" No further attempt
was made upon the Duke of Ormond's life.
Scarce six months elapsed from date of the essayed abduction,
before Blood endeavoured to steal the regalia and royal jewels
preserved in the Tower. The courage which prompted the design is
not more remarkable than the skill which sought to effect it;
both were worthy a man of genius. In the month of April, 1671,
Blood, attired in the cassock, cloak, and canonical girdle of a
clergyman, together with a lady, whom he represented as his wife,
visited the Tower on purpose to see the crown. With their desire
Mr. Edwards, the keeper, an elderly man and a worthy, readily
complied. It chanced they were no sooner in the room where the
regalia was kept, than the lady found herself taken suddenly and
unaccountably ill, and indeed feared she must die; before bidding
adieu to life, she begged for a little whisky. This was promptly
brought her, and Mrs. Edwards, who now appeared upon the scene,
invited the poor gentlewoman to rest upon her bed. Whilst she
complied with this kind request, the clergyman and Edwards had
time to improve their acquaintance, which indeed bade fair
towards speedily ripening into friendship.
And presently the lady recovering, she and her spouse took their
leave with many expressions of gratitude and respect. Four days
later, the good parson called on Mrs. Edwards, in order to
present her with four pairs of fine new gloves, which she was
pleased to receive.
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