Nullo Vero Differentia Est Apud Eos Inter Filium Vxoris Et Concubina, Sed Dat Pater Quod Vult Vnicuique Itaque Si Sunt Etiam Ex Ducum Genere, Ita Fit Dux Filius Concubina, Sicut Filius Vxoris Legitma.

[Sidenote:

Melich et Dauid fratres Georgiani.] Vnde cum rex Georgia duos filios nuper, vnum scilicet nomine Melich legitimum alterum vero Dauid ex adulterio natum haberet, moriensque terra partem adultera filio reliquisset, Melich, cui etiam ex parte matris regnum obuenerat, quia per foeminas tenebatur, perrexit ad Imperatorem Tartarorum, eo quod et Dauid iter arripuerat ad ilium Ambobus igitur ad curiam venientibus, datisque maximis muneribus petebat adultera filius, vt fieret ei iustitia secundum morem Tartarorum. [Sidenote: [Greek: polygamia.]] Dataque est sententia contra Melich, vt Dauid, qui maior erat natu, subesset, ac terram a patre sibi concessam quiete ac pacifice possideret. Cumque Tartarorum vnus habet vxorum multitudinem, vnaquaque per se suam habet familiam et stationem. Et vna die Tartarus comedit et bibit et dormit cum vna, altera die cum alia. Vna tamen inter cateras maior habetur cum qua frequentius quam cum alijs commoratur Et licet vt dictum est, sint multa, nunquam tamen de facili contendunt inter se.

The same in English.

Of their lawes and customes. Chap. 6.

[Sidenote: Punishments of adultery.] Moreouer, they haue this law or custome, that whatsoeuer manor woman be manifestly taken in adultery, they are punished with death. A virgine likewise that hath committed fornication, they slay together with her mate. [Sidenote: Of theft. Of secretes disclosed.] Whosoeuer be taken in robberie or theft, is put to death without all pitie. Also, if any man disclose their secrets, especially in time of warre, he receiueth an hundreth blowes on the backe with a bastinado, layd on by a tall fellow. In like sort when any inferiours offend in ought, they finde no fauour at their superiours handes, but are punished with grieuous stripes. [Sidenote: Lawes of matrimonie.] They are ioyned in matrimony to all in generall, yea, euen to their neare kinsfolkes except their mother, daughter and sister by the mothers side. For they vse to marrie their sister by the fathers side onely, and also the wife of their father after his decease. The yonger brother also, or some other of his kindred, is bound to marry the wife of his elder brother deceased. [Sidenote: Andreas duke of Russia.] For, at the time of our aboad in the countrey, a certaine duke of Russia named Andreas, was accused before duke Baty for conueying the Tartars horses out of the land, and for selling them to others: and although it could not be prooued, yet was he put to death. His yonger brother and the wife of the party deceased hearing this, came and made their supplication vnto the forenamed duke, that the dukedome of Russia might not be taken from them. But he commanded the youth to marrie his deceased brothers wife, and the woman also to take him vnto her husband, according to the custome of the Tartars. She answered, that she had rather die, than so haynously transgresse the law.

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