DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.51519#0189
NELL GWYNN.
1G3
dividual of the name of Crown, to write a masque to be represented
before their majesties.”
A long* story is told of the manner in which Nell Gwynn left
Rochester, and of the revenge taken by the latter in his writings.
She was now the mistress, if we believe this story, of a brother of
the “ Duchess of Cleveland,” who enjoyed some share of the King’s
favour, but from whose eyes he studiously concealed Nell Gwynn.
cc One day however, in spite of his caution, his majesty saw her,
and that very night possessed her. Her lover carried her to the
play, at a time when he had not the least suspicion of his majesty’s
beino- there; but as that monarch had an aversion to his robes of
royalty, and was incumbered with the dignity of his state, he chose
frequently to throw off the load of kingship, and consider himself
as a private gentleman.
“ Upon this occasion he came to the play, incog., and sat in the
next box to Nell and her lover. As soon as the play was finished,
his majesty, with the Duke of York, the young nobleman and
Nell, retired to a tavern together, where they regaled themselves
over a bottle; and the King showed such civilities to Nell, that
she began to understand the meaning of his gallantry.
(C The tavern-keeper was entirely ignorant of the quality of the
company \ and it was remarkable, that when the reckoning’ came
to be paid, his majesty, upon searching his pockets, found that he
had not money enough about him to discharge it, and asked the
sum of his brother, who was in the same situation : upon which
Nell observed, that she had got into the poorest company that ever
she was in at a tavern. The reckoning was paid by the young
nobleman, who that night parted both with his money and mistress.
Such were the gradations by which this celebrated courtesan rose
to the eminence of an imperial mistress : and in that situation it
must be owned, of all this prince’s favourites, she was both the
most prolific and the least offensive to the jarring interests of the
m 2
1G3
dividual of the name of Crown, to write a masque to be represented
before their majesties.”
A long* story is told of the manner in which Nell Gwynn left
Rochester, and of the revenge taken by the latter in his writings.
She was now the mistress, if we believe this story, of a brother of
the “ Duchess of Cleveland,” who enjoyed some share of the King’s
favour, but from whose eyes he studiously concealed Nell Gwynn.
cc One day however, in spite of his caution, his majesty saw her,
and that very night possessed her. Her lover carried her to the
play, at a time when he had not the least suspicion of his majesty’s
beino- there; but as that monarch had an aversion to his robes of
royalty, and was incumbered with the dignity of his state, he chose
frequently to throw off the load of kingship, and consider himself
as a private gentleman.
“ Upon this occasion he came to the play, incog., and sat in the
next box to Nell and her lover. As soon as the play was finished,
his majesty, with the Duke of York, the young nobleman and
Nell, retired to a tavern together, where they regaled themselves
over a bottle; and the King showed such civilities to Nell, that
she began to understand the meaning of his gallantry.
(C The tavern-keeper was entirely ignorant of the quality of the
company \ and it was remarkable, that when the reckoning’ came
to be paid, his majesty, upon searching his pockets, found that he
had not money enough about him to discharge it, and asked the
sum of his brother, who was in the same situation : upon which
Nell observed, that she had got into the poorest company that ever
she was in at a tavern. The reckoning was paid by the young
nobleman, who that night parted both with his money and mistress.
Such were the gradations by which this celebrated courtesan rose
to the eminence of an imperial mistress : and in that situation it
must be owned, of all this prince’s favourites, she was both the
most prolific and the least offensive to the jarring interests of the
m 2