Page:Biographical catalogue of the portraits at Weston, the seat of the Earl of Bradford (IA gri 33125003402027).pdf/267

 *posed to have quitted the stage about 1672. Pepys, in speaking of her in 1665, calls her 'pretty witty Nell,' and in 1666 he mentions that he went with his wife to see 'The Maiden Queen' by Dryden, in which there is a comical part taken by Nell that 'I never can hope to see the like done again by man or woman.' Also in the character of a mad girl and a young gallant, both admirable. But when she attempted such a part as the Emperor's daughter, good Samuel confesses she does it 'most basely.' Burnet designates her as the 'indiscreetest and wildest creature that ever was in a court.' Charles gave her a house in Pall Mall, in which we are told there was one room on the ground-floor of which the walls and ceiling were entirely composed of looking-glass. An anecdote is given of her, that, on one occasion when driving in a superb coach up Ludgate Hill, she met some bailiffs hurrying a clergyman to prison for debt. Inquiring as to the sum, she paid it on the spot, and later on procured preferment for him. Her son, afterwards Duke of St. Albans, was born in 1670 before she left the stage.

Dryden was a great admirer of pretty Nell, and wrote a prologue for her, which she spoke under a hat of such enormous dimensions as almost to conceal her small figure. The audience were convulsed with laughter, and Charles was almost suffocated.

Nell called his Majesty her Charles the Third, as she had had two protectors before who were his namesakes. Although thoughtless and reckless, she was a good friend to Charles in some respects, urging him constantly to pay more attention to public affairs, and interceding with him for objects of charity; she took a great interest in the foundation of Chelsea Hospital, and persuaded the King to hasten its completion. 'How am I to please my people?' he asked of her one day. 'There is but one way,' she replied: 'dismiss your ladies and attend to your business:' neither of which injunctions