Re: Mr. MacEwen's comments on the meaning of the word nepos

On Aug 14, 7:53 am, Douglas Richardson <royalances...@xxxxxxx> wrote:
Dear Newsgroup ~

As a followup to to Mr. MacEwen's comments,

Let me remind you, by the way, that it is considered inappropriate to
name threads after participants, even participants by proxy.


yesterday I was going
through volume 4 of the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland, edited by George
Burnett.

On pages clxxv-clxxxviii, Mr. Burnett includes a helpful appendix on
the marriages and children of Robert Stewart (died 1420), Duke of
Albany, Earl of Fife and Menteith, who was Governor of Scotland.  On
page clxxxv, he discusses William de Abernethy and Patrick de
Abernethy who were styled "nepos" of Robert, Duke of Albany.  Here are
Mr. Burnett's comments:

"...  That the ambiguous word nephew means in these instances grandson
and not nephew seems to be shown by the assertion made in the
dispensation of 1421 ...."

Please note that Mr. Burnett did not even consider that "nepos" might
have meant kinsman, only nephew or grandson.

Given that he already knew what the true relationship was and was
setting up 'nephew' only to immediately knock it down, it is hardly
shocking that he did not also present other less-likely alternatives.


 This, of course, is in
the post-1250 period in Scotland.

I think Will has it wrong. There could not have been a royal edict
mandating this change in linguistic usage. Since (we are told) England
and Scotland, different kingdoms, both changed usage on 1 January
1251, the edict must have been Papal.

taf
.

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