Page:History of the life and death of fair Rosamond.pdf/13

( 13 ) went to get Roſamond to bed, as the wont to do; And in about an hour's time the returned and told the king that if he pleaſed to follow her, ſhe would bring him where Roſamond was in bed and fast aſleep.

His majeſty needed no perſuaſions to follow her, but went immediately to the chamber, where he ſoon diſrobed himſelf; and Alethea, taking her leave, left him to manage the buſineſs with Roſamond, nccording to his own diſcretion.

The king having ſhut the door, and locked it after Alethea went to bed to Roſamond who was faſt aſleep, not dreaming of the treacherous part that her governeſs had played. The king not willing preſently to awake his charming miſtreſs, lay ſtill laying cloſer to her than Alethea uſed to do, ſhe awaked of herſelf and not knowing but 'twas Alethea that was in bed, ſaid, I prithee, governeſs (for ſo the uſed to call her, and ſuch the was) lie farther off a little, you crowd ſo cloſe, as if you'd thurſt me out of bed.

And now the king thought it a proper time to ſpeak to her, and let her know who it was that was her bedfellow; And thereupon he beſpoke her thus; My deareſt Roſamond, it is not your governeſs, it is your king that lies ſo cloſe to you (and thereupon embraced her in his arms) and ſure you need not fear that I would thurſt you out of bed.

It is not eaſy to imagine how great was the ſurprize that Roſamond was in at this diſcovery; ſain ſhe would have gotten out of bed; the King held her fiſt and would not let her go. O Sir ſaid ſhe, I could not think you would have ſerv-