JUAN

JAUREGUI (1562-1582)  , a Biscayan by birth, was in 1582 in the service of a Spanish merchant, Gaspar d'Anastro, who was resident at Antwerp . Tempted by the reward of 8o,000 ducats offered by Philip II. of Spain for the assassination of William the Silent, prince of Orange, but being himself with-out courage to undertake the task, d'Anastro, with the help of his cashier Venero, persuaded Jauregui to attempt the murder for the sum of 2877 crowns . On Sunday the 18th of March 1582, as the prince came out of his dining-room Jauregui offered him a petition, and William had no sooner taken it into his hand than Jauregui fired a pistol at his head . The ball pierced the neck below the right ear and passed out at the left jaw-bone; but William ultimately recovered . The assassin was killed on the spot .