History of Protestantism in the Netherlands - James Aitken Wylie

cloud charged with thunder and destruction
through the sky, so did the cities of Brabant and
Flanders watch the march of this mutinous host.
They knew it held pillage and murder and rape in
its bosom, but their worst fears failed to anticipate
the awful vengeance it was destined to inflict. The
negotiators sent to recall the troops to obedience
reminded them that they were tarnishing the fame
acquired by years of heroism. What cared these
mutineers for glory ~ They wanted shoes, clothes,
food, money. They held their way past the gates of
Mechlin, past the gates of Brussels, and of other
cities; but swarming over the walls of Alost, while
the inhabitants slept, they had now planted
themselves in the center of a rich country, where
they promised themselves store of booty. No
sooner had they hung out their flag on the walls of
Alost than the troops stationed in other parts of the
Netherlands caught the infection. By the beginning
of September the mutiny was universal; the whole
Spanish army in the Netherlands were united in it,
and all the forts and citadels being in their hands,
they completely dominated the land, plundered the
citizens, pillaged the country, and murdered at their
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