In all this they were so disguised,
that without being in the secret, none could distinguish them.
They were carried about in hackney chairs. Once the queen's
chairmen, not knowing who she was, went from her; so she was
alone and was much disturbed, and came to Whitehall in a hackney
coach; some say it was in a cart."
Dancing was also a favourite and common amusement amongst all
classes. Scarce a week went by that Whitehall was not lighted up
for a ball, at which the king, queen, and courtiers danced
bransles, corants, and French figures; [The bransle, or brawl,
had all the characteristics of a country-dance; several persons
taking part in it, and all at various times joining hands. The
corant was a swift lively dance, in which two persons only took
part, and was not unlike our modern galop.] and no night passed
but such entertainments were likewise held in the city.
Billiards and chess were also played, whilst gambling became a
ruling passion. The queen, Duchess of York, and Duchess of
Cleveland had each her card-table, around which courtiers
thronged to win and lose prodigious sums. The latter being a
thorough rake at heart, delighted in the excitement which hazard
afforded; and the sums changing owners at her hoard were
sometimes enormous. Occasionally she played for a thousand, or
fifteen hundred pounds at a cast, and in a single night lost as
much as twenty-five hundred guineas. It is related that once
when playing basset she lost all her money; but, being unwilling
to retire, and hopeful of regaining her losses, she asked young
Churchill, on whom she had bestowed many favours, to lend her
twenty pieces.
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