| |
KF5JRV > TODAY 09.05.19 13:02l 35 Lines 1704 Bytes #999 (0) @ WW
BID : 35990_KF5JRV
Read: GUEST
Subj: Today in History - May 09
Path: IW8PGT<CX2SA<N3HYM<KF5JRV
Sent: 190509/1057Z 35990@KF5JRV.#NWAR.AR.USA.NA BPQ6.0.18
In London, Thomas Blood, an Irish adventurer better known as “Captain
Blood,ö is captured attempting to steal the Crown Jewels from the Tower
of London.
Blood, a Parliamentarian during the English Civil War, was deprived of
his estate in Ireland with the restoration of the English monarchy in
1660. In 1663, he put himself at the head of a plot to seize Dublin
Castle from supporters of King Charles II, but the plot was discovered
and his accomplices executed. He escaped capture. In 1671, he hatched a
bizarre plan to steal the new Crown Jewels, which had been refashioned
by Charles II because most of the original jewels were melted down after
Charles I’s execution in 1649.
On May 9, 1671, Blood, disguised as a priest, managed to convince the
Jewel House keeper to hand over his pistols. Blood’s three accomplices
then emerged from the shadows, and together they forced their way into
the Jewel House. However, they were caught in the act when the keeper’s
son showed up unexpectedly, and an alarm went out to the Tower guard.
One man shoved the Royal Orb down his breeches while Blood flattened the
Crown with a mallet and tried to run off with it. The Tower guards
apprehended and arrested all four of the perpetrators, and Blood was
brought before the king. Charles was so impressed with Blood’s audacity
that, far from punishing him, he restored his estates in Ireland and
made him a member of his court with an annual pension.
Captain Blood became a colorful celebrity all across the kingdom, and
when he died in 1680 his body had to be exhumed in order to persuade the
public that he was actually dead.
73 de Scott KF5JRV
Pmail: KF5JRV@KF5JRV.#NWAR.AR.USA.NA
email: KF5JRV@GMAIL.COM
Read previous mail | Read next mail
| |
