They
were armed with swords and pistols, and carried besides what were
called half pikes, or pikes some 7 feet long. They wore feathers
in their helmets, and the armour was of fine quality, and often
richly damascened, or inlaid with gold.
Very proud did Malcolm feel as on the appointed day he marched with
the company from Nithsdale, with the sun glittering on their arms
and a drummer beating the march at their head. They arrived in
due course at Dunbar, and were in a few hours joined by the other
three companies under Munro himself. The regiment which was now
commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Munro had been raised in 1626 by
Sir Donald Mackay of Farre and Strathnaver, 1500 strong, for the
service of the King of Denmark. Munro was his cousin, and when Sir
Donald went home shortly before, he succeeded to the command of
the regiment. They embarked at once on board a ship which Munro
had chartered, and were landed in Denmark and marched to Flensberg,
where the rest of the regiment was lying.
A fortnight was spent in severe drill, and then orders were received
from Oxenstiern, the chancellor of Sweden, to embark the regiment
on board two Swedish vessels, the Lillynichol and the Hound. On
board the former were the companies of Captains Robert Munro, Hector
Munro, Bullion, Nigel Graheme, and Hamilton. Colonel Munro sailed
in this ship, while Major Sennot commanded the wing of the regiment
on board the Hound.
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