Mom told me she has just read* about her namesake and William, joint rulers of England.
William of Holland (Prince of oranges and lemons) and Mary of England were husband and wife and co-monarchs or something. Also cousins. This came about after Mary had got rid of her father as king of England. He was unpopular, see. Can’t have that in a democracy.
My mother Mary then said William wanted to leave England on his ship once upon a time to visit across the channel (to his native Holland I spose, to visit his Ma?) but he couldn’t: There was no wind for his ship. It wasn’t like nowadays when you can just get into a ship and drive off, she says, the wind had to be right.
…
As I know little detail about the fakery called monarchy, and less about that little island offshore of France, and even less about sailing, I had to look up some history for once.
Seems there was a husband-and-wife team that ruled the small island, but the William who had no wind might have been another William 800 years earlier, in 1066. So she may have mixed up her Williams. Well, if they’re going to indulge in endless cousin-fuckery and nepotism, they’re going to end up with a slew of Edwards, Charles’ and Williams, aren’t they?
Instead of original names like Cnut. That’s better – and a more accurate description, seems to me.
..
If its accuracy you seek – though I think accuracy in history is a wish more than reality – you’ll get more from wikipedia than you’ll get from me:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_II – where my Mother Mary is proved right: There was a time a ship was delayed in its departure “due to bad weather” pertaining to the William in question. The one who was probably actually Willem or Wilhelmus.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_the_Conqueror – also a ship delayed due to no or wrong wind
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cnut – actual name. These looters should have kept it.
~~oo0oo~~
Thought: Those two could have done a lot of good if they’d made joints legal while they were joint rulers.
*Mom must have recalled this, as its been a couple of years since she could read – central vision gone.
Living, as I do, on this little island offshore of France, a people dispossessed of land and water by the historic Cnut dynasty of fakes, frauds and robbers, I have recently had cause to despise them the more in my attempts to simply get afloat in my kayak (a gift to myself in my retirement from the rat race). I am forced to part with £100 GBP a year (minimum) if I wish to avoid being dispossessed of my kayak and sundry equipment should I have the temerity to wet my boat without permission. More egregious still is the widespread adoration of the dispossessed towards this bunch of cnuts, lining the streets in public demonstrations of fawning obeisance to the royal muckery. One is not amused! France had the right idea.
Luvvit! Man after me own heart!
I paddled Africa’s rivers for a couple decades. Loved it, but have now hung up me paddle.
Fair play, though it’s never too late to take it up again. All the best.