CHAPTER XI HIGHWAYMEN 



ROBBERY has existed from the very earliest 

 times, and no doubt the socialistic dodlrine 

 that men should have all things in common 

 started with the first primeval man, who 

 by working strenuously amassed more goods than his 

 neighbours. These considered that by so doing he had 

 contravened their statutes, and at once proceeded to 

 readjust matters by appropriating that which he had so 

 hardly earned. This principle of taking from one man 

 to supply the wants of another was closely followed 

 throughout all ages, but those who took upon them- 

 selves thus to keep the balance of things were not looked 

 on kindly, and were, in fadl, spoken of unfavourably as 

 robbers. 



As the followers of this lucrative profession increased, 

 there began to be distindtions amongst them, and 

 robbers, foot-pads, and pickpockets, all indicated 

 different branches of their calling. Those in the very 

 front rank of all, the highwaymen, were such fine 

 fellows that they would have been very grievously 

 offended if anyone had presumed to call them rascals 

 and ruffians, as in very truth they were. 



Some of the earliest highwaymen were the Cavaliers;^ 

 who, when the Civil War ended so disastrously for their 



1 " Since the disbanding of the late army we heard of several 

 robberies and mischiefs committed in many places in England. 

 Many of the robbers having been seized and committed to 

 prison upon the same account," Newsletter. 



