Maurice used this misery to capture several important border forts. Chief among those was brand new and very strong Crevecoeur (north of 's-Hertogenbosch, part of that big ambition the previous year). Its men had mutinied but stayed loyal to the King of Spain. After a two month siege, and despite Spanish relieving efforts, it surrendered in May 1600, with full honours intact. Maurice had offered them the pay they were still due by Spain, plus service in the Dutch army, all of which they accepted.