These men were outlawed.
[Sidenote: Civil war] No longer fearing a religious war the Calvinists started it themselves.
Louis of Nassau, a brother of Prince William, hired German mercenaries and invaded Flanders, where he won some slight successes.

In Amsterdam the great Beggar Brederode entered into negotiations with Huguenots and English friends.

The first battle between the Beggars and the government troops, [Sidenote: March 13, 1567] near Antwerp, ended in a rout for the former.
Philip now ordered ten thousand Spanish veterans, led by Alva, to march from Italy to the Netherlands.

Making their way through the Free County of Burgundy and Lorraine they entered Brussels on August 9, 1567.

[Sidenote: Alva 1508-83] Ferdinand Alvarez de Toledo, Duke of Alva, had won experience and reputation as a soldier in the German wars.