This is the information we find, dispersed here and there, concerning the privileges and passes of the Gipseys. To how much, or how little, are we to give credit? Thomasius believes every thing as it stands. Ahasuerus Fritsch, on the contrary, declares all to be lies, and the Gipseys’ own invention. Appearances are certainly equivocal, as none of these instruments are even verbally handed down to us, so that they can be properly proved; except that of Uladislaus II. which does not belong to this question. Moreover, it has been frequently experienced, that the Gipseys, using the pretence of such safe-conducts, have committed all manner of excesses, and when desired to produce them, had either nothing to shew, or such kind of papers as did not at all resemble what are usually given from a public office. It cannot be denied that they have practised deceit, but it is impossible to assert, with certainty, that the whole was fallacy. If the contents of that passport to be found in Muratori is conceived in such terms as to allow the horde which possessed it to wander about seven years, to rob and steal every-where, without any person being permitted to bring them to justice, such a letter seems to carry falshood on the very face of it, as no sensible prince could ever grant such a one. But what shall we say, if it be found that these words do not so much convey the sense of the instrument, as a crafty explanation of the author, on recollecting the many irregularities practised by the Gipseys, who availed themselves of this freedom to travel about every-where unmolested. Further, with respect to the passport which Münster perused at Eberbach, although every person must look upon the reasons given by the Gipseys for their emigration as fictions, yet we cannot entirely reject it. How could it benefit them, being old and having lost its validity many years ago? Why did not the horde to which it belonged carry with them some writing that might afford them present protection? If they had been guilty of any knavery about this letter, why was it just of that kind as could only serve, incontrovertibly, to prove they were cheats? These documents would certainly not have been found among them, had they not been transmitted, from their parents and ancestors, as things of value. Supposing this matter to have been invented by themselves, it is difficult to conceive why they should confine their privileges to seven years, and not rather leave them unlimited. But there are other proofs of the authenticity of such letters. First, they were looked upon as pilgrims; and it was quite conformable to the custom of those superstitious times to grant to pilgrims, as holy people, all sorts of passes, and safe-conducts. Secondly, we must believe that this did happen with the Gipseys, when we read with what chagrin Aventin mentions their thefts and excesses, concluding thus: “Robbing and stealing are prohibited to others, under