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History of Protestantism in the Netherlands - James Aitken Wylie

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Chapter 23<br />

The "Pacification <strong>of</strong> Ghent"<br />

and Toleration<br />

THE great struggle which William, Pr<strong>in</strong>ce <strong>of</strong><br />

Orange, was ma<strong>in</strong>ta<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g on this foot-breadth <strong>of</strong><br />

territory for <strong>the</strong> religion <strong>of</strong> Reformed Christendom,<br />

and <strong>the</strong> liberty' <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Ne<strong>the</strong>rlands, had now<br />

reached a well-def<strong>in</strong>ed stage. Holland and Zealand<br />

were united under him as Stadtholder or virtual<br />

monarch. The fiction was still ma<strong>in</strong>ta<strong>in</strong>ed that<br />

Philip, as Count <strong>of</strong> Holland, was <strong>the</strong> nom<strong>in</strong>al<br />

monarch <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Ne<strong>the</strong>rlands, but this was noth<strong>in</strong>g<br />

more than a fiction, and to Philip it must have<br />

appeared a bitter satire; for, accord<strong>in</strong>g to this<br />

fiction, Philip K<strong>in</strong>g <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Ne<strong>the</strong>rlands was mak<strong>in</strong>g<br />

war on Philip K<strong>in</strong>g <strong>of</strong> Spa<strong>in</strong>. The real monarch <strong>of</strong><br />

<strong>the</strong> United Prov<strong>in</strong>ces <strong>of</strong> Holland and Zealand was<br />

<strong>the</strong> Pr<strong>in</strong>ce <strong>of</strong> Orange. In his hands was lodged <strong>the</strong><br />

whole adm<strong>in</strong>istrative power <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> country, as also<br />

well-nigh <strong>the</strong> whole legislative functions. He could<br />

make peace and he could make war. He appo<strong>in</strong>ted<br />

432

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