Assembled together in council, they constituted the great and general court.

No tax could be imposed by the sovereign, except with consent of the four branches, all voting separately.
The personal and domiciliary rights of the citizen were scrupulously guarded.

The Schout could only make arrests with the Burgomaster's warrant, and was obliged to bring the accused, within three days, before the judges, whose courts were open to the public.
The condition of the population was prosperous.

There were but few poor, and those did not seek but were sought by the almoners: The schools were excellent and cheap.

It was difficult to find a child of sufficient age who could not read, write, and speak, at least, two languages.