Sir,
—I have recently returned from a visit to the Imperial War Museumin London. The display on the Home Front during the 1914–18 warincluded items relating to the Easter Rising. One of the items ondisplay was a banner belonging to Na Fianna Éireann. It was taken fromthe home of Constance Markiewicz in the aftermath of the events ofEaster week. I understand that some of the flags and emblems flown bythe rebels in 1916 were returned by the British authorities as part ofthe fiftieth anniversary commemorations in 1966. Surely such remainingitems should be repatriated in time for the centenary of the rising in2116? I would be interested in hearing from any History Ireland readerswho would be interested in campaigning for their return.
PAUL MOONEY
Norfolk
1671 Irishman Col. Thomas Blood stole the Crown Jewels of England from the Tower of London. Having switched sides during the English Civil War, during which he gained a reputation for intrigue and espionage, Blood lost most of his lands with the Restoration and thereafter conducted a terror campaign against the Stuart establishment. None of his operations were remotely successful. A conspiracy to take Dublin Castle and stage a coup d’état was easily foiled, forcing him to flee to the Continent with a bounty of £1,000 on his head. A year later he reappeared in a kidnap attempt on the duke of Ormond in London, which was also unsuccessful, as was an attempt to assassinate the king as he was taking a dip in the Thames. The theft of the royal regalia was similarly botched. Pursued by the guards, with the crown, globe and sceptre stuffed under their clothing, he and his accomplices were promptly arrested. Yet in terms of outcome the botched robbery was his one big success. Refusing to speak to anyone except the king himself, he admitted to all of his conspiracies and warned the king that he had many friends who would ‘expose his majesty … to the daily fear and expectation of a massacre’. On the other hand, were he free to use his experience in the spying profession as a secret agent for the royal administration, he could prevent such attacks. And his arrogance prevailed. Charles was won over and accepted his offer. Blood lived in comfort on a generous royal allowance for another decade. Whether his services were of any use is not known.