“ The King had no sooner departed, but Jane asked her husband, Who that gentleman was, that had been so liberal to her? he told her, he said he was a merchant, but he knew him not. Ah! said she, I rather take him for some Lord in disguise; therefore, dear husband, if he should come again, tell him that I am sick, or anything you can feign to disappoint him Mr. Shore was greatly pleased at her conduct and more discourse had passed, but people coming into the shop about business, she retired. ”

“ Richard furiously replied, Thou traitor, dost thou serve me with its? I say, It is a truth very well known to thee, that they have done so, and that I will make good on thy body: wherefore I arrest thee, Lord Hastings, for high treason. And soon after, he caused his head to be cut off in the Tower. Jane Shore had no sooner notice of the death of Lord Hastings, her paramour, but she perceived a storm was falling on her own head, therefore, she thought it necessary to provide in time, and so she carried her jewels to her old confident Mrs. Blague, entreating her to conceal them from her ”

“ MRS JANE SHORE.
MRS JANE SHORE was daughter to Mr. Thomas Wainstead, a citizen of good repute, who lived in Cheapside, by trade a mercer. 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. ”

“ And a baker, who had been condemned to die for a riot in King Edward's reign, and saved by her means, as he saw her pass along, in gratitude for her kindness, would trundle a penny loaf after her, which she thankfully received, and blessed him with tears in her eyes; 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 ”

“ The wedding being over, and the bridegroom having enjoyed his charming bride, grew exceedingly fond of her, even to dotage, which sickened and pulled her love toward him, and he perceiving it, strove to wind himself more into her affections ”

“ Blague, your lace-woman, 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 would make her do anything. Her will I engage to do this matter, and trust me she will bring it to pass to your satisfaction. ”

“ 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 a husband, those that sought to crop her Virgin Rose would not regard her, but give over their pursuit. ”

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

“ Lord Hastings was not idle in promoting his master's happiness, but with gifts and large promises, soon made the lace woman pliable, so that many meetings were made at her house, the King coming in disguise as her friend; and tho' Mrs. Blague often left them alone, and the King courted her with all his rhetorick, yet she appeared aver:sto his love, and often blamed him sharply for persuading her to defile her husband's bed, and then she would chide Mrs. Blague for suffering such a rude man to come to her house, telling her the design he had on her chastity ”

“ At this she blushed, but not to be unmannerly she complied, and the dance being ended, he took her to a single light, and pulling off his mask to salute her, she perceived it was the same man whom she had seen at her own shop, and at Mrs. ”