[These frolics appear to have been not unfrequent with persons of high rank at this period.  In a letter from Mr. Henshaw to Sir Robert Paston, afterwards Earl of Yarmouth, dated October 13, 1670, we have the following account:  “Last week, there being a faire neare Audley-end, the queen, the Dutchess of Richmond, and the Dutchess of Buckingham, had a frolick to disguise themselves like country lasses, to red petticoats, wastcotes, &c., and so goe see the faire.  Sir Barnard Gascoign, on a cart jade, rode before the queen; another stranger before the Dutchess of Buckingham; and Mr. Roper before Richmond.  They had all so overdone it in their disguise, and looked so much more like antiques than country volk, that, as soon as they came to the faire, the people began to goe after them; but the queen going to a booth, to buy a pair of yellow stockings for her sweet hart, and Sir Bernard asking for a pair of gloves sticht with blew, for his sweet hart, they were soon, by their gebrish, found to be strangers, which drew a bigger flock about them.  One amongst them had seen the queen at dinner, knew her, and was proud of her knowledge.  This soon brought all the faire into a crowd to stare at the queen.  Being thus discovered, they, as soon as they could, got to their horses; but as many of the faire as had horses got up, with their wives, children, sweet harts, or neighbours, behind them, to get as much gape as they could, till they brought them to the court gate.  Thus, by ill conduct, was a merry frolick turned into a penance.”—­I’ve’s Select Papers, p. 39.

Bishop Burnet says, “at this time, (1668) the court fell into much extravagance in masquerading:  both the king and queen, all the court, went about masked, and came into houses unknown, and danced there, with a great deal of wild frolic.  In all this people were so disguised, that, without being in the secret, none could distinguish them.  They were carried about in hackney chairs.  Once the queen’s chairmen, not knowing who she was, went from her.  So she was alone, and was much disturbed, and came to Whitehall in a hackney coach; some say in a cart.”—­Burnet’s History, vol. i., p. 368.]

This was no sooner resolved upon, but it was put in execution they attired themselves alike, and, taking each a basket of oranges under their arms, they embarked in a hackney coach, and committed themselves to fortune, without any other escort than their own caprice and indiscretion.

The duchess was gone to the play with her sister:  Miss Jennings had excused herself under pretence of indisposition she was overjoyed at the happy commencement of their adventure; for they had disguised themselves, had crossed the Park, and taken their hackney coach at Whitehall gate, without the least accident.  They mutually congratulated each other upon it, and Miss Price, taking a beginning so prosperous as a good omen of their success, asked her companion what they were to do at the fortune-teller’s, and what they should propose to him.