in the early seventeenth century relatively large numbers of scots took service in foreign armies involved in the thirty years' war, with 20–30,000 in swedish service, a scots brigade in the netherlands, and 5–6,000 raised for danish service in the period 1626–27, 11,000 for france and large numbers in the armies of eastern europe, including german states, poland and russia. as armed confrontation between scotland and the charles i looked increasingly likely from 1637, the standing committee of the tables began to function as a war council. it appointed two lairds in every parish to draw up lists of men suitable for military service, arms and the names of scots serving abroad so that they could be recalled. three commissioners were appointed in each shire, two residing in edinburgh and another remaining in the locality, where presbyteries appointed commissioners to communicate instructions to the parishes. hundreds of scots mercenaries returned home from foreign service, including experienced leaders like alexander and david leslie. these veterans played an important role in training the parish recruits. nobles were able to raise regiments, which usually bore their name as colonel, and they could appoint company commanders, but the lieutenant colonel and sergeant major of the regiment, and the lieutenant and sergeant of each company, were to be professional soldiers. the returning soldiers also brought expertise in fortification and trace italliene fortifications were added at leith, burntisland and greenock. they would play a major role in the siege of edinburgh in 1650.