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DIARY AND CORRESPONDENCE OF
great matters.[1] I can tell you nothing new but that poor Mrs. Crofts lies under grievous mortification, being most shamefully turned out of her lodgings, after having, like a fool, bestowed a great deal of money upon them. My Lord Plymouth is made the author of this rough action, but the Lady at the end of the gallery could not support her being there for fear of dangerous visits; but that which makes it yet more cruel to the poor maid was, that there is not so much as a pretence of any
- ↑ "Following his Majesty this morning through the gallery, I went, with the few that attended him, into the Duchess of Portsmouth's dressing-room, within her bedchamber, where she was in her morning loose garment, her maids combing her, newly out of her bed, his Majesty and the gallants standing about her; but that which engaged my curiosity was the rich and splendid furniture of this woman's apartment, now twice or thrice pulled down and rebuilt to satisfy her prodigal and expensive pleasures, whilst her Majesty does not exceed some gentlemen's ladies in furniture and accommodation. Here I saw the new fabriq of French tapistry; for design, tenderness of worke, and incomparable imitation of the best paintings, beyond any thing I ever beheld. Some pieces had Versailles, St. Germain's, and other palaces of the French king; with huntings, figures, and landskips, exotiq fowls, and all to the life rarely don. Then, for japan cabinets, screenes, pendule clocks, great vases of wrought plate, tables, stands, chimney furniture, sconces, branches, braseras, &c., all of massive silver, and out of number, besides some of her Majesty's best paintings."—Evelyn's Mem, i. 562. Such was the lodging of the lady at the end of the gallery.
