The following very remarkable anecdote is accompanied by a reference to
the only work of any authority wherein I have met with it.
Prince George of Denmark, the nominal king-consort to queen Anne, in
passing through Bristol, appeared on the Exchange, attended only by one
gentleman, a military officer, and remained there till the merchants had
pretty generally withdrawn, not one of them having sufficient resolution
to speak to him, as perhaps they might not be prepared to ask such a
guest to their houses. But this was not the case with all who saw him,
for a person, whose name was John Duddlestone, a bodice-maker, in
Corn-street, went up and asked the prince if he was not the husband of
the queen, who informed him he was. John Duddlestone then told the
prince, that he had observed, with a great deal of concern, that none of
the merchants had invited him home to dinner, adding, it was not for
want of love to the queen or to him, but because they did not consider
themselves prepared to entertain so great a man; but John said, he was
ashamed to think of his dining at an inn, and requested him to go and
dine with him, and bring the gentleman along with him, informing him
that he had a piece of good beef and a plum pudding, and ale of his
dame’s own brewing. The prince admired the loyalty of the man, and
though he had bespoke a dinner at the White Lion, went with him; and
when they got to the house, Duddlestone called his wife, who was up
stairs, desiring her to put on a clean apron and come down, for the
queen’s husband and another gentleman were come to dine with them; she
accordingly came down with her clean blue apron, and was immediately
saluted by the prince. In the course of the dinner, the prince asked him
if he ever went to London? He said, that since the ladies had worn stays
instead of bodices, he sometimes went to buy whalebone; whereupon the
prince desired him to take his wife when he went again, at the same time
giving him a card, to facilitate his introduction to him at court.
In the course of a little time, John Duddlestone took his wife behind
him to London, and, with the assistance of the card, found easy
admittance to the prince, and by him they were introduced to the queen,
who invited them to an approaching dinner, informing them that they must
have new clothes for the occasion, allowing them to choose for
themselves. Each therefore chose _purple velvet_, such as the prince had
then on, which was accordingly provided for them, and in that dress they
were introduced by the queen herself, as the most loyal persons in the
city of Bristol, and the only ones in that city who had invited the
prince her husband to their house; and after the entertainment, the
queen, desiring _him_ to kneel down, laid a sword on his head, and (to
use lady Duddlestone’s own words) said to him, “_Ston up, sir Jan_.”
Sir “Jan” was offered money, or a place under government, but he did not
choose to accept of either, informing the queen that he had “_fifty
pounds_ out at use,” and he apprehended that the number of people he saw
about her must be very expensive. The queen, however, made lady
Duddlestone a present of her gold watch from her side, which “my lady”
considered as no small ornament, when she went to market, suspended
_over a blue apron_.
I first found this interesting account in “Corry’s History of Bristol,”
which was published a few years ago; but whence it was derived that
author does not mention. As the editor of the _Table Book_ is equally
uninformed, perhaps some of his correspondents may be able to point out
its origin; and, if it be authentic, communicate some particulars
respecting the worthy knight and his dame.
* * * * *
~Discoveries~