So great performance of a comical part," he continues,
"was never, I believe, in the world before as Nell do this, both
as a mad girle, then most and best of all when she comes in like
a young gallant; and hath the motions and carriage of a spark the
most that ever I saw any man have. It makes me, I confess,
admire her." In the part of Valeria, in "Tyrannic Love," she was
also pronounced inimitable; especially in her delivery of the
epilogue. The vein of comedy with which she delivered the
opening lines, addressed to those about to bear her dead body
from the stage, was merry beyond belief. "Hold!" she cried out
to one of them, as she suddenly started to life--
"Hold! are you mad? you damned confounded dog!
I am to rise and speak the epilogue."
Before the year 1667 ended, she had several times visited his
majesty at Whitehall. The king was now no less assured of her
charms as a woman, than he had previously been convinced of her
excellence as an actress. In due time, her intimacy with the
monarch resulted in the birth of two sons; the elder of which was
created Duke of St. Albans, from whom is descended the family now
bearing that title: the second died young and unmarried.
Through influence of these women, my Lady Castlemaine's power
over the king rapidly diminished, and at last ceased to exist;
seeing which, as Burnet says, "She abandoned herself to great
disorders; one of which by the artifice of the Duke of Buckingham
was discovered by the king in person, the party concerned leaping
out of the window.
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