Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1891-12-04
PROSECUTED RACE.
TORTURED AT THE STAKE FOR
CRIMES CONFESSED.
An English Law Authorizing Their Muir
der when Three Were Found To-
gethsr-The Suffering of
the Gypsies.

race ever since history first noticed
them. At one time they were sup
posed to have come from Egypt but
now scholars have ascertained that
they were originally an Indian tribe
or group OF tribes, making their first
appearance in Asia Minor early in the
middle ages. Their first appearance
In western Europe was in 14l7, when
several hundred appeared in Germany
and rapidly spread over it in small
bands or companies. Through some
unknow cause others quickly followed.
until great swarms OF them found their
way across the Alps into Italy, across
the Rhine into France. over the Pyre-
nees into Spain. and across the English
Channel into England.
The first appearance of the strange,
wandering people created considerable
speculation. They were always led
by duke" or Count" who was
richly dressed, carrying letters from
kings and emperors. They travelled
in bands. the men on horseback and
thu women and children in wagons.
! They told various tales of suffering
and persecution. and excited the SYM
patty of the Europeans. But their
stories did not agree, says the Epoch,
and their actions were no less consist
ent than their words. They became
horse thieves and petty robbers. and
their fortune telling-women soon gave
the simple folk OF Europe the impress
sion that they were dealers in the
''black art. "
They were quick and apt to learn
and were handy craftsmen generally
more skillful than the native work.
men. They were courteous and affa-
Bile, and shortly became famous as
6ddlers in Italy, as guitar players in
| Spain and as harpists in Wales ana
Ireland. Their wonderful adaptability
soon won for them a good living and
fair renown in all Europe. and many
privileges were granted them. They
became good artists and engravers.
which led them to the art OF counter
fe.ting; they became good musicians
only to generate into beggars and
mendicants; they became good takers
in order the better to cheat at a bar
gain; and in short they cultivated
every art. trade and science only to
degrade and abuse it. Under such
circumstances the gypsies soon fell
into discredit Many of their number
were arrested and punished for their
crimes but the others continued to
practice unlawful trades. A strong
feeling Of dislike then rose up against
them. and they were accused Of rob-
bling graves, or killing children to eat
them. and OF numbering men to drink
their blood
A general persecution followed all
over Europe. The hated wanderers
were tortured on the rack, burnt and
imprisoned. They were supposed TO
be witches and cannibals, and the peo-
pie began to fear them as well as TO
hate them. They were ordered out OF
several countries on pain OF DEATH but
they persisted in returning or staying
where they were when the persecu-
tons began. Many of the dark stories
concerning their life which are mixed
up with folklore tales, superstitions
and fairy stories, were started during
this period. AT first they seemed to
have u religion Of their own, but they
soon adopted the practice of embrace
ing the religion OF the people with
whom they dwelt- Along with this,
however they observed many secret
ceremonies OF their own which were
surrounded with so much mystery that
new fuel was added to the flames
| 40, nj The eAalra IT,,
fessed many crimes OF which they were
accused. such as being witches, deal
ers In the black art and prophets.
These confessions made the simple
country people dread them. so that
they were often afraid to complain to
the authorities of any act of depreda-
ton performed by the hated people.
Matters however, reached culmina-
ton In time. and the gypsies were
killed and hung by the hundreds for
no other reason than being members
of the hated race. They finally fed
from the scenes of their worst persecu-
ton and sought the rural districts of
less populous countries. In England
this was brought about by the peculiar
adventure OF James V. who came near
Losing bis life at the hands OF the wan
dering people This monarch entered
ons OF their camps at night in disguise.
and soon became great favorite; but
whom he assaulted ono Of the gypsies he
had TO reveal his identity to save his
life.
He was kept prisoner several days
and released only upon the promise
that he would not punish his captors;
but the king issued proclamation, in
revenge making IL lawful to kill q
gypsy whenever three were found to-
gether. The gypsies fed to Scotland
after this. where they mingled with
tho natives and adopted their clannish
institutions In peculiar way. The
hands became separate clans ruled by
chiettains, whoibecame as hostile as
sny set OF clans In the highlands.
They had many private battles and
ouarrels. but in the wars with Scot
land many OF the Scottish gypsy chiefs
were men OF undaunted courage. The
majority OF the Scottish gypsies have
| 20 Ar,arioo uuhara tbax,