Page:Life and transactions of Jane Shore, concubine to King Edward IVth.pdf/8

8 courted her with all his rhetoric, yet she appeared averse to his love, and often blamed him sharply for persuading her to defile her husband bed, and then she would chide Mrs. Blagut 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 entreated he to be at ease, for she would not suffer him to come there again any more.

This pacified her but the plot was still deepe laid for her ruin, and at Christmas time she go leave of Mr. Shore for his wife to accompany he to the Court, to set the ball there, to which he consented 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, and immediately stepping to her seat; took her out to dance along with him. A 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, the perceived it was the same man whom she had seen at her own shop, and at Mrs Blague's house; and putting a letter into her handy he retired. She then coming to Mrs. Blague, desired to go home; to this she consented, and then read the letter, which was to this purpose 'My Lovely Jane,

'Your beauty has enthralled my heart. 'Tis a King sues; you will be kind to him, and 'by, a line, teil him so to his comfort.' When she read the letter, she left Mrs. Blague