With respect to the great principle of taxation, stricter bonds even were provided than those which already existed.  Not only the right of taxation remained with the states, but the Count was to see that, except for war purposes, every impost was levied by a unanimous vote.  He was expressly forbidden to tamper with the currency.  As executive head, save in his capacity as Commander-in-chief by land or sea, the new sovereign was, in short, strictly limited by self-imposed laws.  It had rested with him to dictate or to accept a constitution.  He had in his memorable letter of August, 1582, from Bruges, laid down generally the articles prepared at Plessia and Bourdeaux, for Anjou-together with all applicable provisions of the Joyous Entry of Brabant—­as the outlines of the constitution for the little commonwealth then forming in the north.  To these provisions he was willing to add any others which, after ripe deliberation, might be thought beneficial to the country.

Thus limited were his executive functions.  As to his judicial authority it had ceased to exist.  The Count of Holland was now the guardian of the laws, but the judges were to administer them.  He held the sword of justice to protect and to execute, while the scales were left in the hands which had learned to weigh and to measure.

As to the Count’s legislative authority, it had become coordinate with, if not subordinate to, that of the representative body.  He was strictly prohibited from interfering with the right of the separate or the general states to assemble as often as they should think proper; and he was also forbidden to summon them outside their own territory.  This was one immense step in the progress of representative liberty, and the next was equally important.  It was now formally stipulated that the estates were to deliberate upon all measures which “concerned justice and polity,” and that no change was to be made—­that is to say, no new law was to pass without their consent as well as that of the council.  Thus, the principle was established of two legislative chambers, with the right, but not the exclusive right, of initiation on the part of government, and in the sixteenth century one would hardly look for broader views of civil liberty and representative government.  The foundation of a free commonwealth was thus securely laid, which had William lived, would have been a representative monarchy, but which his death converted into a federal republic.  It was necessary for the sake of unity to give a connected outline of these proceedings with regard to the sovereignty of Orange.  The formal inauguration, only remained, and this, as will be seen, was for ever interrupted.

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