23. Stealing the Crown Jewels
England’s Crown Jewels were available for viewing, upon payment of a fee to their custodian. Blood disguised himself as a parson went to see the jewels with a female companion whom he presented as his wife, and befriended the Keeper. Over the following days, Blood ingratiated himself with the Keeper and his wife, whom he won over with gifts of fine gloves. He won them over even further by playing matchmaker, and proposing a marriage between a fictitious wealthy nephew, and the Keeper’s spinster daughter.
The Keeper, eager to finally marry off his daughter, invited Blood and his nephew to dinner. So on May 9th, 1671, Blood arrived for dinner with his “nephew” and two “relatives”. While waiting for dinner, Blood convinced the Keeper to show his nephew and relatives the jewels. Eager to impress his prospective son-in-law, the Keeper unlocked the door to the basement. Once inside, Blood and his accomplices threw a hood over the Keeper’s head, knocked him out with a mallet, stabbed him, then bound and gagged him.