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1817]
Scottish Gypsies.
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Elizabeth were deceived by their impostures. Both these monarchs, indeed, (particularly the former), were too much accustomed to use religion, as well as law, for a cloak to cover their own violent and criminal conduct, to be easily imposed upon by the like artifices in others. We find them accordingly using very little ceremony with the 'Egyptian pilgrims,' who, in several of their statutes, are described by such designations as the following:—'Sturdy roags,' 'rascalls, vacabonds,' 'masterless men, ydle, vagraunte, loyteringe, lewde, and yll-disposed persons, going aboute usinge subtiltie and unlawful games or plaie,'—'such as faynt themselves to have knowledge in physiognomye, palmestrie, or other abused sciences'—'tellers of destinies, deaths, or fortunes, and such lykefantasticall imaginatiouns.'

In king Edward's journal we find them mentioned along with other 'masterless men.' The following association of persons seems curious:—'June 22, 1549. There was a privy search made through Suffolk for all vagabonds, gipsies, conspirators, prophesiers, all players, and such like.[1]

A more distinct account of the English gypsies, on their first arrival, is to be found in a work quoted by Mr Hoyland, which was published in the year 1612, to detect and expose the art of juggling and legerdemain. "This kind of people," says the author, "about a hundred years ago, beganne to gather on head, at the first heere, about the southerne parts. And this, as I am informed, and can gather, was their beginning: Certain Egyptians banished their country, (belike not for their good conditions,) arrived heere in England, who for quaint tricks and devices not known heere at that time among us, were esteemed and had in great admiration; insomuch, that many of our English loyterers joined with them, and in time learned their crafty cozening." "The speach which they used was the right Egyptian speach, with whom our Englishmen conversing, at last learned their language. These people, continuing about the country, and practising their cozening art, purchased themselves great credit among the country people, and got much by palmistry and telling of fortunes; insomuch, they pitifully cozened poor country girls both of money, silver, spoons, and the best of their apparele, or any goods they could make." "They had a leader of the name of Giles Hather, who was termed their king; and a woman of the name of Calot was called queen. These riding through the country on horseback, and in strange attire, had a prettie traine after them." After mentioning some of the laws passed against them, this writer adds:—"But what numbers were executed on these statutes you would wonder; yet, notwithstanding, all would not prevail, but they wandered as before uppe and downe, and meeting once in a yeare at a place appointed; sometimes at the Peake's Hole in Derbyshire, and other whiles by Retbroak at Blackheath."[2]

It is probable that the gypsies entered Scotland about the same period in which they are stated by these accounts to have first pitched their tents in the sister kingdom. The earliest notice of them, however, that we have been able to discover in our national records, is contained in the celebrated writ of Privy Seal, passed in the 28th year of James V. (1540), in favour of "Johnne Faw, Lord and Erle of Litill Egipt." A complete copy of this document, which has been carefully collated with the original record in the Register House, will be found in another department of our Magazine. This writ was renewed by the Earl of Arran as Regent of Scotland in 1553, nearly in the same words.[3] It appears from these very curious edicts, that John Faw, under the character of 'Lord and Erle of Litill Egipt,' had formerly obtained letters under the Great Seal, enjoining all magistrates, &c. to support his authority "in executioun of justice vpon his cumpany and folkis, conforme to the laws of Egipt, and in punissing of all thaim that rebellis aganis him." He complains that certain of his followers had, nevertheless, revolted from his jurisdiction, robbed and left him, and were supported in their contumacious rebellion by some of the king's lieges;—"Sua that he (the said Johnne, thair lord and maister) on na wyse can apprehend nor get thame, to have thame

  1. ↑ Appendix to Burnet's Hist. of Reformation, vol. ii.
  2. ↑ Hoyland's Historical Survey.
  3. ↑ Registrum Secreti Sigilli, vol. xxv. fol. 62.
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