Notes and Queries, Vol. IV, Number 104, October 25, 1851 / A Medium of Inter-communication for Literary Men, Artists, Antiquaries, Genealogists, etc.

When found, make a note of. —CAPTAIN CUTTLE.
VOL. IV.—No. 104.
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 25. 1851.
Price Sixpence. Stamped Edition, 7 d.
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MISCELLANEOUS:—
The various notices and inquiries at times in your publication respecting this lady, including, as they do, some sceptical doubts of her existence, induce me to trouble you with several particulars upon this subject, of which I have at sundry times, according to the admirable suggestion of your motto, when found, made a note. Some of them, derived from local antiquarian opportunities, will be new; of all I shall endeavour to make an intelligible arrangement; and as the subject will probably extend itself too much for a single article suited to your pages, I propose to place it under these distinct headings:—Was there an old Countess of Desmond? Is there really a portrait of her? And, Who was she?
In reference to the first inquiry, I would observe that the fact of the existence of such a personage rests upon no modern or uncertain tradition. This aged lady, according to an account I shall mention presently, is supposed to have lived to the latter end of the reign of James I. or beginning of that of Charles I.; and mention is made of her by Sir Walter Raleigh, in his History of the World (bk. i. p. i. c. 5.), as personally known to him as having been married in the reign of Edward IV. (who died A.D. 1485); and who was living in 1589, and many years afterwards, as all the noblemen and gentlemen of Munster can witness.
Lord Bacon, in his Natural History (cent. viii. sect. 755.) refers to her thus:
They tell a tale of the old Countess of Desmond, who lived until she was seven score years old; that she did dentize twice or thrice, casting her old teeth, and others coming in their place.