Christopher Godin carried "_de sinople à une coupe couverte d'or_." He was
a son of Jacques Seigneur d'Aubrecicourt and of Françoise Lettin, and
brother to the first-named François Godin. There appears to have been
another brother, Jaques; and they were all three ennobled by Philip II.,
probably for their public services, as Christopher was Conseiller et
Receveur-général des Domaines et Finances des Pays-Bas; Jacques, Conseiller
et Maître de la Chambre des Comptes en Hollande; and François, Secrétaire
du Grand Conseil à Malines.

I am not aware what connection existed between these Godins and the family
of that name in Normandy (now extinct); but the _cup_ in the arms, though
borne differently, proves that they were of the same race.

J.R.C.

May 23, 1850.


_The Title of D.D._--The remarks of your correspondent "BROWN RAPPEE" (Vol.
I. p. 438.){14} induced me to turn to the List of the Fellows of the
Society of Antiquaries, and I find it in my power to exonerate the compiler
of the list on one point from the carelessness he imputes. "BROWN RAPPEE"
says, "We see one or two D.D.'s deprived of their titles of 'Rev.'" I find
but one D.D. in that condition, and in that instance the list is correct,
and the usual prefix would have been an error; the gentleman in question
_not_ being in orders, although his services in Biblical literature have
been acknowledged with the degree of D.D. Your correspondent does not seem
to be aware that this doctorate is, like all others, an academical, and not
a clerical, distinction and that, although it is seldom dissociated from
the clerical office in this country, any lay scholar of adequate