Martin Cromerus, a
Polish historian, quoted by Pare, who has done some good work in
statistical research on this subject, says a that Margaret, of a
noble and ancient family near Cracovia, the wife of Count
Virboslaus, brought forth 36 living children on January 20, 1296.
The celebrated case of Countess Margaret, daughter of Florent IV,
Earl of Holland, and spouse of Count Hermann of Henneberg, was
supposed to have occurred just before this, on Good Friday, 1278.
She was at this time forty-two years of age, and at one birth
brought forth 365 infants, 182 males, 182 females, and 1
hermaphrodite. They were all baptized in two large brazen dishes
by the Bishop of Treras, the males being called John, the females
Elizabeth. During the last century the basins were still on
exhibition in the village church of Losdun, and most of the
visitors to Hague went out to see them, as they were reckoned one
of the curiosities of Holland. The affliction was ascribed to the
curse of a poor woman who, holding twins in her arms, approached
the Countess for aid. She was not only denied alms, but was
insulted by being told that her twins were by different fathers,
whereupon the poor woman prayed God to send the Countess as many
children as there were days in the year.
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