by Andrew Marvell

When daring Blood, his rents to have regain'd,
Upon the English Diadem distrain'd,
He chose the Cassock, surcingle, and Gown
(No mask so fit for one that robbs a Crown);
But his lay-pity underneath prevayl'd
And while he spar'd the Keeper's life, he fail'd.
With the Priests Vestments had he but put on
A Bishops cruelty, the Crown was gone.

1.

Colonel Thomas Blood (1618?-1680?), a daring adventurer, was rewarded for his activities on the Parliamentary side in the Civil Wars with lands in Ireland which were confis- cated after the Restoration. He twice attempted to kidnap the Duke of Ormonde, whom, as Lord-Lieutenant, Blood held responsible for the confiscation. In May 1671 Blood, disguised as a parson, nearly succeeded in an attempt to make off with the crown jewels. He was captured, but ref- using to talk to an examining magistrate, was brought be- fore the King, who pardoned him, restored his lands, and employed him as an intelligence agent.

Source: Marvell, Andrew. Complete Poetry. George deF. Lord, Ed. London: J. M. Dent & Sons, Ltd., 1984. 193.

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Created by Anniina Jokinen on May 19, 1997. Last updated on September 10, 2006.