er 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 title 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
l