“And, lastly, to speak of myself,” pursues Don Adolfo de Castro, “in the history of my native city Cádiz, which I published in the year 1845, I adopted the accounts of the writers who had preceded me, presuming them to be correct. But it appears that all have been led into error by the original misstatement of the Marquis de San Felipe. The following is the true account of the affair.
“The Governor and Military Commandant of Rota was Don Francisco Díaz Cano Carillo de los Ríos, who filled that post from the year 1690 to 1708, when he was appointed Corregidor and Commandant of the City of Arcos. The English did not land at Rota, but between Rota and the Cañuelos. So far from taking part with the enemy, the Governor of Rota was desirous of putting the city in a state of defence, for which object he applied for arms and ammunition to the City of Cádiz and to the Marquis de Villadarias, Governor of Andalusia. But the required assistance not being forthcoming, it was declared impossible to defend Rota, and the Marquis de Villadarias then ordered the Governor, with the few troops he had, to withdraw from the town and proceed to Sanlucar. This order he executed in a manner perfectly satisfactory, and after the enemy had left our shores he returned to Rota, where he discharged the functions of governor until the year 1708, when he was appointed corregidor of Arcos. Such are the real facts of the case, founded on documents of unquestionable authenticity, which have been collected by the Governor’s son, and published at Madrid in a volume entitled, Díaz Cana Vindicado. Of this publication two copies exist in Cádiz; the one belongs to Señor Don Joaquim Rubio, and the other is in my possession.”
(V).
“On the road he encountered more adventures than ever fell to the lot of that Monster of Fortune, Antonio Pérez” (Page 138).
Antonio Pérez, Secretary of King Philip II., fell into disgrace by engaging in an intrigue with one of the King’s mistresses, and after a series of misfortunes he was obliged to fly to France. He was the author of many able works, historical and political, several of which have never been published.
“That remarkable man,” says Don Adolfo de Castro, “who during his life was so luckless as a statesman, has been, since his death, no less unfortunate as an author, for those of his works which have been printed in foreign countries are full of errors. I have in my possession MS. copies of the following works of Antonio Pérez:”—
1. Relaciones i cartas. (“Narratives and Letters.”) This manuscript is in 434 folios, and was written some time in the beginning of the seventeenth century.
2. Monstruosa vida del rey don Pedro de Costilla, llamado comunmente el Cruel.[89] No notice is taken of this history by the learned Nicolás Antonio, nor by any writer, Spanish or foreign, who has commented on the Life of Antonio Pérez.
3. El conocimento de las naciones de Antonio Pérez, Secretario de estado que fué del Señor Rey D. Felipe II., discurso político fundado en materia y razón de estado y gobierno, al Rey N. S. D. Felipe III. de el estado que tenian sus reinos y señorios, y los de sus amigos y enemigos con algunas advertencias sobre el modo de proceder y gobernarse con los unos y con los otros.[90]