About the end of the fifteenth century, their persecution commenced in Spain. King Ferdinand, who esteemed it a good work to expatriate useful and profitable subjects—Jews, and even Moorish families—could much less be guilty of an impropriety in laying hands on the mischievous progeny of the Gipseys. The edict for their extermination was published in the year 1492. But, instead of passing the boundaries, they slunk into hiding-places, and shortly after appeared every-where in as great numbers as before. The emperor Charles V. persecuted them afresh; as did Philip II. also. Since that time they have nestled in again, and were left unmolested till about twenty years ago, when they were threatened with another storm; but it blew over, without taking effect. In France, Francis I. passed an edict for their expulsion; and at the assembly of the States of Orleans, in 1561, all governors of cities received orders to drive them away with fire and sword. Nevertheless, in process of time they had collected again, and increased to such a degree, that in 1612 a new order came out for their extermination. In Italy, their situation has been equally precarious. In the year 1572 they were compelled to retire from the territories of Milan and Parma; and at a period somewhat earlier they were chased beyond the Venetian jurisdiction. England first endeavoured to disburthen itself of them in the year 1531, under Henry VIII: but as the act passed for that purpose fell into disregard, a new one was published in the reign of Elizabeth. They were not allowed the privilege of remaining unmolested in Denmark, as the code of Danish laws specifies: “The Tartars (Gipseys) who wander about every-where, doing great damage to the people, by their lies, thefts, and witchcraft, shall be taken into custody by every magistrate.” Sweden has not been more favourable, having at three different times attacked them. A very sharp order for their explusion came out in the year 1662. The diet of 1723 published a second: and that of 1727 repeated the foregoing, with additional severity. They were excluded from the Netherlands under pain of death, partly by Charles V. and partly afterwards by the United Provinces in 1582.