ATTEMPT TO STEAL THE REGALIA FROM THE TOWER.
First Opening of the Regalia to public Inspection--Edwards
appointed Keeper--Plan formed by Blood to steal the Regalia--He
visits the Tower with his pretended Wife--Means by which he
contrived to become intimate with Edwards--His Arrangements for
carrying his Scheme into Execution--He knocks down Edwards, and
obtains Possession of the Jewels--Fortunate Chance by which his
Scheme was frustrated--He is taken--Charles II. is present at his
Examination--Blood contrives to obtain a Pardon, and the Gift of
an Estate from the King.
Bayley, in his History of the Tower of London, has very
circumstantially related the attempt made by a desperado, named Blood,
to steal the regalia from thence; though it failed in the execution,
this scheme was most ingeniously planned. The subsequent ingenuity of
the culprit, on his examination before the king, also saved him from a
just punishment, and not only procured him pardon for his offence, but
even a handsome reward in the form of an annuity.
Soon after the appointment of Sir Giles Talbot to the office of Master
of the Jewel-House in the Tower, the regalia first became the object
of public inspection. The privilege of showing them was granted by
Charles II. to the keeper, in consequence of certain reductions in the
emoluments of the office. The person appointed to take charge of them
was a confidential servant, named Talbot Edwards; and soon after, in
1673, the attempt of the notorious Blood was made.
Three weeks before the execution of his plan, Blood went to the
Tower, in the canonical habit of a clergyman, accompanied by a woman
whom he called his wife. They desired to see the regalia, and just
as their wishes had been gratified, the lady feigned indisposition:
this circumstance called forth the kind offices of Mrs. Edwards, who
courteously invited her into the dwelling-house. The lady, however,
soon recovered, and, on departing, professed great gratitude.
A few days after this, Blood came again, bringing Mrs. Edwards four
pair of white gloves, as a present from his pretended wife. This
civility opened a way to a more intimate acquaintance, and, at length,
Blood offered a proposal of marriage between his nephew, (whom he
represented as possessing two hundred pounds per annum in land,) and
Miss Edwards, if agreeable to all parties, on a longer acquaintance. A
treaty was entered into, and the young gentleman was to come in a day
or two to be presented.
At the time appointed, Blood went with three others to the Jewel-House,
armed with rapier-blades in their canes, and every one had a dagger,
and a brace of pistols. Two of the friends, to fill up the time whilst
the daughter was adorning herself, expressed a wish to view the regalia
before dinner, and it was arranged, that, together with Blood, they
should accompany old Mr. Edwards for that purpose, whilst the anxious
lover should wait below for the coming of his mistress, but in reality
to watch lest interruption should take place. When the three had
entered with Edwards into the room, a cloak was thrown over him, a gag
was placed in his mouth, and he was threatened with death if he made
the least noise; but, as he was not intimidated, and made attempts
to sound an alarm, he was silenced by some blows on the head with a
mallet, and a stab in the belly, when he lay as if dead.
They then proceeded to secrete the booty about their persons. One of
them, named Parrot, put the orb into his pocket, Blood held the crown
under his cloak, and the third was about to file the sceptre into two
pieces, to place it in a bag, when fortunately the son of Mr. Edwards
visited his father, and, regardless of the opposition made by the
watchful pretended lover, persisted to force his way in. The scuffle
below was heard, and this unexpected incident spreading confusion among
them, they instantly decamped, leaving the sceptre undivided. The aged
keeper, recovering, forced the gag from his mouth, and cried “Treason!”
The alarm was given, and parties were sent to the several gates to stop
them. They escaped, however, out at St. Catherine’s gate, where horses
were waiting for them, but were speedily overtaken. Under Blood’s cloak
was found the crown, and, even when a prisoner, he had the impudence
to struggle for his prize, and said it was a gallant attempt, however
unsuccessful, as it was for a crown.
In the struggle the great pearl, and a large diamond, with a few
smaller jewels, were lost from the crown, but fortunately they were
afterwards found and restored.
Blood being carried before Sir Gilbert Talbot, the king went to hear
his examination and confession. This was a fortunate circumstance
for the culprit, who artfully worked at once on the vanity and the
apprehensions of the monarch. He told him that he had formerly been
engaged with others to kill his majesty, while he was bathing at
Battersea, and had concealed himself in the reeds to effect his
purpose; but that when he had taken aim, the awe inspired by the royal
presence unnerved his hand, and he desisted from his sanguinary
design. He added, that he was but one of three hundred, who were
sworn to revenge each other’s fall; that the king might do with him
as he pleased, but that, by dooming him to suffer, he would endanger
his own life, and the lives of his advisers; while, on the contrary,
by displaying clemency, he would win the gratitude and the services
of a band of fearless and faithful followers. Either won over by the
boldness and candour of the ruffian, or alarmed by his threats, Charles
not only pardoned Blood, but likewise gave him an estate in Ireland,
worth 500_l._ a year. Poor Edwards (who suffered severely from his
injuries), was less fortunate; he had only a grant of two hundred
pounds, and his son one hundred, and even of these trifling sums the
payment was so long deferred, that they were obliged to sell the orders
at half price for ready money.