Counts generally followed the order of primogeniture, they never set up a Prince without first requiring of him an oath, to conform to the laws:  so that he reigned rather by the consent of the people, than by right of succession.  The power of the Counts was limited by law; and the taxes were always imposed by the States.  In the sixth chapter the author shews that Philip II.  King of Spain, endeavouring to change their form of government, occasioned the grand war which procured Holland her liberty.  Grotius explains, in his seventh and last chapter, the form of government established in Holland after the Dutch threw off the Spanish yoke.  The work is dedicated to the States of Holland and West-Friesland, March 16, 1610.

The States were extremely pleased with it:  they returned their thanks to the author, and made him a present[56].  He afterwards added notes, serving for proofs of the several facts:  these were carried away with his other papers at the time of his arrest; but the Elzevirs, intending to publish a new edition of it, acquainted Grotius, who was at pains to get the notes returned; and they are now printed at the end of the Elzevir edition.  His love to his country led him to advance several things in this work, which he afterwards owned to be mistakes[57]; in particular, that the Batavi had always been free, and not subject to the ancient Franks[58].

While this book was in the press, Grotius, and his father, who commonly assisted him in his writings, translated it into Dutch[59].

FOOTNOTES: 

[56] Apolog.  C. 1.

[57] Ep. 635. p. 947.

[58] Grotii manes, Conringius, Pope, p. 947.

[59] Ep. 662. p. 834.

XXI.  Elias Oldenbarnevelt, Pensionary of Rotterdam, and brother to the Grand Pensionary of Holland, dying in 1613, the city of Rotterdam offered that important place to Grotius, whose name was so famous, foreigners sought to draw him to them by offers of honours and lucrative posts, which love to his Country made him constantly reject.  It was some time before he yielded to the desires of Rotterdam.  By the ferment of mens minds he foresaw that very great commotions would speedily shake the Republic; this made him insist with the gentlemen of Rotterdam that he should never be turned out of his place of Pensionary:  and on their promising accordingly, he accepted the employment, which gave him a seat in the assembly of the States of Holland, and afterwards in that of the States General.

Hitherto Grotius had had very little connection with the Grand Pensionary; but from this time contracted an intimate friendship with him, which gave him the greater pleasure as he was most desirous of the counsels of a man of so much experience, who had been himself nine years Pensionary of Rotterdam, and above thirty years Grand Pensionary of Holland (in which employment he had done his Country most essential services) and who was famous not only in Holland, but in foreign countries, for his many embassies, and acknowledged prudence and abilities.