Egyptians Act 1530
Encyclopedia
The Egyptians Act 1530 was an Act passed by the Parliament of England
in 1531 to expel the "outlandish people calling themselves Egyptians", meaning Gypsies. It was repealed by the Act 19 & 20 Vict. c.64.
The Act accused Gypsies of using crafty and subtle devices to deceive people, notably by claiming to tell fortunes
whilst also frequently committing felonies such as robbery. The statute forbade any more Gypsies from entering the realm and gave those already in England sixteen days notice to depart from the realm. Goods which Gypsies had stolen were to be restored to their owners and property confiscated from Gypsies was to be divided between the Sovereign and the Justice of the Peace
or another arresting officer.
passed the Egyptians Act 1554 (1 & 2 Philip & Mary, c. 4), which complained that "Egyptians" were plying their "devlish and naughty practices and devices".
Parliament of England
The Parliament of England was the legislature of the Kingdom of England. In 1066, William of Normandy introduced a feudal system, by which he sought the advice of a council of tenants-in-chief and ecclesiastics before making laws...
in 1531 to expel the "outlandish people calling themselves Egyptians", meaning Gypsies. It was repealed by the Act 19 & 20 Vict. c.64.
The Act accused Gypsies of using crafty and subtle devices to deceive people, notably by claiming to tell fortunes
Fortune-telling
Fortune-telling is the practice of predicting information about a person's life. The scope of fortune-telling is in principle identical with the practice of divination...
whilst also frequently committing felonies such as robbery. The statute forbade any more Gypsies from entering the realm and gave those already in England sixteen days notice to depart from the realm. Goods which Gypsies had stolen were to be restored to their owners and property confiscated from Gypsies was to be divided between the Sovereign and the Justice of the Peace
Justice of the Peace
A justice of the peace is a puisne judicial officer elected or appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions...
or another arresting officer.
Egyptians Act 1554
The 1530 act was not successful in its aim of expelling all Gypsies, for Mary IMary I of England
Mary I was queen regnant of England and Ireland from July 1553 until her death.She was the only surviving child born of the ill-fated marriage of Henry VIII and his first wife Catherine of Aragon. Her younger half-brother, Edward VI, succeeded Henry in 1547...
passed the Egyptians Act 1554 (1 & 2 Philip & Mary, c. 4), which complained that "Egyptians" were plying their "devlish and naughty practices and devices".
Sources
- Stanford Lehmberg, The Reformation Parliament 1529-1536 (Cambridge University Press, 1970).