In the course of November, fresh letters from Philip arrived in the Netherlands, confirming every thing which he had previously written.  He wrote personally to the inquisitors-general, Tiletanus and De Bay, encouraging them, commending them, promising them his support, and urging them not to be deterred by any consideration from thoroughly fulfilling their duties.  He wrote Peter Titelmann a letter, in which he applauded the pains taken by that functionary to remedy the ills which religion was suffering, assured him of his gratitude, exhorted him to continue in his virtuous course, and avowed his determination to spare neither pains, expense, nor even his own life, to sustain the Catholic Faith.  To the Duchess he wrote at great length, and in most unequivocal language.  He denied that what he had written from Valladolid was of different meaning from the sense of the despatches by Egmont.  With regard to certain Anabaptist prisoners, concerning whose fate Margaret had requested his opinion, he commanded their execution, adding that such was his will in the case of all, whatever their quality, who could be caught.  That which the people said in the Netherlands touching the inquisition, he pronounced extremely distasteful to him.  That institution, which had existed under his predecessors, he declared more necessary than ever; nor would he suffer it to be discredited.  He desired his sister to put no faith in idle talk, as to the inconveniences likely to flow from the rigor of the inquisition.  Much greater inconveniences would be the result if the inquisitors did not proceed with their labors, and the Duchess was commanded to write to the secular judges, enjoining upon them to place no obstacles in the path, but to afford all the assistance which might be required.

To Egmont, the King wrote with his own hand, applauding much that was contained in the recent decisions of the assembly of bishops and doctors of divinity, and commanding the Count to assist in the execution of the royal determination.  In affairs of religion, Philip expressed the opinion that dissimulation and weakness were entirely out of place.

When these decisive letters came before the state council, the consternation was extreme.  The Duchess had counted, in spite of her inmost convictions, upon less peremptory instructions.  The Prince of Orange, the Count of Egmont, and the Admiral, were loud in their denunciations of the royal policy.  There was a violent and protracted debate.  The excitement spread at once to the, people.  Inflammatory hand-bills were circulated.  Placards were posted every night upon the doors of Orange, Egmont, and Horn, calling upon them to come forth boldly as champions of the people and of liberty in religious matters.  Banquets were held daily at the houses of the nobility, in which the more ardent and youthful of their order, with brains excited by wine and anger, indulged in flaming invectives against the government, and interchanged