brothers. 



AD. THE ENGLISH VOYAGES 



1246. 



[I. 56.] 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 unto 

 her husband, according to the custome of the Tartars. 

 She answered, that she had rather die, then so haynously 

 transgresse the law. Howbeit, hee delivered her unto 

 him, although they both refused as much as they 

 could. Wherefore carying them to bed, they constrained 

 the youth, lamenting and weeping, to lie downe and 

 commit incest with his brothers wife. To be short, after 

 the death of their husbands, the Tartars wives use very 

 seldome to marrie the second time, unlesse perhaps some 

 man takes his brothers wife or his stepmother in mariage. 

 They make no difference betweene the sonne of their wife 

 and of their concubine, but the father gives what he 

 pleaseth unto each one : For of late the king of Georgia 



Mel'ich 13 having two sonnes, one lawfully begotten called Melich ; 



£!!ll/^^ but the other David, borne in adulterie, at his death left 

 part of his lande unto his base sonne. Hereupon Melich 

 (unto whome the kingdome fell by right of his mother, 

 because it was governed before time by women) went unto 

 the Emperour of the Tartars, David also having taken 

 his journey unto him. Nowe both of them comming 

 to the court and proffering large giftes, the sonne of 

 the harlot made suite, that he might have justice, 

 according to the custome of the Tartars. Well, sentence 

 passed against Melich, that David being his elder brother, 

 should have superioritie over him, and should quietly 

 and peaceably possesse the portion of land granted unto 

 him by his father. Whensoever a Tartar hath many 

 wives, each one of them hath her family and dwelling 

 place by her selfe. And sometime the Tartar eateth, 

 drinketh and lieth with one, and sometime with another. 

 One is accompted chiefe among the rest, with whom hee is 

 oftener conversant, then with the other. And notwith- 

 standing (as it hath bin said) they are many, yet do they 

 seldome fal out among themselves. 



140 



