William Brockington, on his effort in compiling Monro’s Expedition. He preserved all the original spellings and other details in order to reproduce a version that is completely faithful to the original, which was published in 1637.
The book is split into two main parts, the first covering the Danish phase and the second the Swedish phase. Each of these is split into Duties and Observations; 22 of each for Danish service and 42 of each for Swedish service. As you might guess, the duties describe the actions of the regiment over a brief period of time, and the observations contain Monro’s thoughts on those actions. This format was interesting and worked effectively for the most part.
Unfortunately, the writing is unpalatable to the modern reader. As Brockington points out in the excellent introduction, Monro was emulating the style of his time in his own writing. Consequently, the text is full of long discourses and tangents, often related to religion, in which Monro shows off his own knowledge. I found this intriguing the first few times, but it quickly became a nuisance. The style isn’t helped by Brockington’s suggestion that Monro dictated the book, which led to many run-on sentences. Here is a typical excerpt from one of his observations,
“the best way of Command is, to keepe men in awe of dutie, not so much with crueltie (as many base Generalls doe) as with a moderate severenesse: for always Commanders ought to doe, as wise Marriners, not to steere their course still one way, but sometimes to give way o the tempest, which being past, let him follow his course gaine: even so wise Commanders should moderate their Commands according to the time…Therefore it is the most difficult thing in the world to command well, either our selves or others: and he that would command well, must not shew himself cruell in words or strokes, but if possible, he ought to bring men to his minde with intreaty and friendly exhortations, shewing himself grave, majestique and benevolent, gaining of others his inferiours reverence, feare and munificence, with due obedience; and this is the only best way to command, and to keepe men in obedience: which qualities were all plentifull in the Lyon of the North, the invincible Gustavus…” (298)
As you can see, the spelling is all over the place, but I did not find it a hindrance in comprehension. Rather, the antiquated style was more difficult to understand than the vocabulary. I chose this excerpt as well because it shows that Monro had a keen mind towards military affairs. He made many astute observations which lend this book more value as a means of learning about soldiers and war in seventeenth century Europe.
Over his seven year journey, Monro and his companions were at the center of the action. Most notable were their services at the siege of Stralsund, the first battle of Breitenfeld, and the storming of Alte Feste outside of Nuremberg.
I don't regret reading this book, but I can’t see myself recommending Monro’s Expedition to anyone other than those seriously interested in learning about the Thirty Years War and those interested in it as a research aid. If you are interested in Monro’s story but don't want to wade through all the extraneous detail, I highly recommend James Miller’s Swords for Hire: The Scottish Mercenary, in which he summarizes Monro’s Expedition in a much more palatable manner.
As a final word, I must compliment the editor, William Brockington, on his effort in compiling Monro’s Expedition. He preserved all the original spellings and other details in order to reproduce a version that is completely faithful to the original, which was published in 1637.
July 9, 2025
Half tragic adventure and half Calvinist sermon, this is a wealth of information from an early modern soldier and scholar. It's so much fun trying to unwind this knot of emotional frankness and unapologetic military propaganda.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews