One thing is very certain, that neither Orange, while he lived, nor the Estates, after his death, were actuated in their policy by personal ambition.

It will be seen that the first object of the Estates was to dispossess themselves of the sovereignty which had again fallen into their hands.
What were the Estates?
Without, at the present moment, any farther inquiries into that constitutional system which had been long consolidating itself, and was destined to exist upon a firmer basis for centuries longer, it will be sufficient to observe, that the great characteristic of the Netherland government was the municipality.
Each Province contained a large number of cities, which were governed by a board of magistrates, varying in number from twenty to forty.

This college, called the Vroedschap (Assembly of Sages), consisted of the most notable citizens, and was a self-electing body--a close corporation--the members being appointed for life, from the citizens at large.

Whenever vacancies occurred from death or loss of citizenship, the college chose new members--sometimes immediately, sometimes by means of a double or triple selection of names, the choice of one from among which was offered to the stadtholder of the province.

This functionary was appointed by the Count, as he was called, whether Duke of Bavaria or of Burgundy, Emperor, or King.