The articles were to be signed by the stadholders, magistrates, and principal officers of each province and city, and by all the train-bands, fraternities, and sodalities which might exist in the cities or villages of the union.
Such were the simple provisions of that instrument which became the foundation of the powerful Commonwealth of the United Netherlands.

On the day when it was concluded, there were present deputies from five provinces only.

Count John of Nassau signed first, as stadholder of Gelderland and Zutfen.

His signature was followed by those of four deputies from that double province; and the envoys of Holland, Zealand, Utrecht and the Frisian provinces, then signed the document.
The Prince himself, although in reality the principal director of the movement, delayed appending his signature until May the 3rd, 1579.

Herein he was actuated by the reasons already stated, and by the hope which he still entertained that a wider union might be established, with Matthias for its nominal chief.