BRITISH CROWN JEWELS

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 54, 5 March 1927, Page 18

BRITISH CROWN JEWELS

HOW THEY WERE ALffitOST ■• STOLEN-' ■'■.■. ■ - The Crown Jewels of 'England wera first made objects of public inspectioa in the reign of' CKailes 11.,' in consequence of certain reductions in the perquisites of "The Master anS-Treasurer of the Jewel House," Sir Gilbert Talbot. . This functionary-appointed an old servant, Talbot Edwards, as custodian, allowing him the profits ■ which arose from exhibiting ■ "the treasure, and it was in his time (1673) that ." Colonel" Blood made his notorious attack. Dressed as a parson, Blood came to the Tower with a woman alleged to bo his -wife, and just as Edwards was showing them the jewels, the woman feigned an indisposition and was invited by;

Mrs. Edwards to' come and.irest in her house, frequent.visits fr : pni Blood followed, and he proposed a match between: Miss Edwards and his nephew. On the day appointed for the introduction of the nephew, Blood appeared: with threa companions/ all armed with rapiers, daggers, and pistols, and as Mrs. Edwards was not ready to receive them, suggested that they should inspect'-the jewels to pass the time. Itfo sooner were they, in the jewel-room than a■• cloak wa'a thrown over Edwards'"s head. He attempted to scream, -but'•,was 'stabbed by, the robbers, who would have got off safely if they had Hot-stayed to file tho sceptre in halves, i They were interrupted in this operation--by the arrival oi; Edwards's son from Flanders. An alarm was raised; but Blood escaped with the crown and his friend with the orb.. The robbers were, however, captured, and ..the good-natured King, either amused or overawed by Blood's speeches—he confessed.that he was engaged in a design to shoot His Majesty, from among the reeds of Battersoa bankside—not only pardoned the robbers, but gave them an annual pension' of £500, and received them quite ia» tiinately; at his gajr court. --■ ■ - - .