The Life of DEVAL.  
SHOWING How he came to be a Highwayman; and how he committed several Robberies afterwards.  
Together with his Arraignment and Condemnation. As also his Speech and Confession, at the place of Execution.  
Printed by W. R. and are to be sold in Westsmithfield, next Door to the Dolphin near Hosier-Lane end, 1669.   

 modern bookplate   

The Life of Deval, etc.  
LEwis Deval, alias John Brown, was born of French Parents, by whose care he was so Educated, that he was made capable of any Employment that might offer itself, that was either Gentile or profitable; Neither was Fortune more backward in assisting of him, than his Friends had been indulgent towards him; for no sooner is he come to be capable of any thing, but he is entered into the Service of a Person of Quality; where (if he had had as much Grace, as Nature had bestowed on him Parts) he might in time have acquired a considerable Preferment; but being wild, and very extravagant, he could not confine himself in his Expenses and Attendance, within the narrow bounds and limits of a Servant. He is acquainted with a parcel of lewd people, and he must have some new way to get money, if he means to be welcome; neither shall he need to go far for Advice, what Course he should take, those People being as excellent to persuade and encourage any unlawful ways of Getting, as they are Prodigal in Spending.  
He is not long unresolved what course to take, for being brought acquainted with a knot of High-way-men, (having before observed their way of living) a little persuasion now serves his turn; he resolves to make one with them; and in he falls, with this Resolution, Never to be taken alive.  
Now he goes on successfully, taking many rich Prizes, having found out a way how to be welcome to his Girls, and be as hearty embraced as the best of their Associates. Now Money comes in so fast, he hardly knows how to spend it, his Girls shall not have all, he hath something to spare for the Gamehouses, whither, with others of his Crew, he oft resorts.  
This way he concludes to be the best that ever he could have fallen into; yea, better than an Estate in Land; for he could not have his Rent till it were due, and many times should have a bad Tenant that would leave him in the lurch; neither is any Place he could have attained to be equalled with this; For now, if he wants Money, 'tis but taking his Horse and riding out, and he's a Poor Landlord and Tenant too, of whom Deval gets nothing, if he meets with them: assoon as one Parcel of Money is gone, 'tis but out and fetch in another; 'tis no matter who suffers for it, he resolves never to want so long as there is any Money in England; but when all is gone here, than he resolves for France, (if nothing happen that may hinder his Journey.)  
Another thing also that might move him to like this Course the better, was his not caring to die a natural Death; if a long Disease should afflict him, or the Gout should get him, and make him cry out, O his Legs, O his Toes, this does not like him, he had rather be hanged out of the way; but that he does not much like neither. He therefore resolves to die in the Field, and will think himself injured, if he be suffered to die in his Bed.  
Now Deval and his Consorts harass the Country to purpose, taking Rend from many Tenants before it is due, and giving them no Receipts for it: & as little kindness had they for Landlords, when they fell into their hands, taking all they could light on, though the Money were intended for some new Purchase; or for a Son or a Daughter's Portion: all's one to them, though the poor Girl lose a good Husband by it, which makes the poor Maids pray backwards for them; yet will they be thus kind to them, rather than they shall lead Apes in Hell, They will Truck with them for their Maidenheads, if they have a convenient opportunity; for which kindness, the Maids resolve to gratify them with their Prayers when they go to be hanged, and cry them up for the handsomest men they ever saw.  
But those which complain most, are the Poor Market folks, who are forced to lie in London all night, or else go home without their Money, which makes the Graziers come off by weeping-cross, the Money they should have had of the Butchers, for their Sheep, Oxen, and Hogs, being seized by Deval and his Consorts to spend on their Ladies. Now before we leave the Market folks, we will tell you how they served a Parcel of them. About a dozen or fourteen Market-Men and Women having been at London at Market, and made an end betimes, road merrily homewards with their Money, being very joyful they had done so soon, that they might escape robbing; but those that reckon without their Host, must reckon again, For coming up a narrow Lane, they were made to stand, and had their Money taken away one by one, their Hampers turned off their Horses, and every one set by their Hampers; so that it seemed to some Passengers that came by afterwards, as if they had been set down there on purpose to make an end of their Market: More kindness had two Gentlemen that were coming towards London, and were set upon by Deval and one other, coming up with their Pistols, and presenting them to their Servants breasts, took such money from them as they had in their Pockets, came up to one of the Gentlemen and took away his Sword and Belt, but meddled not with their money. Afterwards they restored the Sword and Belt, declared their names, called the Gentlemen by theirs, told them they would not have meddled with them, but that they had but four shillings among twelve of them, that they would pay it them again on any place of the Road they would appoint. Deval telling one of the Gentlemen how he was armed, what number of Pistols he had ready charged, and that he was resolved never to be taken alive; for he knew he should be hanged if he were.  
But thus they must not go on always, Sweet Meat will have sour Sauce, else it will spoil the Proverb. They have used the Trade so long (and there are so many Outcries after them) that many of their haunts are found out, and they begin to be taken notice of: some of them are seized about London, Tried, Condemned, and Executed; which, though it at present broke their haunts; and made them more careful; yet did it not put an end to that way of living, they have tasted the sweet of it, and resolve that nothing but death shall part them; And it is not long ere another Parcel of them are taken, and very kindly parted at the Gallows.  
But though so many are taken about London, and other Places about the Country, yet Deval escapes still, but it will not be long ere we hear of him: He goes on in the old Trade still, no warning will serve his Turn, he can but into France at last, which he means shortly to be (as he told a Gentleman he met upon the Road) who told him again, he would take his leave of the Gallows first; and he will now scape very well if he miss it. Little does he think where he must keep his Christmas, his Game is now almost at an end. He will still venture to come and spend his money with his old acquaintance, but it will cost him dear; his haunts are found out, and in one of them he is apprehended and carried before a Magistrate, by whom he is sent to Newgate. And because he shall not keep his Christmas alone, he shall have his Wife to keep him Company, and other his Consorts.  
In Newgate he carries it out very cheerfully, seeming to be very little daunted at what had befallen him, lamenting nothing more, then that he was not in a condition to die upon the Place when he was taken.  
On Friday, Jan. 14. He was carried down to the Session's House in the Old Bailie; where he had several Indictments read against him, to which he Pleads, Not Guilty, and then was convey●● back again to Newgate.  
On Saturday, Jan. 15. He was again carried down to his Trial, where, after the Examining of Witnesses, and Proving the Indictments, he was found Guilty by the Jury, and thence conveyed to Newgate again. The concourse of People both these days being such, as the like hath seldom been seen on such an Occasion.  
On Monday, Jan. 17. He was again carried down to the Session's House, where he received his Sentence to be carried back to the place from whence he came, and thence to be carried to the place of Execution, there to be hanged till he was dead, according to Law.  
Jan. 21. Monsieur Deval, was carried from Newgate to the Place of Execution, where being come, he spoke to this purpose; That he had taken many men's money, and had been a very lewd Liver, and that he had justly deserved this end he was come to; And that as he hoped for forgiveness from God, so he desired forgiveness from all whom he had any ways injured: After which he was turned off, and soon dead.   

Licenced  
Jan. 22. 1669. Roger L'Estrange.