Gypsies - Definition - Law Dictionary Home Dictionary Definition gypsies

Definition :

Gypsies. The first of the laws against gypsies, 22 Hen. 8, c. 10, describes this people, who were then new-comers in this country, as 'outlandish persons calling themselves Egyptians, using no craft or feat or merchandise, who have come into this realm and go from shire to shire and place to place in great company, and use great, subtle, and crafty means to deceive the people, bearing them in hand, that they by palmistry could tell men's and women's fortunes; and so many times by craft and subtilty have deceived the people of their money, and also have committeed many heinous felonies and robberies.' It was enacted that if any such persons came within the realm, they should forfeit all their goods and chattels, and should leave the kingdom within fifteen days after command so to do, upon pain of imprisonment, 4 Reeves, c. xxx., 420.

Both this Act, and the still more severe 1 & 2 P. & M. c. 4, have been repealed, as Acts not in use, by 19 & 20 Vict. c. 64. Fortune-tellers are, however, punish-able under the (English) Witchcraft Act, 1735 (9 Geo. 2, c. 5), but more commonly are prosecuted under the Vagrant Act, 1824 (5 Geo. 4, c. 83), and EOr nomine, any gypsy encamping on a highway by the Highways Act, 1835 (5 & 6 Wm. 4, c. 50), s. 72). See TENTS, VANS AND CAMPING SITES; and (English) Public Health Act, 1936, ss. 268 and 269; also EDUCATION.