|
Today the highwayman is a figure on horseback in a three-cornered
hat who holds up a mail-coach with pistols. However robbers go back
way before Dick Turpin, or Robin Hood. In England they took pride in
the belief that there were many robbers, and more so in England than
anywhere else. This demonstrated English toughness and daring....
Robbers were gentlemen, and robbery a gentleman's crime, taking
money from someone on the highway showed courage. Highwaymen ruled
the highways, maps weren't available until 1760, and sign posts
simply didn't exist. The word 'highwayman' came into the English
language in 1617 although examples of highway robbers date back to
medieval and Elizabethan times.
 Dick
Turpin is perhaps the most famous of highwaymen conjuring up images
of a dashing and daring criminal. The truth is rather less
impressive. Turpin's famous ride from London to York in less than 24
hours on his horse Black Bess does not contains a grain of truth.
In reality, Turpin's fictitious great ride was made by 17th-century
highwayman John 'Swift Nick' Nevison, who early one morning in 1676
robbed a homeward bound sailor on the road outside Gads Hill, Kent.
Deciding he needed to establish an alibi, Nevison set off on a ride
that took him more than 190 miles in about 15 hours
So I will be taking with me on my journey, Sword, Axe and a Dagger
Journey Provisions
Camp Site Weapons
Castle Feast
River Crossing
Market Inn
Fair Joist
End
Your on page 4 of 12, please visit the start of
the journey |
