Items related to The old countess of Desmond, an inquiry. From the Proc.,...
Synopsis
This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1863 Excerpt: ...lady is now living. The Countess of Desmond would have been 55 in the year 1519, say 14 years after the lease of Corbynne, A. D. 1505. Having thus met the would-be shearers of the Countess's grey locks on their own ground, I shall now argue the question from my own point of view, and uphold its entire integrity as maintained in my former " Inquiry." The contemporary historians, if I may so express myself, of her extraordinary longevity are Sir Walter Ralegh and Fynes Moryson. From Sir Walter Ralegh's "History of the World," booki., chap, v., sec. 5, folio edition, 1614. p. 66:--"I myself knew the Countess of Desmond of Inchiquin in Munster, who lived in the year 1589, and many years since, who was marryedin Edward IV.'s time, and held her jointure from all the Earls of Desmond since then; and that this is true all the noblemen and gentlemen of Munster can witnesse." Before entering farther on our subject I think it material to notice that section 5 is " Of the long lives of the Patriarchs, and some of late memory" Having discussed the former question, Sir Walter comes down to the comparatively modern times, and refers to Pliny's statement of ages that were returned under a taxation, in the reign of Vespasian:--" 54 aged 100, 57 aged 110, 2 aged 125, 4 aged 130, 4 aged 135 and 137, and last of all 3 men of 140;" and then, noticing the relations of various writers to 1517, he finally gives the statement respecting the Countess of Desmond on his own personal knowledge. Surely bringing forward this instance of remarkable old age in that portion of "A History of the World," treating of old age, from Adam down to the time of his writing, in which, on his own personal knowledge, and for which therefore he...
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