Such of the remaining labourers and artizans as had not been converted into soldiers, found their most profitable employment as brigands, so that the portion of the population spared by war and emigration was assisting the enemy in preying upon their native country.

Brandschatzung, burglary, highway-robbery, and murder, had become the chief branches of industry among the working classes.

Nobles and wealthy burghers had been changed to paupers and mendicants.

Many a family of ancient lineage, and once of large possessions, could be seen begging their bread, at the dusk of evening, in the streets of great cities, where they had once exercised luxurious hospitality; and they often begged in vain.
For while such was the forlorn aspect of the country--and the portrait, faithfully sketched from many contemporary pictures, has not been exaggerated in any of its dark details--a great famine smote the land with its additional scourge.

The whole population, soldiers and brigands, Spaniards and Flemings, beggars and workmen, were in danger of perishing together.