In the Nobiliaire des Pays-Bas, I find that Daniel Godin, Seigneur de Beauvois, was enobled by Philip IV. in 1623, and "les armes sont, de sinople à une coupe couverte d'or."
In 1642, "Jean-François Godin, Seigneur de Baumez, Baillé et haut Justicier de Reumes" (son of François Godin, who was ennobled by Philip II.), obtained permission from Philip IV. to alter his paternal coat, and to carry "un écu de sinople à trois coupes couvertes d'or; cet écu timbré d'un casque d'argent, grillé, liséré, et couronné d'or, orné de ses lambrequins d'or et de sinople, et au-dessus en cimier, une tête et col de licorne au naturel."
His son, Jaques-François Godin, appears afterwards to have obtained the title of Baron.
The earliest mention I can find of the Godin arms is in 1588, when Christopher Godin carried "de sinople à une coupe couverte d'or." He was a son of Jacques Seigneur d'Aubrecicourt and of Françoise Lettin, and brother to the first-named François Godin. There appears to have been another brother, Jaques; and they were all three ennobled by Philip II., probably for their public services, as Christopher was Conseiller et Receveur-général des Domaines et Finances des Pays-Bas; Jacques, Conseiller et Maître de la Chambre des Comptes en Hollande; and François, Secrétaire du Grand Conseil à Malines.
I am not aware what connection existed between these Godins and the family of that name in Normandy (now extinct); but the cup in the arms, though borne differently, proves that they were of the same race.
J.R.C.
May 23, 1850.
[The Title of D.D.]—The remarks of your correspondent "BROWN RAPPEE" (Vol. I. p. 438.) induced me to turn to the List of the Fellows of the Society of Antiquaries, and I find it in my power to exonerate the compiler of the list on one point from the carelessness he imputes. "BROWN RAPPEE" says, "We see one or two D.D.'s deprived of their titles of 'Rev.'" I find but one D.D. in that condition, and in that instance the list is correct, and the usual prefix would have been an error; the gentleman in question not being in orders, although his services in Biblical literature have been acknowledged with the degree of D.D. Your correspondent does not seem to be aware that this doctorate is, like all others, an academical, and not a clerical, distinction and that, although it is seldom dissociated from the clerical office in this country, any lay scholar of adequate attainments in theology is competent to receive this distinction, and any university to bestow it upon him.
EYE-SNUFF.
[Emancipation of the Jews] (Vol. i. p. 479.).—The following extract from Tovey's Anglia Judaica, p. 259., may be acceptable in connection with this subject:—