Men fresh from their homes, often homesick and heartsick for the home folks, were open to the message which their mothers and fathers had so often laid on their young hearts, so it is not surprising that the behavior of the Swedish army on a foreign soil is memorable to this day in Europe, in strong contrast to the Imperial army which embittered even friendly provinces in its devastating journeys. Gustavus immediately subdued the country on which he had made his descent, and having taken possession of Rugen, he expelled the Imperial troops from all neighboring islands, and made secure his communications with Sweden. He then advanced on Stettin, the capital of Pomerania, and forced the old Duke Bogislaus XIV. to make a quick decision between an alliance with Sweden or with the Empire. The people of the city hastened privately to pay their respects to the Swedish king as the true Defender of the Faith, to which they also subscribed. He talked over with them the condition of Germany, the affairs of the Church, and of their faith and love, and completely won their hearts. His personality at this time was most pleasing, his fair hair, his handsome beard, his tall, strong, lithe, athletic body predisposed everyone in his favor. The gates of Stettin were thrown open to him, but he quartered his soldiers in their tents and not in the city. The king entered into a close alliance with Sweden, thus making Pomerania a protecting State for Sweden, and also for the rearguard of the Swedish army and for its line of communication with the home country. The army covered the greater part of Pomerania, in spite of the efforts of General Torquato-Conti, who had charge of all the Imperial troops stationed in this duchy. As he retreated he wreaked an awful vengeance upon the innocent people, capturing women, and even killing children, and leaving desolation in his wake. The people came out to meet the Swedes, and hailed them as saviours of the country. As Gustavus continued his journey through Pomerania his army was greatly increased. Troops who had fought under Mansfield, under Duke Christian of Brunswick, and under the king of Denmark, and all those disaffected because of Wallenstein now enrolled under his victorious banner, so that by the end of 1630, only a few months after leaving Sweden he ruled in Pomerania as sovereign. The Estates of the Duchy voted and paid him one hundred thousand florins. He was anxious to push on to Mecklenburg, but a severe northern winter was at hand and it was deemed best to wait and go into winter quarters.