Jane Shore facts for kids
Elizabeth "Jane" Shore (born Lambert; around 1445 – around 1527) was a well-known person in the court of Edward IV of England, a king who ruled England a long time ago. She became famous in history because she was later accused of working against the future King Richard III. She was made to do a public act of apology. She was also a close friend to other important noblemen. These included Edward's stepson, Thomas Grey, 1st Marquess of Dorset, and William Hastings, 1st Baron Hastings. She lived a respectable life in her later years.
Contents
Early Life and First Marriage
Elizabeth Lambert was born in London around 1445. Her father, John Lambert, was a successful merchant. Her mother, Amy, was the daughter of a wealthy grocer. The name "Jane" was added to her story much later by a writer in the 1600s. Her real first name, Elizabeth, was forgotten over time.
As a young girl, Elizabeth spent time in her father's shop. This might have allowed her to meet important ladies from high society. She was thought to be very smart. Because of this, she received a better education than most people from her background. Some stories say her beauty earned her the nickname "The Rose of London." However, this nickname is not found in old records from her time.
According to Thomas More, who wrote about her when she was old, Elizabeth was fair-skinned but not very tall. People found her attractive more because of her personality than her looks. She was intelligent, could read and write, and was known for being cheerful and fun.
Many men wanted to marry her. One of them was William Hastings, 1st Baron Hastings. He was a close friend and trusted advisor to King Edward IV. It seems Hastings liked Elizabeth before she was married. He continued to protect her later in life, showing his strong feelings for her.
Because she attracted so much attention, Elizabeth's father wanted to find her a good husband. William Shore, a goldsmith and banker, often visited the Lambert home. He was about 14 or 15 years older than Elizabeth. He was handsome and wealthy, but Elizabeth never truly loved him. Their marriage was ended in March 1476.
A Special Friend to the King
In 1476, Elizabeth Shore became a very close friend and companion to King Edward IV. This happened after the king returned from France. Edward was very devoted to her. He did not leave her like he did with some of his other companions.
Elizabeth had a lot of influence over the king. But she did not use this power for her own benefit. Instead, she often helped people who had upset the king. She would bring them before Edward to help them receive forgiveness. Records show that Elizabeth was not given many expensive gifts, unlike some of the king's previous friends. Their special friendship lasted until Edward's death in 1483.
Prison and Later Life
After King Edward IV died, Elizabeth Shore became involved with other important men. These included Edward's oldest stepson, Thomas Grey, 1st Marquess of Dorset, and William Hastings, 1st Baron Hastings. Elizabeth played a role in bringing Hastings and the Woodvilles together. The Woodvilles were the family of Edward IV's widow, Elizabeth Woodville. This happened when Richard, Duke of Gloucester, was in charge before he became King Richard III.
Elizabeth was accused of carrying messages between Hastings and Elizabeth Woodville. Because of her part in this, she was accused of working against Richard's government. Hastings and the Woodvilles were also accused.
Richard made Elizabeth perform a public act of apology at Paul's Cross. This was for her past actions. However, Richard might have also done this because he suspected she helped Thomas Grey when he was trying to escape. Or it could have been because Richard disliked anyone connected to his older brother's court. Elizabeth's cheerful personality and Richard's serious nature also led to them disliking each other.
After her public apology, Elizabeth stayed in Ludgate prison. While there, she met Thomas Lynom, who was the King's lawyer. He became interested in her. King Richard tried to tell Lynom that it might not be a good idea to marry her. However, Lynom was determined. Richard then allowed Elizabeth to be released from prison. She stayed with her father until she could marry Lynom.
Elizabeth and Thomas Lynom were married and had one daughter. It is believed that Elizabeth lived a normal, respectable life after this. Thomas Lynom lost his job as the King's lawyer when Henry VII defeated Richard III in 1485. But he continued to work for the new king in a lower position. He became a gentleman who worked on important groups in Welsh Marches. He also became a clerk for Arthur, Prince of Wales, at Ludlow Castle. Even when she was old, Thomas More said that an observant person could still see traces of her beauty.
Children
.jpg)
John Lambert's will from 1487 mentions "Julyan Lyneham" and gives her 40 shillings. This might have been Elizabeth's daughter.
Recently, an old book was found with an inscription. It might give more information about Elizabeth's family. On a wall in St. Mary's Church in Whittlesea, there is a monument to Thomas Hake, who died in 1590. The writing on it says: "Here Lyeth Bvried the Bodye of Thomas Hake, Esqvier sonne and heire of Symon Hake of Depinge in the countie of Lyncolne Esqvier and of Alice his wife dovghter of Thomas Lynham Esqvier somtyme President of Walles..."
This suggests that Thomas Lynham, Elizabeth Shore's husband, had a daughter named Alice. Alice married Simon Hake. They had a son named Thomas, who died in 1590. Thomas had many children, but only one, William, survived. William put up the memorial.
William Hake (died 1625) lived in Peterborough. He married Lucy Gates in 1596. They had many children, including Henry, Fane, Thomas, Anthony, Symon, William, Elizabeth, Anne, Lucy, Frances, Grace, and Mary. Their oldest daughter was named Elizabeth.
Both William Hake and his father Thomas were members of Parliament. The Hake family supported the King during the English Civil War.
Jane Shore in Stories and Art
Elizabeth Shore's story has been told in many plays, poems, and books over the centuries.
Plays
- She is an important character in The True Tragedy of Richard III. This play was written before William Shakespeare's Richard III. In this play, she becomes very poor and is ignored by everyone.
- "Mistress Shore" is often mentioned in Shakespeare's play, Richard III.
- The play Edward IV (printed 1600) by Thomas Heywood tells her story. It shows her struggling with the idea of being the king's friend. It also shows her using her influence to help others.
- The Tragedy of Jane Shore is a 1714 play by Nicholas Rowe. Rowe shows her as a kind woman who encourages her friend Hastings to oppose Richard's takeover. Richard punishes her by making her do penance and become an outcast.
- A play called Jane Shore was performed in Sydney, Australia, in 1796. The program for this play is the oldest surviving printed document from Australia.
Poems
- Thomas Churchyard wrote a poem about her in Mirror for Magistrates.
- Anthony Chute's 1593 poem "Beauty Dishonoured" is told from the point of view of Jane Shore's ghost.
- Michael Drayton wrote a poem about her in his Heroical Epistles.
Novels
- The Goldsmith's Wife (1950) by Jean Plaidy
- She appears in Anne, The Rose of Hever (1969) and Elizabeth, the Beloved (1972) by Maureen Peters.
- Figures in Silk (2008) by Vanora Bennett tells her story.
- She is the main character in Mistress to the Crown (2013) by Isolde Martyn.
- She is the main character in Royal Mistress (2013) by Anne Easter Smith.
- She is mentioned in Josephine Tey's novel "The Daughter of Time" (1956).
- She appears as a small character in The Sunne in Splendour (1982) by Sharon Kay Penman.
- Elizabeth Shore appears in Philippa Gregory's The White Queen (2009). In the TV show based on the book, she is called Jane Shore.
- A character in George R.R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire series has to do a public walk that is a little like Jane Shore's penance.
Films
There are three films titled Jane Shore:
- Jane Shore (1911)
- Jane Shore (1915)
- Jane Shore (1922)
Television
- Elizabeth Shore is played by Emily Berrington in The White Queen, a TV show from 2013.
See also
- English royal mistress
Images for kids
-
-
Yorkshire House, 28 and 30, Peterborough. The Priestgate property seems to have been purchased by Alice Lyneham's husband Simon Hake
-
Theatre poster for Jane Shore at Royal Princess' Theatre, Edinburgh, 14 December 1885
