royalty restored-第33部分

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　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　the　bridge；　passed　through　the　outward　gate；　and　made　for　the　street　close　by；　where　their　horses　awaited　them；　crying　the　while；　〃Stop　thief！　　stop　thief！〃　　Before　they　advanced　far；　Captain　Beekman　came　up　with　Blood；　who；　turning　quickly　round；　fired　his　second　pistol　at　the　head　of　his　pursuer；　but　Beekman；　suddenly　stooping；　escaped　injury；　and　sprang　at　the　throat　of　his　intended　assassin。　　A　struggle　then　ensued。　　Blood　was　a　man　of　powerful　physique；　but　Beekman　was　lithe　and　vigorous；　and　succeeded　in　holding　the　rogue　until　help　arrived。　　In　the　contest；　the　regalia　fell　to　the　ground；　when　a　fair　diamond　and　a　priceless　pearl　were　lost；　they　were；　however；　eventually　recovered。　　The　other　thieves　were　likewise　captured；　and　all　of　them　secured　in　the　Tower。

Certain　death　now　faced　Blood；　but　the　wonderful　luck　which　had　befriended　him　during　life　did　not　desert　him　now。　　At　this　time　the　Duke　of　Buckingham　was　high　in　favour　with　the　king；　and　desirous　of　saving　one　who　had　secretly　served　him；　or　fearing　exposure　if　Blood　made　a　full　confession；　his　grace　impressed　Charles　with　a　desire　to　see　the　man　who　had　perpetrated　so　daring　a　deed；　saying　he　must　be　one　possessed　of　extraordinary　spirit。　　Giving　ready　ear　to　his　words；　the　monarch　consented　to　have　an　interview　with　the　robber；　for　which　purpose　he　gave　orders　Blood　should　be　brought　to　Whitehall。

Those　who　heard　of　the　king's　resolution　felt　satisfied　Blood　need　not　despair　of　life；　〃for　surely；〃　said　Sir　Robert　Southwell；　on　becoming　aware　of　his　majesty's　design；　〃no　king　should　wish　to　see　a　malefactor　but　with　intentions　to　pardon　him。〃　　Now　Blood；　being　a　man　of　genius；　resolved　to　play　his　part　during　the　audience　in　a　manner　which　would　favourably　impress　the　king。　　Therefore　when　Charles　asked　him　how　he　had　dared　attempt　so　bold　a　robbery；　Blood　made　answer　he　had　lost　a　fine　property　by　the　crown；　and　was　resolved　to　recover　it　with　the　crown。　　Diverted　by　his　audacity　his　majesty　questioned　him　further；　when　Blood　confessed　to　his　attempted　abduction　of　the　Duke　of　Ormond；　but　refused　to　name　his　accomplices。　　Nay；　he　narrated　various　other　adventures；　showing　them　in　a　romantic　light；　and　finally　concluded　by　telling　the　king　he　had　once　entered　into　a　design　to　take　his　sacred　life　by　rushing　upon　him　with　a　carbine　from　out　of　the　reeds　by　the　Thames　side；　above　Battersea；　when　he　went　to　swim　there；　but　he　was　so　awed　by　majesty　his　heart　misgave　him；　and　he　not　only　relented；　but　persuaded　the　remainder　of　his　associates　from　such　an　intention。

This　strange　interview　resulted　in　Charles　pardoning　Blood　his　many　crimes。　　The　Duke　of　Ormond；　at　his　majesty's　request；　likewise　forgave　him。　　Nor　did　the　king's　interest　in　the　villain　end　here；　for　he　gave　him　a　pension　of　five　hundred　pounds　a　year；　and　admitted　him　to　his　private　friendship。　　Blood　was　therefore　constantly　at　court；　and　made　one　of　that　strange　assembly　of　wits　and　profligates　which　surrounded　the　throne。　〃No　man；〃　says　Carte　the　historian；　〃was　more　assiduous　than　he。　If　anyone　had　a　business　at　court　that　stuck；　he　made　his　application　to　Blood　as　the　most　industrious　and　successful　solicitor；　and　many　gentlemen　courted　his　acquaintance；　as　the　Indians　pray　to　the　devil；　that　he　may　not　hurt　them。　　He　was　perpetually　in　the　royal　apartments；　and　affected　particularly　to　be　in　the　same　room　where　the　Duke　of　Ormond　was；　to　the　indignation　of　all　others；　though　neglected　and　overlooked　by　his　grace。〃



CHAPTER　XI。

Terror　falls　upon　the　people。Rumours　of　a　plague。A　sign　in　the　heavens。Flight　from　the　capital。Preparations　against　the　dreaded　enemy。Dr。　Boghurst's　testimony。God's　terrible　voice　in　the　city。Rules　made　by　the　lord　mayor。Massacre　of　animals。O；　dire　death！Spread　of　the　distemper。Horrible　sights。State　of　the　deserted　capital。〃Bring　out　your　dead。〃　ashes　to　ashes。Fires　are　lighted。Relief　of　the　poor。The　mortality　bills。

It　came　to　pass　during　the　fifth　month　of　the　year　1665；　that　a　great　terror　fell　upon　the　city　of　London；　even　as　a　sombre　cloud　darkens　the　midday　sky。　　For　it　was　whispered　abroad　a　plague　had　come　amongst　the　people；　fears　of　which　had　been　entertained；　and　signs　of　which　had　been　obvious　for　some　time。　　During　the　previous　November　a　few　persons　had　fallen　victims　to　this　dreaded　pestilence；　but　the　weather　being　cold　and　the　atmosphere　clear；　it　had　made　no　progress　till　April。　　In　that　month　two　men　had　died　of　this　most　foul　disease；　and　in　the　first　week　of　May　its　victims　numbered　nine；　and　yet　another　fortnight　and　it　had　hurried　seventeen　citizens　to　the　grave。

Now　the　memory　of　their　wickedness　rising　before　them；　dread　took　up　its　abode　in　all　men's　hearts；　for　none　knew　but　his　day　of　reckoning　was　at　hand。　　And　their　consternation　was　greater　when　it　was　remembered　that　in　the　third　year　of　this　century　thirty…　six　thousand　citizens　of　London　had　died　of　the　plague；　while　twenty…five　years　later　it　had　swept　away　thirty…five　thousand；　and　eleven　years　after　full　ten　thousand　persons　perished　of　this　same　pestilence。　　Moreover；　but　two　years　previous；　a　like　scourge　had　been　rife　in　Holland；　and　in　Amsterdam　alone　twenty…　four　thousand　citizens　had　died　from　its　effects。

And　the　terror　of　the　citizens　of　London　was　yet　more　forcibly　increased　by　the　appearance　in　April　of　a　blazing　star　or　comet；　bearing　a　tail　apparently　six　yards　in　length；　which　rose　betimes　in　a　lurid　sky；　and　passed　with　ominous　movement　from　west　to　east。　　＇It　is　worthy　of　notice　that　Lilly　in　his　〃Astrological　Predictions；〃　published　in　1648；　declared　the　year　1656　would　be　〃ominous　to　London；　unto　her　merchants　at　sea；　to　her　traffique　at　land；　to　her　poor；　to　her　rich；　to　all　sorts　of　people　inhabiting　in　her　or　her　Liberties；　by　reason　of　sundry　fires　and　a　consuming　plague。〃＇　　The　king　with　his　queen　and　court；　prompted　by　curiosity；　stayed　up　one　night　to　watch　this　blazing　star　pass　above　the　silent　city；　the　Royal　Society　in　behalf　of　science　embodied　many　learned　comments　regarding　it　in　their　〃Philosophical　Transactions；〃　but　the　gre