She was in her time the subject of talk enough, very likely; was admired for her beauty, possibly for her talents too; but hardly a written scrap concerning her has come down to us.

The ordinary historian of the time, impressed with a sense of the dignity of his task, did not concern himself with the players, and rated as insignificant and unworthy of his notice such matters as the pursuits, pastimes, tastes, manners, and customs of the people.

We know more of the manner of life in Charles II.'s time from the diarist Pepys than from all the writers of history put together.

Unfortunately, concerning Mrs.Hughes, even Pepys is silent.

It is known that in addition to the character of Desdemona, which she certainly sustained in February, 1669, at any rate, she also appeared as Panura, in Fletcher's "Island Princess," and as Theodosia, in Dryden's comedy of "An Evening's Love, or, The Mock Astrologer," to the Jacyntha of Nell Gwynne; there is scarcely a record of her assumption of any other part, unless she be the same Mrs.Hughes who impersonated Mrs.Monylove, in a comedy called "Tom Essence," produced at the Dorset Garden Theatre in 1676.