John Lane, The Bodley Head London 1918. Hard Cover 291pp plus index and adverts. B&W plates and 2 fold outs. Spine is quite worn, especially on sides. Edges and corners worn. Corners bumped. Foxing on page edges and eps. Some internal foxing. Former owners name on fly. Fair-good. The 17th century was a century of continuous war, and it was the great age of the soldier of fortune. Melvill first saw real service in 1647, when the Thirty Years' War was drawing to a close. During those two remaining years he fought with the French army in Flanders. Following the Peace of Westphalia, Melvill fought in the war with Spain until 1655, mainly in the service of the Duke of Lorraine. In 1655, Melvill became involved in the wars fired by the ambition of Charles Gustavaus of Sweden, fighting first for Brandenberg and them for Sweden. More adventures, in other service followed. These memoirs, first published 2 years after his death, are full of adventure and provide a glimpse of the hired soldier in a series of 17th century conflicts.