The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1845-11-04
NATIONAL INSTITUTE.


DESTRUCTION or THE LIBERTIES OF ARRAGoN
.e-e BY PHILIP H.
Lsii1 from Henry Wheaton, Enjoy Extraordinary and
Minister Pienipoieniimy Of the United STATES IN
Prussia.
BERLIN, Oct. S, 1916.
Mr. DEAR SIR: A very valuable contribution has
recently been made to historical science by M. MI.
gnet, perpetual secretary of the Academy of Moral
and Political Sciences in the Institute Of France, by
the publication Of volume, entitled "Antonio Pc
rez ct Philippe H." This work forms most in
terestng episode in the life Of that demon in human
shape, Philip ii Of Spain, who, after employing
Perez as the instrument of his vengeance against
another, pursued him with unrelenting fury as the
possessor of fatal secret and the rival of the mon
arch in his love for the Princess Ebol With the aid
of manuscripts deposited in the Department of For
eign Affairs, of which M Mignet is the archivist,
he has thrown new light upon this portion of Span
sh history, which is closely connected with the
final destruction of the ueros constitutional liber-
independent Cores and Judiciary. The liberties of
CASTLE had been crushed by Charles v, in the
plains Of Villalar whilst those of Arragon persisted
in the revolt excited by the prosecution Of Perez,
and the conflict Of jurisdiction TO which it gave rise,
between the justicia mayor of that kingdom, and the
terrible tribunal of the inquiston, directed by the
secret hand Of Philip ii. The mysteries of this
dark and bloody drama, which have SO long per-
picked the world, at last completely disclosed.
The secret developed of the long and ter
rible persecution Of Antonio Perez whom Philip II,
his accessory and nsgator in the murder Of Escove
do, secretary to Don Juan of Austria, detained in
prison eleven years. subjected to cruel tortures and
punished in the persons Of his innocent wife and
children, pursuing him with the assassns dagger in
foreign land, where he at last found refuge, after
having yanly INVOKED the protection of the sover-
eign justice of Arragon against the instruments of
the tyranl's vengeance.
The dark and suspicious character Of Philip ii
never permitted him to give his entire confidence
to any of his councillors and minister's nor was
any one sure Of possessing that confidence, even
when indicated by the strongest professions The
loss of his favor was never perceived until the fatal
blow was struck. No sign Of aversion, no impa-
thence, no GOODNESS, betrayed the change in his pur.
poses and his affections. As in oil the other acts Of
his minute and inquistorial administration, he was
slow in resolving the disgrace Of favorite. In all
his designs, he proceeded with slow and cautious
steps-as he expressed himself ,rih feet oflead icon al
pie de piorno) He used as his instruments states
men Of the most contradictory characters and views.
He directed by personal correspondence the gov
eminent of the vast domnons of the Spanish mon
archy Everything, both great and small, passed
under his own eyes. lmperious but rresolute, he
hesitated long, and decided slowly. For the period of
more than twenty years, from 1858 to 1873, he d.
yided his favor between two rival parties of his
the Duke of Alba and Ruy Gomez de Silva, Prince
of Eboli; Of whom the one was as naughty and
resclute as the other was adrot and prudent Philip
III rejoiced in their rivalry, which amounted to en-
nifty; and he held the balance even between them
until the instruction of the Netherlands when he
adopted the plan for its suppression proposed by
Alba, in preference to the more mild and moderate
counsels of Ruy Gomez. The execution of this
plan committed to its author, who was COM
missioned to subdue the insurgent provinces with
the sword and the faggot. These violent measures
having failed of success Alba declined in the favor
of his royal master. whilst the party Of Ruy Gomez
rose proporionaly high in his confidence. Antonio
Perez and Juan Escovedo were both creatures Of
Ruy Gomez The former was one Of the two Sec
retaries of State and Dispatches, and was initiated
in the most designs Of Philip II, whose jeal-
ousy he excited against the Kings Legitimate
brother, Don Juan Of Austria, and his secretary
Escovedo, although they both belonged TO the same
party with Perez The monarch was jealous Of the
supposed ambition of his brother, and had placed
Escovedo near his person. IN order to discover his
designs, to give them another direction. Instead
of fulfilling this base Office, Escovedo proved faithful
TO his master, and seconded his desire TO wrest
the crown Of England from the head of Elizabeth
and place il on his own. Philip dissembled his re-
sentiment, and authorized Perez to correspond with
Don Juan and his secretary in order more complete
ly to develop their designs. Perez communicated
to the King the letters he received from them; and,
in transmitting letter from Escovedo, he boasts of
and justifes this base conduct in the following
manner: s'This is the true mode Of serving your
Majestys interests; and know that, in respect to
my conscience, only act in this matter according
to duty, and want no other theology than my own
in order to comprehend that duty" Philip ii an
swers him: "My theology understands the matter
exactly in The manner and my opinion is, that
you do no more than your duty, and that you
would be wanting to God and to me, if you had
not acted thus, in order to enlghcn me against the
deceitfuness Of human nature, and the strange
events Of this world which alarm more and
more"
Don Juan of Austria had been sent to replace
Alba in the command OF the Spanish armiesin Flan-
ders; but his efforts to subdue that country were
entirely bafled by the profound and able policy of
the Prince Of Orange. The young hero found II
equally impossible to realize his designs upon the
English crown. He sent Escopedo to the Spanish
court to complain Of the state of destitution in
which he was left, without the means of executing
the orders of his sovereign, or of accomplishing
the bold schemes of his own ambition. II we are
TO believe the account given by Perez these schemes
aimed even at the crown Of Spain itself, through
nrigues set on foot with the duises of France. In
order to defeat them, it was determined in the cab
met of Philip II to assassnate Escovedo, the faith
full secretary of Don Juan, and the supposed adj
wiser of designs believed to be dangerous to the
safety of the Spanish monarchy. M. Mignet scru-
tlnzes, with the closest attention, the motives
WHICH Inay DC Supposcu W nave uCtcIH'heu otUH
to advise, and the King to ordain, the commission
of this crime. Among these, he enumerates their
rivaship in the affections Of the Princess Eboli,
which Professor Rancke in his Farsien und Voiker,
has treated as groundless superstition, but which
M. Mignet conclusively shows to have really ex-
sted and also that the princess accessory to
the murder of Escovedo, who had threatened to re-
veal to Philip II the secret of their amonrs. From
this moment his destruction was resolved On his
arrival in Madrid, Escovedo had warmly urged
upon the King the necessity of sending to his
brother supplies of men and money, in order to
complete the conquest of the Netherlands, which
was TO be tire stepping-stone to that of England.
The suspicious of Philip II easily excited by
Perez, as TO the hgh-reaching ambition Of his
brother and this monarch, who wasted the last
fifteen years OF his life in designs the most wild and
impracticable was unable to distinguish in the
schemes Of others what was merely visionary from
that which was really dangerous. He believed
Escovedo to be dangerous, because he found him to
be importunae; and he gave the fatal order for his
destruction.
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