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the one who appears to have been most scandalised at the want of
religion observable amongst them； and their contempt for things
sacred； was a certain Doctor Sancho De Moncada。
This worthy； whom we have already had occasion to mention； was
Professor of Theology at the University of Toledo； and shortly
after the expulsion of the Moriscos had been brought about by the
intrigues of the monks and robbers who thronged the court of Philip
the Third； he endeavoured to get up a cry against the Gitanos
similar to that with which for the last half…century Spain had
resounded against the unfortunate and oppressed Africans； and to
effect this he published a discourse； entitled 'The Expulsion of
the Gitanos；' addressed to Philip the Third； in which he conjures
that monarch； for the sake of morality and everything sacred； to
complete the good work he had commenced； and to send the Gitanos
packing after the Moriscos。
Whether this discourse produced any benefit to the author； we have
no means of ascertaining。 One thing is certain； that it did no
harm to the Gitanos； who still continue in Spain。
If he had other expectations； he must have understood very little
of the genius of his countrymen； or of King Philip and his court。
It would have been easier to get up a crusade against the wild cats
of the sierra； than against the Gitanos； as the former have skins
to reward those who slay them。 His discourse； however； is well
worthy of perusal； as it exhibits some learning； and comprises many
curious details respecting the Gitanos； their habits； and their
practices。 As it is not very lengthy； we here subjoin it； hoping
that the reader will excuse its many absurdities； for the sake of
its many valuable facts。
CHAPTER X
'SIRE；
'The people of God were always afflicted by the Egyptians； but the
Supreme King delivered them from their hands by means of many
miracles； which are related in the Holy Scriptures； and now；
without having recourse to so many； but only by means of the
miraculous talent which your Majesty possesses for expelling such
reprobates； he will； doubtless； free this kingdom from them； which
is what is supplicated in this discourse； and it behoves us； in the
first place； to consider
'WHO ARE THE GITANOS？
'Writers generally agree that the first time the Gitanos were seen
in Europe was the year 1417； which was in the time of Pope Martinus
the Fifth and King Don John the Second； others say that Tamerlane
had them in his camp in 1401； and that their captain was Cingo；
from whence it is said that they call themselves Cingary。 But the
opinions concerning their origin are infinite。
'The first is that they are foreigners； though authors differ much
with respect to the country from whence they came。 The majority
say that they are from Africa； and that they came with the Moors
when Spain was lost； others that they are Tartars； Persians；
Cilicians； Nubians； from Lower Egypt； from Syria； or from other
parts of Asia and Africa； and others consider them to be
descendants of Chus； son of Cain； others say that they are of
European origin； Bohemians； Germans； or outcasts from other nations
of this quarter of the world。
'The second and sure opinion is； that those who prowl about Spain
are not Egyptians； but swarms of wasps and atheistical wretches；
without any kind of law or religion； Spaniards； who have introduced
this Gypsy life or sect； and who admit into it every day all the
idle and broken people of Spain。 There are some foreigners who
would make Spain the origin and fountain of all the Gypsies of
Europe； as they say that they proceeded from a river in Spain
called Cija； of which Lucan makes mention； an opinion； however； not
much adopted amongst the learned。 In the opinion of respectable
authors； they are called Cingary or Cinli； because they in every
respect resemble the bird cinclo； which we call in Spanish
Motacilla； or aguzanieve （wagtail）； which is a vagrant bird and
builds no nest； （37） but broods in those of other birds； a bird
restless and poor of plumage； as AElian writes。
'THE GITANOS ARE VERY HURTFUL TO SPAIN
'There is not a nation which does not consider them as a most
pernicious rabble； even the Turks and Moors abominate them； amongst
whom this sect is found under the names of Torlaquis； （38）
Hugiemalars； and Dervislars； of whom some historians make mention；
and all agree that they are most evil people； and highly
detrimental to the country where they are found。
'In the first place； because in all parts they are considered as
enemies of the states where they wander； and as spies and traitors
to the crown； which was proven by the emperors Maximilian and
Albert； who declared them to be such in public edicts； a fact easy
to be believed； when we consider that they enter with ease into the
enemies' country； and know the languages of all nations。
'Secondly； because they are idle vagabond people； who are in no
respect useful to the kingdom； without commerce； occupation； or
trade of any description； and if they have any it is making
picklocks and pothooks for appearance sake； being wasps； who only
live by sucking and impoverishing the country； sustaining
themselves by the sweat of the miserable labourers； as a German
poet has said of them：…
〃Quos aliena juvant； propriis habitare molestum；
Fastidit patrium non nisi nosse solum。〃
They are much more useless than the Moriscos； as these last were of
some service to the state and the royal revenues； but the Gitanos
are neither labourers； gardeners； mechanics； nor merchants； and
only serve； like the wolves； to plunder and to flee。
'Thirdly； because the Gitanas are public harlots； common； as it is
said； to all the Gitanos； and with dances； demeanour； and filthy
songs； are the cause of continual detriment to the souls of the
vassals of your Majesty； it being notorious that they have done
infinite harm in many honourable houses by separating the married
women from their husbands； and perverting the maidens： and
finally； in the best of these Gitanas any one may recognise all the
signs of a harlot given by the wise king； they are gadders about；
whisperers； always unquiet in places and corners。
'Fourthly； because in all parts they are accounted famous thieves；
about which authors write wonderful things； we ourselves have
continual experience of this fact in Spain； where there is scarcely
a corner where they have not committed some heavy offence。
'Father Martin Del Rio says they were notorious when he was in Leon
in th