He raised the money to redeem the diamond for himself from Giles Simpson, a goldsmith and pawnbroker at the Sign of the White Bear in Lombard Street.
Gilbert was questioned by Sir Richard Martin about the origin of the diamond and insisted he obtained it from a sailor at Limehouse, introduced to him by John Maddox from Ipswich.
At first sight Saunders had mistakenly thought it was a hat obtained by Sir Francis Drake from an "Indian king or viceroy" that a Captain Morris had described to him.
[3] Brook had dealings with Scottish merchants and diplomats, especially those who came to London to collect an annual subsidy or annuity given by Queen Elizabeth to James VI.
[4] The Earl of Lincoln pawned his best jewellery with Brook, and in October 1598 forfeited his "rarest chains and jewells".