Early in the spring he returned to Brussels, having made fresh preparations for the new campaign in which he was to measure himself before the world against Maurice of Nassau.

Spinola had removed the thorn from the Belgic lion’s foot:  “Ostendae erasit fatalis Spinola spinam.”  And although it may be doubted whether the relief was as thorough as had been hoped, yet a freedom of movement had unquestionably been gained.  There was now at least what for a long time had not existed, a possibility for imagining some new and perhaps more effective course of campaigning.  The young Genoese commander-in-chief returned from Spain early in May, with the Golden Fleece around his neck, and with full powers from the Catholic king to lay out his work, subject only to the approbation of the archduke.  It was not probable that Albert, who now thoroughly admired and leaned upon the man of whom he had for a time been disposed to be jealous, would interfere with his liberty of action.  There had also been—­thanks to Spinola’s influence with the cabinet at Madrid and the merchants of Genoa—­much more energy in recruiting and in providing the necessary sinews of war.  Moreover it had been resolved to make the experiment of sending some of the new levies by sea, instead of subjecting them all to the long and painful overland march through Spain, Italy, and Germany.  A terzo of infantry was on its way from Naples, and two more were expected from Milan, but it was decided that the Spanish troops should be embarked on board a fleet of transports, mainly German and English, and thus carried to the shores of the obedient Netherlands.

The States-General got wind of these intentions, and set Vice-Admiral Haultain upon the watch to defeat the scheme.  That well-seasoned mariner accordingly, with a sufficient fleet of war-galleots, cruised thenceforth with great assiduity in the chops of the channel.  Already the late treaty between Spain and England had borne fruits of bitterness to the republic.  The Spanish policy had for the time completely triumphed in the council of James.  It was not surprising therefore that the partisans of that policy should occasionally indulge in manifestations of malevolence towards the upstart little commonwealth which had presumed to enter into commercial rivalry with the British realm, and to assert a place among the nations of the earth.  An order had just been issued by the English Government that none of its subjects should engage in the naval service of any foreign power.  This decree was a kind of corollary to the Spanish treaty, was levelled directly against the Hollanders, and became the pretext of intolerable arrogance, both towards their merchantmen and their lesser war-vessels.  Admiral Monson, an especial partisan of Spain, was indefatigable in exercising the right he claimed of visiting foreign vessels off the English coast, in search of English sailors violating the proclamation of neutrality.