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That the Governor was plotting no treason is sufficiently obvious from the context of his letters: At the same time, with the expansiveness of his character, when he was dealing with one whom he deemed has close and trusty friend, he occasionally made use of expressions which might be made to seem equivocal. This was still more the case with poor Escovedo.
A third solution is possible: Philip, perhaps, wished to murder Escovedo for political reasons, and without reference to the tender passion; but Philip was slow and irresolute, while Perez, who dreaded Escovedo's interference with his love affair, urged his royal master on to the crime which he was shirking.
His secret correspondence was intercepted and made known a few weeks after his departure for that terrible Spain whence so few travellers returned. For a moment we follow him thither. With a single word in anticipation, concerning the causes and the consummation of this celebrated murder, which was delayed till the following year, the unfortunate Escovedo may be dismissed from these pages.
Perez was not the only favoured votary of the versatile siren. His rival, or rather his partner, was Philip of Spain! The revelation of promiscuous worship, threatened by Escovedo, sounded like a knell to Perez and the princess.
For whatsoever he overtly pretended, he held in secret a contrary counsel with the Secretary Escovedo, Rhodus, Barlemont, and others, ministers of the Spanish tyranny, formerly practised, and now again intended. But let us now see the effect and end of this perjury and of all other the Duke's cruelties.
The city of Namur Margaret of Valois Her intrigues in Hainault in favour of Alencon Her reception by Don John at Namur Festivities in her, honor Seizure of Namur citadel by Don John Plan for seizing that of Antwerp Letter of the estates to Philip, sent by Escovedo Fortunes and fate of Escovedo in Madrid Repairing of dykes The Prince's visit to Holland His letter to the estates general on the subject of Namur citadel His visit to Utrecht Correspondence and commissioners between Don John and the estates Acrimonious and passionate character of these colloquies Attempt of Treslong upon Antwerp citadel frustrated by De Bourse Fortunate panic of the German mercenaries Antwerp evacuated by the foreign troops Renewed correspondence Audacity of the Governor's demands Letters of Escovedo and others intercepted Private schemes of Don John not understood by the estates His letter to the Empress Dowager More correspondence with the estates Painful and false position of the Governor Demolition, in part, of Antwerp citadel, and of other fortresses by the patriots Statue of Alva Letter of estates-general to the King.
Among them were some of the despatches of Don John and Escovedo, to his Majesty and to Antonio Perez, to which allusion has already been made. Count Bossu, De Bresse, and Meetkercke were the envoys deputed to convey these resolutions to Namur.
There were threats of it in the air. The Escovedo family and their partisans, who included all my enemies, and even some members of the Eboli family, who considered that I had sullied the honour of their name by my relations with Anne, talked openly of vengeance, so that I was driven to surround myself by armed attendants whenever now I went abroad. I appealed again to Philip to protect me.
The document further complained that the adherents of the Reformed religion were not allowed to frequent the different provinces in freedom, according to the stipulations of Ghent; that Don John, notwithstanding all these short-comings, had been acknowledged as Governor-General, without the consent of the Prince; that he was surrounded with a train of Spaniards Italians, and other foreigners Gonzaga, Escovedo, and the like as well as by renegade Netherlanders like Tassis, by whom he was unduly influenced against the country and the people, and by whom a "back door was held constantly open" to the admission of evils innumerable.
"It would sound well in history," said poor Escovedo, who always thought of posterity, without ever dreaming that his own private letters would be destined, after three centuries, to comment and earnest investigation; "it would sound well in history, that Don John went to restore, the French kingdom and to extirpate heretics, with six thousand foot and two thousand horse.
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