P
pibbur
Guest
Not entirely sure where to put this (true crime thread), but I choose to put it here. It's from an article on Wikipedia about Thomas Blood who on this verty day in 1671 tried to steal the english crown jewels. He was caught, and this is what happened next:
"Following his capture Blood refused to answer to anyone but the king and was consequently taken to the palace, bound in chains, where he was questioned by King Charles, Prince Rupert, the Duke of York, and other members of the royal family. The King asked Blood, "What if I should give you your life?" and Blood replied humbly, "I would endeavour to deserve it, Sire!"[3]
To the disgust of Lord Ormonde, Blood was not only pardoned, but also given land in Ireland worth £500 a year.[7] The reasons for the king's pardon are unknown. Some historians have speculated that the king may have feared an uprising in revenge by followers of Blood, who were thought to have taken an oath to their leader.[5] Others speculate that the king had a fondness for audacious scoundrels such as Blood, and that he was amused by the Irishman's claim that the jewels were worth only £6,000 as opposed to the £100,000 at which the Crown had valued them.[3]
There is also a suggestion that the king was flattered and amused by Blood's revelation that he had previously intended to kill the king while Charles was bathing in the Thames but had been swayed otherwise, having found himself in "awe of majesty".[4] It has also been suggested that his actions may have had the connivance of the king himself, because the king was very short of money at the time."
"Following his capture Blood refused to answer to anyone but the king and was consequently taken to the palace, bound in chains, where he was questioned by King Charles, Prince Rupert, the Duke of York, and other members of the royal family. The King asked Blood, "What if I should give you your life?" and Blood replied humbly, "I would endeavour to deserve it, Sire!"[3]
To the disgust of Lord Ormonde, Blood was not only pardoned, but also given land in Ireland worth £500 a year.[7] The reasons for the king's pardon are unknown. Some historians have speculated that the king may have feared an uprising in revenge by followers of Blood, who were thought to have taken an oath to their leader.[5] Others speculate that the king had a fondness for audacious scoundrels such as Blood, and that he was amused by the Irishman's claim that the jewels were worth only £6,000 as opposed to the £100,000 at which the Crown had valued them.[3]
There is also a suggestion that the king was flattered and amused by Blood's revelation that he had previously intended to kill the king while Charles was bathing in the Thames but had been swayed otherwise, having found himself in "awe of majesty".[4] It has also been suggested that his actions may have had the connivance of the king himself, because the king was very short of money at the time."