Two slightly different explanations are given of the jest. Theatrical tradition has it that Dryden supplied Nell Gwynne, who was plump and petite, with this hat of the circumference of a cart wheel, in ridicule of a hat worn by Nokes of the Duke’s company whilst playing Ancient Pistol. It is again said that in May, 1670, whilst the Court was at Dover to receive the Duchess of Orleans, the Duke’s Company played there Shadwell’s _The Sullen Lovers_, and Caryl’s _Sir Salomon; or, The Cautious Coxcomb_, in which latter comedy Nokes acted Sir Arthur Addle, a bawling fop. The dress of the French gallants attending the Duchess was characterised by an excessively short laced scarlet or blue coat, a very broad waist-belt and a wide-leaved hat. Nokes appeared on the stage in a still shorter coat, a huger waist-belt, and a hat of preposterous dimensions. The Duke of Monmouth buckled his own sword to the actor’s side, and, according to old Downes, our comedian looked more like a dressed-up ape or a quiz on the French than Sir Arthur Addle. The English Court was straightway convulsed with laughter at this mimicry, which seems, to say the least, in highly questionable taste. When Nell Gwynne appeared and burlesqued the biter, Charles II, who was present at the first performance of _The Conquest of Granada_, well nigh died of merriment, and her verve in delivering Dryden’s witty lines wholly completed her conquest of the King. Nell Gwynne did not appear on the boards after 1670. p. 121 _The Jig and Dance._ cf. note (on p. 43), Vol. III, p. 477: _A Jigg_ (_The Town Fop_). The Jig is in this prologue clearly distinct from a dance. Act IV, sc. iii (p. 185): ‘Cloris dances a Jig’-- (i.e. the simple dance). +ACT I: Scene iii+ p. 133 _Capriol._ Capriole (French) signifies a leap made by a horse without advancing. +ACT I: Scene iv+ p. 140 _Clarina why thus clouded?_ Similar expressions in Davenant’s _The Siege of Rhodes_ (4to 1663), Part 1, the Second Entry:-- _Mustapha._ I bring the morning pictur’d in a cloud. And in Sir William Barclay’s _The Lost Lady_ (folio, 1639), Act II:-- Enter _Phillida_ veiled who talks to _Ergasto_ aside and then goes out. _Cleon._ From what part of the town comes this fair day In a cloud that makes you look so cheerfully? are burlesqued in _The Rehearsal_, III, v:-- _Vols._ Can vulgar vestments high-born beauty shroud? Thou bring’st the Morning pictur’d in a Cloud. +ACT III: Scene ii+ p. 164 _... is welcome._ Buckingham parodies this in _The Rehearsal_, IV, iii:-- _Cordelia._ My lieges, news from _Volscius_ the prince. _Usher._ His news is welcome, whatso’er it be. _Smith._ How, sir, do you mean that? Whether it be good or bad? +ACT III: Scene iii+