after all, made a great mistake in their diplomacy.  The estates of Brabant, although strongly desirous that the Spanish troops should be withdrawn, were equally stanch for the maintenance of the Catholic religion, and many of the southern provinces entertained the same sentiments.  Had the Governor, therefore, taken the states’ commissioners at their word, and left the decision of the religious question to the general assembly, he might perhaps have found the vote in his favor.  In this case, it is certain that the Prince of Orange and his party would have been placed in a very awkward position.

The internal government of the insurgent provinces had remained upon the footing which we have seen established in the autumn of 1574, but in the course of this summer (1575), however, the foundation was laid for the union of Holland and Zealand, under the authority of Orange.  The selfish principle of municipal aristocracy, which had tended to keep asunder these various groups of cities, was now repressed by the energy of the Prince and the strong determination of the people.

In April, 1575, certain articles of union between Holland and Zealand were proposed, and six commissioners appointed to draw up an ordinance for the government of the two provinces.  This ordinance was accepted in general assembly of both.  It was in twenty articles.  It declared that, during the war the Prince as sovereign, should have absolute power in all matters concerning the defence of the country.  He was to appoint military officers, high and low, establish and remove garrisons, punish offenders against the laws of war.  He was to regulate the expenditure of all money voted by the estates.  He was to maintain the law, in the King’s name, as Count of Holland, and to appoint all judicial officers upon nominations by the estates.  He was, at the usual times, to appoint and renew the magistracies of the cities, according to their constitutions.  He was to protect the exercise of the Evangelical Reformed religion, and to suppress the exercise of the Roman religion, without permitting, however, that search should be made into the creed of any person.  A deliberative and executive council, by which the jealousy of the corporations had intended to hamper his government, did not come into more than nominal existence.

The articles of union having been agreed upon, the Prince, desiring an unfettered expression of the national will, wished the ordinance to be laid before the people in their primary assemblies.  The estates, however, were opposed to this democratic proceeding.  They represented that it had been customary to consult; after the city magistracies, only the captains of companies and the deans of guilds on matters of government.  The Prince, yielding the point, the captains of companies and deans of guilds accordingly alone united with the aristocratic boards in ratifying the instrument by which his authority over the two united provinces was established.  On the 4th of June this first union was solemnized.