Return of the Highwayperson?

With?The Completely Made-Up Adventures of Dick Turpin?(AppleTV+, from 1st March) and?Renegade Nell?(Disney+ premieres 29th March), are Highwaypeople back in vogue?

The Completely Made-Up Adventures of Dick Turpin:

Renegade Nell

Highwaymen/women stalked the lonely roads of England between?1650-1800, with a 'Golden Age' between 1660-1714, when unemployed soldiers resorted to larceny to earn their nut.

With the exponential increase of moped-assisted theft during the Tory Years of Austerity have we entered a new era of Highway Robbery?

Incidentally, my distant ancestor, the miscreant 'Quilt' Arnell, was a confederate of the notorious rogue 'Thief Taker' Jonathan Wild. An earlier Arnell (the Leveller leader Richard) was executed by Cromwell in 1647; yet another took part in Bacon's bloody Virginia Rebellion of 1676-77. He was also executed.

1676 Ann Cotton's Account of Bacon's Rebellion in Virginia

Which don, the Governour removes to his owne howse, to settle his and the countryes repose, after his many troubles; which he effected by the advice of his councel and an Assembly convein’d at the Greene Spring; where severall were condemned to be executed, prime actors in ye Rebellion; as Esqr. Bland, coll. Cruse, and som other hanged at Bacons Trench; Capt. Yong, of Cheekahominy, Mr. Hall, clarke of New-Kent court, James Wilson (once your servant) and one Leift. Collonell Page, (one that my Husband bought of Mr. Lee, when he kep store at your howse) all four executed at coll. Reads, over against Tindells point; and ANTHONY ARNELL (the same that did live at your howse) hanged in chanes at West point, beside severall others executed on the other side James River: enough (they say in all)

Other records:

1676/7, 9 Mar: The "Tryall of Life and Death" of Anthony ARNELL was held at Green Spring, the ruined home of Gov. BERKELEY. When Arnell was brought into court, "he boldly defended the right of the people to resist oppression." "It is well known that I have no kindess for Kings," he said. "They have no rights but what they gott by Conquest and by the Sword, and he that could by force of the Sword deprive them thereof, had as good and just a title to it as the King himselfe... If the King should deny to do right (I) would make noe more to sheathe (my) sword in his heart or Bowells than of (my) own Mortall Enemyes." For these and other treasonable words, this "horrible resolved Rebell and Traytor" was condemned to be "hanged in chaines in his own country, to be a more remarkable example than the rest." The Court was sorry that the country was not capable of executing the sentence for traitors as in England, which was to hang the victim for several minutes, cut him down while still alive, rip him open, cut off his head, then quarter him. 1676/7, 3 Mar: It is stated that he was convicted for "divers rebellious treasons and other misdemeanors and was sentenced to be hanged to death on the 15th instant." Commissioners Sir John BERRY and Col. William MORYSON reported to Sir Joseph WILLIAMSON that "they had advised the hanging in chains in his own country of one ARNELL, a horrible resolved rebel and traitor."

1676/7, 15 Mar: Was led back to New Kent Co., and hung at what is now the corner of 2nd and Main Sts., West Point, now in King William Co. There is a legend that he was hanged in chains on a mulberry tree and that descendants of that tree still survive near 2nd and Main Streets in West Point.

The earliest Arnell to set foot on American soil was a John 'Arundell' who came with Sir Walter Raleigh in 1585 when Roanoke Island, North Carolina was first explored. Arundell was the step-brother of Sir Richard Grenville who captained his ship with 108 men on board.

Apparently Greville, 'would carouse three or four glasses of wine, and in a bravery take the glasses between his teeth and crash them in pieces and swallow them down, so that often the blood ran out of his mouth without any harm at all unto him'

A more recent, less fractious (although he was married eight times) distant relative was the composer Richard 'Tony' Arnell (1917-2009):

Anyway, back to highway robbery on TV and film, some full movies and clips, including The Wicked Lady, Blackadder, Plunkett & Macleane, Barry Lyndon, Dick Turpin, Carry on Dick, Joseph Andrews, The Lady & The Highwayman (Hugh Grant as 'The Silver Blade') Sinful Davy and Where's Jack?

The Wicked Lady (1945) full movie

Blackadder Meets The Shadow - Blackadder The Third (1987)

Plunkett and Macleane Trailer (1999)

Barry Lyndon (1975) scene

Dick Turpin (1979-82)

Carry On Dick (1974) - Trailer

Joseph Andrews (1977) - scene

The Lady & The Highwayman (1988 - Hugh Grant as 'The Silver Blade') full movie

Sinful Davey (1969) full movie

Where's Jack? (1969) full movie

"Stand and deliver!

I'm the dandy highwayman who you're too scared to mention

I spend my cash on looking flash and grabbing your attention

The devil take your stereo and your record collection! (oh-oh)

The way you look you'll qualify for next year's old age pension!"

Adam Ant/Marco Pirroni