retarded its progress.  For though personal interests, as with Henry VIII. of England, and rigid enthusiasm, as with Calvin, strengthened the infant reformation; the first led to violence which irritated many, the second to austerity which disgusted them; and it was soon discovered that the change was almost confined to forms of practice, and that the essentials of abuse were likely to be carefully preserved.  All these, and other arguments, artfully modified to distract the people, were urged by the new bishops in the Netherlands, and by those whom they employed to arrest the progress of reform.

Among the various causes of the general confusion, the situation of Brabant gave to that province a peculiar share of suffering.  Brussels, its capital, being the seat of government, had no particular chief magistrate, like the other provinces.  The executive power was therefore wholly confided to the municipal authorities and the territorial proprietors.  But these, though generally patriotic in their views, were divided into a multiplicity of different opinions.  Rivalry and resentment produced a total want of union, ended in anarchy, and prepared the way for civil war.  William of Nassau penetrated the cause, and proposed the remedy in moving for the appointment of a provincial governor.  This proposition terrified Granvelle, who saw, as clearly as did his sagacious opponent in the council, that the nomination of a special protector between the people and the government would have paralyzed all his efforts for hurrying on the discord and resistance which were meant to be the plausible excuses for the introduction of arbitrary power.  He therefore energetically dissented from the proposed measure, and William immediately desisted from his demand.  But he at the same time claimed, in the name of the whole country, the convocation of the states-general.  This assembly alone was competent to decide what was just, legal, and obligatory for each province and every town.  Governors, magistrates, and simple citizens, would thus have some rule for their common conduct; and the government would be at least endowed with the dignity of uniformity and steadiness.  The ministers endeavored to evade a demand which they were at first unwilling openly to refuse.  But the firm demeanor and persuasive eloquence of the Prince of Orange carried before them all who were not actually bought by the crown; and Granvelle found himself at length forced to avow that an express order from the king forbade the convocation of the states, on any pretext, during his absence.

The veil was thus rent asunder which had in some measure concealed the deformity of Philip’s despotism.  The result was a powerful confederacy, among all who held it odious, for the overthrow of Granvelle, to whom they chose to attribute the king’s conduct; thus bringing into practical result the sound principle of ministerial responsibility, without which, except in some peculiar case of local urgency or political