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Holly has posted one annotation/comment since 5 September 2024.

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Third Reading

About Wednesday 4 September 1661

Holly  •  Link

The "brave alterations" may be a reference to the works done on the King's commissioned redesign of the park in the French style, which seems to fit the timeline. From: https://www.royalparks.org.uk/vis…

"... it was King Charles II who made sweeping and dramatic changes to the park landscape.

While exiled on the Continent during the Civil War, King Charles I had developed a love for formal French gardens. When he became king in 1660, he ordered a complete redesign of St. James’s Park from French landscaper, Andre Mollet.

Mollet’s design included a showstopping, tree-lined canal almost half a mile long, where Charles could mingle with crowds and meet up with his mistress, Nell Gwynn."

Sam mentions meeting "pretty witty Nell" herself at the theatre in his entry for 3 April 1665.