Colonel Blood’s Beef With the Monarchy
King Charles I lost the English Civil War, and after he repeatedly betrayed the Parliamentarians who sought a constitutional solution, he was tried and beheaded. The monarchy was abolished, and England became a Commonwealth, then a Protectorate ruled by Oliver Cromwell. In the new regime, Colonel Thomas Blood was rewarded for turning coat with a big estate and was made a justice of the peace. He prospered, but in 1660 the monarchy was restored, and Charles I’s son assumed the crown as King Charles II. Blood lost all his lands, and in fear of reprisals, fled back to Ireland with his family. He was understandably unhappy with his reversal of fortunes and became an avowed enemy of the monarchy.
In a bid to retaliate – and recoup his losses while at it – Blood plotted to kidnap James Butler, 1st Duke of Ormonde and Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, and hold him for ransom. However, the plot failed. Blood’s brother, a coconspirator, was captured and executed for treason, while Blood fled to Holland with a price on his head. He returned in 1670 and hatched yet another plot to kidnap or kill Ireland’s lieutenant governor, which also failed. At that point, desperately short of funds, Blood decided to become a criminal and go for a huge score: he would steal the Crown Jewels of England.