A seventeenth century highwayman, known as, Gamaliel Hobgoblin.
Gamaliel Ratsey was born the son of well-to-do Richard Ratsey of Market Deeping in South Lincolnshire and was said to be a bit of a rogue even as a boy.
In 1600 he enlisted in the army led by Sir Charles Blount, served time in Ireland and was demobbed in 1603. After a short spell back in Lincolnshire he became bored and began his life of crime by robbing the landlady of an inn of forty-pounds. He next stole a horse from a landsman and became highwayman working on his own. Unfortunately he was caught and jailed for his former crime, but knowing that he faced the death penalty for the theft, he contrived a way of escaping from custody before the trial and did so wearing nothing but a shirt.
Now on the run from the authorities, Ratsey met up with and joined forces with a pair of villains called Snell and Shorthose, and extended his area of operations into East Anglia. The trio soon built a reputation for boldness in their robberies and Ratsey became known as Gamaliel Hobgoblin for his habit of wearing a horribly grotesque, full face mask, when about his nefarious business. Stories also began to circulate of Ratsey's treatment of those who's purses were a little on the light side; in such an instant he would make the poor man provide on the spot entertainment for himself and his companions. One victim, an actor, was made to stand and recite a passage from Hamlet, while yet another, a Cambridge Don, was forced to give a lesson in classics at the roadside. Despite his reputation for ferocity while about his business, it was said that he gave some of his ill-gotten gains to the poor.
Ratsey's short career as highwayman came to and end when Snell and Shorthose were captured, turned Kings Evidence and gave him up to the authorities. After his capture Ratsey was tried and hanged for crimes at Bedford on the 26th of March, 1605.
Cambridge Don, was forced to give a lesson in classics at the roadside. Despite his reputation for ferocity while about his business, it was said that he gave some of his ill-gotten gains to the poor.