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.
Upon the 11th of July, the Prince formally accepted the government.

He, however, made an essential change in a very important clause of the ordinance.

In place of the words, the "Roman religion," he insisted that the words, "religion at variance with the Gospel," should be substituted in the article by which he was enjoined to prohibit the exercise of such religion.