BLOOD, THOMAS, a most daring, unscrupulous, and successful adventurer, was b. in Ireland about 1628, and served there in the parliamentary army. After the restoration, he put himself at the head of an insurrectionary plot, which was to begin with the seiz ure of Dublin Castle, and of Ormond, the lord-lieutenant. On its timely discoverv, he fled, while his chief accomplices were seized and executed. Escaping to Holland, he was received there with high consideration. He soon found his way back to England, to try what mischief might be brewed among the fifth-monarchy men. Finding no prospect of success, he repaired to Scotland, invited by the turbulent state of affairs, and was present at the fight of Pentland, Nov. 27, 1666. On the night of the 6th Dec, 1670, the duke of Ormond was seized, in his coach in St. James's street, by a gang of bravoes, tied on horseback behind one of them, and hurried away towards 'Tyburn. The timely approach of his attendants at the moment that he lind succeeded in struggling with his riding-companion to the ground, probably saved him from hanging. The loader in this daring villainy was B., and so well had he contrived it, that he did not even incur suspicion. His next enterprise was still more wild and dangerous. On the 0th of May 1671, disguised as a clergyman, and accompanied by his former accomplic.ee„
he entered the Tower with the determination to carry off the regalia of England. Aftin• nearly murdering the keeper of the 3ewels, he actually succeeded in carrying off the crown under his cloak, while one of his associates bore away the orb. They were imme diately pursued, however, seized, and committed to the Tower jail. Now came a sin gular turn of fortune. At the instigation of Buckingham, who was accused of having hired B. to attack the duke of Ormond, king Charles visited the dauntless miscreant in prison, and, dreading the threat that there were hundreds of B.'s associates banded tog,ether by oath to avenge the death of any of the fraternity, pardoned him, took him to court, gave bim an estate of £500 a year, and raised him so high in favor that for several veers col. B. was an influential medium of royal patronage. This scandalous disregard of public decency was heightened by the fact, that the old jewel-keeper, who had risked his life in defense of his charge, applied in vain for payment of a small reward for his devotion. After the fall of the " cabal" ministry, B. became hostile to Buckingham, and for a scandalous charge against him was committed to prison. Ile was bailed out, and died in his own house in 1680.