Page:Life and transactions of Mrs. Jane Shore (3).pdf/18

18 preferred our heroine much above her, and would often merrily ſay, I have two miſtreffes, of quite different tempers, one the moſt religious, and the other the merrieſt in England: and indeed ſhe was had in great favour all the reign of the King, having crowds of petitioners waiting at her chamber door, or at the chariot ſide, when ſhe was to ride abroad, whoſe ſuits, to the utmoſt of her power, ſhe preferred. As for Mrs. Blague, who leaſt deſerved of her, ſhe procured of the King a ſtately houſe and manor, worth 28cl. a year. The Romiſh prieſts much ſpited her, becauſe ſhe ſheltered many from their rage and fury, after they had burned John Huſs for an heretic.

As no wordly pomp nor greatneſs is of long continuance; ſo now her glory was ended, and her days of inexpreſſible miſery began; for, the King dying at Weſtminſter, in the fortieth year of his reign; no ſooner was he buried in the chapel of his own founding, at Windſor, but