[The Rise of the Dutch Republic Volume III.(of III) 1574-84 by John Lothrop Motley]@TWC D-Link bookThe Rise of the Dutch Republic Volume III.(of III) 1574-84 CHAPTER IV 6/101
He did not even accept the invitation, save on condition that his visit to Brussels should be expressly authorized by Holland and Zealand.
Notwithstanding his desire once more to behold his dear country, and to enjoy the good company of his best friends and brothers, he felt it his duty to communicate beforehand with the states of those two provinces, between which, and himself there had been such close and reciprocal obligations, such long-tried and faithful affection.
He therefore begged to refer the question to the assembly of the said provinces about to be held at Gouda, where, in point of fact, the permission for his journey was, not without considerable difficulty, a few days afterwards obtained. With regard to the more difficult requests addressed to him in the memorial, he professed generally his intention to execute the treaty of Ghent.
He observed, however, that the point of permitting the exercise of the Roman Catholic religion in Holland and Zealand regarded principally the estates of these provinces, which had contracted for no innovation in this matter, at least till the assembling of the states-general.
He therefore suggested that he neither could, nor ought to, permit any innovation, without the knowledge and consent of those estates.
<<Back Index Next>> D-Link book Top TWC mobile books
|