residence.  As to the scheme of assassinating the Prince of Orange, Escovedo prayed Perez to believe him incapable of negligence on the subject.  “You know that the finishing of Orange is very near my heart,” wrote the poor dupe to the man by whom he was himself so soon to be finished.  “You may believe that I have never forgotten it, and never will forget it, until it be done.  Much, and very much artifice is, however, necessary to accomplish this object.  A proper person to undertake a task fraught with such well-known danger, is hard to find.  Nevertheless, I will not withdraw my attention from the subject till such a person be procured, and the deed be done.”

A month later, Escovedo wrote that he was about to visit Spain.  He complained that he required rest in his old age, but that Perez could judge how much rest he could get in such a condition of affairs.  He was, unfortunately, not aware, when he wrote, how soon his correspondent was to give him a long repose.  He said, too, that the pleasure of visiting his home was counterbalanced by the necessity of travelling back to the Netherlands; but he did not know that Perez was to spare him that trouble, and to send him forth upon a much longer journey.

The Governor-General, had, in truth, not inspired the popular party or its leader with confidence, nor did he place the least reliance upon them.  While at Louvain, he had complained that a conspiracy had been formed against his life and liberty.  Two French gentlemen, Bonnivet and Bellangreville, had been arrested on suspicion of a conspiracy to secure his person, and to carry him off a prisoner to Rochelle.  Nothing came of the examination which followed; the prisoners were released, and an apology was sent by the states-general to the Duke of Alencon, as well for the indignity which had been offered to two of his servants, as for the suspicion which had been cast upon himself, Don John, however, was not satisfied.  He persisted in asserting the existence of the conspiracy, and made no secret of his belief that the Prince of Orange was acquainted with the arrangement.  As may be supposed, nothing was discovered in the course of the investigation to implicate that astute politician.  The Prince had indeed secretly recommended that the Governor should be taken into custody on his first arrival, not for the purpose of assassination or personal injury, but in order to extort better terms from Philip, through the affection or respect which he might be supposed to entertain for his brother.  It will be remembered that unsuccessful attempts had also been made to capture the Duke of Alva and the Commander Requesens.  Such achievements comported with the spirit of the age, and although it is doubtful whether any well-concerted plot existed against the liberty of the Governor, it is certain that he entertained no doubt on the subject himself.  In addition to these real or suspected designs, there was an ever-present consciousness in the mind of Don John that the enthusiasm