Mrs.Howard he had first met at Hanover, and in London contrived to turn the acquaintanceship into friendship.

Knowing Gay's character and his ambition, it is probably doing him no injustice to say that he was first drawn to the lady by the belief that she might further his aims.
However, it is only fair to say that he soon came to like her for herself, and long after he was convinced that she could be of no service to him he remained a very loyal and intimate friend.

He was taken entirely into her confidence, as will presently be seen, and she even called him in to assist her when she was conducting an elaborate and stilted epistolatory flirtation with Lord Peterborough.

It was most probably she who introduced him to Mrs.Bellenden, Mrs.Lepell, and the other ladies of the Court.

Of Mrs.Howard and Gay, Dr.Johnson wrote: "Diligent court was paid to Mrs.Howard, afterwards Countess of Suffolk, who was much beloved by the King and Queen, to engage her interest for his promotion; but solicitations, verses, and flatteries were thrown away; the lady heard them and did nothing." This, however, is manifestly unfair, for it is now known that Mrs.Howard's influence was negligible.
To the ladies of the Court and others of Pope's friends, Gay paid tribute in "Mr.Pope's Welcome from Greece":-- What lady's that to whom he gently bends?
Who knows her not?
Ah, those are Wortley's eyes.
How art thou honour'd, number'd with her friends; For she distinguishes the good and wise.
The sweet-tongued Murray near her side attends: Now to my heart the glance of Howard flies; Now Hervey, fair of face, I mark full well With thee, youth's youngest daughter, sweet Lepell.
I see two lovely sisters hand in hand, The fair-hair'd Martha and Teresa brown; Madge Bellenden, the tallest of the land; And smiling Mary, soft and fair as down.
Yonder I see the cheerful Duchess stand, For friendship, zeal, and blithesome humours known: Whence that loud shout in such a hearty strain?
Why all the Hamiltons are in her train.
See next the decent Scudamore advance With Winchelsea, still meditating song, With her perhaps Miss Howe came there by chance.
Nor knows with whom, nor why she comes along.
Gay was now on intimate terms with Lord Harcourt, whom he presently introduced into "Mr.Pope's Welcome from Greece":-- Harcourt I see, for eloquence renown'd, The mouth of justice, oracle of law! Another Simon is beside him found, Another Simon like as straw to straw; and early in 1718 he visited him, first at Cockthorpe and then at Stanton Harcourt, at which latter seat Pope was staying, working on the fifth volume of the "Iliad." In the following year Gay again crossed the Channel, possibly for the second time with the Pulteneys, but the only record of this trip is to be found in the following letter:-- JOHN GAY TO THE HON.MRS.