Highwaymen of the Deepings

Did Gamaliel Ratsey follow in the footsteps of Robin Hood or was he the ‘Gamaliel Hobgoblin’ as mentioned by Elizabethan writer, Gabriel Harvey?

One thing we know for sure and that is this highwayman was born in Market Deeping in the late sixteenth century into the respected family of Richard Ratsey, who was keen to give his children the best education and who held great promise for the future of his son, Gamaliel. However, as Gamaliel matured into a young man, he became disenchanted with the quiet life that the Deepings offered and decided to become a soldier, throwing his lot in with the Earl of Essex who went over to Ireland in 1599 to fight in what became known as the Nine Years War (1594-1603). English rule at that time was largely on the east coast of Ireland but during the sixteenth century there were designs to extend this control – it was not surprising that the Irish resisted this and under the leadership of Hugh O’Neill and Hugh Roe O’Donnell, waged war against the English.

It seems that Gamaliel took to army life. earning the commendations of his commanders, and he was promoted to the rank of Sergeant in the Company of Captain Langford, spending much of his time in Ireland in Carrickfergus. Ratsey returned to England with the Earl of Devonshire in 1603 heading back to his home in Market Deeping.