On this day, May 9, in 1671, Thomas Blood disguised himself as a clergyman in an attempt to steal the Crown Jewels of England from the Tower of London.

The Irish colonel had gotten to know the jewels’ custodian and convinced him to show him the jewels. Blood and his accomplices threw a cloak over the custodian, then hit, bound and stabbed him while they tried to smuggle the jewels away.