The traits of ferocity recorded of him during his short life are so numerous that humanity can hardly desire that it should have been prolonged.  A few drops of water having once fallen upon his head from a window, as he passed through the street, he gave peremptory orders to his guard to burn the house to the ground, and to put every one of its inhabitants to the sword.  The soldiers went forthwith to execute the order, but more humane than their master, returned with the excuse that the Holy Sacrament of the Viaticum had that moment been carried into the house.  This appeal to the superstition of the Prince successfully suspended the execution of the crimes which his inconceivable malignity had contemplated.  On another occasion, a nobleman, who slept near his chamber, failed to answer his bell on the instant.  Springing upon his dilatory attendant, as soon as he made his appearance, the Prince seized him in his arms and was about to throw him from the window, when the cries of the unfortunate chamberlain attracted attention, and procured a rescue.

The Cardinal Espinoza had once accidentally detained at his palace an actor who was to perform a favorite part by express command of Don Carlos.  Furious at this detention, the Prince took the priest by the throat as soon as he presented himself at the palace, and plucking his dagger from its sheath, swore, by the soul of his father, that he would take his life on the spot.  The grand inquisitor fell on his knees and begged for mercy, but it is probable that the entrance of the King alone saved his life.

There was often something ludicrous mingled with the atrocious in these ungovernable explosions of wrath.  Don Pedro Manuel, his chamberlain, had once, by his command, ordered a pair of boots to be made for the Prince.  When brought home, they were, unfortunately, too tight.  The Prince after vainly endeavouring to pull them on, fell into a blazing passion.  He swore that it was the fault of Don Pedro, who always wore tight boots himself, but he at the same time protested that his father was really at the bottom of the affair.  He gave the young nobleman a box on the ear for thus conspiring with the King against his comfort, and then ordered the boots to be chopped into little pieces, stewed and seasoned.  Then sending for the culprit shoemaker, he ordered him to eat his own boots, thus converted into a pottage; and with this punishment the unfortunate mechanic, who had thought his life forfeited, was sufficiently glad to comply.

Even the puissant Alva could not escape his violence.  Like all the men in whom his father reposed confidence, the Duke was odious to the heir apparent.  Don Carlos detested him with the whole force of his little soul.  He hated him as only a virtuous person deserved to be hated by such a ruffian.  The heir apparent had taken the Netherlands under his patronage.  He had even formed the design of repairing secretly to the provinces, and could not, therefore, disguise