TITLE I. CONCERNING THE DEGREES OF RELATIONSHIP.

I.The Nature of the First Degree.
II.The Affinity of the Second Degree.
III.The Relationship of the Third Degree.
IV.The Consanguinity of the Fourth Degree.
V.The Origin of the Fifth Degree.
VI.The Limits of the Sixth Degree.
VII.The Persons in the Seventh Degree who are not Mentioned by the Laws.

I. The Nature of the First Degree.

In the first rank of the first degree are included the father and the mother; in the second rank, the son and the daughter; but no other persons.

II. The Affinity of the Second Degree.

In the second degree and the first rank, are included the grandfather and the grandmother; in the second, the grandson and the granddaughter; in the collateral line, the brother and the sister, which persons have a twofold origin, for the father and the mother are derived from both the grandfather and grandmother; the grandson and granddaughter, from both son and daughter; the brother and sister, from both father and mother. And likewise, the persons in the following degrees, in whatever relationship they stand to each other, are, in the same manner, of twofold origin. Persons in the second degree are thus said to be of double derivation, because there are two grandparents, paternal and maternal; and two kinds of grandchildren, descended either from the son or from the daughter. The brother of the father, or the brother of the mother, who are called respectively the paternal or maternal uncles, belong to the collateral line, and they, in like manner, are of double origin.

ANCIENT LAW.

III. The Relationship of the Third Degree.

The third degree includes, first the great-grandfather and the great-grandmother; second, the great-grandson and the great-granddaughter; in the collateral line, the son and the daughter of the brother and the sister; the paternal uncle and the paternal aunt, that is to say, the brother and the sister of the father; and the maternal uncle and the maternal aunt, that is to say, the brother and sister of the mother.

ANCIENT LAW.

IV. The Consanguinity of the Fourth Degree.

In the fourth degree come first the great-great-grandfather and the great-great-grandmother, and then the son and daughter of a great-grandchild; in the collateral line, the grandson and granddaughter of the brother and the sister; then the cousins of both sexes, the sons and daughters of the paternal uncle, and the children of the maternal uncle and aunt; then other cousins, the children of the father’s sister; and also cousins who are born of two sisters; and besides, the great-uncle and the great-aunt by the father’s side; then the great-uncle and great-aunt by the mother’s side. There is no necessity of explaining this any further than is here stated.

ANCIENT LAW.

V. The Origin of the Fifth Degree.

The fifth degree includes, in the first place, the great-great-great-grandfather and the great-great-great-grandmother; secondly, the great-great-great-grandson and the great-great-great-granddaughter, and, in the collateral line, the greatgrandsons and great-granddaughters of brothers and sisters; male and female cousins by the father’s side, the sons and daughters of cousins by the father’s side, and the children of great-uncles and aunts on both father’s and mother’s side. Next come the brothers and sisters of the paternal great-grandfather and the brothers and sisters of the maternal great-grandfather. The above-mentioned degrees of relationship we cannot define by other means, or in other words, than those in which they are here set forth.

ANCIENT LAW.

VI. The Limits of the Sixth Degree.

To the sixth degree belong, first, the great-great-great-great-grandfather and the great-great-great-great-grandmother; then the great-great-great-great-grandson and the great-great-great-great-granddaughter; next, in the collateral line, the son and the daughter of a great-grandchild of the sister; the sons of a father’s brother and the sons of a father’s sister; cousins on both sides of the house; paternal and maternal great-aunts, and the grandsons and granddaughters of paternal great-uncles and maternal great-aunts. To whom are added, in the collateral line, the children of the great-uncles and the great-aunts of both father and mother; that is to say, of the brother and the sister of the paternal great-great-grandfather, and of the brother and sister of the maternal great-great-grandmother. No better explanation of this matter can be given than we have written above.

VII. The Persons in the Seventh Degree who are not Mentioned by the Laws.

In the seventh degree those who are related in the direct line are not specifically designated by name; but the collateral line embraces the sons and daughters of great-grandchildren of brothers or sisters, and the sons and daughters of their cousins of both sexes. There exist, then, seven degrees of relationship, and no more, because, according to the nature of things, names could not be found for others, nor more heirs be begotten in the space of an ordinary lifetime.