This was one immense step in the progress of representative liberty, and the next was equally important.

It was now formally stipulated that the estates were to deliberate upon all measures which "concerned justice and polity," and that no change was to be made--that is to say, no new law was to pass without their consent as well as that of the council.

Thus, the principle was established of two legislative chambers, with the right, but not the exclusive right, of initiation on the part of government, and in the sixteenth century one would hardly look for broader views of civil liberty and representative government.

The foundation of a free commonwealth was thus securely laid, which had William lived, would have been a representative monarchy, but which his death converted into a federal republic.

It was necessary for the sake of unity to give a connected outline of these proceedings with regard to the sovereignty of Orange.