Moll Davis

Mary "Moll" Davis (c. 1648 – 1708), also spelt Davies or Davys, was a courtesan and mistress of King Charles II of England. She was an actress and entertainer before and during her role as royal mistress.

Early life

Mary Davis was born in Westminster, as a presumed illegitimate child of Thomas Howard, 3rd Earl of Berkshire. The diarist Samuel Pepys called her "a bastard of Collonell Howard, my Lord Barkeshire." Her parentage is also attributed to Thomas's elder brother Charles Howard. Mary's birth date is disputed, but believed to be around 1648.

In 1663 Mary had installed herself as an actress in the Duke's Theatre Company and boarded with the company's manager, Sir William Davenant. There she quickly became a popular singer, dancer and comedian, and began using the name "Moll". Although Pepys wrote good tidings about Moll,

Royal mistress

Moll met King Charles II in a theatre or a coffeehouse in 1667, and soon became his mistress. As a mistress, she was said to have flaunted the wealth she acquired from her association with Charles and gained a reputation for vulgarity and greed. and a ring worth £600. Moll left the stage in 1668.

Fall from affection and exile In 1669 Moll gave birth to a daughter, Mary. King Charles was the father. Shortly after the child's birth, Charles dismissed Moll, possibly due to some chicanery caused by Nell Gwyn, a new rival for his affection.

As an actress and society lady, she was the subject of many portraits by the preeminent artist Sir Peter Lely.

House in St James's Square In October 1673 Moll Davis bought a new house in St James's Square, paying £1800. Moll, listed as "Madam Davis", first appears in the ratebook for the year 1675 and last in 1687.

The Paisibles joined James' court in exile at St Germain-en-Laye, but in 1693 returned to England, where Paisible became a composer to Prince George of Denmark, the husband of Princess Anne, heir to the throne.

Death Moll died in London, at her home in Dean Street, in 1708. She was buried at St Anne's Church in Soho on 24 February.

Moll's daughter, Mary, earned through marriage to Edward Radclyffe, 2nd Earl of Derwentwater the title of Countess, and became an actress herself.