The
indignant Hepburn at once resigned his commission and swore never
again to draw his sword in the service of the king -- a resolution
to which he adhered, although Gustavus, when his anger cooled,
endeavoured in every way to appease the angry soldier.
As he persisted in his resolution Colonel Munro was appointed to
the command of the Green Brigade. It is probable that the quarrel
was the consummation of a long standing grievance. Hepburn as well
as the other Scottish officers had shared the indignation of Sir
John Hamilton when the latter resigned in consequence of the Swedish
troop being placed in the post of honour at the storm of the castle
of Marienburg after the Scots had done all the work. There had,
too, been much discontent among them concerning the Marquis of
Hamilton, whom they considered that Gustavus had treated ungenerously;
and still more concerning Lieutenant Colonel Douglas, whom Gustavus
had committed to a common prison for a slight breach of etiquette,
a punishment at which the English ambassador, Sir Harry Vane,
remonstrated, and which the whole Scottish officers considered an
insult to them and their country.
There were probably faults on both sides. The Scottish troops were
the backbone of the Swedish army, and to them were principally
due almost the whole of the successes which Gustavus had gained.
Doubtless they presumed upon the fact, and although Gustavus recognized
his obligations, as is shown by the immense number of commands and
governorships which he bestowed upon his Scottish officers, he may
well have been angered and irritated by the insistance with which
they asserted their claims and services.
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