Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1914-07-18
TRIAL OF
DON CARLOS, SPAIN

tory son led to the most interesting
trial in Spanish history. when King
Philip II of Spain condemned to
death his son Don Carlos for treason
In 1858. Don Carlos affections be-
came alienated from his father by his
him Of his promised
match with the Princess Elizabeth.
a daughter Of Henry II of France and
Catherine de Medici. This princess
left France with the intention of be-
ing welded to Don Carlos, but when
she arrived and the son refused to
wed her, the father stepped in and
made her his own queen.
Naturally such a termination would
lead to an unhappy marriage, but it
was probably the only way that poor
old Philip could connive in order to
placate the insult and anger to his
neighboring state. To further anger
his father. Don Carlos tried to in
veigle Don Juan, son of Charles v,
into a scheme against his father, but
Don Juan timidly refused, and in or
der to ingratiate himself more firmly
with Philip he revealed the scheme to
the king. Then to further aggravate
matters Don Carlos wrote a book en-
titled THE Great and Marvellous Ex-
petition Of King Don Philip" in
which he held his father up to ridi-
Guile. and finally engaged in a con-
spiracy with the rebels in the Meth
erlands and was to have put himself
at their head
When a delegation arrived from
Flanders on a secret mission to con-
fer with Don Carlos. Count Egmont
and Count Horn were placed in pris-
on, and in searching the former a
letter was discovered from Don Car
los. This led to an entire estrange-
ment between father and son, and
Philip determined upon the latter's
arrest. He was seized while in bed
by his father, who also opened his
casket and carried away all his pa
pers
Philip called a council and COM
municated to them what course had
been taken with Don Carlos, content
ing himself with telling them in gen.
eral that he was determined to that
step by motives Of the utmost i'm
portance. In the same style he ad-
dressed himself to all the ambassa-
odrs and propagated the news sof his
extraordinary proceedings over all his
dominions
King Philip wrote letters to all the
princes Of Europe informing them of
the reasonable actions of his son.
Philip did not judge Don Carlos Of
any capital crime, as would be in
ferred from his letters. but the un-
friendliness of his son weighed so
heavily upon him that he would not
enter the gates OF Madrid during the
whole time Of Don Carlos confine-
ment.
Philip mustered up all the evidence
that he could draw together Of this
State crime, and received from all
quarters variety Of dispositions
which accused the Prince Of favoring
the rebels OF Flanders He then held
what he called his court Of con-
science" He called to his assistance
several eminent doctors Of divinity
and questioned them as to what pun
ishment Don Carlos deserved for the
crime that was proved upon him.
Their sentiments were divided. Some
were Of the opinion that his trans
gression ought to be pardoned, en-
forcing their decision with cogent
arguments; but others alleged weigh
ty motives as to why he should be
severely punished.
Finally Philip sent for the fathers
Of the Inquisition and abandoned his
son to the judgment of that tremen-
dous tribunal, with an order that
they should not show any more re-
gard for him than to the meanest of
his subjects, nor lay any stress upon
the dignity of his birth. the splendor
Of his rank. or the authority which
he bore in the monarchy.
In a few days an indictment was
drawn up In obedience to the King.
who constituted himself his sons ac-
cuser. By the sentence they pro-
nounced, Don Carlos was declared q
hereto, guilty of a conspiracy against
the life of his father, and they con-
demned him to remain in prison.
Cardinal Spinosa represented to the
king that no cage was strong enough
to -confine this bird. and that he must
either despatch his soon or set him
at liberty.
Then the populace began to muir
muir and the king became alarmed
for fear there would be an uprising.
The only thing he could see to avoid
trouble would be to put his son to
death. When the Inquisitors were
approached on the subject they advo
Gated capital punishment. In spite Of
many forebodings of wrongdoing the
king finally signed the death SEN
tence. and despatched one of the In
quisitors to read 1t to Don Carlos.
In response to request from the
latter Philip visited Don Carlos and
when the son entreated him to re-
member that he was his own blood.
the monarch is said to have replied:
when / have bad blood, I make my
surgeon let it out" AS to the death
Of the prince. authorities differ. One
affirms that he opened his veins and
bled to sdeath in his bath, while Mat
thieu, the French historian, alleges
that he was stfahgled by four slaves