History of Protestantism in the Netherlands - James Aitken Wylie

The act of abjuration was carried into
immediate execution. Philip's seal was broken, his
arms were torn down, his name was forbidden to
be used in any letters-patent, or public deed, and a
new oath was administered to all persons in public
office and employment.
This is one of the great revolutions of history. It
realized in fact, and exhibited for the first time to
the world, Representative Constitutional
Government. This revolution, though enacted on a
small theater, exemplified principles of universal
application, and furnished a precedent to be
followed in distant realms and by powerful
kingdoms. It is important to remark that this is one
of the mightiest of the births of Protestantism.
For it was Protestantism that inspired the
struggle in the Low Countries, and that maintained
the martyr at the stake and the hero in the field till
the conflict was crowned with this ever-memorable
victory. The mere desire for liberty, the mere
reverence for old charters and municipal privileges,
would not have carried the Netherlanders through
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