The Dutch Revolt was an uprising that pitted the Protestant northern areas of the Netherlands against the Roman Catholic southern areas of this region in the 16 th century. The 18 th century political philosopher Edmund Burke classified it with the “American rebellion” and the English Civil War as an “illustration of the regenerative forces of Protestantism” (Burke, Edmund Burke’s Speech on Conciliation with America). Thus, Mr. Burke grouped the Dutch revolt historically with conflicts that are much more famous today. However Burke is usually considered a conservative. He usually supported the monarchy. He was also raised as a Catholic. His approval of the Dutch rebels thus seems like a contradiction. However, a closer examination of his ideas, and of the Dutch revolt itself, suggests that he saw the situation in Holland as an example of a positive removal of a government that did not deserve to be supported. The situation had developed over several years. The Spanish king Phillip II took what he expected to be centralized control of the Netherlands in 1555. These were a grouping of states which had been more or less self-governing. At least, each had their own nobleman leading them. King Phillip tried to impose new taxes, which were resisted because these states had historically played a role in the levying of their own taxes. The nobles did not appreciate this reduction in their power and authority, and the limits on the “ancient liberties” of their towns and cities (Parker 24). Phillip II also tried to reorganize the operations of the Roman Catholic Church in the states of the Low Countries. He also encouraged the Inquisition in rooting out supposed heresy. The Inquisition was administered by Dominican friars, and was originally established during the regime of Ferdinand and Isabella of Spain (Parker 15). This was resented because the Netherlands had adopted the Reformation ideas of Martin Luther early and enthusiastically. These were considered heretical by the Roman Catholic Church. The people who were actually Protestant were in danger of being arrested, tried, and executed for supposed heresy by the Inquisition. However, many practicing Catholics did not like the way that the Inquisition interfered with their authority to decide who should be put on trial, and disrupted the peace. Constant arrests and inquisitions also probably interfered with business and trade (Parker). By 1566, Protestants took up arms against the regime, and wrecked many Catholic churches in the process. Prince William of Orange wrote letters to both Protestant and Catholic towns supporting the movement. In these documents, he tied together the concept of traditional liberties, and the notion of business success (Deen, Onnekink and Reinders). These were both important values for the Dutch people (Parker). Edmund Burke remembered these events and used them as examples in his writings. His writings suggest that he was supportive of monarchy. For example, he famously called the fighters in the French Revolution “Regicides”. This meant that he thought they were not heroes but just king-killers (Burke, Vol. 1, Speech of Edmund Burke, Esq. On Moving His Resolutions for Conciliation with the Colo