Stagecoach robber John Nevison (1639-1694) was nicknamed Swift Nick by King Charles II when the truth about his most famous exploit came to light.
After robbing a traveller near Rochester, Kent, Nevison, desperate for an alibi, devised an ingenious plan: to cross the Thames, gallop 200 miles (320 km) and reach York that day. Here, Nevison had a chat with the mayor, ensuring he was aware of the time (8pm), and made a bet at a bowls game.
The ruse worked, and during the trial the mayor of York became Nevison's alibi: the jury could not conceive of a man being physically capable of travelling such a distance in a single day, and the outlaw was found innocent.
incontro di Nevison con Re Carlo II , dipinto nel 1680