The Life and Death of Jane Shore, Concubine to Edward IV/Chapter 4
CHAP. IV.
Of her going to Court and what happened there.
The king was no sooner departed, but Jane asked her husband, who that gentleman was that had been so liberal to her? He told her, he said he was a merchant, but he knew him not, Ah! said she I rather take him for some Lord in disguise; therefore, sweet husband, if he should come again, tell him I am sick, or any thing that you can feign to disappoint him.
Mr Shore was greatly pleased at her conduct, and more discourse had passed, but people coming into the shop about business, she retired.
The king soon arrived at court, where he had been missed by his nobles, soon changed his apparel, and came amongst them with a cheprful countenance, and tho' others were ignorant, Hastings well perceived where he had been, and the satisfaction he had received; and no sooner were they in private, but the king said, "Well; Hastings, thou hast good judgement in fine women; I have seen Shore's wife, and she excells the praises you gave me of her; I like her well, and must enjoy her, but how must I bring it about; to court her in her husbands' presence as private person, I shall be served as you was; and do it as a king will look too low for me. I will not force her from his arms, for that would cause a murmering 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 Highness; there is one Mrs. Blague your lace woman, who has a house pretty near Shore's, and is very intimate with his wife. This woman is very fond of money, to such a degree that it would make her do any thing. Her will I engage in this matter, and trust me she will soon 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 the King, until he thought proper to have it discovered.
Lord Hastings was not idle in promoting his master's happiness, and 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 the rehetorick he was ever possible of, yet she appeared averse to his love, and very often reproved him sharply for persuading her to defile the bed; and then she went to chide Mrs. Blague for suffering such a rude man to come to her house, telling her the design he had on her chastity; she seemed very surprised at it; but ⟨entreated⟩ her to be at ease, for she would not suffer him to come there any more.
This pacified her, but the plot was further 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, which he consented to with some unwillingness. 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; who looking round, through his mask, fixed his eyes upon her, immediately stepped to her seat, and took her out to dance, along with him. At this she blushed, but not to be unmannerly, she complied, and the dance being ended, he took her to a single light and pulling off his mask to salute her, she perceived it to be the same man whom she had seen at her own shop, and at Mrs. Blague's house, and putting a letter in her hand, he returned. Then coming to Mrs. Blague she desired to go home; to this she consented, and then read the letter; which was to this purposeː
"My Lovely Jane,
"Your beauty has enthralled my heart, 'tis a king sues you will be kind to him, and by a line tell him so to his comfort."
When she read this letter, she left Mrs. Blague abruptly, judging she had a hand in the matter.