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Egypt； drove all the vagrants from his kingdom； forbidding them to
return under pain of death。 The Soldan of Egypt expelled the
Torlaquis。 The Moors did the same； and Bajazet cast them out of
all the Ottoman empire； according to Leo Clavius。
'In the second place； the Christian princes have deemed it an
important measure of state。
'The emperor our Lord； in the German Diets of the year 1548；
expelled the Gitanos from all his empire； and these were the words
of the decree： 〃Zigeuner quos compertum est proditores esse； et
exploratores hostium nusquam in imperio locum inveniunto。 In
deprehensos vis et injuria sine fraude esto。 Fides publica
Zigeuners ne dator； nec data servator。〃
'The King of France； Francis； expelled them from thence； and the
Duke of Terranova； when Governor of Milan for our lord the king；
obliged them to depart from that territory under pain of death。
'Thirdly； there is one grand reason which ought to be conclusive in
moving him who so much values himself in being a faithful son of
the church； … I mean the example which Pope Pius the Fifth gave to
all the princes； for he drove the Gitanos from all his domains； and
in the year 1568； he expelled the Jews； assigning as reasons for
their expulsion those which are more closely applicable to the
Gitanos； … namely； that they sucked the vitals of the state；
without being of any utility whatever； that they were thieves
themselves； and harbourers of others； that they were wizards；
diviners； and wretches who induced people to believe that they knew
the future； which is what the Gitanos at present do by telling
fortunes。
'Your Majesty has already freed us from greater and more dangerous
enemies； finish； therefore； the enterprise begun； whence will
result universal joy and security； and by which your Majesty will
earn immortal honour。 Amen。
'O Regum summe； horum plura ne temnas （absit） ne forte tempsisse
Hispaniae periculosum existat。'
CHAPTER XI
PERHAPS there is no country in which more laws have been framed；
having in view the extinction and suppression of the Gypsy name；
race； and manner of life； than Spain。 Every monarch； during a
period of three hundred years； appears at his accession to the
throne to have considered that one of his first and most imperative
duties consisted in suppressing or checking the robberies； frauds；
and other enormities of the Gitanos； with which the whole country
seems to have resounded since the time of their first appearance。
They have； by royal edicts； been repeatedly banished from Spain；
under terrible penalties； unless they renounced their inveterate
habits； and for the purpose of eventually confounding them with the
residue of the population； they have been forbidden； even when
stationary； to reside together； every family being enjoined to live
apart； and neither to seek nor to hold communication with others of
the race。
We shall say nothing at present as to the wisdom which dictated
these provisions； nor whether others might not have been devised；
better calculated to produce the end desired。 Certain it is； that
the laws were never； or very imperfectly； put in force； and for
reasons with which their expediency or equity （which no one at the
time impugned） had no connection whatever。
It is true that； in a country like Spain； abounding in wildernesses
and almost inaccessible mountains； the task of hunting down and
exterminating or banishing the roving bands would have been found
one of no slight difficulty； even if such had ever been attempted；
but it must be remembered； that from an early period colonies of
Gitanos have existed in the principal towns of Spain； where the men
have plied the trades of jockeys and blacksmiths； and the women
subsisted by divination； and all kinds of fraud。 These colonies
were； of course； always within the reach of the hand of justice；
yet it does not appear that they were more interfered with than the
roving and independent bands； and that any serious attempts were
made to break them up； though notorious as nurseries and refuges of
crime。
It is a lamentable fact； that pure and uncorrupt justice has never
existed in Spain； as far at least as record will allow us to judge；
not that the principles of justice have been less understood there
than in other countries； but because the entire system of
justiciary administration has ever been shamelessly profligate and
vile。
Spanish justice has invariably been a mockery； a thing to be bought
and sold； terrible only to the feeble and innocent； and an
instrument of cruelty and avarice。
The tremendous satires of Le Sage upon Spanish corregidors and
alguazils are true； even at the present day； and the most notorious
offenders can generally escape； if able to administer sufficient
bribes to the ministers （40） of what is misnamed justice。
The reader； whilst perusing the following extracts from the laws
framed against the Gitanos； will be filled with wonder that the
Gypsy sect still exists in Spain； contrary to the declared will of
the sovereign and the nation； so often repeated during a period of
three hundred years； yet such is the fact； and it can only be
accounted for on the ground of corruption。
It was notorious that the Gitanos had powerful friends and
favourers in every district； who sanctioned and encouraged them in
their Gypsy practices。 These their fautors were of all ranks and
grades； from the corregidor of noble blood to the low and obscure
escribano； and from the viceroy of the province to the archer of
the Hermandad。
To the high and noble； they were known as Chalanes； and to the
plebeian functionaries； as people who； notwithstanding their
general poverty； could pay for protection。
A law was even enacted against these protectors of the Gitanos；
which of course failed； as the execution of the law was confided to
the very delinquents against whom it was directed。 Thus； the
Gitano bought； sold； and exchanged animals openly； though he
subjected himself to the penalty of death by so doing； or left his
habitation when he thought fit； though such an act； by the law of
the land； was punishable with the galleys。
In one of their songs they have commemorated the impunity with
which they wandered about。 The escribano； to whom the Gitanos of
the neighbourhood pay contribution； on a strange Gypsy being
brought before him； instantly orders him to be liberated； assigning
as a reason that he is no Gitano； but a legitimate Spaniard：…
'I left my house； and walked about
They seized me fast； and bound：