the facile tool of the king. No one thought himself safe from the most barbarous proceedings of this violent justice. They began, moreover, to perceive that the king and Perez had participated in common in the deed for which one suffered the torture which the other commanded. They murmured openly about it at court; and one of the most considerable persons even exclaimed with indignation: "Treachery from a subject to a sovereign is common; but never was such treachery seen from a sovereign towards his subject."* The court preacher even said publicly in the chapel : "Men, after what are you running thus gaping and dismayed? Do you not see the disenchantment? Do you not see the peril in which you live? Have you not seen such a one yesterday at fortune who is now at the torture?

the pinnacle of

And do
And do you not
so many years?

know why he has been tortured for What do you want, then, and what do you still hope for?"

As to Perez, left by his judges and the executioner shattered and bruised, he was consumed by a fever, and a mental anguish still more agonising than fever. He clearly perceived the fate that awaited him:

* 66 Trayciones de vasallos a reyes muchas se han visto, pero de rey a vasallo nunca tal."— Relaciones, p. 86.

+ "Hombres tras quien os andays desvanescidos, y bocabiertos? No veys el desengaño? No veys el peligro en que bivis ? No le veys? No le vistes ayer en la cumbre, y oy en el tormento? Y no se sabe, porque ay tantos años que le affligen? Que buscays, que esperays?" Ibid., p. 87.

death after torture. He knew that Vasquez had told the king that "Perez, deprived of his papers, could no longer clear himself *, and that his conduct, like his declaration, remained tainted with fraud." Vasquez examined new witnesses †, and directed his inquiries in a manner to prove, more and more, that Escovedo's murder had originated in the criminal intimacy between Perez and the Princess of Eboli, and to implicate Perez also in the death of Pedro de la Era, the astrologer, and of the esquire, Rodrigo Morgado. In this extremity, Perez thought more than ever of escaping, by flight, from the ignominious punishment that was preparing. But how was it to be done? Both his arms were crippled; he was ill, alone, and closely guarded. On the 27th of February he begged they would allow his usual servants to take care of him during his illness. ‡ Doctor Torres, who then came to visit him as a physician, affirmed that he found him "in a burning fever, in danger of his life, if they did not succour him." § On the 2d

*"No tenia conque provar los, aviendosele quitado sus papeles." Relaciones.

At this time he examined Bartolomo de la Era, Andres de Morgado, Dona Isabel de Aguilar, Don Lorenzo Telles de Silva, Marquis of Fabrara. Proceso, MSS.

+ "Por estar muy malo pidiò que se le diesse licencia, a que entrassen a curarle los criados que solian, y a servirle por estar tullido de los brazos." Ibid.

Y el mismo dia diò una certificacion el Doctor Torres medico, que declara le hallò con mucha calentura y con peligro de la vida, si no se alivia." Ibid.

of March they authorised a page, chosen by Juana Coëllo, whose advanced state of pregnancy was no impediment to her active devotion, to wait on him in prison, upon condition that he should never go out or speak to any body.* The malady gaining ground, or seeming to increase, Dona Juana Coëllo, about the middle of March, requested they would permit her and her children to assist Perez, that he might not die without succour. † At first she met with a refusal; but, as she did not cease in her entreaties, she was finally permitted to remain with her husband in the beginning of April. It was then that Perez adroitly planned his means of escape. He seemed more than ever worn out by suffering; but, about nine o'clock on the evening of Ash-Wednesday, the 20th of April, having put on a dress and cloak belonging to his wife, he passed, thus disguised, through the guards and escaped from his prison. § One of his friends was waiting for him without || ;

* 66

Con tal que entrando, no ha de salir, ni entrar, ņi hablar con persona alguna." - Proceso, MSS.

"Diò peticiones, pediendo se le diesse licencia à ella y à sus hijos, para curar à su marido por estar muy apretado de su salud, como consta de la relacion de los medicos." Ibid. ‡ Ibid.

Ꭶ "Antonio Perez quebrantò la carcel, y se huyò, saliendo della vestido de muger con manto, y de noche, entendiendo las guardias que era su muger, saliò por en medio dellas." Ibid.

"Saliò. . . . el miercoles sancto a las nueve de la noche, y con amigo solo." Relaciones, p. 91.

and, somewhat further on, was the ensign, Gil de Mesa, with horses all ready to transport him to Aragon.* Scarcely had they stepped out into the street, when, before reaching Gil de Mesa, they met some of the patrols going their rounds. Without being disconcerted, the friend of Perez stopped, and spoke with them, whilst he himself remained silently and respectfully behind, like a servant.† Having luckily escaped this danger, Perez soon joined Gil de Mesa, mounted on horseback with him, and, followed by a Genoese named Juan Francisco Mayorini ‡, rode post for thirty Spanish leagues without stopping; and, at length, set foot in Aragon, where he was to find the succour of impartial justice, among a people whose privileges made them extremely independent, and whose independence had left them proud and brave.

*“Gil de Mesa avia ydo esperar con los cavallos.” — Relaciones, p. 91.

"Toparon en la calle con la justicia, y passaron, y con tan buena maña del amigo que hablò con la justicia estando Antonio Perez detras, como criado suyo." Ibid.

"Este fue Juan Francisco Mayorini un Ginoves, porque causasse segunda vez los cavallos y no ballassen la persecucion y el corrimiento que avian de partir tras el en que correr como succediò." Ibid., pp. 91–92.

CHAPTER IV.

PHILIP'S PROSECUTION OF PEREZ BEFORE THE COURT OF THE JUSTICIA MAYOR OF THE KINGDOM OF ARAGON. COMPULSORY DESISTANCE OF PHILIP. ACCUSATION OF HERESY BROUGHT AGAINST PEREZ. HIS REMOVAL INTO THE PRISON OF THE HOLY OFFICE. INSURRECTION OF THE 24TH OF MAY, 1591. PEREZ REINSTALLED IN

THE PRISON OF THE MANIFESTADOS.

As soon as Perez had arrived in Aragon every thing wore a different aspect. There was no longer a mysterious process between two accomplices, one of whom oppressed the other by the very means of justice which was subservient to his power and his hatred. The king was not to meet with more favour than the subject before the free and intrepid tribunal of Aragon. Perez had expiated his share of the murder in Castile, by the loss of court favour, the ruin of his fortune, the length of his captivity, and the agony of his torture; and Philip was to expiate his in Aragon, by the evidence of his being an accomplice, the discovery of his perfidy, and the acquittal of his adversary. The subject had been punished in his person; the prince was to be punished in his reputation: a chastisement reserved for those