It was inevitable that sooner or later an explosion was to arrive.

They were placed between two great countries, where the new principles had already taken root.

The Lutheranism of Germany and the Calvinism of France had each its share in producing the Netherland revolt, but a mistake is perhaps often made in estimating the relative proportion of these several influences.

The Reformation first entered the provinces, not through the Augsburg, but the Huguenot gate.

The fiery field-preachers from the south of France first inflamed the excitable hearts of the kindred population of the south-western Netherlands.