Daily Yellowstone journal., 1889-10-30
scoTLAND'S GYPS,-


Pirtt Recognized, Then Outlawed-Ths
Romance and Death OF Gypsy King.
When the restless, wandering gypsy
crossed over from Europe TO Great
Britain he saw IN the Scottish high.
lands country after his own heart
Hence M ny OF his tribe favored the
land nol il of the Tweed with their
presence, and there are few counties
or cilIos Ia Scotland today that have
not Iu array OF gypsy stories Of their
Own II WAS about the time OF the
Iudors that the gypsles, or "Egyp
tlans, as they were called, made their
first 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 hcarless severity.
They met with scant welcome in Great
Britain, aud early records speak of
them IN such uncumplimentary terms
as sturdy rOGgs, ''rasca.s, " 'vaca.
bonds. maStcrlCss men, ydlc, va.
g.9gntc. lOIteringe, lewde and yli dis.
posed persons, going abOute usinge
subtitle and unlawful games or plaie, "
"tcllgrs of destinies, deaths or for.
tunes, and such lyke fantasticall i'm
agna.Ions.
An expose of lcgerdCmain and jug.
glcry IN 1912 says of the gypsies that
they cagc into the country about a
century previously, and that in spite
OF Expressive legislation and many ex.
ecutiOns, they still wandered uppe
and dOwnc rs before, and met once iE
a year ata place appointed, sometimes
al the Peake's hole at Derbyshire. and
at other whiles by Retbrook at Black.
heath. In Scotland the gypsies start
ed out under more auspicious circum.
stances and obtained recognition rs
decen, and law abiding colouists. In
the year 1910 James V issued a writ
IN favor OF johnnie Faw, Lord and
Erie OF Little Egypt" Even prior to
this tlc plucky Faw had secured let
ters under the great seal, calling on
all magistrates and village officers TO
support his authority in execution of
justice upon his company in accord
ance with the laws of "Egipt,s and in
the punishment Of who rcbelled
against him. The subsequent writ,
which was confirmed in 1858, bore re.
ference TO rcbellious gypsies, who
were mentioned by name, aud who
were made subject to arrest by the
government authorities. Faw evi-
dently completely hoodwinked the
canny Scots Of the Sixteenth century.
At last, however, the true character
Of the followers Of Faw began TO be
appreciated, and a stringent act was
passed suppressing "Egiptianis, bards,
mlnstrcls and vagabond scholars. F"
Finally, in 1908, a measure of outlaw
ry was passed, and his majesty's sub.
lects were called upon to arrest and
deal with the gypsies as with con.
demncd 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 O 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 rs at any rate illustrative of
the manners and customs of the times.
The elOpement Of the Countess Of Cas-
Sllls With Johnnie Eaa or Faw, one of
the gypsy knights of the last quarter
OF the Sixteenth century, has been de.
scribcd repeatedly, both in prose and
poetry. but the main facts appear to
have been these; The Earl of Cassilis
was betrothed to nobleman's daugh-
ter, who objected to the match. and
who was detected in clandcstinc meet
ing with a handsome, though low
bred, lover. who was no other than
Faw. Her relatives first upbraidod,
then persuaded, and fually threaten
cd, SO that tie gypsy's sweetheart at
last became the COUNTIES, of C1ssilis.
taw waited for an opportunity, and
when this arose on the earl undertake
ing n journey, he collected ms tribe
and prepared for an ciupcmcut or ab.
duCtDn.
II turned out to be the former, for
TIE lar lady was nothing lO1th. The
gypsics and the maiden started south,
hoping 10 escape vengeance by cross
ing the border into England. But the
earl returned home a little sooner than
expected, and he lost no time in sum.
mOning o host and starting in pursuit.
Just on the border the fugitives were
overt,.kon. and a battle cnsuod, in
which Faw and his followers were
slain. The carl 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 a tower built
for the purpose az Maybolo Ayrshire
Eight heads carved i'm stone below one
Of the turrcts are pointed 10 by local
inhabitants as cliigics Of the leaders Of
the episode ST. Louis Globe-Demo.
crat.
A Good Bag.