 "Quint Ondaatje" was the leader of the exercitiegenootschap in Utrecht, and he soon spoke in deeds as well as words.He knew that the exercitiegenootschappen had to be organized firstly at provincial (and later at national) levels.In 1784 a number of nationally organized free-corps (vrijcorpsen) signed the Acte van Verbintenis (Act of Agreement), in which they promised to come to the aid of each other as the Patriots saw necessary.