Thomas Blood (1618 - August 23, 1680) was an Irish-born Colonel best known for attempting to steal the Crown Jewels of England from the Tower of London in 1671.
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Biography
Early life
Blood was born in County Meath in Ireland. Like many Irishmen he was educated in England. He saw service under Oliver Cromwell during the Wars of the Three Kingdoms, and returned to Ireland at Cromwell's request, receiving land grants as payment for his service. When Charles II returned to the throne in 1660, the grants were cancelled and Blood fled to Ireland with his wife and son. Blood conspired to kidnap James Butler, 1st Duke of Ormonde, the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland. The plan was foiled, but Blood managed to evade the authorities and escape to the Netherlands. He tried to abduct Butler again, in 1670, but this also failed. [1]
Theft and aftermath
In 1671, Blood made his infamous attempt to steal the Crown Jewels. Over several weeks he befriended the Jewel Keeper, Talbot Edwards. On May 9, 1671, having earned the trust of Edwards, he convinced him to show the jewels to two of his friends, who then hit Edwards on the head with a mallet and knocked him to the floor, where he was bound, gagged and stabbed. Blood used the mallet to flatten out St. Edward's Crown so that he could hide it beneath his clerical coat. Another conspirator filed the Sceptre with the Cross in two while the third man stuffed the Sovereign's Orb down his trousers. Edwards' son, who had been in the army in Flanders, chose that moment to visit his father for the first time in many years. When they spotted him approaching the Martin Tower where the jewels were kept the gang fled. Edwards sounded the alarm, and Blood and his conspirators were captured while trying to escape with the jewels. Blood was taken to the Palace, bound in chains, where he was questioned by King Charles, Prince Rupert, The Duke of York and other members of the royal family. The King asked Blood, "What if I should give you your life?" and Blood replied humbly, "I would endeavour to deserve it, Sire!" Blood was not only pardoned, to the disgust of Lord Ormonde, but was given Irish lands worth £500 a year. This is in part generally unknown as to why the King issued him a Royal pardon, some people believe it was to avoid the bloody aftermath of Blood's under oath followers of the time. Blood became a familiar figure around London and made frequent appearances at Court. It has been rumoured that his action had the connivance of the King himself because the King was very short of money at the time [2].
Death
Blood died on August 23, 1680 at his home in Bowling Alley, Westminster. His body was buried in the churchyard of St. Margaret's Church (now Christchurch Gardens) near St. James's Park, although it was alleged his body was exhumed by the authorities for confirmation – such was Blood's reputation for trickery, it was suspected he may have faked his own death and funeral in order to avoid paying heavy damages in a lawsuit. Blood's epitaph read:
- Here lies the man who boldy hath run through
- More villanies than England ever knew;
- And ne're to any friend he had was true.
- Here let him then by all unpitied lie,
- And let's rejoice his time was come to die.
Entertainment
- The board game Outrage! is based on Blood's attempt to steal the Crown Jewels.
- A fictionalized version of Blood is a prominent character in George MacDonald Fraser's novel The Pyrates.
External links
- Colonel Blood - The Theft of the Crown Jewels
- Time and History 7:00 A.M. British Crown Jewels Stolen
- A Story of Thomas Blood's attempted theft of St. Edward's Crown, The Sceptre with the Cross and The Sovereign's Orb
