Took a copy of Chevy Chase to the scaffold with him
Sawney Douglas the son of a tanner was born in Port Patrick, Galloway in Scotland and is thought to have followed his father's trade until the civil war broke out in 1641 between Charles l's Cavalier army and Cromwell's Roundhead forces. Being a staunch Scot who was naturally opposed to the king, he joined the Parliamentarian army and took part in the siege of Dundee. In the end the city was taken by storm, the garrison put to the sword and after the bloody action Sawney boasted that twenty-nine of the defenders died at his hands.
When the war ended, the monarchy was restored, and Sawney having no means of earning a living set out for England. He travelled on foot, armed with a stout stick cut from a crab tree. As he was walking he met up with a gentleman's servant riding along the road. After striking up a conversation with the man, he walked alongside the horse for a while, and then seizing his opportunity clubbed the man to the ground and beat him insensible. After stripping the poor man of the guns he carried for protection, he mounted the horse and rode off. With a pair of guns and a horse Sawney now had the means to earn a living in a new trade, that of a Highwayman.
His first outing as a highwayman was in the Maidenhead Thicket in Berkshire, where he held up a Mr Thurston, the mayor of Thornbury in Gloucestershire, taking eighteen pounds from him. Although the gentleman begged him to leave him with fourteen shillings, so that he could get home, Sawney ignored him and left him to make his way home as best he could.
On another occasion he held up the Duchess of Albemarle and forced her to hand over rings to the value of two hundred pounds, in addition he also took from the lady, a pearl necklace, some bracelets and earrings, all valuable in themselves.
With a goodly sum of money in his pocket from the sale of the jewellery he outfitted himself in new clothes and posing as a gentleman of means, took lodgings in the house of Mr. Knowles, an Apothecary in Tuthil Street, Westminster. Also living in the house was the Apothecary's daughter, who was reputed to have a fortune amounting to £2,000, and being a red blooded man with an eye to a comfortable life, he wooed and bedded her. With the daughter enamoured, and the father convinced that she had found a good match, Sawney lived the life of a devoted beau for some while. But as time went by and the money in his pocket dwindled, he became mean and evasive, and realising that they were now seeing his true nature, the Apothecary and his daughter threw him out into the street.
Without funds, Sawney moved on and ranging in all directions brought chaos and terror to those who travelled the northern roads. At some point he became acquainted with the darling of the ladies, Claude Duvall and continued his acquaintance with the enterprising Frenchman until Jack Ketch intervened. (Jack Ketch was the nickname that the highwaymen used for the hangman.)
His last attempt at robbery was when he held up the Earl of Sandwich and the Earl furious at such a thing, drew his pistol and shot Sawney's horse from under him. As the highwayman lay stunned on the ground he was quickly overpowered by the Earl's servants and taken to Newgate prison. After his conviction he was transferred to Tyburn, where during his confinement, he behaved in a rude, indecent and profane manner and showed no repentance for his crimes. On the day of execution instead of carrying a bible to the scaffold, he took with him a copy of the Ballad of Chevy Chase.
Fifty three year old Sawney Douglas was hanged on the 10th of September 1664 and was buried in Tyburn Road.
ed on foot, armed with a stout stick cut from a crab tree. As he was walking he met up with a gentleman's servant riding along the road. After striking up a conversation with the man, he walked alongside the horse for a while, and then seizing his opportunity clubbed the man to the ground and beat him insensible. After stripping the poor man of the guns he carried for protection, he mounted the horse and rode off. With a pair of guns and a horse Sawney now had the means to earn a living in a new trade, that of a Highwayman.