90 THE DOVER ROAD 



morning in 1676, so early as four o'clock, committed 

 a robbery on this essentially " bad eminence," upon 

 the person of a gentleman, who, from some unexplained 

 reason, was crossing the hill at that unearthly hour. 

 This, by the way, seems to disprove the wisdom of the 

 early worm, who, to be caught, must of necessity be 

 up still earlier than that ornithological Solon, the early 

 bird. 'Tis a nice point. 



However, Master Nicks, w^ho was mounted on a bay 

 mare, effectually despoiled the traveller and rode away, 

 reaching York on the afternoon of the same day. 

 Dismounting there at an inn, he changed his riding- 

 clothes and repaired to the bowling-green, where he 

 found the Lord Mayor of York playing bowls with 

 several other tradesmen. The artful rogue, in order to 

 fix himself, the date, and the hour in that magistrate's 

 memory, made a bet with him upon the game, took an 

 opportunity to ask him the time, and by some means 

 contrived to give him occasion to bear in mind the day 

 of the month, in case he should chance to be arrested 

 on suspicion of the affair. Sure enough, he was 

 apprehended some time later, and when put upon his 

 trial the jury acquitted him, as they held it impossible 

 for a man to be at two places so remote in one day. 

 After his acquittal, all danger being past, he confessed 

 the truth of the matter to the judge, already doubtful 

 of the jury's wisdom, and the affair coming to the 

 knowledge of Charles the Second, his Majesty eke- 

 named this speedy road-agent " Swiftnicks." This 

 name conceals the identity of John, or William, 

 Nevison, who was executed on Knavcsmire, York, in 

 1685. His exploit in thus riding from near Rochester 

 to York is the original of the later, inferior and wholly 

 fictitious story of Dick Turpin's ride from London to 

 York, on Black Bess ; an exploit never performed 

 by him. 



One presently becomes more tolerant of Gad's Hill, 

 for, coming to Charles Dickens' house and the old 

 " Falstaff " inn, almost opposite, there opens a view 



