380 REIGN OF ELIZABETH. [CH. co. The Catholics were now entirely in the ascendant ; the Court was governed by the Duke of Guise ; Eliza- beth had overreached herself by her refinements, the danger which she most dreaded was at her door ; when an extraordinary accident reversed the whole position of affairs. Alva had expected that the Netherlands could be made to pay the cost of their conquest. He had ruined the Netherlands, but he had not relieved the Spanish exchequer. In the eight years which followed his ap- pointment as governor, Philip had spent upon the war thirty-two millions of English money. His resources were now severely tried. Requescens could not wring another stiver from the Provinces ; the bankers would not lend ; and when Requescens died, the King of Spain was unable to resolve upon his successor, and left his army for many months unpaid and uncom- manded, to mutiny. Zierichsee was taken on the 2ist of June, 1576. The soldiers who had performed so brilliant a service clamoured in return for their wages, and as there were no wages to be had, they pillaged Schowen, and then marched through Brabant, plunder- ing as they went, to Alost. A shout of indignation rose throughout Belgium. The nobles, orthodox believers as they were, assembled at Brussels to concert measures for self-protection. If rapine and murder were to be the rewards of their loyalty, they began to doubt whether after all they would not consult their safety by making permitted to be made. Advertisements par Blois, November, 1576: MSS. France.
