CROWN JEWELS.
ATTEMPTED THEFT. Early in April in the year 1671 a mild old country parson, cloaked and cassocked, and accompanied by his wife, called on Master Edwards, the Deputy-Keeper of the Tower of London, to see the Crown Jewels. It was the swashbuckling villain, Colonel Blood, in disguise. His wife was seized with a spasm at the sight of the Crown. She was restored with a cordial in Mrs Edwards’ private room, and later Blood gave Mrs Edwards four or five pairs of white gloves in gratitude. The acquaintance grew until, having bought Edwards’ pistols, Blood offered to wed the pretty Miss Edwards to his non-existent nephew who had, he said, £2OO to £3OO a year. On the morning appointed for the introduction of the young couple Blood arrived with three other ruffians, attired at respectable citizens. Blood suggetsed that they should look at the Crown Jewels while waiting for his wife. They entered the jewel chamber. As the octogenarian Edwards was bolting the door they threw a cloak round his head, gagged him with a plug of wood, put a clip on his nose, and hit him on the head with a mallet. Blood crushed the Crown and hid it in his parson's cloak, and another placed the Globe in his loose breeches. They were just going to file the Sceptre in half when the alarm was given, and Miss Edwards dashed out in the rich dress she hid put on to meet her suitor, crying: “Treasonl Treason! The Crown is stolen." After a chase the thieves were caught, Blood panting: “It was a bold attempt, but it was for the Crown." In the melee the Crown of England fell In the mire and many stones were lost. A pearl was afterwards found by a street-sweeper, and a diamond by an apprentice. The amazing fact is that Blood so frightened Charles It. with boasts of vengeance that, instead of Tyburn, he received £SOO a year pension, while Edwards and his son received only a £3OO Treasury grant for their trouble, and they were glad to sell it for half price in consequence of non-payment.
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Bibliographic details
Waikato Times, Volume 111, Issue 18653, 3 June 1932, Page 5
Word Count
356CROWN JEWELS. Waikato Times, Volume 111, Issue 18653, 3 June 1932, Page 5
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