584 ARTILLERY COMPANY IN SCOTLAND AT THE TIME OF THE UNION. 
company with his Wallon Capt.-Lieutenant of Miners who was 
“black as a gypsy,” the Captain of the Canoniers at Breda who was a 
“Justie bleade,” the Stackyonker from Mastricht and a few gunners. 
But Slezer had to sail without Capt. Seilo, the Amsterdam Master- 
Gunner, and Capt. Hummel of Copenhagen, who felt competent to make 
gunners out of any men with “hands, feet and coraidge,” as these 
“trustie bleades ” required more “bawhbees”’ than the Scots Hstablish- 
ment could afford to pay. 
There is something sad, as well as ludicrous, in honest John Slezer 
being sent abroad to drive Scots bargains for the good of the Artillery 
at home when the Merry Monarch could always find money for his own 
worthless pleasures and still more worthless favourites. 
The next news we have of John Slezer is in November 1688, when 
we find him in command of the Artillery Train and ready to take the 
field against King James’ enemies. Among the MSS. of the Duke of 
Leeds is a letter! dated “Hdinburgh, 20 November, 1688,” from Capt. 
Slezer to Lieut.-General Douglas, Master-General of the Ordnance in 
Scotland, the pith of which is to this affect :— 
Wrote this day “senight” with account of his arrival with the 
Train of Artillery. Account of his march to Edinburgh ; 
delayed at Aylisson bank by reports of the rebels. Need of 
additional men and of instructions about precedence of officers, 
and the writers authority. 
From insular slowness, and insular ignorance, Great Britain did not 
grasp, until the middle of the last century, the absolute necessity for 
settling, by a Royal declaration under the King’s Sign Manual, the 
vexed question of the Army rank of Artillery Officers. 
In the Acts of the Parliaments of Scotland for 1689 appears the 
following notice dated 18 March, 1689 :— 
“ A report from the Committee for securing the Peace was read 
whereof the tenor followes . . . . . ‘It is also their 
opinion that the Canoniers and Artillerie men be drawen 
together under the command of Mr. Sledzer (sic) and 
receives the Hstate pay immediately and to continow and be 
maintained thereat as they were formerly, he giveing his 
oath of fidelitie to the Hstates.’ ”’ 
Remembering the favour shown him by James II. Capt. Slezer 
refused to give his allegiance to the Scottish Parliament :— 
“ Mr. Sledzer being called and having refuised to give his oath of 
fidelitie to the meeting warrand was given to secure him 
until he find caution not to return to the Castle [Hdinburgh 
Castle.” ] 
When the new régime was firmly established Slezer wisely gave in 
his adherence to the new Powers and was reinstated as “‘ Captain of 
the Artillery Company and Surveyor of the Magazines.” His com- 
1 Historical MSS. Commission—Report XI., Appendix VILI., p. 25. 
