royalty restored-第29章
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o criticize the entertainment； and ridicule the music； which he voted barbarous to civilized ears。 And to such an extent did he outrage Thomas Howard； that the gallant captain； being more of a soldier than a courtier； and therefore preferring passages at arms to those of wit； could scarce refrain from drawing his sword and demanding the satisfaction due to him。
However； he subdued his wrath till the day was spent； and early next morning sent a challenge to his rival。 Accordingly they met with fierce intent； and the duel which followed ended almost fatally for Jermyn； who was carried from the scene of encounter bleeding from three wounds caused by his antagonist's sword。
The unfortunate issue of this fight deprived Lady Shrewsbury of two lovers； for Howard； having rendered Jermyn unable to perform the part of a gallant； was obliged to fly from the country and remain abroad some time。
In their stead the countess sought consolation in the companionship of Thomas Killigrew； a handsome man and a notable courtier。 She therefore had no regrets for the past： and he was entirely happy in the present； so that he boasted of his felicities to all acquaintance； in general； and to his friend the Duke of Buckingham in particular。 It was Killigrew's constant habit to sup with his grace； on which occasions his conversation invariably turned on her ladyship； when； his imagination being heated by wine； he freely endowed her with the perfections of a goddess。 To such descriptions the duke could not listen unmoved； and therefore resolved to judge for himself if indeed the countess was such a model of loveliness as Killigrew represented。 Accordingly； at the first opportunity which presented itself； the duke made love to her； and she； nothing averse to his attentions； encouraged his affections。 Killigrew was much aggrieved at this unexpected turn of affairs； and bitterly reproached the countess； but she； being mistress of the situation； boldly denied all knowledge of him。
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
