Verence II
| King Verence II | |
 | |
| Name | Verence |
| Race | Human |
| Age | |
| Occupation | King of Lancre |
| Physical appearance | Bandy-legged, runny nose, watery eyes |
| Residence | Lancre |
| Death | |
| Parents | |
| Relatives | Tomjon, half-brother |
| Children | Princess Esmerelda Margaret Note Spelling of Lancre |
| Marital Status | Married to Magrat Garlick |
| Appearances | |
| Books | Wyrd Sisters, Witches Abroad, Lords and Ladies, Carpe Jugulum, The Shepherd's Crown |
| Cameos | mentioned in The Truth, I Shall Wear Midnight |
When first encountered, Verence was a Fool at Lancre Castle working for Lord and Lady Felmet. He is actually quite tall, but bandied his legs and pranced in a half crouch so that he appeared to be a small man. He has a runny nose, a strong dislike of custard and absolutely no sense of humour. This is because he was educated in the Fools' Guild, to which his abusive grandfather sent him as a child. Verence's father ran away from Lancre long ago; Nanny Ogg refers to his mother, one of the Beldame family from Blackglass, in the past tense, implying she is deceased.
He befriended Magrat Garlick one day, and this was the start of a rather unusual relationship, even for a Fool, in which both people were too embarrassed to discuss their situation. However, when Verence was elevated from a Fool to King of Lancre by Granny Weatherwax in response to Felmet's reign of oppression, their relationship continued to escalate into true love, although due to the large amount of embarrassment, nothing ever happened to advance this. However, a letter from Granny Weatherwax whilst abroad with Magrat and Nanny Ogg caused Verence to arrange a wedding. The wedding was scheduled for Midsummer's Eve, and on this particular occasion the Elves broke through, capturing him.
Soon freed by the trio of witches, Archchancellor Ridcully, and most of Lancre's population, Verence married Magrat. By the time of Carpe Jugulum they had produced an heir, Princess Esmerelda Margaret Note Spelling of Lancre (later, in The Shepherd's Crown, it mentioned that they've since had a couple more children, making Princess Esmerelda a big sister).
After inviting a group of vampyres to his castle he was bitten, but thanks to some nourishing brose from the Nac Mac Feegle Kelda Big Aggie he was soon up and about again.
William de Worde was his correspondent in Ankh Morpork.