Page:A Biographical Dictionary of the Celebrated Women of Every Age and Country (1804).djvu/809

Rh of presents, or the hopes of reciprocal benefit; to protect the oppressed, and relieve the indigent, were her highest pleasures. After the death of Edward, Lord Hastings engaged in an intrigue with Jane Shore; and Richard, who knew him sincerely attached to the royal family, accused the Queen, Jane Shore, and their associates, of having bewitched his arm, which was publicly known to have been withered from his birth, and pretending likewise that Hastings was their abettor, put him to death. And, in order to carry on the farce of accusations, he commanded the goods of Jane Shore to be seized, and summoned her to answer before the council for sorcery and witchcraft. But as beauty was her only witchcraft, and conversation her most dangerous spell, no proofs were produced against her, which could even be received in that ignorant age. Her persecution, however, did not end here. Richard ordered her to be tried in the spiritual court, for adultery. The charge was too notorious to be denied. She pleaded guilty, and was condemned to do public penance in a white sheet, at St. Paul's, after walking barefooted through the city. Her future life was long and wretched. She experienced, in old age and poverty, the ingratitude of those courtiers whom she had raised into favour. Not one, of all the multitudes she had obliged, had the humanity to bring her consolation or relief. Her frailties, in a court inured to the most atrocious crimes, were thought sufficient to justify all violations of friendship towards her, and all neglect of former obligations, and she was permitted to languish out her days in solitude and want. SIBILLA