The rendezvous for the whole force was Deventer, and here they all
arrived on the 10th July. On the same day the Duke of Alva himself
entered Deventer, to take command in person. On the evening of the 14th
July he reached Rolden, a village three leagues distant from Groningen,
at the head of three terzios of Spanish infantry, three companies of
light horse, and a troop of dragoons. His whole force in and about
Groningen amounted to fifteen thousand choice troops besides a large but
uncertain number of less disciplined soldiery.

Meantime, Louis of Nassau, since his victory, had accomplished nothing.
For this inactivity there was one sufficient excuse, the total want of
funds. His only revenue was the amount of black mail which he was able
to levy upon the inhabitants of the province. He repeated his
determination to treat them all as enemies, unless they furnished him
with the means of expelling their tyrants from the country. He obtained
small sums in this manner from time to time. The inhabitants were
favorably disposed, but they were timid and despairing. They saw no
clear way towards the accomplishment of the result concerning which Louis
was so confident. They knew that the terrible Alva was already on his
way. They felt sure of being pillaged by both parties, and of being
hanged as rebels, besides, as soon as the Governor-general should make
his appearance.

Louis had, however, issued two formal proclamations for two especial
contributions. In these documents he had succinctly explained that the
houses of all recusants should be forthwith burned about their ears, and
in consequence of these peremptory measures, he had obtained some ten
thousand florins. Alva ordered counter-proclamations to be affixed to
church doors and other places, forbidding all persons to contribute to
these forced loans of the rebels, on penalty of paying twice as much to