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Robberies: Westminster

It seems that the Master of the Wardrobe himself, John de Drokenesford, was present in London on the king's affairs when the investigations into the robbery commenced. On June 20th he came to Westminster, where he was informed of the robbery, and in the presence of Ralph de Sandwich, Keeper of the Tower of London, two Justices of the King's Bench, the Mayor of the City, the Prior of Westminster, and others of the neighbourhood, "he produced the keys of the said treasury, which had been kept in a canvas pouch, sealed with the perfect seal of the King's Cofferer, and carried by him; and he took the said keys and opened the door of the treasury, and entered therein with the company assembled, and he found the treasury broken into, the chests and coffers broken open, and many goods carried away." An indenture describing with great minuteness the exact state of the case, was drawn up; and in this curious document we get a complete view of the interior of the vaulted chamber, and the anxious assembly investigating the extent of the damage so ruthlessly committed. It gives three lists, headed, "Jocalia dimissa in thesaurario," "Jocalia furtive surrepta de thesaurario Domini Regis et postea reinventa," and "Jocalia inventa in custodia Sacristae Westm'." It was evident however, at once, that many more valuables might have been carried off had the robbers been more accomplished in their craft, for there appears a long and goodly list of jewels, rings, and plate of various kinds, including the king's great crown and three other crowns embellished with precious stones, which had been left behind. The thieves had been embarrassed by the very richness of their spoils. The poor man who became a robber of the royal treasure because he had lost pound 14 17s., and who had for his confederates the servants of the palace and Abbey, might well have been afraid to seize the royal crown and other jewels.

It would have been simply impossible to have got rid of them or turned them to account. Obtained by the spoil of a castle or the sack of a town, the contents of the treasury would have been rich booty indeed, and would have afforded splendid trophies. As it was, and even at the reduced prices which robbers always obtain, had they not been disturbed, they would have been able to divide among themselves a sum equal to the whole proceeds of a subsidy levied upon the length and breadth of the land, and collected by the whole power of the State. That the robbers had not completed the work they had planned, is evident from the list of valuables which the party assembled in the chamber found upon the floor. With a feeling approaching to horror they must have picked from the dirt at their feet, "the ring with which the king was consecrated," and "the secret seal of the king's father," which were found among fragments of vessels of gold and silver, spoons, knives, and rings of various kinds.