Louise De Keroualle Royal Mistress Part I

Louise de Keroualle was one of Charles II’s most famous mistresses.  At the end of his life, he was involved still with Nell Gwynne, who had been his lover for some years…  He was still friendly with old mistresses like Barbara Castlemaine and Hortense Mazarin and he was probably involved with other occasional women but Louise was the one he deeply loved.  However, she was not liked in England, because of her Catholicism, her being French and the suspicion that she was a French spy.   She certainly was involved in pushing Charles to favour French interests, and acted as a conduit between him and the French King.

Nell mocked Louise, being sharp tongued and witty, calling her “Squintabella” (she had a slight squint) and the “Weeping Willow”, because Louise acted in a “little girlish” way at times and tried to get her way with fits of tears.  Louise was haughty and  disliked the actress because of her low origins and her skill at repartee.  Nell was popular with the London people, as one of their own.   Louise was higher born and better educated but she lacked Nell's quick wit. 

 She was born in 1649 in Brittany to a noble family, and got a post as a lady in waiting to Henrietta Anne, Duchess of Orleans, Charles’ beloved sister whom he called Minette.  When Henrietta paid a visit to England, to negotiate a secret treaty between Louis and Charles, Louise was part of her entourage.   Charles was attracted to her and is reputed to have asked Minette to let her stay with him but she refused, since Louise was very young and she was responsible for her. 
After his sister’s death however, Charles got his wish, and Louise came to court as lady in waiting to Queen Catherine.  Unlike Barbara Castlemaine, she was polite and respectful to her mistress and Catherine was pleased to have her at court, since both were Catholics.

The French were pleased to see that a French Catholic had attracted Charles’ interest… They were eager to push her into becoming the King’s Mistress.  Louise held out for a time, protesting that she was too well born and virtuous to become anyone’s mistress, even a king's -.