It is impossible to exaggerate the misery of the obedient provinces at this epoch.  The insane attempt of the King of Spain, with such utterly inadequate machinery, to conquer the world has been sufficiently dilated upon.  The Spanish and Italian and Walloon soldiers were starving in Brabant and Flanders in order that Spanish gold might be poured into the bottomless pit of the Holy League in France.

The mutiny that had broken forth the preceding year in Artois and Hamault was now continued on a vast scale in Brabant.  Never had that national institution—­a Spanish mutiny—­been more thoroughly organized, more completely carried out in all its details.  All that was left of the famous Spanish discipline and military science in this their period of rapid decay, seemed monopolized by the mutineers.  Some two thousand choice troops (horse and foot), Italians and Spanish, took possession of two considerable cities, Sichem and Arschot, and ultimately concentrated themselves at Sichem, which they thoroughly fortified.  Having chosen their Eletto and other officers they proceeded regularly to business.  To the rallying point came disaffected troops of all nations from far and near.  Never since the beginning of the great war had there been so extensive a military rebellion, nor one in which so many veteran officers, colonels, captains, and subalterns took part.  The army of Philip had at last grown more dangerous to himself than to the Hollanders.

The council at Brussels deliberated anxiously upon the course to be pursued, and it was decided at last to negotiate with instead of attacking them.  But it was soon found that the mutineers were as hard to deal with as were the republicans on the other side the border.  They refused to hear of anything short of complete payment of the enormous arrears due to them, with thorough guarantees and hostages that any agreement made between themselves and the archduke should be punctually carried out.  Meanwhile they ravaged the country far and near, and levied their contributions on towns and villages, up to the very walls of Brussels, and before the very eyes of the viceroy.

Moreover they entered into negotiation with Prince Maurice of Nassau, not offering to enlist under his flag, but asking for protection against the king in exchange for a pledge meanwhile not to serve his cause.  At last the archduke plucked up a heart and sent some troops against the rebels, who had constructed two forts on the river Demer near the city of Sichem.  In vain Velasco, commander of the expedition, endeavoured to cut off the supplies for these redoubts.  The vigour and audacity of the rebel cavalry made the process impossible.  Velasco then attempted to storm the lesser stronghold of the two, but was repulsed with the loss of two hundred killed.  Among these were many officers, one of whom, Captain Porto Carrero, was a near relative of Fuentes.  After a siege, Velasco, who was a marshal of the camp of considerable distinction, succeeded in driving the mutineers out of the forts; who, finding their position thus weakened, renewed their negotiations with Maurice.  They at last obtained permission from the prince to remain under the protection of Gertruydenberg and Breda until they could ascertain what decision the archduke would take.  More they did not ask of Maurice, nor did he require more of them.