For this reason she confined herself, as Philip had always intended, exclusively to the Consulta.

It was not difficult to recognize the hand which wrote the letter thus signed by Margaret of Parma.
Both nobles and people were at this moment irritated by another circumstance.

The civil war having again broken out in France, Philip, according to the promise made by him to Catharine de Medici, when he took her daughter in marriage, was called upon to assist the Catholic party with auxiliaries.

He sent three thousand infantry, accordingly, which he had levied in Italy, as many more collected in Spain, and gave immediate orders that the Duchess of Parma should despatch at least two thousand cavalry, from the Netherlands.

Great was the indignation in the council when the commands were produced.