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 great body of the people regarded it as a visible signal of God's certain wrath。 They were more confirmed in this opinion； as some amongst them； whose judgments were distorted by fears； declared the comet had at times before their eyes assumed the appearance of a fiery sword threatening the sinful city。 It was also noted in the spring of this year that birds and wild fowls had left their accustomed places； and few swallows were seen。 But in the previous summer there had been 〃such a multitude of flies that they lined the insides of houses； and if any threads of strings did hang down in any place； they were presently thick…set with flies like ropes of onions； and swarms of ants covered the highways that you might have taken up a handful at a time； both winged and creeping ants； and such a multitude of croaking frogs in ditches that you might have heard them before you saw them；〃 as is set down by one William Boghurst； apothecary at the White Hart in St。 Giles…in… the…Fields； who wrote a learned 〃Treatis on the Plague〃 in 1666； he being the only man who up to that time had done so from experience and observation。 ＇This quaint and curious production； which has never been printed； and which furnishes the following pages with some strange details； is preserved in the Sloane Collection of Manuscripts in the British Museum。＇ And from such signs； as likewise from knowledge that the pestilence daily increased； all felt a season of bitter tribulation was at hand。
According to 〃Some Observations of the Plague；〃 written by Dr。 Hedges for use of a peer of the realm； the dread malady was communicated to London from the Netherlands 〃by way of contagion。〃 It first made its appearance in the parishes of St。 Giles and St。 Martin's； Westminster； from which directions it gradually spread to Holborn； Fleet Street； the Strand； and the city； finally reaching to the east； bringing death invariably in its train。
The distemper was not only fatal in its termination； but loathsome in its progress； for the blood of those affected being poisoned by atmospheric contagion； bred venom in the body； which burst forth into nauseous sores and uncleanness； or otherwise preyed with more rapid fatality internally； in some cases causing death before its victims were assured of disease。 Nor did it spare the young and robust any more than those weak of frame or ripe with years； but attacking stealthily； killed speedily。 It was indeed the 〃pestilence that walketh in darkness； and the destruction that wasteth in the noonday。〃 In the month of May； when it was yet uncertain if the city would be spared even in part； persons of position and wealth； and indeed those endowed with sufficient means to support themselves elsewhere； resolved to fly from the capital； whilst such as had neither home； friends； nor expectation of employment in other places； remained behind。 Accordingly great preparations were made by those who determined on flight； and all day long vast crowds gathered round my lord mayor's house in St。 Helen's； Bishopsgate； seeking certificates