MIchael Renichon of Templeu , and Parson of Bossier in the County of Namur aforesaid ( dispatched with Letters of the Earle of Barlaymont , in the habite of a Souldier , from Brussel , the tenth day of March last : ) was by Convoy conducted thence to Louen , Diest , Herentals , and Tuernoult : from whence accompanied onely with one of the garrison of the sayd Towne , he was guided to the Towne of Bredau : where being entred , he deliuered certaine close sealed Letters , vnto the Gouernour there , which were addressed from the Earle of Barlaymont vnto Captayne Larigon Commaunder of the Castle of Tuernoult , importing , that the bringer thereof , was sent thither by expresse commaundement of Archduke Ernestus of Austria , to communicate vnto him a certaine enterprise , to be done vpon the towne of Bredau .

The Gouernour desirous to be by him further instructed , as well of the cause of his comming thither , as of the particularities of the said enterprise : Renichon first humbly besought him , that it would please him to entertaine him into his seruice , and then , persisting ( though differing and dubling in his assertions , which sauored of manifest vntruethes ) that his matter was iust and perfect : Affirmed , that for certaine yeares , he had bene Secretary to the Abbot of Malonne , and for his knowledge and experience , he was by him aduaunced to the same place , with the Earle of Barlaymont : from whome hee had after thys manner withdrawen himselfe , onely for the feruent desire hé had to doe him seruice , with such other the like accomplements .

The Gouernour finding small probability in hys filed speeches , feared greatly some pretence of waightier matter : and for that cause , caused him forthwith to be conveighed to the Haghe : Where , vpon the first of Aprill , ( fearing what would ensue ) he attempted to strangle himselfe with a corde made of points and stringes of his Armes , fastened to a certayne iron in the Gaole , vnder which he was found all be blouded , and speechlesse .

Reuiued now , and come to his speech agayne , one demaunded for what cause he would haue committed this acte vpon himselfe : whereunto replying , hee confessed volontarily , without proffer of any torture or constraint , as well by word of mouth , on the second of Aprill , as also afterward by his owne hand writing at sundry times , as namely on the twentieth day of Aprill , and last of May , the very absolute trueth of hys comming thither : affirming the speeches vttered by him and fathered vppon the Abbot of Malonne , and Earle of Barlaymont , to bee false and forged , acknowledging further .

That hauing had long processe in Law against his Parishioners of Bossier , touching the reuenues of his Parsonage : as also endamaged through the dayly incursions of the vnbrideled souldiours : he was enforced by meere necessity about some two yeares sithence , to abandon his Parsonage , and committing the cure thereof vnto a Chaplaine , retired himselfe vnto the Towne of Namours , where he supplied the roome of a Scholemaster .

The Earle of Barlaymont , hauing had some intelligence of my being there , entreated me by some of hys gentlemen , on an Euening to suppe with him : supper being ended , the Earle retired himselfe into hys Chamber , and commaunded me to bee brought in to him : where ( his people withdrawen ) he asked me how I could with so small allowance content my self , and spend my time , to so little proffite , adding further , that hee knew the meanes how to aduaunce my estate , if eyther I would seeke it at his handes , or rouse and plucke vp my appaled spirites , for which his honourable courtesies , humbly thanking him , I presented him my best seruice .

The which now presented , hee tooke occasion to send for me in February last past , by his Chaplaine after supper , falling in discourse with me , in the presence of some other , of an enterprise to be done vpon the Towne of Bredau .

Likewise at an other time being entred into his Chamber , he sent for me againe , at which time he tolde mee , that hee was to communicate vnto me a matter of greater consequence and importance , and that if I would employ my selfe in the seruice of the king , he would richly and royally recompence me . Vppon which promise , I vowed my seruice to him againe .

Not long after this , I was by him commaunded to follow him to Brussels , where the sayd Earle diuers and sondry times frequenting the Court , at length commanded me to attend on him thither : with whome passing from chamber to chamber , at last , the Earle entred the chamber of the Archduke Ernestus : whom I then beheld , minding to follow after hym : at which tyme I was partly hindered by the suddaine falling too of the doore : which not fully shut , ( listening what might passe betwéene the Archduke and the sayd Earle , ) I easely heard them speake Spanish and Latine : and at sundry times , make repetition of recompence and reward : The Earle ready to take hys leaue of the Duke , who brought him to the chamber doore : the Duke at his last farewell , sayd , Cumulate & largo foenore satisfaciam . When the Earle returned , he told mee , that they had all that time , conferred about my matters : and that the Archduke had ordained two hundred Phillips Dollors to be deliuered me .

Retired now to his lodging , he gaue me further to vnderstand that the Archdukes pleasure and full intention was , to roote out , or by a third hand violently to murther the Counte Maurice of Nassau : and for that end and purpose , he had already dispatched certaine other persons , assuring me , that if I would likewise vndertake the like action , it should be great aduauncement for me and all my fréendes : saying further , that there were allready fiftéene thousand crownes gathered together , to bee disbursed to him , that first should bring to passe the foresaid massacre or murther .

Vppon this point I aunsweared the Earle , that it was an action méerely impertinent to my profession , who had neuer borne armes : he replied that it was the will and pleasure of the king , and the commaund of the Archduke , and therewithall , fell to perswading me agayne wyth many vehement reasons , in such sort , as I promised to do my vttermost endeuor to that ende .

Therevppon I desired the said Earle , to instruct mee . how I might behaue my selfe in this enterprise : hee aunsweared , that the Counte Maurice being a yong noble man , very familiar and popular , it were a very easie matter to insinuate himselfe in hys fauor : that it must not bee wrought in hast or rashly , but wyth great aduise and leysure , That he was to make hys repaire into the Haghe , or such other place where the Counte were most restant : that there , he should vnder the coullour of teaching a common schoole , expect and waight for the comming of such other as were assigned to the like ende and purpose ( whereof there were six and he was the seauenth , who taking aduise and councell together ▪ vppon one obseruation made , might easely woorke the depth of their desire : aduising me further , that I was to prouide my selfe of a paire of good Pistols , with firelockes , the which ( biting carefully and clenly kept ) I should charge with two or thrée bullets , and vpon the first occasion proffered , should shoot through the said Counte , or otherwise murther hym ▪ by what deuyse or practise I either best could my selfe : or the other which yet were to repayre vnto me . In conclusion affirming , that hee who best and first behaued himselfe in this action , should be best and first rewarded .

That there were also other , which were to be made away by like practise , videlicet , Barneuelt , Longolius , and S. Allegonde : of whome , or any of them , if he could procure their death and destruction : he should bee richly likewise recompenced , charginge him especially to alter his name , and to apparell himselfe souldiorlike for this purpose .

These and such other exhortations ended , the Counte Barlaymont caused certayne other persons to bee brought into my presence : of whome , he said that one of them , was of the six aboue mentioned : to whome he declared that I was lately adopted into their fellowship : vpon which spéech , the said party embracing me , called me his Camerado : assuring me that in short time , he would follow me into Holland , for and vpon the like occasions .

The said Countie further declared , that the sayde sixe persons are , and haue bene euer since the death of the Prince of Parma , and before , notorious murtherers , and that they are allowed gentlemens pay in the Court there , by the King , and vppon any such desperate action , are onely and euer employed against the ennemy .

Thus retyring himselfe from our company , he dispatched hys Secretary incontinently to Stephen de Narra , of whome he receiued in sundry kindes of quoyne , the foresayde somme of two hundred Dollars , the which was presently by him deliuered me .

Being now furnished of all things expedient for my iourney , and ready to depart from Brussels to Andwerpe , I was by one of the sixe persons aboue mencioned , conducted to the Schuite , who at my very departure signified vnto mee , that hee assuredly hoped to haue borne me company to Leiden : of whom demaunding where that was , and to what ende : hee aunsweared me , that Leiden was a Towne and an Vniuersity in Holland , wher the younge Prince of Orange studied , whether hee should likewise be employed , to the intent that insinuating himselfe into his fauor , he might with better conveniency bereaue hym of hys life .

Thus resolued to obey the Counte of Barlaymonts pleasure and commaund , I first cloathed my selfe souldierlike , named my selfe Michil de Triuier , and arriued at Andwerpe with the forsaid Letters of the County of Barlaymont , addressed to Largion , where ( vnderstanding that he was vpon occasions departed from Tuernault ) I was enforced to alter my course , and returned to Brussels againe : where receiuing other Letters of the foresaide County , tooke my way to Louen , Diest , Herentals , and Tuernault , from whence as aforesaid , I came to Bredau .

The generall Estates of the vnited Prouinces of the Low-Countries , duely examining the state of this cause , finding it a matter of very euill example , as also , that in a Country of Iustice , where all daungerous and perillous actions and euentes ought to be preuented , and the peace and tranquillity of the same highly preferred and aduaunced , estéemed it in their wisedomes a matter not onely not tollerable , but rather seuerely to bee punished , to the terror and example of all other : and therevppon haue condemned and adiudged , and doe by these presentes condemne and iudge the Author of this intended murther , to be presently conveighed from hence to the ordinary place of execution , and there to be beheaded with the sword : and afterwardes , hys body to be quartered , his head to bee put vppon a pole , and the quarters hanged on the foure corners of the Haghe , declaring further his goods to be confiscated .