There was little to hope for from raw levies such as these were, transported into a hostile country under the leadership of a foreigner. "God speed them well whatsoever they do or wheresoever they go," wrote an eye-witness;(281) "but it is beyond my experience or reading to have such a body of English committed and commanded by a stranger, to say no more." On their way to Dover the men carried out a system of pillage as if already in an enemy’s country; and as soon as they found their pay was not forthcoming they mutinied.(282) The promises of the French king proved fallacious and Mansfeld was forbidden to land his forces in France. This prohibition, however, was little to him, for he had already determined to act in direct opposition to the wishes of James and to carry his army to Flushing. Before he set sail from Dover, which he did on the 31st January (1625), it became necessary to recruit his rapidly diminishing forces by the issue of new press warrants. The City was called upon to furnish 1,000 men in addition to those already supplied.(283) The mayor’s precept on this occasion directed the alderman of each ward to seize in their beds or otherwise all able-bodied men, and especially "all tapsters, ostlers, chamberlains, vagrants, idle and suspected persons," and to convey them to Leadenhall or Bridewell. Those who had previously been pressed and had absconded were to be particularly sought for, whilst those who had in their charge two small children were to be spared.(284) At Flushing, where Mansfeld landed his forces (1 Feb.), the men were soon decimated by want of food, the inclemency of the season, and sickness, so that, at the time of James’s death (27 March), out of a force of 12,000 men there were barely left 3,000 capable of carrying arms. CHAPTER XXI. (M114)