 other Apprehensions may here arise in our Reader,
into which we would not willingly betray him, I mean that we are going to take a
Voyage into Fairy Land, and to introduce a Set of Beings into our History, which
scarce any one was ever childish enough to believe, tho' many have been foolish
enough to spend their Time in writing and reading their Adventures.
    To prevent therefore any such Suspicions, so prejudicial to the Credit of an
Historian, who professes to draw his Materials from Nature only, we shall now
proceed to acquaint the Reader who these People were, whose sudden Appearance
had struck such Terrors into Partridge, had more than half frightened the
Post-Boy, and had a little surprized even Mr. Jones himself.
    The People then assembled in this Barn were no other than a Company of
Egyptians, or as they are vulgarly called Gypsies, and they were now celebrating
the Wedding of one of their Society.
    It is impossible to conceive a happier Set of People than appeared here to
be met together. The utmost Mirth indeed shewed itself in every Countenance; nor
was their Ball totally void of all Order and Decorum. Perhaps it had more than a
Country Assembly is sometimes conducted with: For these People are subject to a
formal Government and Laws of their own, and all pay Obedience to one great
Magistrate whom they call their King.
    Greater Plenty likewise was no where to be seen, than what flourished in
this Barn. Here was indeed no Nicety nor Elegance, nor did the keen Appetite of
the Guests require any. Here was good Store of Bacon, Fowls, and Mutton, to
which every one present provided better Sauce himself, than the best and dearest
French Cook can prepare.
    Æneas is not described under more Consternation in the Temple of Juno,
 
                  Dum stupet obtutuque; hæret defixus in uno.
 
than was our Heroe at what he saw in this Barn. While he was looking every where
round him with Astonishment, a venerable Person approached him with many
friendly Salutations, rather of too hearty a Kind to be called courtly. This was
no other than the King of the Gypsies himself. He was very little distinguished
in Dress from his Subjects, nor had he any Regalia of Majesty to support his
Dignity; and yet there seemed (as Mr. Jones said) to be somewhat in his Air
which denoted Authority, and inspired the Beholders with an Idea of Awe and
Respect; tho' all this was perhaps imaginary in Jones, and the Truth may be,
that such Ideas are incident to Power, and almost inseparable from it.
    There was somewhat in the open Countenance
