The Theft of the Crown Jewels

#crownjewels #toweroflondon #charlesii
In this video I look at the remarkable and surprising story of Thomas Blood, an Anglo-Irish soldier who in 1671 attempted to steal the Crown Jewels and very nearly got away with it. His story doesn't entirely add up, for despite this and many other crimes Charles II gave him not only a full pardon but lands and income too. People have questioned whether Blood was in fact a spy in the king's service and the theft a publicity stunt.
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[@chicktait5544]

Now that's a movie to be made!

[@ludovica8221]

I've always had a soft spot for Charles II. I feel he was a complex and interesting character, and his attitude to Col Blood shows there was a whole lot going on there that we can never know about

[@j0nnyism]

Yea I wonder whether he spied for him during the commonwealth period or his relationship with Buckingham helped him out. Who knows

[@dianespears6057]

What a well told story. Thank you.

[@Anubis81]

The adventures of Colonel Blood would make a great movie! I heard a story that the cross on the orb was crooked when it dropped on the ground and they never repaired it. And during the coronation I noticed it was indeed slightly crooked. Is there any truth to this story?

[@stepps511]

What a story! It's intriguing that Charles II would find Blood so "amusing". Again, Allan, thank you for sharing your knowledge.

[@chazzyb8660]

I grew up in London living next door to a descendant of the Colonel. Like his ancestor he was good company, and he quite enjoyed the connection to his 'notorius' precursor. The bit with the mallets makes the story rather less jolly though. Our friend didn't live in Whitehall, but the then less fashionable end of the Fulham Road, and he certainly celebrated his Anglo-Irish heritage. We did always wonder about the pension, though as far as we knew the money had long since run out. You filled out the story nicely, and if Thomas was anything like his descendant, the good companion the King discovered him to be makes complete sense.

[@allanbarton]

How interesting, thanks for sharing!

[@laurachapple6795]

"I like this guy... but I also wanna keep him at court where I can have him watched."

[@christinesuccop1812]

Terrific story. I knew there was an attempt to steal the Crown Jewels but never knew the details. The Jewels were the best part of my visit to the Tower in my opinion. Thank you❤👑

[@allanbarton]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@rhiannonpoole6019]

I'd guess it was sheer charm, I think Charles was tickled by Blood's cheek. I do love your illustrations to these videos, weren't those wigs magnificent. I'm still trying to picture how the orb could fall out of his breeches, though. Thank you for an entertaining video.

[@annettewillis2797]

What an incredible insight into the life and times of the 17th century! Blood was certainly enterprising and very slippery indeed. Even his name conjures up a certain derring do that reverberates through time. Charles II clearly liked and rewarded Blood's ability to talk his way out of anything and reinvent himself. Charles clearly didn't mind the damage to the crown in the fracas or the injury to the persons charged with its safe keeping. Many thanks Allan. Fascinating as always.

[@kaybrown4010]

“Keep your friends close and your enemies closer.”

[@teresakirby8827]

Thanks for the information - I'll be able to share it when I play the board game Outrage. It's a game based on the story of Blood which allows the players to also attempt to steal the royal jewels from the Tower. It's great fun although the rules are not particularly explicit. Based on what you said about Charles II's liking for characters like Blood, I'm reminded of the novel Restoration by Rose Tremain - it's worth a look.

[@marilynwoolford-chandler1161]

What an amazing story. You tell it so clearly and well, Alan

[@allanbarton]

Thank you, glad you enjoyed it!

[@terrygibbs1147]

Yet another excellent video. Thanks

[@allanbarton]

Glad you enjoyed it!

4:25 If you've been like me and been trying to figure out when Clarendon House was, it was directely opposite St. James Street, halfwar between what is on this map as Berkley House and Burlington House. It was later renamed to Abermarle House and now Abermarle street stands in its place.

[@allanbarton]

Yep, that's where it was. A great shame it's gone, it was one of the great houses of the 17th-century.

[@JonathanLight1]

Very interesting. Thank you.

[@allanbarton]

You're very welcome, glad you enjoyed it!

[@Zadir09]

I somewhat miss a word where you can just decide to be someone else and so long as you moved none would be the wiser 😅 And as always, thanks immensely for your videos. Thank you for including the stories and faces behind these famous historical occurrences, it’s comforting to see that people have always been a bit silly.

[@educanassa100]

Great video, Allan

[@allanbarton]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@EllenCFarmGirl]

Thank you Dr. Barton, as always, well done!❤

[@allanbarton]

Thank you, glad you liked it!

[@vinceplatini]

A very interesting story, never heard of that. Thanks! 👍🏻

[@allanbarton]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@jackmorrison7379]

The answer, hinted at in your excellent research and commentary, was Blood had a noble patron. A duke who didn't like that other noble whom Blood contended with in Ireland named Ormond. Buckingham was the patron and Charles was in his corner.

[@jilltagmorris]

Wow. What an episode Dr.!!! Thank you 😊

[@allanbarton]

Glad you liked it!

[@rodneybaldwin2278]

As always a great posting. Many thanks and best wishes from Dublin😀

[@allanbarton]

Thanks very much, glad you liked it!

[@a24-45]

What a gripping tale. Definitely movie material. This video prompted me to have a look online and there are indeed whole books written about Thomas Blood. On a side note, for 77-year-old jewelkeeper Talbot Edwards at the time of the theft to have a daughter of marriageable age (i.e. a teenager -- 12 years old was then the minimum legal age for girls to wed), he would have to have been in his mid 60s when she was born; and his wife would have had to be at least 25 years younger than himself, in order to still be of childbearing age. I'm guessing such age differences would not have been uncommon for that era.

[@glorias6517]

Fantastic

[@allanbarton]

Thank you, glad you enjoyed it!

[@Pharisaios]

A fascinating story, but the ending is the most unexpectable part. I was waiting for something gruesome, but OOPS

[@pixbychris3182]

One man with a charmed life of ever there was

[@allanbarton]

So it would seem!

[@ErwinDecoene]

I wonder what was done after the attempt? Who improved security and how?

[@nadiabrook7871]

Thomas Blood sounded like a VERY INTERESTING character!! Mind you, I wouldn't trust him as far as I could throw him!! 🤔💞👍❤

[@j0nnyism]

Charles was an easy going chap but this takes the biscuit!

[@robnewman6101]

A Century Time of Tragedy!

[@broadswordminiatures8008]

"....Dr. Ayloff...". I wonder if James came across this name connected with this story or some other place?

[@AulicExclusiva]

😂 Worthy of a Boulting Brothers' film!

[@cece3618]

Is there any indication of who Thomas 's children were? I belive he may be my 11th great grandfather but I am not 100% sure of the connection.

[@princerupert6161]

Kings spy from the get go. 👑👍

[@the_birthday_skeleton]

mayhaps twas Blood's own fascinations about the King's "slippr'y eele" that spared our fair and juste Majesty?

[@sweptashore]

Colonel Blood would amass a fortune if he were alive today -- infomercials, pyramid schemes, phishing, spam, cryptocurrency. He was simply born too soon. 😂

[@jimjam6598]

Wag1 blud

[@robnewman6101]

A Policeless Period.

[@robnewman6101]

Thanks.

[@jldisme]

Very interesting. Thank you!

[@allanbarton]

Glad you enjoyed it!