Holland Declares Sovereign Independence (Scherpe Resolutie)
The Advocate now took a bold step. He proposed that the States of Holland should, on their own authority, as a sovereign province, raise a local force of 4000 men (waardgelders) to keep the peace.
The States-General, meanwhile, by a bare majority (4 provinces to 3) agreed to the summoning of a national church synod. The States of Holland, also by a narrow majority, refused their assent to this, and passed on August 4, 1617 a strong resolution (Scherpe Resolutie) by which all magistrates, officials and soldiers in the pay of the province were on pain of dismissal required to take an oath of obedience to the States of Holland, and were to be held accountable not to the ordinary tribunals, but to the States of Holland.
The States‐General of the Republic saw this as a declaration of sovereign independence on the part of Holland, and decided to take action. A commission was appointed, with Maurice at its head, to compel the disbanding of the waardgelders. On 31 July 1618 the Stadholder, at the head of a body of troops, appeared at Utrecht, which had thrown in its lot with Holland. At his order the local militias laid down their arms.
His progress through the towns of Holland met with no military opposition. The States' sovereignty party was crushed without a battle being fought.
Read more about this topic: Johan Van Oldenbarnevelt
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