The king, who loved ease greatly, and valued peace exceedingly,
became desirous of avoiding such harrowing scenes. Accordingly,
he resolved to enter into a treaty with his late mistress, by
which he would consent to grant her such concessions as she
desired, providing she promised to discontinue her intrigues with
objectionable persons, and leave him to pursue his ways without
reproach. By mutual consent, his majesty and the countess
selected the Chevalier de Grammont to conduct this delicate
business; he being one in whose tact and judgment they had
implicit confidence. After various consultations and due
consideration, it was agreed the countess should abandon her
amours with Henry Jermyn and Jacob Hall, rail no more against
Moll Davis or Nell Gwynn, or any other of his majesty's
favourites, in consideration for which Charles would create her a
duchess, and give her an additional pension in order to support
her fresh honours with becoming dignity.
And as the king found her residence in Whitehall no longer
necessary to his happiness, Berkshire House was purchased for her
as a suitable dwelling This great mansion, situated at the south-
west corner of St. James's Street, facing St. James's Palace, was
surrounded by pleasant gardens devised in the Dutch style, and
was in every way a habitation suited for a prince. This handsome
gift was followed by a grant of the revenues of the Post Office,
amounting to four thousand seven hundred pounds a year, which was
at first paid her in weekly instalments.
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