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a corner where they have not committed some heavy offence。
'Father Martin Del Rio says they were notorious when he was in Leon
in the year 1584； as they even attempted to sack the town of
Logrono in the time of the pest； as Don Francisco De Cordoba writes
in his DIDASCALIA。 Enormous cases of their excesses we see in
infinite processes in all the tribunals； and particularly in that
of the Holy Brotherhood； their wickedness ascending to such a
pitch； that they steal children； and carry them for sale to
Barbary； the reason why the Moors call them in Arabic； RASO
CHERANY； （39） which； as Andreas Tebetus writes； means MASTER
THIEVES。 Although they are addicted to every species of robbery；
they mostly practise horse and cattle stealing； on which account
they are called in law ABIGEOS； and in Spanish QUATREROS； from
which practice great evils result to the poor labourers。 When they
cannot steal cattle； they endeavour to deceive by means of them；
acting as TERCEROS； in fairs and markets。
'Fifthly； because they are enchanters； diviners； magicians；
chiromancers； who tell the future by the lines of the hand； which
is what they call BUENA VENTURA； and are in general addicted to all
kind of superstition。
'This is the opinion entertained of them universally； and which is
confirmed every day by experience； and some think that they are
caller Cingary； from the great Magian Cineus； from whom it is said
they learned their sorceries； and from which result in Spain
（especially amongst the vulgar） great errors； and superstitious
credulity； mighty witchcrafts； and heavy evils； both spiritual and
corporeal。
'Sixthly； because very devout men consider them as heretics； and
many as Gentile idolaters； or atheists； without any religion；
although they exteriorly accommodate themselves to the religion of
the country in which they wander； being Turks with the Turks；
heretics with the heretics； and； amongst the Christians； baptizing
now and then a child for form's sake。 Friar Jayme Bleda produces a
hundred signs； from which he concludes that the Moriscos were not
Christians； all which are visible in the Gitanos； very few are
known to baptize their children； they are not married； but it is
believed that they keep the women in common； they do not use
dispensations； nor receive the sacraments； they pay no respect to
images； rosaries； bulls； neither do they hear mass； nor divine
services； they never enter the churches； nor observe fasts； Lent；
nor any ecclesiastical precept； which enormities have been attested
by long experience； as every person says。
'Finally； they practise every kind of wickedness in safety； by
discoursing amongst themselves in a language with which they
understand each other without being understood； which in Spain is
called Gerigonza； which； as some think； ought to be called
Cingerionza； or language of Cingary。 The king our lord saw the
evil of such a practice in the law which he enacted at Madrid； in
the year 1566； in which he forbade the Arabic to the Moriscos； as
the use of different languages amongst the natives of one kingdom
opens a door to treason； and is a source of heavy inconvenience；
and this is exemplified more in the case of the Gitanos than of any
other people。
'THE GITANOS OUGHT TO BE SEIZED WHEREVER FOUND
'The civil law ordains that vagrants be seized wherever they are
found； without any favour being shown to them； in conformity with
which； the Gitanos in the Greek empire were given as slaves to
those who should capture them； as respectable authors write。
Moreover； the emperor； our lord； has decreed by a law made in
Toledo； in the year 1525； THAT THE THIRD TIME THEY BE FOUND
WANDERING THEY SHALL SERVE AS SLAVES DURING THEIR WHOLE LIFE TO
THOSE WHO CAPTURE THEM。 Which can be easily justified； inasmuch as
there is no shepherd who does not place barriers against the
wolves； and does not endeavour to save his flock； and I have
already exposed to your Majesty the damage which the Gitanos
perpetrate in Spain。
'THE GITANOS OUGHT TO BE CONDEMNED TO DEATH
'The reasons are many。 The first； for being spies； and traitors to
the crown； the second as idlers and vagabonds。
'It ought always to be considered； that no sooner did the race of
man begin； after the creation of the world； than the important
point of civil policy arose of condemning vagrants to death； for
Cain was certain that he should meet his destruction in wandering
as a vagabond for the murder of Abel。 ERO VAGUS ET PROFUGUS IN
TERRA： OMNIS IGITUR QUI INVENERIT ME； OCCIDET ME。 Now； the IGITUR
stands here as the natural consequence of VAGUS ERO； as it is
evident； that whoever shall see me must kill me； because he sees me
a wanderer。 And it must always be remembered； that at that time
there were no people in the world but the parents and brothers of
Cain； as St。 Ambrose has remarked。 Moreover； God； by the mouth of
Jeremias； menaced his people； that all should devour them whilst
they went wandering amongst the mountains。 And it is a doctrine
entertained by theologians； that the mere act of wandering； without
anything else； carries with it a vehement suspicion of capital
crime。 Nature herself demonstrates it in the curious political
system of the bees； in whose well…governed republic the drones are
killed in April； when they commence working。
'The third； because they are stealers of four…footed beasts； who
are condemned to death by the laws of Spain； in the wise code of
the famous King Don Alonso； which enactment became a part of the
common law。
'The fourth； for wizards； diviners； and for practising arts which
are prohibited under pain of death by the divine law itself。 And
Saul is praised for having caused this law to be put in execution
in the beginning of his reign； and the Holy Scripture attributes to
the breach of it （namely； his consulting the witch） his disastrous
death； and the transfer of the kingdom to David。 The Emperor
Constantine the Great； and other emperors who founded the civil
law； condemned to death those who should practise such
facinorousness； … as the President of Tolosa has written。
'The last and most urgent cause is； that they are heretics； if what
is said be truth； and it is the practice of the law in Spain to
burn such。
'THE GITANOS ARE EXPELLED FROM THE COUNTRY BY THE LAWS OF SPAIN
'Firstly； they are comprehended as hale beggars in the law of the
wise king； Don Alonso； by which he expelled all sturdy beggars； as
being idle and useless。
'Secondly； the law expels public harlots from the city； and of t