Paige on Nell Gwyn

Nell Gwyn (Paige Hill)
 
Nell Gwyn was born 2 February1650. She was the daughter of a Welsh army officer who died in debtor’s prison and an alcoholic mother who fell drunk into the Thames and drowned in 1679.  Nell grew up carrying drinks to customers in a brothel, but no one is completely sure if the establishment was owned by her mother. She would eventually be introduced to the theatre at thirteen when she sold oranges at the King’s theatre.  She would get her first break on the stage when she was fourteen. Eventually she would perform next to Charles Hart, who would be the first of her three lovers.  She would even appear in some of John Dryden’s plays. A few of them were Secret Love, and An Evening’s Love. Apparently, her first appearance on the stage was in December of 1665. After her time as the mistress of Charles Hart she would have a tryst with Lord Buckhurst in 1667. In 1669 she would become the mistress of Charles II, whom she jokingly called Charles the Third because her first two lovers also went by the same name. At this point in her life she was only seventeen to Charles II thirty-seven years of age. And even though she would be the mistress of a King she would continue her career on the stage until her first son was born. Her son’s name was Charles Beauclerk who was the 1st Baron Heddington and Earl of Burford, and would later become Duke of St. Albans. Her second son James died in 1680. She would be one of thirteen mistresses of Charles II, but she would also be considered well-liked by the masses, unlike Charles other mistresses. She was smart, sarcastic and witty. Although, she was illiterate. Nell was never into politics like some of his other mistresses which apparently was something the King really enjoyed about her. Being Charles’s mistress meant that she could live extravagantly as she entertained the King and his friends. Unlike some of his other mistresses, Nell was said to be faithful to the King during their affair and even after he died. The king did ask his brother, James II, to take care of her, and he would do so by settling her debts and giving her 1500 pounds a year. She was so much in debt that she was in deep trouble with her creditors. She wouldn’t live long after the death of Charles the second, dying just two years later.