royalty restored-第32部分

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This　was　more　than　he　expected　or　could　endure；　and　he　consequently　abused　her　roundly　in　all　companies；　characterizing　the　charms　of　which　he　once　boasted　as　faults　he　could　not　endure；　ridiculing　her　airs；　and　denouncing　her　conduct。　　Reports　of　his　comments　and　discourses　speedily　reached　Lady　Shrewsbury's　ears；　and　he　was　privately　warned　that　if　he　did　not　desist　means　would　be　taken　to　silence　him　effectually。　　Not　being　wise　enough　to　accept　this　hint　he　continued　to　vilify　her。　　The　result　was；　one　night　when　returning　from　the　Duke　of　York's　apartments　he　was　suddenly　waylaid　in　St。　James's　Park；　and　three　passes　of　a　sword　made　at　him　through　his　chair；　one　of　which　pierced　his　arm。　　Not　doubting　they　had　despatched　him　to　a　better　world；　His　assailants　made　their　escape；　and　my　Lady　Shrewsbury；　who　singularly　enough　happened　to　be　passing　at　the　time　in　her　coach；　and　had　stopped　to　witness　the　proceedings；　drove　off　as　speedily　as　six　horses　could　carry　her。

Knowing　it　would　be　impossible　to　trace　the　villainy　which　had　prompted　this　deed　to　its　source；　Killigrew　said　not　a　word　concerning　the　murderous　attempt；　and　henceforth　held　his　peace　regarding　his　late　mistress's　imperfections。　　For　some　time　she　continued　her　intrigue　with　the　Duke　of　Buckingham　without　interference。　　But　in　an　evil　hour　it　happened　the　Earl　of　Shrewsbury；　who　had　long　entertained　a　philosophical　indifference　towards　her　previous　amours；　now　undertook　to　defend　his　honour；　which　it　was　clear　his　Grace　of　Buckingham　had　sadly　injured。

Accordingly　he　challenged　the　duke　to　combat；　and　in　due　time　they　met　face　to　face　in　a　field　by　Barnes　Elms。　　His　grace　had　as　seconds　Sir　Robert　Holmes　and　Captain　William　Jenkins；　the　earl　being　supported　by　Sir　John　Talbot　and　Bernard　Howard；　son　of　my　Lord　Arundel。　　The　fight　was　brief　and　bloody；　Lord　Shrewsbury；　being　run　through　the　body；　was　carried　from　the　field　in　an　insensible　condition。　　The　duke　received　but　a　slight　wound；　but　his　friend　Captain　Jenkins　was　killed　upon　the　spot。　The　while　swords　clashed；　blood　flowed；　and　lives　hung　in　a　balance；　the　woman　who　wrought　this　evil　stood　close　by；　disguised　as　a　page；　holding　the　bridle　of　her　lover's　horse；　as　Lord　Orford　mentions。

In　consequence　of　this　duel　the　Duke　of　Buckingham　absented　himself　from　the　capital；　but　two　months　after　its　occurrence　King　Charles　was　pleased；　〃in　contemplation　of　the　services　heretofore　done　to　his　majesty　by　most　of　the　persons　engaged　in　the　late　duel　or　rencontre；　to　graciously　pardon　the　said　offence。〃　　Three　months　after　the　day　on　which　he　fought；　Lord　Shrewsbury　died　from　effects　of　his　wounds；　when　the　duke　boldly　carried　the　widow　to　his　home。　　The　poor　duchess；　who　had　patiently　borne　many　wrongs；　could　not　stand　this　grievous　and　public　insult；　and　declared　she　would　not　live　under　the　same　roof　with　so　shameless　a　woman。　　〃So　I　thought；　madam；〃　rejoined　her　profligate　lord；　〃and　have　therefore　ordered　your　coach　to　convey　you　to　your　father。〃

The　countess　continued　to　live　with　her　paramour；　nor　was　the　court　scandalized。　　The　queen；　it　is　true；　openly　espoused　the　cause　of　the　outraged　duchess；　and　sought　to　enlist　sympathy　on　her　behalf；　but　so　low　was　the　tone　of　public　morality　that　her　words　were　unheeded；　and　no　voice　was　raised　in　protest　against　this　glaring　infamy。　　Nay；　the　duke　went　further　still　in　his　efforts　towards　injuring　the　wife　to　whom　he　owed　so　much；　and　who　loved　him　over…well；　as　he　caused　his　chaplain；　the　Rev。　Thomas　Sprat；　to　marry　him　to　my　Lady　Shrewsbury；　and　subsequently　conferred　on　the　son　to　which　she　gave　birth；　and　for　whom　the　king　stood　godfather；　his　second　title　of　Earl　of　Coventry。　　His　wife　was　henceforth　styled　by　the　courtiers　Dowager　Duchess　of　Buckingham。　　It　is　worthy　of　mention　that　the　Rev。　Thomas　Sprat　in　good　time　became　Bishop　of　Rochester；　and；　it　is　written；　〃an　ornament　to　the　church　among　those　of　the　highest　order。〃

One　of　the　most　extraordinary　characters　which　figured　in　this　reign　was　Thomas　Blood；　sometimes　styled　colonel。　　He　was　remarkable　for　his　great　strength；　high　courage；　and　love　of　adventure。　　The　son　of　an　Irish　blacksmith；　he　had；　on　the　outbreak　of　civil　warfare　in　his　native　country；　joined　Cromwell's　army；　and　for　the　bravery　he　evinced　was　raised　to　the　rank　of　lieutenant；　rewarded　by　a　substantial　grant　of　land；　and　finally　made　a　justice　of　the　peace。　　At　the　restoration　he　was　deprived　of　this　honour；　as　he　was　likewise　of　the　property　he　called　his；　which　was　returned　to　its　rightful　owner；　an　honest　royalist。　　Wholly　dissatisfied　with　a　government　which　dealt　him　such　hardships；　he　organised　a　plot　to　raise　an　insurrection　in　Ireland；　storm　Dublin　Castle；　and　seize　the　Duke　of　Ormond；　then　lord　lieutenant。　　This　dark　scheme　was　discovered　by　his　grace；　the　chief　conspirators　were　accordingly　seized；　with　the　exception　of　Blood；　who　succeeded　in　making　his　escape　to　Holland。　　His　fellow　traitors　were　tried　and　duly　executed。

From　Holland；　Blood　journeyed　into　England；　where；　becoming　acquainted　with　some　republicans；　he　entered　into　projects　with　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　her