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DELICTI may be proved in the same manner in these cases； in order
that the culprits may be proceeded against； and condemned to the
corresponding pains and punishments。'
The council of Madrid published a schedule； 18th of August 1705；
from which it appears that the villages and roads were so much
infested by the Gitano race； that there was neither peace nor
safety for labourers and travellers； the corregidors and justices
are therefore exhorted to use their utmost endeavour to apprehend
these outlaws； and to execute upon them the punishments enjoined by
the preceding law。 The ministers of justice are empowered to fire
upon them as public enemies； wherever they meet them； in case of
resistance or refusal to deliver up the arms they carry about them。
Philip the Fifth； by schedule； October 1st； 1726； forbade any
complaints which the Gitanos might have to make against the
inferior justices being heard in the higher tribunals； and； on that
account； banished all the Gypsy women from Madrid； and； indeed；
from all towns where royal audiences were held； it being the custom
of the women to flock up to the capital from the small towns and
villages； under pretence of claiming satisfaction for wrongs
inflicted upon their husbands and relations； and when there to
practise the art of divination； and to sing obscene songs through
the streets； by this law； also； the justices are particularly
commanded not to permit the Gitanos to leave their places of
domicile； except in cases of very urgent necessity。
This law was attended with the same success as the others； the
Gitanos left their places of domicile whenever they thought proper；
frequented the various fairs； and played off their jockey tricks as
usual； or traversed the country in armed gangs； plundering the
small villages； and assaulting travellers。
The same monarch； in October； published another law against them；
from St。 Lorenzo； of the Escurial。 From the words of this edict；
and the measures resolved upon； the reader may form some idea of
the excesses of the Gitanos at this period。 They are to be hunted
down with fire and sword； and even the sanctity of the temples is
to be invaded in their pursuit； and the Gitanos dragged from the
horns of the altar； should they flee thither for refuge。 It was
impossible； in Spain； to carry the severity of persecution farther；
as the very parricide was in perfect safety； could he escape to the
church。 Here follows part of this law：…
'I have resolved that all the lord…lieutenants； intendants； and
corregidors shall publish proclamations； and fix edicts； to the
effect that all the Gitanos who are domiciled in the cities and
towns of their jurisdiction shall return within the space of
fifteen days to their places of domicile； under penalty of being
declared； at the expiration of that term； as public banditti；
subject to be fired at in the event of being found with arms； or
without them； beyond the limits of their places of domicile； and at
the expiration of the term aforesaid； the lord…lieutenants；
intendants； and corregidors are strictly commanded； that either
they themselves； or suitable persons deputed by them； march out
with armed soldiery； or if there be none at hand； with the
militias； and their officers； accompanied by the horse rangers；
destined for the protection of the revenue； for the purpose of
scouring the whole district within their jurisdiction； making use
of all possible diligence to apprehend such Gitanos as are to be
found on the public roads and other places beyond their domiciliary
bounds； and to inflict upon them the penalty of death； for the mere
act of being found。
'And in the event of their taking refuge in sacred places； they are
empowered to drag them forth； and conduct them to the neighbouring
prisons and fortresses； and provided the ecclesiastical judges
proceed against the secular； in order that they be restored to the
church； they are at liberty to avail themselves of the recourse to
force； countenanced by laws declaring； even as I now declare； that
all the Gitanos who shall leave their allotted places of abode； are
to be held as incorrigible rebels； and enemies of the public
peace。'
From this period； until the year 1780； various other laws and
schedules were directed against the Gitanos； which； as they contain
nothing very new or remarkable； we may be well excused from
particularising。 In 1783； a law was passed by the government；
widely differing in character from any which had hitherto been
enacted in connection with the Gitano caste or religion in Spain。
CHAPTER XII
CARLOS TERCERO； or Charles the Third； ascended the throne of Spain
in the year 1759； and died in 1788。 No Spanish monarch has left
behind a more favourable impression on the minds of the generality
of his countrymen； indeed； he is the only one who is remembered at
all by all ranks and conditions； … perhaps he took the surest means
for preventing his name being forgotten； by erecting a durable
monument in every large town； … we do not mean a pillar surmounted
by a statue； or a colossal figure on horseback； but some useful and
stately public edifice。 All the magnificent modern buildings which
attract the eye of the traveller in Spain； sprang up during the
reign of Carlos Tercero； … for example； the museum at Madrid； the
gigantic tobacco fabric at Seville； … half fortress； half
manufactory； … and the Farol； at Coruna。 We suspect that these
erections； which speak to the eye； have gained him far greater
credit amongst Spaniards than the support which he afforded to
liberal opinions； which served to fan the flame of insurrection in
the new world； and eventually lost for Spain her transatlantic
empire。
We have said that he left behind him a favourable impression
amongst the generality of his countrymen； by which we mean the
great body found in every nation； who neither think nor reason； …
for there are amongst the Spaniards not a few who deny that any of
his actions entitle him to the gratitude of the nation。 'All his
thoughts；' say they； 'were directed to hunting … and hunting alone；
and all the days of the year he employed himself either in hunting
or in preparation for the sport。 In one expedition； in the parks
of the Pardo； he spent several millions of reals。 The noble
edifices which adorn Spain； though built by his orders； are less
due to his reign than to the anterior one； … to the reign of
Ferdinand the Sixth； who left immense treasures； a small portion of
which Carlos Tercero devoted to these purposes； squandering away
the remainder。 It is said that Carlos Terce