It was their purpose to hover for a time in the neighbourhood of the capital, and either to force the Council of State to pay them their long arrears, or else to seize and sack the richest city upon which they could lay their hands.  The compact, disciplined mass, rolled hither and thither, with uncertainty of purpose, but with the same military precision of movement which had always characterized these remarkable mutinies.  It gathered strength daily.  The citizens of Brussels contemplated with dismay the eccentric and threatening apparition.  They knew that rapine, murder, and all the worst evils which man can inflict on his brethren were pent within it, and would soon descend.  Yet, even with all their past experience, did they not foresee the depth of woe which was really impending.  The mutineers had discarded such of their officers as they could not compel to obedience, and had, as usual, chosen their Eletto.  Many straggling companies joined them as they swept to and fro.  They came to Herenthals, where they were met by Count Mansfeld, who was deputed by the Council of State to treat with them, to appeal to them; to pardon them, to offer, them everything but money.  It may be supposed that the success of the commander-in-chief was no better than that of Mondragon and his subalterns.  They laughed him to scorn when he reminded them how their conduct was tarnishing the glory which they had acquired by nine years of heroism.  They answered with their former cynicism, that glory could be put neither into pocket nor stomach.  They had no use for it; they had more than enough of it.  Give them money, or give them a City, these were their last terms.

Sorrowfully and bodingly Mansfeld withdrew to consult again with the State Council.  The mutineers then made a demonstration upon Mechlin, but that city having fortunately strengthened its garrison, was allowed to escape.  They then hovered for a time outside the walls of Brussels.  At Grimsberg, where they paused for a short period, they held a parley with Captain Montesdocca, whom they received with fair words and specious pretences.  He returned to Brussels with the favourable tidings, and the mutineers swarmed off to Assche.  Thither Montesdoeca was again despatched, with the expectation that he would be able to bring them to terms, but they drove him off with jeers and threats, finding that he brought neither money nor the mortgage of a populous city.  The next day, after a feint or two in a different direction, they made a sudden swoop upon Alost, in Flanders.  Here they had at last made their choice, and the town was carried by storm.  All the inhabitants who opposed them were butchered, and the mutiny, at last established in a capital, was able to treat with the State Council upon equal terms.  They were now between two and three thousand strong, disciplined, veteran troops, posted in a strong and wealthy city.  One hundred parishes belonged to the jurisdiction of Alost, all of which were immediately laid under contribution.