A Historical Survey of the Customs, Habits, & Present State of the Gypsies. John Hoyland
The different appellations by which the People whom we denominate Gypsies, have been distinguished, appear generally to have had reference to the countries, from which it was supposed they had emigrated.
Grellmann states, that the French, having the first accounts of them from Bohemia, gave them the name of Bohémiens, Bohemians. That the Dutch apprehending they came from Egypt, called them Heydens, Heathens. In Denmark, Sweden, and in some parts of Germany, Tartars were thought of. The Moors and Arabians, perceiving the propensity the Gypsies had to thieving, adopted the name Charami, Robbers, for them.
In Hungary, they were formerly called Pharaohites, (Pharaoh Nepek) Pharaoh’s people; and the vulgar in Transylvania continue that name for them. The idea of the English appears to be similar, in denominating them Gypsies, Egyptians; as is, that of the Portuguese and Spaniards, in calling them Gitanos. But the name Zigeuners, obtained the most extensive adoption, and apparently not without cause; for the word Zigeuner, signifies to wander 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 leader, or Duke as they termed him, was Andreas. They travelled from Bologna to Forli, intending to pay the Pope a visit at Rome.
Their appearance in France bears the date of 1427, when the French say, they straggled about Paris, having arrived on the 17th day of August in that year.
German Historians are agreed, that when the Gypsies first made their appearance in Europe, they chose to be considered as Pilgrims; and that their profession met with the more ready belief, as it coincided with the infatuation of the times. The learned Grellmann states, that several old writings mention the credulity, with which people cherished the idea, that they were real pilgrims and holy persons; that it not only procured for them toleration, but safe-conducts in many places.
Munster declares, that they carried about with them passports and seals from the Emperor Sigismund, and other Princes; by means of which, they had free passage through different countries and cities; and that he had himself seen, an attested copy of such a letter to the possession of some Gypsies at Eberbach.
Krantz, Stumpf, Guler, and Laurentius Palmirenus, all agree in this statement.. The Gypsies at Bologna also shewed an instrument from Sigismund; but he appears to have granted this to them, not as Emperor, and in Germany; but in Hungary, and as King of Hungary. A pass of Uladislaus II. might also be quoted, which the Gypsies obtained chiefly on account of their supposed sanctity and pilgrimage. In Transylvania, it is asserted they received letters of protection from the House of Bathory.
Webner says, that the Gypsies in France quoted ancient privileges, granted to them by the former Kings of that country.
Crusius, Wurstisen, and Guler, mention papal permissions for wandering unmolested through all Christian countries, as long as the term of their pilgrimage lasted; which they asserted was seven years. But at the expiration of that term, they represented that their return home was prevented by soldiers stationed to intercept them.
The impression their pretensions had made on the people among whom they came, did not entirely subside during half a century; but afterward, “the Gypsies being watched with a more jealous eye, it appeared but too clearly, that, instead of holy pilgrims, they were the mere refuse of humanity, who, often, under pretexts of safe-conducts, committed all manner of excesses.”
Their impositions being detected, it is probable some of them were reduced to the necessity of having recourse to legitimate means of subsistence, for within thirty years afterward, we have accounts of Gypsies in Hungary being employed in the working of iron. This occupation, appears from old writings, to have been a favourite one with them. Bellonius also takes notice of its being so; and there is a record of the Hungarian King Uladislaus, in the year 1496, cited by the Abbé Pray in his Annals; and by Friedwalsky in his Mineralogy, wherein it is ordered, “That every officer and subject, of whatever rank and condition, do allow to Thomas Polgar, leader of twenty-five tents of wandering Gypsies, free residence every where, and on no account to molest him, or his people; because they had prepared military stores for the Bishop Sigismund at Fünfkirchen.”
grellmann.
SECTION II.
Accounts of the Gypsies in various countries.
To propose means for improving the condition of Gypsies, before we have informed ourselves of their real state, and what has been done for them, would be as injudicious, as for a Physician to prescribe for a patient, without being acquainted with the nature or extent of his disease, and the means attempted for his cure. To form a just opinion, on the case of the Gypsies, it appears necessary to ascertain their general habits, and their mode of life.
From Pasquier’s Recherches de la France, B. IV. C. 9, is selected the following account of the Gypsies in that country: “On August 17th, 1427, came to Paris, twelve Penitents, Penanciers, as they called themselves, viz: a Duke, an Earl, and ten men, all on horse-back, and calling themselves good christians. They were of Lower Egypt, and gave out, that not long before, the Christians had subdued their country, and obliged them to embrace christianity, on pain of being put to death. Those who were baptized, were great Lords in their own country; and had a King and Queen there. Some time after their conversion, the Saracens over-ran their country, and obliged them to renounce christianity.
“When the Emperor of Germany, the King of Poland, and other Christian Princes, heard of this; they fell upon them, and obliged the whole of them, both great and small, to quit their country, and go to the Pope at Rome; who enjoined them seven years’ penance, to wander over the world, without lying in a bed. They had been wandering five