It is more likely that the churchmen were the authors of Jane’s penance; and that Richard, interested to manage that body, and provoked by her connection with so capital an enemy as Dorset, might give her up, and permit the clergy (who probably had burned incense to her in her prosperity) to revenge his quarrel.  My reason for this opinion is grounded on a letter of Richard extant in the Museum, by which it appears that the fair, unfortunate, and aimable Jane (for her virtues far outweighed her frailty) being a prisoner, by Richard’s order, in Ludgate, had captivated the king’s solicitor, who contracted to marry her.  Here follows the letter: 

Harl.  MSS, No. 2378. 
 By the king.

“Right reverend fadre in God, &c.  Signifying unto you, that it is shewed unto us, that our servaunt and solicitor, Thomas Lynom, merveillously blinded and abused with the late wife of William Shore, now being in Ludgate by oure commandment, hath made contract of matrymony with hir (as it is said) and entendith, to our full grete merveile, to precede to th’ effect of the same.  We for many causes wold be sory that hee soo shulde be disposed.  Pray you therefore to send for him, and in that ye goodly may, exhorte and sture hym to the contrarye.  And if ye finde him utterly set for to marye hur, and noen otherwise will be advertised, then (if it may stand with the lawe of the churche.) We be content (the tyme of marriage deferred to our comyng next to London,) that upon sufficient suerite founde of hure good abering, ye doo send for hure keeper, and discharge him of our said commandment by warrant of these, committing hur to the rule and guiding of hure fadre, or any othre by your discretion in the mene season.  Yeven, &c.  To the right reverend fadre in God, &c. the bishop of Lincoln, our chauncellour.”

It appears from this letter, that Richard thought it indecent for his sollicitor to mary a woman who had suffered public punishment for adultery, and who was confined by his command—­but where is the tyrant to be found in this paper?  Or, what prince ever spoke of such a scandal, and what is stronger, of such contempt of his authority, with so much lenity and temper?  He enjoins his chancellor to dissuade the sollicitor from the match—­but should he persist—­a tyrant would have ordered the sollicitor to prison too—­but Richard —­Richard, if his servant will not be dissuaded, allows the match; and in the mean time commits Jane—­to whose custody?—­Her own father’s.  I cannot help thinking that some holy person had been her persecutor, and not so patient and gentle a king.  And I believe so, because of the salvo for the church:  “Let them be married,” says Richard, “if it may stand with the lawe of the churche.”