th him
to fetch the debt, if not, she is clear from this violence; but his
Children are not.

[Divers other Laws and Customes.] If a woman goes away from her
Husband without his consent, no Man may marry her, until he first
be married. In lending of mony by the use of it in one years time,
it becomes double. And if the Creditor receive not his mony at the
expiration of the year, but lets it lie in the Debtors hands never
so long after, no more than double is to be paid, the encrease never
runs up higher as it is in lending Corn. If a Bond-woman has Children
by a Free-man, the Children all are Slaves to her Master: but if a
Bond-man has Children by a Free-woman, the Children are free: For the
Children are always as the Mother, whether Bond or Free. No man may
cut down a Coker-nut-Tree. If any man to a bargain or promise gives a
stone in the Kings name, it is as firm as hand and seal. And if any
after this go back of his word, it will bear an Action. If any man
be taken stealing, he must restore seven for one, or else be made a
Slave, if he be not able to pay it.

It is lawful and customary for a man in necessity to sell or pawn his
Children, or himself. No man building an house either in his own or
another mans ground, if he be afterwards minded to leave his Land,
where his house stood, may pull it down again: But must let it stand
for the benefit of whosoever comes after him.

[For deciding controversies.] For the deciding of matters in
controversie especially of more abstruse cognizance, the parties
do both swear before their Gods, sometimes in their Temples, and
sometimes upon more extraordinary occasions in hot Oyl.

[Swearing in the Temples.] Sometimes in their Temples. To explain
which, take this following relation. A Slave was accused by a
Merchant to have robbed his house. Whereupon to clear himself, the
Slave desired he might swear. So the Merchant and Slave went both to
the Temple to swear. The Merchant swore positively that the Slave
had robbed his house; and the Slave swore as poynt blank that he
had not robbed his house: and neither of them having any witnesses,
God who knew all things was desired to shew a Judgment upon him that
was forsworn. They both departed to their houses, waiting to see upon
whom the Judgment would fall. In the mean time the Slave privatly
sets the Merchants house on fire, and his house was burnt down to
the ground. Then it was clear by this supposed divine Judgment, the
Merchan