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The Old Fox: Case Files · Episode 10
Colonel Blood: The Man Who Stole the Crown Jewels
In 1671, Thomas Blood posed as a parson to get close to the keeper of the Crown Jewels, then tried to walk out of the Tower of London with them. The Old Fox tells how he was caught, and why Charles II pardoned him anyway.
- On 9 May 1671, Thomas Blood, disguised as a parson, tried to steal the Crown Jewels from the Tower of London after befriending the elderly keeper, Talbot Edwards (Wikipedia, 'Thomas Blood'; Historic UK).
- The gang flattened the crown with a mallet, hid the orb in a pair of breeches and tried to file the sceptre in two (Wikipedia; Historic UK).
- The keeper's son is said to have come home at that moment and the alarm was raised; Blood was caught (Wikipedia; Historic UK).
- Blood would speak only to the King; Charles II pardoned him and granted him lands in Ireland worth £500 a year (Wikipedia; Historic UK).
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What the fox said
What do you call a man who steals the Crown Jewels, and gets rewarded for it? A charmer. Let's see what's on.
The Tower of London, 1671. The Crown Jewels are kept behind a grille, in the care of an elderly keeper, Talbot Edwards.
A parson starts calling, with his wife. Friendly. Pious. Generous with gifts.
His name is Thomas Blood. And he is no parson.
He even proposes a match. His wealthy nephew, for the keeper's daughter.
On the ninth of May, he arrives with the nephew and some friends. They ask to see the jewels.
Then they turn on the old keeper, and grab the treasure.
Blood flattens the crown with a mallet, to fit it in a bag. The orb goes down a pair of breeches. Another man starts filing the sceptre in two.
But the keeper's son happens to come home. The alarm goes up.
Blood is caught before he can get out of the Tower.
He refuses to talk to anyone but the King himself. And he gets his wish.
Nobody knows exactly what was said. But Charles the Second pardons him, and gives him land in Ireland worth five hundred pounds a year.
The jewels went back behind the bars. They're still in the Tower today.
Crime doesn't pay. Usually. Case closed. Keep your nose to the wind.
Sources
- On 9 May 1671, Thomas Blood, disguised as a parson, tried to steal the Crown Jewels from the Tower of London after befriending the elderly keeper, Talbot Edwards (Wikipedia, 'Thomas Blood'; Historic UK).
- The gang flattened the crown with a mallet, hid the orb in a pair of breeches and tried to file the sceptre in two (Wikipedia; Historic UK).
- The keeper's son is said to have come home at that moment and the alarm was raised; Blood was caught (Wikipedia; Historic UK).
- Blood would speak only to the King; Charles II pardoned him and granted him lands in Ireland worth £500 a year (Wikipedia; Historic UK).
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