Page:Life and transactions of Mrs Jane Shore (2).pdf/11

 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, and have freedom to court her, but she should not know that he was king, till he thought proper to have it discovered.

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