CHAPTEK XXI. 



VAGRANT LIFE FLETCHER OF SALTOUN's OPINIONS THE 



"EGIPTIANS" AND THEIR HABITS COMMON VAGRANTS 

 CAIRDS THE YQUNGS TIBBIE CAMPBELL. 



THE prevalence of vagrants of divers sorts formed a 

 distinctive feature in the social life of the nation for a 

 very long period. In his " Second Discourse on the 

 Affairs of Scotland" (A.D. 1698), Andrew Fletcher of 

 Saltoun gives a very forcible picture of the state of 

 matters in this respect, as known to him. At the date 

 of his writing, the occurrence of three bad harvests in 

 succession had no doubt made things worse ; yet, says 

 Fletcher, "In all times there have been about one 

 hundred thousand of those vagabonds who had lived 

 without any regard or subjection either to the laws of 

 the land or even those of God and Nature. JSTo magis- 

 trate could ever be informed, or discover, which way 

 one in a hundred of these wretches died, or that ever 

 they were baptized. Many murders have been dis- 

 covered among them ; and they are not only a most un- 

 speakable oppression to poor tenants who, if they give 

 not bread or some kind of provision to perhaps forty 

 such villains in one day, are sure to be insulted by 

 them but they rob many poor people who live in 

 houses distant from any neighbourhood. In years of 

 plenty many thousands of them meet together in the 

 mountains, where they feast and riot for many days ; 

 and at country weddings, markets, burials, and the like 

 public occasions, they are to be seen both men and 

 women perpetually drunk, cursing, blaspheming, and 

 fighting together." Perhaps this sketch by the sincere 



