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content with the dede felfe well done, or for that he de "lited to be fued unto, and to show what she was able to "do wyth the king, or for that wanton women and welthy "be not alway covetous.

"I doubt not fome fhal think this woman too fleight a thing to be written of, and fet amonge the remembraunces of great matters: which thei fhal Specially think, that happely fhal efteme her only by that thei NOW SEE HER. "But me femeth the chaunce fo much the more worthy to be "remembred, in how much he is Now in the more beg"gerly condicion, unfrended and worne out of acquaintance, after good fubftance, after as grete favour with the prince, after as grete fute and Seeking to with al thofe, "that in thofe days had bufynes to Spede, as many other 66 men were in their times, which be now famouse only by "the infamy of their il dedes. Her doinges were not much leffe, albeit thei be muche leffe remembred because thei were not fo evil. For men ufe, if they have an evil turne, to write it in marble; and whofo doth us a good tourne, we write it in dufte*. Which is not worst proved by her; for AT THIS DAYE fhee beggeth of many "at this daye living, that at this day had begged, if shee "had not bene." See More's workes, folio, bl. let. 1557, pp. 56, 57.

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DRAYTON has written a poetical epifle from this lady to her royal lover, and in his notes thereto be thus draws her portrait: "Her ftature was meane, her haire of a dark yellow, her face round and full, her eye gray, delicate harmony being betwixt each part's proportion, and each "proportion's colour, her body fat, white and fmooth, ber "countenance cheerfull and like to her condition. The picture which I have feen of hers was fuch as she rose out

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*Thefe words of Sir Thomas More probably fuggefted to Shakespeare that proverbial reflection in Hen. viij. A&t 4, sc. 11.

"Men's evill manners live in brafs: their virtues
"We write in quater.'

Shakefp. in his play of Rich. III. follows More's Hift. of that reign, and therefore could not but fee this paffage.

i

rich

and fitting What ber

"" of her bed in the morning, having nothing on but a "mantle caft under one arme over her shoulder, 86 on a chaire, on which her naked arm did lie. "father's name was, or where she was borne, is not cer

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tainly knowne but Shore a young man of right goodly "perfon, wealth and behaviour, abandoned her bed after "the king had made her his concubine. Richard 111. "caufing her to do open penance in Paul's church-yard,

COMMANDED THAT NO MAN SHOULD RELIEVE HER, "which the tyrant did, not so much for his hatred to finne, "but that by making his brother's life odious, he might "cover his horrible treasons the more cunningly." See England's Heroical Epifiles, by Mich. Drayton, Efq; Lond. 1537, 12mo.

An original Picture of JANE SHORE almoft naked is preferved in the Provost's Lodgings at Eton; and another picture of her is in the Provoft's Lodge at King's College Cambridge: to both which foundations he is fuppofed to have done friendly offices with EDWARD IV. A fmall quarto Mezzotinto Print was taken from the former of these by J. FABER.

The following ballad is printed (with fome corrections) from an old black-letter copy in the Pepys collection. Its full title is, "The woefull lamentation of Jane Shore, a goldSmith's wife in London, fometime king Edward IV. bis • concubine. To the tune of LIVE WITH ME, &c." [See the first volume.] To every ftanza is annexed the following burthen:

Then maids and wives in time amend,
For love and beauty will have end.

F Rofamonde that was fo faire,

IF

Had cause her forrowes to declare,
Then let Jane Shore with forrowe fing,
That was beloved of a king.

In maiden yeares my beautye bright
Was loved dear of lord and knight;
But yet the love that they requir'd,
It was not as my friends defir'd.

My parents they, for thirst of gaine,
A husband for me did obtaine;
And I, their pleasure to fulfille,
Was forc'd to wedd against my wille.

To Matthew Shore I was a wife,
Till luft brought ruine to my life;
And then my life I lewdlye spent,
Which makes my foul for to lament.

In Lombard-ftreet I once did dwelle,
As London yet can witness welle;
Where many gallants did beholde
My beautye in a shop of golde.

I fpred my plumes, as wantons doe,
Some sweet and fecret friende to wooe,
Because chaft love I did not finde

Agreeing to my wanton minde.

At last my name in court did ring
Into the eares of Englandes king,
Who came and lik'd, and love requir'd,
But I made coye what he defir'd:
S 3

5

10

15

20

Yet

Yet Miftrefs Blague, a neighbour neare,
Whofe friendship I efteemed deare,

30

In heart and mind I did rejoyce,
That I had made fo fweet a choice;
And therefore did my state refigne,
To be king Edward's concubine.

From city then to court I went,

To reape the pleasures of content;

There had the joyes that love could bring,
And knew the fecrets of a king.

40

When I was thus advanc'd on highe
Commanding Edward with mine eye,

45

For Mrs. Blague I in short space
Obtainde a livinge from his grace.

No friende I had but in fhort time
I made unto a promotion climbe;
But yet for all this coftlye pride,
My husbande could not mee abide.

50

His bed, though wronged by a king,
His heart with deadlye griefe did fting;
From England then he goes away

To end his life beyond the fea.

He could not live to fee his name
Impaired by my wanton fhame;
Although a prince of peerleffe might
Did reape the pleasure of his right.

Long time I lived in the courte,
With lords and ladies of great forte ;
And when I fmil'd all men were glad,

But when I frown'd my prince grewe fad.

But yet a gentle minde I bore

To helpleffe people, that were poore;
I still redreft the orphans crye,

And fav'd their lives condemnd to dye.

I still had ruth on widowes tears,

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60

65

I fuccour'd babes of tender yeares ;

70

And never look'd for other gaine
But love and thankes for all my paine.

At last my royall king did dye,

And then my dayes of woe grew nighe;
When crook-back Richard got the crowne,
King Edwards friends were foon put downe.

S 4

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I then