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

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earlv longing after a greater gentility than she had ever yet attained to, or her city breeding was fit to produce. When she grew to the age of fifteen, her competent stock of beauty and good carriage, caused many to fall in love with her; and some great lords fixed their eyes upon her, to get her for a mistress, which her father perceiving, sent her to his sister at Northampton, where she remained about a year, till he supposed the inquiry after her was over; and that she might return without any hazard of being any further tempted to lewdness. Yet, she was no sooner returned, than a plot was laid one night to have her carried away by Lord Hastings, who, after the death of King Edward, took her for his concubine, as will appear in the close of this history.— But, the maid he had bribed to get her abroad, repenting of such treachery to her master, gave timely notice, and so prevented it. Her father perceiving, that, unless he took some speedy course, her great stock of beauty would be her ruin, resolved to marry her, so that having surrendered her virginity, and being in the arms of an husband, those that sought to crop her virgin pose, would not regard her, but give over their pursuit.