In these views the people were entirely wrong.
While these events were taking place in Brussels and Antwerp, the two armies of the states and of Don John were indolently watching each other.
The sinews of war had been cut upon both sides.

Both parties were cramped by the most abject poverty.

The troops under Bossu and Casimir, in the camp sear Mechlin, were already discontented, for want of pay.

The one hundred thousand pounds of Elizabeth had already been spent, and it was not probable that the offended Queen would soon furnish another subsidy.
The states could with difficulty extort anything like the assessed quotas from the different provinces.

The Duke of Alencon was still at Mons, from which place he had issued a violent proclamation of war against Don John--a manifesto which had, however, not been followed up by very vigorous demonstrations.