Page:Life and transactions of Mrs. Jane Shore (2).pdf/7

 7 her, but how must I bring it about? To court her in her husband's presence, as a private person, I shall Le served as you was ; and to do it as a king, will look too low for me, I will not force her from his arms, for that would cause a murmuring among my subjects, who would fear the like by their wives and daughters; but I must have her, and with her own consent. Hastings smiling, immediately said, take no care, for this shall be easy to your Majesty: there is one Mrs Blague, your lace-woman, has a house near Shore's, and is very intimate with his wife. This woman is very fond of money, to such a degree, that money would make her do any thing. Her will I engage to do this matter, and trust me, she will bring it to pass to your satisfaction. The King liked this device, and it was agreed that he should see her at this Mrs Blague's, end have freedom to court her, but she should not know that lie was the king, till he thought proper to have it dis- covered. Lord Hastings was not idle in promoting his master's happiness, but, 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 his rhetoric, yet she appeared averse to his love, and often blamed him sharply for persuading her to defile her husband's bed; and then she would chide Mrs. Blague for suffering such a nude man to come to her house, telling her the design he had on her chastity; she seemed very surprised at it, but intreated her to be at ease, for she would not suffer him to come there any more. This pacified her, but the plot was still deeper 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, to which lie consented with some un- willingness. 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,