Vagmnl Life. 165 



winding up by breaking the fiddle over his knee be- 

 cause none of the bystanders would accept as a gift 

 the instrument for which its owner had no further 

 use. The charges found relevant against the gang of 

 whom MTherson was one, were those of being 

 " knowne habit and repute to be Egiptians and waga- 

 bonds, and keeping the mercats in their ordinarie 

 manner of thieving and purse cutting, or guilty of the 

 crimes of thift, masterfull bangstrie and oppressione." 

 The depositions of the witnesses serve to inform us 

 that the " Egiptians " (gipsies), were wont to appear 

 in the country markets, notably St. Rufus Fair, Keith, 

 to the number, occasionally, of six or eight together, 

 armed, to the terror of his Majesty's peaceably dis- 

 posed lieges, assaulting such as they chose, and setting 

 on their women, who spoke an unknown tongue for 

 the occasion to cut purses ; that at other times they 

 would get temporary housing on some doubtful form 

 of tenancy, stealing "kail" and "peats" from the 

 neighbours quite freely, and almost openly ; while occa- 

 sionally a sheep would disappear, the theft of which 

 they would deny, but rather than have too strict inqui- 

 sition made, especially if backed by adequate powers, 

 would agree to pay the price of it ; and that a more 

 common mode of finding quarters was to take posses- 

 sion, without leave asked or given, of somebody's kiln- 

 barn, and then refuse to be dispossessed until it suited 

 them to remove. While thus located, they "some tymes 

 stayed a fourtnight or even a month," threatening re- 

 prisals on such as chose to meddle with them ; and if 

 they needed a "fire weshel," or such like, for use, they 

 would take it at their own hand. They also not un- 

 frequently extorted considerable sums of money in the 

 most barefaced fashion. The charge of one witness 

 against M'Pherson was, that he " came into his house 

 and spilt his ale, and stobbed the bed seeking the de- 

 ponent," he being forced to flee for safety and obtain 

 a purchased protection from my lord Seafield. From 



