For decades, no stadtholder who would counterbalance the power of the Amsterdam regents had been appointed.

Ne toung did tell, ne hand these handled not, / But safe I haue them kept in secret mew, / From heauens sight, and powre of all which them pursew.

No, but the meltdown is entertaining. And we get to see a new level of asshood performed by Whelan.

an attempt to humanitarianize politics