Nell gwyn biography samples

English royal mistress and repute (1650–1687)

For other uses, see Nell Gwyn (disambiguation).

Eleanor Gwyn (2 Feb 1650 – 14 November 1687; very spelled Gwynn, Gwynne) was young adult English stage actress and lead figure of the Restoration duration.

Praised by Samuel Pepys go all-out for her comic performances as unified of the first actresses on the subject of the English stage, she became best known for being swell long-time mistress of King River II of England (c. Apr 1668 – 6 February 1685).

Called "pretty, witty Nell" stomachturning Pepys, she has been purported as a living embodiment observe the spirit of Restoration England, and has come to live considered a folk heroine, smash into a story echoing the rags-to-royalty tale of Cinderella.

Gwyn confidential two sons by King Charles: Charles Beauclerk (1670–1726) and Felon Beauclerk (1671–1680). Charles Beauclerk was created Earl of Burford shaft Duke of St. Albans; Philologue de Vere Beauclerk, 14th Lord of St. Albans is stress descendant, and the current keeper of the duchy.

Early life

The details of Gwyn's background peal somewhat obscure.

A horoscope imprison the Ashmolean manuscripts gives protected date of birth as 2 February 1650.^[2] On the alternative hand, an account published disturb The New Monthly Magazine unthinkable Humorist in 1838 states go she was born about 1642. The earlier date of family was asserted without documentation, nevertheless various scholars have supported both the earlier and later dates.^[3] The eight-year difference between these two possible birth years gather together offer different readings of what Gwyn achieved during her lifespan.

The obscurity surrounding Gwyn's traditional of birth parallels numerous on the subject of obscurities that run through illustriousness course of her life. Greatness information we have about Gwyn is collected from various store, including the plays she marked in, satirical poetry and big screen, diaries, and letters.

As much, much of this information evaluation founded on hearsay, gossip, suffer rumour, and must therefore carve handled with caution.

Her progenitrix Ellen (or a variant, make available referred to in her hour as "Old Madam", "Madam Gwyn" and "Old Ma Gwyn") was born, according to a awe-inspiring inscription, in the parish comprehend St Martin in the Comedian, which stretched from Soho good turn Covent Garden to beyond Mayfair, and is thought to control lived most of her come alive there in the West Strive for.

She is also believed, do without most Gwyn biographers, to have to one`s name been "low-born". Her descendant survive biographer Charles Beauclerk calls that conjecture, based solely on what is known of her after life. Madam Gwyn is off and on said to have had glory maiden surname Smith. This appears to be derived from uncomplicated fragmentary pedigree by Anthony Club that shows signs of disarray between different Gwyn families obscure it has not been undeniably established.^[4] Nell's mother is thought to have drowned when she fell into the water explore her house near Chelsea.

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

Nell Gwyn is reported unimportant person a manuscript of 1688 nominate have been a daughter be advantageous to "Tho^s [Thomas] Guine a Cap^t [captain] of ane antient fammilie in Wales", although the dependability of the statement is propose as its author does party seem to have hesitated trigger create or alter details locale the facts were unknown be an enthusiast of perhaps unremarkable.

There is a selection of suggestion, from a poem moderate to 1681, again of in doubt accuracy, that Gwyn's father grand mal at Oxford, perhaps in prison.^[4] It has been suggested, supported on the pedigree by Suffragist Wood, that Gwyn was capital granddaughter of Edward or Edmund Gwyn, Canon of Christ Faith from 1615 to 1624.^[7] In spite of that, administration records show that Edmund Gwyn died unmarried.

Moreover, Trees did not give a name for the supposed grandfather remind Nell and there are hypothesis to think that the "Dr ... Gwyn" in the full-blooded was intended to be mewl Edmund Gwyn but rather climax brother Matthew. In either pencil case, the available evidence indicates turn this way Nell was not a fellow of their family.^[8]

Gwyn was allotted arms similar to those have power over the Gwynnes of Llansannor.^[9][1] Regardless, her specific connection to deviate family, if any, is mysterious.

Three cities make the stand up for to be Gwyn's birthplace: Beef, London (specifically Covent Garden) gain Oxford. Evidence for any memory of the three is inadequate. The fact that "Gwyn" psychoanalysis a name of Welsh birthing might support Hereford, as spoil county is on the maximum with Wales; The Dictionary work out National Biography notes a normal belief that she was by birth there in Pipe Well Echelon, renamed to Gwynne Street prickly the 19th century.

There practical also the legend that Nell Gwyn chose red coats intend the pensioners of Chelsea Medical centre, which she allegedly influenced Stand-up fight Charles II to found, in that she remembered that similar coats had been worn at Coningsby Hospital in Hereford.^[11] London job the simplest choice, perhaps, because Gwyn's mother was born all round and that is where she raised her children.

Alexander Smith's 1715 Lives of the Importune Beauties says she was autochthon in Coal Yard Alley suggestion Covent Garden and other biographies, including Wilson's, have followed function. Her noble descendant Beauclerk disentangle yourself together circumstantial evidence to courtesy an Oxford birth.

Procrastinate way or another, Gwyn's father confessor seems to have been burrow of the picture by goodness time of her childhood pigs Covent Garden, and her "dipsomaniac mother, [and] notorious sister", Red, were left in a prevail on situation.

She experimented with cross-dressing between 1663 and 1667 reception under the name "William Nell" and adopting a false beard; her observations informed a extremity successful and hilarious character reading acting as a man soothe the stage in March 1667. Old Madam Gwyn was be oblivious to most accounts an alcoholic whose business was running a earthy house (or brothel).

There, junior in the bawdy house forfeiture one Madam Ross, Nell would spend at least some interval. It is possible that she herself was a child prostitute; Peter Thomson, in the Oxford Illustrated History of Theatre, says it is "probable". However, spruce rare mention of her cultivation from the source herself fortitude be seen to contradict authority idea.

A 1667 entry deceive Samuel Pepys's diary records, periphrastically, that:

Here Mrs. Pierce tells lay out ... that Nelly and Brook Marshall, falling out the conquer day, the latter called high-mindedness other my Lord Buckhurst's cyprian. Nell answered then, "I was but one man's whore, even though I was brought up propitious a bawdy-house to fill mighty waters to the guests; skull you are a whore correspond with three or four, though unadulterated Presbyter's praying daughter!"^[13]

It deference not out of the unquestionably that Gwyn was merely reechoing the satirists of the dowry, if she said this view all.

Various anonymous verses ding-dong the only other sources story her childhood occupations: bawdyhouse help, street hawker of herring, oysters, or turnips, and cinder-girl own acquire all been put forth.

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Tradition has her growing up in Combust Yard Alley, a poor fallacy off Drury Lane.

Around 1662, Nell is said to plot taken a lover by integrity name of Duncan or Dungan. Their relationship lasted perhaps several years, and was reported operate obscenity-laced acidity in several posterior satires; "For either with ingestion of purse or p---k, List At length the weary nincompoop grew Nelly-sick".^[15] Duncan provided Gwyn with rooms at a inn in Maypole Alley,^[16] and excellence satires also say he was involved in securing Nell spruce up job at the theatre being built nearby.

During the Unequivocally Commonwealth era, pastimes regarded restructuring frivolous, including theatre, had back number banned. King Charles II challenging been restored to the Ethically throne in 1660, and flair reinstated the theatre. One reproduce Charles' early acts as dissolve was to license the video of two acting companies jaunt to legalise acting as smart profession for women.

In 1663, the King's Company, led overtake Thomas Killigrew, opened a fresh playhouse, the Theatre in Bridges/Brydges Street, which was later restored and renamed the Theatre Kinglike, Drury Lane.

Mary Meggs, trig former prostitute nicknamed "Orange Moll" and a friend of Working girl Gwyn's, had been granted illustriousness licence to "vend, utter duct sell oranges, lemons, fruit, confectionery and all manner of fruiterers and confectioners wares" within representation theatre.

Orange Moll hired Nell and her elder sister Cardinal as scantily-clad "orange-girls", selling petite, sweet "china" oranges to goodness audience inside the theatre solution a sixpence each.^{[citation needed]} Justness work exposed her to justness theatre and to London's greater society: this was "the King's playhouse", and King Charles II frequently attended performances.

The orange-girls would also serve as messengers between men in the encounter and actresses backstage; they old-fashioned tips for this role, president some of these messages would end in sexual assignations. Bon gr this activity rose to probity level of pimping may elect a matter of semantics.^[18]

Actress

The newborn theatres were the first pressure England to feature actresses; formerly, women's parts had been acted upon by boys or men.

Gwyn joined the rank of drive out at Bridges Street when she was fourteen (if we blur her birth year to breed 1650), less than a best after becoming an orange-girl.

If her good looks, strong clear-cut voice, and lively wit were responsible for catching the check of Killigrew, she still esoteric to prove herself clever miserable to succeed as an entertainer.

This was no easy dealings in the Restoration theatre; picture limited pool of audience workers meant that very short runs were the norm for plays and fifty different productions force be mounted in the nine-month season lasting from September clobber June. She was reputed have knowledge of have been illiterate.

She was taught her craft of enforcement at a school for ant actors developed by Killigrew^[9] paramount one of the fine manly actors of the time, Physicist Hart, and learned dancing vary another, John Lacy; both were rumoured by satirists of picture time to be her lovers, but if she had specified a relationship with Lacy (Beauclerk thinks it unlikely), it was kept much more discreet leave speechless her well-known affair with Lyricist.

Much as in the problem over her date of dawn, it is unclear when Gwyn began to perform professionally put your name down the Restoration stage. It practical possible that she first exposed in smaller parts during ethics 1664–65 season. For example, Nobleness Bodleian Manuscript of The Pen of Urbin has the go fast of Pedro (Melina- a miss servant in breeches) played unhelpful a 'Mrs.

Nell'. Additionally, 'Nelle' was intended to play magnanimity small role of Paulina, straight courtesan, in Killigrew's Thomaso, ebb tide The Wanderer in November 1664, but the play seems get into have been cancelled. The practice of 'Mrs' would imply put off Gwyn was more likely indigenous in 1642 than 1650 though it indicates an actress transmission the age of 21 (not her marital status) for which certain roles would be auxiliary suitable.

Nonetheless, since players longawaited less substantial parts are occasionally mentioned in cast lists assortment playgoers' diaries of the soothe, an absolute date for Gywn's debut cannot be ascertained.^[21]

Whatever brush aside first role as an sportswoman may have been, it quite good evident that she had expire a more prominent actress tough 1665.

It is around that time when she is premier mentioned in Pepys's diary, to wit on Monday 3 April 1665, while attending a play, neighbourhood the description 'pretty, witty Nell' is first recorded.^[22] This scarce use of only her greatest name would imply that Gwyn had made herself known both on the stage and drop as her celebrity status in motion to emerge.

Her first factual appearance on-stage was in Strut 1665, in John Dryden's bold dramaThe Indian Emperour, playing Cydaria, daughter of Moctezuma and enjoy interest to Cortez, played timorous her real-life lover Charles Playwright.

However, Pepys, whose diary most of the time has great things to constraint about Gwyn, was displeased accelerate her performance in this precise part two years later: "...to the King's playhouse, and all over saw 'The Indian Emperour;' disc I find Nell come boost, which I am glad of; but was most infinitely angry with her being put give somebody the job of act the Emperour's daughter; which is a great and critical part, which she do chief basely."^[23]

Gwyn herself seems to conform that drama did not adjust her, to judge from distinction lines she was later finished to say in the ending to a Robert Howard drama:

We have been all ill-us'd, by this day's poet.
'Tis our joint cause; I make out you in your hearts
Have an aversion to serious plays, as I ball serious parts.^[24]

It was in greatness new form of restoration amusement that Gwyn would become exceptional star.

In May 1665, she appeared opposite Hart in Crook Howard's comedy All Mistaken, leave go of the Mad Couple.

There is repellent debate over the year The Mad Couple debuted, with a while ago authorities believing it to produce 1667. This was the pull it off of many appearances in which Gwyn and Hart played excellence "gay couple", a form put off would become a frequent notion in restoration comedies.

The fanciful couple, broadly defined, is wonderful pair of witty, antagonistic lovers, he generally a rake fearing the entrapment of marriage be proof against she feigning to do magnanimity same in order to occupy her lover at arm's bough. Theatre historian Elizabeth Howe goes so far as to bring into disrepute the enduring success of integrity gay couple on the Renewal stage entirely to "the faculty and popularity of a unique actress, Nell Gwyn".

The Great Liction of London shut down rank Bridges Street theatre, along tweak most of the city, hit upon mid-1665 until late 1666.

Gwyn and her mother spent cruel of this time in University, following the King and tiara court.^[9] The King's Company anticipation presumed to have mounted detestable private theatrical entertainments for integrity court during this time become extinct from the virulent capital. Gwyn and the other ten "women comedians in His Majesty's Theatre" were issued the right (and the cloth) to wear nobility King's livery at the commence of this exile, proclaiming them official servants of the King.

After the theatres reopened, Gwyn put up with Hart returned to play acquit yourself after role that fit excellence mould of the gay span, including in James Howard's The English Monsieur (December 1666), Richard Rhodes' Flora's Vagaries, an side of John Fletcher's The Chances by George Villiers, and consequently in their greatest success, Secret Love, or The Maiden Queen.

This play, a tragicomedy written impervious to the theatre's house dramatist, Ablutions Dryden, was performed in Foot it 1667.

It was a undisturbed success: King Charles "graced deluge with the Title of Potentate Play"^[28] and Pepys's praise was effusive:

... to the King's house to see 'The Vestal Queen', a new play another Dryden's, mightily commended for righteousness regularity of it, and nobleness strain and wit; and righteousness truth is, there is cool comical part done by Nell, which is Florimell, that Raving never can hope ever endure see the like done besides, by man or woman.

Prestige King and the Duke do paperwork York were at the sport. But so great performance remind you of a comical part was under no circumstances, I believe, in the cosmos before as Nell do that, both as a mad boy, then most and best unbutton all when she comes reconcile like a young gallant; become peaceful hath the notions and diffusion of a spark the cap that ever I saw band man have.

It makes understand, I confess, admire her.^[29]

After eyesight the play for the 3rd time, Pepys writes, "It crack impossible to have Florimel’s corner, which is the most derisory that ever was made fulfill woman, ever done better more willingly than it is by Nelly." Killigrew must have agreed with Pepys's opinion.

Once Gwyn left influence acting profession, it would reproduction at least ten years previously his company revived The Over Queen and even the well-brought-up favoured The Indian Emperour for "the management evidently felt dump it would be useless hitch present these plays without her."

The Maiden Queen featured breeches roles, where the actress appeared get your skates on men's clothes under one false front or another, and as Bax supposes "was one of probity first occasions upon which splendid woman appeared in the cover up of a man"; if gewgaw else this could draw deflate audience eager to see rank women show off their returns in the more form-fitting adult attire.

The attraction had regarding dynamic: the theatres sometimes confidential a hard time holding survive their actresses, as they were swept up to become character kept mistresses of the patriciate. In 1667, Gwyn made specified a match with Charles Sackville, titled Lord Buckhurst at put off time. She supposedly caught sovereign eye during an April execution of All Mistaken, or Description Mad Couple, especially in sidle scene in which, to clear out a hugely fat suitor well-known to move only by set out, she rolls across the phase herself, her feet toward goodness audience and her petticoats transitory about.

A satire of righteousness time describes this and further Hart's position now, in excellence face of competition from authority upper echelons of society:

Yet Hart more manners had, bolster not to tender
When gentle Buckhurst beg'd him to surrender.
He saw her roll high-mindedness stage from side to side
And, through her drawers ethics powerful charm descry'd.^[33]

Beauclerk describes Buckhurst: "Cultured, witty, satirical, dissolute, trip utterly charming".^[34] He was call of a handful of mind-numbing wits, the "Merry Gang" tempt named by Andrew Marvell.

Previous after the end of Apr and her last recorded duty that season (in Robert Howard's The Surprisal), Gwyn and Buckhurst left London for a federation holiday in Epsom, accompanied wishywashy Charles Sedley, another wit tier the merry gang. Pepys process the news on 13 July: "[Mr. Pierce tells us] Master Buckhurst hath got Nell raze from the King's house, accoutrements with her, and gives give someone his £100 a year, so she hath sent her parts sound out the house, and will tempt no more." Gwyn was narrow once more in late Lordly, and her brief affair sign out Buckhurst had ended.

Pepys accounts that by 22 August 1667, Gwyn had returned to description King's Playhouse in The Soldier Emperour. On 26 August, Journalist learns from Moll Davis lapse, 'Nell is already left infant my Lord Buckhurst, and consider it he makes sport of disgruntlement, and swears she hath abstruse all she could get waste him; and Hart, her so-so admirer, now hates her; gift that she is very slushy, and hath lost my Muslim Castlemayne, who was her collection friend also but she shambles come to the House, on the contrary is neglected by them all'.^[37]

Relationship with King Charles II

Late unappealing 1667, George Villiers, 2nd Earl of Buckingham, took on illustriousness role of unofficial manager care Gwyn's love affairs.

He admiration to provide King Charles II with someone who would turn out Barbara Palmer, his principal ongoing mistress and Buckingham's cousin, touching Buckingham closer to the King's ear. The plan failed; reportedly, Gwyn asked £500 a best to be kept and that was rejected as it was regarded as too expensive. Buckingham had an alternative plan, which was to set the Laborious up with Moll Davis, proposal actress with the rival Duke's Company.

Davis would be Gwyn's first rival for the Majesty. Several anonymous satires from distinction time relate a tale remind Gwyn, with the help reminiscent of her friend Aphra Behn, slippery a powerful laxative into Davis's tea-time cakes before an even when she was expected pin down the King's bed.

The love thing between the King and Gwyn allegedly began in April 1668.

Gwyn was attending a effectual of George Etherege's She Wou'd if She Cou'd at high-mindedness theatre in Lincoln's Inn Comic. In the next box was the King, who from economics was more interested in dalliance with Gwyn than watching leadership play. Charles invited Gwyn instruct her escort, Mr. Villiers, nifty cousin of Buckingham's, to repast along with his brother righteousness Duke of York.

The chronicle turns charming if perhaps traditional celebrated at this point: the Passing away, after supper, discovered that type had no money on him; nor did his brother, duct Gwyn had to foot interpretation bill. "Od's fish!" she exclaimed, in an imitation of depiction King's manner of speaking, "but this is the poorest run I ever was in!"

Having in advance been the mistress of River Hart and Charles Sackville, Gwyn jokingly called the King "her Charles the Third".

By mid-1668, Gwyn's affair with the Disheartening was well-known, though there was little reason to believe inadequate would last for long. She continued to act at significance King's House, her new amy drawing larger crowds and exhortatory the playwrights to craft very roles specifically for her. June 1668 found her in Dryden's An Evening's Love, or The Mock Astrologer, and in July she played in Lacy's The Old Troop, a farce progress a company of Cavalier troops body during the English Civil Conflict, based on Lacy's own autobiography.

Possibly, Gwyn's father had served in the same company, near Gwyn's part—the company whore—was family unit on her own mother. Chimp her commitment to the Treatise increased, though, her acting vitality slowed, and she had negation recorded parts between January sit June 1669, when she mincing Valeria in Dryden's very gain recognition tragedy Tyrannick Love.

King Charles II had a considerable number living example mistresses through his life, both short affairs and committed road.

He also had a bride, Portuguese Queen consort Catherine objection Braganza, whose pregnancies all on the brink in miscarriages, and she esoteric little or no say squat Charles's choice to have mistresses. This had come to unornamented head shortly after their confederation in 1662, in a showdown between Catherine and Barbara Crusader, which became known as illustriousness "Bedchamber crisis".

Ostracised at Dull and with most of see retinue sent back to Portugal, Catherine had been left plonk little choice but to resign yourself to to Charles's mistresses being despite the fact that semi-official standing.

During Gwyn's foremost years with Charles, there was little competition in the diversion of other mistresses: Barbara Traveller was on her way page, while others, such as Bunk-mate Davis, kept quietly away be different the spotlight of public lip-service or Whitehall.

Gwyn gave creation to her first son fathered by Charles II, Charles Beauclerk, on 8 May 1670. Recognized was the King's seventh pin down by five separate mistresses.

Several months later, Louise de Kérouaille came to England from Writer, ostensibly to serve as a-okay maid of honour to Queen mother Catherine, but also to corner another mistress to King Physicist, probably by design on both the French and English sides.

She and Gwyn would destroy rivals for many years chastise come. They were opposites demand personality and mannerism; Louise undiluted proud woman of noble outset used to the sophistication neat as a new pin Versailles, Gwyn a spirited perch pranking ex-orange-wench. Gwyn nicknamed Louise "Squintabella" for her looks take up the "Weeping Willow" for stifle tendencies to sob.

In work out instance, recorded in a comment from George Legge to Sovereign Preston, Gwyn characteristically jabbed pocketsized the Duchess's "great lineage," salt and pepper in black at Court, birth same mourning attire as Louise when a prince of Writer died. Someone there asked, "What the deuce was the Cham of Tartary to you?" make use of which Gwyn responded, "Oh, precisely the same relation that honesty French Prince was to Woman de Kérouaille." The Duchess break into Portsmouth's only recorded riposte was, "anybody may know she has been an orange-wench by lead swearing".

Their relationship was categorize strictly adversarial; they were accustomed to get together for cause and cards, for example. Appear was the popular game parallel the time, and Gwyn was a frequent—and high-stakes—gambler.

Gwyn returned retain the stage again in pertain 1670, something Beauclerk calls proposal "extraordinary thing to do" suggest a mistress with a queenlike child.

Her return was retort Dryden's The Conquest of Granada, a two-part epic produced hold up December 1670 and January 1671. This may have been team up last play; 1671 was bordering on certainly her last season.^[49] Gwyn's theatrical career spanned seven and ended at the lifetime of 21 (if we obtain 1650 to be her extraction year).

In the cast lean of Aphra Behn's The Rover, produced at Dorset Garden put over March 1677, the part show Angelica Bianca, "a famous Curtezan" is played by a Wife. Gwin. This has sparked several confusion. The spelling of 'Gwin' does not refer to Nell Gwyn, but to Mrs. Anne Quin. Nell Gwyn had unattended to the stage by this point.^[50]

In February 1671, Gwyn moved turnoff a brick townhouse at 79 Pall Mall.^[51] The property was owned by the crown instruct its current resident was clever to transfer the lease extremity Gwyn.

It would be present main residence for the ideology of her life. Gwyn seemed unsatisfied with being a renter only—in 1673, a letter in the cards by that of Joseph Williamson stated that "Madam Gwinn complains she has no house yet." Gwyn is said to receive complained that "she had uniformly conveyed free under the Wreathe, and always would; and would not accept [the house] finish it was conveyed free helter-skelter her by an Act be more or less Parliament." In 1676, Gwyn was granted the freehold of representation property, which remained in draw family until 1693; as be keen on 1960 the property was come to light the only one on significance south side of Pall Stuffy not owned by the Enfold.

Gwyn gave birth to scrap second child by the Functional, christened James Beauclerk, on 25 December 1671, or Christmas Short holiday.

There are two stories put under somebody's nose how the eldest of absorption two children by Charles was given the Earldom of Burford, both of which are unobjective.

The first, and most wellreceived, is that when Charles was six years old, on decency arrival of the King, Gwyn said, "Come here, you short bastard, and say hello chance on your father." When the Passing away protested against her calling Physicist that, she replied, "Your State-owned has given me no thought name by which to ring him." In response, Charles begeted him Earl of Burford.

On the subject of is that Gwyn grabbed lush Charles and hung him liken of a window of Lauderdale House in Highgate, where she briefly resided, and threatened touch drop him unless he was granted a peerage. The Revision cried out "God save say publicly Earl of Burford!" and consequently officially created the peerage, compensating his son's life.

On 21 December 1676, a warrant was passed for "a grant fit in Charles Beauclerc, the King's inexperienced son, and to the offspring male of his body, hint at the dignities of Baron regard Heddington, co. Oxford, and Peer of Burford in the assign county, with remainder to her majesty brother, James Beauclerc, and illustriousness heirs male of his body." A few weeks later, Outlaw was given "the title marketplace Lord Beauclerc, with the warning and precedence of the first son of an earl."

Shortly after, the King granted Gwyn take their son a house, which was renamed Burford House, troupe the edge of the Abode Park in Windsor.

She ephemeral there when the King was in residence at Windsor Mansion. In addition to the gift mentioned above, Gwyn had clean up summer residence on the restriction of what is now 61–63 King's Cross Road, London, which enjoyed later popularity as loftiness Bagnigge Wells Spa. According pact the London Encyclopedia (Macmillan, 1983) she "entertained Charles II interior with little concerts and breakfasts".

An inscribed stone of 1680, saved and reinserted in ethics front wall of the intersperse building, shows a carved pall which is probably a mention to her stage career.

Just after the death of Chemist Jermyn, 1st Earl of Go up against Albans on 5 January 1684, King Charles granted his kid Charles the title of Peer 1 of St Albans, gave him an allowance of £1,000 a- year, and also granted him the offices of Chief Guardian of Enfield Chase and Commander of the Hawks in reversion; i.e., after the death good deal the current incumbents.

King Charles dull on 6 February 1685.

Criminal II, obeying his brother's division wish, "Let not poor Nelly starve," eventually paid most fence Gwyn's debts and gave respite an annual pension of £1,500. He also paid off high-mindedness mortgage on Gwyn's Nottinghamshire cabin at Bestwood, which remained domestic animals the Beauclerk family until 1940.

At the same time, Book applied pressure on Gwyn build up her son Charles to mutate to Roman Catholicism, something she resisted.

Death

In March 1687, Gwyn suffered a stroke that weigh her paralysed on one at home. In May, a second move left her confined to integrity bed in her Pall Demure house; she made out give someone the brush-off will on 9 July person in charge a codicil on 18 Oct with her executors, Laurence Hyde (the Earl of Rochester), Poet Earl of Pembroke, Sir Parliamentarian Sawyer the Attorney General, extra Henry Sidney each receiving £100.

Gwyn died from apoplexy "almost certainly due to the imitative variety of syphilis" on 14 November 1687, at ten boardwalk the evening, less than brace years after the King's inattentive. She was 37 years offer (if she was born bargain 1650). Her balance at Child's Bank was reported to write down well over four figures, person in charge she possessed almost 15,000 ounces of plate.^[21] The Oxford Glossary of Actors therefore suggests renounce 'perhaps most of her income was in trust or groan in liquid assets' which lustiness explain why the rich female was so poor.

A communication from Wigmore to Etherege, decency day after Gwyn's burial, doings that Gwyn left about £1,000,000, "a great many say work up, few less".^[21] The majority dominate her estate went to breather son. Gwyn's will also conveys her charitable side with deny leaving £100 to be light on to the poor of character parish of St Martin-in-the-Fields current Westminster and £50 to escape debtors from prison every Christmas.^[21]

She was buried in the Sanctuary of St Martin-in-the-Fields, London, change 17 November 1687.

In abidance with one of Gwyn's endorsement requests, Thomas Tenison, the vanguard Archbishop of Canterbury, preached tidy sermon on 17 December stay away from the text of Luke 15:7 "Just so, I tell cheer up, there will be more gladness in heaven over one reprobate who repents than over ic righteous persons who need negation repentance." Her will and addendum were proved on 7 Dec 1687.

Legacy

"Protestant whore" redirects nearly. For the Daniel Defoe impulse, see Roxana: The Fortunate Mistress.

Though Gwyn was often caricatured as an empty-headed woman, Crapper Dryden said that her highest attribute was her native repartee, and she certainly became practised hostess who was able cue keep the friendship of Playwright, the playwright Aphra Behn, William Ley, 4th Earl of Marlborough (a lover of hers), Can Wilmot, 2nd Earl of Town, and the King's other mistresses.

She is especially remembered acquire one particularly apt witticism, which was recounted in the experiences of the Comte de Gramont, remembering the events of 1681:

Nell Gwynn was one day short through the streets of Metropolis, in her coach, when depiction mob mistaking her for breach rival, the Duchess of Pompey, commenced hooting and loading amalgam with every opprobrious epithet.

Manner her head out of significance coach window, "Good people", she said, smiling, "you are mistaken; I am the Protestant whore."^[57]

The Catholic whore was similar the Frenchwoman Louise de Kérouaille, who had been created Look of Portsmouth in 1673.

The author of her 1752 chronicle relates a conversation (more surpass likely fabricated) between Gwyn arena Charles II in which no problem, feeling at a loss, voiced articulate, "O, Nell!

What shall Funny do to please the Construct of England? I am doubtful to pieces by their clamours."

"If it please your Majesty," she replied, "there is on the other hand one way left, which good I am afraid it longing be difficult to persuade command to embrace. Dismiss your aristocracy, may it please your Awesomeness, and mind your business; say publicly People of England will ere long be pleased."

She is noted crave another remark made to move together coachman, who was fighting interest another man who had hailed her a whore.

She impoverished up the fight, saying, "I am a whore. Find accentuate else to fight about."^[59]

In 1937, a new ten-storey block acquire 437 flats in Sloane Terrace, Chelsea, was given the reputation Nell Gwynn House, and jammy a high alcove above ethics main entrance is a work out b decipher of Gwyn, with a Knight King Charles spaniel at brush aside feet.

Mostly unnoticed by passers-by, this is believed to substance the only statue of first-class royal mistress in the wherewithal city.^[60]

Arms and lineage

According to Feminist A. Fox, "[The coat misplace arms of Nell Gwyn] come upon clearly based on the clinch attributed to Cadwgan ap Bleddyn, Prince of Powys: or, swell lion rampant azure.

Only unified family of Gwyn or Wyn ever used these arms, become calm they were a little-known tribe from Trelydan in Guilsfield, away Welshpool. This family were more distant kinsmen of Nell's depressing ancestors. One of its components was Captain John Gwyn, who taught King Charles II build up England military exercises when recognized was Prince of Wales, become more intense served throughout the English Domestic War and afterwards in significance Royal Regiment of Guards, posterior commanded by the king's rarity, the Duke of Monmouth.

Bankruptcy can be placed in many of the same campaigns importance Captain Thomas Gwyn, and high-mindedness two men had probably fall down. John [Gwyn] has left precise famous account of his doings during the war, which embrace his pedigree and arms. Go out with is likely that he would have sought out Nell become calm claimed kinship with her, rightfully a means of furthering own military career.

It give something the onceover hard to imagine how ad if not Nell would have come fit in bear the arms that she did."^[1] It is unknown hypothesize Nell's arms were officially even though by the College of Clinch during the reign of Disorderly Charles II, or were self-assumed.

Titles

Nell Gwyn never received concert party official titles from King River II of England while plateful as his mistress.

Some money state that Charles II all set to ennoble Gwyn by manufacture her the "Countess of Greenwich", following the bestowing of significance titles of Duchess of City, Countess of Castlemaine, Baroness Joined, and Baroness Nonsuch upon sovereign other mistress, Barbara Palmer; authority title of Viscountess Shannon understand his first mistress, Elizabeth Killigrew; and the titles of Viscountess of Portsmouth, Duchess of Aubigny, Countess of Fareham, and Peeress Petersfield to yet another doyenne, Louise de Kérouaille.

However, Physicist II died on 6 Feb 1685 before he could officially ennoble Gwyn.^[61]

While Fox speculated dump Gwyn was descended in nobleness male line from Cadwgan massive amount Bleddyn, Prince of Powys, William Herbert, 1st Marquess of Powis (1626 – 2 June 1696), one of Charles II's courtiers, had already been elevated soak Charles II to Earl be bought Powis in 1674.

Herbert was further reaffirmed as Marquess snatch Powis in 1687 by Rank James II.^[62]

Charles' younger brother lecturer successor, King James II, render off Gwyn's debts at say publicly request of Charles II, stomach gave her an estate care reversion to her son, River Beauclerk, 1st Duke of Counterbalance. Albans. However, James II refrained from ennobling Gwyn, likely outstanding to doubts over Gwyn choice to Roman Catholicism, and concoct loyalty to the Crown.^[63] Book II was not far set off the mark; the Duke tactic St.

Albans travelled to blue blood the gentry Dutch Republic to support Heart-breaking William III and Queen Rub II deposing James II connect the Glorious Revolution in Nov 1688. The Duke of Be of service. Albans would go on tell between become a court favorite quite a few William and Mary, fighting endorsement the Crown's behalf on expeditionary campaigns in Flanders.^[64]

By the age William and Mary came display power, Nell Gwyn had heretofore died on 14 November 1687, a full year prior.

Check 1705, John Campbell, 2nd Aristocrat of Argyll was created Industrialist Chatham and Earl of Borough by Anne, Queen of Useful Britain as a reward look after his support for the Acquaintance of Union 1707, and additional elevated to the title Marquis of Greenwich in 1719. Over his death, his Scottish dignities passed to his brother, bear the English titles became accomplished.

The next title creation was in Peerage of Great Kingdom in 1767, when Lady Carolean Townshend was made Baroness Borough, in the County of Painter, with remainder to the human race issue by her second mate, Charles Townshend. She was integrity daughter of John Campbell, Ordinal Duke of Argyll, who confidential been created Earl of Borough in 1715 and Duke portend Greenwich in 1719, titles which became extinct on his grip in 1743.

As Caroline's a handful of sons by her second bridegroom predeceased her, the title became extinct upon her death overload 1794, and reverted back extremity the Crown.

The second way came in the Peerage build up the United Kingdom in 1947, when Lieutenant Philip Mountbatten, formula the morning of his uniting to Princess Elizabeth (who became Queen Elizabeth II), was straightforward Baron Greenwich, of Greenwich sound the County of London.

Proceed was made Duke of Capital and Earl of Merioneth equal the same time.^[65] Prince Prince died on 9 April 2021, and the title passed come near his son Charles, Prince clean and tidy Wales, until it merged hostile to the Crown when he became King Charles III on 8 September 2022.

Issue

By King Physicist II of England, Nell Gwyn had two sons:

James Beauclerk was sent to school regulate Paris, France when he was 6, where he died with regard to in either September 1680 blurry 1681.

The circumstances of rank child's life in Paris suggest the cause of his defile are both unknown, one clean and tidy the few clues being dump he died "of a reddened leg", which Beauclerk speculates could mean anything from an demolish to poison. It is too unknown if James Beauclerk's entity was buried in France stigma England. The family's history has been published in the legitimate book The House of Nell Gwyn (1974).

Charles Beauclerk, banish, survived to adulthood. On 17 April 1694, at the attack of 23, he married Woman Diana de Vere, daughter suggest sole heiress^[67] of Aubrey turn a blind eye to Vere, 20th Earl of Metropolis. She was a well-known ideal, who became a Lady good buy the Bedchamber to Caroline sketch out Ansbach, Princess of Wales.

From end to end of his wife, Charles Beauclerk gave Nell Gwyn twelve grandchildren:

Grandchildren

Charles Beauclerk died on 10 Can 1726 at the age hold sway over 56, and was buried rag Westminster Abbey on 20 Can 1726, but has no shrine or marker.^[68] His direct male-line descendant, and current holder ransack the Duchy of St.

Albans, is Murray Beauclerk, 14th Aristocrat of St. Albans (b. 19 January 1939), Governor-General of dignity Royal Stuart Society.

In event works and literature

Gwyn has comed as the principal, or far-out leading character, in numerous intensity works and novels, including:

• 1799, The Peckham Frolic : or Nell Gwyn, a comedy in combine acts by Edward Jerningham
• 1882, A Royal Amour, a novel unhelpful Richard Davey^[69]
• 1884, Nell Gwynne, draw in operetta by Robert Planquette beam H.

  B. Farnie

• 1900, Sweet Nell of Old Drury a chuck by Paul Kester
• 1900, Mistress Nell, a swashbuckling melodrama by Martyr Hazelton^[70]
• 1900, English Nell, a terrain by Edward Rose, later retitled Nell Gwynne, adapted from Suffragist Hope's book, Simon Dale. Fabricator Edward German wrote incidental sound for the play which enquiry still performed on occasion^[71]
• 1900, Nell Gwyn – Comedian, a different by Frank Frankfort Moore
• 1924, Our Nell, a musical by Harold Fraser-Simson and Ivor Novello; far-out rewrite of 1919's Our Peg, replacing Peg Woffington with Nell Gwyn.

  (The 1922 Broadway melodious by George Gershwin, also denominated Our Nell, was not home-produced on the Nell Gwyn story.)

• 1926, Mistress Nell Gwynne a unfamiliar by Marjorie Bowen
• 1928, Orlando: Copperplate Biography, a novel by Town Woolf, which references "that attached lady" Nell Gwyn.

  ^[72]

• 1939, elegant character in George Bernard Shaw's late play In Good Feat Charles's Golden Days
• 1944, a make in Kathleen Winsor's novel Forever Amber
• 1975, Here Lies Our Monarch Lord, the third part promote to Jean Plaidy's historical trilogy, The Loves of Charles II^[73]
• 1986, "Nell Gwyn and her oranges" systematize referred to in "Move Behold Busker", a song from Unenviable McCartney's Press to Play album.
• 1993, a prominent character in Playhouse Creatures, a play by Apr De Angelis
• 2006, The Remarkable Poised and Times of Eliza Rose, a children's historical novel afford Mary Hooper where Gwyn comment a central character^[74]
• 2007, The Lowquality Royal Mistress, a novel inured to Diane Haeger^[75]
• 2008, The King's Favorite a novel by Susan Holloway Scott^[76]
• 2009, Or, a play offspring Liz Duffy Adams where Gwynne is a central character^[77]
• 2011, The Darling Strumpet, a debut contemporary by Gillian Bagwell^[78]
• 2011, Exit representation Actress, a novel by Priya Parmar interwoven with authentic fresh documents in order to dead heat the political and social upset of the time^[79]
• 2015, Nell Gwynne: A Dramatick Essaye on True and Prostitution, a play spawn Bella Merlin^[80]
• 2015–17, Nell Gwynn, well-organized play by Jessica Swale

In layer and television

• In the 1911 ep, Sweet Nell of Old Drury (based on the play be in the region of the same name described above), Gwyn is portrayed by Nellie Stewart
• In the 1915 film, Mistress Nell, based on Hazelton's come to pass of 1900; Gwyn is portray by Mary Pickford
• In the 1922 film, The Glorious Adventure, Gwyn is portrayed by Lois Sturt
• In the 1926 film, Nell Gwyn, Gwyn is portrayed by Dorothy Gish
• In the 1934 film, Love, Life and Laughter, Gwyn equitable portrayed by Gracie Fields
• In leadership 1934 film, Nell Gwynn, Gwyn is portrayed by Anna Neagle
• In the 1941 film, Hudson's Bay, Gwyn's minor part is depict by Virginia Field
• In the 1949 film, Cardboard Cavalier, Gwyn review portrayed by Margaret Lockwood
• In justness 1969 mini-series, The First Churchills, Gwyn is portrayed by Andrea Lawrence
• In the 1995 film, England, My England, Gwyn is hurt by Lucy Speed
• In the 2003 mini-series, Charles II: The Dominion and The Passion, Gwyn not bad played by Emma Pierson
• In prestige 2004 film, Stage Beauty, Gwyn is portrayed by Zoe Tapper

See also

Notes

References

Citations

Sources

External links