Once I was a clever boy learning the arts of Oxford... is a quotation from the verses written by Bishop Richard Fleming (c.1385-1431) for his tomb in Lincoln Cathedral. Fleming, the founder of Lincoln College in Oxford, is the subject of my research for a D. Phil., and, like me, a son of the West Riding. I have remarked in the past that I have a deeply meaningful on-going relationship with a dead fifteenth century bishop... it was Fleming who, in effect, enabled me to come to Oxford and to learn its arts, and for that I am immensely grateful.


Thursday 12 May 2011

Long may she reign

Today HM The Queen becomes the second longest reigning monarch in British history, as outlined in these articles in the Daily Telegraph, one a news story The Queen to become second-longest reigning monarch and the other The Queen's longest reigning predecessors gives statistics for her predecessors.

She has now overtaken King George III in the length of time she has served as monarch, and only Queen Victoria has reigned longer.

Jacobites can of course advance the claim of King James III and VIII, who would have reigned almost a year longer than Queen Victoria, but even that achievement of longevity must be in Her Majesty's sights.

Long may she reign!

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