p. 305 _To Mrs. Ellen Guin_. This adulatory epistle may be paralleled with that prefixed by Duffet to his rhyming comedy, _The Spanish Rogue_ (410, 1674). The only other known book beside these two plays dedicated to Nell Gwynne is a very rare little volume entitled Janua Di’vorum: or The Lives and Histories of the Heathen Gods, Goddesses, & Demi-Gods, by Robert Whitcombe, published in 1678, and inscribed to ‘The Illustrious Madam Ellen Guin’. Dr. Johnson’s pungent remark to the effect that Dryden has never been equalled in the hyperbole of flattery except by Aphara Behn in her address to Nell Gwynne is quoted to triteness. But then at that time it was the fashion to riot in the wildest extravagances of compliment. Neither the great laureate nor Astrea must be too harshly taken to task for their vivid verbal colouring. p. 306 _two noble Branches_. Charles Beauclerk, Duke of St. Albans, born 8 May, 1670; James Beauclerk, born 25 December, 1671, ob, Septemher, 1680, the two sons of Nell Gwynne by Charles II. There is an exquisitely voluptuous painting by Gascar, engraved by Masson, of Nell Gwynne on a bed of roses whilst the two boys as winged amorini support flowing curtains and draperies. Her royal lover appears in the distance. There is also a well-known and beautiful painting of the mother and children by Lely, engraved by Richard Tompson. p. 307 _Mrs. Currer_. Elizabeth Currer was born in Dublin. When quite a girl she joined the Duke’s Company in 1673, and in a few years, owing to her beauty and extraordinary spirit, became a prime favourite with the Town. Amongst her chief recorded parts are: 1677, Mrs. Hadland in The Counterfeit Bridegroom, January, 1678, Lady Fancy in Mrs. Behn’s _Sir Patient Fancy_; in March, Marcella in _The Feign’d Curtezans_; June of the same year, Madam Tricklove in D’Urfey’s _Squire Oldsapp_. In 1680, The Queen in Tate’s _The Loyal General_, and Jenny Wheedle (Matilda) in D’Urfey’s entertaining comedy _The Virtuous Wife_. In 1681 she created Ariadne in _The Rover_, Part II. and ‘Lady Elianor Butler, a young lady of great quality that was one of King Edward’s mistresses,’ in Crowne’s adaptation of, 2 _Henry VI_, which he dubbed _The Miseries of Civil War_. 1682, Eugenia in Ravenscroft’s rollicking _The London Cuckolds_; (probably) Lady Desbro’ in _The Roundheads_; Diana in _The City Heiress_; Isabella in _The False Count_; and, her greatest rôle, Aquilina the Greek light o’ love in _Venice Preserv’d_ to the Antonio of Leigh. ‘When Leigh and Mrs. Currer’, says Davies, ‘performed the parts of doting cully and rampant courtezan the applause was as loud as the triumphant Tories could bestow.’ Subsequent decades eliminated the intrigue between Nicky Nacky and the fumbling old senator. The scenes were thought to reek too openly of the stews, and when indeed they were played for the last time in their entirety at the express command of George II, then Prince of Wales, with Pinketham as Antonio and pretty Mrs.