progenitours, for
the stanching of maisterful and idle beggars, away putting of Sornares,
and provision for the pure: bearing that nane sall be thoiled to beg,
nouther to burgh, nor to land, betwixt 14 and 70 zeires.

"That sik as make themselves fules, and ar bairdes, or uther sik like
runners about, being apprehended, sall be put into the Kinge's waird, or
irones, sa lang as they have ony gudes of their awin to live on. And fra
they have not quhairupon to live of their awin, that their eares be
nayled to the trone, or to an uther tree, and their eares cutted off, and
banished the countrie; and gif thereafter they be found againe, that they
be hanged.

"And that it may be knowen, qwhat maner of persones ar meaned to be idle
and strang begares, and vagabounds, and warthy of the punischement before
specified, it is declared: "That all idle persones ganging about in ony
countrie of this realm, using subtil, craftie, and unlawful playes, as
juglarie, fast-and-lous, and sik uthers; the idle peopil calling
themselves _Egyptians_, or any uther, that feinzies themselves to have a
knawledge or charming prophecie, or other abused sciences, qwairby they
perswade peopil, that they can tell their weirds, {89} deathes, and
fortunes, and sik uther phantastical imaginations, &c."

Notwithstanding this law, a writ of Privy Seal, dated 1594, supports John
Faw, Lord and Earl of Little Egypt, in the execution of justice upon his
company of folk, conform to the laws of Egypt, in punishing certain
persons there named, who had rebelled against him, left him, robbed him,
and refused to return home with him.

James' subjects are commanded to aid in apprehending them, and in
assisting Faw and his adherents to return home.

From all these circumstances, it appears that this John Faw, or two
persons of the same name and distinction, succeeding each other, staid a
long time in Scotland; and from him this kind of strolling people might
receive the name of Faw Gang, which they still retain, as appears by
Burn's Justice.

But the Scottish laws, after this time, were not less severe than those
of Queen Elizabeth. By an Act passed in 1609; "Sorners, common thieves,
commonly called Egyptians, were directed to pass forth of the kingdom,
under pain of death, as common, notorious, and condemned thieves."
Scottish Acts, I. 850.

SECTION VI.

The present State of the Gypsies in Scotland.

* * * * *

The