pposed
that the lady having a great independent estate, and noble and powerful
relations, the acquainting the king with the intended match, would be
the likeliest way to prevent it. As soon as the news was known at court,
it was looked upon as an affront to the king, and a contempt of his
majesty's orders; and Mr. Wycherley's conduct after marriage, made the
resentment fall heavier upon him: For being conscious he had given
offence, and seldom going near the court, his absence was construed into
ingratitude.

The countess, though a splendid wife, was not formed to make a husband
happy; she was in her nature extremely jealous, and indulged it to such
a degree, that she could not endure her husband should be one moment out
of her sight. Their lodgings were in Bow-street, Covent Garden, over
against the Cock Tavern; whither if Mr. Wycherley at any time went, he
was obliged to leave the windows open, that his lady might see there was
no woman in the company.

This was the cause of Mr. Wycherley's disgrace with the King, whose
favour and affection he had before possessed in so distinguished a
degree. The countess settled all her estate upon him, but his title
being disputed after her death, the expence of the law, and other
incumbrances, so far reduced him, that he was not able to satisfy the
impatience of his creditors, who threw him at last into prison; so that
he, who but a few years before was flourishing in all the gaiety of
life, flushed with prospects of court preferment, and happy in the most
extensive reputation for wit and parts, was condemned to suffer all the
rigours of want: for his father did not think proper to support him. In
this severe extremity, he fell upon an expedient, which, no doubt, was
dictated by his distress, of applying to his Bookseller, who had got
considerably by his Plain Dealer, in order to borrow 20 l. but he
applied in vain; the Bookseller refused to lend him a shilling; and in
that distress he languished for seven years: nor was he released 'till
one day King James going to see his Plain-Dealer performed, was so
charmed with it, that he gave immediate orders for the payment of the
author's debts, adding to that bounty a pension of 200 1. per annum,
while he continued in England. But the generous intention of that Prince
to him, had not the designed effect, purely through his modesty; he
being ashamed to tell the earl of Mulgrave, whom the King had sent to
demand it, a full state of his