A Historical Survey of the Customs, Habits, & Present State of the Gypsies Part 1

A Historical Survey of the Customs, Habits, & Present State of the Gypsies.

by John Hoyland.

INTRODUCTION.

The author of the following Survey, has frequently had opportunity of observing the very dest.i.tute and abject condition of the Gypsey race, in the counties of Northampton, Bedford, and Herts. The impressions received from viewing a state so derogatory to human nature, induced him to make numerous inquiries, in order to ascertain if necessity compelled their continuance, under circ.u.mstances so deplorable as their condition exhibited.

Not meeting with satisfactory intelligence on application to various individuals, to whose observation Gypsies are frequently presented, the author was excited to an examination of history, for the developement of a case involved in so much obscurity; and aggravated by circ.u.mstances so repugnant to the mild and genial influences of the Christian Religion.

He must not however omit to state, that in Northamptons.h.i.+re, William Allen, who is in the profession of the law, at Higham Ferrers, and Steward to Earl Fitzwilliam, very warmly interested himself on the subject. He said it afforded him much pleasure to find, that some attention was excited to the condition of the Gypsies, and that he should be glad to co-operate, as far as was in his power, in any measures likely to conduce to the reformation of this greatly neglected cla.s.s of British subjects.

He volunteered his services to find out the nearest Gypsey rendezvous, and soon procured information of an encampment which the writer visited.

An account of the visit will appear in the following sheets. The first a.s.surance that the Gypsies really had a language peculiar to themselves, which the author received, was from this intelligent and obliging professor of the law, who had heard children, as well as adults among them, speak it with great fluency.

He also observed, that the situation of this people daily became increasingly deplorable, in consequence of the establishment of a.s.sociations for the prosecution of felons; and that the fear of apprehension as vagrants, and the progressive inclosures near towns and villages, had a tendency to drive them to a greater distance from the habitations of man. And he was fully of opinion, as these houseless wanderers were expelled from Towns.h.i.+p after Towns.h.i.+p, without any provision being made for their refuge, that it was high time their case should obtain the consideration of the public.

Of the historic authorities whence the author has derived information and interesting observation, he has to place in the foremost rank, the Dissertation of the learned H. M. G. Grellmann, translated a few years since, by the late M. Raper, Esq. F.R.S. & A.S. He has, however, to acknowledge himself indebted to various other intelligent authors, whose writings will be noticed in the course of the work.

Another source of information, and which relates especially to the _present state_ of the Gypsies in Great Britain, has been opened through inquiries inst.i.tuted in most parts of the nation, by the author, aided by several obliging and able coadjutors. The results of these inquiries, it scarcely need be added, will be presented to the reader in their proper places.

The author has much regretted, that scarcely any of the splendid histories of Counties in England, and even those in which the Gypsies abound, have in the least noticed that part of the population which so strongly claims our attention. By bringing their situation into view, the historian might not merely have served the cause of humanity; he would have advanced the interest of the state, by promoting an object of so much public utility, as the improvement of the whole Gypsey race cannot fail to prove.

A comparative view of their customs and habits, and how far they appear coincident in different countries, may afford a criterion by which to judge if they have all had one origin. By thus tracing them to that source, we may possibly discover the occasion of their peculiarities; and if the means. .h.i.therto employed to counteract them, have proved unsuccessful, we may be prepared to consider of others, better adapted to correct the errors of their education.

Conceiving that any scheme for ameliorating the condition of the Gypsies, would not only be premature, but might prove highly injudicious, before obtaining a knowledge of their history, the author has endeavoured to collect, from the most authentic European authorities to which he could have access, a general view of this people, in the different parts of the world to which they have resorted; and from these and the other sources of information, he has subjoined accounts of their state in Great Britain, and of the suggestions offered by other individuals for their improvement; concluding the subject with a review of the whole, and proposing a plan to be set on foot for accomplis.h.i.+ng this desirable object.

SECTION I.

Various appellations of them-Their arrival in Europe.

The different appellations by which the People whom we denominate Gypsies, have been distinguished, appear generally to have had reference to the countries, from which it was supposed they had emigrated.

Grellmann states, that the French, having the first accounts of them from Bohemia, gave them the name of _Bohemiens_, Bohemians. That the Dutch apprehending they came from Egypt, called them _Heydens_, Heathens. In Denmark, Sweden, and in some parts of Germany, Tartars were thought of.

The Moors and Arabians, perceiving the propensity the Gypsies had to thieving, adopted the name _Charami_, Robbers, for them.

In Hungary, they were formerly called Pharaohites, (_Pharaoh Nepek_) Pharaoh's people; and the vulgar in Transylvania continue that name for them. The idea of the English appears to be similar, in denominating them Gypsies, Egyptians; as is, that of the Portuguese and Spaniards, in calling them _Gitanos_. But the name _Zigeuners_, obtained the most extensive adoption, and apparently not without cause; for the word _Zigeuner_, signifies to wander up and down-for which reason, it is said, our German ancestors denominated every strolling vagrant _Zichegan_.

The Gypsies are called not only in all Germany, Italy, and Hungary _Tziganys_; but frequently in Transylvania, Wallachia and Moldavia, _Cyganis_. But the Turks, and other Eastern nations name them, _Tschingenes_.

The origin of this people has been a subject of inquiry for more than three hundred years. Many persons have been anxious to discover "who these guests were, that, unknown and uninvited, came into Europe in the fifteenth century, and have chosen ever since to continue in this quarter of the globe."

Continental writers state, that it is incredible how numerous the hordes of this people are, and how widely dispersed over the face of the earth.

They wander about in Asia, the inferior of Africa, and have established themselves in most of the countries of Europe. Grellmann is of opinion, that America is the only part of the world, in which they are not known.

Though no mention appears to be made of them by Authors who have written on that quarter of the globe; yet no doubt remains, of their having been in Europe nearly four hundred years.

_Wilhelm Dilick_ in his HESZISCHEN _Chronik_, scit 229, beyn Jahr 1414, informs us they arrived the same year in the Hessian territories; but no mention of them appears in the public prints till three years afterward.

Mention is made of their being in Germany as early as the year 1417; when they appeared in the vicinity of the North sea. Fabricius, in _Annalibb Misn_, says, they were driven from Meissen in 1416, but Calvisius corrects this date by changing it to 1418.

Sir Thomas Browne in his "_Vulgar Errors_," page 287, says, "their first appearance was in Germany, since the year 1400; nor were they observed before in other parts of Europe, as is deducible from Munster, Genebrard, Krantzius and Ortelius."

In Germany they spread so rapidly, that in 1418, their names were recorded in the annual publications of various parts of the country.

They travelled in hordes, each having his leader, sometimes called _Count_, others had the t.i.tle of _Dukes_, or _Lords of Lesser Egypt_.

In 1418 they were found in Switzerland, and in the country of the Grisons; and in 1422 they made their appearance in Italy. The Bologna Chronicle states, that the hordes which arrived in that city, on the 18th of July, 1422, consisted of about one hundred men, the name of whose leader, or Duke as they termed him, was Andreas. They travelled from Bologna to Forli, intending to pay the Pope a visit at Rome.

Their appearance in France bears the date of 1427, when the French say, they straggled about Paris, having arrived on the 17th day of August in that year.

German Historians are agreed, that when the Gypsies first made their appearance in Europe, they chose to be considered as Pilgrims; and that their profession met with the more ready belief, as it coincided with the infatuation of the times. The learned Grellmann states, that several old writings mention the credulity, with which people cherished the idea, that they were real pilgrims and holy persons; that it not only procured for them toleration, but safe-conducts in many places.

Munster declares, that they carried about with them pa.s.sports and seals from the Emperor Sigismund, and other Princes; by means of which, they had free pa.s.sage through different countries and cities; and that he had himself seen, an attested copy of such a letter to the possession of some Gypsies at Eberbach.

Krantz, Stumpf, Guler, and Laurentius Palmirenus, all agree in this statement.. The Gypsies at Bologna also shewed an instrument from Sigismund; but he appears to have granted this to them, not as Emperor, and in Germany; but in Hungary, and as King of Hungary. A pa.s.s of Uladislaus II. might also be quoted, which the Gypsies obtained chiefly on account of their supposed sanct.i.ty and pilgrimage. In Transylvania, it is a.s.serted they received letters of protection from the House of Bathory.

Webner says, that the Gypsies in France quoted ancient privileges, granted to them by the former Kings of that country.

Crusius, Wurstisen, and Guler, mention papal permissions for wandering unmolested through all Christian countries, as long as the term of their pilgrimage lasted; which they a.s.serted was seven years. But at the expiration of that term, they represented that their return home was prevented by soldiers stationed to intercept them.

The impression their pretensions had made on the people among whom they came, did not entirely subside during half a century; but afterward, "the Gypsies being watched with a more jealous eye, it appeared but too clearly, that, instead of holy pilgrims, they were the mere refuse of humanity, who, often, under pretexts of safe-conducts, committed all manner of excesses."

Their impositions being detected, it is probable some of them were reduced to the necessity of having recourse to legitimate means of subsistence, for within thirty years afterward, we have accounts of Gypsies in Hungary being employed in the working of iron. This occupation, appears from old writings, to have been a favourite one with them. Bellonius also takes notice of its being so; and there is a record of the Hungarian King Uladislaus, in the year 1496, cited by the Abbe _Pray_ in his Annals; and by _Friedwalsky_ in his Mineralogy, wherein it is ordered, "_That every __officer and subject_, _of whatever rank and condition_, _do allow to Thomas Polgar_, _leader of twenty-five tents of wandering Gypsies_, _free residence every where_, _and on no account to molest him_, _or his people_; _because they had prepared military stores for the Bishop Sigismund at Funfkirchen_."

GRELLMANN.

SECTION II.

Accounts of the Gypsies in various countries.

To propose means for improving the condition of Gypsies, before we have informed ourselves of their real state, and what has been done for them, would be as injudicious, as for a Physician to prescribe for a patient, without being acquainted with the nature or extent of his disease, and the means attempted for his cure. To form a just opinion, on the case of the Gypsies, it appears necessary to ascertain their general habits, and their mode of life.

From Pasquier's _Recherches de la France_, B. IV. C. 9, is selected the following account of the Gypsies in that country: "On August 17th, 1427, came to Paris, twelve Penitents, _Penanciers_, as they called themselves, viz: a Duke, an Earl, and ten men, all on horse-back, and calling themselves good christians. They were of Lower Egypt, and gave out, that not long before, the Christians had subdued their country, and obliged them to embrace christianity, on pain of being put to death. Those who were baptized, were great Lords in their own country; and had a King and Queen there. Some time after their conversion, the Saracens over-ran their country, and obliged them to renounce christianity.

"When the Emperor of Germany, the King of Poland, and other Christian Princes, heard of this; they fell upon them, and obliged the whole of them, both great and small, to quit their country, and go to the Pope at Rome; who enjoined them seven years' penance, to wander over the world, without lying in a bed. They had been wandering five years when they came to Paris; first the princ.i.p.al people, and soon after the commonalty, about 100, or 120, reduced from 1000, or 1200, when they came from home; the rest being dead, with their King and Queen. They were lodged by the police, out of the city, at Chapel St. Denis

"Nearly all of them had their ears bored, and one or two silver rings in each, which they said were esteemed ornaments in their country. The men were black, their hair curled; the women remarkably black, all their faces scarred, _deployez_, their hair black, their only clothes a large old s.h.a.ggy garment, _flossoye_, tied over the shoulders with a cloth or cord, sash, _lien_, and under it a poor petticoat, _roquet_. In short, they were the poorest miserable creatures that had ever been seen in France; and notwithstanding their poverty, there were among them women, who by looking into people's hands told their fortunes. And what was worse, they picked people's pockets of their money; and got it into their own, through telling these things by art, magic, &c.