Clever Facts About Nell Gwyn, The Comic Mistress
Rags To Riches
Life in 17th-century Europe was tough, especially for those not born into nobility. However, Nell Gwyn found a way to elevate her standing in society, partly due to her wit and talent.
Stepping onto the stage and into a brand new landscape for her and her audience, Nell exhibited such raw cleverness and skill that few could question the attention she garnered—even when it came from royalty.
1. Her Birth Is A Mystery
In one way or another, Nell Gwyn spent all her years performing and being so prolific in wit and satire that many likely had trouble telling how much of what she said was true.
So it was with her own history, considering the year of her birth is still up for debate.
Historians tend to believe one of two accounts—an 1838 magazinethat stated her birth year as around 1642, and a horoscope from the Ashmolean manuscripts saying she was born in 1650.
The questions don’t stop there, though.
2. She Is Steeped In Obscurity
Likely due to her alleged upbringing and role in society, few concrete records of her life and experiences exist.
Much of what historians have gathered comes from second-hand accounts, whether from theatre critics or simply those who surrounded her in court. Naturally, since this relies mostly on hearsay, not everything widely accepted may be true.
However, she wasn’t the only one with an unclear history.
3. Her Mother Is Equally Vague
Nell Gwyn’s mother, Ellen, raised her and her sister Rose alone, but unfortunately, so little remains known about her as well. Often referred to as Old Ma Gwyn, her family’s social status is unclear, and many posit that she was "low-born".
However, others have questioned this theory, as it’s only implied from her later activities.
Not much more is known about Nell’s father.
4. Her Father May Have Passed
Once again, there are a couple of separate sources where scraps of potential information on Nell’s father can often be found.
One 1681 poem put forward that her father, whoever he was, perished in an Oxford prison, while a 1688 manuscript gives a bit of backstory and states he was a captain named Thomas Guine. Both of these are questionable at best.
However, there is one clear detail about Nell's early life—and it's undeniably tragic.