Thomas Blood was an Irishman, born in County Clare in the Kingdom of Ireland (at the time a client state under English rule) in 1618. He was the son of a successful blacksmith of English descent, who owned lands in Counties Clare, Meath, and Wicklow. His grandfather, too, was a well-respected “to-do” in the area, serving as a Member of Parliament and making his home in nearby Kilnaboy Castle.

The English Civil War broke out in 1642 and Blood came to England to fight for the Royalists and King Charles I. However, as the conflict went on, and it became apparent the other side would win, Blood promptly changed sides and became a lieutenant in Oliver Cromwell’s Roundheads, who were ardent supporters of Parliament.

It was a good choice.

Cromwell did, indeed, emerge victorious. At the end of hostilities in 1653, as a reward for his services, Cromwell appointed Blood a justice of the peace and granted him large estate. However, the Roundheads’ triumph was short-lived. When Charles II was restored to the throne in 1660, both Blood’s lands and titles were confiscated, bringing him to financial ruin. He returned to Ireland with his wife and son, an angry and bitter man.

Once back in Ireland, insurrection became his passion. Joining in a plot with other disgruntled Cromwellians, Blood and his gang attempted to seize Dublin Castle and hold the 1st Duke of Ormond (who was also the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland)Lord Ormond for ransom. On the eve of the attempt, however, the plot was foiled. Blood managed to evade the authorities by hiding with his countrymen in the mountains, and ultimately escaped to Holland, albeit now with a price one his head. A few of Blood’s collaborators weren’t as lucky; several were captured and executed. This only further inflamed Blood. He swore he would eventually get revenge on Ormond.

That chance didn’t come until 1670.

Ormond’s had taken up residence at London’s Clarendon House. Blood, who had returned from Holland, taking up the name Ayloffe and somehow (despite being a wanted man) practicing as a doctor in the nearby town of Havering, followed Ormond’s movements and noted that he frequently returned late in the evening accompanied by a small number of footmen. On the night of 6 December 1670, Blood and his accomplices attacked Ormond while the latter travelled St James’s Street. Ormond was dragged from his coach, bound to one of Blood’s henchmen, and taken on horseback along Piccadilly with the intention of hanging him at Tyburn. The gang pinned a paper to Ormond’s chest spelling out their reasons for his capture and murder. However, Ormond somehow succeeded in freeing himself and escaped. The plot’s secrecy meant that Blood was not suspected of the crime, despite a reward being offered for the capture of the attempted assassins.

But Blood was not satisfied to have merely gotten away. He still held deep hatred in his heart for the monarchy. He understood, however, that further attempts against Ormond would be fruitless. Blood’s revenge, it seems, would have to take a different course.

In early 1671, Blood approached the Tower of London dressed as a parson, accompanied by a female companion pretending to be his wife. The Crown Jewels, a collection of royal ceremonial objects including coronation regalia and vestments worn by British monarchs, were kept at the Tower of London in a basement protected by a large metal grille. They could be viewed by paying a small fee to the Keeper of the Jewels, at the time a man by the name of Talbot Edwards, who lived with his family on the floor above the basement.

While viewing the Crown Jewels, Blood’s “wife” feigned a stomach complaint. Edwards’ wife invited the pair upstairs to their apartment to recover. The next day, Blood returned to the Tower and presented Mrs Edwards with four pairs of white gloves as a gesture of thanks.

Thus a friendship built on deception was begun. Blood became so ingratiated with the family, an offer was made for a fictitious wealthy nephew of Blood’s to marry the Edwardses’ daughter.

On May 9, 1671, 354 years ago today, ‘Parson Blood’ arrived at 7am. with his “nephew” and two other men. While the “nephew” busied himself wooing the Edwards’s daughter, the others in the party expressed a desire to see the Crown Jewels. Edwards led the way down the stairs.

Once at the bottom, one of the men made a pretense of standing watch outside while the other joined Edwards and Blood inside. Unbeknownst to Edwards, Blood’s accomplices carried canes that concealed rapier blades, daggers, and pocket pistols. Blood himself carried a mallet. In entering the room, a cloak was thrown over the jewel-keeper. He was then struck over the head, knocked to the floor, bound, gagged and stabbed.

The villains got straight to work. After removing the grille, Blood used the mallet to flatten the Imperial State Crown so he could hide it beneath his clerical coat. Another conspirator filed the Sceptre with the Cross in two (as it did not fit in their bag), while the third man stuffed the Sovereign’s Orb down his breeches.

Edwards, however, though wounded, refused to stay subdued. He fought against his bindings and yelled for help. Reports have him shouting the words “Murder!” and “Treason!” at the top of his lungs.

Spooked by his cries, Blood and his accomplices dropped the sceptre and attempted to get away. They fled to their horses, waiting at St Catherine’s Gate, and fired on the warders who attempted to stop them, wounding one. Blood was arrested as he tried to leave the Tower by the Iron-Gate. Though the crown was found on his person, Blood refused to give up, struggling with his captors and reportedly declaring, “It was a gallant attempt, however unsuccessful! It was for a crown!” The globe and orb were recovered although several stones were missing and others were loose. Blood’s accomplices were also captured.

In custody Blood refused to answer questions, instead repeating stubbornly, “I’ll answer to none but the King himself”. Consequently, he was taken to the palace in chains, where he was questioned by King Charles, Prince Rupert, The Duke of York and other members of the royal family. Rather than affronted at Blood’s theft, King Charles was amused at Blood’s audacity, especially when Blood told him that the Crown Jewels were not worth the £100,000 they were valued at, but only £6,000.

Ultimately, the King asked Blood “What if I should give you your life?”

Humbled, the former monarchy-hater replied, “I would endeavor to deserve it, Sire!”

To the surprise and disgust of Lord Ormond and several others, Blood was not only pardoned but also given Irish lands worth £500 a year. The exact reasons for the pardon are unknown. Some speculate that it was Blood’s audacity alone that humored the King and led to his release. Others believe the King feared an uprising in revenge by followers of Blood, who were thought to have taken an oath to their leader.

Whatever the case, Blood became a familiar figure around London and made frequent appearances at Court, where he was employed to advocate in the claims of suitors to the Crown. Edwards, for his part, recovered from his wounds and was rewarded by the King. He lived to a ripe old age, recounting his part in the story of the theft of the Jewels to all the visitors to the Tower.

Since then, no other. attempt has been to steal the Crown Jewels.

Unless you count in Hollywood. 🙂