nt, or at least to encourage their migration
to this Island. The importation of these people must have been prevalent
from some cause, to require parliamentary interference, and even a fine
to prevent it, of such an amount as 40 pounds; which according to the
relative value of money, would, at the present time, be equal to a large
sum.

During the same reign, we find that a number of Gypsies were reshipped at
the public expense, and sent to France.

In the Book of Receipts and Payments, of the 35th of Henry VIII. are the
following entries.

"Nett Payments 1st Sept. 36th of Henry VIII,

"Item to Tho. Warner, Sergeant of the Admyraltie, 10th Sept. for victuals
prepared for a shippe appointed to convey certaine Egupeians, 58s.--Item
to the same Tho. Warner to th' use of John Bowles for freight of said
shippe, 6 pounds 5s. Item to Robt. Ap. Rice, Esq. Shriff of Huntingdon
for the charge of the Egupeians at a special gaile delivery, and the
bringing of them to be conveied over the sees; over and besides the sum
of 4 pounds 5s. 0d. growing of seventeen horses, sold at five shillings
{82} the piece, as apperythe by a particular book, 17 pounds 17s. 7d.
Item to Will. Wever appointed to have the charge of the conduct of the
said Egupeians to Callis, 5 pounds."

There were subsequent acts relating to Gypsies in the reign of Ph. & M.;
and 5th of Eliz.; by which, "_If any person being_ 14 _years old_,
_whether natural born subject or stranger_, _who had been seen in the
fellowship of such persons_, _or had disguised himself like them_,
_should remain with them one month at once_, _or at several times_, _it
should be felony without benefit of clergy_."

But notwithstanding these measures to extirpate Gypsies, Wraxall, in his
History of France, Vol. II. page 32, in referring to the Act of Eliz. in
1563, states, that in her reign, the Gypsies throughout England were
supposed to exceed ten thousand.

And it appears by the following Order of Sessions, copied from the
Harleian M.S.S. British Museum, No. 364, that about the year 1586, there
were great complaints of the increase of vagabonds and loitering persons,
&c.

"Orders, Rules, and Directions, concluded, appointed, and agreed uppon,
by us the Justices of the Peace, within the countie of Suffolk, assembled
at our General Sessions of Peace, holden at Bury the 22d daie of Aprill,
in the 31st yeare of the Raigne of our Souraigne Lady, the Queen's
Majestie, for the punishinge