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revived the harsh inquisition. Inquisitors had the power to interrogate,
torture, and execute anyone with unacceptable thoughts on religion or
politics. To carry out this policy required the revocation of the local control
and freedom previously allowed to the countries and provinces of Europe.
Uprisings in Germany had won the right to have the Lutheran religion there,
yet the German royalty provided mercenary armies to Rome to help
suppress the reformation elsewhere.

After years of increasingly severe Inquisition, the Netherlands were united
by the Prince of Orange as a free republic in 1581. The Prince of Orange
used all of his influence and conviction to make religious freedom and
tolerance a founding principle of the union. This union included both
Protestant and Catholic provinces and provided a considerable degree of
democratic freedom to everyone. The strength of this union gave the Dutch
the initial advantage in the war for independence. Even the Dutch Catholics
were uncomfortable with or outraged by the horrible tortures and
repression conducted by the Inquisition.

The city of Delft was heavily fortified and used as command center and
capital by the Prince of Orange. Tragically, the Prince of Orange was
assassinated in 1584. He was killed by a duplicitous Catholic fanatic, who
used a gift of charity from the Prince to purchase the guns that he used to
kill the Prince.

After the Prince's death, the Republic weakened, and the southern regions
(now Belgium) withdrew from the alliance. The war then dragged on for
generations. To secure their freedom, the Netherlands fought for 80 years.
This was primarily against the army and navy of Spain, the world's most
powerful nation. To make the war seem even more unwinnable, France,
Germany, and Italy also fought against the Netherlands. In just one period
of seven years, about 100,000 Dutch were killed, roughly 10 per cent of the
population! Much of the Dutch royalty and upper class were killed in this
extended war. Finally, in 1648 the Peace of Munster formally recognized
the Republic of the Netherlands and ended the war.

In 1688, a later Prince of Orange established himself as King William III of
Great Britain. He deposed the duplicitous and despised King James II. The
people in Britain accepted the royal blood of the Prince and proclaimed him
their new king, hoping he would be a better ruler. The new King William
issued the important Act of Toleration in 1689 that guaranteed freedom of
religion and ended the violent religious persecutions there. Great Britain
had been bounced back and forth between Protestant and Catholic rulers
who required everyone to change faiths or face execution. William was king
for only a few years when the deposed Richard had him assassinated.
However, Richard's daughters blocked his return to power. The Act of
Toleration remained law.

- Historical Background - page 2 -