Page:Life and death of Jane Shore.pdf/10

 Lord Hastings was not idle in promoting his master's happiness, and 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 though Mrs. Blague often left them alone, and the King courted her with all the rehetorick he was ever possible of, yet she appeared averse to his love, and very often reproved him sharply for persuading her to defile the bed; and then she went to chide Mrs. Blague for suffering such a rude man to come to her house, telling her the design he had on her chastity; she seemed very surprised at it; but her to be at ease, for she would not suffer him to come there any more.

This pacified her, but the plot was further laid for her ruin, and at Christmas time she got leave of Mr. 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; and Mrs. Shore heard the Ladies whisper, That's the king; who looking round, through his mask, fixed his eyes upon her, immediately stepped to her seat, and took her out to dance, along with him. At this she blushed, but not to be unmannerly,