The states of the Catholic provinces assembled at Brussels now gave the archdukes to understand that nothing but peace could satisfy their wishes or save the country from exhaustion and ruin.  Albert saw the reasonableness of their remonstrances, and attempted to carry the great object into effect.  The states-general listened to his proposals.  Commissioners were appointed on both sides to treat of terms.  They met at Berg-op-Zoom; but their conferences were broken up almost as soon as commenced.  The Spanish deputies insisted on the submission of the republic to its ancient masters.  Such a proposal was worse than insulting; it proved the inveterate insincerity of those with whom it originated, and who knew it could not be entertained for a moment.  Preparations for hostilities were therefore commenced on both sides, and the whole of the winter was thus employed.

Early in the spring Prince Maurice opened the campaign at the head of sixteen thousand men, chiefly composed of English and French, who seemed throughout the contest to forget their national animosities, and to know no rivalry but that of emulation in the cause of liberty.  The town of Rhinberg soon fell into the hands of the prince.  His next attempt was against Bois-le-duc; and the siege of this place was signalized by an event that flavored of the chivalric contests now going out of fashion.  A Norman gentleman of the name of Breaute, in the service of Prince Maurice, challenged the royalist garrison to meet him and twenty of his comrades in arms under the walls of the place.  The cartel was accepted by a Fleming named Abramzoom, but better known by the epithet Leckerbeetje (savory bit), who, with twenty more, met Breaute and his friends.  The combat was desperate.  The Flemish champion was killed at the first shock by his Norman challenger; but the latter falling into the hands of the enemy, they treacherously and cruelly put him to death, in violation of the strict conditions of the fight.  Prince Maurice was forced to raise the siege of Bois-le-duc, and turn his attention in another direction.

The archduke Albert had now resolved to invest Ostend, a place of great importance to the United Provinces, but little worth to either party in comparison with the dreadful waste of treasure and human life which was the consequence of its memorable siege.  Sir Francis Vere commanded in the place at the period of its final investment; but governors, garrisons, and besieging forces, were renewed and replaced with a rapidity which gives one of the most frightful instances of the ravages of war.  The siege of Ostend lasted upward of three years.  It became a school for the young nobility of all Europe, who repaired to either one or the other party to learn the principles and the practice of attack and defence.  Everything that the art of strategy could devise was resorted to on either side.  The slaughter in the various assaults, sorties, and bombardments was enormous.