rge their annual
tribute at the Land Regent's chamber. He has no right to interfere in
disputes or quarrels which the Gypsies have among themselves, or with
other people, further than to give notice of them to the regular courts
of the district, where they happen to be.

Grellmann.

SECTION IV.

Political Regulations on the Continent, respecting Gypsies.

* * * * *

To the ignorance and superstition of the middle age, must be attributed
the powerful ascendency which the Gypsies obtained over the minds of men.
In addition to the chiromantic deception, practised by the women, they
followed also the profession of exorcism; and were greatly in request
during the prevalence of a belief in witchcraft.

They were employed to cure bewitched cattle, and to loosen the spells of
enchantment; for which they had nostrums of various kinds, consisting of
roots and amulets, made of unfermented dough, marked with strong figures,
and dried in the sun.

For a long time little attention was paid to them, but at last the evil
became enormous, and complaints against them were so loud, that
Governments were constrained to take official notice of them. Exemplary
punishments were judged necessary; and, at length, the most cruel and
barbarous kinds were resorted to. What a blot upon the history of those
times, are the dreadful tortures of quartering alive, and breaking upon
the wheel! These means being insufficient to prevent the perpetration of
crimes; it was thought expedient to banish the Gypsies.

German waiters say, that King Ferdinand of Spain, who esteemed it a good
work to expatriate useful and profitable subjects--Jews, and even Moorish
families--could much less be guilty of an impropriety in laying hands on
the mischievous progeny of Gypsies. The edict for their extermination,
was published in the year 1492. But instead of passing the boundaries,
they only slunk into hiding-places, and shortly after appeared in as
great numbers as before.

The Emperor Charles V. persecuted them afresh; as did Philip II. also.
Since that time they have nestled in again, and have been also threatened
with another storm, but it has blown over without taking effect.

In France, Francis I. passed an edict for their expulsion; and at the
Assembly of the States of Orleans, in 1561, all Governors of cities
received orders to drive them away