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From: Reedpcgen< >
Subject: Re: Queen Philippa's birth date
Date: 11 Dec 1998 08:34:52 GMT


Just for the general information of the group,

"The Birth Date of Queen Philippa: Some Observations," by Neil D. Thompson
[with information from Andrew B. W. MacEwen] was published in The Genealogist
1:(1980)138-9.

It quotes the information from

F. C. Hingeston-Randolph, ed., _The Register of Walter de Stapledon, Bishop of
Exeter (A. D. 1307-1322)_ (London, 1892), p. 169, pointing out that the
information has been available since 1892, but missed by most publications.

To quote:
Et sera la Damoisele del age de ix anz a la Feste de la Nativite Seint Johan
prochein avenir, si come la Mere dit. [And the damsel will be of the age of
nine years on St. John's day next to come, as her mother saith.]

So, since it was her mother's testimony, it is credible evidence. A birth date
of 24 June 1311 [not 1310] agrees with the date of birth of her eldest son
Edward 'the Black Prince' on 15 June 1330.

This information was also made available by George Gordon Coulton in _Chaucer
and His England_ (London, 1908), which has gone through eight editions, being
reprinted in the U. S in 1957 (pp. 180-2).

But again, as John Parsons points out, that's why we have to be careful when we
estimate dates. I personally do not like to use the term "ca." unless it is a
calculated date.

pcr

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