It formed no part of their duty to go upon crusades in foreign lands; still less to take a share in a religious quarrel, and least of all to assist a monarch against a nation.

These views were so cogently presented to the Duchess in council, that she saw the impossibility of complying with her brother's commands.

She wrote to Philip to that effect.

Meantime, another letter arrived out of Spain, chiding her delay, and impatiently calling upon her to furnish the required cavalry at once.
The Duchess was in a dilemma.

She feared to provoke another storm in the council, for there was already sufficient wrangling there upon domestic subjects.