On his arrival, however, Medina-Coeli quickly saw that the difficulties of the situation required a stronger hand than his, and he did not attempt to interfere with Alva's continued exercise of supreme authority.

The governor-general, on his side, knew well what was the meaning of this mission of Medina-Coeli, and no sooner was the army of Orange dispersed than he determined, while the reins of power were still in his hands, to visit the rebellious towns of the north with condign vengeance.
At the head of a powerful force, Frederick of Toledo marched northwards.
Mechlin, which had received Orange, was given over for three days to pillage and outrage.

Then Zutphen was taken and sacked.

Naarden, which had, though without regular defences, dared to resist the Spaniards, was utterly destroyed and the entire population massacred.

Amsterdam, one of the few towns of Holland which had remained loyal to the king, served as a basis for further operations.