Memoirs of Sir Andrew Melvill: And the Wars of the Seventeenth Century

by Andrew Melvill

Memoirs of Sir Andrew And The Wars of the Seventeenth Century is a historical book written by Sir Andrew Melvill himself. The book was published in 1918 and it provides a detailed account of the wars and battles that took place during the seventeenth century. Sir Andrew Melvill was a Scottish soldier who fought in many of the wars during this time period, and he gives a firsthand account of the events that occurred.The book covers a wide range of topics including the Thirty Years War, the English Civil War, and the Wars of the Three Kingdoms. Sir Andrew Melvill also discusses his experiences serving under various commanders such as Gustavus Adolphus, the King of Sweden, and Prince Maurice of Nassau, the Stadtholder of the Dutch Republic.Throughout the book, Sir Andrew Melvill provides a detailed description of the battles he fought in, the tactics used by both sides, and the overall strategy employed by the commanders. He also discusses the political and social context of the wars, including the religious conflicts that were a major factor in many of the conflicts.Memoirs of Sir Andrew And The Wars of the Seventeenth Century is a valuable resource for anyone interested in the history of this period. It provides a unique perspective on the wars and battles that shaped Europe during the seventeenth century, and it offers insights into the experiences of soldiers who fought in these conflicts.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.

326 pages, Paperback

Published September 10, 2010

Reviews

[Ian]

This is a really a scan of a 1918 edition of Andrew Melvill’s memoirs. The actual memoir only covers pages 67-215 of the book. It’s bookended by a long Introduction that covers the wars of the 17th century, and an Appendix that discusses corroborating evidence for his account.

Born in Scotland in 1624, Melvill spent the years 1647-1678 more or less continuously at war. He was a “soldier of fortune” (though he never achieved a fortune) who generally cared little about the cause he fought for. He variously saw service in the armies of France, Spain, Sweden, and Brandenburg, and he also fought on the royalist side at the Battle of Worcester in 1651. He ended his career as Governor of the German town of Celle, in which capacity he also served as a colonel in the Imperial Armies. The only principle he was steadfast about was his Protestant religion. For example, he refused a financially attractive offer to become the Governor of Bonn, which required him to become a Catholic.

The memoir is a vivid account of what it was like to be a junior officer in 17th century war. Melvill was a veritable Captain Scarlet in his ability to recover from catastrophic injuries, which included being struck in the chest by a cannonball at a siege of Lens in 1647; receiving a pistol shot in the stomach at Worcester in 1651; and suffering multiple wounds outside the French town of Tréves in 1675. He has innumerable brushes with death, and I couldn’t help feeling that some of the stories had been a little embellished. Then again, he comes over as basically honest - not least because he frequently portrays himself in an unfavourable light. On at least two occasions he admits to causing problems, for himself and others, by deserting his post in a search for plunder.

The extent to which prisoners, and civilians, were the victims of plunder is striking. They would be robbed of absolutely everything, including the clothes they stood up in. Clothes were valuable items in those days. I know from other reading that 17th century soldiers were themselves often unpaid, half-starved and dressed in rags, so it’s little surprise they were so ruthless.

Melvill was part of a famous incident in 1658, when the army of the Swedish king Charles X attacked the Danish island of Funen by marching across the frozen sea from Jutland. This incredibly risky but successful manoeuvre is described in his account.

During his time in Celle, Melvill became known to Sophia, Duchess of Hannover. She mentions him several times in correspondence, some of which is covered in the Introduction. She seems to have been an interesting and witty letter writer. She had a Mlle. Lamotte in her household, and in 1667 wrote:

“I believe Madame D’ Harburg has proposed a match between Lamotte and the Governor of Cell. He is a Scotsman called Melleville; soldier of ill-fortune I call him, for a cannon-shot has carried away part of his chest, which is supported by an iron contrivance…Yet if she be willing, I am content.” A few months later she wrote: “Lamotte’s wedding is to take place soon, as she seems to prefer half a man to no man at all.” After the Battle of Tréves she noted, “Melvill has 16 wounds of which 8 are in the head” but a fortnight later, “Colonel Melvill is already walking about in his tent. I verily believe that the Scots are descended not from Adam but from the serpent. One cuts them into 16 pieces like Melvill and they all join together again.”

Melvill’s memoir was originally written in French and seems to be dedicated to Sophia, whom he addresses as “Your Electoral Highness.” The 1918 translation is by Sir Torick Ameer Ali, who seems to have been a high court judge in Calcutta. Quite what his interest was, will have to remain a mystery!