Anonymous

“ Blague to consult what she must do in this strait, well knowing the king's humour.
Mrs. Blague seeing her thus pensive, said, Come, my dear, you must not be coy, nor deny the king's request; You will glitter so near a throne, and enjoy a gallant bed-fellow. I find he is resolved to have you for a mistress; and therefore it is best for you willingly to submit to him. ”

“ But some malicious neighbour informing against him, he was taken up and hanged for disobeying king Richard's proclamation; which so terrified others, that they durst not relieve her with any thing, so that in miserable rags almost naked, she went about a most shocking spectacle, wringing her hands, and bemoaning her unhappy circumstances. ”

“ But she, like a faithless woman, when Jane came and asked for them, not only denied them, but giving any succour; when in the greatest need she came to crave alms, the thirst her out of doors, threatening to have her whipped for her impudence. ”

“ It was not long before Lord Hastings heard the unwelcome news, that his fair Jane was married; which however did not make him give over his purpose of enjoying her fair body; so that often he resorted to see her, treating at home, and her husband abroad; often inviting them both to court; and took his opportunities to pour out many amorous discourses, endeavouring by all means to make her defile the marriage bed. ”

“ Edward and Richard, and several daughters, all lawfully begotten by the Queen, quarrelled with Lord Hastings, who after the death of the King had taken Jane Shore for his concubine, as now free, because he would not assist him in his wicked project, of making away with his two newphews, whom he afterwards caused to be murdered in the Tower, alledging, that the Queen and Shore's wife had bewitched them: Shewing his withered arm, which all knew had been so from his cradle. ”

“ I am encompassed by three potent enemyes, albeit not the flesh, the world, and the devil, unless Lord Hastings be resembled to the first, for he worketh to withdraw my love from thee, and in thy absence to displace thee from the throne, whereon the king is established in my hearte. ”

“ Shore, growing melancholy, sold off all he had, and travelled into foreign countries; he practised clipping and filing gold coin to maintain himself, for which he suffered death, the latter end of Henry the VIII's reign. ”

“ Richard, not content with this, put on a severe proclamation to this effect: That on pain of death and confiscation of goods, no one should harbour her in their houses, or relieve them with food or raiment; so that she went wandering up and down to find her food on bushes and dunghills, where some friends she had raised would throw bones with more meat than ordinary, and crusts of stale bread in the places where she generally haunted. ”

“ A sweeter creature in the world,
⁠could never prince embrace.
Her crisped locks, like threads of gold,
⁠appear'd to each man's sight,
Her comely eyes like orient pearl,
⁠did cast a heavenly light. ”

“ She being the only child of her parents, was brought up with all the care and tenderness imaginable; not wanting any education that was proper for her; and her natural temper, which was very airy, being joined to her education, and that degree of pride, which, as it is natural, some make necessary for the female sex, helped to set her off to the best advantage. Fine feathers always make fine birds; and if the birds are fine without them, doubtless they make them so doubly. ”

“ Oh! learn from me, good people, to beware of vain delights; they promise fair, but leave bitter stings behind them. Alasǃ you think my punishment bitter in this world, and so it is; for I have endured a thousand deaths in one: But now my dying moments are come, I rejoice. Sincere repentance has secured me happiness above: But Oh! where repentance is not given, what seas of torment rack the soul.———O happy dunghill, how do I embrace thee ”

“ Her father perceiving that unless he took some speedy course, her great stock of Beauty would be her ruin, resolved to marry her, so that having surrendered her virginity, and being in the arms of of a husband, those that sought to crop her virgin rose, would not regard her, but give over their pursuit. ”

“ When the grew to the age of fifteen her competent flock of beauty and good carriage, caused many to fall in love with her, and some great Lords fixed their eyes upon her, and to get her for a mistress, which her father perceiving sent her to his sisters at Northampton, where she remained about a year, till he supposed the enquiry after her was over, and that she might return without any hazard of being any further tempted to lewdness. ”

“ Hastings smiling, immediately said, take no care, for this shall be easy to your Highness; there is one Mrs. Blague your lace woman, who has a house pretty near Shore's, and is very intimate with his wife. This woman is very fond of money, to such a degree that it would make her do any thing. ”

“ And both in London, and the progress shs made in the country, she would cause poor people to be sought for, and relieve their necessities, inducing and persuading others who expected any good offices from the king by her means, to do the same, never selling her favours, and by her ready wit she (illegible text) the court ladies, who so envied her (illegible text) that they found themselves unable to repartee. ”

“ Shore for his wife to accompany her to the court, to see the ball there, which he consented to with some unwillingness. And soon after she was introduced, a man of very comely port entered, with a mask on ”