lousy, kept them from taking umbrage at these liberties:
and his indulgence in amusements, while it gratified his inclination,
was thus become, without design, a means of supporting and securing his
government. But as it is difficult to confine the ruling passion within
strict rules of prudence, the amorous temper of Edward led him into a
snare, which proved fatal to his repose, and to the stability of his
throne.

Jaqueline of Luxembourg, duchess of Bedford, had, after her husband's
death, so far sacrificed her ambition to love, that she espoused, in
second marriage, Sir Richard Woodeville a private gentleman, to whom she
bore several children; and among the rest, Elizabeth, who was remarkable
for the grace and beauty of her person, as well as for other amiable
accomplishments. This young lady had married Sir John Gray of Groby, by
whom she had children; and her husband being slain in the second battle
of St. Albans, fighting on the side of Lancaster, and his estate being
for that reason confiscated, his widow retired to live with her father,
at his seat of Grafton, in Northamptonshire. The king came accidentally
to the house after a hunting party, in order to pay a visit to the
duchess of Bedford; and as the occasion seemed favorable for obtaining
some grace from this gallant monarch, the young widow flung herself
at his feet, and with many tears entreated him to take pity on her
impoverished and distressed children. The sight of so much beauty in
affliction strongly affected the amorous Edward; love stole sensibly
into his heart under the guise of compassion; and her sorrow, so
becoming a virtuous matron, made his esteem and regard quickly
correspond to his affection. He raised her from the ground with
assurances of favor; he found his passion increase every moment, by
the conversation of the amiable object; and he was soon reduced, in his
turn, to the posture and style of a supplicant at the feet of Elizabeth.
But the lady, either averse to dishonorable love from a sense of duty,
or perceiving that the impression which she had made was so deep as to
give her hopes of obtaining the highest elevation, obstinately
refused to gratify his passion; and all the endearments, caresses, and
importunities of the young and amiable Edward proved fruitless against
her rigid and inflexible virtue. His passion, irritated by opposition,
and increased by his veneration for such honorable sentiments carried
him at last beyond all boun