THE Confession of Michael Renichon of Templeu, Parson of Bossier, in the County of Namours  
Concerning, The bloody enterprise, which by him should have been committed upon the person of County Maurice, Prince of Orange, as also, The sentence denounced against him for that deed, in the Hague on the third of june 1594.  
Printed at Vtrecht, by Solomon de Roy, ordinary Printer of the Estates, in their language, and now truly translated into english by R. R.  
LONDON Imprinted by john Wolf. 1594.   

MIchael Renichon of Templeu, and Parson of Bossier in the County of Namur aforesaid (dispatched with Letters of the Earl of Barlaymont, in the habit of a Soldier, from Brussel, the tenth day of March last:) was by Convoy conducted thence to Loven, Diest, Herentals, and Tuernoult: from whence accompanied only with one of the garrison of the said Town, he was guided to the Town of Bredau: where being entered, he delivered certain close sealed Letters, unto the Governor there, which were addressed from the Earl of Barlaymont unto Captain Larigon Commander of the Castle of Tuernoult, importing, that the bringer thereof, was sent thither by express commandment of Archduke Ernestus of Austria, to communicate unto him a certain enterprise, to be done upon the town of Bredau.  
The Governor desirous to be by him further instructed, as well of the cause of his coming thither, as of the particularities of the said enterprise: Renichon first humbly besought him, that it would please him to entertain him into his service, and then, persisting (though differing and doubling in his assertions, which savoured of manifest untruths) that his matter was just and perfect: Affirmed, that for certain years, he had been Secretary to the Abbot of Malonne, and for his knowledge and experience, he was by him advanced to the same place, with the Earl of Barlaymont: from whom he had after this manner withdrawn himself, only for the fervent desire he had to do him service, with such other the like accomplements.  
The Governor finding small probability in his filled speeches, feared greatly some pretence of weightier matter: and for that cause, caused him forthwith to be conveyed to the Hague: Where, upon the first of April, (fearing what would ensue) he attempted to strangle himself with a cord made of points and strings of his Arms, fastened to a certain iron in the jail, under which he was found all be blooded, and speechless.  
revived now, and come to his speech again, one demanded for what cause he would have committed this act upon himself: whereunto replying, he confessed volontarily, without proffer of any torture or constraint, as well by word of mouth, on the second of April, as also afterward by his own hand writing at sundry times, as namely on the twentieth day of April, and last of May, the very absolute truth of his coming thither: affirming the speeches uttered by him and fathered upon the Abbot of Malonne, and Earl of Barlaymont, to be false and forged, acknowledging further.  
That having had long process in Law against his Parishioners of Bossier, touching the revenues of his Parsonage: as also endamaged through the daily incursions of the unbridled soldiers: he was enforced by mere necessity about some two years sithence, to abandon his Parsonage, and committing the cure thereof unto a Chaplain, retired himself unto the Town of Namours, where he supplied the room of a Schoolmaster.  
The Earl of Barlaymont, having had some intelligence of my being there, entreated me by some of his gentlemen, on an Evening to sup with him: supper being ended, the Earl retired himself into his Chamber, and commanded me to be brought in to him: where (his people withdrawn) he asked me how I could with so small allowance content myself, and spend my time, to so little profit, adding further, that he knew the means how to advance my estate, if either I would seek it at his hands, or rouse and pluck up my appalled spirits, for which his honourable courtesies, humbly thanking him, I presented him my best service.  
The which now presented, he took occasion to send for me in February last passed, by his Chaplain after supper, falling in discourse with me, in the presence of some other, of an enterprise to be done upon the Town of Bredau.  
Likewise at an other time being entered into his Chamber, he sent for me again, at which time he told me, that he was to communicate unto me a matter of greater consequence and importance, and that if I would employ myself in the service of the king, he would richly and royally recompense me. Upon which promise, I vowed my service to him again.  
Not long after this, I was by him commanded to follow him to Brussels, where the said Earl divers and sundry times frequenting the Court, at length commanded me to attend on him thither: with whom passing from chamber to chamber, at last, the Earl entered the chamber of the Archduke Ernestus: whom I then beheld, minding to follow after him: at which time I was partly hindered by the sudden falling too of the door: which not fully shut, (listening what might pass between the Archduke and the said Earl,) I easily heard them speak Spanish and Latin: and at sundry times, make repetition of recompense and reward: The Earl ready to take his leave of the Duke, who brought him to the chamber door: the Duke at his last farewell, said, Cumulate & largo foenore satisfaciam. When the Earl returned, he told me, that they had all that time, conferred about my matters: and that the Archduke had ordained two hundred Phillip's Dollars to be delivered me.  
Retired now to his lodging, he gave me further to understand that the Archdukes pleasure and full intention was, to root out, or by a third hand violently to murder the Count Maurice of Nassau: and for that end and purpose, he had already dispatched certain other persons, assuring me, that if I would likewise undertake the like action, it should be great advancement for me and all my friends: saying further, that there were already fifteen thousand crowns gathered together, to be disbursed to him, that first should bring to pass the foresaid massacre or murder.  
Upon this point I answered the Earl, that it was an action merely impertinent to my profession, who had never borne arms: he replied that it was the will and pleasure of the king, and the command of the Archduke, and therewithal, fell to persuading me again with many vehement reasons, in such sort, as I promised to do my uttermost endeavour to that end.  
Thereupon I desired the said Earl, to instruct me. how I might behave myself in this enterprise: he answered, that the Count Maurice being a young noble man, very familiar and popular, it were a very easy matter to insinuate himself in his favour: that it must not be wrought in haste or rashly, but with great advise and leisure, That he was to make his repair into the Hague, or such other place where the Count were most restant: that there, he should under the colour of teaching a common school, expect and weight for the coming of such other as were assigned to the like end and purpose (whereof there were six and he was the seventh, who taking advise and council together▪ upon one observation made, might easily work the depth of their desire: advising me further, that I was to provide myself of a pair of good Pistols, with firelocks, the which (biting carefully and cleanly kept) I should charge with two or three bullets, and upon the first occasion proffered, should shoot through the said Count, or otherwise murder him▪ by what devise or practise I either best could myself: or the other which yet were to repair unto me. In conclusion affirming, that he who best and first behaved himself in this action, should be best and first rewarded.  
That there were also other, which were to be made away by like practice, videlicet, Barneuelt, Longolius, and S. Allegonde: of whom, or any of them, if he could procure their death and destruction: he should be richly likewise recompensed, charging him especially to alter his name, and to apparel himself soldierlike for this purpose.  
These and such other exhortations ended, the Count Barlaymont caused certain other persons to be brought into my presence: of whom, he said that one of them, was of the six above mentioned: to whom he declared that I was lately adopted into their fellowship: upon which speech, the said party embracing me, called me his Camerado: assuring me that in short time, he would follow me into Holland, for and upon the like occasions.  
The said County further declared, that the said six persons are, and have been ever since the death of the Prince of Parma, and before, notorious murderers, and that they are allowed gentlemen's pay in the Court there, by the King, and upon any such desperate action, are only and ever employed against the enemy.  
Thus retiring himself from our company, he dispatched his Secretary incontinently to Stephen de Narra, of whom he received in sundry kinds of quoin, the foresaid some of two hundred Dollars, the which was presently by him delivered me.  
Being now furnished of all things expedient for my journey, and ready to departed from Brussels to Andwerpe, I was by one of the six persons above mentioned, conducted to the Schuite, who at my very departure signified unto me, that he assuredly hoped to have borne me company to Leiden: of whom demanding where that was, and to what end: he answered me, that Leiden was a Town and an University in Holland, where the young Prince of Orange studied, whether he should likewise be employed, to the intent that insinuating himself into his favour, he might with better conveniency bereave him of his life.  
Thus resolved to obey the Count of barlaymont's pleasure and command, I first clothed myself soldierlike, named myself Michil de Trivier, and arrived at Andwerpe with the foresaid Letters of the County of Barlaymont, addressed to Largion, where (understanding that he was upon occasions departed from Tuernault) I was enforced to alter my course, and returned to Brussels again: where receiving other Letters of the foresaid County, took my way to Loven, Diest, Herentals, and Tuernault, from whence as aforesaid, I came to Bredau.  
The general Estates of the united Provinces of the Low-Countries, duly examining the state of this cause, finding it a matter of very evil example, as also, that in a Country of justice, where all dangerous and perilous actions and events ought to be prevented, and the peace and tranquillity of the same highly preferred and advanced, esteemed it in their wisdoms a matter not only not tolerable, but rather severely to be punished, to the terror and example of all other: and thereupon have condemned and adjudged, and do by these presents condemn and judge the Author of this intended murder, to be presently conveyed from hence to the ordinary place of execution, and there to be beheaded with the sword: and afterwards, his body to be quartered, his head to be put upon a pole, and the quarters hanged on the four corners of the Hague, declaring further his goods to be confiscated.  
This was pronounced in the Audience of the Court of Holland, the third of june 1594. And Signed Nieuelt.  
Under that was written, The Decree of the foresaid Council. And was subscribed. I. van zuilon.