CHAPTER I.
_The first Appearance of Gipseys in Europe_.
NO record is to be found, stating in what year, or in what part of Europe, Gipseys made their first appearance. But it is to be premised, what will afterwards be investigated, that they did not originate in our quarter of the globe; on the contrary, that they strayed hither, as oriental strangers, either from Egypt, Asia Minor, or some other part: we shall then examine, whether it be not possible, by means of what is related in old writings concerning the first observance of them in different countries, to follow the track so as to ascertain where and when they first set foot on European ground.
Mention is made of them in Germany so early as the year 1417, when they appeared in the vicinity of the North Sea. A year afterwards we find them also in Switzerland and the country of the Grisons. In 1422 they likewise appeared in Italy. It is unknown what was the earliest period at which they were observed in France and Spain: but their appearance in these countries must have been of later date than in Germany, as is proved in respect to France, by the name Bohemians, which they bear there. In regard to Spain, Cordova, in order to contradict some surmises about the Gipseys’ mother country, uses the argument, that they were known in Germany prior to either Spain or Italy. The French make the first mention of them in 1427, when they straggled about Paris, having arrived there on the 17th day of August in that year.
From what country did they come into Germany?—Muratori thinks, from Italy: but how unfounded this opinion is, appears clearly from their coming to that country after they had been in Germany. The Bologna Chronicle ascertains the time when Italy became acquainted with these people. The horde therein mentioned, which arrived in that city on the 18th of July, 1422, consisted of about a hundred men; whose leader’s, or (as they called him) duke’s, name, was Andreas. They travelled from Bologna to Forli, intending to proceed to pay the Pope a visit at Rome. Muratori founds his judgment on this chronicle, not knowing that Gipseys are spoken of in the German prints five years earlier.
Still less true is what Majolus asserts, that they came from Spain, and first entered the German territories in the year 1492, when they were driven out of Spain by Ferdinand the Catholic. Hungary is certainly the country whence they came into Germany. Not only the time confirms this conjecture, as we find them in Hungary in 1417, the very same year in which they were first observed in Germany, but Aventin expressly mentions Hungary among the countries from which he supposes them to come.
In this state our examination rests, in regard to whether they came immediately into Germany, or first appeared stationary in some other place.
That Poland should be the country which harboured the first Gipseys, and that they spread thence into Wallachia, Transylvania, and other countries, is a mere arbitrary surmise. The writer (J. G. Eccard) who advances this opinion, appeals to Münster’s intelligence, but that does not contain a syllable in confirmation of it. Others, with the greatest confidence, maintain that Wallachia and Moldavia, where they also wandered about in 1417, are the places in which they made their first appearance in Europe. Cantemir, on the contrary, is very undecided, saying, “Whence, or at what time, this nation arrived in Moldavia, neither do they know themselves nor is there any mention made in our annual publications.” However, the second opinion seems to approach very near the truth, but does not point out the particular province in which the Gipseys were first observed;—Of what use would that be? But one information, compared with other circumstances, is of so much assistance here, that we may, without hesitation, pronounce Turkey to be the country whence these eastern guests found their way to us. This is probable—First, because Aventin expressly makes Turkey their original place of rendezvous: secondly, as this explains why the south-east parts of Europe are most crowded with Gipseys, as before stated (vide p. 7). It happened in Turkey, as in every other place through which they passed, that many of these wanderers remained behind; now, as all that came to Europe passed by this route, whether at once or in different divisions, it was possible, indeed a necessary consequence, that a greater number should continue here, than in the different countries where their hordes were much divided and diminished.
The time when they arrived, has been as little certified, as the particular place where they landed. Perhaps, the before-quoted chronicle of Bologna may afford some insight into this matter. It relates, as appears by the context, from the mouth of the leader of the horde which it describes, that these people had been five years wandering about in the world, previously to their arrival at Bologna. Now, if this account is to be depended on, they cannot have arrived in Europe earlier than the year 1417. But before attaching credit to this relation, we are to consider, whether the author of it be deserving of credit. To place any confidence in Gipsey narrations, in general, would be very imprudent; as there are too many proofs that their sayings are mere nonsense, and contradictory prattle: but the case in question seems to be an exception. All the inconsistency and falshoods which the Gipseys reported, concerning whence they came, with the reasons for their wandering, have an end in view. But with regard to time, if they knew, they are more to be trusted, as no injury could be expected to result from the knowledge of a mere date. Now, the inference to be drawn is, that the leader of a horde might not only know how long he had retired from Egypt, or Asia Minor, and travelled about in Europe, as the time had been short; but it may also be supposed, that he said what he knew. In the mean time, we will compare this cited term, of five years, with other circumstances, and see whether they make for or against our argument. The first enquiry would be, Whether there are any earlier authentic accounts of their appearance in Europe, than 1417? But we do not find such any-where. {113} The second question to be decided is, Whether, if they were not seen towards the Black Sea before 1417, they could in one year’s time have reached the North Sea? This doubt requires little consideration. A year was quite sufficient for people like the Gipseys, who never tarried long in a place, to have migrated even far beyond where they were found. Again, if they were not in Moldavia and Wallachia earlier than the year 1417, and yet appeared during the same year in the neighbourhood of the North Sea, what great difference would it make if they came from a province next beyond Moldavia or Wallachia, travelling a few miles further to arrive at the same place? It is therefore very credible that 1417 was the period of their arrival.
Although, immediately after their coming into Germany, they spread so rapidly, that in 1418 their names were recorded in the annual publications of almost every part of the country, yet particular places seem to have been favoured by them. Thus, in Bavaria they were not noticed till 1433; and they must have very quickly withdrawn themselves from these parts, as six years afterwards it was remarked, as somewhat new and extraordinary, that in this year (1439) the Gipseys, a pack of scoundrels, a vagrant gang, were come into that country, with their king, whose name was Zundl.
They did not travel together, but in different hordes, each having its leader, sometimes called count: at other times their leaders were dignified with the titles of dukes or kings of Lesser Egypt. One horde which arrived at Augsburgh in 1419, although it consisted of only seventy men, had even two of these dukes, beside some counts, with them. But what sort of creatures these great men among the Gipseys were, has been explained in another place. (Vide p. 72, _& seq._)
If Stumpf be right, the number of these people must have been very considerable. Those alone who came into Switzerland in 1718, women and children included, were estimated at 14000. But here he, or his authority, seems to have greatly miscounted. It is true, that he likewise remarks, they did not keep all together, but went about in separate parties; notwithstanding this, his account is much to be doubted. By what is to be found concerning particular hordes, there were none which exceeded one or at most two hundred. That which went to Augsburgh in 1419 consisted of but seventy men: therefore if they had been so numerous as Stumpf asserts, there must have been at least a hundred such hordes dispersed through Switzerland. It was at this time (1418) that Gipseys were first seen at Zurich; they were a swarm, whose leader’s name was Michael. Four years had elapsed before they were known at Basil—part of the very horde of this Michael. Would not some other tribe have got to Basil before these, if they had been so numerous? Thomasius adopts this number of 14000 without suspicion, and understands it to comprehend the whole multitude all over Germany; but then he does not appear to have quoted Stumpf’s testimony in the sense it was meant. Many hordes of them must certainly have arrived, as they spread every-where so prodigiously; but to persist in any nearer investigation of their numbers, would be only useless trouble.
Their possessions were, as at present, small, and their whole arrangement singular; besides which, according to the Eastern custom, they hung ragged clothes about them, instead of other garments. Their leaders only were exceptions. Several had horses, asses, or mules, with them, on which they loaded their tents, and effects, with the whole family into the bargain. They had also dogs in their train, with which Kranz asserts they used illegally to destroy game: but probably the dogs were kept not so much for that purpose, as to take fowls and geese.