Albucasis mentions a case of fifteen well-formed
children at a birth. According to Le Brun, Gilles de Trazegines,
who accompanied Saint Louis to Palestine, and who was made
Constable of France, was one of thirteen infants at a
simultaneous accouchement. The Marquise, his mother, was
impregnated by her husband before his departure, and during his
absence had 13 living children. She was suspected by the native
people and thought to be an adulteress, and some of the children
were supposed to be the result of superfetation. They condemned
them all to be drowned, but the Marquis appeared upon the scene
about this time and, moved by compassion, acknowledged all 13.
They grew up and thrived, and took the name of Trazegines,
meaning, in the old language, 13 drowned, although many
commentaries say that "gines" was supposed to mean in the twelfth
century "nes," or, in full, the interpretation would be "13
born."
Cases in which there is a repetition of multiple births are quite
numerous, and sometimes so often repeated as to produce a family
the size of which is almost incredible. Aristotle is credited
with saying that he knew the history of a woman who had
quintuplets four times. Pliny's case of quintuplets four times
repeated has been mentioned; and Pare, who may be believed when
he quotes from his own experience, says that the wife of the last
Lord de Maldemeure, who lived in the Parish of Seaux, was a
marvel of prolificity.
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