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Robberies: Parrot

In this "robustious struggle" a large pearl, a fair diamond, and a number of smaller stones, were bulged from the crown; but both the former and several of the latter were subsequently "picked up" and restored. The balas ruby which had been broken off the sceptre was found in Parrot's pocket, so that nothing of considerable value was eventually lost. (In the account of this transaction given in the London Gazette, which was partly written before Hunt and his two companions were seized, is this passage:--"With the two that were taken were found the crown and the ball, only some few stones missing, which had been loosened by the beating of the crown together with the mallet or beetle spoken of.") Parrot (who had been a silk-dyer in Thames Street, and afterwards a lieutenant in the Parliament's service) was stopped by a servant, and Hunt, Blood's son-in-law, who had been waiting with the horses, was soon afterwards seized, together with two others of the party.