To this end he therefore employed his talents； and with such tact and assiduity that he ultimately fulfilled his menaces。 The first step he took towards accomplishing his desires； was to introduce two players to his majesty； named respectively Moll Davis and Nell Gwynn。
The former； a member of the Duke of York's troupe of performers； could boast of goodly lineage； though not of legitimate birth； her father being Thomas Howard； first Earl of Berkshire。 She had； early in the year 1667； made her first appearance at the playhouse； and had by her comely face and shapely figure challenged the admiration of the town。 Her winsome ways； pleasant voice； and graceful dancing soon made her a favourite with the courtiers； who voted her an excellent wench； though some of her own sex； judging harshly of her； as is their wont towards each other； declared her 〃the most impertinent slut in the world。〃
Now the Duke of Buckingham knowing her well； it seemed to him no woman was more suited to fulfil his purpose of thwarting the countess； for if he succeeded in awaking the king's passion for the comedian； such a proceeding would not only arouse my lady's jealousy； but likewise humble her pride。 Therefore； when this court Mephistopheles accompanied his majesty to the playhouse； he was careful to dwell on Moll Davis's various charms； the excellency of her figure； the beauty of her face； the piquancy of her manner。 So impressed was the monarch by Buckingham's descriptions； that he soon became susceptible to her fascinations。 The amour once begun was speedily pursued； and she was soon enabled to boast； in presence of the players； that the kingwhose generosity was great to fallen womenhad given her a ring valued at seven hundred pounds； and was about to take； and furnish most richly； a house in Suffolk Street for her benefit and abode。 Pepys heard this news in the first month of the year 1668； and soon afterwards a further rumour reached him that she was veritably the king's mistress； 〃even to the scorn of the world。〃
This intrigue affected Lady Castlemaine in a manner which the Duke of Buckingham had not expected。 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。 This request the king complied with readily enough； and she was accordingly soon added to the list of his mistresses。 Nell Gwynn； who was at this period in her eighteenth year； had joined the company of players at the king's house； about the same time as Moll Davis had united her fortunes with the Duke of York's comedians。 Her time upon the stage was； however； but of brief duration； for my Lord Buckhurst； afterwards Earl of Dorset； a witty and licentious man； falling in love with her； induced her to become his mistress； quit the theatre； and forsake the society of her lover； Charles Hart； a famous actor and great…nephew of William Shakespeare。 And she complying with his desires in these matters； he made her an allowance of one hundred pounds a year； on which she returned her parts to the manager； and declared she would act no more。
Accordingly in the month of July； 1667； she was living at Epsom with my Lord Buckhurst and his witty friend Sir Charles Sedley； and a right merry house they kept for a time。 But alas； ere the summer had died there came a day when charming Nell and his fickle lordship were friends no more； and parting from him； she was obliged to revert to the playhouse again。
Now Nell Gwynn being not only a pretty woman； but moreover an excellent actress； her return was welcomed by the town。 Her achievements in light comedy were especially excellent； and declared entertaining to a rare degree。 Pepys； who witnessed her acting 〃a comical part；〃 in the 〃Maiden Queen；〃 a play by Dryden； says he could 〃never hope to see the like done again by man or woman。 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。〃 The gallant to whom the worthy bishop refers was John Churchill； afterwards the great Duke of Marlborough； at this time a handsome stripling of eighteen summers。 In his office as page to the Duke of York； he frequently came under notice of her ladyship； who； pleased with the charms of his boyish face and graceful figure； intimated his love would not prove unacceptable to her。 Accordingly he promptly made love to the countess； who； in the first fervour of her affection； presented him with five thousand pounds。 With this sum he purchased a life annuity of five hundred pounds； which； as Lord Chesterfield writes； 〃became the foundation of his subsequent fortune。〃 Nor did her generosity end here： at a cost of six thousand crowns she obtained for him the post of groom of the bedchamber to the Duke of York； and was instrumental in subsequently forwarding his advancements in the army。
My Lady Castlemaine was by no means inclined to spend her days in misery because the royal favour was no longer vouchsafed her； and therefore； by way of satisfying her desires for revenge； conducted intrigues not only with John Churchill and Harry Jermyn； but likewise with one Jacob Hall； a noted acrobat。 This man was not only gifted with strength and agility； but likewise with grace and beauty： so that； as Granger tells us； 〃The ladies regarded him as a due composition of Hercules and Adonis。〃 His dancing on the tight rope at Bartholomew Fair was 〃a thing worth seeing and mightily followed；〃 whilst his deeds of daring at Southwark Fair were no less subjects of admiration and wonder。 The countess was so charmed by the performance of this athlete in public； that she became desirous of conversation with him in private； and he was accordingly introduced to her by Beck Marshall； the player。 The countess found his society so entertaining that she frequently visited him； a compliment he courteously returned。 Moreover； she allowed him a yearly salary； and openly showed her admiration for him by having their portraits painted in one picture： in which she is represented playing a fiddle； whilst he leans over her； touching the strings of a guitar。
Her amours in general； and her intimacy with the rope…dancer in particular； becoming common talk of the town； his majesty became incensed；