Whilst sitting beside
Charles in the playhouse, she noticed his attention was riveted
upon her rival, when she became melancholy and out of humour, in
which condition she remained some days. But presently rallying
her spirits, she soon found means to divert her mind and avenge
her wrongs, of which more shall be recorded hereafter.
Meanwhile, the poor queen, whose feelings neither the king nor
his courtiers took into consideration, bore this fresh insult
with such patience as she could summon to her aid, on one
occasion only protesting against her husband's connection with
the player. This happened when the Duke of York's troupe
performed in Whitehall the tragedy of "Horace," "written by the
virtuous Mrs. Phillips." The courtiers assembled on this
occasion presented a brilliant and goodly sight. Evelyn tells us
"the excessive gallantry of the ladies was infinite, those jewels
especially on Lady Castlemaine esteemed at forty thousand pounds
and more, far outshining ye queene." Between each act of the
tradgedy a masque and antique dance was performed. When Moll
Davis appeared, her majesty, turning pale from sickness of heart,
and trembling from indignation at the glaring insult thrust upon
her, arose and left the apartment boisterous with revelry, where
she had sat a solitary sad figure in its midst. As a result of
her intimacy with the king, Moll Davis bore him a daughter, who
subsequently became Lady Derwentwater. But the Duke of
Buckingham's revenge upon my Lady Castlemaine was yet but half
complete; and therefore whilst the monarch carried on his
intrigue with Moll Davis, his grace, enlarging upon the wit and
excellency of Nell Gwynn, besought his majesty to send for her.
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