Page:Life and transactions of Mrs. Jane Shore (2).pdf/9

 9 when on a sudden somebody came on a feigned errand, and said, her mother was taken ill, and desired to speak with her. He would have gone with her, but she put it off; and giving him the last kiss lie ever was to re- ceive from her, she left him, and coining where the chariot stood ready, she and Mrs Blague got into it, and were conveyed to the King's secret apartment, where they found him in his closet. He welcomed them, but it being late, Mrs Blagne departed, and they went to bed. Mir Shore sitting up late, and his wife not returning, was very much troubled, and went to his mother-in- law's, but they had not seen her, nor was her mother ill, so that her absence troubled the whole family. The next day was spent in seeking for her amongst her rela- tions and friends, but found her not. Mrs Blague pro- tested she had not seen her, and dropped some dis- sembling tears, so that her husband was almost distract- ed, and at last concluded, that she was taken away by some courtier; and, in three days after, a lady informed them that she was with the King. This added more to their grief; they knew not what course to take; and they knew if they went to cross the King it would be their ruin. They made inquiry, indeed, if it was her voluntary act, and finding it was, and she quite unwilling to leave her new lover, they left all hope of recovering her, so that Mr Shore growing melancholy, sold off all he had, and went abroad; but having spent his fortune, he re- turned in a poor condition, and practised clipping and tiling gold coin to maintain himself; for which he suf- fered death in the latter end of K. Henry VIII.'s reign. Jane Shore having rendered up her chastity to the King, pleased with the glittering of a court, and endear- ed by a monarch's love, was admired by the vulgar, to- wards whom she behaved in a most courteous manner. Her power was so great with the King, that when his courtiers durst not intercede for poor and miser- able that lay under his displeasure, she, with her wit,