Charles Rex Posted July 16, 2015 Share Posted July 16, 2015 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charles Rex Posted July 16, 2015 Author Share Posted July 16, 2015 *** This thread is for English PCs/NPCs who do not fall into any other categories (such a related to a family) English Nationals Currently Played Earls & Countesses Louis de Duras, Earl of Feversham [NPC] John Wilmot, Earl of Rochester [NPC] Henry Bennet, Earl of Arlington and Lord Chamberlain of the Privy Council [NPC] Richard Newport, Earl of Bradford [NPC] James Randolph, Earl of Camton [NPC] Viscounts & Viscountesses Charles Mordaunt, Viscount Mordaunt [NPC] Barons and Baronesses Charles Gerard, Baron Gerard of Brandon [NPC] Baronets and Wives of Baronets Sir John Burgoyne, heir to Baronet Burgoyne [NPC] Sir Isaac Newton, scientist [NPC] Sir George Etherege, dramatist [NPC] Sir John Borlase, Baronet Borlase of Bockmere [NPC] Sir Christopher Wren, architect [NPC] Untitled Gentry Myles Winstanley [NPC] Sarah Jennings, Maid of Honor to the Duchess of York [NPC] Baptist May, Groom of the King's Bedchamber and Keeper of the Privy Purse [NPC] John Stonor [NPC] William Adby [NPC] Darryl Williams, Captain in the Royal 1st Dragoons [NPC] Commoners William Wycherley, dramatist [NPC] John Locke, medical doctor and philosopher [NPC] Thomas Sprat, His Majesty's Royal Chaplain & Founding Member of the Royal Society [NPC] Edward Petre, Roman Catholic priest and member of York's Household [NPC] Eleanor Gwynn, Mistress to the King and former actress [NPC] Bartholomew Hyde, medical doctor [NPC] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charles Rex Posted July 16, 2015 Author Share Posted July 16, 2015 Charles Mordaunt Full Name: Charles Mordaunt Title: Viscount Mordaunt Age: 19 (b. 1658) Eye Color: Brown Hair Color: Brown Personality Short in stature and spare in habit of body. His activity knew no bounds. He was eloquent in debate and intrepid in war, but his influence in Lords was ruined through his inconsistency, and his vigour in the field was wasted through his want of union with his colleagues. Background He was the son of John Mordaunt, 1st Viscount Mordaunt, and his wife Elizabeth, the daughter and sole heiress of Thomas Carey, the second son of Robert Carey, 1st Earl of Monmouth. Mordaunt's father, John Mordaunt, was created Viscount Mordaunt of Avalon and Baron Mordaunt of Reigate, Surrey, in 1659.. John Mordaunt died in 1675, leaving his son to inherit his titles. He is also the heir to his uncle the Earl of Peterborough. He was in the Navy. On his return from the second expedition to Tangier, he plunged into active political life as a zealous Whig especially in opposition to York. Friend of Robert Drummond. Was imprisoned in the Tower of London for inciting a brawl during the House of Lords in Spring of 1677. Was later released. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charles Rex Posted July 16, 2015 Author Share Posted July 16, 2015 Charles Gerard Full Name: Charles Gerard Nationality: English Title: Baron Gerard of Brandon Age: 57 (b. 1619) Gender: Male Eye Color: Blue Hair Color: Black Marital Status: Married Physical Attributes Of average height, Gerard is a man of action, not evidencing the fat of many men his age. He has dark hair and icey blue eyes. Personality A knowledgeable and worldly gentleman and soldier, Lord Gerard is blunt and does not shy away from a fight. He is hot-tempered. Background He was educated and trained in fighting in the Low Countries, where he originally met Prince Rupert, before returning to England and raising his own regiment of horse for Charles I. He served the King with distinction and was commander of his personal guard and then later joined with Prince Rupert, fighting with him through the Civil Wars and then into the Interregnum. Gerard attended on Charles II in exile and married the daughter of Queen Mother Henrietta-Maria's Equerry, the Sieur de Ceville. An original founder of the Sealed Knot, the spy network organized by 6 Royalists, Gerard was active in plotting to overthrow Cromwell and an integral part of the Restoration. His cousin was tortured and executed for the plot by the Republic and he had several narrow escapes. Upon the Restoration, Gerard had the initial command of His Majesty's Life Guard which is the cap on his impressive resume which includes having tutored CR and the Villiers boys in military matters and swordsmanship. He is famous for writing a letter with Prince Rupert to the King, defending the 13 and 14 year old Villiers combatants (who they gave a troop of horse during the Siege of Lichfield Close when the boys ran away from Cambridge), which said: "The more danger, the more honour."That has been Gerard's mantra all of his life, and he has never shied from personal harm or possible death in battle. A staunch Royalist and close to Charles II, he was partial guardian to Monmouth and is Prince Rupert's closest friend, very influential in all military matters. He has three sons born of his French wife, one of which was born in Exile and naturalized by Act of Parliament despite his French mother. The eldest holds acting command of Gerard's standing regiment of horse as Lt Colonel. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charles Rex Posted July 16, 2015 Author Share Posted July 16, 2015 William Wycherley Full Name: William Wycherley Title: None Estate Name: Clive Age: 37 (b. 1640) Gender: Male Hair Color: Brown Eye Color: Brown ==Background== Born into a Royalist family, William spent his early years in France, where he was sent, at the age of fifteen, to study. While there, he converted to Roman Catholicism. He returned to England just prior to the Restoration. His conversion was temporary, but then so was his reversion shortly thereafter. He entered the Inner Temple in 1659, but did not put much effort into the study of law. Wycherley is known as a dramatist. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charles Rex Posted July 16, 2015 Author Share Posted July 16, 2015 John Locke Full Name: John Locke Title: None Nationality: English Age: 45 (b. 1632) Gender: Male Eye Color: Brown Hair Color: Brown, but greying Marital Status: Single Physical Attributes and Personality A serious, grave man in his earlier forties, who is rather plain looking. Philosophy Contradicting Thomas Hobbes, Locke believes that the original state of nature is happy, and is characterized by reason and tolerance. In that state, all people are equal and independent, and none has a right to harm another’s “life, health, liberty, or possessions.” The state was formed by social contract, because in the state of nature each is his own judge, and there is no protection against those who live outside the law of nature. Ergo, the state should be guided by natural law. Background He was born in Somersetshire, to John Locke Sr., a country lawyer and clerk to the Justice of the Peace in Chew Magna, and Agnes Keene, a reputed beauty and daughter of a local tanner. His parents were Puritans, and his father supported the Parliamentarians in the Civil War. Locke studied at Westminster School, in London, and then Christ Church College of Oxford University. He was greatly influenced by Plato, Aristotle, Aquinas, Descartes, and Hobbes. He completed a BA in 1656, an MA in 1658 and a bachelor of medicine in 1674. Locke is now a practicing doctor of medicine and a philosopher. His sponsor is Anthony Ashley Cooper, 1st Earl of Shaftesbury, whom he met in 1666, and has lived as part of his household since 1667. He is unmarried. Locke has a growing following in intellectual circles because he provides an alternative to Hobbes. Historical Note In real life Locke and Hobbes never met but knew of each other. Locke developed the bulk of his theories ten years after the timeperiod of our game. Facts we'll happily ignore. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charles Rex Posted July 16, 2015 Author Share Posted July 16, 2015 John Burgoyne Full Name: John Burgoyne Title: Knight, heir to Baronet Burgoyne Nationality: English Age: 25 (b. 1652) Gender: Male Eye Color: Green Hair Color: Blond Physical Attributes He is blond and almost handsome. Well-dressed, he is no fop, but clearly of some small means. He is tall and fit, although just short of athletic in stature. Personality He is charming and generally enjoys debating. He is interested in a military career. Has a habit of stumbling now and then. Background The only child of Sir Roger Burgoyne, 2nd Baronet Burgoyne, of Sutton, Bedfordshire, and his wife, Anne Snelling Burgoyne. He came into the family baronetcy in 1677 after the death of his father. He is a good friend to Richard Newport, the Earl of Bradford. Is allied with the Whig party. Saint George's Day Awards, 1676 Received a knighthood Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charles Rex Posted July 16, 2015 Author Share Posted July 16, 2015 Isaac Newton Full Name: Isaac Newton Title: Baronet Nationality: English Age: 34 (b. 1643) Gender: Male Eye Color: Brown Hair Color: Blond Physical Attributes Tall, slim, and rather severe. Personality Intense and intellectual, Newton is passionate and proud. Background Newton was born 3 months after the death of his father, and was raised by his maternal grandmother, Margery Ayscough, when his mother, Hannah Ayscough remarried. He disliked his step-father. He studied at Trinity College, at the University of Cambridge, where he discovered the generalised binomial theorem and began to develop a mathematical theory that would later become calculus. Following the closure of the college due to threat of plague, he continued his mathematical studies at home, refining his theories on calculus, optics and the law of gravitation. Between 1670 and 1672, Newton lectured on and refined his theories regarding optics and colour, and invented a reflecting telescope, which he demonstrated to the Royal Society. As a result, he published ''On Colour'' (1672). Criticisms by Robert Hooke resulted in life-long enmity between the two. Nevertheless, on January 11, 1672, Newton was elected a fellow of the Royal Society. In his Hypothesis of Light of 1675, Newton proposed the existence of the ether, which he believed was necessary in order to transmit forces between particles. He published this theory in ''Hypothesis of Light'' (1675). Newton was a physicist, mathematician, astronomer, natural philosopher, alchemist, and theologian. Saint George's Day Awards, 1676 To Mr Newton in recognition for his role in the pursuit of knowledge, is given baronetcy and funding for his research. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charles Rex Posted July 16, 2015 Author Share Posted July 16, 2015 George Etherege Full Name: George Etherege Title: Sir George (Baronet) Nationality: English Age: 45 (b. 1632) Eye Color: Hazel Hair Color: Light brown curls Physical Attributes and Personality His tastes were those of a fine gentleman, and he indulged freely in pleasure, especially the pleasures of the cup. His wealth and wit, the distinction and charm of his manners, won him the general worship of society. His nicknames are "Gentle George"and "Easy Etherege." Background Sir George Etherege was an English dramatist. He wrote the plays The Comical Revenge or, Love in a Tub, in 1664, She Would if She Could, in 1668. George Etherege was born in Maidenhead, Berkshire, around 1635, to George Etherege and Mary Powney, being the eldest of six children. Rumor has it that he was educated at Cambridge; however, John Dennis assures that to his certain knowledge he understood neither Greek nor Latin, thus rising doubts that he could hardly have been there. He served as apprentice to a lawyer and later studied law at Clement's Inn, London, one of the Inns of Chancery. He probably travelled abroad to France with his father who stayed with the exiled queen Henrietta Maria. It is possible that he witnessed in Paris the performances of some of Molière's earliest comedies; and he is thought, from an allusion in one of his plays, to have been personally acquainted with Roger de Rabutin, Comte de Bussy. Soon after the Restoration, in 1660, he composed his comedy of ''The Comical Revenge'' or ''Love in a Tub'', which introduced him to Lord Buckhurst, afterwards the Earl of Middlesex (now Dorset). This was performed at the Duke's theatre, in 1664, and a few copies were printed in the same year. It is partly in rhymed heroic verse, like the stilted tragedies of the Howards and Killigrew, but it contains comic scenes that are exceedingly bright and fresh. The sparring between Sir Frederick and the Widow introduced a style of wit hitherto unknown upon the English stage. The success of this play was very great, but Etherege waited four years before he repeated his experiment. Meanwhile he gained the highest reputation as a poetical beau, moving into the circle of the Merry Gang, where he was friends with such people as Sir Charles Sedley, the Duke of Buckingham, and the Earl of Rochester. Etherege's portraits of fops and beaux are considered the best of their kind. His wit is sparkling and frivolous, his style picturesque. Etherege is noted for his delicate touches of dress, furniture and scene; he vividly draws the fine airs of London gentlemen and ladies. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charles Rex Posted July 16, 2015 Author Share Posted July 16, 2015 Thomas Sprat Full Name: Thomas Sprat Positon: Royal Chaplain of His Majesty, Founding member of the Royal Society Title: Dr. Nationality: English Age: 42 (b. 1635) Eye Color: Brown Hair Color: Sandy Brown Physical Attributes Rotund enough to appear merry, but not large enough to be 'fat'. Personality Sprat is an intelligent, witty, and yet charming man appreciated by libertines and proper society alike. Background Sprat was born in Beaminster in Dorset, the son of a rather poor cleric with both a B.A. and an M.A. from Oxford. Sprat was educated at Wadham College, Oxford, a centre of scientific learning in the 17th century. Following his M.A. study he was a fellow of the college, took orders for the church, and was a founding member of the Royal Society. A learned scholar of natural philosophy and natural theology, Sprat instead focused most exclusively on transforming English writing and was known for his translation work. A close friend of Abraham Cowley, Sprat was also under the patronage of the Duke of Buckingham and became both his chaplain and his secretary early in the Restoration. They collaborated on several works (most now lost), and he was one of those involved with the duke in the writing of ''The Rehearsal''. It was through Buckingham that Sprat rose to the notice of Charles II, becoming his personal chaplain in 1676, a position he still holds. He is a prebendary of Westminster and Windsor and frequently delivers very popular sermons. He is the writer of the History of the Royal Society and several other works and poems. He is considered one of the greatest masters of written language. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charles Rex Posted July 16, 2015 Author Share Posted July 16, 2015 Edward Petre Full Name: Edward Petre Nationality: English Title: Roman Catholic priest (Jesuit Order), Vice-provincial of the Society of Jesus, Clerk of the Closet in York's household Age: 46 (b. 1631) Gender: Male Eye Color: Hazel Hair Color: Light Brown Marital Status: Single (Celibate) First Impression Always black robed, always stern looking. Background Petre was the son of Sir Francis Petre, 1st Baronet, of Cranham, head of a junior branch of the family of the Barons Petre, by his marriage to Elizabeth Gage, a daughter of Sir John Gage, both strong Roman Catholics. In 1649 he was sent for his education to the Jesuit College at St Omer and entered the Society of Jesus in 1671. Father Petre is part of the York household. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charles Rex Posted July 16, 2015 Author Share Posted July 16, 2015 Louis de Duras Full Name: Louis de Duras Nationality: Naturalized English, originally French Title: Earl of Feversham and Baron of Holdenby Estate Name: Lees Court, Kent Age: 36 (b. 1641) Gender: Male Height 5'11'' Eye Color: Brown Hair Color: Brown Marital Status: Married Physical Attributes and Personality A suave courtier with a French accent, who is known for his utter loyalty to his good friend York. They share an interest in all things military, and a strategic mind. Background Born in France, he was Marquis de Blanquefort and sixth son of Guy Aldonce (1605–1665), Marquis of Duras and Count of Rozan, from the noble Durfort family. His mother was Elizabeth de la Tour d'Auvergne, sister of Henri de la Tour d'Auvergne, Vicomte de Turenne. His two brothers Jacques Henri and Guy Aldonce were Marshals of France. He met James Stuart in 1650, and in 1663 he came to England the Princes Suite, and was naturalized in the same year. On 19 January 1673 he was raised to the English peerage as Baron Duras, of Holdenby, his title being derived from an estate in Northamptonshire bought from the duke of York, and in 1676 he married Mary, daughter and elder co-heiress of Sir George Sondes, created in that year Baron Throwley, Viscount Sondes and Earl of Feversham. Upon a special remainder, he inherited his father-in-laws title in April 1677, and was appointed the Queen's Lord Chamberlain in charge of her household. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charles Rex Posted July 16, 2015 Author Share Posted July 16, 2015 Myles Winstanley Full Name: Myles Winstanley Title: Master Nationality: English Age: 19 (b. 1648) Gender: Male Eye Color: Pale Blue Hair Color: Black Marital Status: Single Physical Attributes A youthful man with a pleasant enough face and notably blue eyes. A host of raven hair, falling in waves, reaches down to his shoulders. He sports a perfectly honed and pampered moustache. Personality No one would ever accuse Myles of being short of confidence, he has an easy manner and adores the finer things of life. Background Myles is a younger son with few prospects of his own but plenty of amibition It is clear that to realise his dreams he must find himself a wife. He has come to London at the invitation of his friend Francis de Courtenay (although it was Myles and not Francis that proposed the invitation). Attended Oxford University. Residence While in London, Myles is residing at the home of his friend Francis de Courtenay, at Picadilly Street. Also friends with William Abdy and Rowland Alston. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charles Rex Posted July 16, 2015 Author Share Posted July 16, 2015 John Wilmot Full Name: John Wilmot Nationality: English Title: Earl of Rochester and Viscount Wilmot of Athlone Age: 30 (b. 1647) Eye Color: Hazel Hair Color: Light Brown Marital Status: Widowed Physical Attributes Rumours of his venereal disease run through London. Certain is that the years have not been kind to Rochester, with watery redlined eyes and lines drawn in his face, the effects of debauchery have taken hold of this once handsome man, though he's still considered quite the catch. Personality With a tendency towards recklessness, Wilmot is a poet, rakehell, and roustabout. He's a wit with a talent for Satire, which even at the time was considered a quite rude style, deliberately challenging the mores. He is quite open about his bisexuality and is rumoured to be an atheist. Background Rochester was born in Ditchley, Oxfordshire. His mother was a Parliamentarian by descent and inclined to Puritanism. His father Henry Wilmot, a hard-drinking Royalist from Anglo-Irish stock, had been created Earl of Rochester in 1652 for military services to Charles II during his exile under the Commonwealth; he died abroad in 1658, two years before the restoration of the monarchy in England. In 1667 he married Elizabeth Malet, a witty heiress whom he had attempted to abduct two years earlier. The Earl maintains several mistresses, including the actress Elisabeth Barry. He also has a pet monkey. He is one of the closest friends of Nell Gwynn. One of the leading veterans of the Merry Gang, Rochester often found himself subject to censure from the King. The Earl was banished into the countryside after molesting the King's sundial in September 1675 but has since been forgiven and is now attending at Windsor. Family His late wife, Elizabeth Malet, Lady Rochester, passed away on the 1st of January 1676 in complications following childbirth. He has two children, a daughter Elizabeth and infant son Malet Wilmot. Residence When in London, the Earl has a townhouse St. James Square. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charles Rex Posted July 16, 2015 Author Share Posted July 16, 2015 Sarah Jennings Full Name: Sarah Jennings Nationality: English Age: 17 (b. 1660) Title: Mistress Gender: Female Eye Color: Blue Hair Color: Honey blonde Marital Status: Single Physical Attributes A pretty girl, honey coloured hair and clear blue eyes with a plump baby face Personality Sarah may not be a beauty but she can hold the attention of a gathering with her wit and strong personality. Background Sarah Jennings was born on 29 May 1660 in Holywell, Hertfordshire. Her parents were Richard Jennings and Frances Thornhurst. Sarah has an older sister, Frances. Sarah is on amicable terms with the Duke's oldest daughter Lady Mary Stuart but is fast friends with the Duke's younger daughter, Lady Anne Stuart. Anne and Sarah have pet names for each other: Anne is Mrs Morley and Sarah is Mrs Freeman. She is a Maid of Honor in the Duchess of York's Household. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charles Rex Posted July 16, 2015 Author Share Posted July 16, 2015 Henry Bennet Full Name: Henry Bennet Nationality: English Title: Earl of Arlington, Lord Chamberlain of the Privy Council Age: 59 (b. 1618) Gender: Male Eye Color: Blue Grey Hair Color: Once light brown, now grey Marital Status: Married Physical Attributes He has an old war scar on his nose. The scar was very visible because Arlington took to covering it with black plaster. Personality Although he was dour looking, Arlington was said to be of pleasant and agreeable humour. Henry was also more than happy to compromise his political 'principles' to serve his personal interests. He was rumoured to be a Catholic. Background He was the son of Sir John Bennet of Dawley, Middlesex, and of Dorothy Crofts, was the younger brother of John Bennet, 1st Baron Ossulston. He gained some distinction as a scholar and a poet, and was originally destined for holy orders. In 1643 he was secretary to Lord Digby at Oxford, and was employed as a messenger between the queen and Ormonde in Ireland. Rumor has it he took up with Lucy Walter after the King abandoned her during the exile in the Netherlands. In March 1657 he was knighted, and the same year was sent as Charles II's agent to Madrid, where he remained, endeavouring to obtain assistance for the royal cause, till after the Restoration. On his return to England in 1661 he was made keeper of the privy purse, and became the prime favourite. One of his duties was the procuring and management of the royal mistresses, in which his success gained him great credit. Allying himself with Lady Castlemaine, he encouraged Charles's increasing dislike of Clarendon; and he was made secretary of state in October 1662 in spite of the opposition of Clarendon, who had to find him a seat in parliament. He represented Callington from 1661 till 1665, but appears never to have taken part in debate. He married Isabella de Nassau, daughter of Louis de Nassau, Herr van der Leck and Beverwaerde and Elizabeth (?), on 16 April 1666 at Moore Park, Hertfordshire, England. Louis de Nassau, Herr van der Leck and Beverwaerde was born illegitimately before 1614. He was the son of Maurice von Nassau-Dillenburg, Prince of Orange, who in turn was the 2nd son of William von Nassau, the first Prince of Orange. This line was however not directly related to the later Stuart line of the Princes of Orange, because the line became extinct after the death of Fredrik Hendrik, brother of Maurice, 3rd son of William. Made Knight of the Garter in 1672 He served subsequently on the committees for explaining the Irish Act of Settlement and for Tangiers. In 1663 he obtained a peerage as Baron Arlington, or Harlington, in Middlesex, and in 1667 was appointed one of the postmasters-general. The control of foreign affairs was entrusted to him, and he was chiefly responsible for the attack on the Smyrna fleet and for the Second Anglo-Dutch War, during which he ironically married the Dutch Lady van Beverswijck in 1666. In 1665 he advised Charles to grant liberty of conscience, but this was merely a concession to gain money during the war; and he showed great activity later in oppressing the nonconformists. On the death of Southampton, whose administration he had attacked, his great ambition, the treasurership, was not satisfied; and on the fall of Clarendon, against whom he had intrigued, he did not, though becoming a member of the Cabal ministry, obtain the supreme influence which he had expected; for Buckingham first shared, and soon surpassed him, in the royal favour. With Buckingham a sharp rivalry sprang up, and they only combined forces when endeavouring to bring about some evil measure, such as the ruin of the great Ormonde, who was an opponent of their policy and their schemes. Another object of jealousy to Arlington was Sir William Temple, who achieved a great popular success in 1668 by the conclusion of the Triple Alliance; Arlington endeavoured to procure his removal to Madrid, and entered with alacrity into Charles's plans for destroying the whole policy embodied in the treaty, and for making terms with France. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charles Rex Posted July 16, 2015 Author Share Posted July 16, 2015 Eleanor Gwynn Full Name: Eleanor (Nell) Gwynn Nationality: English Age: 27 (b. 1650) Gender: Female Eye Color: Blue Hair Color: Reddish Brown Marital Status: Single Physical Attributes and Personality Nell is well liked by the people. She is known to be refreshingly witty, as well as reassuringly Protestant and English. She and Louise de Kérouaille are bitter rivals. Background Nell Gwyn was a Drury Lane actress who came to the attention of the king, becoming his mistress in 1669. She retired as an actress in 1670. She bore the King a son named Charles Beauclerk, in 1670. He was named Earl of Burford. She had a second son, James Beauclerk, in 1671. He was named Lord Beauclerk. Nell has supported the building of the Chelsea Veteran Hospital, and found friendship with the King's other mistress, the Scottish Lady (Catriona McGregor). Being still a commoner she was housed in her own Townhouse in Windsor. Saint George's Day Awards, 1676 Received a Medals of Charity for her tireless work with Chelsea hospital Residence In London, Nell has a house on Pall Mall. Following the queen's demand in spring of 1677 that all mistresses leave London, she moved to Chelsea. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charles Rex Posted July 16, 2015 Author Share Posted July 16, 2015 Baptist May Full Name: Baptist May Nationality: English Age: 49 (b. 1628) Gender: Male Eye Color: Brown Hair Color: Grey Marital Status: Single Physical Attributes A tall man, always elegantly and most fashionably dressed, he is otherwise unremarkable. Personality Baptist has a reputation that precedes him, even into the country, as the King's man, whose favour can be bought, at least for a time. Background Baptist May, commonly known as 'Bab', was one of the ancient family of May from Sussex and Kent. The son of the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, Sir Humphrey May of Carrow Priory (Norfolk), by his second wife, Judith, daughter of Sir William Poley, of Boxted, Suffolk. He is said to have been named after his uncle by marriage, Baptist Hicks (or Hickes), 1st Viscount Campden. Baptist was rumoured to have been educated in France, and attended the Court of Charles I as a page. At the age of twenty, he attended the Duke of York during his travels to the United Provinces and then during his exile. Upon the Restoration, Charles II rewarded his loyal service, appointing him jointly with the Earl of St. Albans to the lucrative office as Registrar of the Court of Chancery. May showed his gratitude by rendering himself indispensable to the King in his 'private pleasures', as Groom of the Bedchamber from 1662. In 1665, the year that Baptist sailed with the Duke of York in the ‘Royal Charles’ against the Dutch, he also gained, in succession to Viscount FitzHarding, the position of Keeper of the Privy Purse, apparently through Lady Castlemaine's influence. In return for the favour, however, she subsequently made the most extravagant demands on the funds which he thenceforth controlled. In that same year, he was rewarded with a grant of "several parcels of ground in Pall Mall Fields for building thereon a square of thirteen or fourteen great and good houses" and of the highway from Charing Cross to St. James's. In 1666, Baptist May decided to enter Parliament and made an attempt to become the MP for Winchelsea, in Sussex. He arrived in the town with letters of recommendation from the Duke of York, but his reputation preceded him and the people declared "they would have no Court pimp to be their Burgess." Four years later, he was more successful in Midhurst. Baptist rivals William Chiffinch, the King's Closet Keeper, in the attentions which he has shown the King. With Rochester, the Killigrews, Henry Saville and Sir Fleetwood Sheppard, he frequently attends those select parties which enlivened the evenings of the King in the apartments of his mistresses. He remains on good terms with Barbara Castlemaine. Bab is currently Groom of the King's Bedchamber and Keeper of the Privy Purse. He is also interested in sport and keeps a fine stable of horses. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charles Rex Posted July 16, 2015 Author Share Posted July 16, 2015 Bartholomew Hyde Bartholomew Hyde Full Name: Bartholomew Hyde Title: Doctor Nationality: English Age: 52 (b. 1625) Gender: Male Eye Color: Blue Hair Color: Blond, now white Physical Attributes and Personality Tall, gaunt, white hair. Background Reputed to be a expert in medicine and poisons. Distant relative of Sir Edward Hyde. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charles Rex Posted July 16, 2015 Author Share Posted July 16, 2015 John Borlase Full Name: John Borlase Title: Baronet Borlase of Bockmere Estate Name: Bockmere Nationality: English Age: 35 (b. 1642) Gender: Male Eye Color: Brown Hair Color: Brown Marital Status: Single Physical Attributes and Personality Sir John Borlase is a stocky, darkhaired man of average height who looked to be in his mid-thirties. He is rather serious and grave. Background Sir John matriculated in Oriel College, Oxford University on 31 July 1658.1 He succeeded to the title of 2nd Baronet Borlase, of Bockmer, co. Bucks and of Stratton Audley, co. Oxford [E., 1642] on 8 August 1672. He holds the office of Member of Parliament (M.P.) for Wycombe and considered a Whig. A friend of Richard Newport. He is as of yet unmarried. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charles Rex Posted July 16, 2015 Author Share Posted July 16, 2015 John Stonor Full Name: John Stonor Title: None Nationality: English Age: 27 (b. 1650) Gender: Male Eye Color: Brown Hair Color: Brown Marital Status: Married Physical Attributes and Personality Grave countenance, zealous in his prosecution of Catholics. Background John is an MP in the House of Commons, and a member of the Country Party. He married Mary Talbot, stepdaughter to the Countess Shrewsbury in July 1675. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charles Rex Posted July 19, 2015 Author Share Posted July 19, 2015 William Adby Full Name: William Abdy Age: 20 Eye Color: Hair Color: Marital Status: Single Physical Descripton Background William is begat of Sir Thomas Abdy, 1st Bt and his second wife Anne Soame. Sir Thomas Abdy, 1st Bt. was admitted to Lincoln's Inn on 29 January 1631/32 and invested as a Knight on 6 July 1641. William is the fourth born child, and youngest Abdy son, and has his heart set upon entering the Life Guards. He has a further five sisters younger then him, Alice, Anne, Mary, Judith and Sarah. He was smitten with Fiona in season IV, but the lads helped him see the light that she was leading him a merry chase. Friends with Rowland Alston and Francis de Courtenay. Joined the Lifeguards March 1678 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charles Rex Posted July 19, 2015 Author Share Posted July 19, 2015 Andrew Bentley Green Full Name: Andrew Bentley Green Nationality: English Age: 48 Gender: Male Height: 5'8'' Eye Color: Greyish Blue Hair Color: Dark brown flecked with gray Marital Status: Single Physical Appearance Andrew is a man in his forties, his dark brown hair now flecked with greys at the sides. In testament to a life lived outdoors, Andrew has good physique still, and is handsome in his own way, with a strong jaw. His eyes are a pale greyish blue. Background Born on the 1629 to a humble family, Andrew took up work as a gardener at Andover Hall when he turned 16. His mother was am ambitious woman, always reminding him of her high hopes for his future -- and those hopes begun to be realised as he slowly climbed through the ranks of Gardners. It was a proud day for his mother when, in 1649, Andrew was made Head Gardner, just a few months before his 21st birthday. However Andrews climb to greatness there stalled. Under vague circumstances he was demoted in 1652, yet he remained on in the employ of the Milbourne family some few years more, until in 1657 he handed in his notice with claims he had secured a position with good prospects in the city. Apart from regular letters to his mother, who still lived in the local village, he was not heard of again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charles Rex Posted July 19, 2015 Author Share Posted July 19, 2015 Richard Newport Full Name: Richard Newport Title: Earl of Bradford Estate Name:' Ercall Hall, in High Ercall, Shropshire Nationality: English Age: 33 (b.1644) Gender: Male Eye Color: Grey Blue Hair Color: Brown Physical Attributes While not precisely handsome, neither was Richard homely. He was of average height and had a pleasing, well-kept appearance, with his short, medium brown curls, rather than the fashionable periwig. His features were well-formed, without being what could be called chiselled. His physique was lean and well-proportioned, without being muscular or athletic. The contrast of his grey-blue eyes added interest to what might otherwise be an ordinary face. Personality He had an air of quiet confidence and intelligence, rather than the carefully cultivated charm of so many men at court, and it was this that often drew the regard of others. Background Richard was born the second of 5 children and eldest son to Lord Francis Newport (deceased) and Lady Diana Russell (51), 1st Viscount and Viscountess Newport of Bradford. He holds an MA from Oxford University. Siblings * Katherine (deceased) * Thomas (20) * Elizabeth (?) * Diana (at least 3) Having held a seat in the Commons before the death of his father, Richard is now an Earl, with an educated and serious mind, who takes his responsibilities in the Lords seriously. He is respected by the King for his intelligence. His father and Charles II were fairly close, so he has known the King for most of his life. He is, however, a Whig, and is a friend of John Burgoyne and an acquaintance of John Borlase. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charles Rex Posted July 19, 2015 Author Share Posted July 19, 2015 James Randolph Full Name: James Randolph Nationality: English Title: Lord Camton (Earl) Age: 20 (b. 1657) Gender: Male Hair Color: Brown Eye Color: Brown Marital Status: Single Background Enemy of Thomas Hamilton and a talented fencer. His father died and he was raised to the title of Viscount in the summer of 1675, then received the title of Earl of Camton. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charles Rex Posted July 19, 2015 Author Share Posted July 19, 2015 Darryl Williams Full Name: Darryl Williams Nationality: English Title: Captain in the Royal 1st Dragooons (Promoted in Nov 1677) Age: 23 Height: 5'11'' Eye Color: Blue Hair Color: Brown Physical Attributes and Personality Daryl walks with a saunter, with a causal attitude towards life. He smokes a pipe, enjoys gambling, horse riding. Background Daryl met Charles Whitehurst while serving in the Dragoons together, both were Lieutenants at the time serving in Tangiers. CW went on to serve in the Life Guards, while Williams remained, and rose to the rank of Major within the Dragoons. The Royal Dragoons The Royal Dragoons (1st Dragoons) was a mounted infantry and later a heavy cavalry regiment of the British Army. The regiment was first raised as a single troop of veterans of the Parliamentary Army in 1661, shortly thereafter expanded to four troops as the Tangier Horse, taking the name from their service in Tangier. They were ranked as the 1st Dragoons, the oldest cavalry regiment of the line, in 1674; on their return to England in 1683 the three troops were joined with three newly raised troops and titled The King's Own Royal Regiment of Dragoons, named for Charles II. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charles Rex Posted July 19, 2015 Author Share Posted July 19, 2015 Christopher Wren Full Name: Christopher Wren Title: Baronet Nationality: English Age: 45 (b. 1632) Gender: Male Eye Color: Hazel Hair Color: Dark Brown Physical Attributes and Personality Wren is a studious, intelligent, and yet charming man. It is perhaps his creative imagination that sets him apart from others. Background Born in East Knoyle, Wiltshire, to Christopher Wren Sr, he was the second but only surviving son of that name. He was a sickly child. He attended Wadham College, Oxford University, where he became an associate of several distinguished mathematicians and philosophers. He completed a BA and then an MA, and was involved with what would become the Royal Society. His studies included architecture, astronomy, optics, finding longitude at sea, cosmology, mechanics, microscopy, surveying, medicine, and meteorology. He became a prime mover in the rebuilding of London after the Great Fire of '66. Charles II knighted Wren on 14 November, 1673, for his service to the Crown. Wren married Faith Coghill, daughter of Sir John and Lady Coghill, in 1669. The couple had two children: Gilbert, born in October, 1672, but died in spring of 1674; and Christopher, born in February, 1675. Faith died on 3 September, 1675 of small pox. The baby now lives with Wren's mother-in-law, Lady Coghill, in Oxfordshire. ==April 1676== Wren met and became besotted with Lady Rebecca, though his character kept him in check of making his attraction strongly known to her upon account of the fact that there were so many others around. Oh how he then lamented when they parted with the note of mere friendship between them. Then at the ball, the King announced that Rebecca would choose a husband that very evening. Wren's name was spoken publicly, a surprise to the very private man. And yet he hoped that she would choose him. At the end of the evening he was disappointed, as she chose instead the Sergeant William Hale of the lifeguard. Examples of Architecture by Wren to 1675 * Monument to the Great Fire of London, in progress (in front of the Royal Exchange) * Royal Observatory, Greenwich * Temple Bar rebuilding * Windsor Castle renovations * Theater Royal in Drury Lane * 32 London Churches in various stages of planning/construction Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charles Rex Posted July 30, 2015 Author Share Posted July 30, 2015 James Scott (Monmouth) Nationality:English Title: Duke of Monmouth Estate Name:Monmouth Age: 28 (b. 9 April 1649) Gender: Male Eye Colour:'Brown Hair Colour:Brown Marital Status: Married ==Physical Attributes== Those that thought the Duke of Monmouth not the true natural son of Charles II quickly shut up as the boy grew up, for he was the spitting image of his father, as many of the Kings sons were. Stuart blood bred true. James was handsome, with brown locks. Well muscled physique. He has a half sister (who claims to be a full sister but was never acknowledged by Charles II): Mary Crofts. Initial Impression of Personality While charming, clearly not the brightest candle in the chandelier, a soldier rather than a politician. James was influenced strongly by the Whig Party who saw him as the true heir to the throne. Background In 1663, at the age of 14, shortly after having been brought to England, James was created Duke of Monmouth with the subsidiary titles of Earl of Doncaster and Baron Scott of Tynedale, all three in the Peerage of England, and married off to the wealthy Anne Scott, 4th Countess of Buccleuch. The day after his marriage, they were made Duke and Duchess of Buccleuch. Although he showed no aptitude for government, James was popular, particularly since he was a Protestant, whereas the official heir to the throne, the brother of Charles II, James Stuart, Duke of York, was a Catholic. In 1665, at the age of 16, Monmouth served in the English fleet under his uncle the Duke of York in the Second Anglo-Dutch War. Later in the war, he returned to England to assume his first military command as commander of a troop of cavalry. In 1669 he was made colonel of the King's Life Guards, one of the most senior appointments in the army. When the Captain General of the army, George Monck, 1st Duke of Albemarle, died in 1670, Monmouth became the senior officer in the army at the age of 21. At the outbreak of the Third Anglo-Dutch War in 1672, a brigade of 6,000 British troops was sent to serve as part of the French army (in return for money paid to King Charles), with Monmouth as its commander. In the campaign of 1673 and in particular at the Siege of Maastricht, Monmouth gained a considerable reputation as one of Britain's finest soldiers. Made Knight of the Garter in 1663 Monmouth in his late teens was part of a group known as the Young Dukes, which overlapped with his father's Merry Gang. Thomas Bruce is a friend of his childhood, and is still fiercely loyal. A more recent friend is Thomas Thynne. Monmouth grew up in the partial guardianship of the Ashburnhams, to whom he still maintains a close relationship, especially with John Ashburnham. Children * Charles Scott (b.1672 – d.1674) * James Scott (b.1674) * Anne Scott (b.1675) Residence St. James Square, The House of the Duke and Duchess of Monmouth, a townhouse in St. James Square. Saint Georges Day Awards, 1676 Received a Medal of Honor for his part in the skirmishes upon the ocean Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Samuel Greyson Posted August 16, 2015 Share Posted August 16, 2015 Samuel Greyson Nationality: English Title: None (commoner) Estate Name: None Age: 24 (born 17 November 1653) Gender: Male Height: 5'7'' Eye Colour: Green Hair Colour: Black Marital Status: Unmarried RESIDENCE: Barn Elms (as of May 4th 1677) Reputation:«...This gentleman under the patronage of Buckingham is poetic, amiable, witty, and a good friend; these are the prime qualities in a court writer, and Master Greyson is a prime example of that luring nature. ...» Physical Appearance: Samuel is a rather handsome young man, even if he might not be considered by most to be extremely attractive. He is of medium height, and is of slightly darker complexion than that of most Englishmen. He has dimples, which add to the charm of his smile. Samuel wears his raven black hair long, without a periwig. First Impression: Samuel would usually seem polite, well-mannered, and witty – although some would note that this is a well-studied (rather than born-into) behavior. He is lacking any sense of nonchalance that those born into gentry might possess. Samuel might sometimes be found talking to himself out loud - in fact testing and memorizing lines for a play he is currently working on. Similarly, he could stop a conversation in mid-sentence in order to try out to himself a pun that he came up with while talking, and then resume conversing as if nothing has happened. Background: Samuel's mother, Esther, was born to a Marrano family of Spanish origin. The Cordovero family officially converted to Catholicism in Spain after the expulsion of the Jews in 1492, while secretly keeping their Jewish faith and traditions. During the 1580's, however, the family moved away from Spain to England following their trade and joined the small crypto-Jewish community in London, while continuing to pass as Spaniard Catholics. In 1646, Samuel's maternal grandfather passed away in London, and Esther's brothers immigrated to Amsterdam - where they could openly practice the Jewish religion. By this time, however, Esther was already married to Benjamin Greyson, a Protestant candle-manufacturer, so she decided to stay in England. While officially converted to Protestanism after her marriage, she did continue to keep some Jewish traditions in secret. Her loving husband tolearated this, and the couple moved to Wakefield for his business - where Samuel was born. Living in Wakefield, Esther and her children were far removed from the slow, hesitant and gradual process of Jewish acceptance into London society during the mid-century. Thus, Samuel's mother continued keeping the Marrano secretive ethos even as Jews were living more and more openly in London. With no Jewish or Marrano community in Wakefield, Esther did teach her children about their Jewish heritage as well as some Hebrew, and taught them to be cautious never to reveal their true roots. Benjamin disapproved of this, but did nothing to stop his wife's endeavors. Showing much promise as a youth, Samuel was able to receive a scholarship for studying in Oxford (Balliol College), even though he came from commoner background. There, he discovered both his enthusiasm with the Classics and his passion for writing. While in Oxford, he translated several foreign dramatic works (among them Isabella Andreini's ''Mirtilla''), and wrote one tragedy (see below) as well as several satirical sketches, which proved very popular with the students. After finishing his studies, he moved to London to try his luck as a playwright. Samuel, however, is haunted by the secret of his mother's family. Samuel learned from his mother to be secretive, cautious, and always observant. He will not reveal his Jewish identity to anyone, unless under the most dire (or intimate) circumstances. While this made him into a calculated, restrained, even overburdened person – it also enhanced his acting skills (and even his ability to read lips), and turned him into a perceptive observer of human nature. This, in turn, made him an even better playwright and satirist. Also while in Oxford, Samuel had begun his series of infatuations with handsome young noblemen - the first and most meaningful of which was Damien Lowell - with only a very few of them developing into any kind of mutual relationship. Many others turned slightly obsessive from his side at some point, at times taking the form of stalking, voyeurism, or petty thefts of personal belongings. Samuel's sexuality is as class-based as it is gender-based: he is hardly attracted to commoner men, and is mostly fascinated by those young men of the libertine kind. Samuel feels, however, that their ways are a privilege saved only for nobility. Therefore, he relates to them in a mixture of attraction, envy and frustration. Buckingham's Patronage: In early May 1677, due to the assistance of Francis Kirke, Greyson won the patronage of the Duke of Buckingham. He currently resides at the Duke's country house at Barn Elms, which previously lodged Abraham Cowley. DRAMATIC WORKS Philomela Weaving (1673) ''Philomela Weaving'' was Greyson's first attempt in playwriting, while still at Oxford. This is a verse Tragedy, based upon the myth of Procne and Philomela in Ovid's ''Metamorphoses''. Its dramatic peak is a long, lyrical soliloquy by the mute Philomela, while she weaves the story of her torments. The play was performed by Greyson's fellow students at Oxford (with Greyson himself in the role of Philomela) and was widely praised by his teachers. Every Lady's Satisfaction (1677) "Every Lady's Satisfaction" is a witty comedy, focusing on a dashing rake, Sir Clarimont, who is rumored to be the most gratifying lover in London. Two sisters, Flora and Lavinia, vie with each other for his pleasures. The plot is complicated by Sir Clarimont's decision to end his affair with the Lady Crave-It, a rich and powerful older woman, and his intentions to seduce her niece, Wilhelmina. Much of the play's comedy is enhanced by the sisters' suitors - the foppish Sir Anthony Shrivel and the Italian Sebastiano Grandfiasco - as well as by Clarimont's servant, Ned, who is obsessively interested in his master's sexual escapades. The play's notorious climax is a scene in which Clarimont plans to bed both sisters together. Upon discovering this, Flora and Lavinia send their maids, Meg and Marie, to replace them (masked) in Clarimont's bedchamber - much to Meg and Marie's delight. Actaeon (in progress) A libretto to an opera in the works, together with composer Lucas Cole. Family: - Father: Benjamin Greyson - b. 1630 - Mother: Esther Greyson (née Cordovero) - b. 1629 - Sister: Abigail Hollenby - b. 1648 - Sister: Hannah Greyson - b. 1650, d. 1652 - Brother-in-law: William Hollenby - b. 1647 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
George Hardwick III Posted August 16, 2015 Share Posted August 16, 2015 George Hardwick III Full Name: George Hardwick the Third Nationality: English Title: Earl Estate Name: Chichester Age: 29 (b.10th October 1648) Gender: Male Height: 6' Eye Colour: Brown Hair Colour: Dark Brown Marital Status: Batchelor RESIDENCE London Town: Half Moon House, Pall Mall Country: Hardwick House in Dulwich, south of London ENDEAVOURS Dulwich: Wilhelmina Boyle Academy of Arts Physical Attributes George is a lean fellow, with angular features, and large dark brown eyes, his hair is darker still. His fingers are fine and long, with fingernails buffed to a muted sheen. His knees are on the knobbly side, in fact he could perhaps do well with a bit of fattening up all over. First Impressions George pays meticulous attention to his costume, but he does not obsess. His wardrobe is filled with fine textiles in muted shades, plainly expensive, but not so flashy as when he first arrived at court. One indulgence he still maintains is his penchant for numerous jeweled fingers; that through the lace of his cuff the glint of ruby, emerald and sapphire rings glint upon his hand. His preferences are influenced by the continent Outwardly he has a reserved but generous manner, he likes to think of himself as a man of the people. He endeavors to be considerate to those less fortunate (the common class), would be the champion of their cause given a chance. He enjoys the thrill of gambling & other fashionable vices. He owns impeccable manners, and is conversant with fulsomely flattering speech. Georges AoI Story-so-far In teh spring of '76 Courted Wilhemina Boyle (Tobacco Tycoon Peter Boyle's only child), much to his sisters dismay. After drinking from His and Her Chalices (given as an engagement gift from Mirtel, Mina slipped into an unwalkable sleep. Declared dead she was interred. George was inconsolable with grief. Some few nights later, a grizzly spectre appeared upon his door in the middle of the night. Snatching p his sword he assaulted it, only after the creature slid to the floor did he realise it was Mina, his Mina. He had her body interred secretively, his grief was at a new pitch. Trying to distract himself he begun affairs, first with Damien, then with Greyson, it was a tangled love triangle, and ultimately did naught to heal his wounded heart. He had an on again off again courtship with Mistress Davina. Meanwhile hsi sister eloped to marry Edward Russell, Baron Whitgrove, striking off on a European tour. On the heels of multiple failed romances in May 1677, the guilt became too much for the Geroge to bear. Wishing himself dead he confessed his crime, though was hadly believed - and was put into the tower in part to protect him from himself. Mistress Davina's brother visited him, and in no uncertain terms told him to keep away from his sister. Later that year he was released. Still broken, but hope is a hard to kill beast. August 1677 - justice became a distraction. George found reasons to believe foul play over the death of widow Lucinda Wyatt… doggedly he worked and sleuthed out the true story. Yet when it was all over he was left alone again with his aching grief. He travelled to Italy, taking in the sights and trying to restore himself revisiting persons he held dear from his artistic youth... then finally he was ready to make a return to England and to Court in the Winter of 77. Promising himself to keep his head this time, he set about a quiet life. He kept to himself for the most part, believing himself an unwanted pariah for the most part. Yet managed to befriend Lady Habersham, and they enjoy a gentle friendship. He plans an art exhibition of his Italian collection later in the Spring 78 season. Family Father: George Hardwick II, Earl of Chichester - deceased November 1675 Mother: Mary Christabel Hardwick - deceased June 1658 Sister: Mirtel Christabel Hardwick Russell - born June '58, married October 76, deceased August '77 Brother in Law: Edward Russell, Baron Whitgrove - assumed dead 1677 Nephew: Edward Russell, Baby Whitgrove Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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