of
Lady Castlemaine, and above two since the king had been weary of his
triumphs: his uncle, being vile of the first who perceived the king's
disgust, obliged him to absent himself from court, at the very time that
orders were going to be issued for that purpose; for though the king's
affections for Lady Castlemaine were now greatly diminished, yet he did
not think it consistent with his dignity that a mistress, whom he had
honoured with public distinction, and who still received a considerable
support from him, should appear chained to the car of the most
ridiculous conqueror that ever existed. His majesty had frequently
expostulated with the countess upon this subject: but his expostulations
were never attended to; it was in one of these differences that
he, advising her rather to bestow her favours upon Jacob Hall, the
rope-dancer, who was able to return them, than lavish away her money
upon Jermyn to no purpose, since it would be more honourable for her to
pass for the mistress of the first, than for the very humble servant of
the other, she was not proof against his raillery. The impetuosity of
her temper broke forth like lightning: she told him "that it very ill
became him to throw out such reproaches against one, who, of all the
women in England, deserved them the least; that he had never ceased
quarrelling thus unjustly with her, ever since he had betrayed his own
mean low inclinations; that to gratify such a depraved taste as his,
he wanted only such silly things as Stewart, Wells, and that pitiful
strolling actress,--[Probably Nell Gwyn.]--whom he had lately introduced
into their society." Floods of tears from rage, generally attended these
storms; after which, resuming the part of Medea, the scene closed with
menaces of tearing her children in pieces, and setting his palace on
fire. What course could he pursue with such an outrageous fury, who,
beautiful as she was, resembled Medea less than her dragons, when she
was thus enraged!

The indulgent monarch loved peace; and as he seldom contended for it on
these occasions without paying something to obtain it, he was obliged
to be at great expense, in order to reconcile this last rupture: as they
could not agree of themselves, and both parties equally complained, the
Chevalier de Grammont was chosen, by mutual consent, mediator of the
treaty. The grievances and pretensions on each side were communicated
to him, and what is very extraordinary, he managed so as to