would seem rather to indicate a profound fear of being himself
assassinated; but they were nevertheless supposed to justify Philip's
suspicions, that the Infante was meditating parricide. On Christmas eve,
however (1567), Don Carlos told his confessor that he had determined to
kill a man. The priest, in consequence, refused to admit him to the
communion. The Prince demanded, at least, a wafer which was not
consecrated, in order that he might seem to the people to be
participating in the sacrament. The confessor declined the proposal,
and immediately repairing to the King, narrated the whole story. Philip
exclaimed that he was himself the man whom the Prince intended to kill,
but that measures should be forthwith taken to prevent such a design.
The monarch then consulted the Holy Office of the inquisition, and the
resolution was taken to arrest his son. De Foix was compelled to alter
the pulleys of the door to the Prince's chamber in such a manner that it
could be opened without the usual noise, which was almost sure to awaken
him. At midnight, accordingly, Count Lerma entered the room so
stealthily that the arms were all, removed from the Prince's pillow and
the wardrobe, without awakening the sleeper. Philip, Ruy Gomez, the Duke
de Feria, and two other nobles, then noiselessly, crept into the
apartment. Carlos still slept so profoundly that it was necessary
for Derma to shake him violently by the arm before he could be aroused.
Starting from his sleep in the dead of night, and seeing his father thus
accompanied, before his bed, the Prince cried out that he was a dead man,
and earnestly besought the bystanders to make an end of him at once.
Philip assured him, however, that he was not come to kill him, but to
chastise him paternally, and to recal him to his duty. He then read
him a serious lecture, caused him to rise from his bed, took away his
servants, and placed him under guard. He was made to array himself in
mourning habiliments, and to sleep on a truckle bed. The Prince was in
despair. He soon made various attempts upon his own life. He threw