DA 
 
 385 
 
 V.I 
 
 pt.9 
 
 UC-NRLF 
 
 B M D71 IME 
 
ON 
 
 ^mia ixi!i:?is A^m idisa^is 
 
 OF THE 
 
 Fam'd Mr. Blood : 
 
 GIVING AN ACCOUNT 
 
 ^ Plot in Ireland, to surprize Dublin Castle. 
 
 Several transactions in his head-quarters in the City. 
 
 Rescue of Captain Mason at Doncaster. 
 
 Attempt on the person of his Grace the Duke of Ormond' 
 
 Seizing on the Crown and Sceptre in the Tower- 
 
 Coming into favour with his Prince. 
 
 Concern about his Grace the Duke of Buckingham. 
 \ Sickness, Death, and twice Interment. 
 
 Of his ( 
 
 Published for Public Information. 
 
 LONDON: 
 
 Printed for Richard Janeway, in Queens-head Alley in Pater-nosier Row, 
 1680. 
 
 Vit^xvaXtti be ®. Sbmeeton,St. i«arttn'B CfjurcS f arlr. 
 
 M.DCCC.XVII. 
 
 Price 
 
 lEEnm 
 
Til 03IA S :B1. O DT) 
 
 FuMs/m/ NtH-.uSn bv 0. Sm.ffo/i 
 
.^ 
 
 
 ^emar][v0 
 
 O N 
 OP THE, 
 
 Fcim'd Mr. Blood : 
 
 GIVING AN ACCOUNT 
 f Plot in Ireland, to surprize Dublin Castle. 
 
 Several transactions in his head-quarters in the City. 
 Rescue of Captain Mason at Doncasler. 
 
 ,^,. , . J Attempt on the person of his (^race the Duke of Ormond. 
 in his "S g . . 
 
 oeizing on the Crown and Scepter in the Tower. 
 
 Coining into favour with his Prince. 
 
 Concern about his Grace the Duke of Buckingham. 
 
 L Sickness, Death, and twice Interment. 
 
 Published for public Information. 
 
 LONDON: 
 
 Published for Richard Janewmj, in Queens-head Alley in Pattr-nuster Row. 
 
 1680. 
 
 M.DCCC.XVII. 
 
LETTER TO A FRIEND, 5 (^ 
 
 CONTAINING V ' 5 f^*^' I 
 
 REMARKS ON THE LIFE AND DEATH 
 
 OF THE 
 
 Fam'd Mr. BLOOD. 
 
 OST willingly 1 comply with your desire of compiling 
 (lie Life of the famed Master Blood; and I trust 
 it will satisfy your curiosity with regard to him ; 
 for a life so full of such extraordinary events ought 
 not to be buried in oblivion. From my intimacy 
 with him, I am enabled to fulfill the task you (and 
 divers others) liave imposed on me— and the occurrences here recorded 
 may be relied on. 
 
 Blood was born in Ireland, of a biith not cnobled by high 
 blood, but his parents were of the middling order of society,* who 
 gave him an excellent education ; and he being possessed of a lively 
 and retentive memory, made great advance in learning : he was a 
 great wit, and a youth of promising talents. In fact, so highly was 
 
 ♦ stripe and Carte say that Blood was the sou of a Blacksmith, ia Irclaiid, 
 
 111223975 
 
( 2 ) 
 
 cslccincd ill Ireland, (hat lie was placed in the Commission of the Peace 
 before he reached (he aye of '22,* and was courted by all for his integrity 
 and love of justice. And during (he endrc period of his exercising 
 his powers in the i)eace, refh'cled (he greatest honour on himself, by 
 strictly upholding the Protestant lieligion in Ireland. He married in 
 England, a Lancashire woman, daughter of Mr. Jlo'croft, by whom he 
 had several children. 
 
 During the rebellion, he enlisted under the banners of the King; 
 and in many trying and periUous battles, gave the lloyal Army great 
 assistance, both by valour and advice. 
 
 At the conclusions of the wars, he went to Ireland, and made a 
 demand in the Court of Claims, of his confiscated Lands ; in which 
 he was unsuccessful : this disappointmenl, it is conjectured, so enraged 
 him, that he immediately heads the disaffected there; and with them, 
 lays a plot to seize Dublin Castle. Li this unsuccessful attempt, his 
 brother-in-law, a Mr. Ltcke^, was taken, and sentenced to be hanged 
 and quartered. This affair was so notorious, that upwards of 2000 
 ])cople assembled to witness the execution ; and a curious and laughable 
 circumstance attended the melancholy scene ; which was this — ^just as 
 the unfortunate Leckcij was under the gallows, some people spread a 
 report that Blood was approaching, with a party to (he rescue of his 
 bro(her. They no sooner heard (l>is, but, as there is oft times a vain and 
 idle terror that possesses the mind of the silly Multitude, consternated 
 with some strange fury that threatened them, they all ran and dispersed 
 themselves from the gibbet. Nay the executioner himself left his 
 
 * II is evident from this, that Blood was, in tiie earlier part of his life, a man resppct^d, 
 and of property, (iraingcr calls him" a ruflian, and a fellow who would ftot stoop to little 
 villanics." Noorthoiick says he was a disbanded soldier of CroniweU's. 
 
( 3 ) 
 
 station and took his Flight, believing that he should he first aimed at, 
 leaving the person that was to sillier, in the dreadful posture of a person 
 preparing for his untimely death, the rope about his neck, and no body 
 to do the office ; so that had any thing of resistance been made, the 
 unfortunate Gentleman's delivery had been easy. 
 
 This design was to have been put in execution the one and twentieth 
 of il7ay, the Duke of Ormond being first to have been seized. To which 
 purpose diverse persons with petitions in their hands were to have 
 waited in the Castle, while about fourscore foot, in the disguise of 
 Handi-crafts-men waited without, whose business it was to trifle about 
 in expectation of an opportunity to surprize the (juards. The Plot 
 being discovered, 500/. a head was profFer'd for the apprehension of 
 the Ringleaders. 
 
 Mr. Blood being thereupon forced to flic for these things, made 
 li is escape into //o//rtW£/, where upon his continuance in those parts for 
 some time, he became at length well known to that great and Famous 
 Admiral, De Ruylcr^ who, though the greatest Enemy the English 
 had, in respect to his Conduct and Success, which many times put 
 a stop to the Current of the Victories, yet had that generous kindness 
 and love for a Nation so long in a bloody Competition with his Coun- 
 try, that he could not choose but frequently declare it to several, but 
 more particularly to Mr. Blood, rehom he was pleased to adnut oflrn 
 into his Society, and honoured with an Entertainment answerable to 
 that respect and affection which lie bore the Nation of Ev gland. 
 
 To whom that great Admiral was so kind as to give him an 
 account of his own Miraculous deliverance, which a frier.d of mine 
 had from Mr. Blood''s own moulh. Which was this. 
 
 That renowned Person De Ihiijter being born of .j»ean Parentage, 
 the greater part of his Father's substance being two Horses, with which 
 
( 4 ) 
 
 be supplied the wants of liis lainily by the usual labour of that Coun- 
 try, which was about two Miles distance from Berghen up Zome-, 
 it happened that both his fathers horses were taken from him by cer- 
 tain Troops of the Didch Army, and carried to their Camp in Flan- 
 ders, This loss being so considerable to De Ruyters Father, who 
 thereby saw himself and his Family totally ruin'd, he made haste after 
 them to the Camp, but liiiding his addresses fruitless by the delays and 
 neglect of the Officers, he resolved upon a more speedy way of Re- 
 paration, which was privately to regain his own from those that had 
 robb'd him by a more justifiable stealth. And having discovered 
 where his horses where, he watched his opportunity, secretly con- 
 veyed them away, and carried them to a place somewhat remote from 
 his own house. 
 
 The Soldiers missing their Booty, and concluding the Owner had 
 them again, returned in the night with an intention to have taken 
 them away a second time. But being disappointed, in revenge they 
 set on fire the poor Thatch'd Cottage about the Ears of the sleeping 
 Inhabitants. 
 
 In the Horror of this surprize, while the awaken'd Father, Mother, 
 and servant, endeavoured to save themselves by breaking through the 
 Flames, with that care of Self-preservation, which is common to all 
 Creatures, and which at the same time puts all the Faculties of the Me- 
 mory and Understanding into a strange confusion, the poor helpless 
 Infant, afterwards the Glory and Preserver of this Country, lay void 
 of succour in his Swadling bands fast asleep in an upper Room. But 
 the Mother now free her self, remerabring the Danger of her only Darl- 
 ing, with a Masculine contempt of the threatning peril of the Enter- 
 prize, and assisted by that high Protection which saved the Children in 
 the fiery Furnace, she threw her self through the compassionless Flames 
 
( 5 ) 
 
 into (he house again, rcsolv'd (o live or tlic with the only hopes ami 
 comfort of her life. 
 
 And so having broken through the Smoke and Flames into the upper 
 Room she first threw the child out at a Window into a sheet, held by 
 the Father and the Servant to receive his tender Bones, and afterwards 
 jumpt out her self. 
 
 Thus saving from the Flames the Person, that was designed Sahi" 
 mauder-Uke to spend the cliiefest part of his days in Fire and Smoak. 
 A remarkable story concerning that great Person for which we are 
 beholding only to Mr. Blood's Converse with him, as being quite 
 omitted, or else unknown to the Author that published his Life in 
 Holland. 
 
 Returning out of Holland into England he fell in with the Fifth' 
 Monarchy -men ^* resolving to venter all in llie bottom of their Interest. 
 
 •"The Excess of mercy shewn by King Charles l\ at his Resloration, was a great 
 Encouragement to that immense Multitude of harden'd Rebels the Nation swarm'd with, 
 to proceed in their vile Practises. Ttie first that broke out, were a Pack of wild Enthusi- 
 asts, so besotted with (heir hcllisli Notions, that they conceived a Handful of them sufticienf 
 to overwhelm and embroil the whole Nation. These were the 3/illcnaries, or Fifth- 
 Monarch Men, who, notwithstanding the prime Heads of them, as Colonel Orcrton, 
 Cornet Day, Major Allen, Courtenui/, 4'C- had been before sciz'd upon Suspicion, still per- 
 sisted in their wicked designs, which they attempted to put in Execution in January 
 1660-1, as follows. 
 
 Oi\ Sundaj/, Jaiiva^y 6, 1660-1, these Monsters assembled themselves at their Meeting 
 House in Coleman Street, where they arm'd themselves, and sallying thence, came to 
 St. Paul's in the Dusk of the Evening, and there, after ordering some small Party, plac'd 
 Sentinels, one of whom kill'd a Person accidently passing by, because he said he was for 
 God and King Charles, when challenged by him This giving the Alarm, and some 
 Parties of Train'd-Bands charging them, and being repuls'd, they march'd to Uishopsgalc, 
 thence to Cripplegate, and Alderstjatc, where going out in spite of the Constable* and 
 Watch, they declared for King Jesus. Proceeding to Beech-Lane, they kill'd an Head- 
 borough, who would have oppos'd them. They Uien hastened away lo Canewood, where 
 they lurk'd, resolv'd to make another Effort upon the City, but were drove thence, and 
 routed by a Party of Horse and foot, sent for that Purpose, about 30 being taken, and 
 brought before General Monk, who comuiittcd them to the Gate-house. 
 
( e ) 
 
 lie found them (o be a bold and daring sort of people like himself, 
 and their Princi|ilcs so suiting with their discontents, that he judged them 
 
 Nevertheless, the others, who had escap'd out of the Wood, returned to Londov, not 
 doubtinp of Success in their Enterprize ; Vcnner, a Wine Cooper by Trade, and their 
 Head, affirming, he was assur''d that no Weapons employed against thcni, uould prosper 
 
 nor a hair of their heads be touched; which their coming off so well, made Ihem willing 
 to believe. These Fellows had taken the Opportunity of the King's being gone to Ports- 
 mouth, having before made a Disposition for drawing to them of other desperate Rebels, 
 
( 7 ) 
 
 very proper for his Management. For it was his Maxim, never to put 
 his conndencc in any that were not engag'd cither by Principle or In- 
 tcrcst to his Designs. 
 
 by Publishing a Dotlaratiou, culled, A Door of Hope opened, full of abominable slanders 
 against the Royal Family. 
 
 On Wednesday Morning, January 9, after the Watches and Guards were dismissed, 
 they reassuni'd their first enterprize. Their first appearance was in Thrcadneedle-Strect, 
 where they alarmed the Traiii'd Bands upon Duty that Day, and drove back a Parly sent 
 after them, to their main Guard, which then marching in a body towards them, the 
 Fifth-Monarchists retired into /i/*Ao/).vf/«/c->i'/r<'c/, where some of them took into an Ale- 
 house known by the Siga of the Helmet, where, after a sharp Dispute, two were kill'd, 
 and as many taken, the same Number of the Train'd-Bands being kill'd and wounded. 
 The next sight of them, (for they vaiiish'd, and appear'd again on a sudden) was at 
 CoUcfjc-Hilly which Way they went up into Chcapsidc, and into Wood-street, Venner 
 leading them, with a Murrion on his Head, and a Halbert in his Hand. Here was the 
 main or Hottest Action, for they fought stoutly with the Train'' d- Bands, and receitM 
 a Charge from the Life-(inards, whom they obliged to give way, 'till being overpower'd 
 and T V/rHcr kuock'd down, and woniuli-d with shot, Tvfnry and fVo_r/, two others of their 
 thief Teachers, being killed by him, they began to give ground, and soon dispers'd 
 (lying oulright, and taking several ways. The greatest Part of them went down IVvod- 
 street to Cripphfiate, firing in the rear at the yellow Trained Bands, then in close 
 Pursuit of tliem. Ten of them took into the Dine- ivihor Ale-house, near the Postern 
 which House they mainlain'd 'till Lieut. -Col. Cor, with his Company, secur'd all the 
 Avenues to it. in the mean time, some nf the aforesaid yellow 'J'ra in' d- Bands got upon 
 the Tiles of the next house, which they threw off, and fir'd in upon the Rebels, who were 
 in the upper Room, and even then refus'd quarter. At the same time another File of 
 Musketeers got up the Stairs, and having shot down the Door, enter'd upon them. 
 Six of them were kill'd before, another wounded, and one refusing quarter, was knock'd 
 down, and afterwards shot. The others being ask'd why they hud not begg'd Quarter 
 before, answered, TTiey durst not, for fear their own Felloivs should shoot them. Such 
 was their Resolution, or enthusiastick Madness. 
 
 The whole number in this last Attempt, does not appear to be above 50 Persons flio' 
 not above 40 were ever seen together ; yet so great was their Confidence in the pretended 
 Revelalious of their Teachers, that alluding to the History of Gideon m Holy Writ, 
 they Question'd not with that small Renuiaut that could lap, to subdue and coucjuer all 
 ihe rest, desii^ning to allow none but such Quakers as agreed with them in their .Millenary 
 Notions, as nearest to their sort of Enthusiasm, the Honour of partaking with them in this 
 their great and glorious Design, as iliey termed it, in their aforesaid Declaration, wherein 
 they farther blasphemously said. That if they tcere deceived, or mislvd, it teas God that 
 deceit\l them ; laying their delusions, and charging their wicked and desperate F'olly on 
 him, us the Author of it. 
 
 In this vile Insurrection, were slain 22 of the King's Men, and as many of the Traylors, 
 most of them in Houses, and some others taken Prisoners, were afterwards shot for refusing 
 to tell their names. Tlierc was 20 taken, besides some few upon Suspicion ; the 20 were 
 
( 8 ) 
 
 Tliese people it is well known liad laid a Desii^n, not confincil io 
 one Quarter, but ullmost general all over England ; it was said to be 
 first contriv'd in the Bishoprick of Durham from whence the Conla- 
 
 as follows, viz. Thomas Venner, the Wine Cooper, their Captain ; Roycf Hodgkins, 
 a Button Seller, in St. Clement s Lane, Lombard-street; Leonard Gou-ler, Jonas Allevi, 
 John Pym, Willia^n Orsingham, William Ashton, (Hies Pritchard, a Cow Keeper, 
 Stephen Pall, John Smith, William Cachet, John Dod, John Eleston, Thomas Harris, 
 John Gardener, Robert Bradley, Richard Marten, John Patshall, Robert Hopkins, and 
 John Wells, five of whom had been formerly in a design against Oliver Cronncell. 
 
 These were all brought to their Tryal together; the wounded Men had Chairs allowM 
 them, and their indictment was for High Treason and Murder. 
 
 Thomas Venner was first called, who, when he had held up his Hand at his Arraingment, 
 being ask'd. Guilty or not Guilty, began a wild Phanatick Discourse about his Conversa- 
 tion in iVcw ^n<//arirf, and concerning the Pifth-3Ionurchy, and the Testimony within him 
 for above twenty years, -with such little pertinent Rabble. He confessed he had been in 
 the late rising, but was not guilty of Treason, intending not to levy War against the King ; 
 and then sally'd out into nonsensical Pleas, as at first : But the Court pressing him to 
 plead directly to the Indictment, he answered. Not Guilty, and put himself upon his 
 Country. 
 
 In like manner Hodgkins, after some rambling from the Business in Hand, and the 
 Court's threatening to record him Mute, pleaded to the Indictment; the rest of his Fellows 
 submitting after some previous Excursions in their frantick Way. The Witnesses being- 
 then sworn, two against every particular Person, made it appear, that Venner, Tuffney, 
 and Cray, the two last whei-eof where slain in the Action, did several times Persuade their 
 Congregation to take up Arms for King Jesus, against the Powers of tiie Earth, which 
 tvere his Majesty, the Duke of York, and the (leneral; that they were to kill all that 
 opposed : that they had been praying and Preaching, but not acting for God ; that 
 they arm'd themselves at their Meeting-House in Colcman-streef, with Blunderbusses, 
 Muskets, &c. besides other particular evidence against each of them to matter of Fact. 
 The Proof against Martin, Hopkins, and Wells, was not so full as against the others, 
 and against Patshal there was but one Witness, whereupon they were acquitted by the 
 Jury. The other sixteen, being found guilty and brought to the Bar, were required to 
 shew cause why Judgment should not be given against them, &e. The Lord Chief Justice 
 Foster charging Venner with the Blood of his Accomplices, by seducing and leading them, 
 he answer'd, He did not. To which, the Witnesses being produced again, he blasphe- 
 mously quibbl'd, and said, // teas not he, but J Esvs, that lead them. Three of them con- 
 fess'd their Crime and Error, and begged Mercy. All the sixteen were conderan'd to be 
 drawn, hang'd, and quartered. 
 
 According to which Sentence, on Saturday, January, 1661-1, Venver and Hodgkins, 
 both uncur'd of their wounds they had receiv'd in their Rebellion, being guarded by two 
 Companies of the Train'd Bands, were drawn on a sledge from Neugate through Cheap- 
 side, over-agahist their Meeting-House in Snan Alley in Coleman-street, and there exe- 
 cuted. Venner spoke little, and that in vindication of himself and his Fact, and something 
 of his opinion, being confident /^<? //wie was at hand, when the other judgment would be ; 
 aad reflecting much up»n the Government, Hodgkins rav'd and curs'd by way of praying, 
 
( ) 
 
 gion spread Kselt' into Yorkshire, Suffolk, and several other Countries 
 ill the West of England; between all which places several Correspon- 
 dencies were held, and vVgents employed under the binding Obliga- 
 tions of Oaths of Secrecy. Their pretences were the opposal of Excise, 
 Subsidies, &c. to re-establish a Gospel Magistracy and Ministry, to 
 restore the Long Parlianicnt, and lastly to Curb the Gentry, Clergy, 
 and Lawyers. 
 
 Sometime before this, at London sate a secret Committee, of which 
 Mr, Blood was chief, to carry on some great Design, which he then 
 had in his head (for 1 cannot learn that he was ever concerned in the 
 Plot more than for his friend, as you shall hear anon.) This Com- 
 mittee for their security, had always a private Court of Guard abroad, 
 seldom less than thirty out a day. At this Committee all Orders 
 were given out, ^11 manner of Intelligence was brought, examined, 
 and all things sifted and debateil in reference to their Grand Design. 
 
 calling dotcn the Vettijcance from Heaven upon the King, the Judges, and the CUji of 
 London ; nor would he give over, thti' forbid by the Sheriff, 'till the Hang-man was hastciiM 
 from his Employment of quartering Venner, XoXmn him off. Thus they dy'd in the same 
 mad Religion they had liv'd. Their Quarters were set upon the four Gates of the City, by 
 the executed Regicides, whose Quarrel and Revenge they had undertaken in this their 
 Fanalick Attempt. Their heads were also set upon poles, by some of the others, on 
 London Bridge. 
 
 On Mondmi, the 21st of the same January, nine more of them were executed, all in one 
 Morning, at five several Places, by the same Executioner; two at the West End of St. 
 Pauls, two at the Bull and Mouth, two at Beech Lane, two at the Royal Exchange, and 
 the last, Leonard Gowler, a notable Fellow at Bisshops-gate, They all obstinately per- 
 eisted in their Villany, especially the last, who began with imprecations, like Jlodghins, 
 aud was silenced the same Way, by the Command of the Slieriff. Only one young Man, 
 who was hang'd in Redcross street, did repent of his Sin, and the Blood he had spilt ; but 
 yet dy'd in his Opinion of Chilianism. When cut down, the Sentence was eiecuted on 
 them to the full \ but only their Heads cut off, and set upon London Bridge, 
 
( 10 ) 
 
 But as there seldom happens any Confederacy wherein there are 
 not some false Brethren, two of their Gang, whether out of remorse, 
 or for hopes of reward, had begun to make some discovery of their pro- 
 ject at Court. But it happen'd that Mr. Blood who was always vigilant 
 and active in his Affairs had got the Wind of these two Deserters, and 
 was therefore resolved to stop them if he could. 
 
 To which purpose he appointed to meet the two persons, whom he 
 had more than reason to suspect, at a certain Tavern in the City, who 
 were no sooner come according to their Summons, but he took them 
 both Prisoners, and from thence carried them to a certain place of 
 darkness, which tbeyhad found out and hired for their Conveniency. 
 
 In this place Mr. Blood very formerly calls a Court-Martial of his 
 own, and tries the two men for their lives; who being before such 
 judges, were soon found Guilty, and Sentenc'd to be shot io Death 
 within two days in the same place. When the time for Execution 
 came, they were both brought to the Stake, and being without any 
 other hopes, were forc'd to prepare for Death. But then at the very 
 point of despair, Mr. Blood was so kind as to produce them a Pardon, 
 and so releasing and giving them their freedom, bid them go to their 
 Master, and tell him what they had done ; and withal, that they 
 should request him in the name of the Confederates, to be as favoura- 
 ble to his Soldiers, when they fell in his Mercy. 
 
 But it being impossible to hold out long in these mutinous courses 
 of life, where nothing was acted, but by the Dictates of discontent, 
 he betakes himself to a more safe and quiet Avay to get a Livelihood. 
 To which purpose he settled his Wife and his Eldest Son in an Apothe- 
 caries shop, where they lived by the names of Weston', while he him- 
 self turns Doctor by the name of Ayliffy and retiring to Rumford 
 practised Physick there for a long time. 
 
( II ) 
 
 By this time the Northern-Plot came to be fully discovered, where- 
 in as I said before, I cannot learn Mr. Blood to have been any way 
 concerned, but only in the Ilescue of his Friend. 
 
 Upon the Discovery of this Conspiracy, several of the Confederates 
 were Apprehended, Tried, and Executed. Among those that were 
 apprehended, was one Capt. Mason, a person for whom Mr. Blood 
 had a particular affection and friendship. This person was to be re- 
 moved from London to one of the Northern Counties in order to his 
 Trial at the Assizes; and to that intent was sent down with eight of 
 the Dukes Troop to Ciuard hira, being reckon'd to be a person bold 
 and Couragious. Mr. Blood having notice of this journey, resolves 
 by the way to rescue his friend. Tlie Prisoner and Guard went 
 away in the morning, and Mr. Blood having made choice of three 
 more of his acquaintance, set forward the same day at night without 
 Boots, upon small Horses, and their Pistols in their Trouse to pre- 
 vent suspicion. But opportunities are not so easily had, neither were 
 all places convenient. So that the Convoy and their Prisoner were 
 gone a good way beyond Ncwarh, before Mr. Bhod and his friends 
 had any scent of the Prisoner. At one place \.\\ey set a Sentinel to 
 watch his coming by; but whether it was out of fear, or that the per- 
 son was tired with a tedious expectation, the Sentinel brought them 
 no Tidings either of the Prisoner or his Guard. Insomuch that Mr. 
 Blood and his Companions began to think their friend so far before 
 them upon the road, that it would be in vain to follow him. 
 
 And yet not willing to give over an enterprise so generously under- 
 taken, upon Mr. Blood's encouragement they rode on, though despair- 
 ing of success, till finding it grow toward evening, and meeting with 
 a convenient Inn upon the Road in a small Village not far from Don- 
 casler, they resolved to lie there all night, and return for London the 
 
( 12 ) 
 
 next morning. In that Inn they had not sate long in the Room next the 
 street, condoling among themselves the ill success of sucli a tedious 
 journey, and the misfortune of their Friend, before the Convoy came 
 thundring up to the door of the same Inn with their Prisoner; in re- 
 gard that Captain Mason had made choice of that Inn, as being best 
 known to him, to give his Guardians (he refreshment of a dozen of 
 Drink. There Mr. Blood, unseen, had a full view of his friend and the 
 persons he had to deal with. He had bespoke a small Supper, which 
 was at the fire, so that he had but very little time for Consultation, 
 finding that Captain Masoti's Parly did not intend to alight ; so that he 
 pnely gave general directions to his Associates to follow his example 
 in whatever they saw him do. In haste therefore they called for their 
 Horses, and threw down their Money for the reckoning, telling the 
 woman of the House, that since they had met with such good Com- 
 pany they were resolved to go forward. 
 
 Captain Mason went off upon a sorry Beast, and with him the 
 Commander of the Party and four more ; the rest stai(j behind to make 
 an end of their liquor; then away marched one more single; and in 
 a very small time after, the last two. By this time Mr. Blood, and one 
 of his friends being horsed, followed the two that were hindmost and 
 soon overtook them. These four rode some little time together, Mr. 
 Blood on the right hand of the two Soldiers, and his friend on the left. 
 But upon a sudden Mr. Blood laid hold of the reins of the Morse next 
 him, while his friend in observation of his directions, did the same on 
 the other hand, and having presently by surprise dismounted the Sol- 
 diers, puU'd off the Bridles, and sent the Horses to pick their Grass 
 where they pleased. These two being thus made sure off, Mr. Blood 
 pursues his Game, intending to have reached the single Trooper. But 
 he being got to the rest of his fellows, now reduced to six and a Barber 
 
( 13 ) 
 
 of York that Travelled in their Company, Mr. Blood made up, liead» 
 the whole Party, and s(ops them. Of which some of the foremost 
 looking upon him to be either Drunk or Mad, thought the rebuke of a 
 Switch to be a sufficient Chastisement of such a rash presumption, 
 which they exercised with more contempt than fury, till by the rude- 
 ness of his Compliments he gave them to understand, that he was not 
 in jest, but in very good earnest, He was soon seconded by his friend 
 that was with him at the first Exploit. But there had been several 
 rough blows dealt between the unequal number of six to two, before 
 Mr. Bloods two other friends came to his assistance. Nay, 1 may safe- 
 ly say seven (o two. For the Barber of York, whether out of his natu- 
 ral propensity to the Sport, or that his Pot-valiantness had made him so 
 generous to help his Fellow-travellers, would need shew his valour at 
 the beginning of the Fray. But better he had been at the latter end of a 
 Feast, for though he shew his Prudence to take the stronger side as he 
 guest by the number; yet because he would take no warning which 
 was often given him, not to put himself to the hazard of losing a Ghittar 
 finger, by medling in a business that nothing concerned him, he lost 
 his life, in regard that they were forced to dispatch him in the first place, 
 for giving them a needless trouble. 
 
 The Barber being thus become a useless Instrument, and the other of 
 Mr. Blood's friends being come up, the Skirmish began to be very 
 smart; the four assailants having singled out their Champions as fairly 
 and equally as they could. All this while Captain Mason being rode 
 before upon his thirty shilling Steed, wondring, his Guard came not 
 with him, looked back, and observing a Combustion, and that they 
 were altogether by the Ears, knew not what to think. Be conjectured 
 it at first to have been some intrigue upon-him, as if the Troopers 
 had a design to tempt to an Escape, which might afterwards prove 
 
( 14 ) 
 
 more to bis prejudice ; just like Ca(s, that with a regardless scorn seem 
 (ogive the distressed Mouse all the liberty in the workl to get away 
 out of their Paws, but soon recover their Prey again at one jump. 
 Thereupon unwilling to undergo the hazard of such a Tryal, he comes 
 back at what time Mr. Blood cried out to him, IJorse, Horse quichlj/. 
 An Alarm so amazing at first, that he could not believe it to be his 
 friends voice, when he heard it; but as the thoughts of Military men 
 are soon Summon'd together, and never hold Spanish Councils, 
 the Captain presently settled his resolution, Mounts the next Horse 
 that wanted a Rider, and puts in for a share of his own self-preserva- 
 tion. In this bloody Conflict Mr. Blood was three times unhorsed, 
 occasioned by his forgetful ness, as having omitted to new girt his 
 Saddle, which the Ostler had unloosened upon the wadding his Horse 
 at his first coming into the Inn. Being then so often dismounted, and 
 not knowing the reason, which the occasion would not give him leave 
 to consider, he resolv'd to fight it out on Foot. On which two of the 
 Soldiers taking the advantage, singled him out and drove him into a 
 Court-yard, where he made a stand witli a full Body, his Sword in 
 one hand, and his pistol in the other. Oneof the Soldiers taking that 
 advantage of his open Body, shot him near the shoulder-blade of his 
 Pistol Arm, at what time he had four other Bullets in his Body that 
 he had received before. Which the Soldier observing, flung his dis- 
 charged Pistol at him with that good aim and violence, that he hit 
 him a stunning blow just under the Forehead, upon the upper part of 
 the Nose between the Eyes. Which for the present so amaz'd him, that he 
 gave himself over for a Dead man. Yet resolving, like a true Cock 
 of the Game, to give one sparring blow before he expir'd, such is the 
 strange provocation and success of despair, with one vigorous stroke of 
 his Sword, he brought his adversary with a vengeance from his Horse 
 and laid him in a far worse condition tlian himself at his Horses feet. 
 
( 15 ) 
 
 At what time, full of anger and revenge he was just going to make 
 an end of his Conquest by giving liim the fatal slab. But in that very 
 Nick of time Captain Masou, having with the help of his friends done 
 his business where they had fought, by the Death of some, and the 
 disabling others that opposed them, came in, and bid him hold, 
 and spare the life of one that had been the Civilest person to him 
 upon the road, a fortunate piece of kindness in the one, and of grati- 
 tude in the other. Which Mr. Blood easily condescending to, by the 
 joynt assistance of the Captain, the other Soldier was soon Mastered, 
 and the victory, after a sharp Fight that lasted about two hours, was 
 at length complcatcd. 
 
 You may be sure (he Fight was well maintained on both sides, 
 while two of the Soldiers besides the Barber, were slain upon the place, 
 three unhorsed, and the rest wounded. And it was observable, that 
 though the encounter happened in a Village, where a great number 
 of people were Spectators of the Combat, yet none would udvcriturc 
 the rescue of cither Party, as not knowing which was in the wrong, 
 or which in the right, and was therefore wary of being Arbitrators 
 in such a desperate Contest, where they saw the reward of assislaiicc, 
 to be nothing but present Death. After the Combat was over, Mr. 
 Blood and his friends divided themselves and parted several ways. 
 
 And it was Mr. Bloods misfortune to ride all that night and lose 
 his way, nothing but blood and gore all over from Top io Toe, before 
 he could get to his friends house whither he designed, and have the 
 assistance of a Surgeon, where he there obtained. The rest got safe 
 in some few days to their several Sanctuaries. 
 
 However, such was the occasion of their departure, and the necessity 
 of their parting without Complements, that several weeks were past 
 before they united again, or knew what became of one another. Such 
 
( 16 ) 
 
 a Coherence there is between the departures of Death itself, and those 
 occasioned by the fear of Death. 
 
 So soon as this remarkable Skirmish was over, Mr. B/oorf lay close 
 for a while, there being no less than three hundred pound set upon his 
 head, for a reward to any person that should apprehend him. To 
 which purpose believing he could be no where so safe, as under the 
 disguise of a Doctor, he returned again to his old Sanctuary at Rumford, 
 and there fell again to his former practice of Physick. 
 
 But whether his active Spirit were impatient of this Quiet, or that 
 the temptations of Opportunities engaged him to new Enterprises, 
 be seemed now desirous to repair the damages of his lost Estate, be- 
 lieving that they who either detained, or had disposed of his right (and 
 certain it is that he assumed to himself both Right and Title; ought 
 to make him satisfaction. 
 
 To this purpose after several Consultations and Deliberations with 
 himself, Mr. Blood comes to Town, and having Mustered to his 
 assistance about five or six persons more, in whose resolution and se- 
 crecy he could confide, it was resolved at length that the person of the 
 Duke of Ormond then living at C/araicfon-house, at the upper end of 
 the Street leading from St. James's Palace should be seized, designing 
 to make those advantages of his person, which they had before con- 
 cluded upon. 
 
 This Enterprise being resolved, Mr. Blood with five more of his 
 trusty Gang, being well Armed and Mounted, having set the Duke's 
 Coach upon the sixth of December^ in the year 1670, at night, and 
 finding he was to pass from St. James's through the Long Street to Cla- 
 rendon-house with a very small attendance, they soon secured the Flam- 
 beaus and Lackeys that carried them, and having stopt the Coach, 
 and made sure of the Driver, they forc'd the Duke out of his Coach, 
 
( 17 ) 
 
 and set him behind one ofllie Company, who was not then lo enquire 
 what he was to do with a purchase of that value, Ijaving received his 
 orders before, to ride through thick and thin with him, till he got to 
 the place appointed, where they would not be long absent from him 
 to liave made better and more secure provision for his farther, and 
 more private conveyance. 
 
 An attempt which might perhaps have s'lcceeded, had it been made 
 upon a person whose courage and valour were not so easie to be quel- 
 led. But those vertues meeting in the Duke with a strength propor- 
 tionable ; the stout resistance which he made, and the strugling Avith 
 his Assaulters, gave them no small trouble, and the Duke, the leisure 
 to have the News of the attempt carried to his House, which soon 
 brought the Porter at the Gate to his assistance. The Assailants made 
 away for Fulham Ferry where they got over and conveyed themselves 
 to their places of Refuge where they lay concealed, though great 
 rewards were proffered for their apprehension, and a Tiiousand pounds 
 particularly set upon Mr. Blood's head, which took no effect, till his 
 next attempt discovered him. 
 
 Thus had Mr. T^/oorf attempted several ways to repair the losses, 
 which he supposed himself to have sustained, either from the neglect or 
 permission of the Authority, which he thought was concerned to make 
 him satisfaction. One project yet remained, which he was certain 
 would either make or marr him ; if he escaped he thought himself made ; 
 if he failed in the attempt, he knew the enterprise would make such a 
 noise in the world, that he was sure to be another Herostraius, and to 
 live in story for the strangeness, if not the success of his attempts, and 
 to make himself whole by the spoiles of the English Crown, which 
 
 D 
 
( 18 ) 
 
 though it lay in a safe place, the Tower, lie was resolved to fetch from 
 its Sanctuary. 
 
 Having therefore resolved upon the fact, the ways of accomplishing 
 the Design were duly consulted. And because such Enterprises are 
 not to be carried on without accomplices, he made choice of three or 
 four more, who he knew would not flinch from him. 
 
 As for his own part, he put himself into the habit of a Doctor of 
 Divinity, with a little Band, a long false beard, a Cap with Kars, and 
 all those other Formalities of Garb belonging to that Degree, except 
 the Gown, rather choosing to make use of a Cloke as being most pro- 
 per for his purpose. 
 
 Under this disguise he made it his business to get acquainted with 
 the keeper of the Regalia, an old man ; he brought several persons to 
 see the Regalia^ who were no unprofitable Guests. 
 
 He treated and caressed the Keeper at a rale not so much Expensive, 
 as kind and obliging, by which means he had created such a familia- 
 rity, and intimacy with the old man, that he took the Doctor to be 
 no Wolf in Sheeps-cloathing, but one of his greatest Friends, insomuch 
 that the Old man having a Son, and the Doctor pretending to have a 
 Daughter, the two parents were upon concluding a Match between the 
 young people, which had proceeded so far, that the Doctor and (he 
 Keeper gave each other the Appellation of Brother. 
 
 The day before the Fact was to be done, the Doctor came and in- 
 formed the Old man, that he had some friends to go out of Town the 
 next morning, to whom he had promised a sight of the Regalia that 
 were in his Custody, and desired he might have the kindness to gratifie 
 their Curiosity, though perhaps the time might be not seasonable, as 
 being a little too early. 
 
( 19 ) 
 
 The next morning (May 9, 1671) the Doctor and two more, having 
 prepared their Conveniences of a Wallet and a Wooden Mallei, Avcnt 
 directly to the Old man's IJousc were the Regalia lay, leaving one ot" 
 their companions to hold their horses that staid for them at the Iron Gate. 
 
 The Old man no sooner saw his new Brother, the Doctor and his 
 friends, but he was ready to shew them the civility which the Doctor had 
 requested the day before, and accordingly open'd the Doors where the 
 Treasure lay. 
 
 It seems it is the custom of the Keeper of the Regalia when he exposes 
 them to publick view, to lock himself within a kind of Grate or Door 
 with open Bars, to the end those things of high value may be seen but 
 not soyled by the touch of so many people, as daily came to see these 
 precious Ornaments. 
 
 But the Doctor and his Companions were too quick for the Old man 
 and followed him so close at his heels, that he Iiad no sooner opened the 
 Door, but they were likewise in with him. Presently they seized the 
 Old Man, for whom, though he struggled much lo preserve his Repu 
 tation and the Charge he had, it was in vain to make a long resistance, for 
 they had soon put him beyond making a noise, as having received 
 several unkind knocks with liic wooden Mallet. 
 
 One of the Company was lor killing of the Old man outright, but his 
 Brother the Doctor would not permit so great a piece of Barbarism, as 
 being under a disguise that would have rendered the Tact doubly hei- 
 nous, had he added Murther to Robbery under the notion of an Ecclesi- 
 astical Person. 
 
 Having thus got Possession of their Purchase, they made flat the 
 bows of the Crown to make it more Portable, and so having conveyed it 
 into their Wallet, together with the Scepter, and Dove, they began to 
 set forward. 
 
( 20 ) 
 
 But just in the nick of their departure, a Son of the Old man's, who 
 had notbcen in £wo/«;2o? for ten years before (so si ran (^e a Providence 
 attends the Discovery of great Crimes) coming to the House to see his 
 Father, and making enquiry where he was, was told he was in the 
 Treasury shewing the Regalia to some friends. 
 
 Thereupon out of a zealous impatience of filial Duly to cast himself 
 at his Father's Knees he flew to the Place, v» here he was soon surprized 
 wilh a sight, not more unexpected and amazing, than Sad and Dreadful 
 to behold, his Father weltering in his Blood, and the Royal Treasury 
 Robb'd. 
 
 It was no time then to make unnecessary Lamentations, which 
 would have given the Criminals liberly to have Escaped, and therefore 
 with a prompt and ready Courage, knowing the persons again by 
 their Habits as they went out, he presently pursued them, put the 
 Sentinels and other Soldiers upon their duty, by his Out-cries, so 
 that although the Doctor and his friends made all the Resistance they 
 could, as it behoved them ; yet all the Resistance they could make 
 was in vain in such a place as that, for both the Doctor and his Accom- 
 plices were all taken, but he that held the Horses, who fled upon the 
 Rumor, and the Regalia were all recovered again, all bruised and 
 battered, yet without the loss of one Stone, unless it were one which 
 was afterwards found by a poor Sinder Woman, and restored to the 
 Keeper of those appointed in his stead. 
 
 This fact being made known among the people, and aggravated with 
 the Murther of the Keeper, as it was then reported, made a great noise 
 about the Town, so that Mr. Blood had received several Sentences 
 before the particulars of the Crime was fully examined. 
 
 But the People not being the proper Judges of the Crime, Mr. Blood 
 upon his Apprehension, was carried before his Majesty himself, by 
 
( 21 ) 
 
 >vliora be was cxarain'd -with a Lenity and Moderation not to be 
 parellelled.* 
 
 It was in vain to deny a Fact so easy to be proved against him ; and 
 therefore he thought it more convenient, and more suitable willi his 
 Condition to appear with a resolution, which perhaps would much 
 better have become a nobler Act. 
 
 As the Passages of his Examination were known but to few, so tlicy 
 have been but to as few Communicated. 
 
 But 'tis to be presumed that a man of his daring and adventurous 
 Courage, was not wanting to himself in the justification, asfaraslayin 
 his power, of the ofience which he had committed. No question but 
 that he made a full declaration of the wrongs, injuries, and losses 
 which he had sustained (and men in such cases will pretend to be the 
 most proper Judges of their own Causes,) and the Disgraces and Disap- 
 pointments he had met with in Ireland. 
 
 * Grainger says — " Blood told the King, by whom he was examined, that he had uuder- 
 " taken to kill him ; and that he went with that purpose to a place in the river, where he 
 " bathed ; but was struck with so profound an awe upon sight of his (naked) Majesty, 
 " that his resolution failed him, and he entirely laid aside his design : that he belonsing to 
 " a band of ruffians equally desperate with himself, who had bound themselves by the 
 " strongest oaths to revenge the death of any of his associates. Upon this he received the 
 " Royal pardon,t and had a handsome pension allowed him. He was now no longer 
 " considered as au impudent criminal, but as a Court Favorite ; and application was 
 " made to the Throne by the mediation of Mr. Blood." 
 
 t It has been a matter of surprise with many, that Charles II. should receive Blood into 
 favor immediately after the daring attempt at the Tower ; tho' when the zeal w ith which 
 he espoused the Royal Cause during the struggle between Charles 1. and the Parliament, 
 is considered, it is but just and natural to conjecture, that the second Charles was happy 
 in thus having an opportunity of shewing his gratitude to Blood for those services. This 
 is, at least, a more rational conjecture, why Blood should be immediately about the person 
 of his Sovereign, than that asserted by Noorthouck (Hist. Di&t. vol 1 .) where he says, " the 
 King kept Blood about his person to intimidate those who should dare to offend him." 
 This remark is paying Charles a very sorry compliment. The above Historiaa also 
 meations, that Charles gave Blood a Pension of £500. per Annum. 
 
( 22 ) 
 
 However it were, his Majesty was graciously pleased to make liim 
 a proposition, that could not chose but be welcome to a person under 
 his Circumstances, by asking him this single Question, What if he 
 should grant him his lift f To which Mr. Blood is said to have replied. 
 That he would endeavour to deserve it. 
 
 How or which way that could be, is a Secret, which it cannot be 
 expected should be here discuss'd, but the Consequences of the whole 
 proceeding, which were his Pardon, not only for himself, and his 
 Followers, or rather Assistants and Accomplices, together with his 
 readmission into his Majesties favour, were assured signs that he had 
 given that satislaction, which if they that received it were willing to 
 accept, no person else had reason to misdoubt. 
 
 This is evident that soon after Desborough^ lielsej/yand others ap- 
 peared publicly about the Town, coming over from Holland and 
 surrendering themselves to his Majesty. Which by whom ever pro- 
 cured, might be thouglit a good piece of service at that lime, when the 
 two Nations of England and Holland being cmbroylcd in open Wars, 
 the Conduct and Advice of such Persons might have been of no smal| 
 prejudice to us, and advantage to the Enemy. 
 
 However it was publickly taken notice of that Mr. Blood was dayly 
 with the said Persons at the same, at Mr. While's Coffee House behind 
 the Rojt/al Exchange, wlicrc they met in a Room by themselves. So 
 well and smoothly did Mr. Blood both then and since behave himself 
 among those that arc called the Dissenting Party.* 
 
 ♦ Dr. Walter Pope, in his " 1/iie of Bisliop Ward," says, " Uiat Blood, being of a sudden 
 
 " Ijccomc a great favorite at Court, and the chief agent of the Dissenters, brought the 
 
 " Bishop a verbal message from tiio King not to molest them ; upon which he went to wait 
 
 " on his Majesty, and humbly represented to him, that there were only two troublesome 
 
 " non-conformisls in his Diocese, whom he doubted not, with his Majesty's permission, but 
 
 " that he should bring to ll.eif duty: and then he named them. J'hcsc arc the very mev, 
 
 " replied the King, you must not meddle icilh ; to which he obeyed, letting the prosecution 
 
 " against them fall." 
 
C 23 ) 
 
 But as ingratiludo is a Vice that reigns among all sods of Religions, 
 and all the varieties of Opinions; it is not without good presumptions 
 thought, that those very people, that in some measure may be said, 
 to have ow'd their lives to his painful endeavours, have since been so 
 unkind as to prove altogether off their duly merited acknowledgments. 
 
 What is to be said of his late troubles, there is little but what 
 is already in Print or the common Town-talk. 
 
 He says, or else it is said for him, that he was desired by the woman 
 that keeps the St. John's Head, ov Jleaven-Taveru, io come and speak 
 with her at such a time. 
 
 That upon his coming to her, she told him, that two shabby fel- 
 lows had been with her some time before, to tell her that they had some- 
 thing of great Consequence, in reference to the welfare of the publick 
 to reveal, but that they wanted a discreet person to manage it. 
 
 That thereupon Mr. BhoJ, made answer that if tliere were any 
 thing fit to be taken notice of, he would bring them to those tliat had 
 sufficient authority to take notice of it, and thereupon promised to meet 
 the persons. 
 
 That upon his second coming to speak with his Discoverers, they 
 refused to speak with him, for that understanding he was the person 
 with whom they were to Discourse, they aver'd they should have 
 nothing to do widi him, for that he was the Duke of Bucf:ing/iam\' 
 friend. 
 
 That thereupon, the woman of the House, that Mr. Blood might 
 see that she had not told him a lie, persuaded one of the persons to shew 
 himself to Mr. B/ood. 
 
 Who to that purpose, as he passed by stepped into the Room where 
 Mr. B/ooc? was, and going in, told, that he and his fellows had business 
 
( 24 ) 
 
 of great concernment to discover, but could not then by reason of 
 another appointment, and so concluded upon another day. 
 
 That Mrs. Bradley upon this came to him to his House, and told 
 liim she believed the fellows were Rogues and Trapans, and advised 
 him to seize them and carry them before a Magistrate. 
 
 That Mr. Blood, weighing the consequence of the womans advice, 
 and being informed by her of their Lo;!gings according to the Directions 
 of one Mr. Curtis, went to Doctor Chamberlain one of the Justices 
 of the Peace for the County of Middlesex, and told him the story. 
 Who thereupon not only gave Mr. Blood his Warrant, but accompanied 
 him till the Execution of his Warrant. 
 
 That two persons were by him apprehended by the names of Phi- 
 lemon Codan, and Samuel Ryther. 
 
 That upon their apprehension, and first Examination severally, 
 before Doctor Chamberlain, they seem to wonder what he meant when 
 he told them, he heard they knew of a Plot, and wanted a Magistrate 
 to reveal it to. 
 
 That thereupon the Justice of the Peace told them all that Mr. 
 Blood had told him concerning their Discourse with Mr. Bradley, and 
 Iheir appointment to meet Mr. Blood. 
 
 That to this, one of them, viz, Codan replied that it was about 
 the Duke of Buckingham, who he said owed them several hundreds of 
 pounds upon an account of Wages, and that they wanted somebody 
 that was able to cope with him. To whom one Curtis standing by, 
 replied, in these words. 
 
 How, did not I hear your say at such a place that you knew of a greater 
 Plot yet undiscovered than either Mr. Oaies, or Mr. Bedloe had hi- 
 therto made out ? to which the said Codan gave no satisfactory answer ; 
 and Ryther protested he knew nothing of a Plot, or any thing like it. 
 
( 25 ) 
 
 That to all this the Doctor urg'd, that it was not to be that any 
 discreet pei-son should be so overseen as to interpose between Master 
 and Servant about Wages, especially so great a person as the Duke 
 was, and therefore that could not be the reason of their meeting at 
 Heaven. 
 
 That thereupon one of them starting up in a violent Passion before 
 the Justice of the Peace, swore that he would be revenged upon the 
 Duke of Buckingham^ and that he would Swear any thing that could 
 tend to the doing him a prejudice, and that he himself would Swear 
 Sodomy against him. 
 
 That upon this the Justice of the Peace having told them that he 
 neither did believe nor would hear any thing relating to the Duke, 
 ask'd them joyntly, what was the reason they ran away at the sight 
 of Mr. Blood at Mrs. Bradlet/s. To which they replied, that they 
 were mistrustful of him, because they had heard he was the Duke's 
 friend. 
 
 That thereupon Dr. Chamberlain taking them for impertinent fel- 
 lows dismissed them, with directions to consider what they had said, 
 and to attend him at such a time at his House, where he would be 
 ready to hear whatever they had to discover concerning any Plot. 
 
 That accordingly they came with one Whitaker and Jenks, where 
 Mr. Blood likewise attended. At what time Doctor Chamberlain^ 
 asking them the meaning of their former shuffling stories, they replied 
 they had a farther design to carry on for the good of the publick, but 
 would come to no particulars. Whereupon Doctor Chamberlain dis- 
 missed them. 
 
 That soon after Sir W. W. sent for Mr. Blood to a Tavern in West- 
 minster^ whither when he came, he found Ryther, Codan, Whitaker, 
 
( 26 ) 
 
 and Jenhs in Sir Williams Company : and what more surprised him, 
 he found Ri/ther and Codan, in a Gentile Equipage, and Alamode 
 accoutrements, whom he looked upon before as very mean Fellows. 
 
 That presently then, Sir William told him he was very much 
 troubled for the premunire he had brought himself into ; for that Ri/ther 
 and Codan were come to depose upon Oath, that he had attempted 
 several times to corrupt them with Money, and other Rewards to swear 
 Sodomy against the Duke o^ Buckingham. 
 
 That upon Mr. Blood's making strange of it, Codan started up and 
 confirmed the same. 
 
 That thereupon Mr. Blood ask'd them how they could be so impu- 
 dent, as to invent such a thing against him whom they had never seen 
 but once at Heaven, and another time with Doctor Chamberlain ? 
 
 That thereupon Mr. Whitaker and Mr. Jenks stood up, and bid 
 Mr. Blood be honest, and just, and Confess. To whom Mr. Blood 
 repli'd, You that have been these two years last employed to Asperse 
 me, and could you find no better invention than this ? 
 
 That after this, Mr. Blood directing his Discourse to Sir William 
 Waller, desired of him to know the meaning of the whole story, which 
 was a thing so unknown to himself Upon which Mr. Whitaker and 
 Mr. Jenks, joyntly affirmed Codan and Ryther to be honest men, and 
 prest Sir William for Justice. 
 
 That thereupon Sir William desired Mr. Blood very Civilly to put 
 in Bail ; to which Mr. Blood replied, that he would consider of it, and 
 so for that time went about his occasions. 
 
 That the next morning, he went to Sir William'' s House, for a copy 
 of his Mittimus, which at length was granted him. 
 
 That the next day he was met by a Constable, who told him he had 
 a Warrant against him from Sir William Waller, mistaking a Mittimus 
 
( 27 ) 
 
 for a Warrant, and thereupon he went away with the Constable to a 
 Tavern where he continued under restraint of the Constable several 
 hours. 
 
 That while he was under Custody, Sir William apprehensive of some 
 mistake, as is pretended, sent one of the Witnesses to the Constable, 
 to know how he had disposed of Mr. Blood, and whether he had car- 
 ried him to Prison ; Who made answer, that he had not sufficient Au- 
 thority for so doing, and that Mr. Blood might bring him into trouble 
 for so doing, as not having been carried before a Justice of Peace, as 
 he ought to have been first of all. 
 
 That thereupon the Witness went back to Sir lf////aw,and not long 
 after returned to the Constable, and brought him a Warrant to seize 
 Mr. Blood, and for want of Bail to carry him to the Gate-house. 
 
 That upon that Warrant Mr. Blood ga.\e in Bail before Sir William 
 PouUeney to answer the Accusation. 
 
 Upon which Accusation Mr. Blood with the rest were found Guiltv. 
 
 The Verdict being given in against them, his Grace the Duke of 
 Buckingham lays a great Action of Scandalum Magnatum against Mr. 
 Blood, whereby he was forced for Refuge to the King's Bench; where 
 I will leave him until the next Term at which time I shall be farther 
 Capacitated to enlarge upon this Subject ; and whereas at this time 1 
 have acquainted you of things concerning this business only by Report, 
 I shall endeavour to become a more nearer Inspector myself as to what 
 rtiay ens\ie upon the whole, that in all things I may approve myself, 
 
 SIR, 
 Yours ready to he Commanded, 
 
 R. H. 
 
 F I N I S. 
 
( 28 ) 
 
 POSTSCRIPT. 
 
 SIR, 
 
 @.*>^^@ Make no doubt, but as the foregoing account of the most re- 
 V If S raarkable passages of the Life of Mr. Blood, did in some mea- 
 @^^^@ sure satisfie your curiosity ; so likewise by what I promised in 
 the conclusion, it left you in expectation of more: And indeed, I re- 
 solved to have made what use I could both of my own, and Friends 
 acquaintance with him, to have procured a true information of many 
 other material, though minuter occurrences of so singular a Life; which 
 no man but the person himself was able to give, with the true light of 
 those circumstances that made them, as to him, observable, who seldom 
 or never set about any thing which was not inspired by somewhat above 
 the common principals of conduct: But the last term of human life, has 
 prevented the term wherein (as I told you) I hoped to have been capa- 
 citated to give you a larger account of that subject ; and the Death of 
 that noted man confines now my Relation to what preceeded and was 
 subsequent to his end. 
 
 I left him in the King' s-Bench, into which he had turned himself 
 over by a Habeas Corpus from the Gate House ,• but his stay was not 
 lono- there, for having given security for his Imprisonment, he re- 
 turned to his own house in the Bowling Alley in Westminster, not 
 far from the house of Sir William Waller. When he was thus retired 
 
( 29 ) 
 
 unto the quiet recess of his own private habitation, he began with 
 more than ordinary concern to reflect upon his condition, both as to 
 his personal reputation, and the interest of his Family; the one he 
 saw extreamly blasted, not through any injustice of the Court, but 
 (as he still affirmed) the malice of Enemies; and the other in a pro- 
 bable way of ruine, partly by disappointments from Debtors, especially 
 when he stood most in need of his own ; and partly by that heavy and 
 crushing Action of Ten thousand pounds which his Grace the Duke of 
 Buckingham thought fit to lay upon him, for his having laid a scandal 
 on a Peer of his Grace's quality. 
 
 These dismal thoughts assaulting a man of his high spirit, (that by 
 the circumstances he was in then, found no probability of getting out 
 of the mire by his former meth-^ds of contriving and daring, but 
 perceived himself in a manner mannacled at this time, whereas in all 
 the other exigencies of his life he had constantly trusted to his hands and 
 actions) brought \ipon him a pensive passion of Melancholy, the usual 
 Rock on which great and aspiring spirits at last split: and the sickly 
 season of the year having fitted his body for the impressions of a dis- 
 contented mind he fell sick of a fatal, though no violent distemper. 
 
 His sickness lasted fourteen days; during which, he was often 
 visited by some of my acquaintance, and particularly by a Minister that 
 went to administer to him what spiritual assistance he found him capa- 
 ble of : This person acquainted me, that he found him apparently in 
 a sedate temper of mind as to the concerns of his Soul, nothino^ startled 
 at the apprehensions of approaching death; that he told him he had set 
 his thoughts in order, and was ready and willing to obey, when it 
 pleased God to give him the last call : but that he desired not to spend 
 much time in discourse, as being neither suitable to his condition nor 
 humour: And indeed for the remaining time of his sickness (except 
 
( 30 ) 
 
 in ordering his domestic affairs) he seemed always unwilling to be 
 engaged in any conference ; but continued in bed, like one who suf- 
 fered more under the discipline of a discontented heart, than the vio- 
 lence of any bodily distemper, which many times appeared by those 
 unvoluntary sighs, that in the intervals, betwixt his frequent slum- 
 bers, he was observed to fetch. On Monday before his death he was 
 taken speechless, and continued so, in a kind of Lethargic^ without 
 much motion or action, unless a drowsie heaving and fetching for 
 breath, until Wednesdai/ the 24</i o^ August, 1G80, about Three of 
 the Clock in the afternoon, at which time he expired. 
 
 It hath been given out by some (according to the manner of this 
 censorious age) that he made use of some Narcotick and stupifying 
 Medicines, either to hasten or facilitate his death; and they would 
 ground their presumptions (for evidence have they none) upon his 
 drowsiness and insensibility during the last days of his sickness : from 
 what cause that torpor proceeded, is the province of Physicians to 
 determine; but that every one who dies in that manner must have 
 had recourse to Art, I think none dare affirm ; and therefore no man 
 ought, on partial conjectures, to judge rashly of one, who had the 
 courage not to despair in the worst circumstances of life, and far less 
 should be thought to do it, on a death-bed of no painful sickness. 
 
 An Arrow out of the same Quiver, is another malicious report, that 
 he died a Papist ; but it would be needless to produce the testimonies 
 of persons beyond exception, who were constantly with him in his 
 sickness to refute this aspersion, since the education, past life, and in- 
 terest of Colonel Blood at this time, may be sufficient to convince all 
 candid and unprejudiced men, that this surmise is but a calumny raised 
 by those enemies of his, who would willingly have had him worse than 
 they could make him. 
 
( 31 ) 
 
 On Fridai/ after his death he was decently interred in the new 
 Chappie by Tuttle-Jields, near the place where his Wife Ues buried, in 
 hopes of a more joyful resurrection than his body soon after met with ; 
 Foi- a rumour that came abroad, that some persons had seen Mr. Blood 
 alive, and the report of his sickness, death, and ceremony of his 
 burial, was but a farce and a piece of Pageantry to carry on some de- 
 sign ; his Body was on Thursday after disinterred, and the Coroner 
 with his Jury appointed to sit upon, and take cognizance of the same. 
 The Coroner accordingly, with his jury, who are all, or most of 
 them supposed to have known the Colonel, met and viewed the Body ; 
 but found his Face so altered and swollen in those Six days it had 
 lodged in the earth, and so few lineaments and features of their old 
 acquaintance, that they could not agree on their Verdict. And though 
 a Captain that was present, and an intimate acquaintance, of the 
 deceased Colonel,* shewed them his Thumb, which by some accident he 
 had received in his life time, had grown to a prodigious bigness, and 
 was taken notice of by all that kept him company ; yet the Jury, not 
 thinking it so easie jto discover Colonel Blood by his Thumb, as it was 
 of old to know Hercules by his Foot, demurred upon it, and for what 
 I can hear, have not as yet given in their Verdict. 
 
 It is not very strange that lifeless flesh and blood hastening to return 
 to the dust from whence it was taken, and ready to dissolve into putre- 
 faction, should in Six or Seven days be disfigured beyond kenning; 
 but it is somewhat extraordinary, that such a Person as Mr. Blood, who 
 in all the changes of a restless and shifting life, never wanted a com- 
 petent subsistence for himself and Family, should at last, after he had 
 
 Blood was not a Colonel: it was only a travellinsr title he as-snineo". 
 
( 32 ) 
 
 weathered the greatest storms of adversity, made many Friends, re- 
 covered the favour of his Prince, settled himself and Family in a neat 
 and splendid habitation, and had money abroad in the World, 
 that such a one, I say, should dye, and have so inconsiderable a Cash 
 by him, that it would be thought too small a viaticum for a Forty- 
 miles Journey; and yet this through disappointments was his case> 
 which without doubt added no small weight to the other pressures of 
 mind that first sunk, and at last broke that great heart, which had 
 often despised the danger of many astonishing and bold attempts, in the 
 course of a very singular and remarkable life, of Fifty and three years 
 duration. 
 
 Characters of men, Sir, are best drawn from their actions ; and I 
 should be bold to give a judgment of this person, after that you have 
 had a candid relation of the greatest atchievements of his life : yet I 
 think it may not be altogether presumptuous, if I offer to assist your 
 Remarks upon the preceding Narrative, by a rough, yet plain repre- 
 sentation of the sense that Judicious men, who were acquainted with 
 the Colonel better than myself, have had, and still have of his value. 
 
 He was a man, in their opinion, fitter to imbroyl then compose a 
 disconcerted Society ; to be a mate to some hunting Nimrod, rather 
 than an assistant to a peaceful Magistrate ; not that he wanted a reach 
 of understanding, and with a prompt comprehension of things a clear 
 and distinguishing judgment ; but his ambitious and restless spirit, 
 suitably lodged in a strong and vigorous body, always directed his 
 thoughts to such stirring and active counsels, as not only were incon- 
 sistent with temper and mildness, but required a necessary concur- 
 rence of undavmted resolution, with plodding sagacity, before they 
 could be brought to effect: And indeed his heart and head clubbed 
 so equally, and kept so true a pace together in all his undertakings? 
 
[ 33 ] 
 
 that if the great things he set about failed of the projected success 
 yet they were still brought so near an issue, that Providence seemed 
 concerned, by defeating them at the last nick, to make good that 
 Oracle of Scripture, That God brings to nought the counsels of the wise. 
 And his designs were generally laid with so much artifice, and managed 
 with that confidence of undertaking, that in all probability, humane and 
 ordinary circumspection was not sufficient to way-lay him in many of 
 his subtil and politick contrivances. 
 
 They cannot deny but that there was great obliquity in his morals, 
 since his most noted actions can allow of no other appellation, than 
 that of splendid crimes; but whether the injuries which he always 
 pretended to have received, disjoynted the original rectitude of his 
 nature and education, by bending him to revenge, or that powerful 
 ambition, which seems to be the greatest excess that swayed him, set 
 him upon unusual methods of conduct, it is still certain that he pursued 
 none of those mean and sneaking actions, that leaves an indelible cha- 
 racter of ignominy upon those who would be thought Gentlemen, 
 when they trade in the steps of Villains. He was indeed forbidden 
 game, but never on the King's High-way, always in Royal Parks 
 and Forrests ; Crowns, Scepters and Government were his booty ; and 
 the surprising of Castles and Vice- Hoys his recreation. For compass- 
 ing those great ends, he had a wonderful Art of insinuating into the 
 affections of the Leaders of all discontented parties ; and maugre the 
 differences or remonstrances of the various persuasions in Religion of 
 those he rallied with, he still won so much upon the minds of the Ca- 
 bals, that (unless it be of late) he was never suspected by his Party ; 
 though it appeared at his last, that he either fell back, or had in his 
 heart constantly adhered to the Religion wherein he was educated. 
 
[ 34 ] 
 
 In sum, S/V, when they liave considered him on every side, in the 
 heat of bustUng, and in the cool of his retreat, which seemed only 
 to be his quarter of refreshment, wherein he jolotted and laid new 
 trains for action, they think that part of the burlesk Epitaph that was 
 made Dn Mr. Prynn, may very fitly quadrate to this famed man : 
 
 That he went through thick and thin, 
 Was never out, nor never in. 
 
 And so I shall leave him to his Judge, and recommend myself to 
 your good wishes ; being 
 
 Sir, 
 
 Yours. 
 
 FINIS. 
 
 G. Smeelon, Printer^ 17, St. Martiu's Lane. 
 
[ 33 ] 
 
 that if the great things he set about failed of the projected success 
 yet they were still brought so near an issue, that Providence seeme4 
 concerned, by defeating them at the last nick, to make good thaj. 
 Oracle of Scripture, That God brings to nought the counsels of the wise. 
 And his designs were generally laid with so much artifice, and managed 
 with that confidence of undertaking, that in all probability, humane and 
 ordinary circumspection was not sufficient to way-lay him in many of 
 his subtil and politick contrivances. 
 
 They cannot deny but that there was great obliquity in bis morals, 
 since his most noted actions can allow of no other appellation, than 
 that of splendid crimes; but whether the injuries which he always 
 pretended to have received, disjoynted the original rectitude of his 
 nature and education, by bending him to revenge, or that powerful 
 ambition, which seems to be the greatest excess that swayed him, set 
 him upon unusual methods of conduct, it is still certain that he pursued 
 none of those mean and sneaking actions, that leaves an indelible cha- 
 racter of ignominy upon those who would be thought Gentlemen, 
 when they trade in the steps of Villains. He was indeed forbidden 
 game, but never on the King's High-way, always in Royal Parks 
 and Forrests ; Crowns, Scepters and Government were his booty ; and 
 the surprising of Castles and Vice-Roys his recreation. For compass- 
 ing those gi'eat ends, he had a wonderful Art of insinuating into the 
 affections of the Leaders of all discontented parties ; and maugre the 
 differences or remonstrances of the various persuasions in Religion of 
 those he rallied with, he still won so much upon the minds of the Ca~ 
 bals, that (unless it be of late) he was never suspected by his Party ; 
 though it appeared at his last, that he either fell back, or had in his 
 heart constantly adliercd to the Religion whereii\ he was educated. 
 
 F 
 
[ ^4 ] 
 
 In sum, Sii', when they have considered liiin on every side, in the 
 heat of busthng, and in the cool of his retreat, which seemed only 
 to be liis quarter of refreshment, wherein he plotted and laid new 
 trains for action, they think that part of the burlesk Epitaph that was 
 made on Mr. Prynn^ may very fitly quadrate to this famed man : 
 
 That he went through thick and thin, 
 Was never out, nor never in. 
 
 And so I shall leave him to his Judge, and recommend myself to 
 your good wishes ; being 
 
 * Sir, 
 
 Yours. 
 
 FINIS. 
 
 G. Smeeton, Printer, 17, St. Martin's Lane. 
 
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