Illustrious Thieves

"Here lies DuVall: Reader, if male thou art, Look to thy purse; if female, to thy heart. Much havoc has he made of both; for all Men he made to stand, and women he made to fall The second Conqueror of the Norman race, Knights to his arm did yield, and ladies to his face. Old Tyburn’s glory; England’s illustrious Thief, Du Vall, the ladies’ joy; Du Vall, the ladies’ grief." - Inscription on Claude Du Vall's grave.

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[onlylostphysics]

[oldtyburnsglory]

This sketch made me very very happy

[oldtyburnsglory]

Was the highwayman as financially supportive a lover as certain breeds of writer will have you believe?

Dashing, brave, dangerous and chivalric, the highwayman has often featured in those cheap paperback romances that some are more inclined to read. But I wouldn’t rely on your noble criminal to support you – his earnings were unreliable and inconsistent. They could range from the lavish jewels, valuables and thousands of pounds from the rich and wealthy, to a few pence from poor and simple travellers such as clergymen. 

[oldtyburnsglory]

Guess where admin went today...

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The Highwayman by MNat

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The Highwayman by TatjanaAgness.

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[oldtyburnsglory]

Bit of a lazy post I confess, but this chapter introduction is perfect.

(From The English Highwayman: A Legend Unmasked by Peter Haining.)

[justawasteof-time-blog]

[oldtyburnsglory]

Hey so ~apparently Captain James Hind was given a magic compass that, when he was in times of distress, pointed out the way to safety. 

Not being funny but 

[kirsteninglis-deactivated201604]

Foundation- Penny Dreadfuls

Based on a true story about a Highwayman called Claude Du Vall

[oldtyburnsglory]

I need this for my future child ok

[goodmorning-gandalf-blog]

James Hind-Royalist highwayman who only stole from Roundheads.

[katana-hal-fang]

I rented this costume for a performance! I absolutely adore it! I am singing a ballad called Sovay, it’s about Sovay who dresses as a highwayman to rob her fiancé as a test of his courage and love for her. Best day ever!

[oldtyburnsglory]

Sovay is one of my favouritest things ever, just so you know. (Less so the Celia Rees novel)

[the-beautiful-thief]

“A True ACCOUNT of the BEHAVIOUR, CONFESSION, AND Last Dying Speech, OF Capt . James Whitney, Who was Executed on Wednesday the 1st. of February, 1692. at the Portes-block in West-Smith-field: being Condemned at the Sessions last past, for Robbing on the High-Way, &c.”

From the Proceedings of the Old Bailey: http://www.oldbaileyonline.org/browse.jsp?id=OA16930201&div=OA16930201&terms=highway|men#highlight 

[merrickraven]

John Clavell (1601-1643): Highwayman, author, lawyer, physician. 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Clavell

[oldtyburnsglory]

The shooting of Thomas Morris by highwayman Dick Turpin by stoudaa.

[oldtyburnsglory]

18th Century England had by far the most robberies in Europe, yet also had the lowest murder rate. Considering both crimes carried the same punishment – death – it makes no sense that robbers didn’t just kill their victims and have done. But, they didn’t, and as Doctor Samuel Johnson pointed out at the time, “To equal robbery with murder is to reduce murder to robbery.” But, English Highwaymen’s noble chivalry prevented them from staining their hands in blood, preferring to let their victims continue their lives peacefully, if a little less wealthy.