Page:Life and transactions of Jane Shore, concubine to King Edward IVth.pdf/3

3 lords fixed their eyes upon her, to get her for ? 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: yet she was no sooner returned, than a plot was laid one night to have her carried away by Lord Hastings, who, after the death of King Edward, took her for his concubine, as will appear in the close of this history. But, the maid he had bribed with gold to get her abroad, repenting of such treachery to her master, gave timely notice, and so prevented it.

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

And, among those that courted, and earnestly sought her, it way of marriage, was one Matthew Shore, a rich goldsmith in Lombard-street, whom her father pitched upon as a fit husband; and acquainted his fair daughter with his intention to marry her to him, but she appeared very averse to it, alleging sometimes disproportion of years, he being above thirty; at other times, his being disfigured with the small pox, and many other exceptions she made However, her father's positive commands, and the rich presents her lover made her, won her consent, or seemingly she yielded to the match, and so married they were