Gunn’s Company, MacKay’s Regiment of Foot Army of King Christian IV, King of Denmark Army of King Gustavus II Adolphus, King of Sweden 1626-1634 |
MacKay’s regiment was raised by Sir Donald Mackay of Farr (First Lord Reay) under a military levy with a charter granted by Charles I, King of England. The regiment’s first levy was completed by years end in 1626 and shipped to Denmark for service in General Mansfeld’s army. The vast majority of his levy was raise in Sutherland and associated MacKay held territories and under the conditions of the charter were equipped and clothed by the Danish King, Christian IV. The Regiment fought valiantly at the siege of Stralsund, from February to July 1628, occupying such a critical position on the wall that the soldiers were brought food instead of relinquishing their posts. Even their officers could not leave their positions to change their clothes. Of the 900 soldiers in the regiment, 300 were killed and 500 were wounded. In 1629, following the capitulation of Christian IV to the Holy Roman Emperor, MacKay’s Regiment entered service with King Gustavus II Adolphus of Sweden. MacKay’s Regiment joined with Hepburn’s Regiment, Stargate’s Regiment and Lumsden’s Musketeers to form the Scots Brigade, in March of 1631 under the command of Sir John Hepburn. The Regiment held the right flank at Brietenfeld in 1631, allowing King Gustavus to outflank and route Marshall Tilly’s Imperialist Army. The Regiment fought at the battle of Rain in 1632, Lutzen in 1632, Olendorf in 1633, Steinau in 1633 and Nordlingen in 1634. Sir John Hepburn left Swedish service in 1632 but returned to command the Green Brigade in late 1634 when the Green Brigade was relieved at Landau. Sir John Hepburn, was welcomed by the last of the 36 original pipers of MacKay’s Regiment and led his men into French service as “Le Regiment De Hebron.” |
“ Na h-uile fear a theid a dbollaidh gheibh a dolar bho Mhac Aoidh” (He who is down on his luck can still get a dollar from MacKay) Scottish saying circa, 1626 |
Chronology of the Regiment |
1626 The Regiment raised by Sir Donald Mackay of Farr (First Lord Reay) under a military levy with a charter granted by Charles I, King of Britain. The regiment’s first levy was completed by years end in 1626 and shipped to March 1627 Regiment formed up, sworn in and read the Articles of War in June 1627 Successful defense of the Boizenburg sconce by four companies of the Regiment against 10,000 Imperial soldiers. July 1627 Defense of August 1627 Defense of the pass at Oldenburgh August 1627 Four company garrison of Bredenberg overrun and massacred April 1628 Regiment is the advanced guard in the storming of Ekernforde April 1628 Defense of Grossenbrode |
“During our residence there, our orders were so strict that neither officer nor soldier was suffered to come off his watch, neither to dine or supe, but their meate was carried unto them, to their post Monro at |
28 May - 23 June withdrawn to Wolgast withdrawal December 1628 Regiment receives recruit levy from April 1629 Regiment cashiered out of Danish service at Angein with 1400 soldiers and moved to 22 May 1629 Treaty of May 1629 Regiment enters Swedish Service |
“Our regiment, being thanked off by his Majestie of May 1629, my Colonel being in of great need of a supply of foot thought it was a fit time for me, being out of service, to offer my service unto his Majestie of Robert Monro |
June 1629- June 1630 Garrison at Braunsberg in August-September 1630 Capture and defense of Rugenvald castle. Relieved and reinforced by Hepburn’s Regiment. |
“The word treaty has been omitted from my instructions thus I have only powder and ball at the service of the Count De Monteculculi” Robert Monro in response to surrender terms at Coberg |
July 1630-Mar 1631 Seige of Coberg. MacKay’s and Hepburn’s Regiments defend against 8,000 Imperial soldiers attempting to lift seige at Schievelbein. 24 December 1630 Seige of Greifenhagen |
“In these warrs if a fort be to be stormed, or any desperate piece of service to be set upon, the Scottish have always had the honor and the danger to be the first men that are put to such a business“ The Swedish Intelligencer |
1631 Seige of Demmin 24 March 1631 Scots Brigade formed under the command of Sir John Hepburn and consisting of Hepburn’s Regiment, MacKay’s Regiment, Stargate’s Regiment and Lumsen’s Regiment |
1631 Storming of Frankfurt On Oder. Hepburn wounded in the assault while carrying 20 pound petard to the cirty gates. Monro leads the Brigade into the city and garrison is overrun. 8 April- 18 April 1631 Seige of Landsberg. Outworks taken by MacKay’s and Hepburn’s Regiments. Defeated Imperial garrison of 6,000 granted the honors of war and depart city with “2,00 female camp followers“ |
“I with my partie, did lie to our poste, as betwixt the devill and the deepe sea for sometimes our owne cannon would light short and grase over us, and so did the enemies also“ Robert Monro at Werben |
July 1631 Seige of Werben |
“We were not able by the rising of the dust to see about us, much less discerning the way of our enemies or the rest of our brigades whereupon, having a drummer by me, I caused him to beat the Scotch March, which recollected our friends unto us.“ Robert Monro at Brietenfeld |
7 September 1631 Battle of Breitenfeld. Scots Brigade in the reserve and are used to refuse the Swedish flank and persue the fleeing Imperial army 1631 Defense of Ochsenfurt by Scots Brigade. |
“My brave Scots, why have you been too quick for me?” Gustavus II Adolphus at Oppenhiem |
20 November 1631 Siege of Oppenheim. City captured by 200 Scots before main assault, Scots capture first Spanish colors take by Swedish Army December 1631 Surrender of Mainz Jan- 5 March 1632 Garrison of Mainz March 1632 Seige of Donauworth March 1632 Assualt river crossing of the Lech River at Rain April 1632 Seige of Oberndorf April 1632 Seige of Ingoldstadt April 1632 Seige of Landshut May-June 1632 Occupation of Munich and garrison duty Hepburn appointed Governor of Landshut and Munich July- August 1632 Occupation of Nurenberg and skirmishing with entrenched Imperial forces 3 September 1632 Storming of Alte Fest 1632 Storming of Furth August 1632 Sir John Hepburn leaves Swedish Service September 1632 Sir Robert Monro takes command of the Scots Brigade |
September 1632 Siege of Landsberg October-February 1632 Scots Brigade in garrison at |
(“In such dress the 800 Irish lately in |
(“They are a strong, hardy race, contenting themselves with little food, if they have no bread they eat roots and carrots; in case of necessity they are bale to walk twenty German miles in a day; they have besides muskets, their bows and quivers and long knives.”) Scottish Soldiers at |
January – July 1633 Garrison at Donauworth July 1633 Colonel Monro departs and command of the Scots Brigade assumed by Colonel John Sinclair August 1633 Battle of Newmark and Colonel Sinclair killed August 1633- August 1634 Colonel William Stewart commands Scots Brigade October 1634 Relief of the besieged remnants of the Scots Brigade at Landau. The last of the 36 original pipers in MacKay’s Regiment welcomes Colonel Sir John Hepburn into the city. MacKay’s Regiment and the remnants of the Scots Brigade goes into French Service under command of Sir John Hepburn. |
Gunn’s Company, MacKay’s Regiment of Foot Reenacted |
General Philosophy We seek accuracy balanced with affordability (yes we have loaner kit) and to have fun, safely. Ladies and children are welcome to join us, as they always contribute greatly to the ambiance of an encampment. We will make every effort to make this impression fun and safe for one and all who join us. |
The Impression MacKay’s are armed with the pike or matchlock musket, wear hodden grey and blue bonnets. Our new recruits wear the belted plaid or trews until they purchase their uniforms, just as their predecessors did. We know of at least three times the Regiment was issued cloth for uniforms those being when entering Danish service in 1626, when entering Swedish service in 1629 and again 1631. In all three occasions the cloth issued was grey kersey, safely assumed to be hodden grey. Given that, it is reasonable to expect to see a predominance of grey uniforms over traditional Scots belted plaids. As you wander through our camp do not be surprised when you see a German, an Irishman or Englishman in different dress within our ranks, for uniformity was the exception not the rule during the 30 Years War. |
Soldiers’ Clothing |
The coat and breeched are made of hodden grey wool in the standard mid-17th century style. Both are lined with linen. Hose could be of yarn, or worsted wool. There is no color specified for them but came well above the knee to mid-thigh. They were held in place with knit wool garters, ribbon, or twill tape. In cold weather two pairs were worn. Shirts were made up from rectangles and squares of linen, either white or saffron died, and cut very full, especially the sleeves. Neckbands and cuffs were 1 ½ to 2 ½ inches wide and were fastened at the wrists and throat with either ties or small buttons. The bonnet is usually blue but other colors were in evidence and knitted. The shoes are square or round toed, high tongued shoes were made of brown or black leather with no right or left foot and 1 to 1 ½ inch squared heels. Leather thong or ribbons went through the latchets over the tongue to tie the shoe. A blackened pot, breast and back with tassets are worn by pikemen. |
Armaments It is acceptable for members of the Company to turn out with either firelocks or matchlocks, as long as they are full sized and conform with the lines of firearms of the period. You will be expected to demonstrate proficiency with the musket prior to being allowed to use one during a tactical. The unit owns several pikes which are 12-14 feet long with “cheeked” points. You will be expected to demonstrate proficiency with the pike prior to being allowed to use one during a tactical. The bandolier of charges should be made of vegetable tanned leather with 12 to 15 “charges”, a bullet bag, and priming flask. The sword should be a plain hilted short sword. A good source for blunted swords, suitable for actual use in mock combat is either Bailiff Forge or Armourclass, both in the UK. Baldric and sheath should be of vegetable tanned leather. There is a sword qualification required for use of the sword during demonstrations and tacticals. |
Ladies’ Clothing The chemise is a neck to knee length or longer linen undergarment/nightgown of the period. It has a drawstring neck and cuffs. The sleeves are three-quarter length or longer, but would have been pushed up to elbow length in period. The petticoat is a drawstring skirt made of linen or wool or a linen/wool Combination (linsey woolsey) that extends from the waist to the ankle or just above the ground. Bodice or Jacket The linen or wool bodice, with or without sleeves, and or sleeved jacket was worn in combination with the petticoat over the shift, and was worn by lower middle class ladies. Stays or semi-boned jumps are worn under the bodice or jacket. The hat was either a man’s low crowned broad brimmed hat or straw hat, worn in combination with a linen cap, with or without lace, or linen or silk hood. Hose Knee length or higher stockings are worn in a variety of colors and can be ‘clocked’ (embroidered at the ankle). Shoes Black or brown smaller men’s latchet shoes could be worn or pointed toe shoe with low heels closed with a ribbon would have been worn, as well as wooden and leather clogs |
“In the very moment when our ship did breake on ground, there was a Sergeant’s wife a shipboard, who without the help of any other women was delivered of a boy, which all the time of the tempest, she did carefully preserve. and being come ashore, the next day she marched neere foure English mile with that in her armes which was in her belly the night before” Robert Monro, 1630 |
References Ahnlund, Nils, Gustavus Adolphus the Great (New York, 1940) Barker, Thomas, The Military Intellectual and Battle, Raimondo Montecuccoli and the Thirty Years War, (New York, 1975) Du Puy, Trevor, The Military Life of Gustavus Adolphus, (NY, 1969) Fletcher, C.R., Gustavus Adolphus and the Struggle of Protestantism for Existence, (London, 1892) Grant, James, The Scottish Soldier of Fortune, (London, 1890) Monro, Robert, His Expedition with the Worthy Scots Regiment called MacKeys (London, 1637) Parker Geoffrey, The Thirty Years War (London, 1997) ) Watts William, The Swedish Intelligencer, (London, 1632) Wedgewood, C.V., The Thirty Years War, (London, 1938) |
Unit Coordinator/Point of Contact Your Humble Servant To be found at the pipers and drumhead in the village square |