In emulation of his French brethren he granted letters of marque to the sailors of Holland and Zeeland.
Recruits thronged to the ships, Huguenots, men from Liege, and the laborers of the Walloon provinces thrown out of work by the commercial crisis.

These men promptly won striking successes in preying on Spanish commerce.

Their many and rich prizes were taken to England or to Emden and sold.

Often they landed on the coasts and attacked small Catholic forces, or murdered priests.

On the night of March 31-April 1, 1572, these Beggars of the Sea seized the small town of Brielle on a large island at the mouth of the Meuse not far from the Hague.