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CHAP. composition, which was fairly engrossed upon parchment, without the omission of a single ornament, and bore no marks of being struck hastily off at a moment's notice, created a suspicion that it was not, as it purported to be, an account drawn up subsequently to the death of Hastings, but a well digested narrative prepared at leisure previous to the events which it professed to commemorate. The bystanders could not fail to remark the discrepancies of the statement; the master of St. Paul's School observed to a merchant,

"Here is a gay goodly cast,

Fowle cast away for hast."*

his friend shrewdly replied, that "it was written by prophecy."

• More.

CHAPTER X.

Prosecution of Jane Shore-her Penance—and Demeanour-Letier from the Protector-Imprisonment of the Bishops-Morton is removed to Ely-Stanley's Liberation-The Duke of York delivered up into the Protector's hands-and committed to the Tower-Corruption of the Nobility—Richard openly pretends to the CrownExecution of Rivers, Vaughan and Grey-Piety of Rivers-Reports concerning the Legitimacy of Edward's Children-Sermon at Paul's Cross-Blunder of the Preacher-Richard's Disappointment-Tame Submission of the People-Buckingham's Address to the CitizensDeputations from the City-The Crown is offered to Richard-and is graciously accepted-Richard repairs to Westminster—and afterwards to St. Paul's-Enmity of Stillington to Edward's FamilyConcurrence of the Nobles in Richard's Schemes-Arrival of Soldiers from the North-Creation of Knights of the Bath-Release of Lord Stanley and the Archbishop of York-Imputations against Stanley-Richard's Son created Prince of Wales—Procession through London Coronation of the new King-Examination of the Wardrobe Roll-Traits in Richard's Character-The Northern Soldiers return Home-Richard's Expectations-Murmurs of the People-Plans in Favour of Edward's Children-Buckingham's Disaffection-the supposed Cause-Parallel between him and the King-maker-his Unpopularity-Death of the Young PrincesGrief of the Nation—Despair of the Queen-Reports of the TimeMore's Account of the Murder-Buckingham's brief Hopes-his Determination in Favour of Henry Tudor-Advice of MortonEscape of the Prelate-Correspondence between the Countess of Richmond and Edward's Queen-The People prepare to take up ArmsBuckingham is summoned to Court-his Answer-Richard's Nego

CHAP.

X.

ciations with Bretagne-his Proclamation-Buckingham's Revolthis disastrous March-Dispersion of his Followers-his Concealment-Treachery of his Host-his Cowardice-Supposed Scheme of Revenge-the Duke's Execution-Grief of the Bishop of Salisbury -Calamities reported as occurring to Bannister.

JANE SHORE was the next sufferer; but the charge of witchcraft and of treason was abandoned, and she was punished for an offence of which, if hitherto it had not been the fashion to take cognizance, was too open and notorious for denial. The protector, affecting the most scrupulous attention to decorum and morality, was scandalized by her unchastity; accordingly he confiscated the property which she had acquired at the expense of virtue, to the value of three thousand marks, and sanctified it by its transmission to his own coffers. The unfortunate woman was sent to prison and delivered over to the secular arm to endure the penance ordained by the church; and in thus compelling her to declare her shame in the eye of all the people, the duke loaded his brother's memory with the obloquy of her seduction, while he stood forward in stern integrity the relentless enemy of vice, "As if," observes Sir Thomas More, "sent out of heaven into this vicious world for the amendment of men's manners;" but the device did not appear to answer. Jane Shore submitted with such decent composure to the degrading ceremony, that she excited more compassion than scorn. Holding a taper in her hand, she was obliged to walk before the cross in sad procession through the streets upon a Sunday. Sir Thomas More, in his interesting history, has preserved a description of this luckless creature's person,

X.

character and conduct, which is too admirably CHAP. written to be withheld. "In which (her penance) she went in countenance and pace demure so womanly, and albeit she were out of all array save her kyrtle only; yet went she so fair and lovely, namely, while the wondering of the people caste a comely red in her cheeks, (of which she had most misse) that her great shame wan her much praise, and many good folk also that hated her living, and glad wer to see sin corrected, yet pitied thei more her penance than rejoiced therein, when they considered that the protector procured it more of a corrupt intent than any virtuous affection. This woman was born in London, worshipfully frended, honestly brought up, and very well maryed.* Proper she was and faire ; nothing in her body that you wold have changed, but if you would have wished her somewhat higher. Thus say thei that knew her in her youthe. Albeit some that now see her (for yet she liveth) deem her never to have been well visaged; for now she is old, lean, withered and dried up, nothing left but rivilde skin and hard bone. And yet being even such, whoso well advise her visage might guess and devise which partes how filled wold make it a faire face. Yet delighted not men so much in her beauty as in her pleasant behaviour; for a proper wit had she, and could both read well and write, merry in company, ready and quick of answer, nither mute nor full of babble, sometime taunting without displeasure and not without disport. The king would say that he had three concubines, which in three divers

• Her husband was a silver-smith who dwelt in Lombard-street.-City Leases.

X.

CHAP. properties diversly excelled: one the merriest, another the wiliest, the third the holiest courtezan in his realm. The other two were somewhat greater personages, and natheless of their humility content to be nameless, and to forbear the praise of those properties. But the meriest was this Shoris wife, in whom the king therefore took special pleasure. For many he had, but her he loved whose favour, to say the truth, (for sin it were to belie the devil) she never abused to any man's hurt, but to many a man's comfort and relief. Where the king took displeasure she would mitigate and appease his mind; where men were out of favour, she wold bring them in his grace. For many that had highly offended she obtained pardon. Of great forfeiture, she got men remission; and finally, in many weighty suits, she stood many men in great stead, either for none or very small rewards, and those rather gay than rich; either for that she was content with the deed itself well done, or for that she delighted to be sued unto, and to shew that she was able to do with the king. I doubt not some shall think this woman too slight a thing to be written of and set among the remembrances of great matters, which they shall specially think that happily shall esteem her only by what they now see her. But to me seemeth this chance so much the more worthy to be remembered, in how much she is now in the more beggarly condition, unfriended and worn out of acquaintance, after good substance, after as great favour with the prince, after as great suit and seeking to with all those that in those days had business to speed, as many other men were in their times, of which be