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I like King George III. Yes, he was king during the American Revolution. I, of course, had studied about the American Revolution, but had not studied anything about the man who was king at the time. But I write regency romances now, so I must learn all I can about that time period.
During his reign the king had bouts with “madness”. The bouts would come and go, until the last 10 years of his reign. From 1810 to 1820 his son became regent–acting in the king’s stead since the king was incapable of fulfilling his duties.
So why do I like this man who was proclaimed “mad”?
When he was “sane” he had a strong faith, he loved his family, and seemed to be very personable.
I was reading in the biography George the Third, his court, and family, Volume 2 of an incident that I find fascinating. Here is an excerpt from the book:
In one of the King’s excursions, during the hay-harvest, in the neighbourhood of Weymouth, he passed a field where only one woman was at work. His Majesty asked her where the rest of her companions were.
The woman answered, they were gone to see the King.
“And why did you not go with them? rejoined His Majesty.
“The fools,” replied the woman, “that are gone to town, will lose a day’s work by it, and that is more than I can afford to do. I have five children to work for.”
“Well, then,” said His Majesty, putting some money into her hands, “you may tell your companions who are gone to see the King, that the King came to see you.”
Isn’t that fascinating? The King came to see you.
The KING
came to
YOU.
Matthew 2
The Visit of the Magi
1After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi[a] from the east came to Jerusalem 2and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east[b] and have come to worship him.”
Matthew 27:11 (New International Version)
Jesus Before Pilate
11Meanwhile Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?”
“Yes, it is as you say,” Jesus replied.
2 Corinthians 8:9 (New International Version)
9For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.
Philippians 2
5Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:
6Who, being in very nature[a] God,
did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,
7but made himself nothing,
taking the very nature[b] of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
8And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
and became obedient to death—
even death on a cross!
9Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
and gave him the name that is above every name,
10that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.
Matthew 27:36-38 (New International Version)
36And sitting down, they kept watch over him there. 37Above his head they placed the written charge against him: THIS IS JESUS, THE KING OF THE JEWS. 38Two robbers were crucified with him, one on his right and one on his left
Revelation 1
4John,
To the seven churches in the province of Asia:
Grace and peace to you from him who is, and who was, and who is to come, and from the seven spirits[a] before his throne, 5and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth.
To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, 6and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father—to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen
I spent my 42nd birthday reading–that was the gift I gave myself. I also watched Becoming Jane with Anne Hathaway(can be viewed on-line through netflix) about the life of Jane Austen.
I’ve thought of writing this post many times.
I was an infant in the 60s.
A child in the 70s.
A teenager in 80s.
Hit my 30s in the 90s.
And now I’m in my 40’s.
At work on Thursday, I found out Farrah Faucett died and mentioned it to my co-worker who said, “Who is that?” And I had to explain that she was of Charlie’s Angels Fame– back in the 70s when I was just a child. Of course, my co-worker had not been born at that time. Makes me feel kinda old.
I’m thankful for making it this long. Jane Austen passed away when she was only 43(I think)–but, oh, did she write some good stuff by that time.
My favorite fiction reading is regency romance. I just completed reading Before the Season Ends by Linore Rose Burkard.
The author writes with rich detail(something that is sorely lacking in my own writing) similar in style to Georgette Heyer.
Miss Ariana Forsythe is resolved to the fact that her lot in life is to marry a clergyman–even after the young rector moves away and is replaced by a man older than her father.
Ariana seems a little silly as she pines for this older man who seems to have no other redeeming qualities other than he is a rector. Her parents feel the only solution is to remove her from the situation by sending her away to her aunt’s who is to sponsor her in her first season in society.
She is told to stay away from one eligible bachelor, Mr. Phillip Morney, because he has been known to destroy the social chances of other young women by his indifference to them.
A great story. Read what happens when she meets Mr. Morney at a picnic on his estate. Let’s just say she doesn’t end up marrying a Rector.
This is now my chosen form of exercise.
I found an English country dance group in Durham. I didn’t realize how much I would enjoy it.
And it is great research!
Visit this site to read one of Jane Austen’s Prayers.
I ran across this sermon about the Duke of Wellington in my research for my regency novel:
We have seen that all his riches, all
his honours, all his glory, could not spare him from the common lot
of man — and all our tears, all our wishes, all our prayers can now avail
him nothing — and how distressing, how heartrending would it be, if
we could for a moment fear that he who had gained all other riches, had
lost the pearl of greatest price — that he had saved and delivered
so many in this world, was himself not saved in another — that he who
had so faithfully served his earthly Sovereign had neglected his
heavenly One — and that he who had obtained the brightest coronet
below, had failed to obtain the crown of glory above. ”
These fears, however, my friends, I trust we need not indulge ;
on the contrary, there is every reason to hope and believe that he
had made his peace with his Maker, and that he who so carefully
fulfilled all his temporal duties had not neglected the all-important
realities of eternity. It has caused feeling of greater delight than
the rehearsal of all his victories, to be informed that those who knew
him best speak of his regular, consistent, and unceasing piety — of his
unostentatious but abounding charity, and tell us that he consecrated
each day to God ; that at the early service in the Chapel Eoyal, he (
who was no hypocrite, never did anything for a mere pretence, who
scorned the very idea of deceit) was regularly, almost alone, confessing
his sins, acknowledging his guilt, and entreating mercy in the
beautiful words of our own evangelical Liturgy, not for his own
merits, but for the merits of that Saviour who bled and died for him.
It is not then because of the height of his position — the magnanimity
of his character — the temperance of his habits — the mercifulness
of his disposition — the singleness and purity of his purpose —
the obedience to what his conscience told him to be right —
his unhesitating and inviolable truth — or on his devotion to
his country, that we place our hopes of his eternal salvation, but
because we believe that he knew these were only valuable as proofs
of his faith — all of which he cast at the feet of his Saviour — and that
he placed all his hopes of future glory in the sacrifice of the beloved
Son of God, who descended from heaven to bring his people to his
Father’s right hand, and died the accursed death of the cross, that
they might live for ever. ”
But whilst we are grateful to Almighty God for having raised
up in the hour of our country’s need one qualified to meet the
emergency, and to defend it from the dangers with which it was
surrounded,— whilst we sorrow not as men without hope for him
whom we trust to have departed in the Lord — let us not forget,
that the good conduct of great men is an example for the rest of
mankind, and that most important lessons are taught not only to
the noble and the great, but even the humblest among us, by the life
and death of the departed hero.” — Sermon on the ” Might and
Majesty of Death,” suggested by the death of the Duke of Wellington :
by the Rev. J. A. Emerton, D.D.
His whole biography can be read at The Life of Field Marshal the Duke of Wellington.
Put A Ruffle On It 
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