As early as the 22d April, Alva had been informed, by the lieutenant-governor of that province, that the beggars were mustering in great force in the neighborhood of Embden.  It was evident that an important enterprise was about to be attempted.  Two days afterwards, Louis of Nassau entered the provinces, attended by a small body of troops.  His banners blazed with patriotic inscriptions.  ’Nunc aut nunquam, Recuperare aut mori’, were the watchwords of his desperate adventure:  “Freedom for fatherland and conscience” was the device which was to draw thousands to his standard.  On the western wolds of Frisia, he surprised the castle of Wedde, a residence of the absent Aremberg, stadholder of the province.  Thence he advanced to Appingadam, or Dam, on the tide waters of the Dollart.  Here he was met by, his younger brother, the gallant Adolphus, whose days were so nearly numbered, who brought with him a small troop of horse.  At Wedde, at Dam, and at Slochteren, the standard was set up.  At these three points there daily gathered armed bodies of troops, voluntary adventurers, peasants with any rustic weapon which they could find to their hand.  Lieutenant-governor Groesbeck wrote urgently to the Duke, that the beggars were hourly increasing in force; that the leaders perfectly understood their game; that they kept their plans a secret, but were fast seducing the heart of the country.

On the 4th May, Louis issued a summons to the magistracy of Groningen, ordering them to send a deputation to confer with him at Dam.  He was prepared, he said, to show the commission with which he was provided.  He had not entered the country on a mere personal adventure, but had received orders to raise a sufficient army.  By the help of the eternal God, he was determined, he said, to extirpate the detestable tyranny of those savage persecutors who had shed so much Christian blood.  He was resolved to lift up the down-trod privileges, and, to protect the fugitive, terror-stricken Christians and patriarchs of the country.  If the magistrates were disposed to receive him with friendship, it was well.  Otherwise, he should, with regret, feel himself obliged to proceed against them, as enemies of his Majesty and of the common weal.

As the result of this summons, Louis received a moderate sum of money, on condition of renouncing for the moment an attack upon the city.  With this temporary supply he was able to retain a larger number of the adventurers; who were daily swarming around him.

In the mean time Alva was not idle.  On the 30th April, he wrote to Groesbeck, that he must take care not to be taken napping; that he must keep his eyes well open until the arrival of succor, which was already on the way.  He then immediately ordered Count Aremberg, who had just returned from France on conclusion of hostilities, to hasten to the seat of war.  Five vanderas of his own regiment; a small body of cavalry, and Braccamonte’s Sardinian legion,