The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1889-10-25
scorLANp,s ovpsles.


birSs necognsnod. Then Outtawe0-Ths
Romance and Death - 0ypsy King.
When the restless, wandering gypsy
crossed over from Europe TO Great
Britain he saw In the Scottish high
lands q country after his own heart
Hence many OF his tribe favored the
land north OF the Tweed with their
presence; and there are few counties
or cities in Scotland today that have
not an array of gypsy stories Of their
own. 1t was about the time of the
Tudors that the gypsies, or "Egyp-
tians," as they were called. made their
arst appearance in England, and their
invasion was largely in consequence
Of DEGREES Of expulsion issued in Spain,
Germany and France, and carried
into execution with heartless severity.
They met with scant welcome in Great
Britain, and early records speak of
them in such uncomplimentary terms
as sturdy roags," ''rascals," ''vaca-
bonds, masterless men, ydle, va
graunte, loiteringe, lewde and yll dis
posed persons, going aboute usinge
subtitle and unlawful games or plaie,"
'tellers OF destinies, deaths or for
tunes, and such lyke fantasticall i'm
aginations.
An expose of legerdemain and Jug
glery in 1912 says of the gypsies that
they came into the country about a
century previously, and that in spite
of repressive legislation and many ex-
ecutions, they still wandered uppe
and downe as before. and met once in
year at a place appointed. sometimes
at the Peake's hole at Derbyshire, and
at other whites by Retbrook at Black
heath" In Scotland the gypsies start
ed out under more suspicious circum-
stances and obtained recognition as
decent and law abiding colonists. In
the year 1540 James V issued writ
in favor of Johnnie Faw, Lord and
Erie of Little Egypt" Even prior to
this the .plucky Faw had secured let
tiers under the great seal, calling OF
all magistrates and village officers to
support his authority in execution of
justice upon his company in accord
ance with the laws of EGYPT and in
the punishment Of who rebelled
against him. The subsequent writ,
which was confirmed in 1853, bore re-
ference to rebellious gypsies, who
were mentioned by name, and who
were made subject to arrest by the
government authorities. Faw evil
IDENTIFY completely hoodwinked the
canny Scots of the Sixteenth century.
At last, however, the true CHI aracter
of the followers of Faw began to be
appreciated, and stringent act was
passed suppressing Elephants, bards,
minstrels and vagabond scholars"
Finally, in 1903, a measure of outlaw
ry was passed, and his majesty's sub
jects were called upon to arrest and
deal with the gypsies as with con-
demned thieves.
Vigorous measures Of oppression did
not wipe out the gypsies by any
means. On the contrary, they grew
and multiplied, and left throughout
the length of the land number of
the most remarkable records. Some
of the stories are undoubtedly true,
while others are only founded on fact,
but all are interesting and may be
valued as at any rate illustrative Of
the manners and customs of the times.
The elopement of the Countess of Cas-
silis with Johnnie Faa or Faw, one of
the gypsy knights of the last quarter
of the Sixteenth century, has been de-
scribed repeatedly, both in prose and
poetry, but the main facts appear to
have been these: The Earl of Cassilis
was bctrothed to q nobleman's daugh-
ter, who objected to the match, and
who was detected in clandestine meet
ing with a handsome, though low
bred, lover, who was no other than
Faw. Her relatives first upbraided,
then persuaded, and finally threaten
ed, SO that the gypsys sweetheart at
last became the Countess of Cassilis.
Faw waited for an opportunity, and
when this arose on the earl undertake
ing a journey, he collected his tribe
and prepared for an elopement or alb
diction.
1t turned out to be the former, for
the fair lady was nothing loath. The
gypsies and the maiden started south,
hoping to escape vengeance by cross
ing the border into England. But the
earl returned homo little sooner than
expected, and he lost no time in sum-
moning host and starting in pursuit.
Just on the border the fugitives were
overtaken, and battle ensued, in
which Faw and his followers were
slain. The earl ordered the fallen
gypsies to be beheaded, and took his
wife home. The unfortunate, if err
ing, woman was consigned to life
long Imprisonment in tower built
for the purpose at Maybole Ayrshire.
Eight heads carved in stone below one
of the turrets are pointed to by local
inhabitants as efiigies of the leaders of
the episode. st. Louis Globe-Demo-