A month later, Escovedo described the downfall of Don John’s hopes and his own in dismal language.—­“You are aware,” he wrote to Perez, “that a throne—­a chair with a canopy—­is our intention and our appetite, and all the rest is good for nothing.  Having failed in our scheme, we are desperate and like madmen.  All is now weariness and death.”  Having expressed himself in such desponding accents, he continued, a few days afterwards, in the same lugubrious vein, “I am ready to hang myself,” said he, “and I would have done it already, if it were not for keeping myself as executioner for those who have done us so much harm.  Ah, Senor Antonio Perez!” he added, “what terrible pertinacity have those devils shown in making us give up our plot.  It seems as though Hell were opened and had sent forth heaps of demons to oppose our schemes.”  After these vigorous ejaculations he proceeded to inform his friend that the English envoy and the estates, governed by the Prince of Orange, in whose power were the much-coveted ships, had prevented the departure of the troops by sea.  “These devils complain of the expense,” said he; “but we would willingly swallow the cost if we could only get the ships.”  He then described Don John as so cast down by his disappointment as to be fit for nothing, and most desirous of quitting the Netherlands as soon as possible.  He had no disposition to govern these wineskins.  Any one who ruled in the provinces was obliged to do exactly what they ordered him to do.  Such rule was not to the taste of Don John.  Without any comparison, a woman would answer the purpose better than any man, and Escovedo accordingly suggested the Empress Dowager, or Madame de Parma, or even Madame de Lorraine.  He further recommended that the Spanish troops, thus forced to leave the Netherlands by land, should be employed against the heretics in France.  This would be a salve for the disgrace of removing them.  “It would be read in history,” continued the Secretary, “that the troops went to France in order to render assistance in a great religious necessity; while, at the same time, they will be on hand to chastise these drunkards, if necessary.  To have the troops in France is almost as well as to keep them here.”  He begged to be forgiven if he spoke incoherently.  ’T was no wonder that he should do so, for his reason had been disordered by the blow which had been received.  As for Don John, he was dying to leave the country, and although the force was small for so great a general, yet it would be well for him to lead these troops to France in person.  “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.  ’Tis a better employment, too, than to govern such vile creatures as these.”