seeing in a mirror dimly

Having just preached at a wedding on the weekend, I was amused to find this as I studied for Church History:

“List of princesses, royal, electoral and of other most distinguished houses of marriageable age.

The princess royal of Sweden, fifteen years of age.  She is very tiny, and a Lutheran.

The princess royal of Denmark, eighteen years of age, tall, of excellent disposition, well-bred and graced with the best qualities of her sex.  She is a Lutheran, like the king her father; but the queen her mother, who is Reformed, has inspired her with the same opinions.

The princess electoral of Brandenburg, fourteen years of age, very well-bred, of a sweet-tempered disposition, extremely devout, and of the Protestant religion.

The princess of Hesse-Cassel, sixteen years of age, well endowed both in mind and body, of moderate height, of a gentle and kindly disposition and of the Reformed religion.

The princess of Saxe-Eisenach, twenty-five years of age, with a striking appearance and charming temper; Lutheran.

The princess of Holstein-Gottorp, twenty years of age, of excellent reputation; Lutheran.”

And none of them made the cut – William never remarried after Mary’s death!