she instigated the attempt. The duchess was cousin to the
duke of Buckingham, but it appears in the Annals of Gallantry of those
times, that she never loved him, nor is it probable she engaged with
him in so dangerous a scheme.

That Buckingham was a conspirator against Ormond, Mr. Carte says,
there is not the least doubt; and he mentions a circumstance of his
guilt too strong to be resisted. That there were reasons to think him
the person who put Blood upon the attempt of the duke of Ormond, (says
he) 'cannot well be questioned, after the following relation, which I
had from a gentleman (Robert Lesly of Glaslough, in the county of
Monaghan, esquire) whose veracity and memory, none that knew him, will
ever doubt, who received it from the mouth of Dr. Turner, bishop of
Ely. The earl of Ossory came in one day, not long after the affair,
and seeing the duke of Buckingham standing by the King, his colour
rose, and he spoke to this effect; My lord, I know well, that you are
at the bottom of this late attempt of Blood's upon my father, and
therefore I give you fair warning, if my father comes to a violent end
by sword or pistol, or the more secret way of poison, I shall not be
at a loss to know the first author of it; I shall consider you as the
assassin; I shall treat you as such, and wherever I meet you, I shall
pistol you, though you stood behind the King's chair, and I tell it
you in his Majesty's presence, that you may be sure I shall keep my
word.' I know not whether this will be deemed any breach of decorum to
the King, in whose presence it was said, but, in my opinion, it was an
act of spirit and resentment worthy of a son, when his father's life
was menaced, and the villain (Blood) who failed in the attempt, was so
much courted, caressed, and in high favour immediately afterwards.

In June 1671, the duke was installed chancellor of the university of
Cambridge, and the same year was sent ambassador to the King of
France; who being pleased with his person and errand, entertained him
very nobly for several days together; and upon his taking leave, gave
him a sword and belt set with Pearls and Diamonds, to the value of
40,000 pistoles. He was afterwards sent to that King at Utrecht in
June 1672, together with Henry earl of Arlington, and George lord
Hallifax. He was one of the cabal at Whitehall, and in the beginning
of the session of Parliament, February 1672, endeavoured to cast the
odium of the Dutch war from himself