Chapter Geoffrey to George-a-Greene of G by Brewer's Readers Handbook

George I. and the duchess of Kendal (1719). The duchess was a German, whose name was Erangard Melrose de Schulemberg. She was created duchess of Munster, in Ireland, baroness Glastonbury, countess of Feversham, and duchess of Kendal (died 1743).

George II. His favourite was Mary Howard, duchess of Suffolk.

George II., when angry, vented his displeasure by kicking his hat about the room. We are told that Xerxes vented his displeasure at the loss of his bridges by ordering the Hellespont to be fettered, lashed with 300 stripes, and insulted.

The nickname of the prince of Wales, eldest son of George II., was “prince Titi,” from a pseudonym which he adopted in the memoirs which he wrote. The name was suggested by a fairy tale by St. Hyacinthe, called The History of Prince Titi.

George III. and the Fair Quakeress. When George III. was about 20 years of age, he fell in love with Hannah Lightfoot, daughter of a linen-draper in Market Street, St. James’s. He married her in Kew Church, 1759, but of course the marriage was not recognized. (See Lovers.)

N.B.—The following year (September, 1760) he married the princess Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz. Hannah Lightfoot married a Mr. Axford, and passed out of public notice.

(The nickname of George III. was “Farmer George,” or “The Farmer King.”)

George IV. and Mrs. Mary Robinson, generally called Perdita. Mary Darby, at the age of 15, married Mr. Robinson, who lived a few months on credit, and was then imprisoned for debt. Mrs. Robinson sought a livelihood on the stage, and George IV., then prince of Wales and a mere lad, saw her as “Perdita,” fell in love with her, corresponded with her under the assumed name of “Florizel,” and gave her a bond for £20,000, subsequently cancelled for an annuity of £500 (1758–1800).

George IV. was born in 1762, and was only 16 in 1778, when he fell in love with Mrs. Robinson. The young prince suddenly abandoned her, and after two other love affairs, privately married, at Carlton House (in 1785), Mrs. Fitzherbert, a lady of good family, and a widow, seven years his senior. The marriage being contrary to the law, he married the princess Caroline of Brunswick, in 1795; but still retained his connection with Mrs. Fitzherbert, and added a new favourite, the countess of Jersey.

(The nicknames of George IV. were “The First Gentleman of Europe,” “Fum the Fourth,” “Prince Florizel,” “The Adonis of 50,” or “The Fat Adonis of 50.”)

George [De Laval], a friend of Horace de Brienne. Having committed forgery, Carlos (alias marquis d’Antas), being cognizant of it, had him in his power; but Ogarita (alias Martha) obtained the document, and returned it to George.—Stirling: Orphan of the Frozen Sea (1856).

George-a-Greene, the pinner or pound-keeper of Wakefield, one of the chosen favourites of Robin Hood.

Veni Wakefield peramænum,
Ubi quærens Georgium Greenum,
Non inveni, sed in lignum,
Fixum reperi Georgii signum,
Ubi allam bibi feram,
Donec Georgio fortior eram.
   —Drunken Barnaby (1640).

Once in Wakefield town, so pleasant,
Sought I George-a-Green, the peasant;
Found him not, but spied instead, sir,
On a sign, “The George’s Head,” sir;
Valiant grown with ale like nectar.
What cared I for George or Hector?
   —E.C.B.

(Robert Greene has a comedy entitled George-a-Greene, the Pinner of Wakefield (1589). There is also an old prose romance recounting his contests with Robin Hood and Little John.)