Full resolution (JPEG) - On this page / på denna sida - Pages ...
<< prev. page << föreg. sida << >> nästa sida >> next page >>
Below is the raw OCR text
from the above scanned image.
Do you see an error? Proofread the page now!
Här nedan syns maskintolkade texten från faksimilbilden ovan.
Ser du något fel? Korrekturläs sidan nu!
This page has never been proofread. / Denna sida har aldrig korrekturlästs.
36 VOYAGES OF SIR HUGH WILLOUGHBY AND OTHERS,
he may have leave to enter law againft his adverfary; and having obtained it, the officer
fetcheth the defendant, and beateth him on the Jegs till he bring forth a furety for him;
but if he be not of fuch credit as to procure a furety, then are his hands by an officer
tied to his neck, and he is beaten all the way till he come before the judge. The judge
then afketh him (as for example in the matter of debt) whether he oweth any thing to
the plaintiff. If he denies it, then faith the judge, how canft thou deny it? the defendant
anfwereth, by an oath: thereupon the officer is commanded to ceafe from beating of
him, until the matter be further tried. They have no lawyers, but every man is his
own advocate, and both the complaint of the accufer, and the anfwer of the defendant,
are in manner of petition delivered to the emperor, intreating juftice at his hands.
The emperor himfelf heareth every great controverfy, and upon the hearing of it giveth
judgment, and that with great equity, which I take to be a thing worthy of {pecial com-
mendation in the majelty of a prince. But although he do this with a good purpofe of
mind, yet the corrupt magiftrates do wonderfully pervert the fame ; but if the ernperor
take them in any fault, he doth punifh them moft feverely. Nowat the laft, when each
party hath defended his caufe with his beft reafons, the judge demandeth of the accufer
whether he hath any more to fay for himfelf; he anfwereth, that he will try the matter
in fight by his champion, or elfe intreateth that in fight betwixt themfelves the matter
may be ended; which being granted, they both fight it out: or if both of them, or
either of them, feem unfit for that kind of trial, then they have public champions to be
hired, which live by ending of quarrels. Thefe champions are armed with iron axes
and fpears, and fight on foot, and he whofe champion is overcome, is by-and-bye taken
and imprifoned, and terribly handled, until he agreeth with his adverfary. But if either
of them be of any good calling and degree, and do challenge one another to fight, the
judge granteth it; in which cafe they may not ufe public champions: and he that is of
any good birth doth contemn the other, if he be bafely born, and will not fight with
him. Ifa poor man happen to grow in debt, his creditor takes him and maketh him
pay the debt, in working either to himfelf, or to fome other man, whofe wages he taketh
up. And there are fome among them that ufe willingly to make themfelves, their wives,
and children, bond-flaves unto rich men, to have a little money at the firft into their
hands, and fo for ever after content themfelves with meat and drink ; fo little accompt
do they make of liberty.
Of Punifbments upon Thieves.
If any man be taken upon committing of theft, he is imprifoned and often beaten,
but not hanged for the firft offence, as the manner is with us; and this they call the
law of mercy. He that offendeth the fecond time hath his nofe cut off, and is burned
in the forehead with a hot iron. The third time he is hanged. ‘There are many cut-
purfes among them; and if the rigour of the prince did not cut them off, they could
not be avoided.
Of their Religion.
They maintain the opinions of the Greek church: they fuffer no graven images of
faints in their churches, but their pictures painted in tables they have in great abund-
ance, which they do adore and offer unto, and burn wax candles before them, and caft
holy water upon them without other honour. They fay that our images which are fet
up in churches and carved have no divinity in them. Intheir private houfes they have
4 images
<< prev. page << föreg. sida << >> nästa sida >> next page >>
