ABSTRACT
As witnessed by the song made famous by Cher, the association between gypsies and the criminal underworld has been a staple of popular culture for a long time. Very soon after their documented arrival in England, Egyptians were legislated as a threat to the state. Scholars, gypsiologists and social activists have pointed to the alleged victimisation of the gypsy population as a key element in the formation of identity.1 In order to understand why specific legislation was put in place against Egyptians, we need to investigate why the initial gypsies were considered dangerous. Gypsies first surfaced in England at a time of economic, religious and political upheaval. Along with the many other categories of vagrants, gypsies were visible reminders of the shifting economy from a tightly controlled manorial framework and urban guild system to laissez-faire capitalism. Transformation of the manorial economy, dissolution of the monasteries and demographic disruption all contributed to the poor becoming more visible, which resulted in authorities paying more attention to vagrants. Changing attitudes to charity and an emphasis on administration of the poor at the parish level were instrumental in the criminalisation of the poor and the homeless in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. The government had several incentives for regulating the masterless, wandering population: allocation of charity and poor relief, as well as loss of taxation and licensing fees on account of an underground economy; political concerns of riot and sedition; and general accountability in an age of social disorder. In the face of constant riots and rebellions, the sixteenth century was a period when foreigners came under more suspicion than usual. In addition to being considered part of the problematic vagabond population, without any visible or approved means of employment, gypsies also travelled in large groups. Whether perceived or actual, their visibility made them more of a nuisance to both authorities and local populations, as well as a perceived political threat.
