PEREZ, ANTONIO

born 1534, Madrid, Spain died Nov. 3, 1611, Paris, France Spanish courtier who was secretary to Philip II of Spain, and later became a fugitive from Philip's court. Prez was an illegitimate son of Gonzalo Prez, secretary of Philip's predecessor, the emperor Charles V. Charming and well-connected, Prez quickly rose in Philip's service, becoming the king's secretary (1568) and secretary of several of the royal councils. The upstart secretary was hated by many of the grandees and by his rivals in the Spanish civil service. The king's favour was unstable, and to safeguard himself, Prez intrigued with all parties: with Philip II's half-brother Don Juan of Austria and his secretary, Juan de Escobedo, against the king; with the king against Don Juan; perhaps even with the Netherlands rebels against both. When Don Juan, then governor-general of the Netherlands, sent Escobedo to Spain in 1577 to plead for his plan to invade England and liberate and marry Mary Stuart, queen of Scots, Prez feared the exposure of his own intrigues. He persuaded the suspicious king that Escobedo was Don Juan's evil genius and was plotting treason. The king gave his consent to the murder of Escobedo, and Prez organized his assassination on March 31, 1578. Philip II never forgave Prez for having forced his hand. On July 28, 1579, he had Prez and the Princess of Eboli arrested. Prez remained in prison for 11 years, but all efforts to extract a full confession and incriminating documents from him failed. In April 1590 he escaped from Madrid to Aragon and placed himself under the protection of the Aragonese courts. Now, for the first time, he accused the king of the murder of Escobedo. Philip thereupon tried to have Prez handed over to the Inquisition, but the populace of Saragossa twice rioted (May and September 1591) and prevented this move. Philip considered it rebellion and sent a Castilian army into Aragon (October 1591). Prez fled to France in November. He spent the remainder of his life in France and England, carrying on his polemic against Philip II and contributing to the "black legend" about the king. After Philip II's death (1598), Prez lost what little influence he had had. He failed to obtain a pardon from Philip III and died in exile. His Relaciones, of which there are many editions, was published in 1598.