The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1894-10-25

ceeded safely to the next post, where
one Sill, who had been soldier under
Cromwell, stood sentinel: but he offer
ed no opposition, and they according
" passed the drawbridge Horses
were waiting for them at st. Gather
ines Gate; and as they ran that way
along the Tower Wharf, they them
selves cried out. "Stop the roguesw by
which they passed on unsupported, till
Captain Beckman overlook them.
At his head Blood fired another pistol,
but missed him and was seized
Under the cloak of this daring william
was found the crown, and, although
he saw himself prisoner, he had yet
the impudence to struggle for his
prey; and when it was finally wrested
from him, said: 1T was gallant at
tempt however unsuccessful; it was
for a CROWN Parrot, who had for
merly served under General Harrison
was also taken; but Hunt, Blood's SON
in-law, reached his horse and rode off.
as did two other of the thieves; but he
was soon afterward stopped, and
likewise committed to custody.
In this struggle and confusion, the
great pearl, and large diamond, and
several smaller stones were lost from
the crown; but the two former, and
some of the latter were afterwards
found and restored; and the Ballas
ruby, broken off the sceptre, being
found in Parrots pocket, nothing con
siderable was eventually missing.
As soon as the prisoners We're Sc
cured, young Edwards fastened to Sir
Gilbert Talbot, who was then master
and treasurer of the Jewel House, and
gave him an account of the transaction.
Sir Gilbert instantly went to the
king, and acquainted His Majesty
with it; and His Majesty commanded
him to proceed forwith to the Tower.
to see how matters stood; to take the
examination of Blood and the others,
and to return and report it to him. Sir
Gilbert accordingly went; but the
king in the mean time was persuaded
by some about him to hear the exam
ination himself, and the prisoners
were, in consequence, sent for to
Whitehall: circumstance which Is
supposed to have saved these daring
wretches from the gallows.
On his examination under such an
atrocious charge, Blood audaciously
replied, that he would never betray
an associate or defend himself at the
expense of uttering a falsehood." He
even averred, perhaps, more than was
true against himself, when he confess
ed that he had LAIN concealed among
the reeds for the purpose of killing the
king with carbine, while Charles was
bathing; but he preteneed that on
this his purpose was Disconnected by
a awe-appearing to verify the ale
cation in Shakespeare; There's such
divinity doth hedge king, that trea-
son can but peep to what it would
act of its will"
To this story, true or false, Blood
| added declaration that he was at the
head of a numerous following, dis
banded soldiers and others, who, from
motives of religion, were determined
to take the life of the king, as the only
obstacle to their obtaining freedom of
worship and liberty of conscience.
These men he said, would be deter
mined, by his execution, to persist in
the resolution of putting Charles to
death; whereas, he averred that, by
sparing his life, the king might disarm
hundred poniards directed against
his own.
This view of the case made a strong
impression on Charles, whose selfish
ness was uncommonly acute; yet he
felt the improperly of pardoning the
attempt upon the Duke of Ormond,
and condescended to ask that faithful
servants permission before he could
exert his authority to sparethe assassin.
OrmOnd answered that, if the king
chose to pardon the attempt to steal
his crown, he himself might easily
consent that the attempt upon his own
life, as crime OF much less impor-
lance, should also be forgiven.
Charles, accordingly, not only gave
Blood a pardon, but endowed him with
pension of five hundred pounds a
year, which led many persons to in
fer, not only that the king wished to
P1SSCl We lIluScIl llOIu uut luIllIt dI
tempts of this dangerous man, but
that he had it also in view to secure
the services of so determined rutfian.
IN case he should have an opportun-
ity of employing him in his own line
of business.
There is striking contrast between
the fate of Blood, pensioned and re-
warded for this audacious attempt,
and that of the faithful Edwards, who
may be safel y said to have sacrificed
his life in defense Of the property in
trusted to him2 In remuneration for
his sutferings, Edwards only obtained
a grant of two hundred pounds from
the Exchequer, with one hundred
pounds to his son; but so little pains
were taken about the regular dis
charge of these donatives, that the
parties entitled to them were glad
to sell them for half the sum.