They resisted the National Synod because, in their view, the Provinces were not a nation.

A league of seven sovereign and independent Mates was all that legally existed in the Netherlands.

It was accordingly determined that the governments should be changed, and the Stadholder set himself to prepare the way for a thorough and, if possible, a bloodless revolution.
He departed on the 27th November for a tour through the chief cities, and before leaving the Hague addressed an earnest circular letter to the various municipalities of Holland.
A more truly dignified, reasonable, right royal letter, from the Stadholder's point of view, could not have been indited.

The Imperial "we" breathing like a morning breeze through the whole of it blew away all legal and historical mistiness.
But the clouds returned again nevertheless.

Unfortunately for Maurice it could not be argued by the pen, however it might be proved by the sword, that the Netherlands constituted a nation, and that a convocation of doctors of divinity summoned by a body of envoys had the right to dictate a creed to seven republics.
All parties were agreed on one point.