Twenty Trees Books
Follow us on Facebook for updates:
See Home Page for details ... or click on the images to go to Amazon
Biography of Winifred Wells Maid of Honour 1642-
Around 1642 Winifred Wells Maid of Honour was born to Gilbert Wells of Twyford in Hampshire.
Around 1662 Winifred Wells Maid of Honour (age 20) became a mistress of King Charles II of England Scotland and Ireland (age 31).
Pepy's Diary. 08 Feb 1663. By and by to my Lord's, and with him a good while talking upon his want of money, and ways of his borrowing some, &c., and then by other visitants, I withdrew and away, Creed and I and Captn. Ferrers to the Park, and there walked finely, seeing people slide [ice-skating], we talking all the while; and Captn. Ferrers telling me, among other Court passages, how about a month ago, at a ball at Court, a child was dropped by one of the ladies in dancing, but nobody knew who, it being taken up by somebody in their handkercher. The next morning all the Ladies of Honour appeared early at Court for their vindication, so that nobody could tell whose this mischance should be. But it seems Mrs. Wells (age 21)1 fell sick that afternoon, and hath disappeared ever since, so that it is concluded that it was her.
Note 1. Winifred Wells, maid of honour to the Queen (age 24), who figures in the "Grammont Memoirs". the King (age 32) is supposed to have been father of the child. A similar adventure is told of Mary Kirke (age 17) (afterwards married to Sir Thomas Vernon), who figures in the "Grammont Memoirs" as Miss Warmestre.
Pepy's Diary. 23 Feb 1663. By and by took coach, and to the Duke's house, where we saw it well acted, though the play hath little good in it, being most pleased to see the little girl dance in boy's apparel, she having very fine legs, only bends in the hams, as I perceive all women do. The play being done, we took coach and to Court, and there got good places, and saw "The Wilde Gallant", performed by the King's house, but it was ill acted, and the play so poor a thing as I never saw in my life almost, and so little answering the name, that from beginning to end, I could not, nor can at this time, tell certainly which was the Wild Gallant. The King (age 32) did not seem pleased at all, all the whole play, nor any body else, though Mr. Clerke (age 40) whom we met here did commend it to us. My Baroness Castlemaine's (age 22) was all worth seeing tonight, and little Steward (age 15). Mrs. Wells (age 21) do appear at Court again, and looks well; so that, it may be, the late report of laying the dropped child to her was not true.
Pepy's Diary. 12 Jun 1666. Up, and to the office, where we sat all the morning. At noon to dinner, and then to White Hall in hopes of a meeting of Tangier about Yeabsly's business, but it could not be obtained, Sir G. Carteret (age 56) nor Sir W. Coventry (age 38) being able to be there, which still vexes [me] to see the poor man forced still to attend, as also being desirous to see what my profit is, and get it. Walking here in the galleries I find the Ladies of Honour dressed in their riding garbs, with coats and doublets with deep skirts, just for all the world like mine, and buttoned their doublets up the breast, with perriwigs and with hats; so that, only for a long petticoat dragging under their men's coats, nobody could take them for women in any point whatever; which was an odde sight, and a sight did not please me. It was Mrs. Wells (age 24) and another fine lady that I saw thus.
Pepy's Diary. 30 May 1669. Thence to White Hall, and dined alone with Mr. Chevins (age 67) his sister: whither by and by come in Mr. Progers and Sir Thomas Allen (age 36), and by and by fine Mrs. Wells (age 27), who is a great beauty; and there I had my full gaze upon her, to my great content, she being a woman of pretty conversation.