Mower County transcript., 1869-12-30

TIL STORY or DUN CARLOS.
a Father Signs his SOM. Death War.
The Pail Mall Gazette tells the following
story:
| twill he remembered that Gustave Ber-
gsnroth was engaged in an examination Of
Spanish. state papers tor the Master Of the
Rclls when he was struck down by fever l..
tho be beginning of the present year at Mad
account of the arrest, trinl and execution
OF Don Carlos, son OF King Philip H.,
pu'porting to be written by Fray Juan dc
Avilu, the Princes confessor, and an eye
witness of the proceedings he describes. A
summary of this document is given by Mr..
Cartwright in the Memorial Sketch" OF
Bergenroth, which he has just published,*
and of which We shall have further occasion
to speak. In reproducing tho substance OF
this vivid and startling narrative, it is
needtul to say that Bergenroth died before
he had fully satisfied himself rs to its
genu;neness. The story, is as follows:
Don Carlos was u Young prince veiy much
inclined teDdo what pleased him without
any respect for others. Ho was, however,
on good terms with his father, King Philip,
until the king married his third wife, Isabel
Of France. Isabel was of the same aye as
Don Carlos, and uncommonly handsome.
Don Carlos fell in love with her, and made
her declaration IN yyorma, which the queen
was weak enough to answer, begging him
to desist from his suit, because she, being
bound by the most sacred ties to his father,
| II l>~l L., W. 1okA I
and came. the priest says he does not know
finding it by far too warm, strongly repri-
mandcd his wife and son. and forbade
them, under severe penalties, to see each
other or to write to one another. Don
Carlos, instead of. rcpenting, con-
ceived a very strong hatred of his
father and relished any misfortune that
might bctall him. One result OF this was
that he entered into correspondence with
the Prince Of Orange and Counts Egnont
and Horn, promising to join their move
ment, and,if possible, to persuade his faith
er to give him the command OF the troops in
the Low Countries, which he could then
transfer, together with himself,t to the ranks
of the insurgents. Again the Prince was un-
lucky in papers revealing the project, or, at
least, suggesting a scent ct it, falling into
his fathers hands. First, the King profess.
.ed TO believe that it was a case OF hercsy,
and arresting Don Caflos, referred him
to the Inquisition. They pronounced the
Prince to be good Catholic, and the King
next resolved to proceed against him for
high treason. He himself dictated the ac-
cusation, which was signed by three priests
sor, and the author of the memoir. ':The
King told them to keep the proceedings
secret in, order not to make public the
shameful conduct of his son, and he add
ed, although he was perfectly justified,
there are people who would think him
hard and tanguinary if they were to know
the truth He intended, therefore, alter
wards to have the rumor spread that Don
Carlos had died Of illness, or something
similar"
At first Don Carlt S denies categorically,
and in the most determined manner, all
the charges against him. Torture is
threatened, but he still persists in his de-
nil. Torture is then actually applied; the
hangman, who, with his assistant, has
been brought blinafold to the house, fas-
tens the cords to hie hands, and he and
his assistant give four turns. The accused
heaves deep sigh and remains as though
he were dead. They throw water over his
face, and he RECEIVERS. When the execu-
toner prepares himself to continue, the
Prince decla, es that he will tell the truth.
The same questions are read to him which
he had denied. He confirms all of them.
| The court declares the inquisition con-
cluded, and decrces that the cause is to be
''heard." Then the record proceeds as fol-
lows:
The court assembled. Antonio Perez re-.
| ko1 ,,l o1:o ~
Carlos be beheaded Escovedo (who is spo-
ken of throughout as counsel for Don Car
| los, but who was really one of the iudges)
repeats his defence, and asks at all events
! a milder punishment. Antonio Perez and
Escovedo take their seats at the table, at the
right and left of the President. They con-
for. The President pronounces the sentence
of death and confscation of all property
against the Prince Don Carlos of Austria.
(rhe sentence, dated 21st OF February, is
verbatim inserted.) The sitting concluded
at daybreak. The judges and the friars
went, however, to see the King. They
found him saying prayers. Vargas informed
him that the sentence was pronounced.-
The King read all the proceedings with
great attention, and especially the final
judgment. He asked, '.Is all conformed
to law ?" ''Yes, sire" answered Vargas
''Have all means of accusation and defence
been exhausted ?" Eyes, sire," repeated
Vargas; 1--WE have conducted the case as
though the Prince were common subject,
and this is the result" II observe here an
omission in the questions" said the King;
'the Prince has not been asked how many
accomplices he has, and who they are. -
not angry, and said if the prince should
confess he would not sign the sent
ence. We all were astonishsd at the
firnness of mind, (en'ereza) of the
Kirg, for, according to our manner of un-
derstanding Ia 'aeustfo< :,nodo de entenuler),
he should have shown SORROW for the fate
that was prepared for his son. He, with
serene face, and without betraying the least
sign of grief, serenely and calmly signed
the sentence of his son." The King re.
tanned the papers, in order to examine them
more at leisure. The judges and witnesses
went to ask the Prince about his accom-
plices. The Prince said he had none, and
if he had he would not betray them Vargas
adm0nished him, but to no purpose. When
they returned to the King and informed
him of the answer Of the Prince, he OBJ
| served, "He is very generous, but I wish
he we're less So" The King delivered the
sentence to Vargas.
The next night the judges and witnesses
went to the room of the Prince, whom they
found in bed, and who seemed to be sur
prised. AS there was no clerk, Vargas read
to him the sentence. The Prince was
| frightened, and exclaimed, lis there no
help?' NO." answered Vargas, :sthe
King has already signed" The Prince
broke out in lamentations. 1T is impos-
| sible y he exclaimed, 'that my father
pushes things to such ext, emes. I want
to see him. Go and ask him to come he
| will perhaps nnllify the sentence" The
Prince broke out in tears. Those who
were present were moved. Escovedo
went to inform Philip of the wishes
of his son. Philip answered that he
would not see him. because he had already
delivered him into the hands of Justice, and
the judgment was just. Although the sen.
tence must be executed, he forgave him. -
When Escovedo came back with this an
swer the Prince was in despair. Those
who were present comforted him, and the
Prince, being young man of high spirits,
| became calmer. "When am I to be execu-
ted?' he asked. Vargas answered, SIN
three days. The Prince begged to be ex-
ecuted on the spot, or next day, at latest.
AS he Led to be left alone, all, with the
exception of the confessor, went to in
form the King of his demand. The King
granted it.
The conversations of the confessor with
princa ara navt uiva,, tho Ir;nno