royalty restored-第36节
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them calculated to disturb the nation's peace； which fact becoming known； he was obliged to seek refuge in Scotland。 Here he found fresh employment for his restless energies； and in the year 1666 succeeded in stirring up some malcontents to rebellion。 The revolt being quelled； he escaped to Ireland； and after a short stay in that country returned once more to England； where he sought security in disguise。
He lived here in peace until 1670； when he made an attempt no less remarkable for its ingenuity than notable for its villainy。 Towards the end of that year the Prince of Orange； being in London； was invited by the lord mayor to a civic banquet。 Thither the Duke of Ormond attended him； and subsequently accompanied him to St。 James's； where the prince then stayed。 A short distance from the palace gates stood Clarendon House； where the duke then resided； and towards which he immediately drove； on taking leave of his royal highness。 Scarce had he proceeded a dozen yards up St。 James's Street； when his coach was suddenly stopped by a band of armed and mounted men； who； hurriedly surrounding his grace； dragged him from the carriage and mounted him on a horse behind a stalwart rider。 Word of command being then given； the gang started at a brisk pace down Piccadilly。 Prompted by enemies of the duke； as well as urged by his own desires to avenge his loss of property and the death of his fellow…conspirators； Blood resolved to hang him upon the gallows at Tyburn。 That he might accomplish this end with greater speed and security； he； leaving his victim securely buckled and tied to the fellow behind whom he had been mounted； galloped forward in advance to adjust the rope to the gallows； and make other necessary preparations。
No sooner did the echo of his horse's hoofs die away； than the duke； recovering the stupor this sudden attack had caused； became aware that now was his opportunity to effect escape； if； indeed； such were possible。 He to whom his grace was secured was a burly man possessed of great strength； the which Lord Ormond； being now past his sixtieth year； had not。 However； life was dear to him； and therefore he began struggling with the fellow； and finally getting his foot under the villain's； he unhorsed him； when both fell heavily to the ground。 Meanwhile his grace's coach having driven to Clarendon House； the footmen had given an account of the daring manner in which his abduction had been effected。 On this an alarm was immediately raised； and the porter； servants； and others hastened down Piccadilly in search of their master； fast as good horses could carry them。
They had proceeded as far as the village of Knightsbridge； when reports of muskets； cries for help； and sounds of a scuffle they could not see for darkness； fell upon their ears； and filled them with alarm。 The whole neighbourhood seemed startled； lights flashed； dogs barked； and many persons rushed towards the scene of encounter。 Aware of this； the miscreants who had carried off the duke discharged their pistols at him； and leaving him； as they supposed； for dead； fled to avoid capture； and were seen or heard of no more。 His grace was carried in an insensible condition to a neighbouring house； but not having received serious hurt； recovered in a few days。 The court and town were strangely alarmed by this outrage； nor as time passed was there any clue obtained to its perpetrators； though the king offered a thousand pounds reward for their discovery。
The duke and his family； however； had little doubt his grace of Buckingham was instigator of the deed； and Lord Ossory was resolved the latter should be made aware of their conviction。 Therefore； entering the royal drawing…room one day； he saw the duke standing beside his majesty； and going forward addressed him。 〃My lord；〃 said he in a bold tone； whilst he looked him full in the face； 〃I know well that you are at the bottom of this late attempt upon my father； and I give you fair warning； if my father comes to a violent end by sword or pistol； or if he dies by the hand of a ruffian； or by the more secret way of poison； I shall not be at a loss to know the first author of it： I shall consider you as the assassin； I shall treat you as such； and wherever I meet you I shall pistol you； though you stood behind the king's chair； and I tell you it in his majesty's presence； that you may be sure I shall keep my word。〃 No further attempt was made upon the Duke of Ormond's life。
Scarce six months elapsed from date of the essayed abduction； before Blood endeavoured to steal the regalia and royal jewels preserved in the Tower。 The courage which prompted the design is not more remarkable than the skill which sought to effect it； both were worthy a man of genius。 In the month of April； 1671； Blood； attired in the cassock； cloak； and canonical girdle of a clergyman； together with a lady； whom he represented as his wife； visited the Tower on purpose to see the crown。 With their desire Mr。 Edwards； the keeper； an elderly man and a worthy； readily complied。 It chanced they were no sooner in the room where the regalia was kept； than the lady found herself taken suddenly and unaccountably ill； and indeed feared she must die； before bidding adieu to life； she begged for a little whisky。 This was promptly brought her； and Mrs。 Edwards； who now appeared upon the scene； invited the poor gentlewoman to rest upon her bed。 Whilst she complied with this kind request； the clergyman and Edwards had time to improve their acquaintance； which indeed bade fair towards speedily ripening into friendship。
And presently the lady recovering； she and her spouse took their leave with many expressions of gratitude and respect。 Four days later； the good parson called on Mrs。 Edwards； in order to present her with four pairs of fine new gloves； which she was pleased to receive。 This gracious act paved the way to further friendship； which at last found its climax in a proposal of marriage made by the parson on behalf of his nephew； for the hand of young Mistress Edwards。 〃You have a pretty gentlewoman for your daughter；〃 said the clergyman； 〃and I have a young nephew； who has two or three hundred pounds a year in land； and is at my disposal； if your daughter be free； and you approve of it； I will bring him hither to see her； and we will endeavour to make a match of it。〃
To this project Edwards readily consented； and invited the clergyman and the young man to spend a day with him when they could discourse on the subject with greater leisure and more satisfaction。 This was cordially agreed to by the parson； who； with the bridegroom elect and two of his friends； presented themselves on the appointed date； as early as seven of the clock in the morning。 Edwards was up betimes； but the good clergyman； apologizing for the untimely hour of their arrival； which he attributed to his nephew's eagerness for sight of his mistress； declared he would not enter the keeper's apartments until Mrs。 Edwards was ready to receive them。 However； in order to pass the time； he begged his host might show the jewels to their young friends。
With this petition Edwards complied readily enough。 One of the men； protesting he did not care to see the treasures； waited at the door； the other three entered with the keeper； who was no sooner inside the room than a cloak was thrown over his head； a gag； constructed of wood with a hole in it by which he might breathe； clapped into his mouth； and the more effectually to prevent him making a noise； an iron ring was fastened to his nose。 He was told if he attempted an alarm he would be instantly killed； but if he remained quiet his life should be spared。 Blood and his two accomplices then seized upon the crown； orb； and sceptre； seeing which； Edwards made as much noise as he possibly could by stamping on the floor； whereon the robbers struck him with a mallet on the head； stabbed him with a short sword in the side； and left him； as they thought； for dead。 Blood then secured the regalia under his cloak； one of his companions put the orb into his breeches pocket； whilst the other proceeded to file the sceptre that it might be more conveniently carried。
Now； at this moment it happened the keeper's son； who had been absent in Flanders； returned to his father's home。 He who stood sentinel asked him with whom he would speak； whereon young Edwards said he belonged to the house； and so passed to the apartments where his family resided。 The other giving notice of his arrival； the robbers hastened to depart； leaving the sceptre behind them。 No sooner had they gone； than the old man struggled to his feet； dragged the gag from his mouth； and cried out in fright： 〃Treasonmurdermurdertreason！〃 On this his daughter rushed down； and seeing the condition of her father； and noting the absence of the regalia； continued his cry； adding； 〃The crown is stolenthievesthieves！〃
Young Edwards and another who heard her； Captain Beekman； now gave pursuit to the robbers； who had already got beyond the main guard。 Word was instantly shouted to the warder of the drawbridge to stop the villains； but Blood was equal to this emergency； coolly advancing； he discharged his pistol at the man； who instantly fell。 The thieves then crossed
