A Corant On the Heath

Highwayman Claude Du Vall robbed a carriage on Hampstead Heath in the most courteous manner imaginable.

1660-1670

King Charles II 1649-1685

By William Powell Frith (1819-1909), via Wikimedia Commons. Licence: Public domain.

‘Claude Duval’ by William Powell Frith (1819-1909). Walter Pope (?-1714) tells us that Claude came over to England in the early 1660s, but drink turned him to robbery, and drink ultimately betrayed him. He was arrested — well-armed, but drunk and unresisting — and hanged on January 21st, 1670, at Tyburn. His crime was six counts of robbery, though none of murder: it seems that though he was a talented marksman he never did violence, but picked out carriages with ladies who simply could not resist his overwhelming personality.

Introduction

Claude Du Vall (1643-1670) was brought over to England by Royalist exiles shortly after the restoration of Charles II in 1660, as a stable-hand. He rose to footman under Charles Stewart, 3rd Duke of Richmond, but fell into debt through drinking, and embarked on a new career as a highwayman. Yet Du Vall was ever a gentleman, and in all the carriages he robbed, he apparently never shot anyone...

by Walter Pope ?-1714

original spelling

HE, with his Squadron, overtakes a Coach which they had set over night, having intelligence of a booty of Four Hundred Pounds in it:* In the Coach was a Knight, his Lady, and only one serving Maid, who perceiving five Horsemen making up to them, presently imagin’d that they were beset, and they were confirmed in this apprehension, by seeing them whisper to one another, and ride backwards and forwards: The Lady, to shew she was not afraid, takes a Flageolet* out of her pocket and plays; Du Vall takes the hint, plays also, and excellently well, upon a Flageolet of his own; and in this posture he rides up to the Coach side. Sir, sayes he, to the person in the Coach, your Lady playes excellently, and I doubt not but that she Dances as well; will you please to walk out of the Coach, and let me have the honour to Dance one Corant with her upon the Heath?* Sir, said the person in the Coach, I dare not deny any thing to one of your Quality and good Mind; you seem a Gentleman, and your request is very reasonable.

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1 2

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* A hundred pounds in the 1660s would be equivalent to a little over £15,000 today.

* A small, high-pitched wind instrument similar to a recorder. It may be pronounced /ˌfladʒəˈlɛt/ (as here), /ˈfladʒəlɪt/ or /ˈfla(d)ʒəleɪ/.

* The Courante is a baroque dance, in Italy somewhat lively, more sedate in France.

* Du Vall’s favourite haunt was Holloway between Highgate and Islington, and the heath was Hampstead Heath.

Précis

Shortly after Claude Du Vall was hanged in 1670, Walter Pope described how one spirited lady, when her carriage was stopped by the infamous highwayman and his men, had played a defiant tune on a pocket flute. Claude immediately whipped out his own, and played a merry duet before inviting her — with her husband’s permission — to step down and dance.

Jigsaws

Express the ideas below in a single sentence, using different words as much as possible. Do not be satisfied with the first answer you think of; think of several, and choose the best.

Du Vall stopped a coach. There were £400 hidden under the seat. Du Vall knew this.

See if you can include one or more of these words in your answer.

IAware. IIConceal. IIIWho.

Clay Lane The Copybook

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