John of Nassau pledged his estates, Orange sold his plate and jewels, and finally a war-chest of 200,000 florins was gathered together.

It was proposed to attack the Netherlands from three directions.

From the north Lewis of Nassau was to lead an army from the Ems into Friesland; Hoogstraeten on the east to effect an entrance by way of Maestricht; while another force of Huguenots and refugees in the south was to march into Artois.

It was an almost desperate scheme in the face of veteran troops in a central position under such a tried commander as Alva.

The last-named French force and that under Hoogstraeten were easily defeated and scattered by Spanish detachments sent to meet them.