In consequence of the excitement produced by this event, it was no longer possible for the Prince to decline accepting the countship of Holland and Zealand, which he had refused absolutely two years before, and which he had again rejected, except for a limited period, in the year 1581.  It was well understood, as appears by the treaty with Anjou, and afterwards formally arranged, “that the Duke was never, to claim sovereignty over Holland and Zealand,” and the offer of the sovereign countship of Holland was again made to the Prince of Orange in most urgent terms.  It will be recollected that he had accepted the sovereignty on the 5th of July, 1581, only for the term of the war.  In a letter, dated Bruges, 14th of August, 1582, he accepted the dignity without limitation.  This offer and acceptance, however, constituted but the preliminaries, for it was further necessary that the letters of “Renversal” should be drawn up, that they should be formally delivered, and that a new constitution should be laid down, and confirmed by mutual oaths.  After these steps had been taken, the ceremonious inauguration or rendering of homage was to be celebrated.

All these measures were duly arranged, except the last.  The installation of the new Count of Holland was prevented by his death, and the northern provinces remained a Republic, not only in fact but in name.

In political matters; the basis of the new constitution was the “Great Privilege” of the Lady Mary, the Magna Charta of the country.  That memorable monument in the history of the Netherlands and of municipal progress had, been overthrown by Mary’s son, with the forced acquiescence of the states, and it was therefore stipulated by the new article, that even such laws and privileges as had fallen into disuse should be revived.  It was furthermore provided that the little state should be a free Countship, and should thus silently sever its connexion with the Empire.

With regard to the position of the Prince, as hereditary chief of the little commonwealth, his actual power was rather diminished than increased by his new dignity.  What was his position at the moment?  He was sovereign during the war, on the general basis of the authority originally bestowed upon him by the King’s commission of stadholder.  In 1581, his Majesty had been abjured and the stadholder had become sovereign.  He held in his hands the supreme power, legislative, judicial, executive.  The Counts of Holland—­and Philip as their successor—­were the great fountains of that triple stream.  Concessions and exceptions had become so extensive; no doubt, that the provincial charters constituted a vast body of “liberties” by which the whole country was reasonably well supplied.  At the same time, all the power not expressly granted away remained in the breast of the Count.  If ambition, then, had been William’s ruling principle, he had exchanged substance for shadow, for the new state now constituted was a free commonwealth—­a republic in all but name.