On May 9, 1671, a peculiar heist unfolded at the Tower of London when Thomas Blood, an Irish adventurer with a flair for audacious schemes, attempted to steal the Crown Jewels. Disguised as a clergyman, Blood gained access to the jewel repository, where he and his accomplices overpowered the elderly keeper, Talbot Edwards, and managed to wrap the Royal Crown, Orb, and Scepter in a cloak.

Their brazen plan might have succeeded, were it not for Edwards' son unexpectedly returning and raising the alarm. Blood was captured, but instead of facing the typical punishment of execution, he was brought before King Charles II. In a twist that defied all expectations, the monarch was so impressed by Blood's audacity and charm that he not only pardoned him but also granted him land in Ireland worth £500 per year—an astronomical sum at the time.

This extraordinary event showcased the capricious nature of royal justice and Blood's remarkable ability to talk his way out of certain death, earning him the nickname "The Man Who Stole the Crown Jewels" and securing his place in the annals of historical hijinks.