A history of English sexual morals / by Ivan Bloch ; translated by William H. Forstern.

  • Iwan Bloch
Date:
1936
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: A history of English sexual morals / by Ivan Bloch ; translated by William H. Forstern. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    In Lombard Street I once did dwelle, As London can yet witness welle; Where many gallants did beholde My beautye in a shop of golde. 1 I spread my plumes, as wantons doe, | Some sweete and secret friende to wooe; j Because chaste love I did not finde Agreeing to my wanton minde. At last my name in court did ringe Into the eares of Englande's king, Who came and liked and love requir'd, But I made coye what he desir'd. Yet Mistress Blague, a neighbour neare, Whose friendship I esteemed deare, Did saye, it was a gallant thing To be beloved of a king. The ballad goes on to relate how Jane Shore, driven by her own desire and easily convinced by the arguments of her procuress friend, became the King's mistress, where- upon her disconsolate husband left England in order not to be a witness of her shame. Jane attained considerable influence at Court and also practised charity with a lavish hand, so that she was adored by the widows and orphans of London. But with the death of her royal lover she was overwhelmed with misfortune, as his successor on the throne, Richard III, persecuted her by all possible means. Her possessions were taken from her, and thereafter all her friends turned against her. Even her old false friend, Mrs. Blague, showed her the door. Only one man, whose life she had once saved, stood by her, but was hanged for this [610]