[8] Taylor's Glory of Regality, p. 31.
[9] Richard III.
[10] In the Archæologia, vol. xv. art. 24, is "A true and perfect Inventory of all the Plate and Jewells now being in the Upper Jewell House of the Tower, in the charge of Sir Henry Mildmay, together with an appraisement of them, made and taken the 13th, 14th, and 15th daies of August, 1649;" containing the following account of "crowns," &c. demolished:—
| £. | s. | d. | |
| "The imperiall crowne of massy gold, weighing 7 lb. 6 oz. valued at | 1110 | 0 | 0 |
| The queene's crowne of massy gold, weighing 3 lb. 10 oz. | 338 | 3 | 4 |
| A small crowne found in an iron chest formerly in the Lord Cottingham's charge, &c.: | |||
| The gold | 73 | 16 | 8 |
| The diamonds, rubies, sapphires, &c. | 355 | 0 | 0 |
| The globe, weighing 1 lb. 5¼ oz. | 57 | 10 | 0 |
| Two coronation bracelets, weighing 7 oz. (with three rubies and twelve pearls) | 36 | 0 | 0 |
| Two sceptres, weighing 11 oz. | 60 | 0 | 0 |
| A long rod of silver gilt, 1 lb. 5 oz. | 4 | 10 | 8 |
"The foremencion'd crownes, since the inventorie was taken, are, according to ordr of Parliamt, totallie broken and defaced."
A second inventory, containing "that part of the regalia" found at Westminster, mentions "King Alfred's crowne of gould wyer worke, sett with slight stones, and 2 little bells, p. oz. 79½, at £3. per oz., £248. 10s. 0d."
[11] See Sir Edward Walker's Account of "The Preparations for His Majesty's Coronation," &c. 8vo. Lond. First printed 1820.
[12] Taylor, p, 65. The Saxon Chronicle says of the Conqueror: "He was very worshipful. Thrice he bore his king-helmet every year, when he was in England: at Easter, he bore it at Winchester; at Pentecost, at Westminster; in midwinter, at Gloucester. And there were with him all the rich men over all England," &c.—Sax. Chron. 189, &c.
[13] The following is Hume's account of this memorable project:—
"A little after [his attempt to carry off the Duke of Ormond], Blood formed a design of carrying off the crown and regalia from the Tower; a design to which he was prompted, as well by the surprising boldness of the enterprise, as by the views of profit. He was near succeeding; he had bound and wounded Edwards, the keeper of the Jewel Office, and had gotten out of the Tower with his prey; but was overtaken and seized, with some of his associates. One of them was known to have been concerned in the attempt upon Ormond; and Blood was immediately concluded to be the ring-leader. When questioned, he frankly avowed the enterprise, but refused to tell his accomplices. 'The fear of death,' he said, 'should never engage him either to deny a guilt, or betray a friend.' All these extraordinary circumstances made him the general subject of conversation; and the king was moved by an idle curiosity to see and speak with a person so noted for his courage and his crimes.... Blood might now esteem himself secure of pardon, and he wanted not address to improve the opportunity."—Charles eventually pardoned him, granted him an estate of £500. per annum, and encouraged his attendance about his person. "And while old Edwards, who had bravely ventured his life, and had been wounded in defending the crown and regalia, was forgotten and neglected, this man, who deserved only to be stared at and detested as a monster, became a kind of favourite."—Hume's England, Charles II.