Robbed Ben Jonson, and attempted to rob the Duke of Buckingham
Walter Tracey, the younger son of a Norfolk landowner, was born in 1596. His father wanted him to go into the clergy and sent him off to Oxford to study theology. Tracy, however, had other ideas and instead of attending to his studies, set out to sample all the delights that were available in the University City. Such a course of action inevitably brought him into contact with a bad lot and it wasn't long before he was sent down in disgrace. His father disgusted by his son's behaviour, disowned and threw him out.
With no means of support Tracey took a job with a wealthy grazier and spent his time seducing the young ladies of the area, including his employer's daughter, who he eventually married. But the quiet life in the countryside soon paled and Tracy began to yearn for the bright lights of the city and persuaded his father-in-law and family to visit London. But having met up with some of his former cronies from University on the way, he went off drinking with them and while in their company decided that he would begin a new and more exciting life.
The next morning Tracey stole his father-in-law's wallet and set off for Coventry, where he relieved an innkeeper and his wife of eighty-five pounds.
Next he met a young man who was on his way to Oxford University to continue his education, and having made friends with the man, travelled with him on the road. Unfortunately for himself the man confided in him that he had with him sixty-pound. So Tracey took the mans bag, but the man spun such at tale of woe that the highwayman took out his wallet containing four-pounds and some change and gave it to him so that he would have enough to at least get him to his destination. As far as Tracy was concerned this small act of kindness was a fair exchange. After all he had the man's bag containing sixty pounds. So imagine his surprise when he reached a quite place, opened the bag and found that it contained some old clothes, a pair of socks with no feet and a pair of shoes, only one of which had a heel.
After this incongruous beginning Tracey learned a valuable lesson and went on to become a successful highwayman.
A few years later he was said to have waylaid Ben Jonson, the playwright and a poetic exchange took place. Jonson when faced with a pistol wielding bandit was reported to have quoted the following:
"Fly, villain, hence, or by your coat of steel
I'll make thy heart my leaden bullet feel,
And send that thrice as thievish soul of thine
To hell, to wean the Devil's valentine!"
To which, an unfazed Tracey replied:
"Art thou great Ben? Or the revived ghost
Or famous Shakespeare? Or some drunken host
Who being tipsy with thy muddy beer,
Dost think thy rhymes will daunt my soul with fear?
Nay, know base slave, that I am one of those
Can take a purse as well in verse, as prose,
And when thou art dead, write this upon thy hearse
'Here lies a poet who was robbed in verse' "
Tracy took from Jonson ten Jacobuses, and left him to continued his journey, unfortunately for the playwright his bad luck didn't end there, as he neared his destination he was set about by footpads who tied him to a tree and stole his horse.
After a very good run as a highwayman Tracey eventually accumulated enough wealth to retire. However after a while he was swindled out of his money and was forced to take to the road again. By Ill luck he attempted to hold up the Duke of Buckingham, was captured, sentence and executed at Winchester in 1634, at the ripe old age for a highwayman, of thirty-eight.
persuaded his father-in-law and family to visit London. But having met up with some of his former cronies from University on the way, he went off drinking with them and while in their company decided that he would begin a new and more exciting life.
Tracy took from Jonson ten Jacobuses, and left him to continued his journey, unfortunately for the playwright his bad luck didn't end there, as he neared his destination he was set about by footpads who tied him to a tree and stole his horse.