Famous People

Serial killers in the Middle Ages never got off the ground. Everyone knew everyone; you couldn't sneeze twice without the whole village knowing. Outlaws like the legendary Robin Hood were declared "ex-lege", outside or beyond the law and therefore denied all legal protection. If caught, he would most certainly have been executed, his property seized and his family made to suffer> An excellent deterrent I would think. Most outlaws fled justice after committing heinous crimes although many, presumably like Robin Hood, were men whose misdeeds were more political and, it is these outlaws who were portrayed in folklore as heroes rather than villains. Chances are most outlaws were a little of both. I'll give you an example. The most notorious outlaw during King John's reign was Eustace the Monk who rejected the ecclesiastical life for high adventure as a pirate, working in the service of the French king Louis. His feats of daredevilry ended abruptly off the coast of Sandwich when he was captured and beheaded. This was not an outlaw of folklore but a nasty piece of work who it is said dabbled in the art of necromancy.

After the King's death, she became the mistress of Lord Hastings. When Richard Gloucester (later King Richard III) had Hastings executed in 1483, Jane was accused of complicity in his treason and was arrested and imprisoned. She was made to do public penance as a whore through the London streets dressed only in her kirtle, carrying a candle. Richard's desire to discredit her backfired however since she bore herself with such dignity and grace that the public sympathized with her. More wrote that Richard 'spoiled her of all that ever she had ... and sent her body to prison'

Later, Richard's interrogator and solicitor Thomas Lynom met her in Ludgate Prison, fell in love and requested her hand in marriage. Richard must have been thunderstruck. He referred to Lynom's infatuation as a "full great marvel", so obviously he was not as captivated by her physical charms as so many others were which suggests more than a strong puritanical streak in his makeup. He asked Bishop Russell to try to talk some sense into Lynom. Eventually Richard relented and ordered her to be released from prison into the care of her father. Lynom married her and she dropped from history.
 

Good friend, for Jesus' sake forbeare
To Dig the dust enclosed here.
Blest be the man that spares these stones,
And curst be he that moves my bones.

Blood was a rogue. He had quite a checkered career before deciding, in 1671, that it would be a very nice idea to steal the Crown Jewels.

Disguised as an aged clergyman and accompanied by his 'wife', he sought permission to view the crown jewels. Worming his way into Edwards' confidence during the course of several visits, he complimented Edwards on his lovely daughter and suggested a match between her and his own nephew. As a further inducement, Blood informed Edwards that the nephew was quite wealthy.

Edwards readily agreed it and a meeting was arranged. Blood showed up with his nephew (really his son) and two other young gentlemen early on the morning of May 9th. All four carried walking sticks with rapier blades concealed in the shafts, plus daggers and pistols, carefully hidden. Blood talked Edwards into opening the jewel store so his friends might see the collection. Once Edwards opened the cupboard containing the jewels, Blood and his men seized him, tied him up and gagged him. Unfortunately for Edwards, he struggled and made as much noise as he could, so one of Blood's accomplices stabbed him.

In the midst of all this, Edwards' son arrived and Blood and his men were forced to leave with only some of the treasure stuffed inside their clothes. Blood had actually stepped on a crown to flatten it to make it easier to conceal.

When young Edwards found his father lying in a pool of blood, the alarm was raised. Blood tried to fight his way out of the Tower and actually made it to the wharf before he and the others were captured.

Strange as it may seem, Blood didn't fare too badly. Charles II was so taken by the fellow that he insisted upon meeting him. Captivated by Blood's outrageous charm and impertinence, his disarming rascality, Charles pardoned him, restored lands lost by him during the aftermath of the Civil War and granted him a pension. Odd, considering the crime. Rumour however suggested that Charles had actually proposed the theft to Blood with the understanding that Charles would share in the proceeds - he was chronically short of money. Another rumour also suggests that Blood did the deed on a bet or was employed by the King to win such a wager for him.

One thing is known for certain. Blood remained in the King's employ as a spy for the Crown for the rest of his days. His accomplices were fined and released. Edwards survived his ordeal and was rewarded with a grant of 200 pounds, but when the doctor bills started to arrive and he still hadn't received the promised grant, he was forced to surrender claim to it at a discount of 50% just to pay his bills. He died shortly afterwards.