thestuartkings:Moll Davis and Nell Gwynne; The laxative incidentMoll Davis and Nell Gwynne had a lot
thestuartkings:Moll Davis and Nell Gwynne; The laxative incidentMoll Davis and Nell Gwynne had a lot on common, in that they were both stage entertainers, and were both two of Charles II many mistresses. But they did not get along.Moll was the illegitimate daughter of Thomas Howard, third Earl of Berkshire, and as such fancied herself of a higher status than Nell. She flaunted her position as the Kings mistress and bragged about her “mighty pretty fine coach” and a ring worth £600, given to her by Charles.Hearing that Moll was due to sleep with the king on a night early in 1668, Nell invited her to eat some sweetmeats she had prepared. Unknown to Moll, her rival had mixed in a hefty dose of the laxative jalap. Obviously the night did not go as planned for Moll, and the King spent the night with Nell instead. -- source link