“If the rivers are not kept clear, the city [Antwerp] will be lost, the soldiers will mutiny, desert, or surrender to the enemy, the rich and reformed will leave, the poor and riffraff will become the most powerful, meanwhile I receive no answer, it seems they have forgotten us entirely.” AntwerpDutch Golden AgeDutch RepublicEighty Years WarSpanish Empire Author:Philips van Marnix van St. Aldegonde