he people of the country be swarte, and doth go disgisid in theyr
apparel, contrary to other nacions. They be lyght fyngerd and vse
pyking, they have litle maner and euyl loggyng, and yet they be
pleasant daunsers. Ther be few or none of the Egypcions yt doth dwel
in Egipt, for Egipt is repleted now with infydel alyons. Ther mony is
brasse and golde. Yf there be any man yt wyl learne parte of theyr
speche, Englyshe and Egipt speche foloweth."

And there duly follows a neat little Ollendorfian dialogue about meat and
bread, wine and beer, and such-like, in which Dr. Furnivall, Boorde's
editor, left it for Professor Zupitza to recognise excellent Romany. "Sit
you downe and dryncke," "Drinke, drynke for God's sake," are two of the
phrases. The interview was probably prolonged, perhaps renewed; Andrew
Boorde would find good fellowship with Gypsies.

No. 2 is _the_ Scholar-Gypsy, of whom, alas! we know all too little,
neither name nor dates, but only just what Joseph Glanvill tells in his
_Vanity of Dogmatizing_ (1661):--

"There was very lately a Lad in the _University_ of _Oxford_, who
being of very pregnant and ready parts, and yet wanting the
encouragement of preferment, was by his poverty forc'd to leave his
studies there, and to cast himself upon the wide world for a
livelyhood. Now, his necessities growing dayly on him and wanting the
help of friends to relieve him, he was at last forced to joyn himself
to a company of _Vagabond Gypsies_, whom occasionly he met with, and
to follow their Trade for a maintenance. Among these extravagant
people, by the insinuating subtilty of his carriage, he quickly got so
much of their love and esteem, as that they discover'd to him their
_Mystery_: in the practice of which, by the pregnancy of his wit and
parts, he soon grew so good and proficient as to be able to out-do his
Instructours. After he had been a pretty while well exercis'd in the
Trade, there chanc'd to ride by a couple of _Scholars_ who had
formerly bin of his acquaintance. The _Scholars_ had quickly spyed
out their old friend among the _Gypsies_, and their amazement to see
him among such society had well-nigh discover'd him: but by a sign he
prevented their owning him before that Crew: and taking one of them
aside privately, desired him with his friend to go to an _Inn_, not
far distant thence, promising there to come to them. They