CHAPTER XIII

Of Gypsies.

Great wonder it is not we are to seek in the original of _Æthiopians_ and natural Negroes, being also at a loss concerning the Original of Gypsies and counterfeit Moors, observable in many parts of _Europe_, _Asia_, and _Africa_.

[Sidenote: _Opinions concerning the original of Gypsies._]

Common opinion deriveth them from _Egypt_, and from thence they derive themselves, according to their own account hereof, as _Munster_ discovered in the letters and pass which they obtained from _Sigismund_ the Emperour; that they first came out of lesser _Egypt_, that having defected from the Christian rule, and relapsed unto Pagan rites, some of every family were enjoyned this penance to wander about the world; or as _Aventinus_ delivereth, they pretend for this vagabond course, a judgement of God upon their fore-fathers, who refused to entertain the Virgin _Mary_ and Jesus, when she fled into their Country.

Which account notwithstanding is of little probability: for the generall stream of writers, who enquire into their originall, insist not upon this; and are so little satisfied in their descent from _Egypt_, that they deduce them from several other nations [SN: _Fernand. de Cordua didascal. multipl._]: _Polydore Virgil_ accounting them originally _Syrians_, _Philippus Bergomas_ fetcheth them from _Chaldæa_, _Æneas Sylvius_ from some part of _Tartary_, _Bellonius_ no further then _Walachia_ and _Bulgaria_, nor _Aventinus_ then the confines of _Hungaria_.

That they are no _Egyptians_, _Bellonius_ [SN: Observat. l. 2.] maketh evident: who met great droves of Gypsies in _Egypt_, about Gran Cairo, Matærea, and the villages on the banks of _Nilus_, who notwithstanding were accounted strangers unto that Nation, and wanderers from foreign parts, even as they are esteemed with us.

[Sidenote: _Gypsies first known in Germany._]

That they came not out of _Egypt_ is also probable, because their first appearance was in _Germany_, since the year 1400, nor were they observed before in other parts of _Europe_, as is deducible from _Munster_, _Genebrard_, _Crantsius_ and _Ortilius_.

But that they first set out not far from _Germany_, is also probable from their language, which was the Sclavonian tongue; and when they wandred afterward into _France_, they were commonly called _Bohemians_, which name is still retained for Gypsies. And therefore when _Crantsius_ delivereth, they first appeared about the Baltick Sea, when _Bellonius_ deriveth them from _Bulgaria_ and _Walachia_, and others from about _Hungaria_, they speak not repugnantly hereto: for the language of those Nations was Sclavonian, at least some dialect thereof.

[Sidenote: _What use the Grand Signior maketh of Gypsies._]

But of what nation soever they were at first, they are now almost of all; associating unto them some of every country where they wander: when they will be lost, or whether at all again, is not without some doubt: for unsetled nations have out-lasted others of fixed habitations: and though Gypsies have been banished by most Christian Princes, yet have they found some countenance from the great Turk, who suffereth them to live and maintain publick Stews near the Imperial City in _Pera_ [SN: Bellon. observat. l. 2.], of whom he often maketh a politick advantage, imploying them as spies into other nations, under which title they were banished by _Charles_ the fift.