 The circumstances are vague at best concerning Standish 's early military career in Holland ( the " low countries " to which Morton referred ) . At the time , the Dutch Republic was embroiled in the Eighty Years ' War with Spain . Queen Elizabeth I of England chose to support the Protestant Dutch Republic and sent troops to fight the Spanish in Holland . Historians are divided on his role in the English military . Nathaniel Philbrick refers to Standish as a " mercenary " , suggesting that he was a hired soldier of fortune seeking opportunity in Holland , but Justin Winsor claims that Standish received a lieutenant 's commission in the English army and was subsequently promoted to captain in Holland . Jeremy Bangs , a leading scholar of Pilgrim history , noted that Standish likely served under Sir Horatio Vere , an English general who had recruited soldiers in both Lancashire and the Isle of Man , among other places , and who led the English troops in Holland at the time Standish was there . 
