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by an act of parliament to the same effect—"Commanding the vagaboundis, sorneris, and commoun thieffis, commounlie callit Egyptianis, to pas furth of this realme, and nevir to returne within the samyn, vnder the paine of death," and declaring it lawful to all his Majesty's subjects, to apprehend and execute any of them that might be found in the country after a certain day, "as notorious and condemned thieffis—by ane assyse only to be tried that they are callit, knawin, repute, and haldin Egiptianis."^[1]

It appears, that not only the lower classes, but also many persons of note, either out of compassion, or from less reputable motives, still continued, after the promulgation of this law, and in spite of repeated reprehensions from the Privy Council, to afford shelter and protection to the proscribed Egyptians. In February 1615, we find a remission under the Privy Seal, granted to William Auchterlony of Cayrnie, for resetting^[2] of John Faw and his followers. On the 4th July 1616, the Sheriff of Forfar is severely reprimanded for delaying to execute some gypsies who had been taken within his jurisdiction, and for troubling the Council with petitions in their behalf.^[3] In November following, appears a "proclamatioun aganis Egyptianis and their ressettaris;^[4]--in December 1619, we find another proclamation against 'resetters' of them;^[5]—in April 1620 another proclamation of the same kind;^[6]—and in July 1620, a commission against 'resetters;' all with very severe penalties.^[7] The nature of these acts will be better understood from the following extract from that of 4th July 1816, which also very well explains the way in which the gypsies contrived to maintain their footing in the country, in defiance of all the efforts of the legislature to extirpate them.—"It is of treuthe, that the theivis and lymmaris foirsaidis, haueing for some shorte space after the said act of parliament (1609), . . . . . . . . . . . . .dispersit thame selffis in certane darne and obscure places of the cuntrey, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .thay wer not knawne to wander abroad in troupis and companies, according to thair accustomed maner; yitt shortlie thairefter, finding that the said act of parliament wes neglectit, and that no inquirie nor. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .wes maid for thame, thay begane to tak new breth and courage, and. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .vnite thame selffis in infamous companies and societies vnder. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .commanderis, and continuallie sensyne lies remanit within the cuntrie, committing alsweill oppin and avowed reiffis in all partis. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .murtheris, as pleine stouthe and pykarie, quair thay may not be maisterit; and thay do shamefullie and meschantlie abuse the simple and ignorant people, by telling of fortunes, and vsing of charmes, and a nomber of jugling trikis and falsettis, vnworthie to be hard of in a cuntrey subject to religioun, law, and justice; and thay ar encourageit to remane within the cuntrey, and to continew in thair thevish and jugling trickes and falsettis, not onlie throw default of the executioun of the said act of parliament, bot whilk is worse, that gritt nomberis of his Majestie's subjects, of whom some outewardlie pretendis to be famous and vnspotted gentilmen, hes gevin and gevis oppen and avowed protectioun, resett, supplie, and mantenance vpon thair ground and landis, to the saidis vagaboundis, sorenaris, and condampned thevis and lymmaris, and sufferis thame to remane dayis, oulkis, and monethis togidder thairvpoun, without controlement and with connivence and oversicht," &c.—"So thay do leave a foull, infamous, and ignominious spott vpoun thame, thair houses, and posteritie, that thay ar patronis to thievis and lymmaris," &c. &c.

There is still, however, sufficient evi-