that the day appointed for the meeting should be changed and deferred.1

In the mean while that most illustrious person, Dudley Carleton, in the convention of the illustrious and most powerful the States General, publicly complained, that the honour of his master, the most Serene King of Great Britain, had been very unworthily and impudently reviled, in the infamous libel (or pamphlet) Bilanx, which the Remonstrants, even after the edict of their Highnesses, had taken care should be printed again, translated into the French language: and, having briefly and solidly refuted most of the objections of the Remonstrants, he explained to the illustrious and most powerful the States General, what method the most powerful King of Great Britain was accustomed to employ, in settling controversies concerning religion or doctrine; which, because it agreed with the decree of the illustrious the States General, it more and more confirmed their Illustrious Highnesses in this holy determination. The most ample also the Magistracy of the city of Amsterdam, having communicated counsel previously with the pastors of that church, and others called together for this cause, propounded in writing many and very weighty reasons, in the convention of the illustrious the States of Holland and West Friesland, in which it was

The conduct of the Remonstrants, on this occasion, evidently resembled that of an accused person, who, instead of demanding a fair trial, objects to the authority of the court, challenges the jurymen, and endeavours to find out flaws in the indictment, and adopts every evasion to escape the trial, which can be suggested by his solicitor or counsel.

at this time altogether unreasonable to think of a provincial synod, for the composing of these controversies. Because, in like manner as it behoved particular synods, in each of the provinces, to precede the national synod; so in Holland also, both North and South, particular synods would precede. Yet the Remonstrants, by their favourers, pressed eagerly and urged such a synod: either because they thought that it would less obstruct their cause, as they had in Holland so many great men and even pastors favouring them; or that they might by this tergiversation absolutely hinder the calling of the national synod. But, when they themselves saw, that this demand was too unjust for them easily to persuade (the granting of) it; they fled to a new exception, and desired (or proposed) that this cause should be deferred (or reserved) to a general council (æcumenicam). But it was answered them, That it was most uncertain, whether or when a general council could be called: yet that these evils required a present remedy, and that this national (synod) about to be called by the most illustrious and most powerful the States General, would be as it were an ecumenical and general (council); as deputies from almost all the reformed churches would be present at it. If they should account themselves aggrieved by the judgment of such a synod, it would always be entire and lawful to them to appeal from this national to a general council; provided only, that in the mean time they obeyed the judgment of the national synod. By these evasions and subterfuges they effected, that the letters of convocation were for some little time delayed; and it was necessary

that the day appointed for the meeting should be changed and deferred.1

In the mean while that most illustrious person, Dudley Carleton, in the convention of the illustrious and most powerful the States General, publicly complained, that the honour of his master, the most Serene King of Great Britain, had been very unworthily and impudently reviled, in the infamous libel (or pamphlet) Bilanx, which the Remonstrants, even after the edict of their Highnesses, had taken care should be printed again, translated into the French language: and, having briefly and solidly refuted most of the objections of the Remonstrants, he explained to the illustrious and most powerful the States General, what method the most powerful King of Great Britain was accustomed to employ, in settling controversies concerning religion or doctrine; which, because it agreed with the decree of the illustrious the States General, it more and more confirmed their Illustrious Highnesses in this holy determination. The most ample also the Magistracy of the city of Amsterdam, having communicated counsel previously with the pastors of that church, and others called together for this cause, propounded in writing many and very weighty reasons, in the convention of the illustrious the States of Holland and West Friesland, in which it was

1 The conduct of the Remonstrants, on this occasion, evidently resembled that of an accused person, who, instead of demanding a fair trial, objects to the authority of the court, challenges the jurymen, and endeavours to find out flaws in the indictment, and adopts every evasion to escape the trial, which can be suggested by his solicitor or counsel.

most evidently demonstrated, that these controversies could not be determined at this season by any other method than by a national synod. At the same time they most solidly answered all the objections of the Remonstrants, and all their projects, concerning a provincial synod, and also concerning a general council. Soon after likewise the most ample the Magistracy of the city of Enchusen, having exhibited many reasons, in writing also approved the same. These reasons were afterwards made public; that it might be evident to all men, how unjustly the Remonstrants and their favourers acted, because they obstinately resisted the calling of a national synod, by these new projects, and eluded (subterfugerent) it's decision.

The illustrious the States General, as they judged that this thing, so entirely necessary, and for the most just and weighty causes already decreed, was not to be any longer delayed, on account of projects and shiftings of this kind; again decreed, that the convocation of a national synod, without any delay or adjournment, should be immediately instituted; and they determine, that the city Dordrecht (or Dort) should be the place of its meeting; the day, the first of the next November. When some persons among the States of Holland and West Friesland, favouring the cause of the Remonstrants, opposed themselves to this decree, in the convention of the illustrious and most powerful the States General, complaining that an injury was done to the majesty, the right, and finally, the liberty of that province; the illustrious and most powerful the

States General, declared by public letters, that they did not purpose, by this convocation of a national synod, that any thing should be taken away from, or lessened in the majesty, right, or liberty, of any province; but that this was the sincere intention of their Highnesses, that, without any prejudice of any province, and of the union and confederation, by the ordinary decision of a national synod, the ecclesiastical controversies alone that had arisen concerning doctrine, which pertained to all the reformed Belgic churches, should lawfully be determined to the glory of God, and the peace of the republic and of the churches. They then addressed letters to the States of each of the provinces, in which they declared, that it had been determined by them to call together, in the name of the Lord, from all the churches of these provinces a national synod, on the first of November ensuing; that by this method the controversies which had arisen in the same churches, might be lawfully examined and settled in a beneficial manner (truth being always preserved). At the same time they admonished them, that as soon as they could they should call a provincial synod in their own provinces, after the accustomed manner; from which six pious and learned men, and greatly loving peace; namely, three or four pastors, with two or three other proper persons, professing the reformed religion, might be deputed, who in the aforementioned national synod, according to the laws constituted by them, (a copy of which they transmitted,) might examine those controversies and take them away, truth being preserved (or