Brederode Van Lancelot

Brederode Van Lancelot, son of Heer Artus Van Brederode, and Councillor of the Court of Holland, was well versed in the study of Divinity, and a stanch friend of liberty. When the States-General, by a public Act, expressed their approbation of the Canons of the Synod of Dort, and when a letter to that effect was forwarded, by a Committee of the States of Holland, to the Court of Justice, "entreating and exhorting them to maintain, and cause to be maintained, the determinations of the said Synod, and everything relating thereto, without deviating in any manner, or suffering others to deviate from the same," all the members except himself declared, without qualification, their readiness to comply with the injunctions contained in the letter of the Committee. But he explicitly stated the only grounds, on which he could consent to carry out the injunctions laid down in that letter ; namely, that the resolutions of the Synod should be considered binding upon those only, who remained in communion with the national Church ; and not upon the Remonstrants, who had separated from it. The Griffier Duik, in making a minute of this letter, and the opinions of the judges respecting it, wrote as follows. "On the 18^th of July, [1619,] this letter was considered by the Court, and it was agreed by all the members, that they ought to conform thereto, in maintaining the judgment of the Synod, and in neither making, nor suffering to be made, any manner of alteration therein: and the gentlemen, who consented to this, were, the  HeersKromhout, Kowenburgh, Rosa, Nortwick,Aleman, Brederode, Berkhout and Barsdorp. Witness, A. Duik." This coming afterwards to the knowledge of Heer Brederode, he complained on the first Court-day, which was in the month of September, and declared that he would not suffer such an entry of his opinion to be transmitted to posterity. The Griffier Duik denied that he had made such an entry, and admitted that the opinion of the Heer Brederode was different from that of the other members. But the journal was produced ; and Duik confessed his fault, expressing, at the same time, his readiness to alter the minute. Shortly afterwards, however, he said, that it was not in his power to alter it, because, in so doing, it might seem as if he had been convicted of falsifying the said minute. But Brederode was of opinion, that the Court should require him to do it ; and the Court, in order to deliberate more freely about it, requested Brederode to withdraw, and ordered the Griffier to remain. The conclusion arrived at was, that a minute should be made of what Brederode had actually said, and that he himself should dictate the terms, in which it should be expressed. This he did after the following manner. "On the 15^th of October, Anno 1619, the Heer Brederode explaining the opinion he gave upon the foregoing letter of the 18^th of July, declared that he then thought, and still thinks, that the States had a right to establish, or to reject such doctrines in the public worship, as they should think fit ; but that this did by no means affect the Remonstrants, who had long before separated themselves from the public Churches: wherefore, he should not oppose the putting in execution what was ordered in the said letter, provided he were not obliged to conform thereto in any sense. And he declared particularly, that he could not vindicate the Synod, or concur in suppressing the opinions of the Remonstrants, because their Lordships had allowed him the liberty of the same persuasion. This was read, and agreed to, in the presence of the Heers Kromhout, &c, and of me the Griffier Duik."

All the subsequent public acts of Brederode were in strict conformity with the spirit of this declaration. There were very seldom any debates in the Council on the subject of Religion, in which he was not found to differ from the rest of the board ; and his advice was little adapted to the prevailing spirit of the times. It was, at length, thought desirable to consult the Prince of Orange, and his opinion being agreed to by the Lords of the Committee, the President of the Court, Kromhout, was directed to require the Heer Van Brederode to withdraw, till his case should be further considered, and decided, by the States of Holland. The same day, February 21^st, 1620, an instrument of suspension was delivered to him. Against this he petitioned the Supreme Court for a mandate, or power of appealing. But this petition was indorsed Nihil, and returned ; and on the 10^th of March, a resolution was passed, by the Court of Holland, with the sanction of the States, that, as his services were no longer required, "he should he looked upon as dismissed, and deprived of his state and office, as Councillor in the said Court."

Brederode had held this office seven years ; and his only offence was that of being unwilling to go the same lengths as his colleagues, in their rigorous proceedings against the Remonstrants. The ascendant party, however, could not brook any opposition to their tyrannical schemes ; and in order to prevent further interruption in their career of persecution and intolerance, it was resolved by the States, that, in case any other persons belonging to the said Court, or to any of the Colleges or Offices, should happen to transgress, or offend in any manner, such persons should be ipso facto deprived of their places, and no one should be allowed to intercede on their behalf.

Brederode published a work On the Apostasy of Christians, which was prohibited by public authority. The best edition of this work was printed in 12mo., 1659, without the author's name. Another, and a later edition was published in 8vo., without any date ; and the author's initials L. v. B. were placed at the foot of the title-page.

(Vidend. Sandii B. A. p. 134. Bock, Hist. Ant. T. I. pp. 71, 72. Brandts Hist, of the Ref. in and about the Low Countries, Vol. III. Bk. xliv. pp. 390—393, A. D. 1619; Vol. IV. Bk. l. pp. 103—106, A. D. 1620.)

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