He was himself by oath sworn to obey the States of Holland, of Utrecht, and of the three other provinces of which he was governor.

He was not commander-in-chief.
In two of the seven provinces he had no functions whatever, military or civil.

They had another governor.
Yet the exposition of the law, as it stood, by the Advocate and his claim that both troops and Stadholder should be held to their oaths was accounted a crime.

He had invented a new oath--it was said--and sought to diminish the power of the Prince.

These were charges, unjust as they were, which might one day be used with deadly effect.
"We live in a world where everything is interpreted to the worst," he said.