Disposed to be lenient to all forms of worship, they were disinclined to an established church, but still more opposed to allowing church-influence in secular affairs.

As a matter of course, political men with such bold views in religious matters were bitterly assailed by their rigid opponents.

Barneveld, with his "nil scire tutissima fides," was denounced as a disguised Catholic or an infidel, and as for Paul Buys, he was a "bolsterer of Papists, an atheist, a devil," as it has long since been made manifest.
Nevertheless these men believed that they understood the spirit of their country and of the age.

In encouragement to an expanding commerce, the elevation and education of the masses, the toleration of all creeds, and a wide distribution of political functions and rights, they looked for the salvation of their nascent republic from destruction, and the maintenance of the true interests of the people.

They were still loyal to Queen Elizabeth, and desirous that she should accept the sovereignty of the Provinces.