ohibition to subjects to attend foreign universities,
intended to put a check on free trade in ideas.

[Sidenote: Taxation]

Alva's difficulties and the miseries of the unhappy land entrusted to
his tender mercies were increased by want of money. Notwithstanding
the privilege of {260} granting their own taxes the States General were
summoned [Sidenote: March 21, 1569] and forced to accept new imposts of
one per cent. on all property real and personal, ten per cent. on the
sale of all movable goods and five per cent. on the sale of real
estate. These were Spanish taxes, exorbitant in any case but
absolutely ruinous to a commercial people. A terrible financial panic
followed. Houses at Antwerp that had rented for 300 gulden could now
be had for 50 gulden. Imports fell off to such an extent that at this
port they yielded but 14,000 gulden per annum instead of 80,000 as
formerly. The harbor was filled with empty boats; the market drugged
with goods of all sorts that no one would buy.

[Sidenote: Beggars of the Sea]

The cause of the patriots looked hopeless. Orange, discredited by
defeat, had retired to Germany. At one time, to avoid the clamors of
his troops for pay, he was obliged to flee by night from Strassburg.
But in this dark hour help came from the sea. Louis of Nassau, not
primarily a statesman like his brother but a passionate crusader for
Protestantism, had been at La Rochelle and had there seen the excellent
work done by privateers. In emulation of his French brethren he
granted letters of marque to the sailors of Holland and Zeeland.
Recruits thronged to the ships, Huguenots, men from Liege, and the
laborers of the Walloon provinces thrown out of work by the commercial
crisis. These men promptly won striking successes in preying on
Spanish commerce. Their many and rich prizes were taken to England or
to Emden and sold. Often they landed on the coasts and attacked small
Catholic forces, or murdered priests. On the night of March 31-April
1, 1572, these Beggars of the Sea seized the small town of Brielle on a
large island at the mouth of the Meuse not far from the Hague. This
success was immediately followed by the insurrection of Rotterdam and
Flushing. The war was conducted with combined {261} heroism and
frightfulness. Receiving no quarter the Beggars gave none, and to
avenge themselves on the unspeakable wrongs committed by Alva they
themselves at times massacred the innocent. But their