Vol. v. p. 92. The motto of the Onslow family, "Festina lente," is erroneously given as the serjeant's motto on his rings.
Afterwards Lord Manners, Lord Chancellor of Ireland.
THE OLD COUNTESS OF DESMOND.
(Vol. v., pp. 145. 323.)
In your Number of "N. & Q." of April 3rd, there are some curious and interesting remarks by the Knight of Kerry, respecting that wonder for length of days, the old Countess of Desmond, in which he gives the copy of an inscription on an ancient painting, stating that in the year 1614, and in the 140th year of her age, she appeared at the court of King James, to seek relief in consequence of the House of Desmond having been ruined by attainder. That this statement in the inscription is erroneous, can, I think, be proved by the following circumstances, which also seem to me to afford some light on the most obscure parts of the question.
I have at this moment before me a work, which has been for many years in the library of my husband (the Rev. E. A. Bray, the Vicar of this place), and highly prized by us both, namely, a most perfect and beautiful copy of Sir Walter Raleigh's History of the World, published in 1614. I here give the date from the engraved title-page, which is of an allegorical description:
"THE HISTORY OF THE WORLD."
"AT LONDON: PRINTED FOR WALTER BVRRE."
"1614."
In this volume, Chapter V. (of "the first Booke of the first Part"), page 66., "Of the long Lives of the Patriarchs, and some of late memory," after enumerating several celebrated persons who lived to great ages, Raleigh thus speaks of the old Countess:—
"I myself knew the old Countess of Desmond of Inchiquin, in Munster, who lived in the yeare 1589, and many years since, who was married in Edward IV.'s time, and held her joynture from all the Earls of Desmond since then; and that this is true, all noblemen and gentlemen of Munster can witnesse."