The town councils were becoming almost omnipotent.

Although with an oligarchical tendency, which at a later period was to be more fully developed, they were now composed of large numbers of individuals, who had raised themselves, by industry and intelligence, out of the popular masses.

There was an unquestionably republican tone to the institutions.

Power, actually, if not nominally, was in the hands of many who had achieved the greatness to which they had not been born.
The assemblies of the estates were rather diplomatic than representative.
They consisted, generally, of the nobles and of the deputations from the cities.

In Holland, the clergy had neither influence nor seats in the parliamentary body.