It would seem that M. has confounded with the Canons of 1603 an older form, which was prescribed by Archbishop Whitgift in 1584 (Cardwell, Docum. Annals, i. 414.). The words of that form agree with your correspondent's quotation; and it has also a bearing on his assumption that the 36th canon was originally presented for subscription in Latin, and that the English version has been wrongfully substituted. Not only is there (as I believe) no proof of this assumption; but we have the fact that a set of English articles, substantially the same with those of the 36th canon of 1603 (or rather 1604), was subscribed for twenty years before the body of the canons existed.
J. C. R.
Few Descents through a long Period.
—The pedigree of the noble family of Dartmouth, given by Edmondson in his Baronagium Genealogicum, No. 197., contains an extraordinary instance of few descents through a long period of time.
The stock of descent is Thomas Legge, Sheriff of London in 1343, and Lord Mayor in 1346. He had a son, Simon, whose son, Thomas, had issue, William, who had issue an only son, Edward. This Edward had thirteen children, one of whom, John, is stated to have died in 1702, aged 109. Supposing Thomas Legge to have been 46 years old at his Mayoralty (i.e. born in 1300) these six lives would extend over more than 400 years. This is so extraordinary that I append a Query. Is Edmondson's Genealogy correct, or are there any intermediate descents omitted?
The ages at death of four only of Edward's children are given, and they, too, are remarkable: the before-mentioned John, aged 109 years; Elizabeth (unmarried), 105 years; Margaret (married —— Fitzgerald, Esq.), 105 years; and Anne (married —— Anthony, Esq.), 112 years. Can any of your correspondents inform me the years when any of these died, or where they are buried? to enable me to verify these facts by certificates.
C. H. B.
30. Clarence Street, Islington.
Tandem D. O. M. (Vol. iii, p. 62.).
—Looking over some of the back numbers, I see under this heading a very tantalising announcement of a rich store of venerable literature in an ancient mansion in a distant part of Cornwall. It would be very desirable to know the habitat of such an unique collection of books. Will FABER MARINUS gratify the readers of "N. & Q." by allowing it to be known?