Such sweeping reforms, if maintained, would restore health to the body politic.

They gave, moreover, an earnest of what was one day to arrive.

Certainly, for the fifteenth century, the "Great Privilege" was a reasonably liberal constitution.

Where else upon earth, at that day, was there half so much liberty as was thus guaranteed?
The congress of the Netherlands, according to their Magna Charta, had power to levy all taxes, to regulate commerce and manufactures, to declare war, to coin money, to raise armies and navies.

The executive was required to ask for money in person, could appoint only natives to office, recognized the right of disobedience in his subjects, if his commands should conflict with law, and acknowledged himself bound by decisions of courts of justice.