Page 77 of Traitors Gate

‘To use one of Mum’s favourite expressions, Dad,’ she said with an exaggerated sigh, ‘patience is a virtue.’

Beth burst out laughing.

‘At around seven o’clock on the morning of the ninth of May 1671,’ continued Artemisia before her father could respond, ‘Colonel Blood arrived at the Tower accompanied by three conspirators – his son Thomas, Robert Perot and Richard Halliwell, while a fourth conspirator, William Smith, remained by the outer gate with four horses so they could make a quick get-away.’

‘All three of them were known to have previous, as Dad would describe it,’ chipped in Peter.

‘Each of them,’ continued Artemisia, ignoring the interruption, ‘was armed with a sword stick, a dagger and a pair of pistols, as well as a sack.

‘After visiting Edwards that morning in the Martin Tower’ – a small finger returned to the map – ‘Blood asked if his three compatriots might be allowed to see the Crown Jewels and assured the jewel keeper that they would all be happy to pay a penny for the privilege.

‘Edwards took the four of them down to the jewel room and, once he’d unlocked the door, young Blood immediatelyoverpowered him while Perot shoved a plug of wood in his mouth. Halliwell threw a cloak over his head as the Colonel snatched his keys. Edwards, however, was a courageous man, and although he was alone, he put up a fight, so he ended up having to be bound and gagged while one of the thieves knifed him in the chest until he finally collapsed on the ground.

‘Blood then grabbed the State Crown and secreted it under his cloak, while Perot stuffed the orb in his breeches and the younger Blood cut the sceptre and cross in half before dropping the separate pieces into the sack. They locked the door behind them and left Edwards lying in a pool of blood while they made off with the Crown Jewels.

‘We even found an old engraving recording the incident,’ said Artemisia, proudly producing a sepia picture which she placed on the kitchen table beside the map. Beth and William began to applaud as they studied the picture.

Robert Perot, Colonel Blood, Richard Halliwell and Edwards, circa May 1671.

‘At the very moment they were making their escape,’ said Peter, ‘Edwards’ son Wythe, an army officer who had been serving in Flanders, arrived home on leave.’

‘And you expect us to believe that?’ said William.

‘Yes,’ said Artemisia. ‘Why wouldn’t you?’

‘Because you couldn’t get away with a coincidence like that in a novel!’

‘But this isn’t fiction, Dad,’ said Peter. ‘It’s fact.’

‘So what happened next?’ asked Beth, wanting to turn the page.

‘Blood and his fellow conspirators panicked, dropped the sack and fled to the East Gate, where they had left their horses, but they were pursued by Edwards’ son shouting, “Stop, thief! Stop, thief!”’

‘A Captain Minton Betham,’ continued Peter, ‘who was passing by at the time, took up the chase and quickly overpowered Blood, even though Halliwell fired two shots at him. The other two assailants didn’t get much further before they too were apprehended and later locked up in the White Tower, little B,’ said Artemisia, placing a finger on a building in the centre of the map.

‘I presume that Blood was hung, drawn and quartered?’ said William with some relish.

‘No, that’s the strange thing,’ said Peter. ‘He wasn’t. In fact, he was set free. However, there’s one final twist in this tale that neither of you are going to believe.’

‘The King made him Resident Governor of the Tower,’ suggested William, ‘and gave him a knighthood?’

‘Stop being silly, Daddy,’ said Artemisia firmly.

‘Then why wasn’t Colonel Blood hanged for stealing the Crown Jewels, not to mention knifing the Jewel House keeper?’ their father demanded. ‘Because he certainly deserved to be.’

‘No one can be sure,’ said Artemisia. ‘All we know for certain is that immediately after Colonel Blood had been locked up in the White Tower, he requested a private audience with the King, and to the Lord Chamberlain’s surprise and dismay, his request was granted.’

‘Mine too,’ admitted William.

‘It’s not certain what took place at that meeting,’ chipped in Peter, ‘because only the King and Blood were present and nothing was written down. What we do know is the King had made several enemies during his reign and Blood may have offered his services as a spy, because over the years he’d served both sides without fear or favour.’

‘He certainly would have known where the bodies were buried,’ chipped in Artemisia, using another of her father’s favourite expressions.

‘What we also know,’ continued Peter, ‘is a few days after that meeting took place, Blood and his compatriots were not only released from the Tower, but the rank of Colonel was restored to Blood, along with all his properties in Ireland, yielding him an annual income of five hundred pounds a year.’

‘He’s sounding more like Faulkner every moment,’ said William.

‘So what happened to Edwards?’ asked Beth, trying to get them back on track. ‘After all, he is the real hero of your story.’

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