468 Book Reviews / CHRC 93 (2013) 411–484

Classicale Acta 1573–1620. Deel IX: Provinciale synode Gelderland, bewerkt door C. Ravensbergen [Rijks Geschiedkundige Publicatiën, Kleine Serie 111]. Huy- gens ING (KNAW), The Hague 2012, 2 vols., xcvii + 1027 pp. ISBN 978-90-52- 16170-9. €60.

June 2012 saw the appearance of a new volume of the series of Acts of the Classes that are being published in the so-called Kleine Serie of the Rijks Geschiedkundige Publicatiën (Small Series of the National Historical Publications) under the aus- pices of the Huygens Institute for the History of the Netherlands in The Hague. This publication includes acts of the classes of Zutphen, Overveluwe (Arnhem), Nederveluwe (Harderwijk), Nijmegen, Tiel, and Bommel—in short, classes from the province of Gelderland in the period 1598–1620. Earlier volumes in- cluded the acts of five classes from Holland province, one from Brabant, two from Zeeland, and four from Overijssel. Christiaan Ravensbergen, co-editor of the Overijssel acts, is also responsible for the Gelderland publication. He has pro- duced two volumes totaling more than 1000 pages, an impressive achievement both quantitatively and qualitatively. The transcription and annotation of the Gelderland acts follow the same methods used in the earlier volumes. The source text, which is transcribed in its entirety, is preceded by a general introduction by Joke Roelevink and a detailed introduction written by the editor. The introduction outlines the development of the classis in relation to governmental, military, and religious developments. The introduction also deals with the internal organization of the classis as well as a number of technical aspects pertaining to the source text, including the meet- ings, the finances, the archives, and the classis book. The publication concludes with a summary of the local communities with their ministers, an overview of ministers with the communities they served, and an extensive index of persons, places, and topics that will make the acts more accessible. All this provides (church)historians and those involved in regional and local history of the province of Gelderland with a rich source for the study of the first decades of the seventeenth century. Although the series was intended to cover the acts of the classes in the period 1573–1620, this publication actually begins only with acts from 1598, a quarter century later. Part of this 25-year discrepancy can be explained by the fact that the earlier acts dating from before 1592 have gone missing. The rest can be accounted for by the diverging pace at which the Reformation progressed in the coastal provinces as compared to the eastern part of the country. It was only after the stadholder, Prince Maurice, had scored some military victories over the Spanish forces in 1591 that the Reformation could start to pick up steam in Gelderland. Earlier attempts to form classes had fallen short. As in other parts of the Northern Netherlands the division of the classes in Gelderland largely followed governmental boundaries. The intention was to

© Koninklijke Brill NV, Leiden, 2013 DOI: 10.1163/18712428-13930325 Book Reviews / CHRC 93 (2013) 411–484 469 create classes in keeping with the four parts of Gelderland: Roermond, Nijmegen, Veluwe, and Zutphen. However, when and whether these planned classes would actually come into existence depended on the progress of the war. Roermond fell into Spanish hands in 1586 and remained under Spanish control. Therefore a Roermond classis never appeared. In the relatively secure Veluwe two classes were built up from 1592: Overveluwe and Nederveluwe. Although the Zutphen classis was able to hold its first meeting in 1593, it continued to experience major problems caused by the changing fortunes of the war until the time of the Twelve Years’ Truce. It was not possible to hold regular meetings, especially in the coun- tryside where the security situation was precarious. The creation of the Nijmegen classis was beset with difficulties, and this classis met for the first time only in 1598. Later this classis was divided into three classes: those of Nijmegen, Tiel, and Bommel. At the top of the list of priorities of the new classes was the desire to provide ministers for the local communities. To this end incumbent pastors were sub- jected to an examination. Those who were found in conformity with the new doctrine could remain; others had to leave. It was, however, no easy matter for the classes to wean the population away from the old beliefs and convert them to the new. In 1608 the pastor of Putten was still baptizing large numbers of children in papist ways and so he must have had a following. In a similar way, a papist (paep) in Lochem allegedly baptized children only a few years later (1610), thus perpe- trating the same ‘idolatries.’ Seigneurs did not always go along with the classes. The Catholic seigneurs of Doorwerth prevented for years the introduction of the Reformed church in Heelsum and practiced affgodderey (idolatry) in Doorwerth Castle. We are informed that as late as 1620 they were negligent in posting the proclamations of the States-General and the Court of Gelderland. In the middle of this process of Calvinization the Remonstrant-Contra- Remonstrant controversies arose. As of 1609 they demanded full attention of the classes, leaving deep traces. The Remonstrants commanded considerable support in the classes of Nijmegen, Tiel, and Bommel in particular, and these classes came to oppose the others (those of Neder- and Overveluwe and Zutphen). The Arn- hem minister Johannes Fontanus, the “reformer of Gelderland,”had to deal with two Remonstrant colleagues. Up to the present day histories of the conflict between Remonstrants and Contra-Remonstrants have mostly concentrated on developments in Holland. As Ravensbergen points out in his introduction, the acts of the classes of Gelder- land provide sufficient evidence to demonstrate the necessity of an adjustment of the existing ‘hollandocentric’ image of the conflict. In contrast to what hap- pened in Holland, the Gelderland authorities carried out a strategy that turned out more favorably for the Contra-Remonstrants. Arminians are renowned as supporters of government interference in church affairs, but the situation in