The supreme court of Mechlin, as in the days of Charles the Bold, was again placed in despotic authority above the ancient charters.
Was it probable that the lethargy of provinces, which had reached so high a point of freedom only to be deprived of it at last, could endure forever?
Was it to be hoped that the stern spirit of religious enthusiasm, allying itself with the--keen instinct of civil liberty, would endue the provinces with strength to throw off the Spanish yoke?
XII.
It is impossible to comprehend the character of the great Netherland revolt in the sixteenth century without taking a rapid retrospective survey of the religious phenomena exhibited in the provinces.

The introduction of Christianity has been already indicated.

From the earliest times, neither prince, people, nor even prelates were very dutiful to the pope.

As the papal authority made progress, strong resistance was often made to its decrees.

The bishops of Utrecht were dependent for their wealth and territory upon the good will of the Emperor.