The Woful lamentation of Jane Shore, a goldsmith's wife in London, sometime King Edward the Fourth's concubine, who for her wanton life came to a miserable end: set forth for the example of all wicked livers. To the tune of, Live with me, &c.

The Woful LAMENTATION of JANE SHORE , A Goldsmith's Wife , in London , sometime King EDWARD the Fourth's CONCUBINE , who for her Wanton Life came to a Miserable End : Set forth for the EXAMPLE of all Wicked LIVERS . To the Tune of , Live with me , &c.

Licens'd and Enter'd according to Order .

IF Rosamond that was so fair , Had cau●e her Sorows to declare , Then let Jane Shore with sorrow sing , That was beloved of a king : Then wanton Wives in time amend , For Love and Beauty will have end . In Maiden yea●s my Beauty bright , Was loved dear of Lord and Knight , But yet the love that they requir'd , It was not as my Fr●●nds desire'd : My parents they for thirst of Gain , A Husband for me did obtain , And I their pleasure to fulfil , Was forc'd to wed against my will : To Matthew Short I was a Wife , Till Lust brought ruine to my life , And then my life so lewdly spent , Which makes my soul for to lament : In Lumbard-street I once did dwell , As London yet can witness well , Where many Gallants did behold My Beauty in a Shop of Gold : I spread my plumes as Wantons do , Some swe●t and secret friend to Wooe , Because m● Love I did not find , Agreeing to my wanton mind . At last my name in Court did ring , Into the ears of England's king , Who came and lik'd , and love requir'd ; 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ●●de coy what he desir'd : 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Blague , a Neighbour neer , 〈◊〉〈◊〉 I esteemed 〈◊〉 , 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 gallant 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 ●ing 〈…〉〈…〉 And wrong my wedded husband Shore , Whom I had lov'd ten years before , In heart and mind I did rejoyce , That I had made so sweet a Choice , And therefore did my State resign , To be King Edward's Concubine . From City then to Court I went , To reap the pleasures of Content , And had the joye that Love could bring , And knew the Secrets of a King : When I was thus advanc'● on high , Commanding Edward with mine Eye , For Mistress Blague I in ●●or● space Obt●in'd a Living of his Grace . Not frend I had but in short time I made unto Promotion climb : But yet for all this costly pride , My Husband could not me abide : His bed , though wronged by a King , His heart with grief did deadly sting : From England then be goes away , To end h●slife upon the Sea ; He ●ould not live to see his Name Impared by my wanton Shame , Although a Prince of Peerless Might , Did reap the pleasures of his Right , Long time I lived in the Court , With Lords and Ladies of great sort , For when I smil'd all Men were glad , But when I mourn'd my Prince grew sad But yet an honest mind I bore , To helpless People that were poor , I still redrest the Orphan's Cry , And sav'd their lives condemn'd to die . I still had ruth on Widows Tears , I succour'd Babes of tender years , And never lookt for other gain , But Love and Thanks for all my pain . At last my Royal King did dye , And then my days of Woe grew nigh , When Crook-back R. got the Crown , K. Edward's Friends were soon put down . I then was punisht for my Sin , That I so long had lived in : Yea , every one that was his Friend , This Tyrant brought to shameful End . Then for my rude and wanton Life , That made a Strumpet of a Wife , I Pennance did in Lumbard-street , In shameful manner in a Sheet : Where many thousands did me view , Who late in Court my Credit knew ; Which made the tears run down my face To think apon my foul Disgrace : Not thus content , they took from me My Goods , my Livings , and my Fee , And charg'd that none should me Relieve , 〈◊〉 any Succour to me give : Then unto Mistres Blague I went , To whom my Iewels I had sent , In hope thereby to ease my Want , When Riches fail'd and Love grew scant : But she deny'd to me the same , When in my Need for them I came : To recompence my former Love , Out of her Doors she did me shove : So Love did vanish with my State , Which now my soul repents too late ; Therefore Example take by me , For Friendship parts in Poverty . But yet one Friend among the rest , Whom I before had seen distrest , And sav'd his Life condemn'd to dye , Did give me Food to succour me ; For which , by Law , it was decreed , That he was hanged for that Deed : His Death did grieve me so much more , Then had I dyed myself therefore : Then those to whom I had done good , Durst not restore me any food ; Whereby in vain I beg'd all day , And still in Streets by night I lay . My Gowns beset with pearl and Gold , Are turn'd to simple Garments old ; My Chains and Jems and golden Rings , To filthy Rags and loathsome Things , Thus was I scon'd of Maid and Wife , For leading such a wicked Life : Both sucking Babes and Children small , Did make a Pastime at my Fall ; I could not get one bit of Bread , Whereby my hunger might be fed : Nor Drink but such as Channels yield , Or stinking Ditches in the Field ; Thus weary of my Life at length , I yield up my vital strength , Within a Ditch of loathsome scent , Where Carrion-dogs do much frequent , The which now since my Dying-day , Is Shoreditch call'd as Writers say : Which is a Witness of my Sin , For being Concubine to a King ; You wanton Wives that fall to Lust , Be you assur'd that God is Just ; Whoredom shall not escape his hand , Nor Pride unpunisht in this Land ; If God to me such Shame should bring , That yielded only to a King ; How shall they 'scape that daily run , To practice Sin with every Man ? You husbands match not but for Love , Lest some Disliking after prove ; Women be warn'd when you are Wives , What Plagues are due to sinful Lives : Then Maids & Wives in time amend , For Love and Beauty will have end .

The Second Part : of J. SHORE , wherein her Husband Bewailed the Estate , her Wantonness , the Wrong of Marriage , and the Fall of Pride . If she that was fair London's Pride , For Beauty fam'd both far and wide , With Swanlike-song in Sadness told , Her deep Distresses manifold : Then in the same let me also , Now bear a part of such like Woe : Kind Matthew Shore , Men called me , A Goldsmith once of good Degree , And might have lived long therein , Had not my Wife been wed to Sin : Ah gentle Jane , thy wanton Race , Hath brought me to this foul Disgrace . Thou hadst all things at wish and will , Thy wanton Fancy to fulfil , No London Dame nor Merchant's Wife , Did lead so sweet and pleasant Life : Then gentle Jane the Truth report , Why left'st thou me to live in Court ? Thou hadst both Gold and Silver store , No Wife in London then had more ; And once a Week in walk in field , To see what plessure it would yield . But woe to me that Liberty , Hath brought me to this Mis'ery : I married thee whilst thou wert young , Before thou knew'st what did belong , To Husband's Love , or Marriage state , Which now my Soul repents too late : Thus wanton Pride made thee Unjust , And so deceived was my Trust . But when the King possest my room , And cropt my rosie gallant Bloom , Fair London's Blossom , and my joy My heart was drown'd in deep annoy , To think how unto publique Shame , The wicked Life brought my good Name . And then I thought each Man and Wife , In jesting sore accus'd my Life ; And every one to the other said , That Shore's fair Wife the Wanton plaid ; Thereby in mind I grew to change My Dwelling in some Country strange , My Lands and Goods I sold away , And so from England went to Sea ; Opprest with Grief and woful Mind , But left my Cause of Grief behind : My loving Wife whom I once thought , Would never be to Lewdness brought , But Women now I well espy , Are subject to Vnconstancy ; And few there be so true of Love , But by long suit will wanton prove ; For Flesh is frail , and Women weak , When Kings for Love long suit do make . But yet from England my Depart , Was with a sad and heavy heart , Whereat when as my Leave I took , I sent back many a heavy look , Desiring God , if it might be , To send one sigh , sweet Jane , to thee ! For if thou hadst but constant been , These days of Woe I ne'r had seen , But yet I mourn and grieve full sore , To think to what Plagues are left in store , For such as careless tread awry , The modest Paths of Constancy : Ah! gentle Jane , if thou did'st know , The uncouth Paths I daily go , And woful Tears for thee I shed , For wronging thus my Marriage-bed , Then sure I am thou would'st confess , My Love was sure though in Distress : Both Flanders , France , and Spain I past , And came to Turky at the last ; And there within that mighty Court , I lived long in honest sort ; Desiring God , that sits in Heaven , That Lovers Sins might be forgiven , And there advanc'd thy loving Name , Of living Wights the fairest Dame : The praise of England's Beauty stain , All which thy Husband did maintain , And set thy picture there in Gold , For kings and Princes to behold , But when I thought upon thy Sin , Thy wanton thoughts delighted in , I griev'd that such a comely Face , Should hold true Honour in Disgrace , And counted it a Luckless day , When as thou first did'st go Astray , Desiring then some News to hear , Of her my Soul did love so dear , My Secrets then I did impart , To one well skill'd in Magick Art , Who in a Glass did truly show , Such things as I desir'd to know : I there did sée thy Courtly State , Thy Pomp , thy Pride , thy Glory great ; And likewise there I did behold , My Jane in Edward's Arms infold : Thy secret Love I there espy'd , Thy Rice , thy Fall , and how thou died ; Thy naked Body in the Street , I saw do Penance in a Sheet ; Barefoót before the Beadle's Wand , With burning Taper in thy hand , And Babes , not having use of Tongue , Stood pointing as thou went'st along ; Thus ended was the Shame of thine , Though God gave yet no end to mine : When I suppos'd my Name forgot , And time had washt away my Blot , And in another Prince's Reign , I came to England back again : But staying there , my Friends decay'd , My Prince's Laws I disobey'd , And by true Justice judg'd to dye , For Clipping Gold in secresie : By Gold was my best Living made , And so by Gold my Life decay'd : Thus have you heard the woful Strife , That came by my Unconstant Wife , Her Fall , my Death , wherein is shew'd , The Story of a Strumpet lewd ; In hope thereby some Women may Take heed how they the Wanton 〈◊〉