otector, "with your ifs and your ands? You are the chief abettor
of that witch, Shore: you are yourself a traitor; and I swear by St.
Paul, that I will not dine before your head be brought me," He struck
the table with his hand: armed men rushed in at the signal: the
counsellors were thrown into the utmost consternation: and one of the
guards, as if by accident or mistake, aimed a blow with a pole-axe
at Lord Stanley, who, aware of the danger, slunk under the table; and
though he saved his life, he received a severe wound in the head, in the
protector's presence. Hastings was seized, was hurried away, and
instantly beheaded on a timber-log, which lay in the court of the
Tower.[*] Two hours after, a proclamation, well penned, and fairly
written, was read to the citizens of London, enumerating his offenses,
and apologizing to them, from the suddenness of the discovery, for the
sudden execution of that nobleman, who was very popular among them; but
the saying of a merchant was much talked of on the occasion, who
remarked, that the proclamation was certainly drawn by the spirit of
prophecy.[**]

* Hist Croyl. Cont. p. 566.

** Sir Thomas More, p. 496.

Lord Stanley, the archbishop of York, the bishop of Ely, and other
counsellors, were committed prisoners in different chambers of the
Tower; and the protector, in order to carry on the farce of his
accusations, ordered the goods of Jane Shore to be seized; and he
summoned her to answer before the council for sorcery and witchcraft.
But as no proofs, which could be received even in that ignorant age,
were produced against her, he directed her to be tried in the spiritual
court for her adulteries and lewdness; and she did penance in a white
sheet in St. Paul's, before the whole people. This lady was born
of reputable parents in London, was well educated, and married to a
substantial citizen; but unhappily views of interest, more than the
maid's inclinations, had been consulted in the match, and her mind,
though framed for virtue, had proved unable to resist the allurements
of Edward, who solicited her favors. But while seduced from her duty by
this gay and amorous monarch, she still made herself respectable by
her other virtues; and the ascendant which her charms and vivacity
long maintained over him, was all employed in acts of beneficence
and humanity. She was still forward to oppose calumny, to protect the
oppressed, to relieve the indigent; and her good offices