from the common anceſtor, that is the degree in which they are related to each other. Thus Titius and his brother are related in the firſt degree; for from the father to each of them is counted only one: Titius and his nephew are related in the ſecond degree; for the nephew is two degrees removed from the common anceſtor; viz. his own grandfather, the father of Titius. Or, (to give a more illuſtrious inſtance from our Engliſh annals) king Henry the ſeventh, who ſlew Richard the third in the battle of Boſworth, was related to that prince in the fifth degree. Let the propoſitus therefore in the table of conſanguinity repreſent king Richard the third, and the claſs marked (e) king Henry the ſeventh. Now their common ſtock or anceſtor was king Edward the third, the abavus in the ſame table: from him to Edmond duke of York, the proavus, is one degree; to Richard earl of Cambridge, the avus, two; to Richard duke of York, the pater, three; to king Richard the third, the propoſitus, four: and from king Edward the third to John of Gant (a) is one degree; to John earl of Somerſet (b) two; to John duke of Somerſet (c) three; to Margaret counteſs of Richmond (d) four; to king Henry the ſeventh (e) five. Which laſt mentioned prince, being the fartheſt removed from the common ſtock, gives the denomination to the degree of kindred in the canon and municipal law. Though according to the computation of the civilians, (who count upwards, from either of the perſons related, to the common ſtock, and then downwards again to the other; reckoning a degree for each perſon both aſcending and deſcending) theſe two princes were related in the ninth degree: for from king Richard the third to Richard duke of York is one degree; to Richard earl of Cambridge, two; to Edmond duke of York, three; to king Edward the third, the common anceſtor, four; to John of Gant, five; to John earl of Somerſet, ſix; to John duke of Somerſet, ſeven; to Margaret counteſs of Richmond, eight; to king Kenry the ſeventh, nine[1].
- ↑ See the table of conſanguinity annexed; wherein all the degrees of collateral kindred to the propoſitus are computed, ſo far as the tenth of the civilians and the ſeventh of the canoniſts incluſive; the former being diſtinguiſhed by the numeral letters, the latter by the common ciphers.
