pain of hanging or beheading, but these people have licence for them.” When, thirdly, in the decree of the diet at Augsburgh anno 1500, all ranks of people in the empire are strictly enjoined, in future, not to permit the people called Gipseys to travel through their countries and districts, nor to grant them any further ‘protection and convoy,’ it certainly implies that people had formerly granted them such protection and convoy. Whoever has still any doubts remaining, may read, fourthly, in a decree of the empire of fifty years later date, a regular complaint preferred on account of the passports granted by various princes to the Gipseys, and which are, by that diet, declared to be null and void. All these circumstances together will not, it may be presumed, allow the shadow of a doubt to remain, that such letters of convoy have been really granted to the Gipseys. {132} The Gipseys’ golden age lasted a considerable time; but when about half a century had elapsed, and people began to look at them with a watchful eye, the old prejudices gave way. They endeavoured to prolong the term, by asserting, that their return home was prevented by soldiers stationed to intercept them, and by wishing to have it believed that new parties of pilgrims were to leave their country every year, otherwise their land would be rendered totally barren. All this was of no avail; people saw too clearly, that, instead of holy pilgrims, they were the mere refuse of humanity: upon which followed the sentences of banishment, we have before mentioned. Before we proceed to other matters, it will be proper to say a few words respecting an assertion in some writings, that the latter Gipseys differ very widely from those who went about during the first seven years, both with respect to their conduct and descent. Stumpf, for instance, and others after him, relate, that these first Gipseys were very orderly and decent, did no harm to any one, but paid ready money for what they consumed; for which purpose they received fresh remittances constantly: and at the expiration of seven years they returned home. Afterwards an idle desperate crew united, who, when the Gipseys were withdrawn, took their place; and, by blackening their faces, at the same time using the like outlandish garments, endeavoured to persuade the world that they were the identical Egyptians. This is all related with so much appearance of veracity, that, at the first view, no doubt would seem to remain of its truth; wherefore Thomasius readily adopted the whole, and founded his system about the Gipseys upon it: but upon closer examination, we shall find that the statement is totally void of foundation.