Although professional officers generally came from the gentry rather than urban middle class, his Villiers connections allowed Lisle to overcome this barrier and he served with the Dutch States Army when they recaptured Breda in 1637. It is likely he did so as part of a force recruited in England by Lord Craven with the support of Charles I to help his nephew Charles I Louis, Elector Palatine retake the Electoral Palatinate. This ended with defeat at Vlotho in October 1638 and capture of the Elector's brother, Prince Rupert of the Rhine.