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ON THE 
 
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 LIFE “ d DEATH 
 
 OF THE 
 
 Fam’d Mr. Blood 
 
 GIVING AN ACCOUNT 
 
 "Plot in Ireland , to furprize Dublin Caftle. 
 
 Several tranfa&ions in his head-quarters in the City. 
 
 Refcue of Captain Mafon at Doncajler. 
 
 Attempt on the perfon of his Grace the Duke of 
 Of his< Ormond. 
 
 Seizing on the Crown and Scepter in the Tower. 
 Coming into favour with his Prince. 
 
 Concern about his Grace the Duke of Buckingham. 
 Sicknefs, Death, and twice Interment. 
 
 Publifhed for publick Information. 
 
 T he Second Edition , with large Additions . 
 
 LONDON: 
 
 Printed for Richard Janeway y in Oueens-head Alley in 
 Pater-nofier Row , 1680. 
 
 
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REMARKS 
 
 O N 
 
 Some Eminent Paflages in the Life of 
 
 THE 
 
 Famed Mr. Blood 
 
 SIR , 
 
 Have endeavoured as far as in me lies, to fatisfie 
 your Curiofity, in reference to that account, which 
 you were pleafed to require of me , concerning 
 the mold memorable Addons of Colonel Blood's 
 Life ; a perfon who has given the world no fmall 
 occalion of Difcourfe : wherein if I have not had 
 the happinefs punctually to anfwer your Expecta- 
 tions, you mult impute it to my Juftice that would 
 take nothing upon Report and Rumours, but only 
 • what was Dictated to me from the Mouths of one or two of his mod 
 intimate friends. 
 
 His Birth was fuch as gave him thofc advantages that 
 ufually diftinguilh a man from the Vulgar. For though Wit, and Parts, 
 Courage, and Strength are not Hereditary to the Gentility, yet is it 
 a great felicity to be born of fuch Parents, as are above thofe wants 
 that deprive them of bellowing the benefits of Education upon their 
 Children ; and fo far from the reproaches of Poverty, that they are 
 never fpoken of by the world, but with a decent and becoming Cha- 
 racter. Such were Mr. Bloods Parentage, ferious, honed, and of no 
 inferiour Credit, and PoffefTions in the Country where they lived. 
 Which made them take that care, that their Offspring fliould not de- 
 generate from the vertues and repute of his Anceflors, by forming 
 and lhaping his conditions according to the Rules of a ItriCt and fober 
 Education, which had that Influence upon him, as fo preferve him 
 from thofe Extravagancies that ufually attend upon mettalfd and aCtive 
 Spirits. Infomuch that the Great people in Ireland, who at that time 
 fate at the helm of Affairs, thought fit to put him into the Commifli- 
 on of the Peace before he was two and twenty years of Age. A fign 
 they had a good opinion of his early ConduCt of himlelf, who made 
 him the Judge and Puniiher of the Vices and Mifcarriages of others. 
 
 A Nor 
 
( 2 ) 
 
 Nor did he fail their Expectations ; tor all the while he was in this 
 Station, he won both elteem and favour of them who at that time 
 tTe'fe fh'e chief Rulers of the Irijh Nation, efpecially from Henry 
 Cromwel , by whom he was look’d upon, as a perfon fit for employ- 
 ment and promotion. For indeed the main ufe which he made of his 
 Authority was to afTert and uphold, as much as lay in his power, the 
 Proteftant and Englijh Intereil in that Kingdom ; in order w hereunto 
 he manag’d his zeal with that prudence, which was then look’d upon 
 as a kind of wonder confidering his years. 
 
 He Married in England , a young Lancajhire Gentlewoman, the 
 Daughter of one Mr. Holer aft , by whom he had feveral Children. 
 
 During his abode in England then the Stage of a Bloody and Rebel- 
 lious War, he gave his Prince all the alliflance his perfonal Valor was 
 capable to afford him ; wherein he performed feveral pieces of good 
 Service. 
 
 Much about that time Colonel Rainsborough was (lain at Done after 
 by a party of Royalifts that had made a Sally out of Pontfraitt , then 
 Befieged by Sir Edward Rhodes and the County Forces. This was 
 done as the faid Colonel was in his Inn, with all his Myrmidons about 
 him, upon the pretence of delivering him a Letter from Cromwel. 
 Their intention was only to have taken him Prifoner, and have car- 
 ried him through his own Leaguer which he refufing they piftoll’d 
 him in his Chamber and fo departed. This being a bold and defperate 
 adventure, Mr. Blood was by mod people adjudged the Contriver 
 and AfTociate in the Enterprize ; but he having fo frequently difowned 
 the Fad: himfelf, it would be a Crime to impute the Honors of other 
 men, to a Valour that has no need of thofe Ihifts. 
 
 Upon the Kings Reftauration, Mr. Blood returns again for Ireland. 
 But being difgufted by fome hard ufage, which he thought done him 
 by the Court of Claims, who made no haft to reflore him his Land 
 that had been taken from him ; whereby he faw himfelf dripped of all, * 
 his Wife and Children fent a begging, and himfelf Outlaw’d. He 
 went to the Irijh , Scots, and dilcontented Englijb , who being juft 
 ready to brake loofe, and wanting a Head, were not a little glad of 
 his appearance ; fo that they not only very highly Carefled him, but 
 having a more than ordinary Confidence in his Condud and Prudence, 
 they made him their General, and furrendred their Obedience to him 
 in all things. So that now become a petty Prince, he began to put 
 his complaints into Form, and Method, publickly to throw his De- 
 clarations abroad, and to make his demands of redreft. Which not 
 being anfwered according to their expectations, they pulh’d forward, 
 believing there was no better way, than to render themfelves formi- 
 dable, and by that means to draw their Enemy to a good Compo- 
 fition. In profecution of which defign they ran themfelves into a 
 Plot for the furprize of Dublin Caftle. For which his Brother in law, 
 Mr. Leckey , who was deep in the Confederacy, being at length taken, 
 was Sentenc’d, and accordingly Executed. 
 
 In this Tragedy happen’d fomething of a Comical difturbance. 
 There was at that time to fee the Execution, which is common, 
 a confluence of above two Thouland people. At what time 
 a rumor was fpread among the people that Mr. Blood was coming 
 
 with 
 
■ <? , \ 
 
 m 
 
 with a Party to the relcue of his Brother. The people no fooner heard 
 this, but, as there is oftimes a vain and idle Terror that poifefles the 
 mind of the filly Multitude, confternated withfome ftrange fury that 
 threaten’d them they all ran and difpers’d themfelves from the Gibbet. 
 Nay the Executioner himfelf left his Station and took his Flight, be- 
 lieving that he fhould be firft aimed at, leaving the perfon that was 
 to fuller, in the dreadful pofture of a perfon preparing for his untimely 
 Death, the Rope about his Neck, and no body to do the Office ; fo that 
 had any thing ol refiftance been made, the unfortunate Gentlemans 
 delivery had been eafie. 
 
 This defign was to have been put in execution the one arid twentieth 
 of May, the Duke of Ormond being firft to have been feized. To which 
 pm pole diverfe perfons with Petitions in their hands were to have 
 waited in the Caftle, while about fourfcore Foot, in the difguife of 
 Handi-crafts-men waited without, whofe bufinefs it was to trifle about 
 in expectation of an opportunity to furprize the Guards. The Plot 
 being chfcovered, foo /. a head was proffer’d for the apprehenfion of 
 the Ringleaders. 
 
 Mr. Blood being thereupoft forced to flie for thefe things, made 
 his Efcape into Holland , where upon his continuance in thole parts for 
 fome time, he became at length well known to that great and Famous 
 Admiral, De Ruyter , who, though *the greateft Enemy the Englifl? 
 had, in refpedt of his Condud: and Succefs, which many times put 
 a ftop to the Current of their Vi&ories, yet had that generous kindrtefs 
 
 and love for a Nation fo long in a bloody Competition with hiS Coun- 
 try, that he could not chooie out A^ueiniy declare it to leveral, but 
 more particularly to Mr. Blood , whom he was pleafed to admit often 
 into his Society, and honoured with an Entertainment anfwerable to 
 that refpedt and affedion which he bore the Nation of England. 
 
 To whom that great Admiral was fo kind as to give him an ac- 
 count of his own Miraculous deliverance, which a friend of mine had 
 from Mr. Blood's own Mouth. Which u r as thus. 
 
 That renowned Perfon de Ruyter being born of mean Parentage^ 
 the greateft part of his Fathers fubftance being two Horfes, with which 
 he fupplied the wants of his Family by the ufual labour of that Coun- 
 try, which was about two Miles diftance from Berghen up Zome ; 
 it happen’d that both his Fathers horfes were taken from him by cer- 
 tain Troops of the Dutch Army* and carried to their Camp in Flan- 
 ders. This lofs being fo confiderable to De Ruyter s Father, who 
 thereby faw himfelf and his Family totally ruin’d, he made haft after 
 them to the Camp, but finding his addreffes fruitlefs by the delays and 
 negledof the Officers, he refolvedupon a more fpeedy way of Repa- 
 ration, which was privately to regain his own from thofe that had 
 robb’d him by a more juftifiable Health: And having difcovered 
 
 where his horfes were, he watched his opportunity, lecretly con- 
 veyed them away, and carried them to a place fomewhat remote from 
 
 hisownHoufe. ^ ' 
 
 The Soldiers miffing their Booty, and concluding the Owner had 
 them again, returned in the night with an intention to have taken 
 them away a lecond time. But being difappointed, in revenge they 
 let on fire the poor Thatch’d Cottage about the Ears of the Deeping 
 Inhabitants. . B In 
 
 
 1 
 
In the Horror of this furprize, while the awaken’d Father, Mother, 
 and fervant, endeavoured to fave themfelves by breaking through the 
 Flames, with that care of Self-prefervation, which is common to ail 
 Creatures, and which at the fame time puts all the Faculties of the Me- 
 mory and Underftanding into a ftrange confufion, the poor helplefs 
 Infant, afterwards the Glory and Preferverof his Country, lay void 
 of fuccour in his Swadling bands faftafleep in an upper Room. But 
 the Mother now free her felf, remembring the Danger of her only Dar- 
 ling, with a Mafculine contempt of the threatning peril of the Enter- 
 prize, and aflifted by that high Prote&ion which faved the Children in 
 the fiery Furnace, Ihe threw her felf through the CompafTionlefs Flames 
 into the houfe again, refolv’d to live or die with the only hopes and 
 comfort of her life. 
 
 And fo having broken through the Smoak and Flames into the upper 
 Room fhe firft threw the Child out at Window into a flieet, held by 
 the Father and the Servant to receive his tender Bones, and afterwards 
 jumpt out her felf. 
 
 Thus faving from the Flames the Perfon, that was defigned Sala- 
 mander- like to fpend the chiefeft part of his days in Fire and Smoak. 
 A remarkable Story concerning that great Perfon for which we are 
 beholding only to Mr. Bloods Converfe with him, as being quite 
 omitted, or elfe unknown to the Author that publifhed his Life in 
 Holland. 
 
 Returning out of Holland into England he fell in with the Fift- 
 
 Monarchy-men , refolving to venter all in the bottom of their Intereft. 
 He found tnem LU bw a bol J and Jaiing ibu vjf jpcuplc like himfelf, 
 and their Principles fo futing with his dilcontents, that he judg’d them 
 very proper for his Management. For it was his Maxim, never to put 
 his confidence in any that were not engag’d either by Principle or In- 
 tereft to his Defigns. 
 
 Thefe people it is well known had laid a Defign, not confin’d to 
 one Quarter, but almoft general all over England ; it was faid to be 
 firft contriv’d in the Bifhoprick of Durham from whence the Conta- 
 gion fpread it felf into Torkfhire y Suffolk and feveral other Countries 
 in the Weft of England ; between all which places feveral Correfpon- 
 dencies were held, and Agents employed under the binding Obliga- 
 tions of Oaths of Secrecy. Their pretences were the oppofal of Excife, 
 Subfidies, ^c. to reeftabliih a Gofpel Magiftracy and Miniftry, to 
 reftore the Long Parliament, and laftly to Curb the Gentry, Clergy, 
 and Lawyers. 
 
 Sometime before this, at London fate a fecret Committee, of which 
 Mr. Blood was chief, to carry on fome great Defign, which he then 
 had in his head ( for I cannot learn that he was ever concerned in the 
 Plot more than for his friend, as you lhall hear anon ) This Com- 
 mittee for their fecurity, had always a private Court of Guard abroad, 
 feldom lefs than thirty out a day. At this Committee all Orders 
 were given out, all manner of Intelligence was brought, examined, 
 and all things fifted and debated in reference to their Grand Defign. 
 
 But as there feldom happens any Confederacy wherein there are 
 not fome falfe Brethren, two of their Gang, whether out ofremorfe, 
 or for hopes of reward, had begun to make fome difeovery of thispro- 
 
 jed 
 
je<2 at Court. But it happen’d that Mr. Blood who was always vigilant 
 and active in his Affairs had got the Wind of thefe two Defertors, and 
 was therefore refolved to prevent them if he could. 
 
 To which purpofe he appoints to meet the two perfons, whom he 
 had more than reafon to fufpedt, at a certain Tavern in the City, who 
 were no fooner come according to their Summons, but he took them 
 both Prifoners, and from thence carried them to a certain place of 
 darknefs, which they had found out and hired for their Conve- 
 niency. 
 
 In this place Mr. Blood very formally calls a Court-Martial of his 
 own, and tries the two men for their lives; who being before fuch 
 judges, were foon found Guilty, and Sentenc’d to be fhot to Death 
 within two days in the fame place. When the time tor Execution 
 came, they were both brought to the Stake, and being without any 
 other hopes, were forc’d to prepare tor Death. But then at the very 
 point of defpair, Mr. Blood was fb kind as to produce them a Pardon, 
 and fo releafing and giving them their f reedom, bid them go to their 
 Mailer, and tell him what they had done ; and withal , that they 
 Ihould requeft him in the name of the Confederates, to be as favoura- 
 ble to his Soldiers, when they fell under his Mercy. 
 
 But it being impoflible to hold out long in thefe mutinous courfes 
 of life, where nothing was adted, but by the Dictates of difeontent, 
 he betakes himfeif to a more fafe and quiet way to get a Livelyhood. 
 To which purpofe he fettled his Wife and his Eldefl Son in an Apothe- 
 caries fhop, where they liv’d by the names of Weft on ; while he him- 
 fe If turns Du£loi by ilic uaui& of onrl retiring to Rumford 
 
 pradlifed Phy fick there for a long time. 
 
 By this time the Northern-Plot came to be fully difeovered, where- 
 in as I faid before, I cannot learn Mr. Blood to have been any way 
 concerned, but only in the Refcue of his Friend. 
 
 Upon the Difcovery of this Confpiracy, feveralofthe Confederates 
 were Apprehended, Tried, and Executed. Among thofe that were 
 apprehended, was one Captain Majon y a perfon for whom Mr. Blood 
 had a particular affedtion and Friendlhip. This perfon was to be re- 
 moved from London to one of the Northern Counties in order to his 
 Trial at the Affifes ;*nd to that intent was fent down with eight of 
 the Dukes Troop to Guard him, being reckon’d to be a perfon bold 
 and Couragious. Mr. Blood having notice of this journey, refolves 
 by the way to refcue his friend. The Prifoner and his Guard went 
 away in the morning, and Mr. Blood having made choice of three 
 more of his acquaintance, fet forward the fame day at night without 
 Boots, upon fmall Ho rfes, and their .Piftols in their Troufes to pre- 
 vent fufpicion. But opportunities are not fo eafily had, neither were 
 all places convenient. So that the Convoy and their Prifoner were 
 gone a good way beyond Newark , before Mr. BlooJ and his friends 
 had any feent of the Prifoner. At one place they let a Sentinel to 
 watch his coming by ; but whether it was out of fear, or that the per- 
 • fon was tired with a tedious expedlation, the Sentinel brought them 
 no Tidings either of the Prifoner or his Guard. Infomuch that Mr. 
 Blood and his Companions began to think their friend fo far before 
 them upon the road, that it would be in vain to follow him. 
 
( 6 ) 
 
 And yet not willing to give over an Enterprize fo generoufly under- 
 taken, upon Mr. Bloods encouragement they rode on, though defpair- 
 ing of fuccefs, till finding it grow toward evening, and meeting with 
 a convenient Inn upon the Road in a fmall Village not far from Don - 
 cafler , they refolved to lie there all night, and return for London the 
 next morning. In that Inn they had not fate long in a Room next the 
 flreeet, condoling among themielves the ill fuccefs of'fuch a tedious 
 journey, and the misfortune of their Friend, before the Convoy came 
 thundring up to the door of the fame Inn with their Prifoner ; in re- 
 gard that Captain Mafon had made choice of that Inn, as being bell 
 known to him, to give his Guardians the refrefiiment of a dozen of 
 Drink. There Mr. Blood , unfeen, had a full view of his friend and the 
 perfons he had to deal with. He had befpoke a fmall Supper, which 
 was at the fire, fo that he had but very little time for Confultation, 
 finding that Captain MaJ'on s Party did not intend to alight : fo that he 
 onely gave general directions to his Afibciates to follow his example 
 in whatever they faw him do. In haft therefore they called for their 
 Horfes, and threw down their Mony for the reckoning, telling the 
 woman of the Houfe, that fince they' had met with fuch good Com- 
 pany, they were refolved to go forward. 
 
 Captain Majon went off firft upon a forry Beall, and with him the 
 Commander of the Party and four more ; the reft {laid behind to make 
 an end of their liquor ; then away marched one more fingle ; and in 
 a very fmall time after, the laft two. By this time Mr. Blood , and one 
 of his friends being horfed, followed the two that were hindmoft and 
 foon overtook them. Thefr.f»» ir rode fomv. UllIc liiilC lUgetllCT, Mf. 
 Blood on the right hand of the two Soldiers, and his friend on the left. 
 But upon a fudden Mr. Blood laid hold of the reins of the Horfe next 
 him, while his friend in obfervation of his directions, did the fame on 
 the other hand, and having prefently by furprife difmounted the Sol- 
 diers, pull’d off the Bridles, and fent the Horfes to pick their Grafs 
 where they pleafed. Thefe two being thus made fure off, Mr. Blood 
 purfueshis Game, intending to have reached the fingle Trooper. But 
 ne being got to the reft of his fellows, now reduced to fix and a Barber 
 of York that Travelled in their Company, Mr. Blood made up, heads 
 the whole Party, and Hops them. Of whichjtfome of the loremoft 
 looking upon him to be either Drunk or Mad, thought the rebuke of a 
 Switch to be a fufficient Chaftifement of fuch a ralh preemption, 
 which they exercifed with more contempt than fury, till by the rude- 
 nefs of his Complements he gave them to underftand, that he was not 
 in jeft, but in very good earneft. He was foon Seconded by his friend 
 that was with him in the firft Exploit. But there had been feveral 
 rough blows dealt between the unequal number of fix to two, before 
 Mr. Bloods two other friends came in to affiftance. Nay, I may fafe- 
 ly fay fevert to t#vo. For the Barber of York , whether out of his natu- 
 ral propenfity to the Sport, or that his Pot-valiantnefs had made him fo 
 generous to help his Fellow-travellers, would needs fliew his valour at 
 the beginning of the Fray. But better he had been at the latter end of a 
 Feaft, tor though he fhewed his Prudence to take the flronger fide as he 
 gueft by the number ; yet becaufe he would take no warning which 
 was often given him, not to put himfelf to the hazard of lofing a Ghittar 
 
 finger, 
 
( 7 ) 
 
 finger, by medling in a bufinefs that nothing concerned him, he loft 
 his life, in regard they were forced to difpatch him in thefiril place* 
 for giving them a needlefs trouble. 
 
 The Barber being thus become a ufelefs Inftrument, and the other of 
 Mr. Blood's friends being come up, the Skirmilli began to be very 
 fmart ; the four alfailants having fingled out their Champions as fairly 
 and equally as they could. All this while Captain MaJ'on being rode 
 before upon his thirty, fhilling Steed, wondring, his Guard came not 
 with him, looked back, and obferving a Combuftion, and that they 
 were altogether by the Ears, knew not what to think. He conjectured 
 it at firft to have been fome intrigue upon him, as if the Troopers 
 had a defign to tempt him to an Efcape, which might afterwards prove 
 more to his prejudice ; juft like Cats, that with a regard lefs fcornfeem 
 to give the diftreffed Moufe all the liberty in the world to get away 
 out of their Paws, but foon recover their Prey again at one jump. 
 Thereupon unwilling to undergo the hazard of fuch a Tryal, he comes 
 back, at what time Mr. Blood cried out to him, Horfe, Horfe quickly . 
 An Alarm fo amazing at firft, that he could not believe it to be his 
 friends voice, when he heard it ; but as the thoughts of Military men 
 are foon Summon'd together, and never hold Spanijh Councils, 
 the Captain prefently fettled his refolution, Mounts the next Horfe 
 that wanted a Rider, and puts in for a fhare of his own felf-preferva- 
 tion. In this bloody Conflict Mr. Blood was three times unhorfed, 
 occafioned by his forgetfulnefs, as having omitted to new girt his 
 Saddle, which the Oftler had unloofened upon the wadding his Horfe 
 at his firft coming into the Inn. Roingthen fo often difmnunred, and 
 not knowing the reafon, which the occafion would not give him leave 
 to confider, he refolv'd to fight it out on Foot. Of which two of the 
 Soldiers taking the advantage, fingled him out and drove him into a 
 Court-yard, where he made a Rand with a full Body^ his Sword in 
 one hand, and his Piftol in the other. One ol the Soldrers taking that 
 advantage of his open Body, ihot him near the fhoulder-blade of his 
 Piltol Arm, at what time he had four other Bullets in his Body that 
 he had received before. Which the Soldier obferving, flung his dif- 
 charg'd Piftol at him with that good aim and violence, that he hit 
 him a Running blow juft under the Forehead, upon the upper part of 
 the Nofe between the Eyes.Which for the prefentfo amaz'd him, that he 
 gave himfelf over for a Dead man. Yet refolving, like a true Cock 
 of the Game, to give one fparring blow before he expir’d, fuch is the 
 ftrange provocation and fuccefs of defpair, with one vigorous ftroke of 
 his Sword, he brought his adverfary with a vengeance from his Horfe, 
 and laid him in a far worfe condition than himfell at his Horfes feet. 
 
 At what time, full of anger and revenge he was juft going to make 
 an end of his Conqueft by giving him the fatal Stab. But in that very 
 Nick of time Captain Majon, having with the help of his friends done 
 his bufinefs where they had fought, by the Death of fome, and the 
 difabling others that oppofed them , came in , and bid him hold, 
 and fpare the life of one that had been the Civileft perfon to him 
 upon the road, a fortunate piece of kindnefe in the one, .and of grati- 
 tude in the other. Which Mr. Blood eafily condefcending to, by the 
 joynt alii fiance of the Captain, the other Soldier was foon Maftered, 
 
 C and 
 
( 8 ) 
 
 and thevi&ory, after a lliarp Fight that lafted about two hours, was 
 at length compleated. 
 
 You may be fure the Fight was well maintained on both Tides, 
 while two of the Soldiers, befides the Barber, were (lain upon the place, 
 three unhorfed, and the reft wounded. And it was oblervable, that 
 though- the Encounter happened in a Village, where a great number 
 of people were Spedtators of the Combate, yet none would adventure 
 the refcue of either Party, a$ not knowing which was in the wrong, 
 or which in the right, and were therefore wary of being Arbitrators 
 in fuch a defperate Conteft, where they faw th^ reward of atfiftance, 
 to be nothing but prefent Death. After the Combate was over, Mr. 
 Blood and his friends divided themfelves and parted feveral ways. 
 
 And it was Mr. Bloods misfortune to ride all that night and lofe 
 his way, nothing but blood and gore all over from Top to Toe, before 
 he could get to his friends houfe whither he defigned, and have the 
 affiftance of a Surgeon, which he there obtained. The reft got fafe 
 in fome few days to their feveral Sanctuaries. 
 
 However, fuch was the occafion of their departure, and the neceffity 
 of their parting without Complements, that feveral weeks were pall 
 before they united again, or knew what became of one another. Such 
 a Coherence there is between the departures of Death it felf, and thofe 
 occafioned by the fear of Death. 
 
 So foon as this remarkable Skirmilh was over, Mr. Blood lay clofe 
 for a while, there being no lefs than three hundred pound fet upon his 
 head, for a reward to any perfon that fhould apprehend him. To 
 
 winch jMirpolh lv»li faring he could be no svliere lo foie, as under the 
 
 difguife of a Doctor, he returned again to his old Sandluary at Rumford , 
 and there fell again to his former pradtice of Phyfick. 
 
 But whether his adlive Spirit were impatient of this Quiet, or that 
 the temptatk^s of Opportunities engaged him to new Enterprizes, 
 he feemed now defirous to repair the Damages of his loft Eftate, be- 
 lieving that they who either detained, or had difpofed ol his right ( and 
 certain it is that he affumed to himfelf both Right and Title ought 
 to make him fatisfadlion. 
 
 To this purpofe after feveral Confultations and Deliberations with 
 himfelf , Mr. Blood comes to Town, and having Muftered to his 
 afliftance about five or fix perfons more, in whofe refolution and fe- 
 crecy he could Confide, it was refolved at length that the perfon of the 
 Duke of Ormond then living at Clarendon- houfe, at the upper end of 
 the Street leading from St. James's Palace Ihould be feized, defigning 
 to make thofe advantages of his perfon, which they had before con- 
 cluded upon. 
 
 This Enterprize being refolved, Mr. Blood with five more of his 
 trufty Gang, being well Armed and Mounted, having fet the Duke's 
 Coach, upon the fixth of December, in the year 1670. at night, and 
 finding he was to pafs from St. James' s through the Long Street to Cla- 
 rendon-houte with a very fmall attendance, they foon fecur’d the Flam- 
 beaus and Lackeys that carried them, and having flopped the Coach, 
 and made fure of the Driver, they forc’d the Duke out of his Coach, 
 and fet him behind one of the Company, who was not then to enquire 
 what he was to do with apurchafe of that value, having received his 
 
 orders 
 
orders before, to ride through thick and thin with him, till he got to 
 the place appointed, where they would not be long ^bfent from him 
 to have made better and more fecure provifion for his farther, and 
 more private conveyance. . 
 
 An attempt which might perhaps have fucceeded, had it been made 
 upon a perfon whofe Courage and Valour were not fo eafieto be quel- 
 led. But thofe vertues meeting in the Duke with a ftrength propor- 
 tionable; The flout refiftance which he made, and the flrugling with 
 his Aflaulrers , gave them no fmall trouble , and the Duke, the 
 leifure to have ‘the News of the attempt carried to his Houfe, which 
 foon brought the Porter at the Gate to his affiflance. The Aflailants 
 made away for Fulham Ferry where they got over and conveyed thern- 
 felvcs to their places of Refuge where they lay concealed, though 
 great rewards were proffered for their apprehenfion, and a Thoufand 
 pound particularly fet upon Mr. Bloods head, which took no effedt, 
 till his next attempt difcovered him. 
 
 Thus had Mr. Blood attempted feveral ways to repair the Ioffes, 
 which he fuppofed himfelf to have fuflained, either from the negledt or 1 
 
 permiffion of that Authority, which he thought was concerned to make 
 him fatisfadtion. One Projedt yet remained, which he was certain 
 would either make or marr him ; if he efcaped he thought himfelf made; 
 if he failed in the attempt, he knew r the Enterprize would make fucli a 
 noife in the world, that he was fure to be another Heroftratus , and to 
 live in Story for the ftrangenefs, if not the fuccefs of his attempts, and 
 to make himfelf whole by the fpoiles of the Englijh Crown, which 
 
 though it lay in a fafc place, the Tower, hf» rpfhlvrrl tn frtrh fmm 
 
 its Sandtuary. 
 
 Having therefore refolved upon the fad, the ways of accomplifhing 
 the Defign were duly confulted. And becaufe fuch Enterprizes 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 himfelf into the habit of a Dodtor of 
 Divinity, with a little Band, along falfe Beard, a Cap with Ears, and 
 all thofe other Formalities of Garb belonging to that Degree, except 
 the Gown, rather choofing to make ufe of a Cloke as being mofl pro- 
 per for his purpofe.* 
 
 Under this difguife he made it his bufinefs to get acquainted with 
 the Keeper of the Regalia , an Old man ; he brought feveral perfons to 
 fee the Regalia , who were no unprofitable Guefls. 
 
 He treated and careffed the Keeper at a rate not fo much Expenfive, 
 as kind and obliging, by which means he had created fuch a familia- 
 rity, and intimacy with the Oldman, that he took the Dodtor to be 
 noWolfinSheeps-clothing,but one of his greateft Friends, infomuch that 
 the Old man having a Son, and the Dodtor pretending to have a 
 Daughter, the two Parents were upon concluding a Match between 
 the young people, which had proceeded fo far, that the Dodtor and 
 the Keeper gave each other the Appellation of Brother. 
 
 'he day before theFadt was to be done, the Dodtor came and in- 
 f ned the Old man, that he had fome friends to go out of Town the 
 no morning, to whom he had promifed a fight of the Regalia that 
 w re in his Cuftody, and defired he might have the kindnefs to* grati- 
 
 fie 
 
 I 
 
( IO ) 
 
 fie their Curiofity, though perhaps the time might be not fo feafonable, 
 as being a little too early. 
 
 The next morning the Do&or and two more, having prepared 
 their Conveniences of a Wallet and a wooden Mallet, went diredly 
 to the Old man’s Houfe where the Regalia lay, leaving one of their 
 Companions to hold their Horfes that (laid for them at the Iron 
 Gate. * 
 
 The Old man no fooner faw his new Brother, the Do&or and his 
 friends, but he was ready to fhew them the Civility which the Doctor 
 had requeued the day before ; and accordingly open’d the Doors where 
 the Treafure lay. 
 
 Itfeems it is the Cuftom of the Keeper of the Regalia when he ex- 
 pofes them to publick view, to lock himfelf within a kind of Grate or 
 Door with open Bars, to the end thofe things of high value may be 
 feen but not foyled by the Touch of fo many people, as daily came to 
 fee thofe precious Ornaments. 
 
 But the Do&or and his Companions were too quick for the Old 
 man, and followed him fo clofe at the Heels, that he had no fooner 
 opened the Door, but they were likewife in with him. Prefently 
 they feized the Old man, for whom, though he ftruggled much to 
 preferve his Reputation and the Charge hp had, it was in vain to make 
 a long Refinance, for they had foon put him beyond making a noife, 
 as having received feveral unkind Knocks with the wooden Mallet. 
 
 One of the Company was for killing the Old man outright, but 
 his Brother the Do£tor would not permit fo great a peice of Barbarifm, 
 as being under a dilguife that would have rendred the Fad doubly 
 hainous, had he added Murther to Robbery under the Notion of an 
 Eccleftaftical Perfon. 
 
 Having thus got Pofieflion of their Purchafe, they made flat the 
 bows of the Crown to make it more Portable, and fo having conveyed 
 it into their Wallet, together with the Scepter, and Dove, they be- 
 gan to fet forward. 
 
 But juft in the nick of their Departure, a Son of the Old mans, 
 who had not been in England in ten years before (To ftrange a 
 Providence attends the Difcovery of great Crimes ) coming to the 
 Houfe to fee his Father, and making enquiry where he was, was told 
 he was in the Treafury (hewing the Regalia to fome friends. 
 
 Thereupon out of a zealous Impatience of filial Duty to caft him- 
 felf at his Fathers Knees he flew to the Place, where he was foon fur- 
 prized with a fight, not more unexpected and amazing, than Sad and 
 Dreadful to behold, his Father weltering in his Blood, and the Royal 
 Treafury Robb’d. 
 
 It was no time then to make unneceflary Lamentations, which 
 would have given the Criminals liberty to have Efcaped, and 
 therefore with a prompt and ready Courage, knowing the perfons 
 again by their Habits as they went out, he prefently purfued them, 
 put the Sentinels and other Soldiers upon their duty, by his Out-cries, 
 fo that although the Do£tor and his friends made all the Refiftance 
 they could, as it behoved them ; yet all the Refiftance they could make 
 was in vain in fuch a place as that, for both the Do£tor and his Accom- 
 plices were all taken, but he that held the Horfes, who fled upon the 
 
 Rumour, 
 
 f 
 
( II ) 
 
 Rumour, and the Regalia were all recovered again, all bruifed and 
 battered, yet without the lofs of one Stone, unlefs it were one which 
 was afterwards found by a poor Sinder- woman, and reflored to the 
 Keeper or thofe appointed in his Read. 
 
 This Fa£t being made known among the people, and aggravated 
 with the Murther of the Keeper, as it was then reported, made a great 
 noife about the Town, fo that Mr. Blood had received feveral Sen- 
 tences before the particulars of the Crime were fully examined. 
 
 But the People not being the proper Judges of the Crime, Mr. Blood 
 upon his Apprehenfion, was carried before his Majefty himfelf, by 
 whom he was examin’d with a Lenity and Moderation not to be 
 parallelled. 
 
 It was in vain to deny a Fad fo eafie to be proved upon him; and 
 therefore he thought it more convenient, and more futable with his 
 Condition to appear with a refolution, which perhaps would mucii 
 better have become a nobler Ad. 
 
 As the Paffages of his Examination were known but to few, fo they 
 have been but to as few Communicated. 
 
 But ’tis to be prefumed that a man of his daring and adventurous 
 Courage, was not wanting to himfelf in the juftification, as far as lay 
 in his power, of the offence which he had committed. No queftion 
 but that he made a full declaration of the wrongs, injuries, and Ioffes 
 which he had fuftain’d ( and men in fuch cafes will pretend to be the 
 moft proper Judges of their own Caufes.) and the Difgaces and Difap- 
 pointments he had met with in Ireland. 
 
 However it were, his Mai^Oy was eraciouffv nleafed to make him 
 a propofition, that could not chofe but be welcome to a perfon under 
 
 his Circumftances, by asking him this fingle Queftion, What if he 
 fhould grant him his life i to which Mr. Blood is faid to havereplyed. 
 That he would endeavour to deferve it. 
 
 How or which way that could be, is a Secret, which it cannot be 
 expected Ihould be here difcufs’d, but the Confequences of the whole 
 proceeding, which were his Pardon, not only for himfelf, and his 
 Followers, or rather Affiftants and Accomplices, together with his 
 readmiflion into his Majefties favour were allured figns that he had 
 given that fatisfadion, which if they that received it were willing to 
 accept no perfon elfe had reafon to mifdoubt. 
 
 This is evident that foon after Def borough, Relfey , and others ap- 
 peared publickly about the Town, coming over from Holland and 
 furrendring themfelves to his Majefty. Which by whom ever procu- 
 red, might be thought a good peice of Service at that time, when the 
 two Nations of England Holland being embfoy led in open Wars, 
 
 the Condud and Advice of fuch Perfons might have been of no fmall 
 prejudice to us, and advantage to the Enemy. 
 
 However it was publickly taken notice of that Mr. Blood wasdayly 
 with the faid Perfons at the fame, at Mr. White's Cojfee-Houfe behind 
 the Royal Exchange , where they met in a Room by themfelves. 
 So well and fmoothly did Mr. Blood both then and fince behave him- 
 felf among thofe, that are called the Diflenting Party. 
 
 But as ingratitude is a Vice that reigns among all forts of Religions, 
 and all the varieties of Opinions ; it is not without good preemptions 
 
 D thoughtj 
 
( 12 ) 
 
 thought, that thofe very people, that in fome meafure may be faid, 
 to have ow’d their lives to his painful endeavours, have fince been fo 
 unkind as to prove altogether off their duly merited acknowledge 
 ments. 
 
 What is to be faid as to his late troubles there is little, but what is 
 already in Print or the common Town-talk. 
 
 He fays, or elfe it is faid for him, that he was defired by the woman 
 that keeps the St. Johns Head, or Heaven-Tavern^ to come and fpeak 
 with her at fuch a time. 
 
 That upon his coming to her, ffie told him, that two lhabby fel- 
 lows had been with her fometime before, to tell her that they had fome- 
 thing of great Confequence, in reference to the weltare of the publick 
 to reveal, but that they wanted a difcreet.perfon to manage it. 
 
 That thereupon Mr. Blood , made anfwer that if there were any 
 thing fit to be taken notice of, he would bring them to thofe that had 
 fufficient Authority to take notice of it, and thereupon promifed to 
 meet the perfons. 
 
 That upon his fecond coming to fpeak with the Difcoverers, they 
 refufed to fpeak with him, for that underflanding he wastheperfon 
 with whom they were toDifcourfe, they aver’d they would have 
 nothing to do with him, for that he was the Duke of Buckingham s 
 friend. 
 
 That thereupon, the woman of the Houfe, that Mr. Blood might 
 fee llie had not told him a lie, perfwaded one of the perfons to Ihew 
 himfelf to Mr. Blood. 
 
 Who to that purpofe, as he palled bv ftepped into the Room where 
 Mr. Blood was, anci going in, told, that he and his fellows had bulinels 
 
 of great concernment to difcover, but could not then by reafon of 
 another appointment, and fo concluded upon another day. ’ 
 
 That Mrs. Bradley upon this came to him to his Houfe, and told 
 him Ihe believed the fellows were Rogues and Trapans, and advifed 
 him to feize them and carry them before a Magiftrate. 
 
 That Mr. Blood , weighing the Confequence of the womans advice, 
 and being inform’d by her of their Lodgings according to the Di- 
 rediions of one Mr. Curtis , went to Dodtor Cham her lain one of the 
 Juftices of the Peace for the County of Middlesex , and told him the 
 Rory. Who thereupon not only gave Mr. Blood his Warrant, but 
 accompanied him till the Execution of his Warrant. 
 
 That two perfons were by him apprehended by the names of Phi- 
 lemon , Codan , and Samuel Ryther. 
 
 That upon their apprehenfion, and firll Examination feverally, 
 before Dodtor Chamber lain, they feem to wonder what he meant when 
 he told them, he heard they knew of a Plot, and wanted a Magiftrate 
 to reveal it to. 
 
 That thereupon the Juftice of the Peace told them all that Mr. Blood 
 had told him concerning their Difcourfe with Mrs. Bradley , and their 
 appointment of meeting Mr. Blood. 
 
 That to this, one of them, viz. Codan replied that it was about 
 the Duke of Buckingham , who he faid ow’d them feveral hundreds 
 of pounds upon an accompt of Wages, and that they wanted fome body 
 that was able to Cope with him. To whom one Curtis ftandingby, 
 replied, in thefe words, How 
 
( 13 ) 
 
 How, did not I hear your fay at fuch a place that you knew of a greater 
 Plot yet undifcovered than either Mr. Oate r, or Mr. Bedloe had hi- 
 therto made out ? to which the faid Codan gave no fatisfadlory anfwer ; 
 and Ryther protefted he knew nothing of a Plot, or any thing like 
 it. 
 
 That to all this the Doctor urg’d, that it was not to be that any 
 difcreet perfon fliould be fo overfeen as to interpofe between Mafter 
 and Servant about Wages, efpecially fo great a perfon as the Duke 
 was, and therefore that could not be the reafon of their meeting at 
 
 Heaven. 
 
 That thereupon one of them ftarting up in a violent Pallion before 
 the Juftice of the Peace fwore, 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 himfelf would Swear 
 Sodomy againft him. 
 
 That upon this the Juftice 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 reafon they ran away at the fight 
 of Mr. Blood at Mrs. Bradleys . To which they replied, that they 
 were miftruftful of him, becaufe they had heard he was the Duke’* 
 friend. - i 
 
 That thereupon Dr. Chamlerlain taking them for impertinent fel- 
 lows diffnifled them, with directions to confider what they had faid, 
 and to attend him at fuch a time at his Houfe, where he would be 
 ready to hear what ever they had to difcover concerning any Plot. 
 
 That accordingly they came with one Whitaker and Jenks, where 
 Mr. Bloud likcvvile attended, /il what time r>^£loj. chamberlain, 
 asking them the meaning of their former Ihuffling {lories, they replied 
 they had a farther defign to carry on for the good of the publick, but 
 would come to no particulars. Whereupon Dodtor Chamlerlain dift 
 milled them. 
 
 Thatfoon after Sir W. W. fentfor Mr. Blood to a Tavern in Weft - 
 minfler, whither when he came, he found Ryther , Codan , Whitaker i 
 and Jenks in Sir Williams Company : and what more furprifed him, 
 he found Ryther and Codan , in a Gentile Equipage, and Alamode 
 accoutrements, whom he looked upon before as very mean Fellows. 
 
 That prefently then, Sir William told him he was very much 
 troubled for the premunirehe had brought himfelf into ; for that Ryther 
 and Codan were come to depofe upon Oath, that he had attempted 
 feveral times to corrupt them with Money, and other Rewards to 
 fwear Sodomy againft the Duke of Buckingham. 
 
 That upon Mr. Blood's making ftrangeof it, Codan ftarted up and 
 confirmed the fame. 
 
 That thereupon Mr. Blood ask’d them how they could be fo impu- 
 dent, as to invent fuch a thing againft him whom they had never feen 
 but once at Heaven , and another time with Doctor Chamlerlain > 
 
 That thereupon Mr. Whitaker and Mr. Jenks flood up, and bid 
 Mr. Blood be honeft, and juft, and Confefs. To whom Mr. Blood 
 repli’d, You that have been thefe two years laft employed to Afperfe 
 me, and could you find no better invention than this ? 
 
 That after this, Mr. Blood directing his Difcourfe to Sir William 
 
 Waller, 
 
Waller , dcfircd of him to know the meaning of the whole dory, which 
 was a thing fo unknown to himfelf. Upon which Mr. Whitaker and 
 Mr. 5 fenks, joyntly affirmed Cor/an and Ryther to be honed men, and 
 pred Sir William for Judice. 
 
 That thereupon Six William defired Mr. Blood very Civilly to put 
 in Bail ; to which Mr 'Blood replied , that he would confider of it, and 
 fo for that time went about his occadons. 
 
 That the next morning he went to Sir Williams Houfe, for a 
 Copy of his Mittimus , which at length was granted him. 
 
 That the next day he was met by a Condable, w r ho told him he had 
 a Warrant againd him from Sir William Waller , midaking a Mittimus 
 for a Warrant, and thereupon he went away with the Condable to a 
 Tavern where he continued under redraint of the Condable feveral 
 hours. 
 
 That while he was under Cudody, Sir William apprehenfive of fomc 
 midake, as is pretended, fent one of the Witnedes to the Condable, 
 to know how he had difpofed of Mr. Blood , and whether he had car- 
 ried him to Prifon ; Who made anfwer, that he had not fufficient Au- 
 thority for fo doing, and that Mr. Blood might bring him into trouble 
 for fo doing, as not having been carried before a Judice of Peace, as 
 he ought to have been fird of all. 
 
 That thereupon the Witnefs went back to Sir William , and not long 
 after returned to the Condable, and brought him a Warrant to feile 
 Mr. Bloody and for want of Bail to carry him to the Gate-houfe. 
 
 That upon that Warrant Mr. Blood gave in Bail before Sir William 
 
 Toultney to anfwer the Accufation. 
 
 upon wUi.oi> *\wwwration rvfi. X3 tooct witn tne reit were found 
 
 Guilty. 
 
 The Verdicd being given in againd them,hisGrace the Duke (^{Buck- 
 ingham lays a great Adion of Sc and alum Magnatum againd Mr. Bloody 
 whereby he was forced for Refuge to the Kings Bench ; where I will 
 leave him until the next Term at which time I lhall be farther Capaci- 
 tated to enlarge upon this Subjedt ; and whereas at this time I have ac- 
 quainted you of things concerning this bufinefs only by Report, I 
 mail endeavour to become a more nearer Infpedlor my felf as to what 
 may enfue upon the whole, that in all things I may approve my felf, 
 
 S I R, 
 
 Tours ready to he Commanded \ 
 
Poftfcript. 
 
 ~ s I R-, 
 
 I Make no doubt, but as the foregoing account of the m-ift re- 
 markable p adages of the Life of Mr. Bloody did in fome mea- 
 fure fatisfie your curiofity * Co likewife by what I promifed in 
 the conckifion, it left you in expc&ation of more : And in- 
 deed, I refolved to have made what ule 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 
 fo lingular a Life, which no man but theperlbn himfelf was able to 
 give, with the true light of thofe circumdances that made them, as 
 to him, oblervable, who feldom or never fet about any thing which 
 was not infpired by fomewhat above the common principles of con- 
 duct : But the laft term of humane Life, has prevented ( the term 
 wherein (as I told you) l hoped to have been capacitated to give 
 you a larger account of that fubjeft * and the Death of that noted 
 man confines now my Relation to what preceded and was fubfequent 
 to his end. 
 
 I left him in th e Kings- Bench, into which he had turned himfelf 
 over by a Habeas Corpus from the Gate hou e * but hi* day was not 
 long there, for having ^ven foouriry for his Imorifi inment he re- 
 turned to his own Fonfe in the Bcwlitig- Alley in Wejiwinjhr, not 
 far from the Houfe of Sir William Waller, Wnea he was thus retired 
 unto the quiet recels of his own private habitation, he began with 
 more than ordinary concern to reded upon his condition, both as to 
 his perfonal Reputation, and the intered of his Family ; the one he 
 faw extreamly bladed. not through any injustice of the Court, but 
 ( as he ftill affirmed ) the malice of Enemies * and the other in a pro- 
 bable way of mine, partly by difapointment from Debtors, efpeci- 
 ally when he (food mod in need of his own * and partly by that hea- 
 vy and cradling A&ion of Ten thoufand pounds which his Grace the 
 Duke of Buckingham thought fit to lay upon him, for his having laid 
 a fcandal on a Peer of his Grace’s quality. 
 
 Thefedifinal thoughts adaulting a man of his high fpirit, (that by 
 the circumdances he was in then, found no probability of getting out 
 of the mire by his former methods of contriving and daring, but 
 perceived himfelf in a manner manacled at tnis time, whereas in all 
 the other exigencies of his life he had condantly traded to his hands 
 and a&ion ) brought upon him a penfive paffion of Melancholly, the 
 ufual Rock on which great an kafpiring Spirits at lad fplit: and the 
 lickly feafon of the y^ar having fitted his body for the impreflions of 
 a difeontented mind, he fell fick of a fatoi, though no violent di- 
 ftemper. 
 
 His ficknefs laded fourteen days * during which, he was often vi- 
 (ited by fome of my acquaintance, and particularly by a Mmifter that 
 
 E . went 
 
, . L 2 J 
 
 went to admimfter to him whatfpintual sfliftnnce he tound hitn capa- 
 b]e of: This perfon acquainted me, that he found him apparently in 
 a fedate temper of mind as to the concerns of his Soul, nothing ftartied 
 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 
 pleafed God to give him the laft call} but that he defired not to fpend 
 much time in difeourfe, as being neither fuitable to his condition nor 
 humour : And indeedfor the remaining time of his ficknefs ( except 
 in ordering his domeftick affairs ) he teemed always unwilling to be 
 engaged in any conference } but continued in Bed, like one who fuf- 
 fered more under thedifeipline of a difeontented heart, than the vio- 
 lence of any bodily diftemper, which many times appeared by thole 
 unvoluntary fighs, that in the intervals, betwixt his frequent (lum- 
 bers, he was obferved to fetch. On Monday before his death he was 
 taken fpeechlefs, and continued fo, in a kind of Lethargie, without 
 much motion or attion, unlefs a drowfie heaving and fetching for 
 breath, until Wednejday the 24 th of An gu ft , about Three of 
 the Clock in the afternoon, at which time he expired. 
 
 It hath been given out by fome ( according to the manner of this 
 cenforious age ) that he made ufeof fome Narcotick and ftupifying 
 Medicines, either to haften or facilitate his death } and they would 
 ground their prefumptions ( for evidence have they none } upon his 
 drowtinefs and infenfibility during the laft days of his ficknefs : from 
 what caufe that torpor proceeded, is the province of Phyficians to 
 determine } but that every one who dyes in that manner muft have 
 had recourfe to Art, I think none dare affirm } and therefore no man 
 
 OUgkt, on partial oonjeftnw, *o ;««% rafliljr of one, who had the 
 
 courage not to defpair in the worft circumftances of life, and far lefs 
 fhould be thought to do it, on a death- bed of no' painful ficknefs. 
 
 An Arrow out of the fame Quiver, is another malicious report, that 
 he died a Fapift } but it would beneedlefs to produce the teftimonies 
 of perfons beyond exception, who were conftantly with him in his 
 ficknefs to refute this afperfiorf, fince the education, paft life, and irt- 
 tereftof Collon .l Blood at this time, may be fufficient to convince all 
 candid and unprejudiced men, that this lurmife is byt a calumny raif 
 ed by thofe enemies of his, who would willingly have had him worfe 
 than they could make him. 
 
 On Friday after his death he was decently interred in the new 
 Chappel by TnUle fieldi , near the place where his Wife lies buried, in 
 hopes of a more joyful refurredfion than his body foon after met with 5 
 For a rumour that came abroad, that fome perfons had feen Mr. Blood 
 alive, and that the report of his ficknefs, death, and ceremony of his 
 burial, was but a Farce and piece of Pageantry to carry on fome de- 
 fign } his Body was on T hurfday after difinterred, and the Coroner 
 with his Jury appointed to fit upon, and take cognizance of the fame. 
 The Coroner accordingly, with his Jury, who are all, or moft of 
 them fuppofed to have known the Collonel,met and viewed the Body 5 
 but found his Face (b altered and fwollen in thofe Six days it had 
 lodged in the earth, and fo few lineaments and features of their old 
 acquaintance, that they could not agree on their Verdi<ft. And though 
 a Captain that was prefent, and an intimate acquaintance of the de- 
 feated 
 
cn 
 
 ceafed Collonel, (hewed them his Thumb, which by (ome accident he 
 had received in his life time, had grown to a prodigious bignefs, and 
 was taken notice of by all that kept him company $ yet the Jury, not 
 thinking it fo eafie to difcover Coiionel Blood by his Thumb, as it was 
 ot old to kno w Hercules by his Foot, demurred upon it, and for what 
 I can hear, have not as yet given in their Verdift. 
 
 It is not very ftrange that lifelefs flefn and blood haftening to return 
 to the duiUrom whence it was taken, and ready todidolveinto putre- 
 fafrion, fhould in Six or Seven days be disfigured beyond kenning 5 
 but it is fomewhat extraordinary, that fuch a perfon as Mr. Blood , who 
 in all the changes ot a reftlels and (hifting life, never wanted a com- 
 petent fubfiftence for himfelf and Family, (hould at laft, after he had 
 weathered the greateft (forms of adverfity, made many Friends, re- 
 covered thefavourof his Prince, fetled himfelf and Family in a neat 
 and fplendid habitation, and had Money abroad in the World, 
 that fuch a one, I fay} (hould dye, and have (o inconfiderable a Cafh 
 by him, that it would be thought too fmall a viaticum for a Forty- 
 miles Journey ; and yet this through difappointments was his cafe, 
 which without doubt added no fmall weight to the other preflures of 
 mind that firft funk, and at laft broke that great heart, which had 
 often delpifed the danger of many aftoniftiing and bold attempts, in 
 the courfe of a ver) lingular and remarkable life, of Fifty and three 
 years duration. 
 
 Chara&ers of men, sir , are beft drawn from their a&ions, and I 
 1 (hould be bold to give a judgment of this perfon, after that you have 
 had a candid relation of the greateft, atchievements of his life : yet I 
 
 think it may not be altogether prelum ptuen™, T offer *0 efljft your 
 
 Remarks upon the preceding Narrative, by a rough, yet plain repre- 
 fentation of the fenfe that judicious men, who were acquainted with 
 the Collonel better than my felf, have had, and (till have of his value. 
 
 He was a man, in their opinion, fitter to imbroyl than compofe a 
 difconcerted Society * to be a mate to fome hunting Nimrod , rather 
 than an afliftant to a peaceful Magiftrate 5 not that he wanted a reach 
 of underltanding, and with a prompt comprehenfionof things a clear 
 and diftinguiftiing judgment 5 but his ambitious and reftlefs fpirit, 
 fuitably lodged in a ftrong and vigorous body, always dire&ed his 
 thoughts to luch ftirring and a&ive counfels, as not only were incon- 
 (iftent with temper and mildnefs, but required a necelfary concur- 
 rence of undaunted refolution, with plodding fagacity, before they 
 could be brought to effeft : And indeed his heart and head clubb’d 
 fo equally, and kept fo true a pace together in all his undertakings, 
 that if the great things he fet about failed of the proje&pd (uccels, 
 yet they were (till brought fonear an iflue, that Providence (eemed 
 concerned, by defeating them at the laft nick, to make good that 
 Oracle of Scripture, That Cod brings to nought the counfels of the wife. 
 And his defigns were generally laid with fo much artifice, and mana- 
 ged with that confidence of undertaking, that in all probability, 
 humane and ordinary circumfpe&ion was not fufficient to way-lay him 
 in many of his fubtil and politick contrivances. 
 
 They cannot deny but that there was great obliquity in his morals, 
 fincc his moft noted a&ions can allow of no other appellation, than 
 
 that 
 
V 
 
 * C4] 
 
 that of fplendid crimes 5 but whether the injuries which he always 
 pretended to have received, disjoynted the original re&itude of his 
 nature and education, by bending him to revenge, or that pow erful 
 ambition, which teems to be the greateft excels that fwayed him, fet 1 
 
 him upon unufual methods of conduft, it is ftill certain that hepurfu- 
 ed none.of thofe mean and fneaking a&ions, that leaves an indelible 
 character of ignominy upon thofe who would be thought Gentlemen, 
 when they trade in the.liepsof Villains. He was indeed for forbid- 
 den game, bul: never on the Kings High- way, always in Royal Parks 
 and Forrefts $ Crowns, Scepters and Government were his booty 5 and 
 the furprifing of Caftles and Vice- Roys his recreation. For compaf- 
 fing thofe great ends, he had a wonderful Art of infinuating into the 
 affe&ionsof the Leaders of all difeontented parties $ and maugre the 
 differences or remonftrances of the various perfwafions in Religion of 
 thofe he rallied with, he ftill won fo much upon the minds of the Ca- 
 bals, that (unlefs it be of late) he was never fufpeded by his Party 5 
 though it appeared at his laft, that he ejther fell back, or had in his 
 heart conftantly adhered to the Religion wherein he was educated. 
 
 In fum, Sir> when they have confidered him on every ftde, in the 
 heat of buftling, and in the cool of his retreat, which ; feemed only 
 to be his quarter of refreftiment, wherein he plotted and laid new 
 trains for a&ion, they think that part of the burlelk Epitaph that was 
 made on Mr. Prynn , may very fitly quadrate to this famed man : 
 
 . * 1 
 
 That he went through thick, and thin , 
 tVas never out , nor never in . 
 
 : -• - . V 1 
 
 And fo I (hall leave him to his Judge, and reccommend my felf to 
 
 your good wdhes 5 being 
 
 SIR , 
 
 Tours 
 
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 r ' ✓ . 
 
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 ifri. 
 
 
 
 
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