MARGARET, the daughter and heiress of Florent count of Holland, who is famous on account of a story repeated by a hundred compilers even of the 18th century. Having refused charity to a woman whom she at the same time accused of adultery, she was, as
Margaret, a punishment from God, brought to bed (A. D. 1276), of 365 children, partly boys and partly girls. The boys, it is added, were all named John, and the girls Elizabeth. This story is represented in a large painting in a village not far from the Hague; and by the side of the painting are seen two large basons of brass, on which it is pretended the 365 children were presented to be baptized. But if a picture is a sufficient authority for the truth of any thing, it is impossible to tell how many fables would be fully attested. It has been remarked, that the most ancient annals are altogether silent concerning this fact; and that it is related only by modern writers, who besides do not agree with one another concerning either the date of time, or the life of the countess, or the number of the children; and, in short, that Nassau, who was at that time bishop of Utrecht, was called John, and not Gui, as the chronicles declare. Several learned men have endeavoured to trace the cause which could have given rise to a relation so extraordinary. M. Struik fixed upon the epitaphs of the mother and son, which appeared to him worthy of some attention; and, in conformity to the dates which they bear, he supposed that the countess was brought to bed on Good Friday 1276, which was the 26th of March. Now, as the year then began on the 25th of the same month, there were only two days of the year elapsed when the countess was brought to bed, which circumstance caused it to be said that she had brought into the world as many children as there were days in the year. In fact only two children are mentioned in history, John and Elizabeth. The fable thus explained is only a common event, wherein there is nothing of the marvellous, but in consequence of a double meaning in the expression. Later writers, who have not examined this circumstance, have ascribed 365 children to the countess. Journal des Savans, February, 1758, on the General History of the United Provinces.