The letters alluded to the deep and long-settled hostility of Philip to Orange, Horn, and Egmont, as to a fact entirely within the writer’s knowledge, and that of his correspondent, but urged upon the Duchess the assumption of an extraordinary degree of apparent cordiality in her intercourse with them.  It was the King’s intention to use them and to destroy them, said the writer, and it was the Regent’s duty to second the design.  “The tumults and troubles have not been without their secret concurrence,” said the supposititious Alava, “and your Highness may rest assured that they will be the first upon whom his Majesty will seize, not to confer benefits, but to chastise them as they deserve.  Your Highness, however, should show no symptom of displeasure, but should constantly maintain in their minds the idea that his Majesty considers them as the most faithful of his servants.  While they are persuaded of this, they can be more easily used, but when the time comes, they will be treated in another manner.  Your Highness may rest assured that his Majesty is not less inclined than your Highness that they should receive the punishment which they merit.”  The Duchess was furthermore recommended “to deal with the three seigniors according to the example of the Spanish Governments in its intercourse with the envoys, Bergen and Montigny, who are met with a smiling face, but who are closely watched, and who will never be permitted to leave Spain alive.”  The remainder of the letter alludes to supposed engagements between France and Spain for the extirpation of heresy, from which allusion to the generally accepted but mistaken notion as to the Bayonne conference, a decided proof seems to be furnished that the letter was not genuine.  Great complaints, however, are made, as to the conduct of the Queen Regent, who is described as “a certain lady well known to her Highness, and as a person without faith, friendship, or truth; the most consummate hypocrite in the world.”  After giving instances of the duplicity manifested by Catherine de Medici, the writer continues:  “She sends her little black dwarf to me upon frequent errands, in order that by means of this spy she may worm out my secrets.  I am, however, upon my guard, and flatter myself that I learn more from him than she from me.  She shall never be able to boast of having deceived a Spaniard.”

An extract or two from this very celebrated document seemed indispensable, because of the great importance attached to it, both at the Dendermonde Conference, and at the trials of Egmont and Horn.  The contemporary writers of Holland had no doubt of its genuineness, and what is more remarkable, Strada, the historiographer of the Farnese family, after quoting Margaret’s denial of the authenticity of the letter, coolly observes:  “Whether this were only an invention of the conspirators, or actually a despatch from Alava, I shall not decide.  It is certain, however, that the Duchess declared it to be false.”