In his diary entry for Monday 11 January 1663/64, Samuel Pepys records a Quaker woman at the the court of King Charles II:
This morning I stood by the King arguing with a pretty Quaker woman, that delivered to him a desire of hers in writing. The King showed her Sir J. Minnes, as a man the fittest for her quaking religion, saying that his beard was the stiffest thing about him, and again merrily said, looking upon the length of her paper, that if all she desired was of that length she might lose her desires; she modestly saying nothing till he begun seriously to discourse with her, arguing the truth of his spirit against hers; she replying still with these words, “O King!†and thou’d him all along.
None of the commenters has yet identified the woman, and I haven’t looked it up yet. But I’d like to know!
Not one of the contributors of the great Pepys-site has identified her. I guess she is lost in the mist of time.
I can recommend every one to visit: http://www.pepysdiary.com