The defending forces of Ostend were the army of the United Provinces, reorganized by Maurice of Nassau who also played a part in the development of early modern warfare. The Dutch had large support from their Protestant ally England whose pike men and arquebusiers were clad in red cassocks (amongst the earliest English redcoats). The English having distinguished themselves highly in battles such as Turnhout and Nieupoort where they had faced and beaten the Spanish tercios were considered the veterans and the elite of the army as a whole. They did have a reputation however as being thieves; pillaging friend and foe alike during and after battle. Other Protestant troops from Scotland, France, and Germany took their side amongst Maurice's army.