James's Square, entering Pall Mall," now the site of
the Army and Navy Club; had given her likewise a residence
situated close by the Castle at Windsor; and a summer villa
located in what was then the charming village of Chelsea. To
such substantial gifts as these he added the honour of an
appointment at court: when the merry player was made one of the
ladies of the privy chamber to the queen. Samuel Pegg states
this fact, not generally known, and assures us he discovered it
"from the book in the lord chamberlain's office."
From her position as the king's mistress, Madam Ellen moved on
terms of perfect equality with the Duchess of Portsmouth's
friends--supping with my Lady Orrery, visiting my Lord Cavendish,
and establishing a friendship with the gay Duchess of Norfolk.
This was a source of deep vexation to the haughty Frenchwoman;
but Nell Gwynn's familiarity with the king was a cause of even
greater mortification. Sir George Etherege records in verse when
the monarch was "dumpish" Nell would "chuck the royal chin;" and
it is stated that, mindful of her former conquests over Charles
Hart and Charles Lord Buckley, it was her habit to playfully
style his majesty "Charles the Third." Her wilfulness, wit, and
beauty enabled her to maintain such a strong hold upon the king's
heart, that he shared his time equally between her and the
Duchess of Portsmouth. Indignant that a woman from the playhouse
should receive such evidences of the royal affection, her grace
lost no opportunity of insulting Nell, who responded by mimicry
and grimaces, which threw those who witnessed the comedy into
fits of laughter, and covered the wrathful duchess with
confusion.
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