Many other parties of Scotch were brought over by gentlemen of rank.
Four chosen Scottish regiments, Hepburn's regiment, Lord Reay's
regiment, Sir James Lumsden's musketeers, and Stargate's corps,
were formed into one brigade under the command of Hepburn. It was
called the Green Brigade, and the doublets, scarfs, feathers, and
standards were of that colour. The rest of the infantry were divided
into the Yellow, Blue, and White Brigades.
One evening when the officers of Reay's regiment were sitting round
the campfire Lieutenant Farquhar said to Colonel Munro:
"How is it that Sir John Hepburn has, although still so young,
risen to such high honour in the counsel of the king; how did he
first make his way?"
"He first entered the force raised by Sir Andrew Gray, who crossed
from Leith to Holland, and then uniting with a body of English
troops under Sir Horace Vere marched to join the troops of the
Elector Palatine. It was a work of danger and difficulty for so
small a body of men to march through Germany, and Spinola with a
powerful force tried to intercept them. They managed, however, to
avoid him, and reached their destination in safety.
"Vere's force consisted of 2200 men, and when he and Sir Andrew
Gray joined the Margrave of Anspach the latter had but 4000 horse
and 4000 foot with him. There was a good deal of fighting, and
Hepburn so distinguished himself that although then but twenty
years old he obtained command of a company of pikemen in Sir Andrew
Gray's band, and this company was specially selected as a bodyguard
for the king.
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