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each other； and mingle with the other inhabitants； and that they
shall hold no more meetings； neither in public nor in secret； that
the ministers of justice are to observe； with particular diligence；
how they fulfil these commands； and whether they hold communication
with each other； or marry amongst themselves； and how they fulfil
the obligations of Christians by assisting at sacred worship in the
churches； upon which latter point they are to procure information
with all possible secrecy from the curates and clergy of the
parishes where the Gitanos reside。
'2ndly。 And in order to extirpate； in every way； the name of
Gitanos； we ordain that they be not called so； and that no one
venture to call them so； and that such shall be esteemed a very
heavy injury； and shall be punished as such； if proved； and that
nought pertaining to the Gypsies； their name； dress； or actions； be
represented； either in dances or in any other performance； under
the penalty of two years' banishment； and a mulct of fifty thousand
maravedis to whomsoever shall offend for the first time； and double
punishment for the second。'
The above two articles seem to have in view the suppression and
breaking up of the Gypsy colonies established in the large towns；
more especially the suburbs； farther on； mention is made of the
wandering bands。
'4thly。 And forasmuch as we have understood that numerous Gitanos
rove in bands through various parts of the kingdom； committing
robberies in uninhabited places； and even invading some small
villages； to the great terror and danger of the inhabitants； we
give by this our law a general commission to all ministers of
justice； whether appertaining to royal domains； lordships； or
abbatial territories； that every one may； in his district； proceed
to the imprisonment and chastisement of the delinquents； and may
pass beyond his own jurisdiction in pursuit of them； and we also
command all the ministers of justice aforesaid； that on receiving
information that Gitanos or highwaymen are prowling in their
districts； they do assemble at an appointed day； and with the
necessary preparation of men and arms they do hunt down； take； and
deliver them under a good guard to the nearest officer holding the
royal commission。'
Carlos the Second followed in the footsteps of his predecessors；
with respect to the Gitanos。 By a law of the 20th of November
1692； he inhibits the Gitanos from living in towns of less than one
thousand heads of families （vecinos）； and pursuing any trade or
employment； save the cultivation of the ground； from going in the
dress of Gypsies； or speaking the language or gibberish which they
use； from living apart in any particular quarter of the town； from
visiting fairs with cattle； great or small； or even selling or
exchanging such at any time； unless with the testimonial of the
public notary； that they were bred within their own houses。 By
this law they are also forbidden to have firearms in their
possession。
So far from being abashed by this law； or the preceding one； the
Gitanos seem to have increased in excesses of every kind。 Only
three years after （12th June 1695）； the same monarch deemed it
necessary to publish a new law for their persecution and
chastisement。 This law； which is exceedingly severe； consists of
twenty…nine articles。 By the fourth they are forbidden any other
exercise or manner of life than that of the cultivation of the
fields； in which their wives and children； if of competent age； are
to assist them。
Of every other office； employment； or commerce； they are declared
incapable； and especially of being BLACKSMITHS。
By the fifth； they are forbidden to keep horses or mares； either
within or without their houses； or to make use of them in any way
whatever； under the penalty of two months' imprisonment and the
forfeiture of such animals； and any one lending them a horse or a
mare is to forfeit the same； if it be found in their possession。
They are declared only capable of keeping a mule； or some lesser
beast； to assist them in their labour； or for the use of their
families。
By the twelfth； they are to be punished with six years in the
galleys； if they leave the towns or villages in which they are
located； and pass to others； or wander in the fields or roads； and
they are only to be permitted to go out； in order to exercise the
pursuit of husbandry。 In this edict； particular mention is made of
the favour and protection shown to the Gitanos； by people of
various descriptions； by means of which they had been enabled to
follow their manner of life undisturbed； and to baffle the severity
of the laws：…
'Article 16。 … And because we understand that the continuance in
these kingdoms of those who are called Gitanos has depended on the
favour； protection； and assistance which they have experienced from
persons of different stations； we do ordain； that whosoever；
against whom shall be proved the fact of having； since the day of
the publication hereof； favoured； received； or assisted the said
Gitanos； in any manner whatever； whether within their houses or
without； the said person； provided he is noble； shall be subjected
to the fine of six thousand ducats； the half of which shall be
applied to our treasury； and the other half to the expenses of the
prosecution； and； if a plebeian； to a punishment of ten years in
the galleys。 And we declare； that in order to proceed to the
infliction of such fine and punishment； the evidence of two
respectable witnesses； without stain or suspicion； shall be
esteemed legitimate and conclusive； although they depose to
separate acts； or three depositions of the Gitanos themselves； MADE
UPON THE RACK； although they relate to separate and different acts
of abetting and harbouring。'
The following article is curious； as it bears evidence to Gypsy
craft and cunning：…
'Article 18。 … And whereas it is very difficult to prove against
the Gitanos the robberies and delinquencies which they commit；
partly because they happen in uninhabited places； but more
especially on account of the MALICE and CUNNING with which they
execute them； we do ordain； in order that they may receive the
merited chastisement； that to convict； in these cases； those who
are called Gitanos； the depositions of the persons whom they have
robbed in uninhabited places shall be sufficient； provided there
are at least two witnesses to one and the same fact； and these of
good fame and reputation； and we also declare； that the CORPUS
DELICTI may be proved in the same manner in these cases； in order
that the culprits may be proceeded agains