PHILIP II (1527-1598). King of Spain.
Letter Signed ('Yo El Rey') to the nobility, judiciary, knights, clergy, governor, and local officialdom of Alcántara, 7 pages folio, 5 July 1565. Issued at El Escorial, explaining the need to set up a militia because the peace which had prevailed during his reign had inevitably led to a decline in the military skills which might be required for unforeseen eventualities.

Mary I and Philip had been married on 25 July 1554 in Winchester Cathedral after protracted negotiations. One of Philip's marriage gifts from his father, Charles V, had been the Kingdom of Naples, as is reflected in the heading of the present letter: Philippus Dei gratia Anglie Neapolis etc Rex / Princeps Hispaniarum Dux Mediolani etc. The marriage agreement included the stipulation that Philip would not have any claim to the English throne after his wife's death, but he used the title of King of England during this period.

'... Stefano Doria, our Royal Messenger, has told us that although he has taken every possible step to recover the amounts which he is owed of the pension he holds in this State by favour and grant of His Majesty [Charles V], up to now he has not been paid. ... since it is our great pleasure that this be done, as much in consideration of the good service he has done there and is doing for His Imperial Majesty and for myself as to allow him to support himself and for me to continue my good will towards him, we charge and command you ... [to] issue orders that all this be paid from whatever money is in our Ducal exchequer. ...' [translation]

After Mary's death at the age of forty-two Philip no longer associated himself with England, and, although he made an offer to marry Elizabeth, his hopes of securing the succession to the throne were abandoned. In 1558 he sent forth from Spain the armada who's failure was ultimately to be ruinous to his prestige.

 Gonzalo Perez (ca 1506-1566) was Philip II's secretary and chief minister, having served in the same office under the Emperor Charles V until the latter's abdication. His illegitimate son Antonio Perez (1540-1611) succeeded his father in the secretaryship. It has long been supposed that Antonio was the model for Don Antonio De Armado in Love's Labour's Lost.
[No: 22827]