GYPSES, or EGYPTIANS, in our statutes, a kind of impostors and jugglers, who disguising themselves in uncouth habits, sneering their faces and bodies, and framing to themselves a canting language, wander up and down, and, under pretence of telling fortunes, curing diseases, &c. abuse the common people, trick them of their money, and steal all that they can come at. There are several statutes made again them.
Egyptians coming into England are to depart the realm in fifteen days, or be imprisoned, by 22 Hen. VIII. cap. 10. And by 1 & 2 P. & M. cap. 4. any person importing them into this kingdom, shall forfeit forty pounds; and if they remain here above one month, or if any person, fourteen years old, consort with them, they are guilty of felony, without benefit of clergy; 5 Eliz. cap. 20. And we are informed by Sir M. Hale, that at one Suffolk assizes, no less than thirteen Gypses were executed upon these statutes, a few years before the Restoration. See also 39 Eliz. cap. 4. & 2. 17 & Geo II. cap. 5. & 2.
The origin of this tribe of vagabonds is somewhat obscure; at least, the reason of the denomination is so. It is certain, the ancient Egyptians had the character of great cheats, and were famous for the subtlety of their impostures; whence the name might afterwards pass proverbially into other languages, as it is pretty certain it did into the Greek and Latin: on else, the ancient Egyptians, being much versed in astronomy, which in those days was little else but astrology, the name was on that score assumed by these tellers of good fortune.
Be this as it will, there is scarce any country of Europe but has its Egyptians, though not all of them under that denomination: the Latins call them Aegyptii; the Italians, Cingari and Cingari; the Germans, Zigeuner; the French, Bohemians; others, Saracens; and others, Tartars, &c.
Münster, Geogr. lib. iii. cap. 5. relates, that they made their first appearance in Germany in 1417, exceedingly tawny and sun-burnt, and in pitiful array, though they affected quality, and travelled with a train of hunting-dogs after them, like nobles. The above date should probably have been 1517, as Münster himself owns he never saw any till 1524. He adds, that they had passports from king Sigismund of Bohemia, and other princes. Ten years afterwards, they came into France, and thence passed into England. Several
Gypfies. ral historians inform us, that when sultan Selim conquered Egypt in the year 1517, several of the natives refused to submit to the Turkish yoke; but, being at length subdued and banished, they agreed to disperse in small parties over the world, where their supposed skill in the black art gave them an universal reception in that age of superstition and credulity. In a few years, the number of their profelytes multiplied, and they became formidable to most of the states of Europe. Pasquier, in his Recherch. lib. iv. chap. 19. relates a less probable origin of the Gypfies, thus: On the 17th of April 1427, there came to Paris twelve penitents, or persons, as they said, adjudged to penance, viz. one duke, one count, and ten cavaliers or persons on horseback: they took on themselves the character of Christians of the Lower Egypt, expelled by the Saracens; who, having made application to the Pope, and confessed their sins, received for penance, that they should travel through the world for seven years, without ever lying on a bed. Their train consisted of 120 persons, men, women, and children; which were all that were left of 1200, who came together out of Egypt. They had lodgings assigned them in the chapel, and people went in crowds to see them. Their ears were perforated, and silver-buckles hung to them; their hair was exceedingly black, and frizzled; their women were ugly, thievish, and pretenders to telling of fortunes. The bishop soon afterwards obliged them to retire, and excommunicated such as had shewn them their hands.
By an ordonnance of the estates of Orleans in the year 1560, it was enjoined all these impostors, under the name of Bohemians and Egyptians, to quit the kingdom, on penalty of the galleys. Upon this they dispersed into lesser companies, and spread themselves over Europe. The first time we hear of them in England, was in the year 1530, when they were described by the statute already cited, 22 Hen. VIII. cap. 10. They were expelled from Spain in 1591.
Ralph. Volaterranus, making mention of them, affirms, that they first proceeded or strolled from among the Uxii, a people of Persis or Persia.