C H A R L E. S II. I SS

They were flruggling together in the mire,when Ormond’s fervants, whom the alarm hadreached, came and laved him. Blood and hiscompanions, firing their piftols in a hurry at theduke, rode oft", and fayed themfelves by meansof the darknefs.

Buckingham was atfirft, with fome appear-ances of reafon, fufpefted to be the author ofthis attempt. His profligate character, and hisenmity againffc Ormond , expofed him to thatimputation. Offory foon after came to court;and feeing Buckingham ffand by the king, hiscolor rofe, and he could not forbear expreffinghimfelf to this purpofe. “ My lord, I know“ well, that you are at the bottom of this late* attempt upon my father: But I give you<c warning; if by any means he come to a violentC{ end , I {hall not be at a lofs to know the<e author: I {hall confider you as the affaffin :“ I fhall treat you as fuch; and wherever L meet“ you, I {hall piftol you , though you flood“ behind the king’s chair; and I tell it you incc his majefty’s prefence , that you may be fure“ I {hall not fail of performance 7 . ” If there washere any indecorum, it was eafily excufed in agenerous youth , when his father’s life was ex-pofed to danger.

A little after , Blood formed a defign ofcarrying off the crown and regalia from the Tower;a defign, to which he was prompted, as well by

Carte’s Ormond , vol. ii. p. Z2<;.

HAP.

LXV.

1671 .

7