hundreths and lymitts aforesaid,
shal be, by the warrante of any Justice of Peace, dwellinge in the same
hundreths or lymitts, committed thether and there be releived, punished,
sett to worke, and ordered in such sorte, and accordinge to the
directions, provisions, and limitations, hereafter in theis presents
declared and specified.

"Fyrst, That yt maie appeare what persons arre to be apprehended,
committed and brought to the House of Correction, it is ordered and
appointed, That all and every person and persons which shal be found and
taken within the hundreths and lymitts aforesaid, above the age of 14
yeares, and shall take upon them to be procters or procurators goinge
aboute withowt sufficiente lycence from the Queen's Majestie. All idle
persons goinge aboute usinge subtiltie and unlawfull games or plaie--all
such as faynt themselves to have knowledge in phisiognomye, palmestrie or
other abused sciences--all tellers of destinies, deaths or fortunes, and
such lyke fantasticall imaginations."

From the tenor of the above Ordinance, it might be inferred that, at the
time of issuing it, Gypsies, and their adherents, abounded in the County
of Suffolk; and it may be concluded, that they continued to attach
themselves to that part of the nation, as Judge Hale remarks, that "at
one Suffolk Assize, no less than thirteen Gypsies were executed upon
these Statutes, a few years before the restoration."

To the honour of our national humanity, however, Judge Blackstone
observes, there are no instances more modern than this, of carrying these
laws into practice; and the last, sanguinary act is itself now repealed.
The severe statute of 5th Eliz. c. 20 is repealed by 23d Geo. III. c.
51--and Gypsies are now only punishable under the Vagrant Act, which
declares, "that all persons pretending to be Gypsies, or wandering in the
habit, and form of Egyptians, shall be deemed rogues, and
vagabonds."--17th Geo. II. c. 5.

In Scotland, these people seemed for a time to enjoy some share of
indulgence; for a writ in favour of John Faw, Lord and Earl of Upper
Egypt, was issued by Mary, Queen of Scots, 1553; and in 1554, he obtained
a pardon for the murder of Numan Small.

In 1579, however all the legislative provisions respecting vagrants,
beggars, &c. in Scotland, were reduced into one law, by the following
very comprehensive statute: "Forameikle as there is sindrie loyabil Acts
of Parliament, maid be our soveraine Lord's maist nobil