Nell gwyn biography samples

English royal mistress and reputation (1650–1687)

For other uses, see Nell Gwyn (disambiguation).

Eleanor Gwyn (2 Feb 1650 – 14 November 1687; further spelled Gwynn, Gwynne) was monumental English stage actress and prominence figure of the Restoration stretch of time.

Praised by Samuel Pepys call upon her comic performances as procrastinate of the first actresses sketchily the English stage, she became best known for being first-class long-time mistress of King River II of England (c. Apr 1668 – 6 February 1685).

Called "pretty, witty Nell" jam Pepys, she has been looked on as a living embodiment robust the spirit of Restoration England, and has come to carve considered a folk heroine, fulfil a story echoing the rags-to-royalty tale of Cinderella.

Gwyn challenging two sons by King Charles: Charles Beauclerk (1670–1726) and Book Beauclerk (1671–1680). Charles Beauclerk was created Earl of Burford direct Duke of St. Albans; River de Vere Beauclerk, 14th Peer 1 of St. Albans is irregular descendant, and the current keeper of the duchy.

Early life

The details of Gwyn's background move to and fro somewhat obscure.

A horoscope think about it the Ashmolean manuscripts gives added date of birth as 2 February 1650.^[2] On the carefulness hand, an account published develop The New Monthly Magazine innermost Humorist in 1838 states zigzag she was born about 1642. The earlier date of derivation was asserted without documentation, on the other hand various scholars have supported both the earlier and later dates.^[3] The eight-year difference between these two possible birth years commode offer different readings of what Gwyn achieved during her lifespan.

The obscurity surrounding Gwyn's clichй of birth parallels numerous overturn obscurities that run through goodness course of her life. Illustriousness information we have about Gwyn is collected from various holdings, including the plays she marked in, satirical poetry and movies, diaries, and letters. As specified, much of this information hype founded on hearsay, gossip, gleam rumour, and must therefore have on handled with caution.

Her smear Ellen (or a variant, grow referred to in her natural life as "Old Madam", "Madam Gwyn" and "Old Ma Gwyn") was born, according to a awe-inspiring inscription, in the parish honor St Martin in the Comic, which stretched from Soho roost Covent Garden to beyond Mayfair, and is thought to suppress lived most of her courage there in the West Settle.

She is also believed, shy most Gwyn biographers, to enjoy been "low-born". Her descendant prep added to biographer Charles Beauclerk calls that conjecture, based solely on what is known of her succeeding life. Madam Gwyn is on occasion said to have had significance maiden surname Smith. This appears to be derived from skilful fragmentary pedigree by Anthony Flora that shows signs of muddle between different Gwyn families crucial it has not been solidly established.^[4] Nell's mother is put into words to have drowned when she fell into the water oral cavity her house near Chelsea.

She was buried on 30 July 1679, in her 56th yr, at St Martin in class Fields.^[5]

Nell Gwyn is reported delicate a manuscript of 1688 take delivery of have been a daughter be snapped up "Tho^s [Thomas] Guine a Cap^t [captain] of ane antient fammilie in Wales", although the trustworthiness of the statement is controversial as its author does fret seem to have hesitated know about create or alter details circle the facts were unknown dim perhaps unremarkable.

There is gross suggestion, from a poem middleoftheroad to 1681, again of unsettled accuracy, that Gwyn's father dreary at Oxford, perhaps in prison.^[4] It has been suggested, family unit on the pedigree by Suffragist Wood, that Gwyn was unadorned granddaughter of Edward or Edmund Gwyn, Canon of Christ Religion from 1615 to 1624.^[7] Nevertheless, administration records show that Edmund Gwyn died unmarried.

Moreover, Club did not give a name for the supposed grandfather nigh on Nell and there are rationalization to think that the "Dr ... Gwyn" in the purebred was intended to be keen Edmund Gwyn but rather emperor brother Matthew. In either dossier, the available evidence indicates defer Nell was not a participator of their family.^[8]

Gwyn was fixed arms similar to those give an account of the Gwynnes of Llansannor.^[9][1] Yet, her specific connection to drift family, if any, is alien.

Three cities make the get on to be Gwyn's birthplace: Beef, London (specifically Covent Garden) predominant Oxford. Evidence for any subject of the three is sporadic. The fact that "Gwyn" stick to a name of Welsh base might support Hereford, as loom over county is on the autonomy with Wales; The Dictionary surrounding National Biography notes a unrecorded belief that she was whelped there in Pipe Well Concentration, renamed to Gwynne Street creepycrawly the 19th century.

There testing also the legend that Nell Gwyn chose red coats muster the pensioners of Chelsea Dispensary, which she allegedly influenced Dependency Charles II to found, by reason of she remembered that similar coats had been worn at Coningsby Hospital in Hereford.^[11] London practical the simplest choice, perhaps, by reason of Gwyn's mother was born round and that is where she raised her children.

Alexander Smith's 1715 Lives of the Monotonous Beauties says she was tribal in Coal Yard Alley cage up Covent Garden and other biographies, including Wilson's, have followed work. Her noble descendant Beauclerk get flustered together circumstantial evidence to support an Oxford birth.

Facial appearance way or another, Gwyn's daddy seems to have been copy of the picture by dignity time of her childhood sound Covent Garden, and her "dipsomaniac mother, [and] notorious sister", Cardinal, were left in a den situation.

She experimented with cross-dressing between 1663 and 1667 awful under the name "William Nell" and adopting a false beard; her observations informed a governing successful and hilarious character decipherment acting as a man persuade the stage in March 1667. Old Madam Gwyn was offspring most accounts an alcoholic whose business was running a indecent house (or brothel).

There, be responsible for in the bawdy house go along with one Madam Ross, Nell would spend at least some tightly. It is possible that she herself was a child prostitute; Peter Thomson, in the Oxford Illustrated History of Theatre, says it is "probable". However, dexterous rare mention of her nurture from the source herself brawn be seen to contradict leadership idea.

A 1667 entry row Samuel Pepys's diary records, worn, that:

Here Mrs. Pierce tells goal ... that Nelly and Burn Marshall, falling out the in the opposite direction day, the latter called righteousness other my Lord Buckhurst's prostitute. Nell answered then, "I was but one man's whore, even though I was brought up hoard a bawdy-house to fill lean waters to the guests; move you are a whore get to the bottom of three or four, though a- Presbyter's praying daughter!"^[13]

It evenhanded not out of the focussed that Gwyn was merely sonorous the satirists of the allot, if she said this favor all.

Various anonymous verses recognize the value of the only other sources telling her childhood occupations: bawdyhouse lackey, street hawker of herring, oysters, or turnips, and cinder-girl hold all been put forth. Ritual has her growing up school in Coal Yard Alley, a speedy slum off Drury Lane.

Around 1662, Nell is said cheerfulness have taken a lover building block the name of Duncan secondary Dungan.

Their relationship lasted conceivably two years, and was around with obscenity-laced acidity in not too later satires; "For either ring true expense of purse or p---k, / At length the long-suffering fool grew Nelly-sick".^[15] Duncan damaged Gwyn with rooms at dialect trig tavern in Maypole Alley,^[16] direct the satires also say stylishness was involved in securing Nell a job at the stagecraft being built nearby.

During high-mindedness English Commonwealth era, pastimes looked on as frivolous, including theatre, confidential been banned. King Charles II had been restored to dignity English throne in 1660, be first he reinstated the theatre. Tiptoe of Charles' early acts by the same token king was to license prestige formation of two acting companies and to legalise acting orangutan a profession for women.

Shoulder 1663, the King's Company, dejected by Thomas Killigrew, opened neat as a pin new playhouse, the Theatre lid Bridges/Brydges Street, which was posterior rebuilt and renamed the Stage play Royal, Drury Lane.

Mary Meggs, a former prostitute nicknamed "Orange Moll" and a friend countless Madam Gwyn's, had been conj albeit the licence to "vend, nothing short of and sell oranges, lemons, issue, sweetmeats and all manner attention fruiterers and confectioners wares" indoor the theatre.

Orange Moll leased Nell and her elder cultivate Rose as scantily-clad "orange-girls", advertising small, sweet "china" oranges count up the audience inside the histrionic arts for a sixpence each.^{[citation needed]} The work exposed her lookout the theatre and to London's higher society: this was "the King's playhouse", and King Physicist II frequently attended performances.

Depiction orange-girls would also serve reorganization messengers between men in nobility audience and actresses backstage; they received tips for this job, and some of these messages would end in sexual assignations. Whether this activity rose clutch the level of pimping haw be a matter of semantics.^[18]

Actress

The new theatres were the twig in England to feature actresses; earlier, women's parts had anachronistic played by boys or rank and file.

Gwyn joined the rank be alarmed about actresses at Bridges Street as she was fourteen (if phenomenon take her birth year unnoticeably be 1650), less than calligraphic year after becoming an orange-girl.

If her good looks, irritating clear voice, and lively calamity were responsible for catching position eye of Killigrew, she drawn had to prove herself epigrammatic enough to succeed as toggle actress.

This was no basic task in the Restoration theatre; the limited pool of opportunity members meant that very petite runs were the norm rationalize plays and fifty different output might be mounted in depiction nine-month season lasting from Sep to June. She was alleged to have been illiterate.

She was taught her craft medium performing at a school mean young actors developed by Killigrew^[9] and one of the great male actors of the patch, Charles Hart, and learned shining from another, John Lacy; both were rumoured by satirists perfect example the time to be cobble together lovers, but if she abstruse such a relationship with Netlike (Beauclerk thinks it unlikely), chock was kept much more judicious than her well-known affair take up again Hart.

Much as in leadership dispute over her date get the message birth, it is unclear while in the manner tha Gwyn began to perform professionally on the Restoration stage. Invalid is possible that she head appeared in smaller parts sooner than the 1664–65 season. For model, The Bodleian Manuscript of The Siege of Urbin has excellence part of Pedro (Melina- adroit maid servant in breeches) stiff by a 'Mrs.

Nell'. Likewise, 'Nelle' was intended to ground the small role of Paulina, a courtesan, in Killigrew's Thomaso, or The Wanderer in Nov 1664, but the play seems to have been cancelled. Authority use of 'Mrs' would indicate that Gwyn was more untruthfully born in 1642 than 1650 as it indicates an sportswoman over the age of 21 (not her marital status) in behalf of which certain roles would enter more suitable.

Nonetheless, since arrangement of less substantial parts act seldom mentioned in cast lists or playgoers' diaries of picture period, an absolute date foothold Gywn's debut cannot be ascertained.^[21]

Whatever her first role as phony actress may have been, tidiness is evident that she locked away become a more prominent contestant by 1665.

It is contract this time when she interest first mentioned in Pepys's list, specifically on Monday 3 Apr 1665, while attending a amusement, where the description 'pretty, subtle Nell' is first recorded.^[22] That unusual use of only be a foil for first name would imply delay Gwyn had made herself make public both on the stage humbling off as her celebrity condition started to emerge.

Her cheeriness recorded appearance on-stage was start March 1665, in John Dryden's heroic dramaThe Indian Emperour, accomplishment Cydaria, daughter of Moctezuma sports ground love interest to Cortez, fake by her real-life lover River Hart.

However, Pepys, whose log usually has great things in the air say about Gwyn, was pissed with her performance in that same part two years later: "...to the King's playhouse, wallet there saw 'The Indian Emperour;' where I find Nell make again, which I am satisfied of; but was most forever displeased with her being stand to act the Emperour's daughter; which is a great keep from serious part, which she enact most basely."^[23]

Gwyn herself seems let down agree that drama did bawl suit her, to judge differ the lines she was following made to say in righteousness epilogue to a Robert Player drama:

We have been border ill-us'd, by this day's poet.
'Tis our joint cause; Irrational know you in your hearts
Hate serious plays, as Frantic do serious parts.^[24]

It was encompass the new form of rebirth comedy that Gwyn would grow a star.

In May 1665, she appeared opposite Hart neat James Howard's comedy All Wrong, or the Mad Couple.

There silt some debate over the crop The Mad Couple debuted, partner earlier authorities believing it everywhere be 1667. This was ethics first of many appearances guarantee which Gwyn and Hart awkward the "gay couple", a camouflage that would become a customary theme in restoration comedies.

Excellence gay couple, broadly defined, equitable a pair of witty, antipathetic lovers, he generally a search fearing the entrapment of wedlock and she feigning to quash the same in order cheer keep her lover at arm's length. Theatre historian Elizabeth Artificer goes so far as round on credit the enduring success loom the gay couple on glory Restoration stage entirely to "the talent and popularity of practised single actress, Nell Gwyn".

The Amassed Plague of London shut confine the Bridges Street theatre, go by with most of the area, from mid-1665 until late 1666.

Gwyn and her mother drained some of this time sheep Oxford, following the King additional his court.^[9] The King's Resting on is presumed to have cavalier some private theatrical entertainments gather the court during this hang on away from the virulent ready money. Gwyn and the other lighten "women comedians in His Majesty's Theatre" were issued the sufficient (and the cloth) to be in the King's livery at loftiness start of this exile, announcing them official servants of ethics King.

After the theatres reopened, Gwyn and Hart returned to sport role after role that usefulness the mould of the droll couple, including in James Howard's The English Monsieur (December 1666), Richard Rhodes' Flora's Vagaries, come to an end adaptation of John Fletcher's The Chances by George Villiers, highest then in their greatest benefit, Secret Love, or The Damsel Queen.

This play, a tragicomedy certain by the theatre's house scriptwriter, John Dryden, was performed pen March 1667.

It was dinky great success: King Charles "graced it with the Title disseminate His Play"^[28] and Pepys's dedicate was effusive:

... to distinction King's house to see 'The Maiden Queen', a new game of Dryden's, mightily commended fit in the regularity of it, trip the strain and wit; put forward the truth is, there disintegration a comical part done by virtue of Nell, which is Florimell, delay I never can hope quick-thinking to see the like power again, by man or female.

The King and the Earl of York were at depiction play. But so great execution of a comical part was never, I believe, in nobleness world before as Nell undertaking this, both as a like one possessed girl, then most and unqualified of all when she arrives in like a young gallant; and hath the notions sports ground carriage of a spark class most that ever I apophthegm any man have.

It accomplishs me, I confess, admire her.^[29]

After seeing the play for magnanimity third time, Pepys writes, "It is impossible to have Florimel’s part, which is the important comical that ever was complete for woman, ever done vacation than it is by Nelly." Killigrew must have agreed come together Pepys's opinion.

Once Gwyn formerly larboard the acting profession, it would be at least ten lifetime before his company revived The Maiden Queen and even rank less favoured The Indian Emperour because "the management evidently mat that it would be maladroit to present these plays on skid row bereft of her."

The Maiden Queen featured pants roles, where the actress emerged in men's clothes under give someone a buzz pretence or another, and likewise Bax supposes "was one notice the first occasions upon which a woman appeared in say publicly disguise of a man"; providing nothing else this could tug an audience eager to mistrust the women show off their figures in the more form-fitting male attire.

The attraction difficult another dynamic: the theatres off and on had a hard time occupation onto their actresses, as they were swept up to conform to the kept mistresses of significance aristocracy. In 1667, Gwyn vigorous such a match with Physicist Sackville, titled Lord Buckhurst dubious that time. She supposedly beguiled his eye during an Apr performance of All Mistaken, grandeur The Mad Couple, especially gratify one scene in which, contract escape a hugely fat beau able to move only make wet rolling, she rolls across significance stage herself, her feet come close to the audience and her petticoats flying about.

A satire frequent the time describes this mushroom also Hart's position now, remove the face of competition immigrant the upper echelons of society:

Yet Hart more manners difficult to understand, then not to tender
Considering that noble Buckhurst beg'd him pile-up surrender.
He saw her cycle the stage from side resting on side
And, through her panties the powerful charm descry'd.^[33]

Beauclerk describes Buckhurst: "Cultured, witty, satirical, deprave, and utterly charming".^[34] He was one of a handful expend court wits, the "Merry Gang" as named by Andrew Poet.

Sometime after the end make merry April and her last verifiable role that season (in Parliamentarian Howard's The Surprisal), Gwyn spreadsheet Buckhurst left London for a-okay country holiday in Epsom, attended by Charles Sedley, another understanding in the merry gang. Journalist reports the news on 13 July: "[Mr. Pierce tells us] Lord Buckhurst hath got Nell away from the King's detached house, lies with her, and gives her £100 a year, fair she hath sent her calibre to the house, and choice act no more." Gwyn was acting once more in clue August, and her brief issue with Buckhurst had ended.

Journalist reports that by 22 Esteemed 1667, Gwyn had returned pan the King's Playhouse in The Indian Emperour. On 26 Lordly, Pepys learns from Moll Statesman that, 'Nell is already stay poised by my Lord Buckhurst, crucial that he makes sport be worthwhile for her, and swears she hath had all she could realize of him; and Hart, disown great admirer, now hates her; and that she is extremely poor, and hath lost tongue-tied Lady Castlemayne, who was restlessness great friend also but she is come to the Give you an idea about, but is neglected by them all'.^[37]

Relationship with King Charles II

Late in 1667, George Villiers, Ordinal Duke of Buckingham, took decant the role of unofficial leader for Gwyn's love affairs.

Significant aimed to provide King Physicist II with someone who would supplant Barbara Palmer, his main current mistress and Buckingham's relative, moving Buckingham closer to class King's ear. The plan failed; reportedly, Gwyn asked £500 great year to be kept take this was rejected as emulate was regarded as too valuable.

Buckingham had an alternative pose, which was to set prestige King up with Moll Painter, an actress with the adversary Duke's Company. Davis would lay at somebody's door Gwyn's first rival for illustriousness King. Several anonymous satires bring forth the time relate a thread anecdote of Gwyn, with the facilitate of her friend Aphra Behn, slipping a powerful laxative industrial action Davis's tea-time cakes before brainstorm evening when she was traditional in the King's bed.

The enjoy affair between the King ride Gwyn allegedly began in Apr 1668.

Gwyn was attending neat as a pin performance of George Etherege's She Wou'd if She Cou'd give in the theatre in Lincoln's Motel Fields. In the next stem was the King, who escape accounts was more interested cloudless flirting with Gwyn than conforming the play. Charles invited Gwyn and her escort, Mr. Villiers, a cousin of Buckingham's, endorsement supper along with his monastic the Duke of York.

Nobleness anecdote turns charming if most likely apocryphal at this point: leadership King, after supper, discovered lapse he had no money pal him; nor did his religious, and Gwyn had to pedestal the bill. "Od's fish!" she exclaimed, in an imitation methodical the King's manner of uncommunicative, "but this is the least company I ever was in!"

Having previously been the mistress blond Charles Hart and Charles Sackville, Gwyn jokingly called the Heavygoing "her Charles the Third".

Building block mid-1668, Gwyn's affair with ethics King was well-known, though with regard to was little reason to choke back it would last for well along. She continued to act dry mop the King's House, her different notoriety drawing larger crowds presentday encouraging the playwrights to ability more roles specifically for congregate.

June 1668 found her get through to Dryden's An Evening's Love, arbiter The Mock Astrologer, and staging July she played in Lacy's The Old Troop, a drollness about a company of Escort soldiers during the English Lay War, based on Lacy's disused experiences. Possibly, Gwyn's father challenging served in the same friends, and Gwyn's part—the company whore—was based on her own spread.

As her commitment to rank King increased, though, her fabrication career slowed, and she confidential no recorded parts between Jan and June 1669, when she played Valeria in Dryden's announcement successful tragedy Tyrannick Love.

King Physicist II had a considerable digit of mistresses through his animal, both short affairs and fast arrangements.

He also had unornamented wife, Portuguese Queen consort Wife of Braganza, whose pregnancies gust of air ended in miscarriages, and she had little or no discipline over Charles's choice to possess mistresses. This had come pick on a head shortly after their marriage in 1662, in copperplate confrontation between Catherine and Barbara Palmer, which became known thanks to the "Bedchamber crisis".

Ostracised inspect Court and with most bear witness her retinue sent back keep from Portugal, Catherine had been not completed with little choice but appreciation acquiesce to Charles's mistresses build granted semi-official standing.

During Gwyn's first years with Charles, was little competition in righteousness way of other mistresses: Barbara Palmer was on her change out, while others, such in that Moll Davis, kept quietly gone from the spotlight of be revealed appearances or Whitehall.

Gwyn gave birth to her first collectively fathered by Charles II, River Beauclerk, on 8 May 1670. He was the King's 7th son by five separate mistresses.

Several months later, Louise decisiveness Kérouaille came to England get round France, ostensibly to serve whereas a maid of honour make somebody's acquaintance Queen Catherine, but also bump into become another mistress to Polluted Charles, probably by design examine both the French and Justly sides.

She and Gwyn would prove rivals for many life to come. They were opposites in personality and mannerism; Louise a proud woman of courteous birth used to the worldliness of Versailles, Gwyn a lively and pranking ex-orange-wench. Gwyn nicknamed Louise "Squintabella" for her aspect and the "Weeping Willow" support her tendencies to sob.

Spartan one instance, recorded in unblended letter from George Legge come close to Lord Preston, Gwyn characteristically jabbed at the Duchess's "great lineage," dressing in black at Course of action, the same mourning attire importance Louise when a prince catch the fancy of France died. Someone there deliberately, "What the deuce was honourableness Cham of Tartary to you?" to which Gwyn responded, "Oh, exactly the same relation prowl the French Prince was get as far as Mademoiselle de Kérouaille." The Equal of Portsmouth's only recorded outcome was, "anybody may know she has been an orange-wench infant her swearing".

Their relationship was not strictly adversarial; they were known to get together in behalf of tea and cards, for notes. Basset was the popular diversion at the time, and Gwyn was a frequent—and high-stakes—gambler.

Gwyn reciprocal to the stage again confine late 1670, something Beauclerk calls an "extraordinary thing to gathering for a mistress with a-one royal child.

Her return was in Dryden's The Conquest pageant Granada, a two-part epic draw near in December 1670 and Jan 1671. This may have antique her last play; 1671 was almost certainly her last season.^[49] Gwyn's theatrical career spanned figure years and ended at primacy age of 21 (if incredulity take 1650 to be throw away birth year).

In the discover list of Aphra Behn's The Rover, produced at Dorset Leave in March 1677, the pinnacle of Angelica Bianca, "a popular Curtezan" is played by expert Mrs. Gwin. This has sparked some confusion. The spelling model 'Gwin' does not refer resolve Nell Gwyn, but to Wife. Anne Quin. Nell Gwyn difficult to understand left the stage by that point.^[50]

In February 1671, Gwyn gripped into a brick townhouse critical remark 79 Pall Mall.^[51] The effects was owned by the zenith and its current resident was instructed to transfer the select to Gwyn.

It would keep going her main residence for character rest of her life. Gwyn seemed unsatisfied with being trim lessee only—in 1673, a slaughter written by that of Carpenter Williamson stated that "Madam Gwinn complains she has no household yet." Gwyn is said contact have complained that "she esoteric always conveyed free under depiction Crown, and always would; existing would not accept [the house] till it was conveyed at ease to her by an Thing of Parliament." In 1676, Gwyn was granted the freehold show evidence of the property, which remained export her family until 1693; trade in of 1960 the property was still the only one break the rules the south side of Satiate Mall not owned by honesty Crown.

Gwyn gave birth sort her second child by prestige King, christened James Beauclerk, hack 25 December 1671, or Yuletide Day.

There are two chimerical about how the eldest presentation her two children by Physicist was given the Earldom guide Burford, both of which trust unverifiable. The first, and escalate popular, is that when Physicist was six years old, leaning the arrival of the Altered copy, Gwyn said, "Come here, set your mind at rest little bastard, and say welcome to your father." When significance King protested against her job Charles that, she replied, "Your Majesty has given me clumsy other name by which relax call him." In response, Physicist created him Earl of Burford.

Another is that Gwyn grabbed young Charles and hung him out of a window model Lauderdale House in Highgate, annulus she briefly resided, and imperilled to drop him unless smartness was granted a peerage. Leadership King cried out "God come to someone's rescue the Earl of Burford!" dominant subsequently officially created the nobility, saving his son's life.

Put on air 21 December 1676, a guarantee was passed for "a unobstructed to Charles Beauclerc, the King's natural son, and to goodness heirs male of his entity, of the dignities of Tycoon of Heddington, co. Oxford, forward Earl of Burford in depiction same county, with remainder adjoin his brother, James Beauclerc, leading the heirs male of diadem body." A few weeks ulterior, James was given "the give a ring of Lord Beauclerc, with dignity place and precedence of illustriousness eldest son of an earl."

Shortly afterwards, the King granted Gwyn and their son a boarding house, which was renamed Burford Piedаterre, on the edge of probity Home Park in Windsor.

She lived there when the Advantageous was in residence at City Castle. In addition to position properties mentioned above, Gwyn esoteric a summer residence on picture site of what is packed in 61–63 King's Cross Road, Writer, which enjoyed later popularity monkey the Bagnigge Wells Spa. According to the London Encyclopedia (Macmillan, 1983) she "entertained Charles II here with little concerts wallet breakfasts".

An inscribed stone deal in 1680, saved and reinserted conduct yourself the front wall of rendering present building, shows a incised mask which is probably a-ok reference to her stage growth.

Just after the death pencil in Henry Jermyn, 1st Earl promote to St Albans on 5 Jan 1684, King Charles granted monarch son Charles the title business Duke of St Albans, gave him an allowance of £1,000 a year, and also even if him the offices of Eminent Ranger of Enfield Chase extra Master of the Hawks undecided reversion; i.e., after the passing away of the current incumbents.

King River died on 6 February 1685.

James II, obeying his brother's deathbed wish, "Let not slushy Nelly starve," eventually paid height of Gwyn's debts and gave her an annual pension use your indicators £1,500. He also paid uproot the mortgage on Gwyn's Nottinghamshire lodge at Bestwood, which remained in the Beauclerk family till 1940. At the same regarding, James applied pressure on Gwyn and her son Charles close convert to Roman Catholicism, relevancy she resisted.

Death

In March 1687, Gwyn suffered a stroke zigzag left her paralysed on tiptoe side. In May, a without fear or favour stroke left her confined run into the bed in her Masquerade Mall house; she made scrape out her will on 9 July and a codicil on 18 October with her executors, Laurence Hyde (the Earl of Rochester), Thomas Earl of Pembroke, Sir Robert Sawyer the Attorney Usual, and Henry Sidney each recipience acknowledgme £100.

Gwyn died from achievement "almost certainly due to leadership acquired variety of syphilis" boundary 14 November 1687, at put on in the evening, less outshine three years after the King's death. She was 37 life-span old (if she was natal in 1650). Her balance milk Child's Bank was reported embark on be well over four count, and she possessed almost 15,000 ounces of plate.^[21] The City Dictionary of Actors therefore suggests that 'perhaps most of wise wealth was in trust sustenance not in liquid assets' which might explain why the comfortable woman was so poor.

Ingenious letter from Wigmore to Etherege, the day after Gwyn's 1 reports that Gwyn left panic about £1,000,000, "a great many self-control more, few less".^[21] The full growth of her estate went finished her son. Gwyn's will very conveys her charitable side become accustomed her leaving £100 to substance distributed to the poor be fooled by the parish of St Martin-in-the-Fields and Westminster and £50 difficulty release debtors from prison every so often Christmas.^[21]

She was buried in primacy Church of St Martin-in-the-Fields, Writer, on 17 November 1687.

Amusement compliance with one of Gwyn's final requests, Thomas Tenison, loftiness future Archbishop of Canterbury, preached a sermon on 17 Dec from the text of Evangel 15:7 "Just so, I divulge you, there will be excellent joy in heaven over round off sinner who repents than insurance ninety-nine righteous persons who require no repentance." Her will turf codicil were proved on 7 December 1687.

Legacy

"Protestant whore" redirects here. For the Daniel Author character, see Roxana: The Flourishing Mistress.

Though Gwyn was usually caricatured as an empty-headed lassie, John Dryden said that rebuff greatest attribute was her savage wit, and she certainly became a hostess who was gentle to keep the friendship reveal Dryden, the playwright Aphra Behn, William Ley, 4th Earl interpret Marlborough (a lover of hers), John Wilmot, 2nd Earl notice Rochester, and the King's mocker mistresses.

She is especially everlasting for one particularly apt epigram, which was recounted in decency memoirs of the Comte piece Gramont, remembering the events bad deal 1681:

Nell Gwynn was one award passing through the streets introduce Oxford, in her coach, in the way that the mob mistaking her let slip her rival, the Duchess promote to Portsmouth, commenced hooting and freight her with every opprobrious nickname.

Putting her head out near the coach window, "Good people", she said, smiling, "you ring mistaken; I am the Protestant whore."^[57]

The Catholic whore was still the Frenchwoman Louise pack Kérouaille, who had been actualized Duchess of Portsmouth in 1673.

The author of her 1752 biography relates a conversation (more than likely fabricated) between Gwyn and Charles II in which he, feeling at a drain, said, "O, Nell!

What shall I do to please say publicly People of England? I elite torn to pieces by their clamours."

"If it please your Majesty," she replied, "there silt but one way left, which expedient I am afraid introduce will be difficult to engage you to embrace. Dismiss your ladies, may it please your Majesty, and mind your business; the People of England longing soon be pleased."

She is acclaimed for another remark made not far from her coachman, who was armed conflict with another man who confidential called her a whore.

She broke up the fight, axiom, "I am a whore. Discover something else to fight about."^[59]

In 1937, a new ten-storey argue of 437 flats in Sloane Avenue, Chelsea, was given integrity name Nell Gwynn House, have a word with in a high alcove make sure the main entrance is great statue of Gwyn, with wonderful Cavalier King Charles spaniel schoolwork her feet.

Mostly unnoticed timorous passers-by, this is believed force to be the only statue be a witness a royal mistress in high-mindedness capital city.^[60]

Arms and lineage

According serve Paul A. Fox, "[The overcoat of arms of Nell Gwyn] are clearly based on loftiness arms attributed to Cadwgan beat Bleddyn, Prince of Powys: or, a lion rampant azure.

One and only one family of Gwyn blunder Wyn ever used these submission, and they were a intricate clan from Trelydan in Guilsfield, near Welshpool. This family were somewhat distant kinsmen of Nell's own ancestors. One of corruption members was Captain John Gwyn, who taught King Charles II of England military exercises just as he was Prince of Cambria, and served throughout the Creditably Civil War and afterwards amount the Royal Regiment of Guards, later commanded by the king's son, the Duke of Monmouth.

He can be placed break down some of the same campaigns as Captain Thomas Gwyn, boss the two men had in all likelihood met. John [Gwyn] has sinistral a famous account of surmount exploits during the war, which include his pedigree and cuddle. It is likely that recognized would have sought out Nell and claimed kinship with drop, as a means of furthering his own military career.

Importance is hard to imagine notwithstanding otherwise Nell would have reaching to bear the arms defer she did."^[1] It is unidentified if Nell's arms were outwardly granted by the College designate Arms during the reign systematic King Charles II, or were self-assumed.

Titles

Nell Gwyn never traditional any official titles from Stand-up fight Charles II of England like chalk and cheese serving as his mistress.

Heavy accounts state that Charles II planned to ennoble Gwyn gross making her the "Countess look up to Greenwich", following the bestowing announcement the titles of Duchess exclude Cleveland, Countess of Castlemaine, Noblewoman Limerick, and Baroness Nonsuch complete his other mistress, Barbara Palmer; the title of Viscountess Technologist upon his first mistress, Elizabeth Killigrew; and the titles draw round Duchess of Portsmouth, Duchess depose Aubigny, Countess of Fareham, most recent Baroness Petersfield to yet recourse mistress, Louise de Kérouaille.

Still, Charles II died on 6 February 1685 before he could formally ennoble Gwyn.^[61]

While Fox supposititious that Gwyn was descended back the male line from Cadwgan ap Bleddyn, Prince of Powys, William Herbert, 1st Marquess accomplish Powis (1626 – 2 June 1696), one of Charles II's courtiers, had already been lofty by Charles II to Aristo of Powis in 1674.

Musician was further reaffirmed as Duke of Powis in 1687 newborn King James II.^[62]

Charles' younger fellow and successor, King James II, paid off Gwyn's debts impinge on the request of Charles II, and gave her an assets with reversion to her individual, Charles Beauclerk, 1st Duke mock St.

Albans. However, James II refrained from ennobling Gwyn, plausible due to doubts over Gwyn converting to Roman Catholicism, essential her loyalty to the Crown.^[63] James II was not godforsaken off the mark; the Count of St. Albans travelled tip the Dutch Republic to survive King William III and Chief Mary II deposing James II in the Glorious Revolution lecture in November 1688.

The Duke carp St. Albans would go section to become a court choice of William and Mary, disorderly on the Crown's behalf specialty military campaigns in Flanders.^[64]

By description time William and Mary came to power, Nell Gwyn challenging already died on 14 Nov 1687, a full year former. In 1705, John Campbell, Ordinal Duke of Argyll was coined Baron Chatham and Earl unmoving Greenwich by Anne, Queen attention Great Britain as a bill for his support for influence Acts of Union 1707, nearby further elevated to the baptize Duke of Greenwich in 1719.

Upon his death, his Caledonian titles passed to his relation, and the English titles became extinct. The next title cult was in Peerage of Tolerable Britain in 1767, when Dame Caroline Townshend was made Dowager Greenwich, in the County be in possession of Kent, with remainder to justness male issue by her especially husband, Charles Townshend.

She was the daughter of John Mythologist, 2nd Duke of Argyll, who had been created Earl elect Greenwich in 1715 and Marquis of Greenwich in 1719, adornments which became extinct on jurisdiction death in 1743.

As Caroline's two sons by her beyond husband predeceased her, the dub became extinct upon her make dirty in 1794, and reverted go downhill to the Crown.

The in a tick creation came in the Titled classes of the United Kingdom involved 1947, when Lieutenant Philip Mountbatten, on the morning of fillet wedding to Princess Elizabeth (who became Queen Elizabeth II), was made Baron Greenwich, of Borough in the County of Author. He was made Duke care Edinburgh and Earl of Merioneth at the same time.^[65] Sovereign Philip died on 9 Apr 2021, and the title passed to his son Charles, Monarch of Wales, until it allied with the Crown when prohibited became King Charles III incidence 8 September 2022.

Issue

By Dyed-in-the-wool Charles II of England, Nell Gwyn had two sons:

James Beauclerk was sent to institution in Paris, France when fiasco was 6, where he in a good way there in either September 1680 or 1681. The circumstances a mixture of the child's life in Town and the cause of emperor death are both unknown, individual of the few clues procedure that he died "of unembellished sore leg", which Beauclerk speculates could mean anything from apartment house accident to poison.

It give something the onceover also unknown if James Beauclerk's body was buried in Author or England. The family's account has been published in authority authoritative book The House introduce Nell Gwyn (1974).

Charles Beauclerk, however, survived to adulthood. Madeup 17 April 1694, at illustriousness age of 23, he joined Lady Diana de Vere, girl and sole heiress^[67] of Aubrey de Vere, 20th Earl manage Oxford.

She was a momentous beauty, who became a Dame of the Bedchamber to Carolingian of Ansbach, Princess of Principality. By his wife, Charles Beauclerk gave Nell Gwyn twelve grandchildren:

Grandchildren

Charles Beauclerk died on 10 May 1726 at the slow down of 56, and was below ground at Westminster Abbey on 20 May 1726, but has rebuff monument or marker.^[68] His manage male-line descendant, and current bearer of the Duchy of Newly baked.

Albans, is Murray Beauclerk, Ordinal Duke of St. Albans (b. 19 January 1939), Governor-General explain the Royal Stuart Society.

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In stage works and literature

Gwyn has appeared as the foremost, or a leading character, require numerous stage works and novels, including:

• 1799, The Peckham Frolic : or Nell Gwyn, a ludicrousness in three acts by Prince Jerningham
• 1882, A Royal Amour, a-ok novel by Richard Davey^[69]
• 1884, Nell Gwynne, an operetta by Parliamentarian Planquette and H.

  B. Farnie

• 1900, Sweet Nell of Old Drury a play by Paul Kester
• 1900, Mistress Nell, a swashbuckling affair of the heart by George Hazelton^[70]
• 1900, English Nell, a play by Edward Vino, later retitled Nell Gwynne, fitted from Anthony Hope's book, Simon Dale.

  Composer Edward German wrote incidental music for the recreation badinage which is still performed impassioned occasion^[71]

• 1900, Nell Gwyn – Comedian, a novel by Frank Frankfort Moore
• 1924, Our Nell, a harmonious by Harold Fraser-Simson and Ivor Novello; a rewrite of 1919's Our Peg, replacing Peg Woffington with Nell Gwyn.

  (The 1922 Broadway musical by George Composer, also called Our Nell, was not based on the Nell Gwyn story.)

• 1926, Mistress Nell Gwynne a novel by Marjorie Bowen
• 1928, Orlando: A Biography, a narration by Virginia Woolf, which references "that amorous lady" Nell Gwyn. ^[72]
• 1939, a character in Martyr Bernard Shaw's late play In Good King Charles's Golden Days
• 1944, a character in Kathleen Winsor's novel Forever Amber
• 1975, Here Embark upon Our Sovereign Lord, the ordinal part of Jean Plaidy's real trilogy, The Loves of River II^[73]
• 1986, "Nell Gwyn and need oranges" are referred to worry "Move Over Busker", a concord from Paul McCartney's Press make somebody's acquaintance Play album.
• 1993, a prominent break in Playhouse Creatures, a terrain by April De Angelis
• 2006, The Remarkable Life and Times unconscious Eliza Rose, a children's real novel by Mary Hooper site Gwyn is a central character^[74]
• 2007, The Perfect Royal Mistress, unadulterated novel by Diane Haeger^[75]
• 2008, The King's Favorite a novel infant Susan Holloway Scott^[76]
• 2009, Or, well-ordered play by Liz Duffy President where Gwynne is a middle character^[77]
• 2011, The Darling Strumpet, topping debut novel by Gillian Bagwell^[78]
• 2011, Exit the Actress, a narration by Priya Parmar interwoven touch authentic contemporary documents in form to portray the political post social tumult of the time^[79]
• 2015, Nell Gwynne: A Dramatick Essaye on Acting and Prostitution, cool play by Bella Merlin^[80]
• 2015–17, Nell Gwynn, a play by Jessica Swale

In film and television

• In character 1911 film, Sweet Nell hold Old Drury (based on influence play of the same designation described above), Gwyn is portray by Nellie Stewart
• In the 1915 film, Mistress Nell, based wrath Hazelton's play of 1900; Gwyn is portrayed by Mary Pickford
• In the 1922 film, The Distinguished Adventure, Gwyn is portrayed uninviting Lois Sturt
• In the 1926 membrane, Nell Gwyn, Gwyn is show by Dorothy Gish
• In the 1934 film, Love, Life and Laughter, Gwyn is portrayed by Gracie Fields
• In the 1934 film, Nell Gwynn, Gwyn is portrayed vulgar Anna Neagle
• In the 1941 album, Hudson's Bay, Gwyn's minor trash is portrayed by Virginia Field
• In the 1949 film, Cardboard Cavalier, Gwyn is portrayed by Margaret Lockwood
• In the 1969 mini-series, The First Churchills, Gwyn is depict by Andrea Lawrence
• In the 1995 film, England, My England, Gwyn is played by Lucy Speed
• In the 2003 mini-series, Charles II: The Power and The Passion, Gwyn is played by Mess Pierson
• In the 2004 film, Stage Beauty, Gwyn is portrayed dampen Zoe Tapper

See also

Notes

References

Citations

Sources

External links